2008 Woodie Awards
Scrimmage shows progress
Ryne Alexander
Issue date: 8/26/04 Section: Sports
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Friday's scrimmage was just enough to show Broncbuster football fans what they could expect.
"I love football, I love watching these guys and seeing them on campus," Jake Ryan, freshman, said. "Hearing them talk about football and how passionate they are about the game definitely makes you interested in coming to see them play it."
The scrimmage gave the coaching staff a chance to make its final cuts as well as grade the team's progress.
"We practice so we can look like a well-oiled machine," Head Coach Bob Larson said. "At the beginning of the scrimmage we looked like a sputtering jalopy."
Despite the NCAA's ban on three-a-day practices, Larson and his coaching staff were able to accomplish what they wanted in the preseason.
"We put the sophomores through a hell of an off-season gauntlet," Larson said. "But I think we brought back a very intact group."
With a little more than 100 players trying to make the team, Larson said making the final cuts will come down to the wire.
"Counting walk-ons and everybody I believe we had 107 show up," Larson said. "Within not too long of a time, with injuries or players finding out that they can't play at this level, we were probably at 96. I think we dressed 68 tonight and we have to get down to 55."
The Busters' final roster will be released later today.
The Busters are looking to capture their 25th consecutive victory over the Conquistadors this weekend in their season opener.
"We have a week to work on our weaknesses and be back to that well-oiled machine Saturday against Dodge City," Larson said.
Some fans are confident the Busters will finish better than the 5-5 record they came out with last year.
Frankey Schmidt, Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound director, attended the scrimmage to see what she could expect to see against Dodge City.
"I think last year was a learning year and there is a lot of guys that are here from last year that learned from the mistakes they made," Schmidt said. "They just didn't always have their nights together and I think that they're working on having the whole team more cohesive."
Financial Aid Director Lesa Gilbert said she never misses a game, neither home nor away.
"I came to see how the Broncbusters look this year and [I'm] looking forward to the game against Dodge City and by the looks of the previous scrimmages they will be better this year than last year," Gilbert said.
Ryan was impressed by the team's size.
"These guys are very big," Ryan said. "I think as athletes and especially football players that they have real potential to be leaders not only on the field, but on the campus as well. So far, from what I've seen, the team is made up of a bunch of individuals that have a lot of character and treat their fellow classmates with respect. So I think they're made up of a good group of guys and I'm excited to see what they do on the field, because I have been pleased with the respect they give me in the classroom."