By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor ACU football players aren't big on numbers. The fact that their first three opponents are all ranked in the top 15 and defeated the 'Cats by a combined score of 158-51 last season doesn't matter to them-they're just numbers. "Any given team can get beat on any Saturday," said junior offensive lineman Britt ... [Read More…]
Hays feels right at home at ACU: Director of athletics has good vibes about university
By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer Former ACU men's basketball coach Tony Mauldin was shown the door in 1996 after posting four straight losing seasons and an overall record of 61-78. Shanon had just completed a 19-10 season at Frank Phillips College and decided to make the move from junior college to Abilene. Shanon said he noticed a difference ... [Read More…]
Wildcats go 2-2 in Denton tourney
By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer After losing a good majority of last season's contributors, the ACU volleyball team gained a whole lot this past weekend: the first two wins of the new season. The Wildcats posted wins over both Fort Lewis and Chadron State while dropping matches to both Southern Arkansas and Lone Star conference-rival Texas ... [Read More…]
The second time around: Son of Tech coach returns to ACU, has big plans
By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer The feeling wasn't all that unusual for Shanon Hays. The current ACU athletic director had encountered it all too many times during his two years as an assistant men's basketball coach at Texas Tech from 1999-2001. Thirty-five times out of a possible 56 opportunities, the Red Raiders came up short against the ... [Read More…]
Director optimistic about intramurals
By Steve Holt, Sports Writer It's coming sooner than you think. The time is quickly approaching for ACU students to procrastinate doing homework and flock to the intramural fields either to watch or play the many fall sports offered. Intramural director Danny Kittley said the details of the season will be the same as last year's. Flag football, ... [Read More…]
Cats to overcome lost experience: ACU ranked third in LSC South Pre- Season Poll
By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer Imagine losing six players off of a Division II volleyball program that won 84 matches over the past four years. The Wildcats don't have to imagine; they're living proof of it. After posting a 19-14 overall record last season, the Wildcats look to replace five starters, including the likes of all-Lone Star ... [Read More…]
Quarterback prepared for comeback season: Freeman leads by example, loves pressure
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Writer Quarterback Colby Freeman took two snaps on the first play of the second half in last season's Sept. 29 game against Eastern New Mexico. First, there was the snap from the center, followed by the snap of his ankle as he was tackled. "I definitely knew something was wrong," said the 6-foot-3, 205 pound Brown-wood ... [Read More…]
Changes in athletic department for the better
By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer The sharp look of fresh paint. The slick appearance of a new court design. The originality of the new Lone Star Conference logo. If you took a second to glance at the floor of Moody Coliseum during Opening Chapel, you may have observed a few noticeable changes, not to mention all the cameras, flowers and sashes ... [Read More…]
Athletes record solid summers, take top honors
By Steve Holt, Sports Writer A men's National Championship and women's third place finish in June was only a hint of success for several ACU track and field athletes this summer. Six standout athletes took their individual shows on the road this summer, competing in several notable national and international meets. And these Wildcat athletes went ... [Read More…]
Cats to step up intensity in ’02: Positive players fed up with losing Seasons
By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor When one fight breaks out at an ACU football practice, it's no big deal. But when two or three tangles occur, that's- "Intensity," said junior off-ensive lineman Britt Lively. "We're really seeing some fight this year that we haven't seen here in a long time." Oddly enough, the two or three exchanges that took ... [Read More…]