To use a baseball term in reference to a football hiring, I'd say UCO hit a home run with Wednesday's announcement that former Broncho fullback Nick Bobeck would take over as the school's new head football coach. A two-out, bottom-of-the-ninth, walk-off grand slam at that.
Not to put any undue pressure on Nick, but this is the guy who can get the Bronchos back where they belong. And where UCO football belongs is among the NCAA Division II elite.
The Bronchos should field a team that annually competes with the best of the best in the rugged Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. UCO should be in the running for a playoff berth virtually every year. Nick Bobeck is the guy who can get those things done.
He can't do it alone and it won't happen overnight, but the history and tradition of the program -- nearly 600 wins, two national titles, 31 conference/division crowns -- demands that the Bronchos be successful.
It was an exciting time during Wednesday's press conference in the Wantland Stadium suites. The place was overflowing with school administrators and coaches, fans and media and -- most noteably -- former players. Guys who played with Nick when he wore No. 45 for the Bronchos from 1999-02 and others who were giddy with the thought of one of their own taking over the reigns of the program.
Guys like Buck Irwin, who played for the Bronchos in the late 1980s. And Max Tuepker, a four-year letterman from the mid-1970s. And Aaron Chester, whose career ended a year before Nick came to UCO. Teammates like Jess Loepp and Brandon Whiteley and John Fitzgerald and Tyler Griffin and B.J. Bender. Former athletic administrators like Skip Wagnon and Jeff McKibbin and Chuck Bailey.
All watching as the poised and polished Bobeck -- looking like he could still suit up and knock down a linebacker or two -- talked with great honesty and humility about his love for UCO and his excitement of getting back to his alma mater. How the university helped shape him as a man and a coach. How he's committed to getting the Bronchos back where they belong. How much he loves to teach and coach and mentor young men, to turn them not only into great football players but responsible members of society.
All waited as Nick went through various one-on-one media interviews following the press conference, wanting to share a handshake and a hug with the man they know will bring the Broncho family back together, with the wins to soon follow.
It was a scene I'll not soon forget. Watching a guy trot around the bases after knocking the ball out of the park to win the game is always something to savor.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Christmas Wishes
Christmas is nearly here, so I guess it's time to make known my wish list for UCO athletics.
• That UCO's new football coach, whomever it may be, will be able to get the Bronchos out of the mire of mediocrity that has plagued the program recently. UCO has had only three winning seasons in the 2000s and that's unacceptable for a program with such a long history of success. Nearly 600 wins (593) more than any other Oklahoma college team besides OU. Thirty-eight seasons with seven-plus wins. Thirty-one conference/division championships. Two national titles. UCO and winning football should go hand-in-hand.
• That the UCO women's basketball team suffer no more injuries. It's downright amazing how many crucial players coach Guy Hardaker has lost this season to injury. Three, including senior starters Courtney Allen and Alyssa Fuxa, went out before the season even started. Another senior (Kasey Tweed) was lost three weeks ago. And then last week in Las Vegas, freshman stud Paiten Taylor tore her knee up. Allen, Fuxa and Tweed played in 249 combined games for the Bronchos, experience and leadership that can't be replaced. Yet, somehow, UCO is 9-4.
• That the new UCO volleyball coach, whomever it may be, will continue the winning tradition established by Mark Herrin in 1990 and continued by Jeff Boyland. The Bronchos have had 19 winning seasons since 1990 while being guided by Herrin (1990-02) and Boyland (03-11), winning 25-plus matches seven times and making four Division II national tournament appearances. The next coach will have some big shoes to fill and here's hoping they will step right into them.
• That UCO's perennial powerhouse wrestling team gets back in the championship hunt. The Bronchos have won 15 national championships in their storied history, including 12 under 30th-year head coach David James. But UCO's last title came in 2007 and the Bronchos have finished sixth, sixth, 15th and 13th in the four seasons since then. This year's squad is still a young one with only one senior starter, but there's plenty of talent and the potential is there. Helping UCO's cause this year will be hosting the Super Regional Two Tournament at Hamilton Field House on Feb. 25-26.
• That the senior trio of Shane Carroll, Brent Friday and Tyler Phillips make a second semester push in leading UCO's men to yet another national tournament berth. The threesome has played in 294 combined games, scored 2,685 points and appeared in the post-season every year of their careers. Phillips was part of the 2008 team that made it to the Elite Eight before missing the next season with injury when Carroll and Friday joined the program. That 2009 team went to the Division II playoffs again, as did the 2010 and '11 teams the trio played on together. The 8-6 Bronchos will probably need a significant second-semester rally to get back in the national tournament, but the three amigos are ready to lead the charge.
• That all the UCO teams that have yet to start enjoy successful seasons, sprinkled with many wins and - hopefully - a few championships.
• That everyone enjoy a wonderful Christmas along with a safe and prosperous New Year!
• That UCO's new football coach, whomever it may be, will be able to get the Bronchos out of the mire of mediocrity that has plagued the program recently. UCO has had only three winning seasons in the 2000s and that's unacceptable for a program with such a long history of success. Nearly 600 wins (593) more than any other Oklahoma college team besides OU. Thirty-eight seasons with seven-plus wins. Thirty-one conference/division championships. Two national titles. UCO and winning football should go hand-in-hand.
• That the UCO women's basketball team suffer no more injuries. It's downright amazing how many crucial players coach Guy Hardaker has lost this season to injury. Three, including senior starters Courtney Allen and Alyssa Fuxa, went out before the season even started. Another senior (Kasey Tweed) was lost three weeks ago. And then last week in Las Vegas, freshman stud Paiten Taylor tore her knee up. Allen, Fuxa and Tweed played in 249 combined games for the Bronchos, experience and leadership that can't be replaced. Yet, somehow, UCO is 9-4.
• That the new UCO volleyball coach, whomever it may be, will continue the winning tradition established by Mark Herrin in 1990 and continued by Jeff Boyland. The Bronchos have had 19 winning seasons since 1990 while being guided by Herrin (1990-02) and Boyland (03-11), winning 25-plus matches seven times and making four Division II national tournament appearances. The next coach will have some big shoes to fill and here's hoping they will step right into them.
• That UCO's perennial powerhouse wrestling team gets back in the championship hunt. The Bronchos have won 15 national championships in their storied history, including 12 under 30th-year head coach David James. But UCO's last title came in 2007 and the Bronchos have finished sixth, sixth, 15th and 13th in the four seasons since then. This year's squad is still a young one with only one senior starter, but there's plenty of talent and the potential is there. Helping UCO's cause this year will be hosting the Super Regional Two Tournament at Hamilton Field House on Feb. 25-26.
• That the senior trio of Shane Carroll, Brent Friday and Tyler Phillips make a second semester push in leading UCO's men to yet another national tournament berth. The threesome has played in 294 combined games, scored 2,685 points and appeared in the post-season every year of their careers. Phillips was part of the 2008 team that made it to the Elite Eight before missing the next season with injury when Carroll and Friday joined the program. That 2009 team went to the Division II playoffs again, as did the 2010 and '11 teams the trio played on together. The 8-6 Bronchos will probably need a significant second-semester rally to get back in the national tournament, but the three amigos are ready to lead the charge.
• That all the UCO teams that have yet to start enjoy successful seasons, sprinkled with many wins and - hopefully - a few championships.
• That everyone enjoy a wonderful Christmas along with a safe and prosperous New Year!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tough-luck Kid
Kasey Tweed has never been one of Central Oklahoma's big stars on the basketball court. A career scoring average of 4.4 points a game is proof positive of that.
But the senior guard has played a vital role in UCO's success throughout her career in a myriad of other ways. Tough, hard-nosed defense. Leadership. Shear competitiveness. A tipped rebound here, a knocked away pass there. Contributions that sometimes don't show up in a box score.
And now, sadly, it appears Kasey's career is over.
I honestly didn't expect her injury-ravaged right knee to hold up the entire season, especially considering the fearless way she plays on the court, but certainly there was hope that it would.
Kasey tore her ACL in that right knee as a freshman in high school, then again as a sophomore at UCO and then again as a junior. She sat out the entire 2010-11 season rehabbing that knee, even using a personal trainer last summer to get it ready to go for one last go-around.
It actually was holding up pretty good, though there were plenty of days that Kasey couldn't practice much because of the soreness. She averaged 5.9 points a game and had a team-high 15 steals through UCO's 7-2 start and gave the Bronchos a gritty toughness they needed.
So, of course, it wasn't the right knee that went out on Kasey. It was the left. She felt something give in the second game of the season, didn't tell anyone for fear of not being able to play and then tweaked it again during practice last week.
The early diagnosis wasn't bad, but a doctor's visit revealed a partial ACL tear. Rehab it for a few weeks and she might be able to return, though the ultimate result of that would undoubtedly be a full tear and another surgery. Which means that Kasey Tweed has played her final game.
"I've played since I was five years old and just didn't want to give it up," Kasey said. "Now I'm done forever."
How do you measure a player's heart? Their passion? Their love of the game? You watch someone like Kasey Tweed.
But the senior guard has played a vital role in UCO's success throughout her career in a myriad of other ways. Tough, hard-nosed defense. Leadership. Shear competitiveness. A tipped rebound here, a knocked away pass there. Contributions that sometimes don't show up in a box score.
And now, sadly, it appears Kasey's career is over.
I honestly didn't expect her injury-ravaged right knee to hold up the entire season, especially considering the fearless way she plays on the court, but certainly there was hope that it would.
Kasey tore her ACL in that right knee as a freshman in high school, then again as a sophomore at UCO and then again as a junior. She sat out the entire 2010-11 season rehabbing that knee, even using a personal trainer last summer to get it ready to go for one last go-around.
It actually was holding up pretty good, though there were plenty of days that Kasey couldn't practice much because of the soreness. She averaged 5.9 points a game and had a team-high 15 steals through UCO's 7-2 start and gave the Bronchos a gritty toughness they needed.
So, of course, it wasn't the right knee that went out on Kasey. It was the left. She felt something give in the second game of the season, didn't tell anyone for fear of not being able to play and then tweaked it again during practice last week.
The early diagnosis wasn't bad, but a doctor's visit revealed a partial ACL tear. Rehab it for a few weeks and she might be able to return, though the ultimate result of that would undoubtedly be a full tear and another surgery. Which means that Kasey Tweed has played her final game.
"I've played since I was five years old and just didn't want to give it up," Kasey said. "Now I'm done forever."
How do you measure a player's heart? Their passion? Their love of the game? You watch someone like Kasey Tweed.
Monday, November 21, 2011
On The Road
I was in a mini-bus traveling with our women's basketball team to Denton, Texas last Friday morning when word started to reach us about the latest Oklahoma State airplane tragedy.
Shocked and bewilderment were my two immediate reactions, followed quickly by sadness and grief. As an OSU graduate, it hit even closer to home and I just couldn't believe such a catastrophe had happened to the school yet again.
But it also made me realize that accidents involving collegiate athletic programs are really rare. I'm obviously extremely grateful for that, but it's also somewhat amazing if you start to consider how many teams around the country are actually out there traveling the highways and airways during any given day.
UCO alone had its men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling teams on the road last weekend, with the basketball squads both going to Texas and the wrestlers all the way to Nebraska. All three traveled via bus and two of them didn't arrive back until late Saturday night.
I've been on hundreds of trips during my long career at UCO, traveling virtually every way possible -- car, station wagon, van, mini-bus, charter bus, small airplane, chartered airplane and commercial airplane.
And -- knock on wood -- I've made it here and there and back again on all those trips without an accident. Yes, we hit a deer once during a late-night drive back from a wrestling tournament in Nebraska. And, yes, there's been the occasional flat tire or mechanical issue or weather delay that's hampered a trip.
But those were merely inconveniences, blips on the radar that put us behind schedule and perhaps caused us to be late. And I'm okay with late, as long as we get where we're going and back again safely.
Shocked and bewilderment were my two immediate reactions, followed quickly by sadness and grief. As an OSU graduate, it hit even closer to home and I just couldn't believe such a catastrophe had happened to the school yet again.
But it also made me realize that accidents involving collegiate athletic programs are really rare. I'm obviously extremely grateful for that, but it's also somewhat amazing if you start to consider how many teams around the country are actually out there traveling the highways and airways during any given day.
UCO alone had its men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling teams on the road last weekend, with the basketball squads both going to Texas and the wrestlers all the way to Nebraska. All three traveled via bus and two of them didn't arrive back until late Saturday night.
I've been on hundreds of trips during my long career at UCO, traveling virtually every way possible -- car, station wagon, van, mini-bus, charter bus, small airplane, chartered airplane and commercial airplane.
And -- knock on wood -- I've made it here and there and back again on all those trips without an accident. Yes, we hit a deer once during a late-night drive back from a wrestling tournament in Nebraska. And, yes, there's been the occasional flat tire or mechanical issue or weather delay that's hampered a trip.
But those were merely inconveniences, blips on the radar that put us behind schedule and perhaps caused us to be late. And I'm okay with late, as long as we get where we're going and back again safely.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Special Day
This day - Nov. 2 - will always be a special day to me. It's the anniversary of when I started working at this fine institution we call the University of Central Oklahoma, although it was still Central State University when I came aboard on Nov. 2, 1987.
And here I still am, 24 years later. Who knew? Certainly not me. Although I had worked in media relations - or sports information as we called it - while in college at Oklahoma State, I had been out of the business for five years while working as a sports writer for newspapers in McAlester and Lawton.
But when the job came open back in October of 1987 I took a chance and applied. Skip Wagnon was the athletic director back then and for whatever reason he took a chance on me. For that, and for the unbelievable friend he's become over the years, I'll be forever grateful.
Hard to believe it's actually been 24 years. Time certainly does fly, especially when you're having fun, and I've had a ton of that during the two-plus decades I've had the privilege of working here and living in Edmond.
The profession has certainly changed over time. When I started, weekly press releases were sent via snail mail, fax machines required a special paper and game statistics were kept with pencil and paper before being typed. Scores and sometimes stories themselves had to be dictated over the phone.
Websites weren't around, email didn't exist, nobody had ever heard of a blog.
Now virtually everything is done in the blink of eye and the push of a button. You would think all the advances in technology would make this profession easier, but I'm convinced it's actually made it tougher with all that is expected, mostly in relation to the athletic website.
But it's been a great ride and I've had some unbelievable experiences during my time here, especially when traveling with our teams all around these United States. I've had the good fortune to be with various teams for games from Massachusetts to Hawaii and many, many places in between.
Long bus rides, stranded flights, lost luggage . . . we've had it all and then some.
And the games I've seen. Figuring conservatively, I've witnessed an estimated 3,000 UCO athletic events - home and away - over the past 24 years. That's a lot of wins and losses.
Obviously, the wins and championships stick out more. National titles in wrestling. Conference crowns in a number of sports. Big wins over rivals. Last-minute comebacks over anybody.
And then there's the people. That's what has been really special about this job. Life-long friendships forged with Skip and Jeff McKibbin and David James and Gary Howard and Chuck Stumbaugh and Chris Needham and Chuck Bailey, guys who were here when I first came on board.
That doesn't even begin to count those who have came through the department since that November day in 1987 when I first stepped through the doors of Hamilton Field House as a CSU employee. Nor does it include the student-athletes - the "kids" - that I've met and become friends with. Or the coaches and media relations people at schools we've played against.
UCO is a special place to me and this is a special day. Now I better get back to work, because a wrestling match is on tap and the women's basketball team is on the road. The work, and the fun, seems to never stop.
And here I still am, 24 years later. Who knew? Certainly not me. Although I had worked in media relations - or sports information as we called it - while in college at Oklahoma State, I had been out of the business for five years while working as a sports writer for newspapers in McAlester and Lawton.
But when the job came open back in October of 1987 I took a chance and applied. Skip Wagnon was the athletic director back then and for whatever reason he took a chance on me. For that, and for the unbelievable friend he's become over the years, I'll be forever grateful.
Hard to believe it's actually been 24 years. Time certainly does fly, especially when you're having fun, and I've had a ton of that during the two-plus decades I've had the privilege of working here and living in Edmond.
The profession has certainly changed over time. When I started, weekly press releases were sent via snail mail, fax machines required a special paper and game statistics were kept with pencil and paper before being typed. Scores and sometimes stories themselves had to be dictated over the phone.
Websites weren't around, email didn't exist, nobody had ever heard of a blog.
Now virtually everything is done in the blink of eye and the push of a button. You would think all the advances in technology would make this profession easier, but I'm convinced it's actually made it tougher with all that is expected, mostly in relation to the athletic website.
But it's been a great ride and I've had some unbelievable experiences during my time here, especially when traveling with our teams all around these United States. I've had the good fortune to be with various teams for games from Massachusetts to Hawaii and many, many places in between.
Long bus rides, stranded flights, lost luggage . . . we've had it all and then some.
And the games I've seen. Figuring conservatively, I've witnessed an estimated 3,000 UCO athletic events - home and away - over the past 24 years. That's a lot of wins and losses.
Obviously, the wins and championships stick out more. National titles in wrestling. Conference crowns in a number of sports. Big wins over rivals. Last-minute comebacks over anybody.
And then there's the people. That's what has been really special about this job. Life-long friendships forged with Skip and Jeff McKibbin and David James and Gary Howard and Chuck Stumbaugh and Chris Needham and Chuck Bailey, guys who were here when I first came on board.
That doesn't even begin to count those who have came through the department since that November day in 1987 when I first stepped through the doors of Hamilton Field House as a CSU employee. Nor does it include the student-athletes - the "kids" - that I've met and become friends with. Or the coaches and media relations people at schools we've played against.
UCO is a special place to me and this is a special day. Now I better get back to work, because a wrestling match is on tap and the women's basketball team is on the road. The work, and the fun, seems to never stop.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Fall Update
*Big win for the UCO football team last Saturday at Wantland Stadium, one the Bronchos badly needed after stumbling out of the gate 0-4.
Plenty of heroes in the 41-21 win, with running back Joshua Birmingham and cornerback Creadell Pennon getting the lion's share of the credit for their incredible individual performances. All Birmingham did was rush for 233 yards -- sixth-best game in school history -- with a 74-yard touchdown scamper while breaking two other long runs to set up scores. Pennon was not to be outdone, intercepting three passes and running one back 100 yards for a TD. The other two were fourth-quarter picks, both in UCO territory.
There were plenty of others who played key roles in the win, from Ethan Sharp's efficient performance at quarterback that included two scoring passes and a TD run to Sam Moses, Keno Meadows, Tucker Cason and Brandon Williams coming up with key defensive stops. And don't forget place-kicker Chris Robbs, who booted a pair of fourth-period field goals when the Bronchos pulled away. It was the best overall effort of the seaosn for UCO, with offense, defense and special teams all playing a big role in the win.
UCO goes back on the road the next two weeks and both will be amazingly hard tests. First up is a long trip to San Luis Obispo, Calif. this Saturday to take on Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) member Cal Poly and then next week the Bronchos go to Topeka, Kan. to meet Washburn, currently ranked fifth in Division II.
After that, though, UCO ends the season with four straight home games.
*This week's Division II women's soccer poll had a familiar name in it for the first time this year -- UCO, which came in at No. 23. The Bronchos have been ranking regulars since 1999, but didn't crack the top 25 all last season and made it for the first time in 2011 thanks to an on-going seven-game winning streak.
Mike Cook's crew has outscored its last seven opponents 21-3 while pitching four shutouts and is definitely on a roll right now. UCO returns from a nine-day break from competition Sunday, hosting Southwestern Oklahoma at 1 p.m.
*Volleyball started a four-match homestand Wednesday night with a three-set throttling of Oklahoma Panhandle, giving up just 15 points in winning the last two (25-6 and 25-9). The Bronchos, now 12-9, are back home Friday against Harding before hosting Texas-Permian Basin Sunday and Newman next Tuesday.
*UCO's rowing team opened its fall schedule last weekend at the Oklahoma River in the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta and fared well despite stiff competition that had the Bronchos as the lone Division II school in every race. First-year head coach Andrew Derrick has his team pointed in the right direction and is ready to make some serious noise next spring.
*The youthful UCO women's golf team came through with a fine third-place finish at their own UCO Golf Classic earlier this week at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City. The Bronchos had two sophomores and three freshmen in the starting lineup and still shot rounds of 294-291, with the 291 the third-lowest in school history. Sophomore Chaney Uhles finished third with a one-under-par 139 total after shooting 70-69 and looks like a legitimate All-America contender.
*UCO's cross country team continues to be paced by freshman phenom Brooke Klimek, who came in 11th at the rugged Cowboy Jamboree last week to lead the Bronchos to a seventh-place team finish. Klimek won the first two meets of the season and will be a threat to win every race UCO competes in the rest of the way.
*Don't look now, but the winter sports teams are about to start practice. UCO's wrestling squad, which has 15 national championship banners hanging in Hamilton Field House, will get started Oct. 10 when teams can finally get on the mat. The basketball teams won't be far behind, with the first official practices for both set for Oct. 15. UCO's men and women both made it to the Sweet 16 last year in winning a combined 52 games (30 for men, 22 for women) and both figure to be quite good again this year.
Plenty of heroes in the 41-21 win, with running back Joshua Birmingham and cornerback Creadell Pennon getting the lion's share of the credit for their incredible individual performances. All Birmingham did was rush for 233 yards -- sixth-best game in school history -- with a 74-yard touchdown scamper while breaking two other long runs to set up scores. Pennon was not to be outdone, intercepting three passes and running one back 100 yards for a TD. The other two were fourth-quarter picks, both in UCO territory.
There were plenty of others who played key roles in the win, from Ethan Sharp's efficient performance at quarterback that included two scoring passes and a TD run to Sam Moses, Keno Meadows, Tucker Cason and Brandon Williams coming up with key defensive stops. And don't forget place-kicker Chris Robbs, who booted a pair of fourth-period field goals when the Bronchos pulled away. It was the best overall effort of the seaosn for UCO, with offense, defense and special teams all playing a big role in the win.
UCO goes back on the road the next two weeks and both will be amazingly hard tests. First up is a long trip to San Luis Obispo, Calif. this Saturday to take on Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) member Cal Poly and then next week the Bronchos go to Topeka, Kan. to meet Washburn, currently ranked fifth in Division II.
After that, though, UCO ends the season with four straight home games.
*This week's Division II women's soccer poll had a familiar name in it for the first time this year -- UCO, which came in at No. 23. The Bronchos have been ranking regulars since 1999, but didn't crack the top 25 all last season and made it for the first time in 2011 thanks to an on-going seven-game winning streak.
Mike Cook's crew has outscored its last seven opponents 21-3 while pitching four shutouts and is definitely on a roll right now. UCO returns from a nine-day break from competition Sunday, hosting Southwestern Oklahoma at 1 p.m.
*Volleyball started a four-match homestand Wednesday night with a three-set throttling of Oklahoma Panhandle, giving up just 15 points in winning the last two (25-6 and 25-9). The Bronchos, now 12-9, are back home Friday against Harding before hosting Texas-Permian Basin Sunday and Newman next Tuesday.
*UCO's rowing team opened its fall schedule last weekend at the Oklahoma River in the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta and fared well despite stiff competition that had the Bronchos as the lone Division II school in every race. First-year head coach Andrew Derrick has his team pointed in the right direction and is ready to make some serious noise next spring.
*The youthful UCO women's golf team came through with a fine third-place finish at their own UCO Golf Classic earlier this week at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City. The Bronchos had two sophomores and three freshmen in the starting lineup and still shot rounds of 294-291, with the 291 the third-lowest in school history. Sophomore Chaney Uhles finished third with a one-under-par 139 total after shooting 70-69 and looks like a legitimate All-America contender.
*UCO's cross country team continues to be paced by freshman phenom Brooke Klimek, who came in 11th at the rugged Cowboy Jamboree last week to lead the Bronchos to a seventh-place team finish. Klimek won the first two meets of the season and will be a threat to win every race UCO competes in the rest of the way.
*Don't look now, but the winter sports teams are about to start practice. UCO's wrestling squad, which has 15 national championship banners hanging in Hamilton Field House, will get started Oct. 10 when teams can finally get on the mat. The basketball teams won't be far behind, with the first official practices for both set for Oct. 15. UCO's men and women both made it to the Sweet 16 last year in winning a combined 52 games (30 for men, 22 for women) and both figure to be quite good again this year.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Season Update
Three weeks into the sports year and here's what we've learned from last time!
* For once I was right about something. There was no way the UCO soccer team was going to continue to play like it did in getting out of the gate 0-3 and that's exactly what happened. Since that tough start the Bronchos have reeled off four straight wins, including a huge 2-0 road upset of No. 2-ranked St. Edward's Sunday. Mike Cook's crew has started to play lock-down defense -- having given up just two goals with two shutouts in the current streak -- and the offense has started to find its rhythm. And speaking of Coach Cook . . . congats to to the veteran skipper for picking up his 200th career win with the Bronchos back on Sept. 10 in UCO's 4-0 blanking of Southwest Baptist. Quite an accomplishment for quite a coach.
* The football team seems to have regressed. I saw a lot of encouraging signs during UCO's season-opening 31-10 road loss to what is now the No. 2-ranked Division II team in the country in North Alabama, a talent-laden squad that features 30-plus Division I transfers, but the Bronchos seem to have taken a step back the last couple of weeks. Defensively, UCO played real solid in last week's 20-0 setback at Angelo State and could have easily given up a lot more points with the field position the Rams enjoyed throughout the second half. Offensively, the Bronchos never got untracked last week and that was surprising given some of the skill position people we appear to have. At any rate, Saturday's game at Southwestern Oklahoma looms large for UCO. It will be the 87th meeting between the two old rivals and it could also be the last one as moves by both schools to different conferences will prevent future meetings, at least for the foreseable future.
* UCO's volleyball squad is up-and-down. That shouldn't be too surprising given the amount of newcomers who are playing key roles for Jeff Boyland's Bronchos, who will undoubtedly get more consistent as the season progresses. This team can play at an extremely high level one match and then really struggle the next, but you have to like the make-up of the squad and I think the future is really bright.
* This may be the best cross country team UCO's had since the 2000 club won the Lone Star Conference championship. It may be too early to say that since the Bronchos have had only one meet, with last week's race at Missouri Southern cancelled by lightning, but it's hard not to be excited about this bunch. I know Coach J.D. Martin likes what he sees and that man's been around cross country/track long enough to know. Freshman Brooke Klimek had an amazing collegiate debut in running away with the individual title at the season-opening UCO Land Run on Sept. 10 and you need to keep an eye on this team.
* The UCO men's golf team is good. Real good. National championship-type good. Okay, I'm not going out on a limb much with that statement given the Bronchos returned four starters and several other key players from last year's team that was ranked No. 1 for much of the spring and was fifth in the first Division II national poll of the fall, but still. Two tournaments this fall, two tournament titles. The latest one, which wrapped up Tuesday, was a 26-shot romp over a runner-up team ranked No. 3 in the country. Yep, they're good all right.
* For once I was right about something. There was no way the UCO soccer team was going to continue to play like it did in getting out of the gate 0-3 and that's exactly what happened. Since that tough start the Bronchos have reeled off four straight wins, including a huge 2-0 road upset of No. 2-ranked St. Edward's Sunday. Mike Cook's crew has started to play lock-down defense -- having given up just two goals with two shutouts in the current streak -- and the offense has started to find its rhythm. And speaking of Coach Cook . . . congats to to the veteran skipper for picking up his 200th career win with the Bronchos back on Sept. 10 in UCO's 4-0 blanking of Southwest Baptist. Quite an accomplishment for quite a coach.
* The football team seems to have regressed. I saw a lot of encouraging signs during UCO's season-opening 31-10 road loss to what is now the No. 2-ranked Division II team in the country in North Alabama, a talent-laden squad that features 30-plus Division I transfers, but the Bronchos seem to have taken a step back the last couple of weeks. Defensively, UCO played real solid in last week's 20-0 setback at Angelo State and could have easily given up a lot more points with the field position the Rams enjoyed throughout the second half. Offensively, the Bronchos never got untracked last week and that was surprising given some of the skill position people we appear to have. At any rate, Saturday's game at Southwestern Oklahoma looms large for UCO. It will be the 87th meeting between the two old rivals and it could also be the last one as moves by both schools to different conferences will prevent future meetings, at least for the foreseable future.
* UCO's volleyball squad is up-and-down. That shouldn't be too surprising given the amount of newcomers who are playing key roles for Jeff Boyland's Bronchos, who will undoubtedly get more consistent as the season progresses. This team can play at an extremely high level one match and then really struggle the next, but you have to like the make-up of the squad and I think the future is really bright.
* This may be the best cross country team UCO's had since the 2000 club won the Lone Star Conference championship. It may be too early to say that since the Bronchos have had only one meet, with last week's race at Missouri Southern cancelled by lightning, but it's hard not to be excited about this bunch. I know Coach J.D. Martin likes what he sees and that man's been around cross country/track long enough to know. Freshman Brooke Klimek had an amazing collegiate debut in running away with the individual title at the season-opening UCO Land Run on Sept. 10 and you need to keep an eye on this team.
* The UCO men's golf team is good. Real good. National championship-type good. Okay, I'm not going out on a limb much with that statement given the Bronchos returned four starters and several other key players from last year's team that was ranked No. 1 for much of the spring and was fifth in the first Division II national poll of the fall, but still. Two tournaments this fall, two tournament titles. The latest one, which wrapped up Tuesday, was a 26-shot romp over a runner-up team ranked No. 3 in the country. Yep, they're good all right.
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