LSC Roundup 6-15

DCTF's 50th Summer magazine on store racks all across Texas.
When you consider how humble its beginnings were, it's amazing Dave Campbell's Texas Football has managed to make it to a Golden Anniversary.

But here we are, celebrating our 50th summer edition magazine -- and in grand style, no less. Colt McCoy, Texas' record-setting quarterback, adorns our cover and sets the tone for a book laden with bold predictions. Texas winning a national championship, TCU breaking into a BCS bowl, Baylor ending a postseason drought and Houston hoisting a conference championship; some people say it’s far-fetched, but we think it's just a perfect storm of extraordinary teams and once-in-a-lifetime talents.

If you have already bought the book and are looking for the expanded playoff brackets we promised, you can find them below. But if you haven't picked up your copy yet, you can find a small taste of the many features and stories 2009's book has to offer. Either way, we hope you enjoy the magazine as much as we did. The past 50 years has gone by fast -- here's to an even brighter future.
-- The DCTF Staff
5A-DI bracket 4A-DI bracket 3A-DI bracket 2A-DI bracket 1A-DI bracket
5A-DII bracket 4A-DII bracket 3A-DII bracket 2A-DII bracket 1A-DII bracket



ACU gets Sooner
Oklahoma running back Justin Johnson will transfer to Abilene Christian University to this fall, according to a report in the Oklahoman on Friday.

The Oklahoman said Johnson, who played for Gilmer when the Buffaloes beat Wylie in the 2007 high school playoffs, told Tyler radio station KTBB on Thursday that he plans to transfer to ACU. Also Thursday, OU coach Bob Stoops told the Oklahoman during the Sooner Caravan in Dallas that Johnson was leaving the Sooners.

"Right now, we anticipate him transferring, which is fine," Stoops said. "We'll give him a full release and wish him the best.

"Certain guys seek certain things, and he feels that's best for him. We want it for him as well."
ACU coach Chris Thomsen said he couldn't comment on the situation.
-------------------------------------
ACU now may have a glut at running back. The Wildcats signed Reggie Brown and Cooper's A'mon Pimpton in the spring. Kyle Fox, the LSC freshman of the year at Angelo State in 2005, also transferred to ACU in the spring.


Willie make it?
Coming into training camp, they knew he had the look.

Now, after seeing him in two-a-day practices over 10 days, the Edmonton Eskimos are seeing what's underneath the surface of Willie Thornton.

The rookie receiver has constantly been compared to former Eskimos slotback Kelly Campbell -- even before arriving in Edmonton.

"I haven't talked to him. Never met the guy but I've been compared to him a million times," said Thornton, who is far from being sick of it.


Editorial: Leaves may fall, laws cannot
The Ryan Leaf saga continues as the former NFL quarterback/West Texas A&M assistant football coach and second overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft - behind Peyton Manning - faces multiple charges related to allegations of illegally obtaining a controlled substance.

Last week, there were rumblings in Canyon that Leaf faced extradition from Canada - where he is reportedly in a drug rehabilitation program. Leaf was indicted in May for burglary to a habitation, obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and delivery of a simulated controlled substance.

The indictment stems from allegations that Leaf broke into an apartment in Canyon in October and stole a painkiller from a WT football player. Leaf resigned as WT quarterbacks coach in November.

Leaf will have to answer these charges, as Randall County District Attorney James Farren has little choice to make sure the law is followed.


Rosato named new ECU head baseball coach
ADA, OK – After guiding Bacone College to a runner-up finish in the NAIA’s Red River Athletic Conference this past spring, Dino Rosato has been named the new head baseball coach at East Central University, it was announced Friday.

Rosato led the Warriors to a 29-20 finish this past season, including a second-place finish to Northwood (Texas) and a 10-5 mark in the RRAC regular season. It was Rosato’s first season as Bacone head coach after serving three years as an assistant at the Muskogee institution.

In his three years as an assistant the Warriors were one of the top teams in the RRAC with an impressive 41-14 record during the 2008 campaign.

“I’m extremely excited about this opportunity. East Central is a class organization and a step up,” said Rosato. “I’m glad to help represent ECU and I know we’ll continue the positive direction that Coach Hurt had on the baseball diamond.”

He replaces Mike Hurt, who stepped down as ECU head coach in May after three seasons.

“I look forward to the challenge at East Central,” Rosato said. “The Lone Star Conference is one of the best leagues in the nation and I look forward to hitting the recruiting trail soon.”


Fred Shaw on target as Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz defense takes control
Wood leads North to win
Blazing a trail: Talons QB Justin Allgood is on pace to break ...
Durant Council recognizes SE players' efforts
Feeling the heat
Red shakes off early deficit to win inaugural Victory Bowl, 29-24

LSC Roundup 6-12

Major League Baseball Draft
Northeastern State's Joel Eusebio has been drafted by the Oakland A's with the 1,383rd pick in the Major League Baseball Draft. Eusebio, a 2nd team LSC performer, hit .350 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI in 2009 and had 28 home runs, 145 RBI and scored 134 runs in his four year NSU career.

Eusebio joins Sam Strickland of Texas A&M Kingsville as the only two players from the Lone Star Conference drafted in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.


OU football: Justin Chaisson to join team, Justin Johnson transferring
After days of speculation and Internet rumors about Johnson leaving, Stoops confirmed to reporters during the Sooner Caravan in Dallas that Johnson was gone.

"Right now we anticipate him transferring, which is fine," Stoops said. "We'll give him a full release and wish him the best. We wish him the best. Certain guys seek certain things and he feels that's best for him. We want it for him as well."

Johnson was a fourth-string freshman fill-in behind DeMarco Murray, Chris Brown and Mossis Madu last season, rushing for 24 yards on 14 carries. With Madu's move to receiver this season, Johnson was again expected to be fourth string behind Murray, Brown and redshirt freshman Jermie Calhoun.

Johnson was ranked the No. 2 high school running back in the nation by Scout.com at Gilmer (Texas) High School and was a U.S. Army All-American. He reportedly told an Austin radio station he intends to transfer to Division II Abilene Christian.


DA says Leaf is 'stalling'
Former NFL quarterback and West Texas A&M football coach Ryan Leaf has less than a week to return to Texas before deputies are sent to Canada to retrieve him.

Leaf has been in a drug rehabilitation program in Canada, said his attorney, William Kelly.

Randall County Criminal District Attorney James Farren said if Ryan Leaf does not turn himself in by Monday or Tuesday, he will begin the extradition process.

"If he wants to play games, we'll do it the hard way. ... We are tired of waiting," Farren said. "We are only going to play this game so long. From Ryan Leaf's point of view, we are under two minutes in the fourth quarter. The game is just about over."

Big cheering section expected for 'King Leonidas'
(This is a nice story on one of the high school seniors we interviewed earlier this year)
Though all the players in the 72nd Oil Bowl will get their fair share of support from the fans, the biggest cheering section will undoubtedly be for Waco Reicher’s Kenneth Cluley, a Wichita Falls native.

“There’s probably 30 to 35 Cluleys in the Wichita Falls area,” said Kenneth Cluley’s dad Joe, “and I don’t think any of us are going to miss it.”

Joe Cluley coached at Wichita Falls High School for two seasons from 1990-1991 and Kenneth was born just before the start of his first season with the Coyotes.

“He has some great stories about that time and still has highlight films from the teams he coached here,” Kenneth Cluley said. “And since I’ve got a whole lot of family here, I’m always up visiting.”