Lahnert: Coach Carthel, it's time to speak up - Lance Lahnert, Amarillo Globe News
It's time to step up to the microphone, Don Carthel.
Yeah, I said it.
Step up.
Another West Texas A&M football player was arrested this week - at least the ninth WT player or coach incarcerated during the past 20 months for various reasons - and yet another "no comment" from Carthel, the WT head football coach.
What Carthel has done in his six seasons at WT with the football program is nothing short of a miracle.
The crowds and performances Carthel's nationally ranked Buffs have brought to Kimbrough Stadium the past six years in my opinion tie for first - with Amarillo High winning four straight Class 5A volleyball state championships from 2006-2009 - as the greatest team accomplishments in the Texas Panhandle during the last 20 years.
Carthel is the catalyst and heartbeat for that turnaround. The Buffs have gone from playing in an empty stadium and one hopeless losing season after another to among the top Division II programs in the nation in attendance and winning LSC titles and playoff games.
Still, with this black cloud of arrests hanging over the program, the public deserves more than a "no comment" from the head coach.
If nothing else, Carthel should tell us his plan to keep players out of trouble, not sweep the mess under a rug.
The facts are the facts:
• In January 2009, seven Buffs players were arrested for involvement in an off-campus break-in and fight.
No comment from Carthel.
• Around the same time, former high-profile assistant coach Ryan Leaf's troubles with prescription drugs became public.
He was arrested and charged for taking advantage of an injured Buffs player and stealing his prescribed medicine.
No comment from Carthel. But when Leaf was announced as a new coach, a news conference was held. Go figure.
• Last month, WT defensive lineman Simi Kuli was arrested on a misdemeanor drug charge and entered a plea of guilty.
No comment from Carthel.
Kuli played Saturday night against Tarleton State. He showed for Monday's booster club meeting and poured out his guts by standing in front of the group, telling them he has passed recent drug tests. He said he doesn't sell drugs. He said he doesn't use drugs. His heartfelt words inspired a standing ovation and shows why a professor I trust calls him a good kid.
Still, he pleaded guilty to marijuana possession.
No comment from Carthel.
• Finally, in the last 10 days, star WT defensive end Bryan Braman was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, allegedly hallucinogenic mushrooms. Braman has been suspended from the team and his case is pending.
No comment from Carthel.
Now, Carthel did call the Amarillo Globe-News to set up an interview for assistant sports editor and WT beat writer Dave Henry with Braman's attorney, Bill Kelly. Kelly is a former Buffs head football coach and a pit bull in the courtroom who will do his best to help NFL prospect Braman get back on the field.
So I say to Don Carthel, it's time to step up to the plate.
Little stepping into big shoes - J. Scott Russell, Times Record News
There was no doubt that Andy Tanner was the go-to guy when quarterback Zack Eskridge was ready to pass the ball in the 2009 season.
If Eskridge needed a big third-down catch or somebody to get open when forced to scramble, his old high school teammate always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
As a result, Tanner’s name shows up frequently in the Midwestern State record book in the receiving categories.
However, Tanner is gone, so a new go-to guy is needed.
Junior David Little might not have the title yet, but he is quickly filling that role for Eskridge and the Mustangs.
And he’s also putting his name in the record books.
Massengill solid in debut for Tigers - Brian Johnson, Ada Evening News
Freshman Domonique Massengill, making his first start, gave East Central University’s running game a glimmer of hope last Saturday.
Massengill became the first Tiger running back to go over 100 yards since the final game of the 2008 season. He netted 104 yards on 21 carries in ECU’s 27-13 home loss to Incarnate Word.
Now, he hopes to have some more big rushing efforts before his career is over with the Tigers.
“I feel like I had a bad game, but everyone just kept telling me to keep running hard,” Massengill said. “I didn’t think I had a good game except for the one big run.”
Versatile Lincoln doing big things at receiver for Javelinas - George Vondracek, Corpus Christi Caller Times
There was a time when Ryan Lincoln considered closing the book on his Texas A&M-Kingsville football career before it opened.
Lincoln hung in there, however, and today, he is two catches away from becoming the Javelinas' all-time leader in pass receptions.
Recruited as a running back out of Bastrop High School, Lincoln has 176 career receptions entering Saturday's Lone Star Conference showdown with seventh-ranked West Texas A&M. With two catches, Lincoln would move past Glenn Starks, who snared 177 passes from 1974-77. It is with a sense of relief that Lincoln has reached this point.
"Now it's just hurry up and get it so we can get it out of the way so we can move on," Lincoln said. "But it's going to feel real good to me, not knowing that I was ever going to play receiver. So I'm just going to feel blessed knowing that I got that and we can move forward."
In 2006, Lincoln was redshirted. The program was struggling. Richard Cundiff announced his resignation less than three games into what would be a 3-8 season. Keith Baxter was hired from Southeastern (Okla.) State that December and bolted unexpectedly six months later to return to Oklahoma. Baxter's defensive coordinator at Southeastern, Bo Atterberry, who came to Texas with Baxter, stayed to become the eighth man to coach the Javelinas on the field.
Still, all of that shuffling led Lincoln to seriously consider transferring.
"I was serious at one time. The coach that recruited me quit three games into the season of my freshman year. I was like, well, let's see what coach is going to come in," Lincoln said. "Coach Baxter came in and he quit on us or whatever. I liked coach Atterberry. Even though he was the defensive coordinator he was still giving me props and techniques and stuff. Coach Atterberry, I'll play for him."
Javelinas Notebook - George Vondracek, Corpus Christi Caller Times
The axiom is as constant with Bo Atterberry as is his credo of "Fight. Finish. Faith."
The fourth-year Texas A&M-Kingsville football coach constantly preaches the need for depth, and that those players in backup roles need to be prepared when their services are required.
Josh Luck is proof positive of that.
The senior transfer from Northern Arizona was called upon to step into a starting cornerback spot ahead of a sub-par Mardrick Johnson in last week's game at Angelo State. Luck responded by forcing a fumble and returning it for a touchdown in the ninth-ranked Javelinas' 28-21 victory.
"Sometimes it's hard for those guys to see when their opportunity may come. Obviously those guys are continuing to work and they may start to outplay somebody and they get their opportunity and do well, or there's an injury," Atterberry said. "It could happen a number of different ways.
"It's not an easy thing because everybody wants to play, that's the bottom line. But only 11 guys can go out there at a time," Atterberry said. "We talk to them about, 'Don't count your reps, make your reps count.' Those guys have done that and their number was called, opportunity knocked and they answered the call and did a nice job."
STATE COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Kenny Davis leads Northeastern resurgence - Scott Munn, The Oklahoman
Kenny Davis is consistent. He is reliable. Loyal is a good description, too.
The Northeastern Oklahoma State football team is the beneficiary. Davis, an All-State quarterback at Adair High School, has helped lead the NCAA Division II program back to respectability. Northeastern State is 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the Lone Star North division going into Saturday's 6 p.m. game at Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford.
It's one of the best seasons in years for a football program that was an NAIA power and succeeded early in its Division II membership. But the RiverHawks have skidded to nine consecutive losing seasons.
A lot of credit for the turnaround this fall points toward Davis, who averages 162.7 passing yards per game. Although that is not a "holy cow” number in this era of spread formations, the junior has thrown just one interception in 147 attempts.
That is impressive.
RiverHawks offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen "stresses a lot how important it is not to turn over the ball,” Davis said. "I think I'm playing well — and not turning over the ball. I've watched myself in previous games this season, what I'm doing right and wrong. I think I'm getting better.”
Oklahoma state college football power poll - Scott Munn, The Oklahoman
Bronchos Struggle To Find Wins - UCO360.com
What is there to say about a 2-4 football team that cannot seem to get out of their own way? Well for one, their offense is averaging almost 30 points per game, which is pretty good. On the flip side their defense is giving up 34 points per game, not so good. So what’s the deal? Stats only go so far, and when it comes down it, they’re playing chess not checkers. Saying their defense needs to get better really doesn’t help anything.
Lady Buffs roll to victory against Savage Storm - Amarillo Globe-News
The West Texas A&M Lady Buffs won their 73rd consecutive match over a Lone Star Conference volleyball opponent Thursday night, beating Southeastern Oklahoma State, 25-16, 25-10, 25-22, in Durant, Okla.
The streak, which began in 2006, is the third-longest in NCAA Division II volleyball history. WT also has the longest streak of 77 matches from 1999 to 2003.
MSU can't close the deal, falls to Wildcats in five - Times Record News
Midwestern State had two swings to knock down No. 21 Abilene Christian in Lone Star Conference action Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
But the Mustangs just couldn’t close the deal, allowing ACU to extend the match and slip away with an 18-25, 22-25, 28-26, 25-22, 15-13 victory to improve to 18-3 on the season and remained a perfect 7-0 in league play.
Valdez, ’Belles volleyball beat host Cameron - San Angelo Standard Times
Angelo State University freshman outside hitter Kaelen Valdez recorded her fifth double-double of the season, helping guide the Rambelles to a 17-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-13 victory over Lone Star Conference foe Cameron University on Thursday night in Aggie Gym.
In front of a crowd of more than 500, Valdez helped lead the Rambelles to their sixth conference win as they improved to 6-1 in the Lone Star Conference and 10-10 overall. The Helotes native hit .320 in the match with 11 kills, 10 digs and three service aces.
No. 21 ACU rallies to beat Mustangs 3-2 in LSC volleyball - Abilene Reporter News
Madelyn Robinett’s kill in a decisive Game 5 gave Abilene Christian a comeback 3-2 victory over Midwestern State on Thursday in a Lone Star Conference volleyball match.
The kill capped an incredible rally by the Wildcats (18-3 overall, 7-0 LSC), ranked No. 21 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II national poll.
ACU's Mongin, Walker still in hunt for national tennis titles - Abilene Reporter News
Abilene Christian’s Julia Mongin is still in the hunt for two national titles.
The ACU sophomore won her first-round women’s singles match, then teamedwith senior Jaclyn Walker to also advance to the second round in women’s doubles Thursday in Division II play at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships.
Mongin, the No. 4 seed, beat Lynn’s Elenora Iannozzi 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 in women’s singles. She’ll play No. 1 seed Yuan Jia of BYU-Hawaii at 8:30 a.m. today. Jia beat Colorado Christian’s Amy Anderson 6-0, 6-1. In other first-round women’s singles matches, No. 3 Jutta Bornefeld of California (Penn.) beat Southern New Hampshire’s Amber Chandronnait 5-7, 6-1, 6-0, and Alida Muller-Wehlau of Armstrong Atlantic beat Rockhurst’s Maureen Rielley 6-1, 6-1.
The women’s singles final is at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
ACU opens hoops practice today - Abilene Reporter News
Abilene Christian opens men’s practice at 8 a.m. today in Moody Coliseum, with the women’s team working out at 11 a.m.
ACU was 17-11 last season but returns only one of their top eight scorers. ACU reached the Lone Star Conference tournament but lost 111-105 in triple overtime to Central Oklahoma in the first round.
The men’s team was 8-19 but won just one of 12 games in LSC play.
The men begin their season Nov. 12 against University of Texas-Permian Basin at Moody, with the women traveling to Austin for a Nov. 12 game at the St. Edward’s Invitational.
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