Tuesday, January 26, 2010

June Jones speaks in Abilene; Russell Vanlandingham gets shot as head basketball coach; Eat meat to support McMurry hoops

Southern Methodist University head football coach June Jones and Hal Mumme run very similar spread offenses. Both have coached against each other when Jones used to be the head coach in the WAC with the University of Hawaii and Mumme coached in the WAC as head coach of New Mexico State. Both men have a great deal of respect for each other and Jones spent Thursday and Friday sharing his offensive insights with high school football coaches from around the state. The Abilene Reporter News' Greg Jaklewicz wrote a story on Jones and a side-bar piece on the relationship between Jones and McMurry's head football coach. Check it here.

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Many McMurry fans will remember Russell Vanlandingham, the player. And maybe more remember him as the assistant coach for current head coach Ron Holmes on two different stints (1996-2001; 2005-06). Vandlandingham was the recruiting coordinator for Holmes in The 1999-2000 team went to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight and the 2000-01 team returned to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16. As an assistant coach, he was known for his firey demeanor and his up-tempo, high-substitution offense. After several years as an assistant coach between McMurry, West Texas A&M (DII), and Texas State (DI), he finally got his chance to take the head chair at Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio. Catch up with the story written by the ARN's Marc David on his progress during his first season.

** On a side note, Holmes is bringing in the 1998-99, 1999-2000, and 2000-2001 squads for a reunion this Saturday for special presentations at Kimbrell Arena between the women's and men's games against Concordia-Texas. Expected attendees include former all-Americans Daniel Martinez and Alex Denson.

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If you like chicken wings or barbecue and you like McMurry's basketball programs, you have an opportunity to benefit both your stomach and the men and women of McMurry basketball. This Wednesday (Jan. 27), local McMurry basketball fans from Abilene can eat at either Famous Dave's Barbecue or Buffalo Wild Wings, and 20 percent of the bill will be donated to the basketball programs. The trick is, you must download this form, print it out and take it with you.

Stay tuned ...
--KR