Around the Horned With Brian Estridge
Nov. 14, 2001
Keep Hope Alive:
The Frogs have got to find a way to win their next two football games. If that happens, then keep your fingers crossed for a bowl invite, with the most likely scenario seeing the Frogs head to Houston for the galleryfurniture.com bowl. After practice on Tuesday, the coaches spent additional time with the young players, working them in game-speed situations. Coach Gary Patterson was raving about some of his young defensive backs, including Flander Malone, Jeremy Modkins and Mark Walker. Look for the Frogs to try and sign four DBs in this upcoming class, with the possibility of a junior college safety among them.
Vegas Bound:
The home opener for the men's basketball team this Friday night against Northwestern State is actually the first round of the Las Vegas Invitational. On Saturday morning the Frogs will fly to Vegas to begin preparations for three straight games beginning Monday and going through Wednesday. Other schools in the eight-team field include Oklahoma State, Providence and UTEP. If you notice some strange things going on during the game, it's because some experimental rules will be in place. Among them will be the use of the wider NBA foul lane, jump balls with any tie-up and at the beginning of each half and team possession instead of free throws during a player control foul. It should be interesting.
Speaking of Hoops:
The doubleheader Friday night begins at 5:15 p.m. with the women facing Sam Houston State. It will be the first of five doubleheaders this year, three in Daniel-Meyer and two downtown at the Convention Center. The Fort Worth Classic on December 29 features the women vs. Arkansas and the men vs. Baylor. We mentioned Nancy Lieberman in our last column, and will do so again because she has a great feature on ESPN.com where she mentions Coach Mittie's Frogs as a team to watch. FYI, the women's basketball locker rooms are starting to come together in DMC and the Lady Frogs hope to be in their new pad by mid-December.
Frogments:
With all of the construction on campus, the power went out at the Rickel Center on Tuesday afternoon, but that did not deter Richard Sybesma's team from practicing in the dark in preparation for their trip to Chicago to face Notre Dame!...On the topic of swimming, be sure and check out the new team poster if you get a chance. Gorland Mar in University Publications and photographer Ralph Lauer of the Star-Telegram did a fabulous job. If you would like one, contact Terra Nuss at (817) 257-5299...Wednesday was fall signing day for several sports, including the men's golf team. Coach Bill Montigel had a tremendous signing class, landing five players in the top 200, two of whom were in the top 12 nationally. The future looks bright for Montigel's already successful golf program...And finally, a reminder that we are off the next two weeks as far as coaches shows from Fox and Hound go. We're back at it again on December 5 when we'll feature a doubleheader with Coach Patterson and Coach Tubbs. Keep an eye on gofrogs.com for the broadcast schedule from Las Vegas next week.
From the streets and avenues of North Texas to the information superhighway, I'm Brian Estridge. We'll see you on the radio.
