Discontinued

Folks,

Clearly, the McMurry sports blog has not been at the top of the priority list. Thomas and I are pouring more effort into McMurrysports.com, the Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages than ever before; and the blog has gone by the wayside. I wish we had time to do everything, but we don't. I hope you enjoyed what we did do, and when Football Training camp rolls around we will have a separate blog just for that event. Thanks for following and be sure and check mcmurrysports.com for inside coverage, stories, videos and more.

-- KR

Game Notes from McMurry vs. Howard Payne

Don't forget to check out the photo gallery and purchase your favorite photos from McMurry's 51-19 victory over Howard Payne. Check that gallery here.

- And before we get into the football notes, remember that McMurry's swim season starts this weekend and that the first official NCAA basketball practices are Oct. 15!

• In the NCAA era, McMurry had only strung together two consecutive games where the defense held its opponent to under 300 yards of offense. However, in 2010, McMurry’s defense has opened the year by keeping its opponents under 300 yards all five games.
• McMurry’s 51 points give the team at least 50 in two games this season; the last time that happened was in the 2000 season.
• The win Saturday night was Hal Mumme’s 115th career collegiate win; in his 20th season as a college head football coach, he’s 115-111, and he’s 2-0 against Howard Payne
• The McMurry defense held Howard Payne to its lowest offensive output of the season at 293 yards. HPU’s 40 yards rushing was the lowest total by McMurry’s three ASC opponents this season.
• Jake Mullin moved to second all-time on McMurry’s career passing yardage chart, and it took just 14 games. Mullin has 4,700 passing yards in 14 starts and passed Kurt Ashmore for second. Ashmore played for four seasons from 1984-1987 and passed for 4,361 yards. Braxton Shaver’s 8,721 yards will be in Mullin’s sights next. Mullin’s career yards per game average is 335.7 through 14 games; if he keeps that pace, he’ll pass Shaver after the third game of his senior season.
• Senior wide receiver Marcus Franklin needs just 91 yards to move into McMurry’s top 10 for career receiving yardage. At 1,381 yards through his first 15 games in a McMurry uniform, he, along with teammate R.J. Long also each have 15 career touchdown receptions. That number is good for third all-time among McMurry players in the NCAA era.
• R.J. Long caught a touchdown pass for the sixth consecutive game Saturday night. Last season, he had a touchdown reception in the season finale and has at least one touchdown catch in each of McMurry’s five games in 2010. The last McMurry player to accomplish that feat was Rory Peacock who caught touchdown passes in seven consecutive games spanning from the last six games of the 1999 season to the first game of the 2000 season. Later, in the 2000 season, he also went on another 6-game streak with at least one touchdown catch. Peacock is also McMurry’s career receptions, receiving yards leader and touchdown receptions leader.
• Desmond Baker’s two blocked kicks Saturday night tied him with Gavan Bass for the most blocked kicks among McMurry players in the NCAA era with three. Baker also has the team lead with eight pass breakups through eight games
• Through five games, McMurry is the No. 1 defense in the ASC by an average of 141 yards. McMurry’s defensive unit has allowed just 208.2 yards per game through the first five contests; HPU is next at 349.2 yards per contest.
• McMurry has scored in 18 of 19 red zone attempts this year including five against Howard Payne Saturday night.
• Baker’s blocked field goal, which turned into a 53-yard touchdown return by D.J. Baiza, was the first blocked kick return for a touchdown since Oct. 21, 2006 when Joe Alexander returned a blocked punt against Sul Ross State 26 yards for a touchdown. It is the only blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in the NCAA era for McMurry.
• 132 team rushing yards for McMurry Saturday night was the second-highest total since Hal Mumme took over in 2009. McMurry ran for 143 yards against Mississippi College Sept. 19, 2009.
• Austin Brooks’ 1-yard touchdown was the first rushing score by a McMurry running back in 2010 and just the second overall. Jake Mullin has the only other rushing touchdown against Texas College earlier this season.

McMurry featured on front page of d3football.com

Check out the d3Football.com front page, and if you're a little late in getting there, here is the article written by Jason Bowen.

McMurry vs. Bacone Highlights

We'll try to clean the audio up, we're working on some issues. We can't promise, but we will try to do this each week.

Catching You Up!

It's been a hectic three weeks getting ready for football's first home game and getting soccer started at home as well. We will continue to catch you up as we go, but enjoy the videos below, and keep checking back!

2010 McMurry Football Media Guides are on sale online! Fans can also view the digital version by clicking here! Fans can also purchase 2010 McMurry Football Schedule Posters for $5 online!

McMurry Football Press Conference Week Two - Featuring Jimmy Terrell and Offensive Coordinator Matt Mumme



Women's Soccer Highlights and Post-Match Interview vs. Huston-Tillotson



Men's Soccer Post-Match Interview vs. Wayland Baptist

Soccer Photos for Sale

This is Gary Rhodes' first official game photo shoot with us this year. He shot the men's and women's soccer matches vs. LCU - check out the galleries on mcmurrysports.com and photos are available for purchase. Or click here for the women's gallery or the men's gallery.

Stay tuned ...
--KR

Paul Tate - Post Match Interview - 09.01.10 - vs. LCU

Alan Riches - Post Match Interview - 09.01.10 vs. LCU

Press Conference - Football - Take Two

We had eight minutes worth of footage from our first McMurry Football Press Conference of the year, which took place Monday at 2 p.m. However, we had a short in the wire in our microphone and Hal Mumme and wide receiver R.J. Long each were unable to be heard. Long was kind enough to come back and re-create the interview as McMurry gets ready for its season opener against Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla. at 6 p.m. Saturday night.



Please be sure and check mcmurrysports.com for live stats links, and don't forget that we will be streaming live audio and video for all 10 football games for a subscription fee.

Stay tuned ...
--KR

Year Two in the Books ...

Our second year of Training Camp Coverage has come to a conclusion. I hope you enjoyed the updates and will keep checking back to all our major outlets throughout the year including this blog. Don't forget our Facebook Page, Twitter Page, YouTube Channel, and of course, our main and most official source of information: mcmurrysports.com.

The scheduling mis-communication from Friday where the team moved practice from 7:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. caused us to miss the "Packer Day" graduation ceremony of 15-straight minutes of up-downs for the defensive players. But if you really need to know what it's like, just take a look at last year's final practice video.

Also Thomas Beckham took the camera tonight for the last practice gallery - and also this is coach Mumme's playlist in the background below in the YouTube video for tonight.

This will be our final practice coverage of the year - we'll be back throughout the year with non-formal updates, and check mcmurrysports.com for the game previews and press releases.

Ticket information for the 2010 season is coming next week!



Stay tuned ...
--KR

Soccer Teams dribble down memory lane

First-year men's soccer coach Paul Tate asked me to take a few pictures at both the women's and men's alumni games earlier today. When I walked out to Edwards Field, one of the first faces I saw, and was surprised to see was Steve Allan (pictured). Allan drove in from just south of Houston where he now coaches high school boys soccer. Allan coached both the most successful McMurry men's teams and women's team in history. He led the men to three-straight ASC Tournament appearances from 2002-04 including the ASC title game in 2003. His one season where he doubled as the men's and women's coach turned out to be the best season in women's history in 2006. The women finished 5-11-2 under Allan, however, considering the program had just four wins in its first five seasons in existence prior to his head-coaching tenure, coupled with the fact that the team went 4-3-1 in its final eight matches, it was a successful season. McMurry was sad to see Allan go following the 2006 season. His wife got a great job and the couple left Abilene.

However, today Allan was back to greet his former men's and women's players, and he even made an appearance in the men's game as a player. Although I'm not as up on my soccer history as I should be, several key players from past men's and women's teams were on hand today for the festivities, which also included a free barbecue courtesy of Aramark and Terry Juarez.

Some of the women's alumni that played today included Karla Alarcon, Leslie Otts, Marissa Beyelia and Kathy Alonso among others. On the men's side Aaron Foust, Eric Walker, Pedro Encarnacion, Kyle Kalin, Brandon Crawford and Logan Garza along with current assistant and former player Edward Ecupnobi played in the men's game. See the group photos below - apologies that I couldn't get the mixed photo with the men's, there were too many and I couldn't get them all in the shot - also be sure to look below the team pics for links to galleries for today's events.





Men's Alumni Game Gallery | Women's Alumni Game Gallery
Stay tuned ...
-- KR

Making it up to you ...

When the football team practices at night. I usually arrive between Noon and 1 p.m. and stay at work until 11 p.m. or so. Today, I showed up with full anticipation of a 7:30 p.m. practice time. However, when I arrived today, the staff had switched tonight's practice to 3:30 p.m. so I was unable to take photos or get footage because of prior scheduled meetings. So, in order to make up for it McMurry fans, I have created the 2010 Football Desktop Wallpaper Schedule for download, but this time for defense. If you missed the offensive wallpaper, you can find both wallpapers by downloading here. Below is a preview image.



Also, PLEASE UNDERSTAND, the NCAA does not allow us to publicize scrimmages of any kind with photos, videos, press releases or updates. So, you will not hear from me on an update from training camp until the FINAL day, which is Sunday.

Stay tuned ...
-- KR

I lied ... sort of ...

I did not cover football practice today. However, you football fans will be glad to know, that eight days later, with the help of Rob Davidson, I was able to uncover the lost media interviews with Will Morris and Hal Mumme from the first day of practice.

Enjoy, and we'll see you tomorrow ...



Stay tuned ...
--KR

Riches shooting for win No. 1 before talking about anything else

I had my first chance to have an extended visit with our new women's soccer coach Alan Riches. I was impressed with the fact that he doesn't expect a miracle in the first season. As you'll see in the interview, he wants his team to take the steps necessary to just win a match, something the program hasn't done since the last match of the 2006 season. He has seven players back and 11 new players to work with as we head towards the season opener Sept. 1. That match will be played at home at Edwards Field against NAIA Lubbock Christian.

Riches also mentions in the interview that he has family ties to Wilford Moore - whom the McMurry football stadium is named after.

Read the season preview and check out the PHOTO GALLERY from yesterday's practice.

Stay tuned ...
-- KR

Volleyball team starts practice - looking to be better than above average

When I interviewed Terah Brown and Cammie Petree (head coach) yesterday as the team started volleyball practice for the 2010 season, both were okay with their second-place vote in the 2010 ASC West Preseason poll. However, both echoed that they wanted more. Brown, a fourth-year player for McMurry is already the all-time leader in blocks at the school and has a chance to move up in the top five in career kills as well. She along with Mandie Moore and Sarah Anding are fourth-year seniors that have made the ASC Tournament in each of their seasons. As freshmen in 2007, they exited in the semi-finals round with a lost to HSU. In 2008, the team exited in the quarterfinals round with a loss to ETBU. Last season as juniors, they fell in the semi-finals round again to HSU. To set themselves up for success, Brown said in the YouTube interview above, that the team would be well off if it could finish first-place in the west during the regular season to give them a better shot at their goal: A conference title.

Read the season preview here. Look at yesterday's PHOTO GALLERY, and stay tuned for more volleyball news throughout the season on mcmurrysports.com.

Women's soccer is next!

Remember no football coverage today ... I'm catching up on office work. We'll be back Friday.

--KR

Long day, but fall sports are rolling

Four other fall teams started practice today, and our previous post gave you a preview of men's soccer. Tomorrow we'll follow with volleyball and women's soccer. On the gridiron it was another two-a-day for the team as they move closer to the end of Training Camp. Obviously the team will have two more weeks of practice once school starts, but academics takes more of a focus Monday when the players return to hitting the books. Tonight, there was a lot of excitement in the air. A lot of friendly chatter between the offense and defense, and to close camp with Packer Day, the offensive players ran over and participated in the last couple of minutes of the strenuous drill. We will not have coverage of practice tomorrow, but will return Friday night with updates. Here is tonight's PHOTO GALLERY for Wednesday's practice.

Stay tuned ...
--KR

Futbol is back ...

It's always a nice thing when an alum can come home to lead his former team as head coach. In Paul Tate's case, he didn't have to wait as long. Just three seasons after his final year as a player, Tate follows Tim Grove as head coach. Today the team had its first practice of the 2010 season. Motivation and tradition is Tate's goal with his team who struggled after three years under head coach Tim Grove. Tate is looking to return his team to old form - a team that went to the ASC Playoffs three seasons in a row from 2002-2004.

Read the official press release of McMurry's men's first practice. Click here to see a small gallery of the first practice today for the men's team. Women's coverage to follow tomorrow.

123 degrees - 'nuff said

Today's practice was at 2:30 p.m. Before I headed onto the field, we checked the temperature online in Greg Harrod's (director of football operations) office. He said it would be 99 degrees outside. So after I went up to the slightly air-conditioned press box for the first few minutes to do some roster work, I headed down to the field. Our athletic trainer for football this season, Jay Spencer, had his temperature gauge on the ground. The picture to your left is the number that it read on the turf at Wilford Moore Stadium.

Needless to say, late July and August always brings a pretty good heat wave to Abilene each year. Even at 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. when the majority of the practices take place for the McMurry team, it's hot, but today, it had heat at a different level. Practice was lighter than usual with a focus on special teams and just two round of Bandit Drill. And the defense caught a break when Mumme called practice after team drill and spared them the 15-minute Packer drill for the day.

Today's gallery is a lot of shots of players being hot and enjoying themselves. We'll be back at it tomorrow with the team's second two-a-day. Once again, we'll only cover the evening practice. CLICK HERE FOR THE DAY EIGHT PHOTO GALLERY.

First Two-A-Days Complete

I didn’t attend morning practice, but tonight was a solid practice on the first two-a-day of the year. Mumme allowed the guys to go a little shorter tonight, and the defensive guys were given a welcome surprise when lightning cut short Packer Day by about nine minutes. It was good to see Simeon Neal (leading receiver in ’08) and Marcus Franklin (leading receiver in ’09) on the field for the first time. Both had been held out of practice for administrative issues, but are good to go and will go through the progression of helmets only, to half pads to full pads just like the rest of the players had to go through.

In many cases at training camp the defense always looks a step ahead of the offense.
And while Joe Lee Dunn, Barris Grant and Kendall Roberson’s defense is continuing to impress, the offense is beginning to come around as well. It’s exciting to see the progression each day as we look towards Sept. 4.

Remember that we will be broadcasting all football games with audio / video. On rare occasions last year we were unable to bring a game; we’ve worked on some plan B and plan C’s to ensure we have a solid Internet connection this year, so hopefully we’ll be able to bring you all 10 regular season games. I will send out an official press release at some point this week about our live audio / video coverage of McMurry events.

Tomorrow’s practice is at 2:30 p.m. before a two-a-day practice resumes Wednesday.

Spread the word about the blog, and here is tonight’s PRACTICE #7 GALLERY.

Stay tuned ...
--KR

Introducing Gary Rhodes ...

As much as I love taking pictures and sorting through hundreds of them to give you around 30, it's always my pleasure to turn the job of action photos to the professionals. As I mentioned briefly last night, Brian Schmidt, our photographer from last year took a full-time job and is no longer with us. Let me be the first to say that I thought Brian did an excellent job of enhancing our athletics imagery last year on the web site and through publication. So now, we bring in some new blood, Gary Rhodes, an ACU grad like myself has agreed to come on board and shoot football and the other sports for us this season. Although these are a little belated, I think you'll be pleased with his work like I was. Here is a link to the DAY FIVE GALLERY and the shots as always, are available for purchase.

You'll be stuck with my inferior eye and camera tonight, but we'll make do. Thanks to all of you who have supported us this season by buying photos. It helps pay for the annual fees and bells and whistles of http://www.mcmurrysports.com.

We'll see you tonight!
Stay tuned ...
--KR