A letter to the players

All UCA fans know that the seniors on this year’s squad played key roles in the success. But they couldn’t have led this team to a 10-2 record and the best record in the SLC without their teammates.



Lucky for us we’ll get guys like Larry Hart, Anthony Gambles, Brent Grimes, Lane Friewald, Willie Landers – you get the point. We’re losing 12 players who weren’t just on the team but real contributors to the success this team has had throughout the final GSC years, the transition and now our very own SLC champions.



To the players returning, those that have come and gone before you have raised the bar. With your help this season, that bar is higher than it’s ever been in the 100-year history of the school. It’s going to be tough to replace the Dirty Dozen, no doubt. But there’s a lot of quality experience from quality athletes returning.



To the seniors, I got to know some of you over the last few years. I think I speak for all fans when I say that it’s truly been awesome following your UCA careers. It was a privilege to cheer for you from the stands, through the radio, and from the sidelines.



It was seeing you 12 after the game that quickly turned my complete excitement to a bit of sadness; but even more, a feeling of respect. You guys have been through a lot. And I can’t really think of a better ending for you 12.



I was able to make it down to McNeese for the chance to share the SLC title last season. It was November 17.



Now I  tend to be an extremist on some things: the highest of highs, lowest of lows, and even superstitions. Since that Saturday night, I’ve carried around my ticket stub. I keep souvenirs of things, but this one stayed in my wallet. For 372 days, I – like you guys – have been waiting for your chance to get another shot at McNeese. And you guys made the most of the opportunity.



I just want to thank you 12 – Eric Ware, Nathan Brown, Corey McMurrian, Marquez Branson, Dathan Johnson, Tim Holloway, Quad Sanders, Mike Neal, Boomer Cunningham, Brad Gordon, Jeremy Ford and Marc Winston – for you time, your effort and the memories you’ve created for those of us who could never tell you enough how much we have enjoyed your time, whether 5 years or 2 years, at UCA.



I hope all of you enjoyed your time as a Bear. I hope that no matter where life takes you that you’ll always remember being a Bear. I hope you’ll take the time to come back and cheer on future Bears. But most of all, I hope you know how much you’ve meant to the fans.



Thanks for everything,

TreyUCA

Another nailbiter

The Bears made another fourth down stop – this one from the two yard line – to hold on to a 49-41 win over Stephen F. Austin last night. But as you’ll read if you don’t already know. Brent Grimes’ five touchdowns is a huge part of this story.

I’m obviously a stat freak and even more so when I’m not at the game. So, that’s really all I have to go on other than the radio broadcast. If you don’t like stats, you might want to just stick with the links above.

• We all know that Brent Grimes had probably his best game as a Bear (219 total yards, 5 rushing touchdowns). Before Saturday, his largest load was 21 carries – 36 against SFA. He had just two 100-yard rushing games. He’s averaged 5.2 yards per carry this season, and every time he’s had 20+ carries he breaks the century mark. The math works out. When has has to carry a load, he’s come through. As cliche as it is, he may just get stronger with the more work he gets. He’s only lost one fumble in his 108 carries/31 receptions this season.
• The 49 points is the second-highest total by UCA this season. The highest was against NAIA Quincy.
  
• The third quarter was again a struggle, outscored 14-7.
• In the last two games, the Bears have totalled up 1019 yards of total offense. The SFA game was the first 500+ game against a D1 opponent.
• Nathan Brown – 381 yards of offense. It was his second consecutive 300+ yard passing game. He did throw his fourth interception – temporarily. It was overturned due to a roughing the passer call.
• Marquez Branson finished with 8 catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. His most receptions this season; 2nd most yardage. He now has 10 td receptions on the season. The only negative from Saturday was his fumble. The catch moved UCA down to the 17 – down 24-14. He got off the hook when SFA fumbled the ball right back.
• The defense had three sacks, but gave up 480 yards of offense. They came up with plays when they were forced to step up – in the fourth quarter. The one-handed Phillip Johnson made an interception when an SFA field goal would have given them the lead. And they made the four stops from the 2 yard line. The Jacks failed to score on just three posessions – the fumble, the interception and the goalline stand.
• The good news is that it was just the second SLC game that an opponent had over 400 yards of offense. Both of those teams (SHSU and SFA) throw the ball around a lot and lead the conference in passing.
  
• A brief look ahead:
  
  McNeese averages just 200 yards/game passing.
  
  McNeese leads the SLC in rushing – 243/game.
  
  UCA is second in rushing defense – 140/game; McNeese leads giving up only 119.

NCAA to Southland: UCA can’t win title

Southland Conference Notified by NCAA that Central Arkansas Cannot Be Recognized as 2008 Football Champion



NCAA would revoke league’s Football Automatic Bid if Bears Awarded Title



FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference has been notified by the NCAA that the league cannot award its 2008 championship to its reclassifying member Central Arkansas as planned, should the Bears finish the season in the top position of the league’s standings.



By awarding a championship to UCA, or any declaration or reference by the Southland that the institution is the conference champion, the NCAA will revoke the league’s automatic qualification (AQ) into the Division I Football Championship.



As a reclassifying NCAA member moving from Division II to I, Central Arkansas is in the midst of a four-year transition period that, among other things, prohibits its sports programs from participating in NCAA Championships. Once the university completes the transition, its programs are scheduled to have full NCAA DI Championships access beginning in the fall of 2010.



The conference’s membership had approved plans to allow UCA to compete fully for football championship honors, but would have awarded its approved automatic bid to the highest finishing NCAA-eligible team if Central Arkansas finished first in the regular season. Therefore, the championship will be determined amongst the league’s seven other football programs.



“We are very disappointed to learn our competitive plans will not be accepted by the NCAA,” Southland commissioner Tom Burnett said. “Despite our efforts to provide the UCA football program, its student-athletes and university community with the best competitive experience possible during the reclassification period, this restriction limits our intentions. However, under no circumstance can we forfeit our automatic qualification that we’ve had since 1982.”



The Southland began placing Central Arkansas into its football schedule in 2007, but does not include UCA on the AQ application form for the NCAA Championship. In other sports, where there is regular-season play and a conference tournament, UCA has full regular-season championship rights but does not advance to the postseason events where the NCAA bid is competed for.



“By removing UCA from the automatic bid application, which was subsequently approved by the NCAA last spring, we believed that the situation had been adequately addressed,” Burnett added. “However, we will comply with the NCAA Bylaws, and not place our championship access at risk.”



During the reclassification period, if an ineligible team is given access to a conference championship where automatic qualification is at stake, and that team won the title, a conference, per NCAA Division I Bylaw 31.3.4.1(f), would have to relinquish its NCAA automatic bid and rely on having a team or teams chosen at-large.



Courtesy: Southland.org

Back on track

After scoring just 45 points in the last two games, the Bear offense overcame four turnovers and still scored 42 points against Northwestern State. The defense more than did there part as well, holding a team that averages 29 to just six.

It was a freezing cold night. The wind blew hard and from all directions. And the Bears came out with a completely different attitude.

As the team exited the lockerroom before kickoff, it certainly seemed the message changed from an intense focus and concentration to just relaxing and playing football. (total speculation based on what I saw)

The Bears won the toss and deferred to the second half. And the decision could not have worked out any better, sortof.

The defense held the Demons to three plays and a net of zero yards. The offense came out in an up-tempo mode, picked up a couple first downs and then fumbled the football. (It was a little odd that TJ Adams got the first carry by a running back.) The defense got the ball right back to the offense.

Let’s take a second to mention how scary the punt-return game was at times today. A fumble on the first attempt was just the start. The turnover, the second of the game in under four minutes of play, led to a Demon field goal.

It was a short-lived lead for NSU.

Let’s take a second to mention how scary-good the kick-return game has been for a while now. Isaiah Jackson returned the kickoff 55 yards to the 29. Three plays later, Marquez Branson caught the first of his two touchdown passes, and the Bears began the onslaught.

Well, not quite yet. The Demons fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, and UCA was in business with the ball on the NSU 38. Unfortunately, the Bears would commit their third turnover in the first quarter – this one an interception thrown by Nathan Brown.

The poor offensive play from both teams continued as Drew Branch’s pass was picked off by Pieri Feazell. Feazell took it 46 yards for a touchdown and a 14-3 Bear lead.

After NSU drove down the field, the Bears came up with a huge fourth-down stop from the 10. The call to go for it might have been a huge mistake, but we’ll never know how things would have turned out if NSU attempts the field goal.

Instead, UCA drives 90 yards for Marquez’s second touchdown reception.

NSU answered with a field goal, but after pulling within 21-6, the Bear defense gave up just 59 yards on the next six Demon drives.

And the UCA offense found the endzone on three of the next four possessions to set the final score. The only time they didn’t score was due to running out of time in the second quarter.

Both teams threw two interceptions and had two fumbles. But UCA was able to overcome those mistakes, put up 495 yards of offense and get in the endzone six times.

The Bear defense has kept opponents out of the endzone for the last seven quarters. And a Demon offense that averages 195 yards rushing was held to just 120 on 41 attempts, an average of just 2.9 per carry.

And the win means the Bears sit in first place all alone – again.

For the fans who braved the wind, it was nice to relax a bit down the stretch – to not have to wonder if we’ll recover the onside kick. More thoughts on the game soon.