Bearkat Volleyball Team Set For Oral Roberts
by Cheval John
There are always a first time for everything.
Your first day of school. Your first day of work.
For the Sam Houston State Bearkat volleyball team, it will be their first meeting against Oral Roberts University at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum on Thursday at 7 p.m.
ORU joined the Southland Conference this past July and the Bearkats are looking forward to the matchup.
“Obviously, Oral Roberts is new to the conference,” assistant coach Ellen Andrews said. “It’s interesting to open the conference season with them.”
The Bearkats (4-7) finished their two week road trip at the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans with a 1-2 record.
That win came against host Tulane in the last game of the classic.
Oral Roberts also have a record of 4-7 and are on a five-game losing streak.
Three of their players have a total of 100 kills or more.
“We’re really optimistic about the conference season because we knew that we scheduled a really tough ‘pre-season,’ Andrews said.
“We are pretty battle tested at this point.”
Over the last 11 games, the Bearkats has totaled 526 kills.
Sophomore outside hitter Devene Wells-Gibson leads the team with 155 kills, which is No.3 in the conference.
“Devene is a very good volleyball player,” Andrews said.
“She has a good knowledge of the game. … She’s very calm on the court.”
Contributing to the offense is defensive specialist Tayler Gray.
The junior from Huntsville ranks No.4 in the conference with 424 assists.
Libero Jamie Haas leads the defense with 163 digs.
Though she is not in the spotlight, the senior from Deer Park produced spectacular defensive plays that creates an opportunity for the Bearkats to score.
“Sometimes they are not given enough credit for what they do because they are not the flashy players,” Andrews said.
“Jamie is setting up a lot of points for us. … She knows what she is doing out there.”
The Bearkats believe that their preparation will serve them well when they play host to ORU.
“We watch some film on them,” Andrews said.
“We have a good game plan on what we need to do to take care of them.”
Remembering 9/11
by Cheval John
Today, we remember the day when 3,000 people lost their lives on that infamous terrorist attack on 9/11..
Everyone knows exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news.
Firefighters and emergency workers risked their lives to try and save those who were trapped in the Twin Towers.
We were mesmorized by the images that were shown on television and were in a state in delusion.
We wondered, “How could 19 terrorist hijacked four planes and struck two buildings in New York City and hit the most secured place in the world, “The Pentagon” in Washington, D.C.?
For me, this day is still troubling because of the fact that there are people who are willing to kill others and bring fear to the masses.
What it also did was bring everyone together and brought a sense of pride to this nation.
We realized that life is short and that we must cherish every moment that is given to us because we don’t know when it will be over.
I really hope that we will never forget 9/11.
God Bless America.
Bearkats Opens 2012 Season With Win Over Cardinals
by Cheval John
In front of a crowd of 11,061 at Elliot T. Bowers Stadium, the Sam Houston State Bearkat football team dismantled the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals 54-7.
The win gives them a 1-0 record for the season and increase their win streak to 10 games at Bowers stadium.
Running back Tim Flanders carried the ball 15 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
In the process, he became SHSU’s All-Time leader in career rushing yards (2,709), breaking the career mark held by Charles Harris (2,688).
The Bearkats started the route in the first quarter when Flanders broke a few tackles and went 41 yards for the touchdown that made it 6-0.
The Cardinals made things interesting early on when corner back Chavis Barron intercepted a pass from ‘utility’ player Richard Sincere and returned it 20 yards to the Bearkat 36.
Three plays later, quarterback Zach Rhodes connected with running back Trent Rios for an 18 yard score that tied it at 6.
The extra point gave them a 7-6 lead.
The Bearkats regrouped as Flanders rushed 8 yards for the score to regain the lead 13-7.
They added another score when wide reciever Trey Diller took a shovel pass from quarterback Brian Bell and went 21 yards for a touchdown to increase the lead to 20-7 by halftime.
The Bearkats picked up from where they left off when running back Keshawn Hill rushed 11 yards for the score that made it 27-7.
Their defense played their part as they held the Cardinals offense to 88 total yards for the night.
One of their playmakers, Robert Shaw intercepted a pass from Rhodes on the Bearkat 47 and took it 19 yards all the way to the Cardinal 19.
Several plays later, Bell threw a 3 yard strike to tight end J.D. Stanley to increase the lead and put the game out of reach for the Bearkats.
Linebacker Darius Taylor led the Bearkat defense with 9 tackles while defensive lineman J.T. Cleveland and line backer Jesse Beauchamp each had five tackles.
The Bearkats face their first test of the season when they play Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member, Baylor Bears on Saturday in Waco, Texas at 6 p.m.
The game will be televised on Fox College Sports.
Tailgating At Bearkat Alley
While the 2012 season began last week, the Bearkat football team were making final preparations for their season opener.
They are ready to show the results today when they host future Southland Conference member, the University of the Incarnate Word at Elliot T. Bowers Stadium today at 6 p.m.
Fans have been looking forward to the season opener since the team went 14-1 last season and lost in the FCS title game in Frisco, Texas.
It was evident at Bearkat Alley, the official spot that holds the tailgating events before the start of each game since Bowers stadium opened in 1986.
Since this game is one of three home games for the season, the fans are taking advantage of every opportunity to enjoy the experience of college football.
You Can’t Always Get Your Wish
By Cheval John
Clint Dempsey always had a chip on his shoulder.
He never had an entitlement like others who play the sport of soccer had during their childhood.
He grew up in a lower-middle class family in Nacogdoches, Texas where he had to fight for everything.
He carried that attitude all the way to the English Premier League, where he displayed his talent and ability to score at will for Fulham, F.C.
During that time, he played under four head coaches and each time, he had to prove himself time and time again.
That what separated him from the others as he became the first American international to score 50 career goals in the EPL and establish himself as one of the best players in the world.
Dempsey always had a knack for knowing what he wants.
He got a taste of what it was like to play in a European club competition when Fulham played in the UEFA Europa League during the 2009-10 season.
His most memorable moment came in the second leg of the match against Juventus in Craven Cottage, when he chip in a beautiful ball from outside the penalty area into the net for the game-winning goal that knocked the Italian club out of the competition.
They made it to the final that season, but lost to Atletico Madrid.
He knew that he was not getting any younger and that he made it clear that he wanted to play for an UEFA Champions League club.
To him, it was not about the money, but the very opportunity to experience the atmosphere of playing in what is arguably, the most prestigious club competitions in Europe.
Liverpool, F.C. showed interest in acquiring Dempsey during the off season.
Dempsey didn’t travel with the team for training and was determined to get out with all possible means.
The Reds wavered because they did not meet the asking price by Fulham.
By the time the 2012-13 season began, Dempsey did not report to the team, which indicated that he was done with the club.
On the other hand, Liverpool tried to make a last ditch effort by midnight on Friday before the transfer window, but to no avail.
It seemed as if Dempsey was going to remain at Fulham.
But, at the last minute, Tottenham Hotspur reached an agreement with the Cottagers to acquire Dempsey.
The Spurs are currently in the Europa League this season after being knocked out by Chelsea, who won the UEFA Champions League final last season.
Though it wasn’t the team that Dempsey wanted, he got his wish because not only is he playing for a club that came close to play in the Champions League, but he doesn’t have to move miles away from his home in London.
Some see this drama as him being selfish because he is making millions of dollars and is playing in the best league in the world.
But to others, they see a player who wants to experience the atmosphere of playing in the Champions League.
Depending on which side of the fence you’re on, one thing is certain; Dempsey will not make the U.S. National team when they play Jamaica in the qualifier matches for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil that is set to begin in a couple of weeks.
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