2010 Preview - Texas A&M-Commerce

2009 Recap
At first glance, TAMC's 5-5 record from last season looks very pedestrian.  However, upon closer inspection, it's easy to see the Lions could have very easily had a shockingly good season.  The first 3 games of the season were losses before committing to Adam Farkes at QB.  After that, the Lions went 5-2.  One of their losses was against a Division 1 FCS school (Southeastern Louisiana).  They had an overtime loss to Abilene Christian, who at that time was ranked #2 in the nation.  They also had a 1 point loss to #7 Texas A&M-Kingsville, a game in which the Lions had a 13 point lead with only 7 mins to play.  A couple of breaks here or there, and TAMC has a D2 record with only 2 losses, and wins over 2 Top 10 teams.  DL Willie Green had an incredible season in which he was named All-American, and Head Coach Guy Morriss won LSC North Coach of the Year in his first season in Commerce.  OT RJ Brisbon also won LSC North OL of the Year, along with LB Cory Whitfield's Linebacker of the Year accolades.

2010 Outlook
Out with the old
OT RJ Brisbon (1st LSC North, Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year) was the anchor of the Lions offensive line, and will be sorely missed.  But the biggest loss is DT William Green (1st LSC North, Defensive Lineman of the Year, D2football.com All-American, 44 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 9 sacks).  Long time defensive leader S Alex Contreras (1st LSC North, 41 tackles, 2.5 TFL) is also gone.  TE Reid Herchenbach (19 catches, 176 yds, 1 TD) had one of the stranger seasons in the LSC.  After starting 3 games at Quarterback, he moved to Tight End and ended up voted Honorable Mention LSC North as a Tight End.  After a season ending knee injury, RB Jetavious Best will not return this season.

Welcome Back
RB Marcus Graham (1st LSC North, 924 total yds, 7 TD's) dominated down the stretch last season once he and the offensive line learned the new Lions' offense.  If QB Adam Farkes (HM LSC North, 1,953 passing yds, 12 TD's) can take care of the ball better this season, he could turn into one of the better QB's in the LSC.  G David Sudderth (1st LSC North, pre-season All-American) will be the anchor of this year's offensive line, but is joined by returners Connor Wise, John Marshall and Brady Autry.  LB Cory Whitfield (1st LSC North, Linebacker of the Year, pre-season All-American, 111 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 2 Defensive TD's) had an incredible season and will be the anchor of the new 3-4 linebacker corps in Commerce, along with Stephen Degrate (HM LSC North, 58 tackles, 1 INT, 1 Defensive TD).  CB Israel Hughes (1st LSC North, 43 tackles, 2 INT) is back as well.  Freshman kicker Ahmed Abo-Mahmood (1st LSC North) had an incredible 2009 season, hitting 7 of 9 FG's, and 29-29 XP.

In with the new
Probably the most well-known transfer in the LSC this season is QB JJ Harp going to TAMC from Eastern New Mexico.  Harp was a Harlon Hill finalist in 2009, after setting D2 records in Total Offense and averaged 437 passing yards per game.  WR Damian Davis appears to be one of the bigger offensive threats in recent memory for TAMC, after transferring from Oklahoma State where he was the #2 WR behind Dez Bryant in 2008. C Veliani Kautai transfers from Kilgore JC, and CB Marlin Terrell appears to be threatening to take over after transferring in from Temple.


All Conference Candidates
RB Marcus Graham
G David Sudderth
K Ahmed Abo-Mahmood
LB Cory Whitfield
QB Adam Farkes
WR Damian Davis
C Veliani Kautai


All American Candidates
LB Cory Whitfield


Big Games
September 11 vs Angelo State - If Commerce wants to make the next step forward as a program, these are the types of games they have to win.  A Cotton Bowl win against the Rams could launch the Lions into playoff contention.
September 25 @ Eastern New Mexico - If the Lions want to go undefeated in the North, this might be the toughest challenge.  The Greyhounds in Portales present a tough game early on in the season for TAMC.
October 2 vs Southeastern Oklahoma - Last season's game against the Storm was a nail biter, but the Lions prevailed and clinched the LSC North.  With bigger goals in sight this season, this is a must win.


Best Case Scenario - 9-2
This scenario involves the Lions going undefeated in the North again, which is definitely possible.  As long as they can win only one of the games against Tarleton, TAMK or Angelo State, they're at 9 wins.  They play Tarleton at home, Angelo State in the Cotton Bowl, and TAMK in Kingsville.  Tarleton and TAMK are upset possibilities, but would be tough to pull off.  Don't overlook the Lions in the North.  While the South teams may be better squads, the Lions definitely have an easier schedule to contend with and won't take the pounding the South teams will.


Worst Case Scenario - 5-6
This would be a very disappointing season for the Lions.  The only way this happens is if QB Adam Farkes continues to have turnover problems or is injured, and the young Lion defense doesn't come together.  The Lions are thin at QB depth, and if something happened to Farkes, things could get ugly quick.  The way TAMC's schedule sets up, this would be hard to imagine, but still possible. 

Texas A&M-Commerce - 2010 Recruiting Class

Need Help:

OL - Lose RJ Brisbon (1st LSC North), Daniel Stantz, and Brian Lynch who combined for 25 starts last year. Returning are David Sudderth (1st LSC North), John Marshall and Brady Autry, who also combined for 25 starts. Marshall and Autry will be seniors.

DL - Starters William Green (1st LSC North) and Anthony DeGrate have moved on. They combined for 93 tackles, 33 for losses and 18 sacks. Four reserves who combined for another 66 tackles were also seniors in 2009. Jacoby Veals and Derrick Hubert are the only returnees with experience, but watch for Tramaine Williams who redshirted last fall after transferring from NW Mississippi CC.

DB - Two starters, Alex Contreras (1st LSC North) and Shea Rodriguez, as well as key reserve Ameer Ali are gone. The trio combined for 121 tackles last year. Isreal Hughes (13 passes broken up), Lorenzo Bursey, A.J. Billings, and Michael Cleveland should be back though.

Need Depth:

QB - Adam Farkes was named HM LSC North after throwing for 1,953 yards with 12 TDs, and 14 Ints. Bryan Hughes is the only other returning QB with any experience, but he attempted just 7 passes last year.

RB - Marcus Graham was a 1st team LSC North honoree, after rushing for 677 yards and 7 TDs. If Jetavious Best can return from last year's injury, running back looks much better. Not much experience after these two.

WR - Adam Jones, Blake Patton and Taylor Fore were a combined 84-1,199 and 9 TDs last year, and all will be juniors this fall. No other returnees had more than 6 catches.

Good Quality/Depth:

LB - Chad Washington, Ramon Jackson, and Mikell Mair combined for 71 tackles and 7.5 for losses in 2009, were seniors. Leading tackler Cory Whitfield (1st LSC North) and Stephen DeGrate (HM LSC North) return (combined 169 tackles, 18 for losses), as do reserves Devin Woods and Austen Brewer.

The Lions continue to focus on high school recruits, after years of relying heavily on transfers. The did bring in a couple of transfers that could provide immediate help - QB Cal Farley and WR Damian Davis. Farley was a Dave Campbell Texas Football top 15 QB in 2007, while Davis was the #27 rated WR in the nation in the same year. J.J. Harp is also transferring in from Eastern New Mexico, where he threw for 6,275 yards and 31 TDs in his freshman and sophomore seasons. He will have to sit out 2010, but should be ready for 2011. For the long haul, the Lions also brought in QB Luke Wagner, FB Carrington Brown, WRs Darrin Brown, Jarrod Hall, Kenzee Jackson, and Tevin Thompson, and Offensive Linemen Brandyn Hinnrichs and Zach Rice. For the defense, keep a look out for LBs Isaiah Cobbin and Jeremy Dotson, and DBs Brandon Jackson and Michael Johnson.

LSC Ranking - 5

Overall Grade- A-

This is a really good looking class for the future, especially at quarterback, wide receiver and the secondary. With all of the losses from last season's roster, the future could start as soon as this fall for some of these youngsters. If so, the Lions might struggle early on.

LSC Roundup 1-22

Recruiting Center

Recruiting News
Matt Berry (Northeastern Oklahoma JC) is headed to East Central (per the NEO website).

Jay Serda (Manzano (NM) HS ) has ENMU among his choices.

Sean Watson (Brandon (Fl) HS) is getting some interest from TAMC as well as several FCS schools.

We hear that Tyler Vanderzee (Mount San Antonio College) is headed to East Central. He threw for 680 yards and 7 TDs (155.24 eff. rating) while backing up FBS recruit Matt Faulkner.

LSC Roundup 7-31

Official LSC Releases from the Media Day event

LSC Football Preseason Poll announced
Five selected for LSC football preseason honors

Volleyball preseason honors announced
Volleyball: Preseason poll announced

Preseason poll announced for men's soccer
Men's Soccer: Everson, Martinez claim preseason honors

Women's Soccer: Preseason poll announced
Women's Soccer preseason honors announced

ACU, MSU picked in cross county preseason polls


and from the school sites
ACU picked to win South
Rams Picked Sixth in LSC South
Bronchos Favored In LSC North Football
Johnson preseason offensive player of the year
Football: Preseason Poll: Mustangs tabbed fifth in the LSC South
Football: Football Picked Second in LSC-North Poll
Texans picked to finish third in LSC South
Smith named LSC South Division Offensive Preseason POY
Lions' William Green and Meagan Lasley Earn Pre-Season Lone Star Conference Honors
A&M-Commerce Picked to Share Second Place in the LSC North in Preseason Poll
Javelinas Picked 4th in LSC South
Football. Buffs Picked Second in Preseason LSC South Poll

Rambelles Tabbed Sixth in LSC
UCO Volleyball Picked Seventh
Volleyball: Picked fourth, MSU has room to grow in 2009
Volleyball: Volleyball Tabbed Ninth in LSC Poll
TexAnns picked to finish thrid in LSC
Lions Picked to Finish Eighth in the Lone Star Conference
TWU picked to finish fifth in LSC Preseason Volleyball Poll
W. Volleyball. Lady Buffs Picked As Favorite In LSC Preseason Poll


Soccer Picked Sixth in LSC
Soccer Tabbed For Third
M. Soccer: Preseason Poll: Midwestern slated to take fourth-straigh conference title
W. Soccer: LSC Preseason Poll: Mustangs ticketed for fourth place finish in 2009
Lions Picked to Finish Second in the Lone Star Conference
Soccer tabbed eighth in Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll
M. Soccer. Buffs Picked Second In LSC Preseason Soccer Polls
W. Soccer. Women's Soccer Tabbed as Preseason Favorite By LSC

Cross Country: Making strides: MSU picked to win second-straight LSC title
Men Picked to Finish Third; Women Picked Ninth in Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll
XC men picked second, women picked seventh in preseason polls
W. Cross Country. Lady Buffs Picked Second In Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll
M. Cross Country. Buffs Picked Seventh In Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll

From the papers
ACU picked as South's preseason No. 1
Unexpected respect for WT
MSU picked fifth in LSC South preseason football poll
NSU down low in preseason picks
Javelinas football picked fourth in LSC
Morriss is content just to coach
UCO picked to win North, SOSU tied for 2nd
LSC poll doesn't favor Rams football
Javelinas Picked 4th In LSC South
UCO's Cudjo billed LSC North's Co-Defensive Player of the Year
UCO picked to win LSC North Division
LSC media day provides riverhawks with motivation
Day, Cocannouer re-unite at Southwestern

Lady Buffs expected to dominate

Two MSU teams picked to repeat as LSC champs
Good year forecast for WT soccer

LSC Roundup 7-28

Taylor Fore Selected as Nominee for 2009 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team
Texas A&M University-Commerce redshirt sophomore wide receiver Taylor Fore on Thursday was one of 106 nominees for the 2009 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. The award is given to “hard-working and committed college football players” and has nothing to do with touchdowns, tackles or receptions.

In addition to being a member of the Lions' football team, he has served as a volunteer basketball and baseball coach for the Commerce Parks and Recreation Department. This fall, he will serve as the chair of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. He has been involved with the Big Event, a city-wide clean up in Commerce, the Commerce Children’s Museum Father/Daughter Dance and the Hunt County Special Olympics.

A total of 106 student-athlete football players were nominated by sports information directors for the team which honors college football players who make “outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement.” The number of nominations is the largest number in the 18-year history of the award and ’09 nominees represent 41 states, including Washington, D. C. and 45 conferences.

From the 106 nominees, a national panel will select two 11-player Good Works Teams, one team composed of players from the NCAA Bowl Subdivision and a combined team from the Championship Subdivision, Divisions II and III and the NAIA.

West Texas A&M's James Chandler nominated for Allstate AFCA Good Hands Team

James Chandler has been nominated for the 2009 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. Chandler, born in London, England, has been involved in numerous community service projects, including:

• Traveling to Taiwan , May 17- June 2, 2009, to perform missionary work through Baptist Student Ministries.
• Leading Youth Worship and performs Youth Ministry at Believers Way Church in Amarillo , Texas .
• Serving as counselor at Angel Tree Camp in 2008 and will again in 2009. This is a four-day camp, held each August at Ceta Canyon Methodist Camp, outside of Canyon, Texas, which administers to inner-city Amarillo, Texas youths.
• Giving testimonies at West Texas A&M chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He also gave a testimony during the Panhandle-area FCA banquet, as well as speaking at area high-school FCA chapters.
• Making regular visits, along with West Texas A&M teammates, to the Children’s Wards of Amarillo hospitals.
  
  

Mustangs lend many helping hands
College and professional athletes have long been considered spoiled, many of them displaying a “what have you done for me lately?” attitude.

But the football coaches for the Midwestern State Mustangs have tried to develop a different attitude on their team — more like “What can we do for you?”

So the Mustangs were involved in several community service projects during the spring semester of 2009.

“We decided in December, as a staff, that we needed to do more things together as a team — off the football field,” head coach Bill Maskill said. “And in doing that, we could do some things within the community.”

Zia Volleyball Team Earns Second Straight AVCA Academic Award
PORTALES, N.M.— For the second consecutive season, the Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team has been selected for the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. The Zias were one of 46 NCAA Division II teams to receive the award.

The AVCA created the award in the 1992-93 year to honor both college and high school teams that maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or a 4.1 GPA on a 5.0 scale.

Following the 2008 season, Heidi Geyer (OH, Santa Fe, N.M./St. Michaels HS) was selected Academic All-Lone Star Conference, while Caitlin Murphy (L, Amarillo, Texas/Tascosa HS), Vanessa Wilcox (OH, Houston, Texas/Kempner HS), Karen McIntyre (S, Houston, Texas/J. Frank Dobie HS) and Grace Brandt (S, Dumas, Texas/Dumas HS) were named to the LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Sigwing Selected as the Seventh Head Coach of Zia Softball Program

PORTALES, N.M.— Eastern New Mexico University athletic director, Dr. Jeff Geiser has announced the selection of Lauren Sigwing as the new head coach of the Zia softball program. Sigwing is no stranger to the highly competitive nature of NCAA Division II softball, having served as a graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri State, and played collegiately at Central Missouri State in the Mid-American Athletic Association. Most recently, she served a three-year stint at Fort Scott Community College and led the program to its best season in 2009, winning 36 games.

“I am very excited about coaching the softball program at ENMU,” said Sigwing. “I think there is a lot of potential and am looking forward to coaching them.”

“The fact that she was a 4.0 student in psychology was very impressive,” said Geiser. “She was a NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete and what that tells me is that she is a very hard worker and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. She played in the MIAA and is very familiar with Division II and the Lone Star Conference. The search committee did an outstanding job and I think we have hired an outstanding softball coach”

In the 2009 season, she guided FSCC to a 36-23 record, including a 17-9 mark in the competitive Jayhawk Conference. The Lady Hounds picked up a doubleheader sweep second place Johnson County and split with third place Pratt. The squad closed their season by earning a second-place finish at the District D Regional Tournament and ended up breaking team records in home runs and stolen bases.

Sigwing attended NCAA Division II Central Missouri State, where she was a National Fastpitch Coaches Association of America All-American Scholar Athlete and a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Presidential Scholar.

UIW football to be on ESPN radio

Incarnate Word’s inaugural season will be broadcast on ESPN 1250 The Zone, the university announced.

The deal includes pregame and postgame shows, and a weekly show with coach Mike Santiago set to air at 7 p.m. each Thursday. ESPN 1250 personality Paul Alexander will provide play-by-play action.

The Cardinals open the season against Monterrey Tech at 7 p.m. on Aug. 29 at Benson Stadium.

LSC Roundup 6-30

More football recruiting news....

OLB Treyvon Sims (Cameron Yoe HS) has Angelo State, Tarleton State, Texas A&M Commerce and Texas A&M Kingsville on his radar

WR Clint Haynes (Cameron Yoe HS) has some interest in Angelo State and Tarleton State

and teammate WR Jack Rhoades is looking at Abilene Christian, Angelo State and Tarleton State


Softball Nabs Blinn Transfer
KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – Texas A&M-Kingsville head softball coach Blake Miller announced that Blinn College pitcher-first baseman Lindsey Brown will play for the Javelinas next year after leading the Buccaneers to the NJCAA Division I World Series this past year.

Brown earned Second Team All-Region XIV honors as a freshman en route to leading her team to a conference championship and a fourth place finish nationally. At the World Series, she won two games, including a 4-0 shutout of Florida CCJ and picked up one save. The team finished with a 56-11 record in her only season.

Brown was equally good in the circle and at the plate. As a pitcher, she went 21-3 with a 1.96 earned run average while striking out 96 batters in 157.1 innings. At bat, she hit .406 with a team high 23 doubles, 16 home runs, 81 runs batted in and a .777 slugging percentage.

Brown will provide the Javelinas with a big bat in the middle of the order and should take the place of Courtney Rigamonti as the team’s #1 pitcher. She joins a team that went 32-22 and advanced to the Lone Star Conference Tournament last year.

Fourth and Long
Eddie Moten stayed alive last night. He returned a kickoff over 80 yards and picked off a two point conversion attempt. We will post a link to complete recap when it becomes available.

Previous show recaps
A Look Back At Episode Six For Irvin Reality Show
New Twist Takes Place At End Of 4th And Long
Swan Song On Latest 4th And Long

Basketball Adds 12 to Roster
WEATHERFORD, Okla. - First-year Southwestern Oklahoma State University men's basketball coach Charlie Schaef has announced the signing of eight players to National Letters of Intent and committing themselves to play for the Bulldogs during the 2009-10 season. In addition to the signees, Schaef has also secured agreements from four others to join the program as walk-ons.

"We are extremely proud of this class," Schaef said. "I would like to congratulate and compliment (assistant coach) Wayne Anderson who has been out on the road representing and recruiting for SWOSU basketball and our University."

Schaef and Anderson had extensive work heading into their first season together as the top seven scorers from last year's Lone Star Conference Tournament runner-up team have graduated.

"We were able to cover some needs across the board," Schaef said "Most importantly, I wanted people who were willing to join us as we start a new path. We found student-athletes who are self-disciplined, self-confidant and share the vision we have for the future of SWOSU basketball."

For a complete list of the signees go here.

Texas A&M-Commerce - 2009 Recruiting Class

Need Help:
Quarterback - Starter Terry May0 (2nd LSC North) and primary backup Trent Miller are gone, leaving the Lions with no experience at QB.

Running Back - Maurice DuPont is the only running back currently listed on the Lions roster - he rushed for 130 yards last year.

Defensive Secondary - Courtney Edmond (1st LSC North), Alex Contreras (2nd LSC North) and Elliot Jones (HM LSC North) are all gone. Kurt Rossum (2nd LSC North) returns as does Cory Whitfield, A. J. Billings, Ameer Ali and Shea Rodriguez - but all will be seniors.

Need Depth:
Wide Receiver - The LSC North receiver of the year (Willie Thorton) is gone. Carlton Richard, Matt McLaren and Danny Stark have also moved on. Ernest Quander and Taylor Fore are the only returnees who registered double digits in receptions.

Offensive Line - Darron Sheppard (1st LSC North) is gone. R. J. Brisbon (LSC North Co-Lineman of the year) leads a group back that includeds 6 who started at least 3 games - three are seniors though.

Defensive Line - Ricky Hope (LSC North Lineman of the Year) was a senior last year. William Green (1st LSC North) is back and joined by fellow starter Andrew Schwapp, Andree' Smith and DeCarlas Lue. Of the six returnees with game experience, five will be seniors.

Good Quality/Depth:
Linebackers - (If Andrew Gamboa is back - he was listed as a senior last year, but is on the current roster - if he's not back, this position moves up to the needs depth category). Gamboa and Chad Washington were both 1st team LSC North honorees. Senior Ramon Jackson returns as do juniors Stephen DeGrate and Arsenial Richardson, and soph. Austen Brewer.


The Lions lost several talented seniors off of last year's squad, and with the change in coaching staffs, lost some underclassmen as well. The positions that look okay for this year are senior-heavy, so they will need reinforcements for the future.

The new coaching staff, led by Guy Morriss, got off to a late start in recruiting. The former staff relied heavily on transfers, with relatively few high school recruits being signed. There is an apparent change in philosophy as well. We say apparent, because to date, just seven signings have been announced, and they are all high school recruits. A few to watch for - QB Brandon Colquitt, RB Aaron Wingfield, OL Connor Wise, and DL Nova Finau. QB Ricky Beaty (Henderson State) and RB Jamar Mosely (Washburn) have also transferred in and should compete for starting positions right away.

LSC Ranking - 13 (with current announced signings)

Overall Grade - Incomplete
Needless to say, TAMC is playing it close the vest. They will obviously announce more signings and transfers. When that happens, we will revisit their ranking.