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.