Mustangs plan to lean on running-back depth
Most teams would be happy to have either one of the top two running backs on the Midwestern State depth chart. But the Mustangs are selfish and they have no intention of sharing. They intend to take full advantage of the 1-2 punch supplied by senior BeeJay Mathis and junior Marcus Mathis — no relation — as they try to work their way back into the NCAA Division II playoffs.
“What’s great about those two is they have a few similarities and then they have a few traits that are different from the other one,” said offensive coordinator Dean Norsworthy. “I think Marcus is a little faster, while BeeJay is a little shiftier. He’s also in 100-times better shape than last year and it’s paying off. They’re both experienced, tough runners and leaders. They’ll allow us to lean on the running game if we need to.”
SWO FOOTBALL TEAM ADDS TWO NEW ASSISTANTS
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University football coach Dan Cocannouerannounced the hiring of Dwayne Turner and Bradley Reents as the newest members of the Bulldog football coaching staff. Turner will serve as the graduate assistant in charge of running backs while Reents will oversee the wide receivers.
“We’re excited about the addition of both Dwayne and Bradley to our staff,” Cocannouer said. “Both are experienced football coaches who are the type of people we want teaching and leading our young men.”
LSC Fall Sports Preview Series: Southwestern Oklahoma State
Exactly 20 years after finishing up a graduate assistant term, Dan Cocannouer returns to Weatherford and his alma mater as the new head coach of the Bulldogs. Cocannouer was one of the most prestigious high school coaches in the state of Oklahoma, but now turns his attention to resurrecting SWOSU, which finished 3-8 overall last season.
"This is a dream come true for me," Cocannouer said. "This is where I got my start more than 30 years ago and it always has been a special place to me."
Click here to see video from LSC Football Media Day
Although he might be new to this particular team, Cocannouer will coach some familiar faces, particularly senior quarterback Steve Day, who played under Cocannouer at Edmond Santa Fe High School, where they played in the Class 6A state championship game in 2003. And Day carried that success into the collegiate level, where he was an honorable mention All-LSC pick last year, passing for 2,561 yards, 18 touchdowns, despite 17 interceptions.
LSC Fall Sports Preview Series: Tarleton State
A year ago, the Texans looked primed and ready to end a playoff drought that dates back to 2003. Tarleton ripped off five straight wins to a 5-0 start and figured to be in the mix for the postseason regional rankings. But Tarleton lost three LSC South games down the stretch, including a 51-0 defeat at West Texas A&M in the season finale that hasn't been forgotten in Stephenville this off-season.
Tarleton head coach Sam McElroy enters his fifth season and brings a 30-12 overall record in that span. But while McElroy has kept the Texans near the top of the conference standings every year, his goal this year is to get his team over the hump and be a more competitive team late in the season.
Click here to see video from LSC Football Media Day
"We've been close to doing what everyone wants us to do, and that's win a championship and playoffs," McElroy said. "And it's been frustrating to be close. Each year, we're where we all want to be, playing for a chance at a championship and playoffs. But we haven't gotten over the top. We were very disappointed when we left Canyon. WTAMU got after us pretty good. But since that day, I've seen a group of men commit themselves to the goal. Our guys have stayed focused and I hope that means great things for us in the fall."
Mustangs ranked No. 5 in NSCAA Preseason Poll
WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State begins this season against a familiar foe and in just as familiar of position as the Mustangs will carry a preseason No. 5 ranking according the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America/adidas national poll released Thursday afternoon.
MSU, which opens the season at rival Incarnate Word on Aug. 28, has reached the NCAA Division IIpostseason in six of the last eight seasons including a trip to the Final Four in 2007 and advanced to the national quarterfinals on three occasions (2002, 2003, 2008).
The Mustangs have occupied a position in the NSCAA/adidas national rankings for the last 33 reporting periods since cracking the poll at No. 21 back on Oct. 3, 2006. Midwestern has ranked among the nation's top 10 for each of the last 20 reporting periods including the finals polls in each of the last three seasons.
WT men's soccer team ranked 25th in nation
The West Texas A&M men's soccer team is ranked 25th in the National Soccer Coaches of America preseason poll.
The Buffs finished 12-5 last season and second in the Southwest Soccer Conference. Lone Star Conference foe Midwestern State is ranked fifth in the poll.
The Buffs open their season at 5 p.m. Aug. 27 against St. Edward's at Austin.
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