Game Week

It's finally here.

It's game week for three of UCO's fall teams -- football, soccer and volleyball.

Football gets it started Thursday night when the Bronchos take on long-time Division II power North Alabama, which is ranked sixth in the pre-season poll. Game-time is 7 p.m. and check out the advance on bronchosports.com for links to follow the game via TV broadcast, radio broadcast or live stats.

It will be quite the challenge for UCO, with the Lions featuring a team loaded with dozens of Division I transfers. UNA went 9-4 last year in making the second round of the playoffs and is expected to be a prime national championship contender this fall.

But it will also be quite an opportunity for the Bronchos. Taking on a well-established power on the field that has hosted the Division II national championship game the last 20 years should have Coach Tracy Holland and his team ready to play at a fever pitch.

Soccer takes the field Friday afternoon in Omaha, Neb., going against a Nebraska-Omaha team that won the Division II national title just a couple of years ago and is now in the process of moving to Division I. UCO follows that with another game Sunday in Omaha, this one against Truman State.

The Bronchos have plenty of returning talent -- 10 starters are back from 2010 -- and a host of newcomers who are chomping at the bit to get on the field and contribute as well. This has the makings of a very good fall for Coach Mike Cook and his crew.

And speaking of Coach Cook . . . the veteran skipper will be going after his 200th win at UCO in Friday's opener against UNO. Mike is 199-68-16 since he debuted as the program's only coach in 1998, which is some kind of good.

Volleyball also opens up on Friday, with the Bronchos in Joplin, Mo. for two days of play in the Missouri Southern Invitational. UCO will play twice each day, going against Harding and the host Lions on Friday before taking on Quincy and Newman on Saturday.

The Bronchos will have a bunch of new faces this year with a large group of newcomers, but look for Coach Jeff Boyland to once again put an exciting -- and winning -- product on the court.

The volleyball team, by the way, will be the first one to play at home this year when they host Southeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Soccer follows the next day with an afternoon contest against Abilene Christian to start a three-game homestand and then cross country will kick off its season at home on Saturday, Sept. 10 with the UCO Land Run.