Media Day is here

Lone Star Conference Media Day has begun. Commissioner Stan Wagnon is welcoming everyone here and talking about individual and team successes from last year's football teams. It had to be a little bit uncomfortable for WT head coach Don Carthel when the commissioner mentioned the Wildcats' 93-68 win over the Buffs in last year's NCAA Division II playoffs. Especially with Carthel sitting right beside ACU head coach Chris Thomsen. More in just a moment when the polls are announced.

Here we go:

FOOTBALL
LSC North Division Awards
Defensive POY -- William Green, Texas A&M-Commerce; Jermelle Cudjo, Central Oklahoma
Offensive POY -- Marcus Johnson, East Central

Pre-Season Poll
1. Central Oklahoma (12)
2. Texas A&M-Commerce (3)
2. SE Oklahoma State (1)
4. SW Oklahoma State
5. East Central
6. Northeastern State

Coaches' comments:
> Kenny Evans, NSU head coach -- "We've got a new look, and hopefully it doesn't end up looking like it did in the poll. Brought in a new coaching staff and a lot of new players. New helmet; new uniforms; hopefully a new look at the end of the season."
> Tim McCarty, ECU head coach -- "Pleased that (Abilene native) Marcus Johnson is back with us at quarterback. We have a lot of work to do, though. We want to build a foundation for a program that will excite our alumni, lettermen and fans."
> Dan Cocannouer, SW Oklahoma State head coach -- "We got a late start in recruiting, but were able to sign 38 high school kids; 33 from Oklahoma and five from Texas. Got five junior college transfers. But only suited up 47 kids for our spring game. Won't have many seniors or juniors, but anticipate 75 freshmen and 35 sophomores."
> Ray Richards, SE Oklahoma State head coach -- "We feel good about this year and the future. We've got a great receiver in Daniel Nichols, who I believe is one of the best receivers in the Lone Star Conference."
> Guy Morriss, Texas A&M-Commerce head coach -- "Can't tell you a lot about this football team. Went through spring training with only about 50 players, but I think the thing that excites me the most is Aug. 6 when we report to camp and get to mix in the kids that we signed. We signed about 30 high school kids, and I'm excited about them. I really believe that's the best way to build a program, but you never know until the lights come on and find out what they can and can't do. A lot of our freshmen are going to have starting roles or see a lot of playing time."
> Tracy Holland, UCO head coach -- "We had an exciting first year, and we're looking forward to a great second season. A lot's been written and said about those seven games we won to end the 2008 season, but truth be know, five of those wins came down to the last series and we were able to pull those games out."


LSC South Division Awards
Defensive POY -- Aston Whiteside, DE, Abilene Christian
Offensive POY -- Roderick Smith, RB, Tarleton State

Pre-season poll
1. Abilene Christian (16) 135 points
2. West Texas A&M (3) 107 points
3. Tarleton State 86 points
4. A&M-Kingsville 84 points
5. Midwestern State (1) 82 points
6. Angelo State 42 points
7. Eastern New Mexico 24 points

Coaches' comments:
> Mark Ribaudo, ENMU head coach -- "We're excited about the Greyhounds. We're very excited about the spread offense once again. We'll be a junior-sophomore offense. Signed 38 kids, including 30 high school players. We're still a young team that's trying to get better and better. We'll be a little bit older on the defensive side of the ball who will help us."
> Dale Carr, Angelo State head coach -- "It's been disappointing the last three years. Last year was our fourth year, and should have been the year we started to turn the corner. We lost our starting quarterback first rattle out of the box in the first game last year and we were never the same. We got a redshirt for Josh Neiswander, though, and I think he'll be a real blessing for us."
> Bill Maskill, Midwestern State head coach -- "We are a team of blue-collar workers, much like our coaches and much like our university. But we've got some talented players. Defensively we don't have the depth that we've had in the past, but we've got some talented players. Offensively we're a veteran team with an offensive line full of guys who have all played."
> Bo Atterberry, Kingsville head coach -- "We've got a lot of guys coming back, but we'll find out pretty quickly how we stack up on Aug. 29 when Delta State comes to Kingsville. Hopefully the great minds aren't right on putting us fourth, but I'm anxious to get started and find out."
> Sam McElroy, Tarleton State head coach -- "We've got a good group of guys back, and it's a group that's been around a while. We've been close to doing what everybody wants to do and that's win championships and reach the playoffs. But we just haven't gotten over the top. I'm proud of the way our kids worked this off-season and the commitment they've made to reaching that goal."
> Don Carthel, West Texas A&M head coach -- "We lost a lot of seniors, and to be picked second is a shock to me. I would venture to say that we have the fewest returning starters in the league. We'll find out really quick if our Thursday night scrimmages will pay off on Aug. 29 when Grand Valley State comes into Canyon. We think we've got a great bunch of young guys who are waiting for their chance to play."
> Chris Thomsen, Abilene Christian head coach -- "I'm a little bit surprised to be picked first in the division considering the number of starters we lost. Not only did we lose Bernard, but we also lost two other senior running backs (Chancy Campbell and Taber Minner). Not only did we lose Johnny Knox, we lost four other senior wide receivers. But we brought in some guys that we feel good about. I'm very fortunate to be at a great university with great support and very fortunate to be in this league."

VOLLEYBALL

Pre-season awards
Defensive POY -- Shawna Hines, mb, Abilene Christian
Offensive POY -- Laura Prinse, oh, West Texas A&M
Setter -- Katie Rickwartz, WTAM

Pre-season poll
1. West Texas A&M (31)
2. Abilene Christian (4)
3. Tarleton State (3)
4. Midwestern State
5. Texas Woman's
6. Angelo State

Women's Soccer
Defensive POY -- Alli Miller, Central Oklahoma
Goalkeeper OY -- Crissie Lawson, ACU
Offensive POY -- Meagan Lasley, Texas Woman's

Pre-season Poll
1. West Texas A&M
2. Texas A&M-Commerce
3. Central Oklahoma
4. Midwestern State
5. Abilene Chrsitian

Men's Cross Country
1. Abilene Christian
2. Tarleton State
3. Texas A&M-Commerce
4. East Central
5. Angelo State

Women's Cross Country
1. Midwestern State (22)
2. West Texas A&M (1)
3. Abilene Christian (8)

Good to see you again

Well, ACU fans, it's been a while since we've posted to the blog, but that's mainly because we've been enjoying some time off during the summer as well as getting things ready for the start of another season.

Here's a few things to look forward to in the next few days:

1). Lone Star Conference Media Day is set for Thursday starting at noon. The conference office will announce pre-season polls and pre-season players of the year in football, volleyball and men's and women's soccer, and the pre-season polls in men's and women's cross country.

We'll be blogging live from the festivities in Dallas, so check here throughout the early afternoon to find out what the rest of the conference thinks of the Wildcats in those sports this fall.

2). Beginning next week you'll notice a new, improved look to the ACU Web site (http://www.acusports.com/). We've changed our Web site provider to ICS, and we believe the change will be one that fans will enjoy. We've been working hard to get everything updated before its launch, but there will still be a few kinks / holes to fix after it launches, but it's still a serviceable Web site that will only get better in the coming days.

3). We'll also have a new look to the "Chris Thomsen Show," which will premiere this year on Saturday, Aug. 22, and will once again be broadcast on KRBC. However, the show will be produced entirely on campus by the staff of KUF-TV, and the host will be our own Grant Boone. Look for the new and improved show just a few days before the season kicks off on Aug. 27 against Northwest Missouri State.