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.