There are the obvious signs – the cool, crisp mornings and evenings, the weatherman said it turned to fall last week and tomorrow the calendar turns to October.
Then there are the signs that anyone around campus this week will see. There is the pep in the step of all of our fall sport athletes this week, there is the business-like feeling at the football fieldhouse and most obviously there is the schedule on my desk that says HSU and UMHB are playing football this week and HSU and UT-Dallas are playing soccer.
Since I have been at Hardin-Simmons there have been some rivalries that have come and gone, but two have remained at the top of the rivalry list. The football game with Mary Hardin-Baylor and the women’s soccer game with UT-Dallas.
Rivalries are good for teams. Rivalries are good for fans. Rivalries are good for the schools. Sometimes you can see rivalry games get ugly. Maybe a cheap shot here and there, some fierce competition and general disregard for the other team.
That is not what I have noticed with these two rivalries. I think there is total respect for the programs on both sides.
The football game has quickly become one of the top rivalries in Division III. Why? The biggest reason is that both teams have been good over a period of time. Both teams have had success (although UMHB has had the edge of late). The winner of the game has been the ASC champion every year since 1998 (there was a three-way tie one year).
The question for this week is how far has the Cowboy program come in a year. Last year UMHB won 47-14. I feel confident the Cowboys are better this year. I expect a close game on Saturday. It will probably come down to who can take care of the ball and who can come up big on special teams.
Now to the women’s soccer game with UTD. Granted there is a game with Ozarks on Friday, but make no mistake the big game for the Cowgirls is on Saturday. UTD and HSU have been the top teams in the ASC for many years. They have played for four of the last six conference titles.
HSU has gotten the better of the play of late. Since 2002, the teams have met 10 times and every one of the games has been decided by one goal or resulted in a tie. HSU is 6-1-2 in that time frame. The two ties are the only two ties during the Cowgirls run of 98 straight unbeaten league games that were not wins. The loss came in the 2002 ASC Championship (and the tournament games don’t count as conference games, thus not the ASC unbeaten streak).
The Cowgirls have won the games in painstaking ways against the Comets as well. UTD led 1-0 until the 88th minute of the game when Kelsey Jensen tied it up and then Amy Kuykendall gave the Cowgirls the win in overtime. In 2005, defender Natalie Longhofer scored in overtime to give the Cowgirls a win.
If the Cowgirls don’t lose either of the games this weekend it would push the streak to 100 games, which is the longest in the nation. What a sweet way it would be to get to 100. The games are always close and the Cowgirls more often than not have found a way to come out on top.
I talked to a former Cowgirl the other day about the streak and what it meant to them and her response was interesting to me. She said there is so much pride in the streak that they will fight to do whatever to keep the streak alive. She said she was part of the team that lost a home winning streak that had gone into the 50’s. It was the lowlight of her career at HSU to have that happen and each team’s leaders have done what it takes to relay that on to the newcomers.
That is the true definition of tradition.
You talk about the two rivalries, but it is also a big weekend for the men’s soccer and volleyball teams. The men take on Ozarks and UT-Dallas in a key weekend in ASC play. One of the three teams has won nine of the last 10 ASC titles and all three are expected to be at the top again this year. With a couple of wins the Cowboys would be in good shape heading into the back half of the league schedule.
The volleyball team is hosting the ASC Crossover for the first time in school history. HSU will play at 4:30 on Friday and will play at 9:30 and 2:30 on Saturday. There will be six games at the Mabee Complex over two days.
I encourage the HSU fans and students to come out to some of the games this weekend. You will not be disappointed and the players would enjoy your vocal support.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Wow what a weekend!
If this past weekend is any indication of what we have in store it is going to be another great year. The soccer, volleyball and football teams had a perfect 7-0 weekend.
I got my first live look at soccer and volleyball and was really encouraged by what I saw.
Soccer and volleyball had taken their lumps with demanding preconference schedules. Part of that was youth, and part of that was by design. They all played tough competition with November in mind. I think all three of those coaches think they have very talented teams, but they are also all three relying on young players in key positions.
There is no doubt that all three did a solid job on the recruiting trail. That is a key part of the job that people on the outside don’t realize how hard our coaches work on. It is probably the biggest part of their job, because a coach is only as good as their players.
To be successful at Division III, you have to go hard after kids that have the talent to play at scholarship schools. That makes the job even tougher. Not only do they have to get the kids to not take scholarships they have to get them to sometimes win over parents egos regarding the prestige of getting a scholarship.
The reality is hardly anyone at Division II, NAIA or Junior Colleges are getting full scholarships. Most are on one-quarter or less scholarships. With the right combination of financial aid, a lot of times they would pay less bottom-line at Hardin-Simmons or other Division III schools. Getting parents, often-times more so than the potential student-athletes, to realize that is the toughest part of the recruiting battle.
HSU has a lot of things to sell – a beautiful campus, great and getting better athletic facilities, a great school where a degree means a lot, the Christian environment and an unmatched overall athletic tradition when compared to other schools in the conference.
All of that said, you can see the work our coaches have done on the trail and the success is evident on the field. There is another cycle of great young talent on campus, how they continue to progress will be the difference in a good year and a great year.
The volleyball team looked dominant in a pair of sweeps. The Cowgirls are still trying to mix the new players in with the large group of returners, but should be contenders for the league title.
The women’s soccer team won 9-0 and 5-0 and the men won 3-0 and 1-0. The tennis teams both had solid showings at the ASC Individuals Tournament in Tyler.
The football game was another barn-burner that didn’t feel as close as the final score indicated. The Cowboys moved the ball well between the 20’s and had to settle for three field goals. This team is getting better and better every week. The defense again shows continued signs of improvement and with more and more of the injured players getting back this team has the chance to be really good. They keep finding ways to win.
As good of a week as this past one was, the week ahead will tell a lot in the ASC races.
In case you haven’t seen, the women’s soccer team is on a 96-game unbeaten streak in ASC play. That streak will get a test this week. The Cowgirls hit the road to UT-Tyler on Thursday. HSU and the Patriots played for the ASC title and anytime you take a young team on the road it is a test. It will be the first road conference games and will be against one of the contenders. There have been several of these tests during the streak, but the Cowgirls have found a way to come through.
Not to be overshadowed is the men’s game at UT-Tyler. The Patriots are one of the top contenders in the league and a Cowboy win or tie could go a long way in the ASC race.
Both teams also play at Concordia on Saturday. Those games will be at Cedar Park High School.
The volleyball teams hit the road for an improved Schreiner team on Friday and on Saturday play at ASC West rival Texas Lutheran. HSU and TLU shared the conference title last year and then they played an epic five-game match in the ASC final that TLU won. The winner of the ASC West gets the right to host the ASC Tournament so a win on the road could go a long way in earning the right to host.
The football team returns home to host Mississippi College, who got on track last weekend with a 44-7 win over McMurry. MC and HSU tied for second in the league last year and were considered preseason contenders for the title this year. MC started 0-2 but is a talented team.
Everyone knows that injuries are part of the game, but when it comes to marquee players it is potentially team-changing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to two of the top players in the ASC in football. Adam Shaffer, who is the quarterback at MC, had a season-ending knee injury. It is the second-time in three years his knee has been injured in the opening weeks of the year. He was a preseason All-American and the preseason player of the year. Mary Hardin-Baylor star running back Quincy Daniels has an apparent season-ending knee injury as well suffered on Saturday.
I got my first live look at soccer and volleyball and was really encouraged by what I saw.
Soccer and volleyball had taken their lumps with demanding preconference schedules. Part of that was youth, and part of that was by design. They all played tough competition with November in mind. I think all three of those coaches think they have very talented teams, but they are also all three relying on young players in key positions.
There is no doubt that all three did a solid job on the recruiting trail. That is a key part of the job that people on the outside don’t realize how hard our coaches work on. It is probably the biggest part of their job, because a coach is only as good as their players.
To be successful at Division III, you have to go hard after kids that have the talent to play at scholarship schools. That makes the job even tougher. Not only do they have to get the kids to not take scholarships they have to get them to sometimes win over parents egos regarding the prestige of getting a scholarship.
The reality is hardly anyone at Division II, NAIA or Junior Colleges are getting full scholarships. Most are on one-quarter or less scholarships. With the right combination of financial aid, a lot of times they would pay less bottom-line at Hardin-Simmons or other Division III schools. Getting parents, often-times more so than the potential student-athletes, to realize that is the toughest part of the recruiting battle.
HSU has a lot of things to sell – a beautiful campus, great and getting better athletic facilities, a great school where a degree means a lot, the Christian environment and an unmatched overall athletic tradition when compared to other schools in the conference.
All of that said, you can see the work our coaches have done on the trail and the success is evident on the field. There is another cycle of great young talent on campus, how they continue to progress will be the difference in a good year and a great year.
The volleyball team looked dominant in a pair of sweeps. The Cowgirls are still trying to mix the new players in with the large group of returners, but should be contenders for the league title.
The women’s soccer team won 9-0 and 5-0 and the men won 3-0 and 1-0. The tennis teams both had solid showings at the ASC Individuals Tournament in Tyler.
The football game was another barn-burner that didn’t feel as close as the final score indicated. The Cowboys moved the ball well between the 20’s and had to settle for three field goals. This team is getting better and better every week. The defense again shows continued signs of improvement and with more and more of the injured players getting back this team has the chance to be really good. They keep finding ways to win.
As good of a week as this past one was, the week ahead will tell a lot in the ASC races.
In case you haven’t seen, the women’s soccer team is on a 96-game unbeaten streak in ASC play. That streak will get a test this week. The Cowgirls hit the road to UT-Tyler on Thursday. HSU and the Patriots played for the ASC title and anytime you take a young team on the road it is a test. It will be the first road conference games and will be against one of the contenders. There have been several of these tests during the streak, but the Cowgirls have found a way to come through.
Not to be overshadowed is the men’s game at UT-Tyler. The Patriots are one of the top contenders in the league and a Cowboy win or tie could go a long way in the ASC race.
Both teams also play at Concordia on Saturday. Those games will be at Cedar Park High School.
The volleyball teams hit the road for an improved Schreiner team on Friday and on Saturday play at ASC West rival Texas Lutheran. HSU and TLU shared the conference title last year and then they played an epic five-game match in the ASC final that TLU won. The winner of the ASC West gets the right to host the ASC Tournament so a win on the road could go a long way in earning the right to host.
The football team returns home to host Mississippi College, who got on track last weekend with a 44-7 win over McMurry. MC and HSU tied for second in the league last year and were considered preseason contenders for the title this year. MC started 0-2 but is a talented team.
Everyone knows that injuries are part of the game, but when it comes to marquee players it is potentially team-changing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to two of the top players in the ASC in football. Adam Shaffer, who is the quarterback at MC, had a season-ending knee injury. It is the second-time in three years his knee has been injured in the opening weeks of the year. He was a preseason All-American and the preseason player of the year. Mary Hardin-Baylor star running back Quincy Daniels has an apparent season-ending knee injury as well suffered on Saturday.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Cardiac Cowboys
Something special seems to be brewing with the Cowboy football team.
The Cowboys in the last two weeks have defeated two of the most storied programs in the nation and both times did it with scores on their final drive.
Yesterday felt almost like the opposite of last week. The Cowboys seemed to be the ones in control this week and all of a sudden a couple of good drives by Linfield and HSU looked up at a late deficit. Once again Justin Feaster and the Cowboy offense were up to the challenge.
Feaster appears to be the most comfortable in the two-minute, hurry-up situations. The Cowboys scored three straight touchdowns and a field goal last week in the hurry up. HSU scored at the end of both halves yesterday in a speed-up mode. The Cowboys have come up with ways to make big plays in tough situations.
While the Cowboys offense has come up big in the clutch, it is the defense that is the difference. The unit has forced six turnovers in two games, which have resulted in 28 points. They fly around to the football better and are more confident. The majority of the players playing on defense were on the unit last year. They are just a year more mature and the new scheme appears to be working, especially against the pass.
Overcoming adversity against good teams, teaches you a lot about a team. This team has done that twice and the good thing is that the Cowboys have not fired on all cylinders and are by no means healthy. This team will get better and better.
There are several players that are within a week or two of making it back. M.J. Hatchett, Garrison Hardin and Adam Rogers should be ready soon on the defensive line and that will add some depth especially inside, where the Cowboys have been really thin and playing four freshmen.
Kurston Williams should be back on the offensive line and Adam Podzemny and Matt Fields could be back to play wide receiver. The receiving corps has been productive, but there is little depth.
You add those six players and the depth is improved. All six can and all but Hardin have been impact players for the Cowboys. Things are looking up with this team and by the end of the year could be a national contender.
Just a Few More Things
This is a busy week at Hardin-Simmons. The soccer and volleyball teams will be home for the first time this weekend. All three squads open American Southwest Conference action. The women’s soccer team plays at Abilene Christian on Tuesday.
I am anxious to see all three teams play for real for the first time this season. All three teams have great talent and should all three contend for ASC titles.
For those of you that tried to listen to our game Saturday on the internet, we apologize for the mixup. It is never good to turn on the HSU game and hear the ACU broadcast. There was a communication breakdown between our internet streaming provider and the radio station. Fortunately it was back on for the exciting fourth quarter and the issues have been worked out.
I hope you have been enjoying the photo galleries, video and livestats on the new web site. The video is the viewer on the front page, the livestats can be found on the livestats button on the middle of the front page and the photo galleries are under the multimedia tab.
All of the photos have been taken by my graduate assistant R.C. Waters. He has done a great job with the number of photos we are able to get on the web.
Also the fall sport media guides (football, soccer and volleyball) are on the web. You can see them on each sports page.
The Cowboys in the last two weeks have defeated two of the most storied programs in the nation and both times did it with scores on their final drive.
Yesterday felt almost like the opposite of last week. The Cowboys seemed to be the ones in control this week and all of a sudden a couple of good drives by Linfield and HSU looked up at a late deficit. Once again Justin Feaster and the Cowboy offense were up to the challenge.
Feaster appears to be the most comfortable in the two-minute, hurry-up situations. The Cowboys scored three straight touchdowns and a field goal last week in the hurry up. HSU scored at the end of both halves yesterday in a speed-up mode. The Cowboys have come up with ways to make big plays in tough situations.
While the Cowboys offense has come up big in the clutch, it is the defense that is the difference. The unit has forced six turnovers in two games, which have resulted in 28 points. They fly around to the football better and are more confident. The majority of the players playing on defense were on the unit last year. They are just a year more mature and the new scheme appears to be working, especially against the pass.
Overcoming adversity against good teams, teaches you a lot about a team. This team has done that twice and the good thing is that the Cowboys have not fired on all cylinders and are by no means healthy. This team will get better and better.
There are several players that are within a week or two of making it back. M.J. Hatchett, Garrison Hardin and Adam Rogers should be ready soon on the defensive line and that will add some depth especially inside, where the Cowboys have been really thin and playing four freshmen.
Kurston Williams should be back on the offensive line and Adam Podzemny and Matt Fields could be back to play wide receiver. The receiving corps has been productive, but there is little depth.
You add those six players and the depth is improved. All six can and all but Hardin have been impact players for the Cowboys. Things are looking up with this team and by the end of the year could be a national contender.
Just a Few More Things
This is a busy week at Hardin-Simmons. The soccer and volleyball teams will be home for the first time this weekend. All three squads open American Southwest Conference action. The women’s soccer team plays at Abilene Christian on Tuesday.
I am anxious to see all three teams play for real for the first time this season. All three teams have great talent and should all three contend for ASC titles.
For those of you that tried to listen to our game Saturday on the internet, we apologize for the mixup. It is never good to turn on the HSU game and hear the ACU broadcast. There was a communication breakdown between our internet streaming provider and the radio station. Fortunately it was back on for the exciting fourth quarter and the issues have been worked out.
I hope you have been enjoying the photo galleries, video and livestats on the new web site. The video is the viewer on the front page, the livestats can be found on the livestats button on the middle of the front page and the photo galleries are under the multimedia tab.
All of the photos have been taken by my graduate assistant R.C. Waters. He has done a great job with the number of photos we are able to get on the web.
Also the fall sport media guides (football, soccer and volleyball) are on the web. You can see them on each sports page.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Land of 10,000 Lakes
Being from Oklahoma, I always have scoffed at the idea that everything’s bigger in Texas. On our trip to Minneapolis, I think Minnesota should use the logo “Everything’s Bigger in Minnesota”.
Everything seemed bigger to me. The Mall of America is ridiculous. Grapevine Mills would fit in the amusement park area of the thing. I have never seen so many stores. Then there steaks – wow – I have had a lot of good steaks in a lot of places, but I put our pregame steak up there with anything I have had. Not to mention the coconut cream pie. I love my grandma to death, but she got outdone on my favorite dessert.
Some other things that I noticed on the trip to.
The Republicans were leaving and that’s a good thing. They thought the election was apparently held last week. The election can wait until November.
The Metrodome is starting to show its age, but is a great place to watch a game. One question though, is 21 not the drinking limit there, because it seemed everyone over about the age of 14 had a beer (or maybe I am getting older and those 21-year olds look 14).
Saturday night games make Sunday’s very long. We got out of the stadium at Winona State around 10:15 and we got to our hotel about 1:15 a.m. By the time I did some work updating the web it was 2 a.m., which made that 4 a.m. wakeup call come very early. Fortunately we were back in Abilene by 11:30, but that doesn’t matter much when you have a four-year old and naps are not an option.
Chris McNair is probably the smartest person I know and he can explain things to dummies (like me) where they can understand it.
It has been a fast a furious start to the fall sport season, despite the fact that we have not had a home event so far.
The football game was quite an adventure. It definitely had its ebbs and flows. It seemed like we dominated the first quarter and you look up and it is still 0-0. They were able to break a long run to take a 7-0 halftime lead and there was not a sense of doubt at that point.
Two short fields led to a couple more scores for UWL and at 21-0 some doubt had started to creep in. Then a quick score and a couple of turnovers by them and scores by us and suddenly it is 21 all with a little over nine minutes to play.
Then they drive it down to the two and we come up with a big stop to keep the emotion on our side. Then the first play a mishandled snap causes a safety with just over three minutes to play. We get the key defensive stop and a clutch drive and kick for the win. It was the biggest deficit the Cowboys have overcome for a win in the Keeling era.
Men’s and women’s soccer got their first wins of the season last weekend and both of those young teams continue to grow each week. Both coaches say the same thing in the fact that by November they could be scary good.
Volleyball went 2-2 on its trip to Atlanta. Men’s and women’s tennis played at ACU over the weekend and I am still waiting on those results. The cross country teams had their first ever meet on Saturday at ACU. Women’s golf opened the season with a fourth-place finish at the UT-Dallas Tournament.
Everything seemed bigger to me. The Mall of America is ridiculous. Grapevine Mills would fit in the amusement park area of the thing. I have never seen so many stores. Then there steaks – wow – I have had a lot of good steaks in a lot of places, but I put our pregame steak up there with anything I have had. Not to mention the coconut cream pie. I love my grandma to death, but she got outdone on my favorite dessert.
Some other things that I noticed on the trip to.
The Republicans were leaving and that’s a good thing. They thought the election was apparently held last week. The election can wait until November.
The Metrodome is starting to show its age, but is a great place to watch a game. One question though, is 21 not the drinking limit there, because it seemed everyone over about the age of 14 had a beer (or maybe I am getting older and those 21-year olds look 14).
Saturday night games make Sunday’s very long. We got out of the stadium at Winona State around 10:15 and we got to our hotel about 1:15 a.m. By the time I did some work updating the web it was 2 a.m., which made that 4 a.m. wakeup call come very early. Fortunately we were back in Abilene by 11:30, but that doesn’t matter much when you have a four-year old and naps are not an option.
Chris McNair is probably the smartest person I know and he can explain things to dummies (like me) where they can understand it.
It has been a fast a furious start to the fall sport season, despite the fact that we have not had a home event so far.
The football game was quite an adventure. It definitely had its ebbs and flows. It seemed like we dominated the first quarter and you look up and it is still 0-0. They were able to break a long run to take a 7-0 halftime lead and there was not a sense of doubt at that point.
Two short fields led to a couple more scores for UWL and at 21-0 some doubt had started to creep in. Then a quick score and a couple of turnovers by them and scores by us and suddenly it is 21 all with a little over nine minutes to play.
Then they drive it down to the two and we come up with a big stop to keep the emotion on our side. Then the first play a mishandled snap causes a safety with just over three minutes to play. We get the key defensive stop and a clutch drive and kick for the win. It was the biggest deficit the Cowboys have overcome for a win in the Keeling era.
Men’s and women’s soccer got their first wins of the season last weekend and both of those young teams continue to grow each week. Both coaches say the same thing in the fact that by November they could be scary good.
Volleyball went 2-2 on its trip to Atlanta. Men’s and women’s tennis played at ACU over the weekend and I am still waiting on those results. The cross country teams had their first ever meet on Saturday at ACU. Women’s golf opened the season with a fourth-place finish at the UT-Dallas Tournament.
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