Tag Archives: University of Science and Arts Of Oklahoma

September 1, 2010 · 10:29 pm

QUICK TAKES: HUMP-DAY STYLE

DIPLOMACY OR THE MILITARY OPTION? – The Washington and Lee Generals football team travels to the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats for their 11th gridiron matchup. This is the rubber game of the match since the series is tied up at 5 games apiece. The Generals haven’t beaten the Diplomats in Lancaster since 1963. If W&L manages a victory their Head Coach Frank Miriello will tie his mentor Gary Fallon as the winningest coach in program history. And that is some history since Washington and Lee began playing football in 1873. Miriello looks to lead his troops back to the D3 playoffs for the first time since 2006. 

Lady Lions Upset Sea Lions – The Lindenwood Lady Lions volleyball team went 2-2 at the Point Loma Nazarene Tournament, with one of their wins coming against the host team, the 14th-ranked Sea Lions of Point Loma Nazarene. Lindenwood swept PLNU 25-16, 25-20 and 25-19 for this season’s first win over a ranked team. “Killin'” Krista Yoder had a match-high 16 kills and hit .560, Kelsey “Special K” Kennedy had 6 kills and Ellen “The Hellion” Fandry recorded 14 putaways and 10 digs for her first double-double of the season. Alexandria “Fightin’ Alexa” Malam posted 22 assists and Kelsey “Digs” Biggs had 20. Alyssa “Snow” Showers contributed with 14 digs while Patricia “Peaches And” Erb had 10 and Katie “K-Dub” Weber had a team-high 3 blocks.

How Offensive Can You Get? Mike “M Squared” Maher, senior wide receiver for the Saint Xavier Cougars (my campaign to get them to change their name to the Saint Xavier Cougats still hasn’t borne fruit) has been named the Victory Sports Network NAIA Offensive Player Of The Week. In the Cougars’ 49-32 road win over the Bethel (TN) Wildcats Maher had 12 catches for 214 yards and 4 touchdowns for the 4th-ranked SXU team. 

Don’t Get So Defensive – Hanna “The Sparkler” Sparks, goalie for the Cumberland University women’s soccer team, has been named the Defensive Player Of The Week by the TranSouth Conference after making 16 saves in a pair of matches for the Bulldogs. Up next for Sparks and her teammates are the Georgetown (KY) Tigers this Saturday at 2Pm…And in another Bulldogs story Cumberland’s Football Coaches Show with host Tommy Bryan and Head Coach Dewayne “Hey HEY Hey” Alexander returns tonight. The show will run from Sept 1st through Nov 10th, with time out for meals and bathroom breaks of course. The show is on 98.9 FM or on-line at mms://realaudio.cumberland.edu/CU 

D’OH!-klahoma – The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers men’s soccer team had a 5-nil lead yesterday on the Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College Saints (Insert your own Free Willy joke here) when the game was called on account of lightning! No rescheduling has been announced yet.

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August 17, 2010 · 12:46 am

QUICK TAKES III: THE DEATH OF MICHAEL CORLEONE

Bland Response – On August 28th the Cumberlands Patriots take on the McKendree Bearcats in the Big River Bowl. On playing a ranked team on opening weekend Patriots Head Football Coach John Bland had this to say: “We have a tough schedule to start with and only two weeks to get ready for one of the top 10 teams in the nation.” Bland’s Patriots have won back-to-back Mid-South Conference divisional titles and went on to the 2009 playoffs where they lost to the Lambuth Eagles.   

Son Of BAPSSAS – At the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (cool team name The Drovers) the Bill And Pat Smith Scholar Athlete Scholarship actually had two recipients this year. The first was Tashina Ototivo and now, since Bill Smith decided to sponsor another recipient, Dakota Webster, who plays for the men’s basketball team at USAO! Besides having a name cool enough to be the title of a movie, Dakota stood out with his classroom excellence (3.82 GPA), on-the-court performance (A 53.8 percent shooter) and with community work at the Special Olympics.  “It’s definitely an honor,” Webster said on finding out he was the recipient, “I was excited. It’s definitely going to help.” Webster’s a biology major who may very well be operating on some of us down the road so let’s be really really nice to him!

The Battle Of Hastings – Don’t like that title? How about “Hastings Pudding” for you Harvard alumni? No? Oh, forget it! The Hastings Broncos men’s soccer team has been picked in the coaches’ poll to win the Great Plains Athletic Conference title this season. The Broncos were 16-4-3 overall last year and 10-1-1 in conference play, taking the GPAC title. 

HSPN ZONE – While this is generally a college sports blog I also like to cover items that slip through the cultural cracks (see my pages on Navajo and Bunyoro Mythology) so this story is appropriate. HSPN is the Homeschool Sportsnet (www.HSPN.net) which is to Homeschool sports what Balladeer’s Blog tries to be for NAIA and NCAA Division 3 sports. For the 4th year HSPN will be running the National Homeschool Scoreboard, a free on-line service where teams can have their scores, schedules and stats reflected in real-time! For more details go here:   
The National Homeschool Scoreboard is now 4 Years Old 

 
It’s New Year’s In August At Saint Xavier – The SXU Cougars athletics department has launched a new website at http://www.sxucougars.com/ and their 2010-2011 athletic season begins this week! On August 21st the men’s soccer team travels to Columbia, KY to play the Lindsey-Wilson College Blue Raiders. And be sure to ring in this New Year in Cougar athletics by watching Rob Huizenga’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on August 20th! At Midnight we’ll all gather ’round to watch another Illinois governor fall!
 
Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks: Why, What Wonders We’re Witnesssing! – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team is coming off 5 straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and more importantly are the defending National Champions of NCAA Division 3. They’ve been picked to repeat in some of the preseason polls and if you know D3 football you just know the Mt Union Purple Raiders are also right near them in the rankings. Every year since 2005 the D3 Championship game has been played between those two teams when the dust settles in the playoffs. The Warhawks begin their title defense on September 4th against the Adrian College Bulldogs. Personally I wish they could play a team like the Connecticut College Camels in a game they could call The Alliteration Bowl. Too bad CC doesn’t sponsor football!
 

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or the NCAA or any of their member institutions. 

© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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August 14, 2010 · 3:52 am

DROVERS STAMPEDE THEIR WAY TO THE TOP OF THE SAC SOCCER POLL

I know David Beckham had just gotten the surprise of his life but when I spotted him I recognized an opportunity for an exclusive interview. I was determined to get his views on the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers soccer program. I cornered him and his wife and after making a few sympathetic noises about what had just happened to him I rolled into interview mode: 
   
“So, David'” I began, “What are your views on the USAO Drovers men’s soccer team being picked to win the Sooner Athletic Conference this year?”
 
“What?…Who are you?” he asked. “Blimey” he added emphatically.
 
“Well, Dave…Can I call you ‘Dave’? They are after all the defending conference champions and went 17-2-1 overall and 8-0-1 in conference play last season.” 
   
“Why,” Beckham stated, tentatively,”I can’t believe you’re bothering me with this after what just happened to me.”
 
“If you were wondering, Dave, the placement in that preseason poll is determined by the coaches’ votes.”
 
“What are you talking about?”
 
“Were you pleased by men’s head coach Jimmy Hampton saying ‘…Preseason polls won’t win games. We are…focusing on working hard and competing hard, in order to represent USAO in the best manner we can'”?”
  
 “That’s fine, but…”
 
“And don’t forget the Drover women, Dave,” I continued, “They should be conference contenders, too, having finished third in the women’s preseason poll. They went 13-6 last year, 7-4 in the conference and they bring back the same talent from last year, but with a bit more maturity and experience.”
 
“What does any of this have to do with me?” Beckham said, irritably, but I was rolling.
 
“The Drover women play a scrimmage against Northern Junior College on August 24th and the men kick off their regular season August 31st against Hillsdale College. Isn’t that right, Dave.”
 
“I…I guess so.”
 
And that wrapped up my exclusive interview with David (“Dave” to close friends like me) Beckham on the state of Drovers soccer. Now I just have to sit back and wait to hear from the Pulitzer Committee.
To read my interview with Posh Spice about her views on Non-Euclidian Geometry click here: http://www.usao.edu/usao-sports/
 
For more USAO Drovers stories click the links below:
 
 

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or the NCAA or any of their member institutions. 

© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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August 5, 2010 · 2:26 pm

FORGET STRASBURG, USAO JUST RECRUITED JACOB CRASE

 

Jacob Crase signs his letter of intent to play for USAO surrounded by his family and USAO coaches at the USAO Fieldhouse in Chickasha.

 

Dateline Chickaska, OK   The sports media was out in full force to cover the baseball world’s latest big event. While many other reporters were covering some little-known slugger named Rodriguez getting his 60th or 70th homerun or something like that those of us with a real nose for news were in Chickasha to get the lowdown on a real sports story. 

“Joltin'” Jacob Crase, an 18 year old pitcher for Moore High School signed his letter of intent this week to play for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers.  In high school Crase pitched an ERA of 3.22. The six-foot five freshman will serve as both a pitcher and first baseman for the Drovers baseball team. I muscled my way to the front of the enormous crowd of reporters and asked why he couldn’t also play pitcher and first baseman for the Drovers basketball team but Crase just said “Next question, please.”

Smelling a cover-up I hammered the young man with another hard-hitting question:

“What made you decide to sign with USAO?”

Crase replied that it was because of the baseball program and the school’s good selection of classes. Sensing that I now had him on the run I pressed my advantage with another probing query:

“What will you be majoring in? And do you really expect America’s  disillusioned baseball fans to believe your answer?”

Jacob anwered the first question by saying he planned to major in business administration. He ignored the second question, leading me to believe I was getting into a very sensitive area. Like the journalistic equivalent of a shark I moved in for the kill with an explosive tidbit my research had provided me with:

“Is there any truth to the rumor that you are the son of Eddie and Diana Crase of Moore?”

Jacob cleared his throat, stared defiantly back at me and gave his answer:

“Yes”, he said. 

Next thing I knew every other reporter there was racing out of the room to phone  their papers about this bombshell I had just dropped in their laps. As for me, I had what we in the business call a money quote (“Yes”) and was content with another job well done. 

To read the full story on this whole “Jacob Crase is Eddie and Diana’s son” expose click here: http://www.usao.edu/usao-sports/

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or any member institutions. 
© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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July 6, 2010 · 11:50 pm

USAO’S TASHINA OTOTIVO: EPITOME OF A STUDENT-ATHLETE

 

Tashina Ototivo, a two-sport student at the University Of Science And Arts Of Oklahoma (or “USAO”) has been awarded the Bill and Pat Smith Scholar-Athlete Scholarship (or “BAPSSAS”). That scholarship is awarded for both the recipient’s academics as well as their athletic performance. It’s difficult to think of a more deserving candidate since this sophomore is basically the definition of a student athlete. Unlike another well-known sports figure whose initials are T.O. Tashina is the ideal role model for young women and men everywhere and is pretty much a paragon-at-large on the USAO campus.
 
As well as playing for the USAO Drovers basketball and softball teams, she was President of her freshman class last year and has a 3.74 grade-point average. This music major from Walters, OK probably also knows how to deal with the Gulf oil leak, too, if only someone would ask her.  
 
Ototivo was nominated by three faculty members including her basketball coach, Laci Tompkins.
 
“Tashina is one of those rare individuals that stand head and shoulders above the rest. This girl has the world by the tail,” Tompkins wrote in her nomination. “One cannot go wrong with her. This would be an investment.”
 
Dr Ken Bohannon’s nomination of Tashina read in part, “(She’s a) very good academic student. Her personality and work ethic are outstanding.”
 
When I reached myself for comment I replied “No doubt about it! Tashina Ototivo puts the “sass” in BAPSSAS.” 
 
Tashina herself was ecstatic.
 
“I was very excited and erupted with joy,” Ototivo said, “Money is hard to come by in college, especially playing two sports, and being honored with an award for sports and academics is a huge blessing. I think this is just another thing that will encourage me to strive to be a good example and the person that God wants me to be.”
 
Ototivo further stated that the scholarship has only encouraged her to work harder and keep her grades up.
 
“I’m thankful that my teachers have recognized the work I put into my academics as well as my athletics. I pray that I will continue to impress them with my hard work.”
 
The scholarship is traditionally given to one sophomore or junior student athlete who best reflects USAO’s creed: Physical, Spiritual, Mental, Social. After Tashina was chosen, long-time Drover supporter Bill Smith offered a matching scholarship. The University’s committee will choose a male recipient next week.
  
        
        
        
  
   
   
  
  
  
    
    
       
For streaming video of Tashina Ototivo rescuing puppies from a fire while simultaneously composing music and performing surgery click here: http://www.usao.edu/usao-sports/
 

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or any member institutions.

© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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