You meet a lot of different people in the sports world, especially when you’ve been involved with it for 30-plus years like I have. Some good, some bad, some in-between.
Bob Hersom is definitely on the good list. And it’s always especially sad to see the good ones leave us, as Bob did Monday afternoon when the former Oklahoman sports writer succumbed to liver disease.
I met Bob in the mid-1980s while working as a sports writer at the Lawton Constitution and had off-and-on contact with him during my four-year tenure there before coming to UCO in 1987.
He covered many of our teams and events over the years, especially during a stretch as the newspaper’s college wrestling writer. Bob didn’t exactly know a lot about wrestling, but he dove into his new assignment with his typical gusto and went on the road to cover the national tournament with us one year.
Bob went on to staff several UCO football games and would occasionally call or email to check in with me even when he wasn’t covering the Bronchos. He was always the consummate professional when we were talking about work and a truly interested friend when talking about family or other subjects.
The world needs more people like Bob Hersom.
So long, Bob. Thanks for being my friend.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Playing as an NCAA Division II independent in 2010-11 will create plenty of challenges for the majority of Central Oklahoma’s teams, particularly in regards to scheduling.
The Bronchos have completed their 20-plus year association with the Lone Star Conference and don’t join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association until the start of the 2011-12 academic year, so this is a year of transition for UCO.
Obviously, the most difficult item to deal with this year is finding teams to play since there is no built-in conference schedule.
A look at UCO’s football slate shows just how tough it was.
The Bronchos managed to come up with an 11-game schedule -- including five at Wantland Stadium -- but six of the first seven games are on the road, including the opening four.
Long-time state rivals East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma are back. Former LSC foe Angelo State is there along with future MIAA opponents Fort Hays State and Washburn.
But UCO will also face four teams for the first time ever, traveling to long-time Division II power North Alabama and Football Championship Subdivision member Cal Poly in addition to hosting Division II newcomers Black Hills State and Lindenwood.
It’s an interesting schedule and also a very tough one that will definitely require the Bronchos to play at a high level, starting right off the bat with a trip to North Alabama.
Soccer and volleyball will also have limited home contests this fall, though those sports didn’t have as tough a time filling their schedules.
Soccer will play eight of its 18 games at Tom Thompson Field, with the twist being that the Bronchos will play three teams – ECU, SWOSU and Northeastern State – twice, once at home and once away.
Volleyball will also have home-and-home matches with three schools (ECU, SWOSU and SOSU), but UCO’s 33-match schedule will actually include more contests at Hamilton Field House this year (10) than last (eight).
The men's and women's basketball schedules aren't official, but it appears each will have at most seven home games and both teams are set to play NSU and Lindenwood four times apiece.
It remains to be seen what UCO's other schedules will look like.
Such are the hazards of playing as an independent, but thankfully it's a short-term problem before the Bronchos join NSU, Lindenwood and Nebraska-Kearney as new MIAA members in the fall of 2011.
The Bronchos have completed their 20-plus year association with the Lone Star Conference and don’t join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association until the start of the 2011-12 academic year, so this is a year of transition for UCO.
Obviously, the most difficult item to deal with this year is finding teams to play since there is no built-in conference schedule.
A look at UCO’s football slate shows just how tough it was.
The Bronchos managed to come up with an 11-game schedule -- including five at Wantland Stadium -- but six of the first seven games are on the road, including the opening four.
Long-time state rivals East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma are back. Former LSC foe Angelo State is there along with future MIAA opponents Fort Hays State and Washburn.
But UCO will also face four teams for the first time ever, traveling to long-time Division II power North Alabama and Football Championship Subdivision member Cal Poly in addition to hosting Division II newcomers Black Hills State and Lindenwood.
It’s an interesting schedule and also a very tough one that will definitely require the Bronchos to play at a high level, starting right off the bat with a trip to North Alabama.
Soccer and volleyball will also have limited home contests this fall, though those sports didn’t have as tough a time filling their schedules.
Soccer will play eight of its 18 games at Tom Thompson Field, with the twist being that the Bronchos will play three teams – ECU, SWOSU and Northeastern State – twice, once at home and once away.
Volleyball will also have home-and-home matches with three schools (ECU, SWOSU and SOSU), but UCO’s 33-match schedule will actually include more contests at Hamilton Field House this year (10) than last (eight).
The men's and women's basketball schedules aren't official, but it appears each will have at most seven home games and both teams are set to play NSU and Lindenwood four times apiece.
It remains to be seen what UCO's other schedules will look like.
Such are the hazards of playing as an independent, but thankfully it's a short-term problem before the Bronchos join NSU, Lindenwood and Nebraska-Kearney as new MIAA members in the fall of 2011.
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