Take a glance at the bench before any UCO women's basketball game and what do you see? Head coach Guy Hardaker and assistant Bill Shaw busying themselves with last-minute game preparations. Nine players looking forward to the game, most looking relaxed and laughing.
But what else do you notice?
Well, there's the sweet-shooting Courtney Allen and do-everything Alyssa Fuxa, returning starters from last year's 22-10 team that made it to the Sweet 16. But they're not suited up. Neither is Tarrington Oakes, a key reserve at point guard last season.
Oh, and there's Kasey Tweed. Steady senior veteran, starter of the first nine games this season, but now in street clothes. And then you see Paiten Taylor, a potent inside force with her rebounding and scoring who started the first 12 games. Nope, she's not in uniform either.
And finally there's Britney Morgan. Started every game as a rookie last year and the first 19 games this winter at the point, running the UCO attack. She's in sweats, a bulky brace covering one knee.
Yep, that's six - seven counting Alex Richardson, who is also out - players sidelined by season-ending injury.
But what happened on this Saturday afternoon, when the Bronchos went against a Northeastern State team ranked sixth in the country with a 17-1 record and an 11-game winning streak? A UCO victory of course, 77-71 in overtime.
Never mind that five potential starters were on the bench. Forget that the Bronchos have had to constantly revamp their style of play, with players having to take on different roles than they're used to. Don't worry about freshmen being brought along slowly who all of a sudden are expected to play in crucial situations.
It's simply mind-boggling the amount of injuries the Bronchos have endured this year. It was bad last season, when Tweed, Taylor, Jill Bryan and Rachel New had to sit out, with Oakes going down midway through and Allen toward the end. But nothing like this season.
And still the Bronchos found a way to knock off the No. 6 team in the country. Amazing, to say the least. UCO is 13-8 with five games remaining, which I think is incredible, given what's happened this year.
Kudos to the Coach Hardaker and his staff for being positive, creating ways to stay competitive, not offering excuses. A big tip of the hat to Heather Davis and Savannah Hamilton and Jill Bryan and Rachel New and Autumn Huffman and Courtney Harper and Chelsea Robinson and Paige Locke and Chelsi Dennis, the players who come to the gym every day ready to work.
Those nine players know things would be different if their teammates were suited up with them. They know the record would be better, the playing time were be distributed differently, the roles they play on the court wouldn't be the same.
But that doesn't matter. They show up for the games and leave everything on the court, usually with a smile. And how cool is that?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
A New Beginning
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.
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.
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