Branson still getting good press

While college spring football has wrapped up and is waiting on fall camp to get here, NFL teams are currently practicing, and Marquez Branson is still being talked about by the Denver press. He’s seen time at fullback, tight end, H-back and split out wide.

Despite “gale force winds” on Monday, the Broncos continued on with passing camp, and Branson caught one of just a few complete passes of the day:

Tim Tebow completed 2 of 3 including a gorgeous, downwind out pattern to tight end Marquez Branson.

Here’s another account of the day’s action:

Marquez Branson continued to get involved in the offense, taking a few snaps at fullback but mostly participating as a pass-catching tight end. During 7-on-7s, he made one of the only catches of the afternoon despite the wind, leaping over a linebacker to haul in a catch. It even drew “ooohs” from some of the media since so many other passes had fallen incomplete.

• Branson means business after earning promotion
• Broncos’ O Stealing from Chargers
• Get to Know: Marquez Branson

Confirmed: Clark has resigned

Literally seconds after I decided to go ahead and publish the blog post below about hearing from multiple sources that Doug Clark was no longer the head baseball coach, the athletic department sent out a release confirming it to be true.

University of Central Arkansas baseball coach Doug Clark resigned from the position Tuesday following the Bears’ season finale on Saturday.

The speculation was that the announcement had to be made by tonight’s Purple Circle event, but as the event got closer, there was still no official word.

The comment from the release that sticks out the most is the end of athletic director Brad Teague’s statement here (emphasis added by me):

“Coach Clark turned in his letter of resignation this morning and I accepted it,’ said Dr. Brad Teague, UCA’s director of athletics. “We certainly appreciate the work that Coach Clark has done with our baseball program over the past eight years. However, a new and fresh perspective for our baseball program could be beneficial.’

So, with the season just days from ending, Teague plans to begin the search “immediately” and interviewing in two weeks. The speculation can now turn from is the news of Clark’s leaving true to who will be his successor.

The Southland is a pretty good baseball conference, so the interest could be higher than with the openings of other sports. There could be other high-major assistants (similar to Clark’s time before coming to UCA) interested in the position. And with several successful division II coaches within the state, it could make for an interesting process.

Clark out?

NOTE: This had not been announced by the athletic department at the time of this posting. This may be purely a rumor, but if you can’t post rumors on a message board, where can you post them? We waited 24 hours after we first heard to see if it would die down or be confirmed, and since it hasn’t died down – here it is:
Just two days after completing his eighth season with the UCA baseball team, there are rumblings that head coach Doug Clark is no longer the head coach.

There is no word yet – if true – on whether he would be stepping down, retiring or was let go.

The Bears finished the season with a 19-35-1 (10-22-1) record. Clark’s eight-year totals were 209-213-2 (101-120-2). He had a winning record each of his first four seasons.

But like Rand Chappell with men’s basketball, the real trouble came with the transition to D1 and the Southland Conference. Since that time, Clark’s teams have finished with an SLC record of 43-79 and near the bottom of the standings (can’t find 2007′s standings, 9th, 9th and tied for last).

This year’s team lost nine 1-run games. And in full-disclosure, they won seven 1-run games. But, the statistics were a good indicator of things going wrong. The offense finished in the top half of the SLC in only sac bunts and sac flies. The pitching wasn’t a lot better. Outside of a small handful, the staff really struggled to hold opponents down, allowing opponents to hit .324 and posting an era of 6.56.

Meet a new Bear – Mark Rutledge

Mark Rutledge
Guard/Forward
6-4, 180
Edison HS, Tulsa
Connors State (Okla.)
13.2 pts / 4 rebs / 2.4 assists at Connors
19.8 pts / 5 rebs / 5 assists at Edison

• Played against Arkansas Baptist last season
• Played one season at UA-Fort Smith
• From Hoopmasters.com:
  Mark Rutledge 6-4 WF Connors State CC, OK -Solid wing man who had 20 points in game we watched. he hit jumper off dribble from 15-17 feet and created dribble drive on the wing. He will see mid-major interest this next month.
• At Connors last season
  • Played in all 34 games
  • 2nd on team in ppg, 8th in the JuCo region
  • 2nd in assists, 9th in region; however, had more turnovers than assists
  • 10 in steals in region
  • 73% ft shooter, 42% fg, only 28% 3pt
• At Edison High
  2008 Tulsa World All-Metro selection, 3-time Green County All-Conference, 1st team All-State by two publications, 1st team All-Metro by state coaches association
• McDonald’s All-American nominee

Meet a new Bear – Jeff Jackson

Jeff Jackson
Point Guard
5-10, 165
LR Central HS and
Logan College (Ill.)
16 pts / 5 assists at Central
3pts / 1.4 assists at Logan

• Stuck behind UCLA signee at Logan.
• Also looks like he was overshadowed by Alandise Harris while at LRCentral.
• Will have three years of eligibility.
• 2:1 assist-turnover ratio last season.
• Often listed at 5-8 in high school.

Meet a new Bear – Aubrey Ball

Aubrey Ball
Guard
6-2, 180
Carrollton Creekview HS, Texas
15 pts / 4.6 assists

• Unsure of actual offers, but chose UCA “over The Citadel, Central Connecticut State, North Texas, Lamar, Minnesota and Santa Clara.”
• Unanimous first-team all-district selection last season.
• Helped lead team to school-record 22 wins.
• His head coach “and the Mustangs call Ball ‘the head of the snake,’ because he leads the team on the floor and does a bit of everything, averaging 16 points, five rebounds and 5.3 assists. Built like a strong safety, the 6-foot-2 point guard can post up and bull smaller guards right into the lane.” – ESPN Blog
• Expected to begin career as shooting guard and develop into point guard.
• (Teammate Reggie Sonnier is headed to UALR.)