School Is Here

It's Monday, Aug. 22, the first day of the fall semester for UCO and its 17,000-plus students. Which means that finding a parking place has become even more of a challenge than the past two weeks, when students first starting moving in.

More importantly, it also means we're just over a week away from the fall sports season starting.

Football gets things started first, opening the season next week with a Thursday night game at North Alabama, an NCAA Division II playoff team last year. The Lions have a roster full of Division I transfers and were ranked sixth in the pre-season national poll.

Volleyball and soccer both open next weekend, both hitting the road for classics. Soccer goes to Omaha, Neb. to take on Nebraska-Omaha (Sept. 2) and Truman State (Sept. 4), while volleyball travels to Joplin, Mo. to play four matches in the Missouri Southern Classic Sept. 2-3.

The cross country squad doesn't start up until the next weekend, hosting the UCO Land Run Sept. 10 at Mitch Park.

All four teams have been busy getting ready, with two-a-day practices the norm instead of the exception. From all reports, much progress has been made as coaches try to mesh together returners from last year with newcomers, be they freshmen or transfers.

Football has had a pair of intrasquad scrimmages and it's readily apparent the Bronchos have more team speed than in recent years. There is some special talent at several positions, but depth in certain areas is thin and a brutal schedule will provide an extra challenge.

Volleyball scrimmaged an outside opponent last Friday and a young squad that must grow up in a hurry had some impressive moments. There will be several new players who will play key roles this fall, so look for the Bronchos to make impressive progress throughout the year.

Soccer also had a scrimmage last week and this team appears ready to make a big splash. Ten starters returned and a host of talented newcomers have shown their ability to contribute, with the Bronchos ready to reclaim their status as a perennial national tournament team.

Cross country also has a good mix of returners and newcomers, with this group putting in lots of miles during morning and afternoon workouts to get ready for the fast-approaching season.

It should be a fun fall, even if I can't find a parking place.