(Some old) Football news

With the football bye week – and since there was no follow-up blog post – here’s a look at some of the stories from Saturday through this morning.

• Open date allows Bears time to heal
  

  With the bye this week, players will be able to rest up and heal their injuries, Conque said. UCA will practice today and Thursday before taking Friday and Saturday off.
  . . .
  “We’ve made some growth,” Conque said. “I think Nathan Dick has really emerged. He’s taken the lessons from the spring and summer and has really transferred the performances to the field. I think our offensive line played better against Tulsa.“Defensively, I think we’re playing aggressive, playing to the football, playing hard. … We’re a work in progress. When you look at the youth of our team, some of these guys have three or four games under their belt.

  “We have to keep our best players on the field. They’re also lacking the physical maturity. A lot of our injuries are ankle injuries, being able to stay on our feet. Those are the kind of things that come with being in the weight room. The whole key is to have our best players on the field.”

• McCollum’s Column: Sometimes a fine line exists between spectator and player
  

  What’s interesting is six of the injuries to UCA players were the result of teammates running into each other.

• UCA loses players, game
• Bears run into a buzzsaw at Tulsa
• Tulsa defense bounces back in 41-14 victory
• Golden Hurricane coasts past Central Arkansas

Scouting: Tulsa

Tulsa

Record: 1-2 (0-1)
2009 Record: 5-7 (3-5)
Mascot: Golden Hurricane
Conference: Conference USA (C-USA)
Head Coach: Todd Graham, 4th season, 27-16
Located: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Enrollment: 4,165

Last Year: After back-to-back double-digit win seasons for Graham’s teams, they struggled to their first losing season since 2004. The offense was very inconsistent. And after starting 4-1, the team lost six straight before finishing the season with an overtime win over Memphis.

Last Week: Tulsa has been looking forward to this Saturday so that they can move on from last week’s 65-28 beating they took from Oklahoma State. The TU defense gave up 722 yards, 574 of that passing. Tulsa’s pass defense gave up six touchdown passes to the starter and then two more from the backup. Even while all that was happening though, the offense had a pretty balanced 428 yards.

Players to Watch

• GJ Kinne (QB, #4, 6-2/215) – The junior took over for David Johnson (who was there the last time the Bears traveled to Tulsa) last year. He threw for over 2700 yds and was their leading rusher by a lot. He was credited with 50 more rush attempts than the closest guy. This year he’s averaging a much better 324 ypg and his rushing attempts put him third on the time right now. Either way, he’s their guy and can sling it around pretty good.
• Trey Watts (RB, #22, 5-11/199) – The redshirt freshman has taken the starting job this season, but is only averaging 3.1 ypc so far.
• Alex Singleton (RR, #8, 6-1/245) – A huge running back, Singleton is a sophomore who only played in one game in 2009.
• Trae Johnson (WR, #1, 5-11/195) – Trae Johnson isn’t listed as a starter, but he’s their second leading receiver in receptions (14) and yards (163).
• Charles Clay (HB, #9, 6-3/235) – According to the comments of some TU fans, the senior from Little Rock Central seems to have fallen into the background a bit, but he’s a very big, very talented player who can line up in different positions, run and catch the ball.
• Damaris Johnson (WR, #3, 5-8/170) – Save the best for last? Damaris might be little, but he’s a big-play threat. Somehow, opponents this year have done an excellent job of limiting his big plays on offense. He gets the ball on handoffs, passes and is their punt and kick return guy. He’s their leading receiver, and keeping him in check will go a long way towards a win.
• Marco Nelson (S, #20, 6-0/192) – The true freshman is already making plays. He leads the team with two interceptions and returned one for a td. He’s also their second leading tackler.
• Shawn Jackson (MLB, #55, 6-0/230) – Jackson has been the TU player most often making plays behind the line of scrimmage. He’s another freshman on that defense seeing his first action after gray-shirting last season.
• Curnelius Arnick (SLB, #32, 6-1/230) – Arnick leads the team in tackles with 29. He’s been all over the field in the first three games.

Required Reading

• See the blog post below this one.

Other Notes

• Most probably are aware of this, but former Bear receiver Mike Norvell is the passing game coordinator and recruiting director at Tulsa. After last season, Graham brought in Chad Morris to be the offensive coordinator and play caller.
• There are five players from Arkansas high schools on TU’s roster.
• TU’s passing offense is 7th in the country in ypg. Their total offense ranks 5th.
• The defense has been the problem this year. After OSU’s 65-point outing, the defense is averaging 45.3 points against. That is good enough for 117th in the country. There are only 120 teams.
• The run defense has been good. It’s specifically the pass defense that’s been abused by opposing offenses. Bowling Green’s 262 yards is the lowest the TU defense has allowed this season.

News from the last few days

The last few days have provided quite a few news stories. Here are some I’ve seen. There’s some really good stuff in the football stories that I didn’t copy and paste below. Be sure to check those out.

Volleyball -
McCollum’s Column: Even at 9-6, UCA volleyball a program on the rise

McRoberts has not only been energized by the effort against the toughest schedule a Sugar Bear team has placed but by the aesthetics. When the team visited Oklahoma and TCU, two FBS schools in the national rankings, the coach asked to tour the locker room and offices.“They’re good, but ours are better,” McRoberts said. “What we’re doing is as good as anybody in the nation, I think.”

…

The teams that have defeated the Sugar Bears have a combined record of 62-12.

UCA, with a 9-6 mark, is currently has an RPI of 85 among 300-plus NCAA Division I volleyball teams. Last year’s 27-3 team reached an all-time high of 91 RPI.

Football –

• TU Opponent Watch: Central Arkansas
• Todd Graham today: TU is headed in the right direction (if you have some free time, check out the comments on this one)
• Tulsa Has Plenty to Prepare for in Bears
• TU Notebook: Familiar face
  

  Nathan Dick gave a verbal commitment to Rice during Graham’s lone season at the school. When Graham departed after the 2006 campaign, Dick de-committed and joined his brother Casey Dick at Arkansas….

  “(Nathan) is a winner,” Graham said. “He’s a guy that will have a chance to play in the NFL. Central Arkansas has done a great job of recruiting transfers and talent. They are a dangerous team.”

  Graham is a former head coach at Allen (Texas) High School, where Nathan and Casey Dick played prep football.

• TU’s woes similar to Central Arkansas

The week that is (9.20.2010)

Here is a look at what is coming up for the Bears and Sugarbears this week.

1. Football

The Bears are 3-0!  How we got there isn’t important right now.  All that matters is that we are 3-0, and shouldbe ranked in the Top 25 this week.  The Bears face their biggest challenge of the season this Saturday when they travel to Tulsa to face off against the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricanes at 6 pm.  Tulsa is 1-2 on the season and will be hungry for another win.  The last time the Bears played Tulsa we kept it pretty close and it was a great game.  I expect nothing less this time around.  So far, they are  averaging 36.7 ppg, 189.7 yards rushing per game, and 328 passing yards per game.  Their QB is 78-126-5 on the season.  We will need both our offense and defense to show up in order to win, but it is a winnable game!

2. Volleyball

The Sugarbears improved their record to 9-6 (1-0) with a sweep of the Sugarbear Classic.  UCA sophomore middle blocker Taylor Hammonds, the tournament’s MVP, hit .500 with nine kills and six blocks. Junior outside hitter Jessica Hays recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 12 digs. All-tournament team selection Chloe Smith had 14 kills and four aces and senior Chloe Evans came up with a season-best 15 digs. Freshman setter Marissa Collins, also an all-tournament selection, had 42 assists and four aces.  The Sugarbears will continue their home stretch by facing two SLC foes this week, Sam Houston State on Thursday at 7 and Stephen F. Austin Saturday at 2.  SHSU is 6-9 so far on the season and SFA is 7-8.  We are 1-0 in SLC play, and as I saw on Coach McRoberts’ twitter feed the other day we are only 15 games away from another undefeated SLC season!

3. Men’s Soccer

They are having a rough go of it so far this season with a record of 1-5.  They have played a tough schedule and it doesn’t get any easier as they start conference play (Missouri Valley) this Saturday by hosting Missouri State at 4 pm at the Bill Stephen’s Track/Soccer Complex.  Missouri State is 2-3 on the season after playing some very close games (a 2-3 L to SMU in 2 OT, and 2-1 L to #12 Louisville, they also beat IUPUI 3-0 whom the Bears lost to 2-1).  Hopefully they can pull it together and do well in conference play.

4.  Women’s Soccer

The Bear’s Soccer team has a nice 3-game win streak going that has improved their record to 4-3-1. Their streak includes wins against Prairie View A&M (4-0), Tulsa (1-0), and UAPB (2-1 OT).  The only time they play this week is Sunday (9-26) in Conway vs SIU-Edwardsville who is 5-3-1.  A note from the UCA Women’s Soccer Twitter feed: 13 goals scored this year by 12 different players, including 6 goals by freshmen, including game winner vs. Tulsa and UAPB.

5. Men’s Golf

After a 4th place finish at the NebraskaFairway Club Invitational at ArborLinks Golf Club, the men are back in action today at the UTA/Waterchase Invitational in Fort Worth, TX. Senior Steven Lecuyer finished highest for UCA tied for 4th.

6. Women’s Golf

After a disappointing 10th place finish at the Nebraska Chip-N-Club Invitational have a week off to regroup before the Golfweek Conference Challenge next week.  The showing in Nebraska was disappointing because they finished the first round in fourth place.  Although it appears bad weather may be to blame.  Overall they were led by Sophomore Julie Roth who finished tied for 11th.

7. Cross Country

They will run this week (9-25) at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic.  In their first race of the season, they had a pretty good showing by some freshmen.  Both of the University of Central Arkansas’ cross country teams were paced by a pair of freshmen at the UALR Invitational held at the Rebsamen Golf Course on Friday evening. Conway’s Erika Setzler finished second in the women’s 5k race with a time of 19:22.83, while Little Rock’s Kayla Nehus was fifth in 19:35.04. Russellville’s Michael Allen was the Bears’ top finisher in the men’s 5K, placing 14th in 16:15.25 and Amos Gerber of Hot Springs took 16th in 16:33.41.  Also for the women, sophomore Elizabeth Craig finished 20th (20:27.25), sophomore Courtney Efurd placed 22nd (20:36.59). and sophomore Dacey Mitchell was 38th (21:33.76). For the men, sophomore Tony Stewart took 21st place (16:42.25), freshman Jeremiah Fleeman was 25th (16:56.61) and senior Logan Dockery finished 30th (17:09.03).  Also competing in the meet were UALR, Arkansas State, Memphis, Christian Brothers, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Tech, Grambling, Hendrix and Henderson State. From: UCAsport.com

Recap: Murray State

“Never got into a rhythm.”

“Out of sync.”

“Things just weren’t clicking.”

Those were all things people said about UCA’s offensive performance Saturday night.

Even though the Bears escaped with a 21-20 win over Murray State, it certainly wasn’t the game that most Bear fans expected after last week’s win over a ranked Eastern Illinois.

Well, it turns out that EIU was probably overrated. They fell again this week to UT-Martin and are now 0-3. Add that to the Vegas prediction of UCA being almost three touchdown favorites, and the fans certainly fell into the trap. I’m certainly not saying that the players did. I’m agreeing with the comments at the beginning.

Players were dropping catchable balls. Balls were thrown just inches off target. The running game sputtered to 98 yards – 74 of those by the QBs. Third-down conversions were often unsuccessful. The Racers actually had more total yards than we did.

Luckily we only committed one turnover. Unfortunately, that turnover was on our 22 yard line and led to a MSU touchdown.

What was noticeably different from last year of course was that we won. As it’s been pointed out – and as I said to my dad last night just after Eddie Carmona’s extra point put us on top for good – that was a situation we would find a way to end up losing. Tell me that after the offside penalty on the kickoff that you weren’t thinking: “Here we go again.”

Some how. Some way. We were able to hold the Racers to a 50-yard field goal attempt that never seemed to get more than three feet off the ground, and we made it out win the win.

I had no idea why we weren’t using timeouts to keep some time on the clock in case they made it. Then, Coach Conque has done his share of calling time outs to try and ice kickers – not this time. I guess that’s why he’s the head coach and I’m sitting in the stands barely able to watch.

But, Chris Hatcher finallfy lost to the Bears. Our young team has gotten some experience, and we made it to 3-0 headed to Tulsa. I guess that’s all that matters.

Postgame Stories

• Bears break through with Dumas’ block
• Bears Block Late Field Goal to Escape With 21-20 Victory
• Late TD, blocked FG give Central Arkansas 21-20 win over Murray State
• SOUTHLAND: Bears block Racers’ last chance

Gameday: Jackson State/Murray State

Volleyball

Gameday gets started today at 1:00 when the volleyball team looks to sweep its own tournament. Today’s match against Jackson State in the Prince Center will be the last non-conference warm-up before conference season gets into full swing. LIVE STATS | VIDEO

The Tigers come in with a 3-7 record and lost their opening game of the tournament to Memphis. With all the people – hopefully – already on campus tailgating, the attendance at today’s match may set a record.

Football

Things keep rolling today into the nightcap where the Bears take on an 0-2 Murray State team at 6 p.m. There’s a 0% chance of rain, and it’ll be a down to 89 degrees tonight at kickoff. There’s no reason that people within driving distance shouldn’t be there. See the Scouting: Murray State story for more on the game. LIVE STATS | VIDEO | LISTEN

Some light reading:

• SLC honor comes from the blind side for Bears’ Smothers
• UCA living up to coach’s expectations
  

  “I was worried in camp if this team early in the season would have the ability to have the will to win. We’ve been able to do that,” Conque said. “My concern is that we’ve had a few average practices this week.”