It may be hard to believe, but football season is upon us. Or it will be in a few short days when UCO opens the 2010 campaign Saturday against Pittsburg State.
The Gorillas invade Wantland Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff Saturday and it should be an interesting battle between two long-time powers looking for an identity. Pitt State ranks first and the Bronchos third in all-time wins on the Division II level, but both are coming off losing seasons.
UCO went 4-7 last year, winning three of the last four after a 1-6 start. The Gorillas finished 5-6, losing three of their last four. It will be the third straight time the two teams have opened the season against each other, with PSU having taken the past two meetings.
The Bronchos have an incredibly young team this season, with just 21 upperclassmen on the 86-player roster. Twenty-one!! That's amazing. Even more amazing is the fact that senior center Cody Ellett is the ONLY player remaining from the 2007 team.
UCO has talent, no doubt about that. Skill-position guys like running back Josh Birmingham, wide receivers Dolphin Davis, Daniel Morrell and Matt Jackson. Defenders like linebacker Tucker Cason and lineman Herbert Byrd. These players are among the best in the Lone Star Conference and there are others who are flying under the rader right now, ready and waiting to showcase their talents.
There are many questions as well -- especially with such a young squad -- and it may take awhile to find all the answers. But all signs point toward a bright future for the Bronchos, who are eager to get started.
It should be fun Saturday night at Wantland Stadium. There will be plenty of pre-game activities around the stadium, a large group of former players will be honored at halftime and the team will be wearing retro uniforms. It's a 7 p.m. kickoff, so come out early and join in the fun.
While we're on the subject of Broncho football . . . how about the early performance of former defensive line stud Jermelle Cudjo? A four-year star who signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams, Cudjo has been impressive in the first two preseason games with a pair of sacks and has a great shot of making the roster.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Summer Is Over
It doesn't officially happen until Sept. 23, but to me summer is over.
You may not have noticed it, but the seasons changed on Saturday, Aug. 7 when UCO had its first football practice. The lazy days of summer are gone, replaced by a sudden flurry of activity as first one team and then several more begin preparing for their upcoming seasons.
Football was the first to get started, with the cross country, soccer and volleyball teams all set to open practice next Monday, Aug. 16.
The football team has been drilling in some brutal conditions with the current heat wave and the Bronchos have plenty of work to do in order to be ready for the Aug. 28 season opener. Coach Tracy Holland's team is loaded with young players and they will have to grow up in a hurry with Pittsburg State coming to Wantland Stadium for the first game.
It will be the first of six home games for the Bronchos in 2010, including four of the first five. That's a far cry from last year, when UCO had just four of its 11 games at Wantland Stadium.
Mike Cook's soccer club is also dominated by youth, with nary a single senior on the roster. But the Bronchos will again be a main contender for the Lone Star Conference title this fall, returning nine players who saw some starting duty last year.
UCO has a favorable schedule, starting the season with six straight home games, and the Bronchos will play 11 of their 18 games at Tom Thompson Field this season.
It won't be as good a home slate for the volleyball team, with Jeff Boyland's spikers set to play just eight of their 30 matches at Hamilton Field House.
This is a veteran squad, however, with five seniors leading a team that lost just one starter from last year and the Bronchos are ready to be a main challenger in the league race.
Likewise, the cross country team is hoping to make a move up the LSC standings this fall. J.D. Martin returns six runners from last year's squad that finished fourth in the conference, with the Bronchos set to make their lone home apperance with the UCO Land Run on Sept. 11.
You may not have noticed it, but the seasons changed on Saturday, Aug. 7 when UCO had its first football practice. The lazy days of summer are gone, replaced by a sudden flurry of activity as first one team and then several more begin preparing for their upcoming seasons.
Football was the first to get started, with the cross country, soccer and volleyball teams all set to open practice next Monday, Aug. 16.
The football team has been drilling in some brutal conditions with the current heat wave and the Bronchos have plenty of work to do in order to be ready for the Aug. 28 season opener. Coach Tracy Holland's team is loaded with young players and they will have to grow up in a hurry with Pittsburg State coming to Wantland Stadium for the first game.
It will be the first of six home games for the Bronchos in 2010, including four of the first five. That's a far cry from last year, when UCO had just four of its 11 games at Wantland Stadium.
Mike Cook's soccer club is also dominated by youth, with nary a single senior on the roster. But the Bronchos will again be a main contender for the Lone Star Conference title this fall, returning nine players who saw some starting duty last year.
UCO has a favorable schedule, starting the season with six straight home games, and the Bronchos will play 11 of their 18 games at Tom Thompson Field this season.
It won't be as good a home slate for the volleyball team, with Jeff Boyland's spikers set to play just eight of their 30 matches at Hamilton Field House.
This is a veteran squad, however, with five seniors leading a team that lost just one starter from last year and the Bronchos are ready to be a main challenger in the league race.
Likewise, the cross country team is hoping to make a move up the LSC standings this fall. J.D. Martin returns six runners from last year's squad that finished fourth in the conference, with the Bronchos set to make their lone home apperance with the UCO Land Run on Sept. 11.
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