LSC Roundup 7-30

Javelinas Make Some Changes For Upcoming Season (with video)
KINGSVILLE - The Annual Lone Star Conference Football Media Day is Thursday afternoon in Dallas, and the Javelina football team is just over eight days from opening practice.

Just three wins in Atterberry's first campaign, the Hogs went 7 and 4 last season, earning some much deserved respect. This year, a lot of people expect the Javelinas to contend for the conference crown. They have beefed up their offensive line, added some talent in the backfield, plus their returning star signal-caller Billy Garza.

McCarty's quick search
ADA — For most head football coaches, finding a suitable replacement for a veteran defensive coordinator with his team on the cusp of preseason practice would be almost impossible. For East Central University head man Tim McCarty, it required just one phone call.

McCarty admitted he was caught by surprise When Todd Fugett announced last week that he was leaving ECU after 15 seasons — 13 as defensive coordinator — to go to work for the Chickasaw Nation. The Tigers are due to open preseason camp on Aug. 6 and open their season three weeks later at Nebraska-Omaha, and with all of the team’s defensive assistants just beginning their coaching careers, promoting from within was pretty much out of the question.

Ex-Steele RB headed to UIW
Former Steele running back Keith Brown has completed his transfer from Mississippi to Incarnate Word. Brown, who will also run track at UIW, will be eligible to play immediately when the school opens its first training camp on Aug. 5.

Brown ran track last year at Mississippi, leading the team with a 6.88 in the 60-meter dash and a 10.68 in the 100. He only played one season of football at Steele, scoring 11 touchdowns.

ACU volleyball team earns academic award
The Abilene Christian University volleyball team has been honored with an academic award from the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association for the 2008-09 season.

The Wildcats had seven players honored as academic all-Lone Star Conference players last season, and the team posted a cumulative 3.48 grade point average.

Rams sign 2nd-round pick Laurinaitis, Ohio State linebacker
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams signed three draft picks Wednesday, including second-rounder James Laurinaitis.

Only first-round pick Jason Smith, an offensive tackle from Baylor who was the second overall selection, remained unsigned. Practice begins Thursday for quarterbacks, rookies and selected veterans with the first full-squad workout under new coach Steve Spagnuolo on Friday.

The Rams also signed fourth-rounder Darell Scott, a defensive tackle from Clemson, and sixth-rounder Keith Null, a quarterback from West Texas A&M.