Brooksy Blog is back after a little R&R for the holidays and post football season recharge. Even though I have rested the local sports scene has continued to cook. Without further ado lets dive in and get caught up shall we......................
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----------GOLDEN NUGGETS-----A fast start this season looked to be a tall order for this edition of hoopsters residing at the Pepsi Center in Denver. So far so good as the Nuggs raced to their second consecutive blowout win over Utah in the home opener. After looking pedestrian in the opener vs Dallas Nene unloaded for 25 points and seven rebounds against the Jazz. The Nuggets are the classic example of addition by subtraction with the departures of Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin. This group plays defense like their job depends on it. They are what I like call long on defense making it very tough for teams to make sharp passes through all the "tree limbs." Ty Lawson continues to shine after acquitting himself so well at the end of last season. And to make things even better is this bench is not made of wood. One the most under appreciated ballers in the Association is Andre Miller who had 12 assists against just one turnover. Those numbers were usually a good reverse total for a month for the always pouting J.R. I especially like the addition of Rudy Hernandez who win a handful of games by himself when he gets hot from downtown. Hell even sometimes lazy and lumbering Al Harrington is hustling on defense as well as filling the lane on the break. It looked almost certain that big Al would be let go but as of now that looks like a distant memory. The Nuggets depth most certainly will serve them well in this compressed NBA season. A 2-0 start is fantastic but we will learn a lot the next five days as Denver plays at Portland Thursday. Then its the first of the dreaded back-to-back-to-back games two of which are against the Lakers.
----------ORTON! IS THAT YOU?-----Well, well, well it all is just too ironic but it comes down to a quarterback battle between the Broncos Tim Tebow and the Chiefs Kyle Orton. Both squads come into the game off disappointing losses to put it mildly last Saturday. Tebow gift wrapped four interceptions in the Broncos embarrassing loss at Buffalo. Two of the thefts were returned for touchdowns. Orton was his usual self the first three quarters vs the Raiders as KC settled for two field goals. But a great individual effort by Chiefs RB Dexter McCluster turned a short little dump pass into a 49 yard gain to set up the tieing score. In fact Orton got the ball right back and had the Chiefs poised for a game winning field goal attempt that was blocked. The Raiders show know compassion for the home team winning the game on the first possession of overtime. Despite the loss the Broncos still have destiny in their hands needing a win or Raiders loss vs San Diego to make the playoffs. The past two weeks the Broncos defense has been leaky to put it mildly and will need to shore that up against old "neck beard" Orton to pull out this win. At the same time Tim Tebow will have to be much more careful with the ball to avoid a repeat of last weeks Buffalo disaster. The key could be the health of RB Willis McGahee as well as the play of the suddenly leaky Broncos defense.
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----------MR UNCONVENTIONAL-----So far the most entertaining show in town may be watching CSU-Pueblo Men's Hoops coach Ralph Turner work the sideline before, during and after games through the mythical "mid-point" of this his first season at the helm. The results have been mixed to this point as the Pack sits at 3-3 in RMAC play and 5-3 overall. But if the weekend before the break is any indication this team will make some noise before the season is out. An improbable game winner by Jed Knafelc helped defeat Western New Mexico and a most exciting 12-0 spurt early on in the second half against NM Highlands was the turning point against the Cowboys. Turner expects this team to be at its very best by regular seasons end and he wastes not a minute in seeing it happen. Every night during pregame warmups he is right out there with the team coaching them up when 99 percent of his coaching brethren is twiddling their thumbs or reading play charts while the players go through the motions getting loose. Once this year at Adams State the squad didn't retire to the locker room at halftime opting instead to sit on the bench wathcing the halftime show while periodically being lectured one by one by Turner. So far the the most unconventional style is producing wins and easily could be 5-1 in RMAC play. Stay tuned............
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----------STEADY AS SHE GOES-----Pack women's head coach Kip Drown understands full well how important staying in contact with the RMAC leaders is in the early going. So far, so good as the ladies have raced out to a 5-1 conference record. This team has a certain swagger right now that should serve them well as the season progresses. As long as the tempo stays up, the rebounds are under control and, most importantly, the shooting gets a bit better this team has chance to contend for the RMAC title. Drown has a distinguished record of bringing home the hardware in the tournament but I think it is no secret he would like to win a regular season crown just to prove it can be done.
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----------RMAC ROUNDUP-----Only six games into the RMAC season it is tough to distinguish just who is in the best shape. I have always been a believer in former Nuggets head coach Doug Moe's plus/minus system for determining just who is leading the way at any given point of the season. It is very simple system. You get a +1 for a road win, a -1 for a home loss, a 0 for both a road loss or a home win. On the mens side Metro State is a +3 followed by Mines at +2. The Pack is tied with six teams currently sitting at +1. The big losers so far are Regis and Western State who both sit at -3 . On the womens side CSU-P is in very good shape sitting at +3 and in a tie with Metro State and Fort Lewis also at +3 . The big loser so far is Chadron State sitting at -3 . I will update this each week as the RMAC season rolls along.
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----------PROGRAM REMINDER-----The next broadcast of Thunderwolves basketball will be Saturday New Years Eve. The women tip at 100pm and the men at 300pm. Our coverage on Homer1350-AM begins at 1245pm. Remember you can also hear the games on www.homer1350.com . Free smart phone download is also available at www.iheartradio.com . Also want to remind everybody that Saturday is Fan Appreciation Day brought to you by Clear Channel. Admission is free to both games. Hope to see you out at Massari Arena before ringing in the New Year later that night.

One for the Road

CSU-Pueblo women's head basketball coach Kip Drown calls the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference the hardest travel league in the country. His point was driven home this past weekend as the Thunderwolves opened up RMAC play with a pair of games versus Adams State and Fort Lewis College. The trip started out at 845am Friday morning pretty much business as normal. But that all changed on the way up LaVeta pass on Hwy 160. It is a brutal stretch of road during winter months even when the sun is shining due to high winds and poor visibility caused by ground blizards. As usual an accident caused a delay that closed both lanes of traffic for close to half an hour and slowed progress after that. Fortunately we made it to Alamosa just in time for the women's shootaround at noon. But that was about the last thing that went off without a hitch on this trip. It was becoming clear that the intended plan to travel to Durango following the games that night was in severe jeopardy due to terrible conditions on Wolf Creek Pass. The decision had to be made before play that night to have any hope of securing rooms that night in Alamosa. Rather than risk getting stuck on top of Wolf Creek in the middle of the night it was decided to spend the night in town following the day's play. The Women won in pretty business like fashion opening up a 10 point lead early on in the second half and surviving every run made my the Lady Grizzlies down the stretch to win 67-57. The men's game was perhaps the greatest awful game I have ever witnessed let alone broadcast. Both teams combined for 55 turnovers. Both teams put together big runs early and often. The Pack raced to a 7-0 lead only to see the Grizzlies answer with 13 straight of their own. CSU-P then answered with seven straight to lead 19-13 and held it for most of the half until Adams put together another 7-0 run to take the lead and held it going to the locker room up 35-32. The teams traded jabs before the Grizzlies put together another run to lead 49-42 with 12:59 to play. But again as it did all night long the Pack clawed its way back into it forging a 51-51 tie with 11:33 to play but could never take the lead again despite heroic effort. With 15 seconds to play CSU-P caught a huge break when the Grizzlies DeRay Wilson stepped to the line for one and the bonus and hit the first free throw but was guilty of a lane violation giving the Pack one last chance to steal the victory. However ASC played great defense forcing the Pack's Jed Knafelc to force a desparation three that fell short as time expired. ASC won the game 70-69 and would sleep soundly in their own beds that night.With the games over it was back to the travel saga of CSU-Pueblo. Luckily rooms were available and the decision was made to start out again on the road the next moring to battle Wolf Creek Pass at 745am. Now usually its about 2hr 45 minute drive to Durango from Alamosa. Oh did I mention the snow? Lots of snow? Chain law type snow? It is quite and education chaining up a bus carrying two NCAA basketball teams in nice snow storm that warms your heart for the holidays. But this is no way for the women to prepare to take on the 8th ranked team in the country and the men to take on a team it hadn't beaten in Durango since 1994. Eventually the teams rolled into Durango some five hours later. The women would miss their shoot around practice and lose badly to FLC in a game it was never really in despite getting to within six early on in the second half. but a 17-2 run by the Lady Skyhawks put this one to bed. The men would play shorthanded when Andre Martin and A.J. Kapanoske were benched for violating team rules. As usual they played hard but went away quietly into the night as FLC won 66-55. Now the real battle began. Trying to get back to Pueblo in one piece. Now the man in charge of driving the bus this trip was one Justin Hergert. If there is an equivalent to MVP for travel in this league Justin has a leg up on the award for his work on this trip. Again he was called upon to chain up the old bus at the foot of Wolf Creek Pass. This time however it was close to midnight in the snow and cold. He and his support crew of coaches executed a sparkling 24 minute stop and we were off and rolling again behind a snow plow carving a path through the fresh powder blanketing the road. Then the call came in from Athletic Director Joe Folda ordering his troops to stop for the night in Alamosa since La Veta Pass was in his words "a mess." At 300am the tired wounded Thunderwolves rolled into potato town to get six hours shuteye before taking to the road in the morning at 1000am. But of course this plan changed and it was decided to leave at 900am instead. Only one problem. Someone forgot to let the radio guy know! Well I woke up at 9am sharp and was in the shower when the phone rang at 902am. Now being a fantasy football commissioner it is quite common for my phone to ring many times on a Sunday morning so I finished that five minute shower to get ready for the onslaught of calls that may come my way in the next hour or so. Well the next sound my phone made at 905am was a text from the womens assistant coach Leslie Haywood saying hey we are all on the bus. We decided to leave at 9am instead. It was my turn to make a quick turnaround to get this trip rolling again. Ten minutes later I was on the bus and away we went making our way back to Pueblo arriving at 1145am. Fifty-one hours later the toughest travel league in the country had spit out its latest victims. Boy I cant wait for the Nebraska, New Mexico and western slope trips later this season.
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----------LIFE GOES ON-----Life is precious as well as unpredictable. Fort Lewis Sports Information Director Chris Aaland found out Wednesday November 23rd his five month old son was sick. For most of us the bacterial infection his pride and joy came down with would make us sick for at most a day or two if at all. But for a unique few it is fatal. His boy was one of those. On Thanksgiving he was flown to Denver on flight for life. On Friday he was gone. No words can describe the pain this man and his wife and five year old were going through. The services were last Thursday. Now amongst all this Fort Lewis College was on its way to winning the mens NCAA Division II soccer title Saturday afternoon. Couple that with the home games the Skyhawks were set to play against our Thunderwolves. For most of the public a S.I.D. is an afterthought. Even those of us in the media take them for granted far to often not to mention certain coaches of non descript programs demand of them on a daily basis. It was a tough tough week for Chris but he continued to do his job with the help of his fine staff all week long. He provided me with everything I could ever want and then some all week long. Walking into Whalen Gymnasium was oddly quiet Saturday afternoon. Everyone wanted to know where everybody was at. I called Chris to ask him what was up and where I was to set up. He informed me of the soccer match and was happy but uneasy as the Skyhawks were clinging to a 2-1 2nd half lead. Around 440pm he and his crew started to show up. The match had gone to overtime but Aaland had a basketball doubleheader to run. Then the word came down. The Skyhawks had scored to win the title. Chris was overcome with boyish joyful emotion as he ran around hugging members of the women's team warming up on the court. Then watching him leave the court pumping both fists brought first a smile to my face then a tear to my eye knowing the gamut of emotions he had felt the past 10 days. He is truly one of the good guys I have met out on the broadcasting trail. His touching goodbye to his son found here http://www.durangotelegraph.com/index.cfm/second-section/saying-goodbye-to-gus/
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----------THE KING IS DEAD-----One week after coming to Pueblo and leaving the home team CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves heartbroken defending champion Minnesota-Duluth suffered the same fate losing to upstart Wayne State (Michigan) 31-25. Bulldog quarterback Chase Vogler who tormented the Pack with his scrambling ability found himself harassed all afternoon long in the loss. Wayne State will play Winston Salem in one national semifinal while Pittsburg State (Kansas) takes on Delta State in the other.
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----------TEBOW STATE OF MIND-----Another fourth quarter comeback against another NFL bottom feeder on the road for the Tim Tebow all-stars Sunday as the Broncos put away the hapless Vikings 35-32 in the stadium formerly known as the MetroDome. The boys in purple were left crying much the same way as Prince does in his stage act in his beloved home state of Minnesota. Tebow looked his usual self in the first half as Denver managed only 47 yards total offense falling behind 15-7. The second half became a track meet as both squads raced up and down the pitch scoring at will. And this time Tebow made great throw after great throw in leading the Broncs from behind one more time for the win. Couple that with the Raiders pathetic performance on South Beach and the Broncos find themselves in first place. Of course the naysayers will point out the strength of the opponents on this magical stretch. And on cue Chicago will waltz into Mile High next week in free fall following another loss of not only a game but star running back Matte Forte who sprained his MCL on a vicious hit vs the Chiefs. Win that game and it sets up a showdown with New England in two weeks most likely on Sunday Night Football as NBC will undoubtedly use the flex schedule option to cash in on the Tebow phenomena. It gets no easier for the Raiders either as they face Green Bay at Lambeau Field.
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----------TIGER ON THE PROWL-----I find it comical the weight that is being put behind Tiger Woods victory Sunday in California. It is great to see Woods back in good form. The PGA Tour needs his star power more than ever after two years of wandering in the wilderness without El Tigre in the winners circle. However I find it laughable that a glorified made for television exhibition amongst 19 of his good buddies with guarenteed money on the line is being called his 83rd official win. This win is akin to me winning the money game on any given Friday afternoon at Elmwood amongst those vying for the City Championship later in the summer. When Tiger wins against a full field in an official PGA Tour or European Tour event then we can pronounce him all the way back. The only difference is I fully expect Woods to do this. Myself? No chance of showing up for the carnage let alone winning. Stay tuned.......
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----------PROGRAM REMINDERS-----CSU-Pueblo is on the road again next weekend in Denver. Friday night Colorado Christian is the opponent for a women's-mens doubleheader. Pregame show is set for 545pm on Homer1350-AM and www.homer1350.com . The women tip at 600pm and the men at 800pm. Saturday Golden is the site as the Pack takes on Colorado Mines. Pregame is 515pm with the women tipping at 530pm and the men at 730pm also on Homer1350-AM. Remember you can never miss a minute of the action by downloading the free app for your smartphone at www.iheartradio.com .

Reflections

It is said that time heals all wounds when it comes to anything that hurts to the core of your very being. For Colorado State University-Pueblo football spring practice can't come soon enough. As the players turn their focus to passing finals this week instead of discecting Wayne State it will surely benefit them that for the most part they all go their separate ways for a month as they return to their homes. For those 15 seniors who put on the uniform for the last time even that might not be good enough to shake the sting of defeat. I have been asked by many people the past 24 hours my feelings about it all. Whether I was sad, angry, bitter or dumbfounded. To tell you the truth I really dont feel anything at all except just a little frustration knowing the opportunity was there yet it just slipped away. When Minnesota-Duluth took the field for warmups it was obvious this was one big physical football team. But the other thing that was clearly evident was Bulldog quarterback Chase Vogler was the right handed version of Tim Tebow. Watching him throw the football was borderline comical. The other thing I noticed was the long flowing locks of wide receiver Joe Reichert. Little did anybody know just how important the play of these two individuals would be in UMD's eventual win. Vogler would complete only eight passes on the day and was picked off once. But it should have been at least two and perhaps three that should have been intercepted which would have dramatically changed the outcome of this game. To top that off his lone touchdown pass was a pinball wizard special thrown behind the intended receiver in Tebowesque fashion that was deflected into Reichert's waiting arms laying on the goal line. Now we all know most of the time when a ball is deflected it comes down in the arms of the defense but this time it was the surfer dude who put the Bulldogs ahead on the first play of the second quarter. Despite Vogler's lack of throwing ability he proved why as the game went on just why he is now 7-1 in his illustrious career in NCAA playoff games. The guy can flat run the football and is fearless. Time after time it seemed the Pack had what they wanted only to see Vogler break contain for timely first down runs to keep scoring drives alive. Early in the fourth quarter he lauched an ill fated pass that Stephan Dickens picked off in the back of the endzone. Normally this would have been all the fuel CSU-P would need to lauch a game clinching drive with the wind. But like a call from the governor would do the Pack offense provided the stay of execution by dropping two passes and then allowing a huge crowd quieting sack. On the ensuing possession Vogler took off on a game defining dash around right end gaining 31 yards before seeing the season again flash before their very eyes as Damon Schiele punched the ball out. But in stepped the golden locked Reichert to pounce on the fumble at the nine yard line to keep hope alive. Vogler was hurt on the play but it didnt matter as three plays later UMD would score to take the lead. Vogler like Tebow proved a quarterback can impose his will with his legs despite having a suspect throwing arm. And Reichert proved it is not wise to judge a player by how much shampoo he must waste keeping that hair looking so good.
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----------DROPSIES-----The one most glaring thing about CSU-P's offensive performance was the half dozen or so dropped passes. Now it cant be discounted how tough a day it was to catch that brick of a football whistling through 30 mph winds. Add this to the mix. Earlier in the week on the John Wristen Show presented by Miller Lite the head coach was lamenting the fact new footballs from a different manufacturer would be used in the game. The RMAC has a ball contract with Rawlings. But the NCAA has a deal with Wilson. And to further compound matters the balls were late in arriving showing up last Monday. Now anybody that has picked up a brand spanking new football knows just how hard and slick they are. It takes time to break them in. Perhaps this played a factor but one thing is for sure. Josh Sandoval doesn't care what you throw his way or just how slick that ball is he is gonna catch it.
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----------RIGHT FORMULA-----When John Wristen popped the tape in to watch UMD it became quickly apparent they were a mirror image of the program he and his staff have built here in Pueblo. First you must be able to stop the run. Second you must play fast at all times and not take plays off. Third you must be able to run the football not only early in the game but most importantly late when the game is on the line. For the most all season long the Pack adhered to this ultimate winning formula. There is no shame in losing to a program that is the defending champion and winners of two of the last three crowns. Now we all know how good the Thunderwolves offensive line has become these first four years. But if it ultimately to win playoff games it appears to me they still need to get just a little bit bigger and meaner on the O-line. Coach Chris Symington is to be commended for molding the talent he has into the cohesive polished unit they are. One can only imagine just how good it could be with 280-300 pounders instead of 230 to 250 up front. The good news is this years unit will all be back and with hard work and dedication they will continue to bridge the "beef" gap.
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---------NCAA STUPIDITY AND GREED-----In the 2011-2012 budged revenue pie chart available on their website it calls for a total of 777,000,000 dollars to be collected. Thats 777 million dollars if you aren't good with zeros! The vast majority of this comes from their huge March Madness contract with CBS as well as all the mega million dollar deals with each network to broadcast Division One football. With that said I find it totally misguided and mind numbing to think they feel they must charge institutions such as CSU-P a measly 200 bucks to put on a live webcast of yesterday's game without any commercials. That's right 200 bucks to an organization that takes in 777 million. Of course CSU-P ponied up. I have no problems with them charging commercial outlets such as Clear Channel for radio rights although it is just a mere drop in the ocean compared to what they take in. The Center for New Media had entertained televising yesterday as well but the NCAA wanted 1500 bucks for a commercial free tape delay broadcast. Expenses alone for a typical CNM production are two grand. Couple that with the ludicrous rights fee and its hard to find anybody willing to pony up 35oo bucks for no return. Not even a thank you. Of course you could pay the 5000 to run a commercial based broadcast. But you couple that with the production costs and you can now understand why the game wasn't televised on a tape delayed basis.
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----------BIG MAC ATTACK-----Must we continue to feel this way each and every week following another Bronco victory? Do we continue to point out all the comical throws? Do we continue to point out the collective winning percentage of the teams he is beating? Those that continue to doubt Tebowmania really have it easy in my humble opinion. They cant lose. If he wins they point all this out. If he eventually loses they will continue to say hey I told you so. Next week the same scenario will be in play as the Broncos travel to 2-9 Minnesota. Expect another tough low scoring game. And if the Broncos win the critics will be quick to point out the Vikings playing without superstar running back Adrian Peterson as well as being directed by rookie quarterback Christian Ponder.
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----------RMAC HOOPS BEGIN ANEW-----With the Thunderwolves losing yesterday my focus turns solely to basketball now in my broadcast duties for Homer1350. This weekend the Pack men's team quietly went on the road and came away with two impressive wins in Grand Junction to run their record to 3-1 on the young season. The 22-game conference grind starts this weekend on the road Friday night in Alamosa against Adams State. Most so called experts believe the Pack men will be hard pressed to make the postseason tournament. But count me in the quietly optimistic camp from what I saw last weekend and from what I have been able to learn about the GJ trip. The team has a certain grit to it. Head coach Ralph Turner has a very impressive resume and is adamant about this squad being better and better as the year goes on. The early schedule is tough however with four of six RMAC games on the road against playoff teams from a year ago. Couple that with home games against teams that beat the Pack here at Massari and you get the idea just how tough it could get real quick and early. If they can somehow survive by going 3-3 in the early going look for a realistic shot at the post season. Anything less and the prognosticators most likely will be on the money.
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----------REVENGE ANYONE-----Late last season the Thunderwolves women were thoroughly humiliated by Adams State in Alamosa 96-45 in a game not as close as that score might indicate. The women get a chance right away to avenge that defeat in the RMAC lidlifter Friday night in Alamosa. The Pack warmed up for the conference season by splitting two games on the road in Monterey California. This squad is noticeably tougher inside with the additions of junior transfer Laurel Kearsley and freshman Katie Nehf. Couple that with much improved play by senior winger Jenelle Branting and point guard Alex Evans it gives Kip Drown hopes for a much different outcome. The road doesn't get any easier on Saturday night as the Pack travels to Durango to face RMAC heavyweight Fort Lewis.
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----------PROGRAM REMINDERS-----The final John Wristen Show presented by Miller Lite will take place Wednesday night at Buffalo Wild Wings. We take the air at 706pm on 590KCSJ-AM and www.590kcsj.com . You can listen to the show while enjoying dinner and a cold one on BWW's in house sound system. We would love to have you come on out and join us to celebrate a most remarkable season. Friday night basketball returns as RMAC play begins in Alamosa vs Adams State. Pregame is set for 545pm on Homer1350-AM and www.homer1350.com . Tipoff for the women is set for 6pm and the men at 8pm or 20 minutes after the conclusion of the mens game. On Saturday night we move to Durango to battle Fort Lewis. Pregame is set for 515pm on Homer1350-AM and www.homer1350.com . Women tip at 530pm and men at 730pm or 20 minutes following the mens game.

Blowin' In The Wind

One of the oldest sayings in sports is "I'd rather be lucky than good." Well I can improve on that one. I'd rather be lucky AND good! Minnesota-Duluth was just that today in front of over 11,000 bundled up fans at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs rode the cold arctic wind to a hard fought 24-21 win over number one ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo to advance to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals next Saturday against Wayne State (Michigan). The game was an epic battle as neither team led by more than one score all afternoon long. The Pack held a slim 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter and looked to be in the driver's seat after all conference cornerback Stephan Dickens picked off Bulldogs QB Chase Vogler in the back of the endzone. Not only did the Thunderwolves have the lead but they had that northerly wind at their back. On first down CSU-P had what they wanted with a screen pass set up to the left but little used receiver Marquis McNeil dropped the ball. On second down another misfired pass to Paul Browning. Then on third down the Bulldogs put the capital D in defense sacking Ross Dausin for a 10 yard loss. Following a false start penalty the Pack had to punt from its own five yard line. Despite having the subsequent punt return touchdown overturned by an illegal block UMD set up shop in Thunderwolves territory at the 49 yard line. On second down from the CSU-P 45 Vogler took off on his signature run of the ball game racing 31 yards before Pack LB Damon Schiele forced a fumble punching the ball forward down to the nine. But as happened pretty much all afternoon long the ball bounced the Bulldogs way as WR Joe Reichert recovered the ball in a sea of red jerseys to give UMD 1st and goal. Reserve tailback Brian Lucas would score three plays later from the one to give the Bulldogs the lead for good. On the following kickoff into the wind and CSU-P looking for good field position Franex Dort slipped and fell with the ball at the 13. Another UMD sack of Dausin would force another punt from deep in Pack territory. This time CSU-P would hold to get the ball back but once again deep in its own territory. The Thunderwolves did magage one first down before another Dausin sack would turn the ball over on downs. Using its timeouts the Pack looked to have one final chance but a personal foul for unnecessary roughness on Corey Orth would seal the deal. In a post game interview Orth acknowledged he did pick up the ball carrier but stressed he didnt feel he body slammed him. Lets put it this way it was a definite penalty in the first quarter but in the fourth quarter referee Mark Hughes could have looked the other way but so be it. But I digress. With the automatic first down UMD went into victory formation to salt it away. As the Bulldogs left the field they not only took the wind out of the Pack's sails but they also mysteriously took the wind out of the stadium. As if on cue the wind died as did the cinderella season for the Thunderwolves. It all started in tremendous fashion for the home team as they smartly mixed pass and run marching 80 yards in 11 plays into the wind to take a 7-0 lead. On their next possession however the wind flexed its muscle knocking down Brandon Kliesen's punt for five yards setting up UMD at the Thunderwolves 34. But the Pack defense was up for the challenge forcing a 47 yard field goal attempt. I mentioned at the top the bounces that went the Bulldogs way all afternoon long. The last one led to the go ahead score. On the field goal attempt the first two of the day appeared. The snap was low and made it about two yards short of the holder who made a great stop not to mention getting the ball upright for the kick. For some reason CSU-P rushed no one on the play allowing placekicker David Nadeau to regather himself just enough to get the kick away. Bounce number two was the clank off the right upright. The ball snuck through however getting UMD on the board. Bounce number three would occur on the first play of the second quarter. Vogler was flushed from the pocket to his right and released a pass that was batted high into the air. Now normally on the tip drill its the defense that comes down with the interception but his time the ball dropped right into the lap of Reichert at the goal line to put UMD on top for the first time in the game 10-7. Late in the first half the Thunderwolves did get a huge break recovering an errant shotgun snap in the endzone to give them the halftime lead 14-10. The second half opened with a monumental 15 play 67 yard touchdown drive for UMD that should have ended on two different occasions. Facing fourth and a yard from the the Pack 35 Vogler was stuffed for no gain but CSU-P was ruled to be offsides and the drive had new life. On the next play from scrimmage senior All American candidate Lee Meisner dropped what looked to be a sure drive ending interception. Once again the bounces went UMD's way. But its not just getting the bounces its taking full advantage and thats just what UMD did as bruiser Zach Hulce went in from a yard out to give the Bulldogs the lead back. CSU-P would answer with a scintilating 12 play 80 yard march of their own highlighted by a gorgeous 29 yard reception by Josh Sandoval. Dausin would cap the drive on an electric 18 yard scramble on 3rd down and six to give the Thunderwolves the lead heading to the fateful fourth quarter. So much more to be said about this game but wanted to get my thoughts about the actual nuts and bolts of the game down before delving into that tomorrow. Plus this play-by-play guy has a cold adult beverage calling his name at a local watering hole. Congratulations to Minnesota-Duluth on a hard fought victory. I hope they win it all. As for our Thunderwolves the pain has to be immense. But someday soon they will reflect and realize just how special this season was. In four short years they have laid down a foundation for bigger and better things. The seniors that depart have left their mark but those waiting in the wings have the chance to be just as good if not better. They can only hope that 10 years from now the program in general will be as successful as the classy powerful Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. We can also hope for less wind!

Bring on the Defending Champions

Thunderwolves head coach John Wristen surely meant no disrespect toward Saginaw Valley State but it was pretty clear to he and his staff that defending National Champion Minnesota-Duluth would be CSU-P's second round opponent this Saturday Nov 26th at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl. Saginaw did put a huge scare into the Bulldogs forcing overtime before UMD pulled it out. Duluth features something that Defensive Coordinator Hunter Hughes hasn't really had to deal with much this season and that is a punishing ground attack. They compliment that with a decent passing attack. Two ways to look at this matchup in my mind. Duluth is the defending champion and have won two of the last three titles. That alone commands respect. Plus the fact of the afore mentioned power game that is tailor made to win football games in November and December. I can't tell you how many times this past week since the pairings were announced poeple have wanted to cry foul at why the Thunderwolves are drawing such a worthy opponent in their playoff opener. It is really quite simple. This Duluth team is not the same team that won two national titles. They have struggled mightily at times. The Bulldogs were held under 200 yards total offense in an early season 7-0 loss to Wayne State. Not the powerful Wayne State of Michigan but average at best Wayne State of Nebraska. It is also the same Duluth team that layed an egg in a late season 35-7 loss to rival St Cloud State. Despite being ranked in the top 15 in both national polls the Bulldogs faced a must win in their last regular season game just to make the field. With that said however the Thunderwolves will have to be at their very best to win this game. That is the way it should be.
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----------Hoops Roundup-----I really like this years Thunderwolves womens hoop team. Sure Rachel Espinoza and Amanda Bartlett are no longer there to rely on for clutch points. Rachel was the ultimate go to weapon to not only ice games with her ball handling but could also get free for game winning shots. Bartlett was a consistent scorer and provided great leadership as well. But despite those huge losses this team is better. In my view after two games much better. Alex Evans has those huge shoes to fill in trying to replace Espinoza but so far she has been up to the task. She looks like a completely different player this season in both her game and her physical appearance. She is lean and noticeably quicker after an extensive off season conditioning program. Kendall Babler is as tenacious as ever. Head coach Kip Drown calls her the smartest player he has ever been around. I marvel at her ability to rebound for being only 5-6. Plus she is fearless on big time drives to the hoop. But the real reason this team displays so much more potential is the play of newcomers Laurel Kearsley and Katie Nehf. Kearsly is a transfer from Southern Idaho that provides a certain toughness to this club. She is equally effective in the post as well as shooting threes on the perimeter. Last year's team was too soft inside. Freshman Nehf provides size and strength in the paint. She also has the experience of winning four straight state titles with Broomfield High School.
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-----------TURNER ERA BEGINS-----Spend a few minutes just shooting the breeze with new Thunderwolves mens hoop coach Ralph Turner and you come away thinking this guy belongs in Vegas doing a comedy lounge act. He is not only funny but an engaging personality. But dont let that ah shucks southern accent and country bumpkin delivery at times fool you. This guy is a passionate basketball coach. The jury is still out on just what kind of season this is going to be. A less than stellar returning cast plus a late start on the recruiting trail last spring have set the program back just a bit. The season opener was successful as the Thunderwolves rolled over an outmanned Colorado College outfit. On Saturday night the Pack ran into a buzz saw as two-time recent Elite 8 Midwestern State used two huge runs to roll CSU-P. However in defeat the Pack showed glimpses of solid play. I think it is clear at times this team is gonna be dangerous and win some games no one thought they could. But at the same time there are gonna be some growing pains as they will most likely lose some as well that they should have won.
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----------TEBOWRIFFIC-----It is painfully obvious that Tim Bebow couldn't hit the ball if he was throwing a broad side of a barn! Okay perhaps that is a stretch using the opposite of the old saying but the guy just cant throw the football with any consistency whatsover. But the guy is like watching a bad movie with a good ending. You sit there for three and half quarters looking around the theater for the exit signs. But you are damn glad you didnt get up and leave because Tebow does his best work late in the otherwise horrible movie. Suddenly the Broncos are in the playoff hunt just one game behind Oakland. Next up its Phillip Rivers and the Chargers. I hear the early reviews of this show aren't that good. But you will want to stay til the end.
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----------BCS NIGHTMARE-----It is almost comical watching all the BCS contenders fall by the wayside. All the talk has been we dont want to see "the rematch." Well my friends get used to it. It will be LSU vs Alabama. Get ready for that over hyped four hour slugfest between two powerhouses fighting their guts out. The first team to double figures will most likely win. And in the end it will be some little 150 pound kicker who decides the national champion.
----------VIVA LAS VEGAS-----It is common knowledge of my dislike for having to broadcast games at New Mexico Highlands University. It is a saga that has deep roots. Back in my early days of broadcasting I always packed my "Bridge Over the River Kwai" phone line real. It was my fail safe just in case all else fails broadcasting pack that included such things as the 500 foot phone line real and alligator clips in case you had to take apart a pay phone to get a broadcast on the air. Now most places we go on the road with CSU-P football and basketball no problems are encountered. In 1988 we didn't have cellphones to bail us out either. I used the 500 footer at Highlands when none of the courtside phone jacks were live. We found a jack in a room outside the arena and I had 50 feet of line to spare. Last basketball season we ran into problems again in Las Vegas and then again during our recent football trip. Two seasons ago my predecessors J.J. Valentine and Tony Wright broadcast the football game over a cellphone. We could get into a technical forum here but what is needed for modern broadcast equipment to work correctly is a "dedicated" phone line. Not one that is run through a switchboard at the university or facility of choice. Now add to that a hostile environment with a "mouthy" opposition, a stadium with poor lighting and press box without a separate room to work and you have a recipe for a prima donna play-by-play guy like myself to not be very happy. But we managed to get through it all by using my trusty little red cell phone to get the broadcast on the air. Now of course in a blog post right after that game I let the institution have it with both barrels. Well NMHU Athletic Director Ed Manzanares caught wind of my Blog from someone and decided he needed to call me out about it at Friday nights Al Kaly Shriners Basketball tournament at Massari Arena while I sat courtside preparing to broadcast the CSU-Pueblo women's game. He made it clear that I must either apologize or retract my statements about the Highlands program and then proceeded to walk away. I was in a commercial break and got his attention by asking just what it was I exactly needed to apolgize for. What followed was a nice spirited conversation albeit mostly one sided i.e. he spoke/vented and I listened. He did acknowledge their were a few problem players on their program but they were either suspended or dismissed outright from the program. As for their facilities he assured me that all the problems are or will be addressed and that it would be nice to have all the money CSU-P and the other "haves" of the RMAC have at their disposal. I could appreciate that and wished him the best. I do find his passion about defending NMHU honor and reputation commendable. Lord knows he does have a big job ahead due to the latest alligations against the football program ( http://lvdailytimes.com/2011/11/03/22-nmhu-football-players-investigated-for-two-possible-rape-incidents-17-football-players-investigated-for-gang-rape-of-a-female-student-and-5-football-players-investigated-for-possible-sexual-assault-of-a-female-nmhu-basketball-player.aspx?ref=rss ) Just reading the comments after this article that I linked to give you an idea that the NMHU administration has much more to worry about than a division II play-by-play guys "hobby blog." Time will tell if they can get their house in order. I came away from it all with a better perspective of his feelings. And to be honest all he really has to do for me is make sure that telephone line works when we go down there January 27th to do the basketball doubleheader. And if it doesn't I will do my best to not hold him at fault. I will have the trusty red cell phone at my disposal just in case. In closing let me just say NMHU facilities for basketball are just fine. The football stadium and press box could use a makeover. And they do have this going for them. Their football press box is like the Taj Mahal compared to the glorified Tuff Shed at the Mountaineer Bowl in Gunnison. Now lets see if the Western State AD gets to read my blog!
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----------PROGRAM REMINDERS-----John Wristen Show presented by Miller Lite will air as scheduled Wednesday night at 7:06pm on 590KCSJ-AM and www.590kcsj.com . We do the show from Buffalo Wild Wings and we invite you to join us. The program can be heard on BWW's sound system while you enjoy dinner and a cold one. Saturday's second round playoff game vs Minnesota Duluth can also be heard on KCSJ. Pregame show is at 11:30am with the Kickoff set for 12 noon MST.

Playoffs? Did You Say Playoffs?

Four years ago it was a monumental challenge to just get the program off the ground. Three years ago play began with an improbable win in their first game at a brand spanking new facility called the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl. Two years ago this upstart program waltzed into the home of a program that hadn't a lost an RMAC game in 28 previous tries and beat them. Last year they would turn the trick again and for all intents and purposes missed the post season on the basis of one play. This season this same upstart program faced a daunting schedule with road games against perennial powers West Texas A&M, Chadron State and RMAC bully Nebraska Kearney. Victories at all three powers home stadiums seemed like the ultimate impossible dream. But if you are gonna dream you might as well dream big. It also helps to have a defense hell bent on not only winning football games but denying their opponents the common courtesy of a first down let alone a touchdown. When you wake up in the morning now you realize its not a dream but a blissful reality that CSU-Pueblo not only won those three huge road games but ran the table on everybody else to make the postseason. And as if that is not enough the Pack is the number one seed in Super Region Three. Oh and one other thing. This band of brothers with the coaching staff led by John Wristen will wake up Monday morning as the number one ranked team in all the land of NCAA Division II football.
Dreams are one thing but reality is knowing there is a distinct chance the defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth will be marching into the Thunderbowl to do battle with the Pack on Saturday November 26th at high noon. Win that and odds are that Nebraska Kearney will come calling December 3rd intent on avenging the defeat that cost them the RMAC crown. After that, any number of opponents will await in the final two weeks. One thing is for sure. It will be an opponent far more polished and talented than the Mesas, Western New Mexicos and Western States of the world.
That reality is just what Wristen and company want. The 1984 graduate of the then University of Southern Colorado told his players as much before the pairings were announced Sunday afternoon. "We can do this" he told the assembled players as they waited anxiously for the news they pretty much already knew. Now the challenge will be continuing to play at such a high level against competition that is just as battle tested as they are.
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----------TICKETS-----There will be no freebies for this one. Now of course the citizens of Pueblo can wait around as they are accustomed to do for CSU-Pueblo football to see what the weather forecast is going to be but something tells me you better not wait too long unless you want to be like all the kids sliding down Thunder Hill on a pizza box. Season ticket holders have already had their shot but now the general public will get theirs starting at 8am Monday morning. All seats are $10.00 http://csupueblobookstore.com/MerchDetail.aspx?MerchID=35152&num=0&start=&end=&type=1&CategoryName=2011-12%20COMBO%20SEASON%20TIX&CatID=759&Name=2011-12%20COMBO%20SEASON%20TIX
----------BIG MAC-----On my Facebook Fan Page I equated watching and enjoying the Denver Broncos option attack to eating McDonalds Big Macs. We all love that greasy burger with the special sauce but if one eats too many of them you get indigestion and eventually it just might kill you. A steady diet of Tim Tebow and company running the rock is fun but sooner or later some linebacker or safety is gonna knock Tebow into la la land. And watching Tebow throw the football is akin to watching someone lob hand grenades. All it takes is for one to hit its target and WHAMMO you are a goner as a defense. Something does tell me however 2-8 against the Jets will not equate to victory Thursday night. I think most of us will settle for a little 10-20. Call it a Quarter Pounder value meal. But as long Tim Terrific keeps winning pass the special sauce!
----------HOOPS ANYONE?-----Lost in all the hoopla surrounding the success of Pack football is the opening of this years basketball season. It all gets underway Friday night as part of the Al Kaly Shriners annual season opening tournament. The women under the direction of Kip Drown tip it off at 5:00 pm against Eastern New Mexico. The men follow at 7:00 pm versus Colorado College. First year head coach, Ralph Turner, takes over for Pat Eberhart in a season most see as a rebuilding campaign. But those close to the program see signs that point to the Thunderwolves men surprising some people this season.
----------PROGRAM REMINDERS-----The John Wristen Show presented by Miller Lite will continue on as long as the Pack stays alive in the post season. We will be at Buffalo Wild Wings Wednesday night as usual with the program getting underway at 7:06 pm on 590KCSJ-AM and www.590kcsj.com . You are always welcome to join us at BWW as the show can be listened to on their in-house sound system while you enjoy dinner and a cold one. And as an added treat you can help celebrate my 50th birthday before, during and after the show! I promise I won't go Harry Carey on all of you during the program but after the show It might get interesting!

60 Minutes

All year long CSU-Pueblo head coach John Wristen has celebrated what he calls a journey to cross a river with 11 stones dropping one in the water after each game to eventually make it across. It is a river that has had its share of sneaky deep holes but each time the Thunderwolves have encountered one they have managed to keep their collective heads above water with a chance to move on to that next stone. A win this week and the Pack will have accomplished their initial goal of winning a RMAC title and landing a berth in the NCAA Division II national playoffs. What is even more enticing is the overall number one seed in Super Region Three and all that goes with it.
Saturday's win over Western State was workmen like in the blustery conditions at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl. Despite trailing after one quarter 3-0 CSU-P showed no signs of panic. In fact they seemed very content to play it close to the vest running the football continually even on obvious passing downs. Coach Wristen's plan was pretty much survive the first quarter playing into a stiff 30mph wind by running the clock at every chance and then take their chances playing with that wind in the second quarter. Kyle Major's 22 yard field goal on the second play of the second quarter tied it at 3-3. Then the defense and wind went to work on the Mountaineers. Three plays and a short punt gave CSU-P great field position at the WSC 31. Five plays later QB Ross Dausin hit Paul Browning on a gorgeous 17-yard back shoulder pass to the goal line to give the Pack a lead they would never relinquish.
On the Mountaineers next possession they faced 4th and one from their own 29 and elected to go for it rather than punt into the wind. The Thunderwolves were up to the challenge stuffing Chase Yeager for a two yard loss giving CSU-P the ball at the WSC 27. Three plays later Dausin hit Tyler Hamlin from two yards out for the junior tight end's first career touchdown.
WesternState had one chance to make a game of it in the second quarter recovering a Jamall Johnson fumble at the Thunderwolves 20. But the Pack defense rose to the challenge sacking Mountaineer QB Jamie Jensen twice on the ensuing series the last of which coming on fourth down. At this point with 1:34 left in the half I opined on the air that surely the Pack would play it close to the vest from their own 36. Boy was I wrong as Marcial Williamson executed a beautiful out and up move down the near sideline and Dausin hit him in stride for all intents and purposes 64 yard game ending touchdown. It was halftime and the Pack led it 24-3.
The second half opened with a little suspense as WSC recovered an onside kick at the Pack 47. But as they did so often all afternoon long the Thunderwolves defense forced a quick three and out. WSC punter Miles Gorham did pin the CSU-P down with a brilliant punt downed at the one yard line. But it would take the Pack only seven plays to march 99 yards with Dausin covering the final 13 yards on a brilliant 13 yard scramble to make it 31-3. A 40-yard Major field goal and a late three yard run in the fourth quarter by Pueblo County Hornet product Gio Rider finalized the scoring at 41-3.
The defensive numbers for CSU-P were staggering as they held WSC to six yards rushing and a meager 100 yards in total offense. They recorded four sacks and a remarkable 10 tackles for loss of yards. About the only negative thing all day was turnover differential as WSC managed to not turn the ball over while forcing just the one CSU-P fumble.
This Saturday Western New Mexico comes to town fresh off a 25-18 win over state rival New Mexico Highlands. Win that game and CSU-P will have achieved a remarkable achievement winning the RMAC outright in just its fourth year of existence. With that will go the number one seed, a first round bye and at the very least two home games granted they keep winning in the postseason. Another distinct possibility would be a third home game in the national semi-final. Wristen wants hear nothing of that. Surely he will have to come up with another rallying cry to follow the 11 stones analogy crossing the river. Those stones in all reality become boulders as the competition and stakes grow bigger with each passing game.
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----------LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER TWO-----Saturday was chalked full of upsets in the Division II top ten rankings. Number two Pittsburg State (KS) fell to number nine Washburn (KS) 43-25. Number three Northwest Missouri State fell to Number 25 Missouri Western State 31-28. Number six St Cloud State (MN) fell to Bemidji State (MN) 19-14. Number one Delta State survived an upset bid by West Alabama winning 36-34. When the smoke clears Monday look for the Thunderwolves to move to number two in the nation. More importantly they will hold on to the number one seed in Super Region Three.
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----------COACH OF THE YEAR-----As the regular season draws to a close it means the beginning of all conference, all American and Coach of the Year season. The campaign has begun for one such award for national coach of the year. For the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, winning is only part of the equation. Created in 2006, the award recognizes one college football coach from each NCAA division (I-FBS, I-FCS, II and III), rewarding them for their sportsmanship, integrity, responsibility and excellence.Winners will receive $50,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, a $20,000 grant to each school's alumni association and the Coach of the Year trophy. The first portion of this nomination belongs to the fans. The top 15 vote getters advance to the finals. From their and elite committee will make the choice. The campaign for John Wristen has just begun and as of tonight finds himself 400 or so votes out of the top 15. Remember you can vote once per day. Wristen's charity is The Campaign for the Breast Center of Excellence at St Mary Corwin. Here is the link to find out more about this award and to get your votes counted http://www.coachoftheyear.com/default.aspx#fbid=AOPIlQ-2AHP
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----------GROUND FOX-----Despite all the whining and moaning about the officiating by Raider Nation, Denver's win was all about old fashioned hit you in the mouth over and over running game. In the most recent chapters in this storied AFC West rivalry it has been Oakland who has ran the ball down Denver's throat. But today despite falling behind by 10 points on two occasions the Broncos stuck with the power running game spearheaded by Willis McGahee's 163 yards and much maligned QB Tim Tebow's 118 yards. Although his passing numbers were a pedestrian 10-21 for 124 yards it did include two strikes for touchdowns. On this day it was retread Carson Palmer who was inaccurate launching three interceptions. And as usual the Raiders committed stupid penalties at all the wrong times.
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----------THEN THERE WAS ONE-----Pueblo West will be the only local team in the high school playoffs and realistically it will be a one and done proposition as the Cyclones draw number one ranked juggernaut Valor Christian on the road. PW won the free trip to Valor by defeating South in a spirited regular season finale at the Thunderbowl Friday night 34-20. The Colts played with spirit and dogged determination on both sides of the ball despite falling behind 7-0 after PW scored on their first drive of the game. This reporter was not very appreciated by the South hierarchy after perhaps unfairly calling them on the carpet after last weeks lackluster effort vs Fountain-Fort Carson in a 36-6 loss. South showed grit on defense and clever imaginative play calling on offense building a 14-7 halftime lead. But it all came crashing down early in the third quarter following a bad snap in punt formation. PW scored one play following that to tie it. Then junior sensation running back Derek Jackson ripped off a 82 yard touchdown run to put the Cyclones up for good. PW poured it on late scoring on an ill fated half back option pass interception for six and another Jackson TD run. On a bright note South did score on the last play of the season as Clayton Smith hauled in a pass at the goal line as time expired. By our count the Colts only suited up 27 players for the last game which volumes to the injuries and general attrition this team went through all season long. Nobody in Pueblo ever feels sorry for South with the exception of their "mostly" loyal fan base on the cities south side. Make no mistake Colt Nation should still be proud of the effort the battered lineup put out on Friday night. And for those of you who think my critique of the Fountain game was misguided and heavy handed (Coach Ryan Goddard in particular) then so be it. The criticism was aimed pretty squarely at the play calling and not the effort put out by the players. I always welcome feedback whether it be here in the comments field or on my Facebook fan page. I have reminded Coach Goddard on a few occasions that his predecessor faced a withering assault after his first year at the helm. It was downright ugly at times. But Mark Haering fought back the only way he knew how and that was by accepting nothing short of total team effort and discipline. Goddard was dealt a rotten hand this year. But he is young and I have total confidence he and his team will bounce back by applying those principles. He wont achieve it by aiming his wrath at a certain someone through third parties. That process started by the effort they put forth Friday night.
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----------PROGRAM REMINDERS-----Wednesday night the John Wristen Show presented by Miller Lite will air from Buffalo Wild Wings at 706pm on 590KCSJ-AM and www.590kcsj.com . As always the program is piped through the restaurant on BWW's sound system so that you can listen to the show while enjoying dinner and the beverage of your choice. Saturday's pregame show is set for 130pm and kickoff at 200pm on KCSJ. CNM Comcast 19 will have primetime football broadcasts every night this week. On M-W-F at 700pm the CSU-Pueblo vs Western State game will air. On T-TH at 7pm the South vs Pueblo West game will air. If you want the other airtimes drop me a note at jabrooksy@aol.com .
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----------COMMENTS-----I welcome your comments below. But if you dont want your comments open for public consumption then leave me a note the email address mentioned above. And as always everyone in Facebook land can access me on my fan page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Brooks-Fan-Page/233638253346424

The Longest Yards

In the movie "The Longest Yard" Burt Reynolds was the loveable quarterback of a group of inmates "forced" into action to play football against the hated, classless, dirty and lacking in any moral fiber whatsoever guards of a southern prison. The game was dirty. Cheap shots rained all over the field. Now imagine that kind of atmosphere in a little town in New Mexico. Only this time the good guys were wearing all white. Also those wearing white were the upstanding pillars of college football playing against a group of talented washouts in home colors from big time programs as well as gypsies from junior colleges. These vagabonds were talkative and brazen in both their swagger and vocabulary. This group of borderline football degenerates started the season flying high but had fallen on hard times of late losing four straight. To most who play the hard nosed game of football such a losing streak would perhaps make them take a step back and respect their opponent. New Mexico Highlands University is not that kind of team. They chirp. They strut around like they are future number one draft picks. They yell obscenities at opposing coaches. They take cheap shots behind plays when they think no one is watching. When they were winning football games this was all an acceptable trade off for a first year coach trying to make a name for himself in NCAA Division II after being a winning juco coach. But now it looks just like it should look. Disgraceful. Make no mistake about it this was a win for the good guys. But from the start it was perfectly clear this was going to be no easy task. Highlands defense is arguably the best group of individuals the Thunderwolves have played against all season long. The Cowboys played fast and dominated the line of scrimmage against the much heralded CSU-Pueblo offensive line. Pack QB Ross Dausin was harassed constantly in the first half. Running back Jesse Lewis was bottled up. But the NMH offense was just as inept in the first half against the number one defense in the country. The teams combined for 16 first half punts. Kyle Major missed a long field goal attempt in the games only real scoring threat for the first 28 minutes of action. It was fitting that the games first big break happened on one of those punts as Cowboy return man Abdul Kannah muffed the catch and Thunderwolves cornerback Stephan Dickens pounced on the ball at the NMH 27 yard line. It took one play for the Pack to capitalize as freshman sensation J.B. Mathews took a pitch to the left and cut back into the middle of the gridiron to break the ice and give CSU-P the halftime lead. The second half started much the same way as both teams searched for offense. But again fittingly the game turned on another Highlands punt. This time Josh Sandoval's great catch and 11-yard return set up CSU-P at the Highlands 34. It would take the Thunderwolves just four plays to cash in the great field position as once again it was Mathews taking it in from 20 yards to push the lead to 14-0. CSU-P's defense which was stellar all night long forced another punt giving their offense great field position at the CSU-P 44. Suddenly the swagger was gone on defense for NMH. And as the swagger melted away the stupidity and lack of discipline came to the forefront. A personal foul penalty for an ill-advised horse collar tackle gave the Pack new life and again it was Mathews punching it over from seven yards out early the 4th quarter to more or less seal the deal. But the signature play of the game would come on the Cowboys 13th punt of the evening. Again it was the former East Eagle standout Sandoval doing his thing taking the ball in the middle of the field at the 17 yard line. The sophomore started up the middle then cut to the sideline and beat the final tackle attempt of NMH punter Ernesto Guerra on the sideline to help finish off the 83-yard punt return for a touchdown. A real feel good moment closed out the touchdown scoring for the game as senior running back Jamaal Johnson scored on a 41 yard reception. Guerra added comedy to the final moments letting a snap go through his legs on what would have been his 15th punt of the night. Instead of trying to pick the ball up Guerra swung his leg and sent the ball out the side of the endzone to give the Pack a safety to finalize the scoring at 37-0. Highlands finished the game with 15 penalites for 149 yards including seven personal foul penalties. CSU-P wasn't completely sin free as junior tackle Ryan Jensen was ejected late in the game for a personal foul and will have to miss this weeks game versus Western State. It was an ugly way to end an ugly game agaisnt an ugly team at an ugly antiquated stadium. CSU-Pueblo head coach John Wristen was nearly ashen faced as he conducted the post game radio interview with me on 590KCSJ. All he could do was praise the way his team played the game. But it is also very apparent that coach Wristen wont tolerate the play Highlands displayed witness his walking lecture down the track to Jensen as he made his way to the locker room following his ejection. The Athletic support staff at Highlands are steadfast in their support for their head coach Eric Young. But it is very apparent that the culture of disrespect for the game and the indivduals who play it must be addressed by someone outside the university if no one at the institution sees fit to do it.
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----------POLL TAX-----It was a taxing week for teams in the most recent top 10 Divsion II poll as four teams went down to defeat. No 3 Bloomsberg, No 5 North Alabama, No 6 Minnesota Duluth and No 10 Wayne State-Michigan all lost. Look for the Thunderwolves to move to No 4 in the polls this week as well as maintain their No 1 seed in Super Region Three. The only real mystery will be whether Nebraska-Kearney maintains their No 2 seed in the region due to St Cloud State (Minnesota) victory over defending national champion Minnesota Duluth. Look for Indianapolis and Saginaw Valley to move into the all important top six in the region.
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----------TV TIME-----The Center for New Media will provide tape-delay television coverage
of this weeks game at home versus Western State. Broadcast schedule is still TBA as is the play-by-play talent to be used for the broadcast. CSU-P would like to see Joe Cervi and me do the game on a simulcast setup but neither Clear Channel or CNM have come to an agreement at this time. If a deal cant be struck veteran pueblo sportscaster Jeff Orman will call the game on the television side. Stay tuned.........
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----------TEBOW DID WHAT-----The feel good week that was Denver following Tim Tebow's magical comeback win against Miami lasted about 10 minutes in the Broncos embarrassing 45-10 loss at home to the upstart Detroit Lions. Tebow started the game well but as the game pregressed all of the former Florida Gator's flaws were exposed. And as his game slid backwards so did the entire team as the defense was equally as horrid as Denver's sorry excuse for an offensive line. Couple that with no Willis McGahee and ordinary weapons in the receiving corps and you had the recipe for what transpired. It doesnt get any easier next week as a trip to Oakland is waiting.
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----------HEADING SOUTH-----During Friday nights broadcast of South vs Fountain-Fort Carson I opined if you had just awakened from a five year coma you would not believe what you were seeing from the boys on Hollywood Blvd. South was outmanned and outclassed and borderline embarrased in the 36-6 drubbing at the hands of the Trojans of CSU-Pueblo alum Mitch Johnson. Of course Colt Nation has been spoiled all those years of undefeated regular seasons and league titles. Those teams didnt always have the best talent but what they did have was total discipline and heroic effort from all involved. That resolve they once displayed is sorely missing this season. It is painfully obvious they are affected immensly by all the injuries and murderous schedule they have faced this year. But what is also painfully obvious is the apparent surrender to the fate dealt them. Fans can accept losing as long as it appears total effort and preparation are there. But when you witness three straight hand offs to the fullback on more than one occasion totally ignoring down and distance it begins to raise red flags. South has a proud football tradition and will rise to the top again I am confident in saying. But what all of us witnessed Friday night against a superior opponent leaves an uneasy feeling. We will have the final regular season game this Friday versus cross-county rival Pueblo West. Much like they did against East in the battle for the Cannon I expect a great effort by the wounded Southsiders.
----------PROGRAM REMINDERS-----John Wristen Show presented by Miller Lite is set for Wednesday night at Buffalo Wild Wings. We invite everybody to be there to eat, drink and be merry while you listen to Coach Wristen comment on Saturday nights big win over Highlands and look ahead to this weeks game versus Western State. We take to the air on 590KCSJ-AM and www.590kcsj.com at 706pm on Wednesday night. As mentioned before CNM will be at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl Friday night for Pueblo West vs South. Broadcast premier is Saturday Morning at 1000am. Our next broadcast of Thunderwolves football will be Saturday at 200pm from the Thunderbowl on KCSJ. Pregame show is set for 130pm. Once again this game will be televised on tape-delay basis on Comcast 19. Broadcast premier is TBA. When the schedule is finalized I will publish the dates and times on the Jim Brooks Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Brooks-Fan-Page/233638253346424 .

Just What the Doctor Ordered

When this year's CSU-Pueblo schedule was analyzed it was clear the key to the season would be a gigantic three game gauntlet. Games on the road versus Chadron State and Nebraska-Kearney coupled with a national television date against Colorado Mines would determine if this season would be a great one, a good one or a disappointing one. As we all know now this season has the chance to be that great one. Mission Accomplished. But as the Bush Administration failed to realize, the Thunderwolves know the really hard work is only beginning. The first leg in the rest of the season began with a date with an underachieving Colorado Mesa on Saturday night. The Pack opened the game just fine with the defense forcing an early punt. Thunderwolves QB Ross Dausin and the rest of the offense went to work carving through the physical Mavericks for an early 7-0 lead. It was a calming feeling getting off to a great start. But it would only last long enough for the teams to line up for the ensuing kickoff. If there is an achilles heel to this year's Thunderwolves ball club it is kickoff return coverage. It reared itself again as Maverick Jordan Price raced 100 yards to tie the game at 7-7. On their next possession more unease filled the stadium as sure-footed placekicker missed a 40-yard field goal attempt. The next possession ended with a punt. Then Domonique Lewis burst through to sack Dausin to end the next series to create doubt that hasn't truly been felt at home this season. Following the sack Mesa's offense put together its only real good drive of the game marching 53 yards in 11 plays before stalling out. Caleb Pavy missed from 44 yards and the game stayed tied at 7-7. The Pack answered with a brilliant drive that mixed run and pass capped off by Dausin hitting Roger Pfannenschmid in the back of the endzone for a 14-7 Thunderwolves lead. A Jon Bailey interception return to the Mavericks seven had the Pack poised to increase the lead but inexplicably Dausin floated a third down and goal pass into the endzone that was picked off by Maverick Travis McRae. The Thunderwolves went to the locker room with nearly double the numbers of Mesa in every key statistical category yet only led 14-7. CSU-P punted on its initial second half possession to only add more fear to the 6737 fans in attendance. That is when Josh Costa decided to take matters into his own hands picking off Maverick QB Steve Romero near midfield and returning the ball 39 yards to set up first and goal. Jamaal Johnson then went to work out of the "Wild Pack" formation hitting Pfannenschmid for big Bubba's second TD reception of the game. A botched fake field goal would give a little life support to Mesa but the Thunderwolves defense held them in check the rest of the game. Major would add two more field goals to finalize it at 27-7. The Pack had survived the first of four opponents quasi playoff games. Mesa was jacked up for this one. They hit hard. They also did their fair share of jaw jacking the first three quarters. But in the end their mouths were left to gasp for air as CSU-Pueblo pounded them into submission. Thunderwolves head coach John Wristen had told me earlier in the week that this was the game that he feared. But then again he most likely will tell me again this week is the one he truly fears. And you know what? I will believe him because it is the next potential "land mine" on their schedule as the Pack travels to the other Las Vegas for a battle with unpredictable New Mexico Highlands.
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----------MIGHTY MEISNER-----All American candidate Lee Meisner seemed to take the Mavericks smack talking personally as he raised his quiet intensity to register 15 tackles. It was a struggle early on this season for the senior middle linebacker just to get loose let alone play at his customary high level. But as this season continues onward and upward Meisner is seemingly oblivious to whatever pain he is feeling and continues to raise his game in the stone cold silence he always has. It should also be noted that fellow inside linebacker Buster Thede played a fantastic game filling in for injured Damon Schiele. The junior from Pomona in Arvada delivered several crunching hits in recording 12 tackles on the night.
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----------WILD PACK ANYONE-----During last night's broadcast of Thunderwolves football I tried out a new way of describing the formation in which the Pack lines up without a QB and direct snaps the ball to a running back. It is commonly called the "wildcat" formation and has been used in one variation or another for over 100 years. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildcat_formation ) Jeremy Capo contacted me early last week with his idea that the formation should be called the "Wild Pack" formation here at CSU-Pueblo. I liked the idea but immediately told Capo that my partner Joe Cervi would hate it. But I decided to go with it anyway without discussing it with him. Oh man, if looks could kill! Needless to say we had a spirited conversation about it on the air for a few plays that followed. Later in the broadcast I more or less relented and went back to calling it the "wildcat" formation. But according to my facebook fan page poll the public likes the new title of "Wild Pack." All you Facebookers can continue to way in on the Jim Brooks Fan Page. As for the others feel free to leave your comments right here in the Brooksy Blog comments section.
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----------TEBOW TIME-----For three and a half quarters the Broncos-Dolphins game was a cure for insomnia. I should know. I passed out cold right here in this chair I am writing at about midway through the third quarter. I awoke to the Broncos recovering an onside kick setting them up for a potential "miracle" finish by the former Gator in front of a crowd that was mostly cheering every move he made. It is painfully obvious Tebow at this point in his young career doesn't possess the skill set needed to win consistently in todays NFL. But for this day, in this game, against a brutal Dolphins squad, Tebow had that special quality that very few of us will ever know or possess. The reactions alone of all those grown men running and jumping around celebrating the victory speaks volumes in my mind. Next week I will be sure to get my nap in before the game starts.
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----------SPILLED KOOL AID-----Previously in this blog I told you I was convinced Centennial had the goods to go deep in the 3A playoffs. Now they are in the fight for their postseason lives after dropping a 41-26 decision at Palmer Ridge Friday night. The Bulldogs started fast leading 7-0 after the first quarter. The teams went to the locker room tied at 14-14 but Centennial failed to answer the second half bell as Palmer Ridge scored 24 unanswered points before the Bulldogs could respond. As it has in the past few seasons the Bulldogs defense in particular against the run let them down. Centennial will most likely have to win next week versus 1-4 Classical Academy and then again in the season finale on the road against number one ranked Canon City.
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----------BEST TWO OF THREE-----The World Series so far has been pretty darn good. For the most part the pitching has been outstanding. Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols provided much needed muscle slugging three home runs in game three to erase somewhat the stain he left by not facing the media following his error that enabled the winning run to get into scoring position. I am sticking with my prediction of St Louis in six.
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----------PROGRAM REMINDERS-----The John Wristen Show presented by Miller Lite is Wednesday at Buffalo Wild Wings at 7pm. As always you can listen to the show while enjoying wings and a cold Miller Lite over the BWW's in house sound system. We would love to have you join us. If you cant be sure to tune in on 590KCSJ-AM or www.590kcsj.com . Our next broadcast of Thunderwolves football is Saturday night from Las Vegas, New Mexico as the Pack takes on New Mexico Highlands. Pregame show is at 530pm and kickoff at 600pm. Our CNM television game this week is South vs Fountain-Fort Carson. Broadcast premier is set for next Saturday at 1000am. Prime time premier is Sunday evening at 600pm.

Momentous Win

Late in our broadcast of CSU-Pueblo's 27-14 victory on the road vs Nebraska Kearney I spent some time trying to capture just the right word to describe the Thunderwolves win. It was bigger than big. Huge didn't quite do it justice. Monumental? Perhaps. My good friend big George Schanze called it epic. At first I thought that's it. But upon further review I have settled upon momentous--Of utmost importance; of outstanding significance or consequence: a momentous occasion. That was it. The word my mind searched for but couldn't produce in a timely fashion. How important? In simple terms it gives the Thunderwolves the outright lead in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with four games to go all against opponents they will be considerable favorites over. Of significance is the CSU-P if it wins out will at the very least host a NCAA division II playoff game in mid or late November. D2 playoffs now consist of a 24-team field divided into four regions or pods of six teams each. The top two in each region receive a bye and host second round games. Seeds three and four from each region host first round games. CSU-Pueblo will most likely be ranked 9th when this weeks poll comes out and it is not far fetched to believe they could make it to the top five if they win out in convincing fashion. Of course long standing bias against the RMAC in those "smoke filled" rooms of the selection committee may knock them back a peg or two but there is no way in my mind they can be kept out of at worst a four seed. This rosey scenario and outlook pose a certain problem for John Wristen and his staff as they must somehow convey the importance of not letting down against opponents that are no way near the caliber of UN-Kearney, Chadron State or Mines. A single loss in the next four games will erase all of these possibilities and could very well leave them on the outside looking in. One need look no further than last season when Kearney was left out of playoff field despite sharing the RMAC crown and owning only two losses both of which were in overtime. Step one will be at home Saturday night versus Colorado Mesa. Kickoff at 6pm.
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----------DEFENSE REWARDED-----Early the fourth quarter of yesterday's battle Kearney had taken a 14-10 lead and CSU-P's offense responded with a dismal three and out. The Lopers took over at their own 20 and picked up eight easy yards on first down. It was second and two and things seemed to be bordering on desparation on the road and in a hostile environment for the Thunderwolves. UNK QB Jake Spitzlberger was poised and determined to deliver a dagger to the hearts of Pack players and fans. But sophomore cornerback Stephan Dickens stepped in and made the first of four CSU-P fourth quarter interceptions. It was at this point the offense responded with the go ahead drive. It opened with an interference call, was aided by a bonehead personal foul penalty but was ultimately defined by the Thunderwolves staple....punishing runs. J.B. Mathews capped off with a knifing two yard run to put the Pack back in front. On the next series senior LB Lee Meisner forced Spitzlberger out of bounds short of a first down forcing a Loper punt. Again the offense would respond but this time it was through the air as Josh Sandoval made one of those circus catches he seems to make look oh so routine for 27 yards to the UNK 26 yard line which helped lead to a Kyle Major 41 yard field goal to make the score 20-14. On the next possession again it was Meisner who stepped up picking off Spitzlberger and returning it inside the Loper 15 yard line. But a personal foul penalty for a chop block moved the ball back toward midfield. A holding penalty on offense ultimately led to the Thunderwolves punting the football back to Spitzlberger and company. The fourth ranked Lopers had the ball back in the hands of their shifty play maker and 3:12 still on the clock for what surely the faithful partisans and perhaps an announcer or two thought would be the inevitable heroic game winning drive. That thought was short lived as again Dickens worked his magic picking off Spitzlberger at the Loper 44. But this time he wasn't content to fall down with the ball instead he made a brilliant return to the house to seal the deal and the celebration began in earnest across the way for the gang of Thunderwolves fans and their marching band who made the seven hour pilgrimage to Kearney. Fittingly the "Fort Morgan Flash" Jon Bailey would send the Loper partisans to the exits with the fourth pick of the quarter and setting off gatorade baths for Coach Wristen and his staff. Hopefully someone smarter than I videotaped the players and coaches singing with the fans and marching band after the win. I was too busy soaking it all in trying to pick out Joe Cervi searching for Wristen for our post game interview on KCSJ.
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----------ANYBODY NERVOUS------Through the years I have had the pleasure (and pain sometimes) of witnessing wild and emotional finishes to many a football game. South made many runs at titles during the early part of this century. Central came close a couple of years back. County lost to Alamosa in a state title game. If you go way back I was a young pup doing color alongside Barclay and the late Sandy Clark as Centennial won a state title in 1987 at Dutch Clark Stadium. Of course what could possibly duplicate the fantastic finish Trent Thompson and the Central Wildcats gave the opportunity call on CNM Sports a couple years back. But never in any of those broadcasts was I as nervous and on edge than I was on Saturday in Kearney. Judging by the texts and facebook posts that both Joe and I were receiving you the fans were, too. You know what? That is a great thing to have. Somehow, someway this feeling needs to continue on into December. I have been a vocal critic of the apathy Pueblo fans have toward many of the events including football games at CSU-P. The same city that will fill 13,000 or so seats at Dutch Clark for two high school games has trouble filling 6000 at the Thunderbowl. Sure they will at least buy the tickets for the big TV extravaganza which is great but then they left in droves when it got a bit nippy. Okay it was miserable but I think you get my point. Forgive me for preaching here but this team is on the cusp of something very, very special. A raucus, passionate crowd for the final three home games is a just reward for this band of brothers that has delivered so much. Remember, this is the final year for a group of four year seniors that started this whole ball rolling. It will be emotional indeed on November 12th for that final regular season home game and in my mind this city owes them a tremendous debt of gratitude that can be repaid by showing up. Not just on that day but for all three.
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----------CANNON FIRE-----I just finished watching the replay of our CNM broadcast of the Cannon Game and once again it was somewhat sad to see all those Eagle fans looking on at the end (those that stuck around) shaking their collective heads in disgust. There was a tremendous sense of resignation and anticipation this would be the year the paint thinner would be put to use and nice shiny new coat of "gold" paint would be applied to the big gun. It was going to be a coronation. They said hey we are 5-1. They said we are bigger and stronger this year. They said we have play makers on offense. They said South is banged up and beset by injuries. They said it's a weak argument to say South had played a far tougher schedule. In the end, they would all be saying what the heck just happened to us. This was not at the end of the game. This was about five minutes into the second quarter when the Colts put up their fourth touchdown of the night. In the final analysis it was a heavy dose of inspired line play led by senior Jesse Gribble that spelled doom for the Eagles. It followed an all too familiar script for the Eagles. This wasn't the first time in the past 10 years it was going to be different up front. Head coach, Paul Andrada, hoping to cash in on perhaps his only chance at this game, preached to anybody who would listen that they were ready to not only match South in the trenches but they were ready to be better. South would have none of it wreaking havoc the entire first half. To its credit Andrada's Eagles came out smoking in the second half and put up a quick score. It wouldn't be hyperbole to say that a potential third quarter pass that fell inches short of a touchdown might have turned this game on its head. Instead the pass fell incomplete and the brute force of Brandon Castro running up 183 yards on 30 carries would slowly take the air out of any chances the Eagles had. Now South has won 15 in a row and as it always does the conversation will turn on whether this game should be played. But I give you 13,000 reasons why it will continue to go on. As long as South doesn't jump to 5A it will continue. Sooner or later, things will change and this city will begin to grow again. To my way of looking at it there is tremendous growth potential on the city's northeastern quadrant. Someday, it's gonna happen. East will get the job done. The problem is they always have to wait 365 days to get another shot.
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----------PROGRAM REMINDER------The John Wristen Show presented by Miller Lite is Wednesday night at Buffalo Wild Wings. We take to the air at 7:06 pm on 590KCSJ-AM and www.590kcsj.com. But what coach Wristen, Joe and myself really want (as well as BWW of course) is for you to show up in person. Wear your Thunderwolves colors. You can hear the show on the restaurants sound system while enjoying the dinner and a nice cold Miller Lite or beverage of your choice. Plus, with all those screens you wont miss one single pitch of game one of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and CSU-P women's basketball coach, Kip Drown's, St Louis Cardinals.

It is here. Gameday has finally arrived for the 2011 edition of the Cannon Game. Two games every year bring out the same question asked to me over and over. So who's gonna win? It is no secret I am a South Alum and at times have accused of being too much of a "fan" in the booth for the Black and White. I beg to differ on most accounts as I think I call it pretty fair except on those occasions I offer to sing the fight song for Joe Cervi and our viewing audience at the end of another Colts victory. With that said one of the more amazing things about my 30 year broadcast career is the fact that I have never been in the booth calling the game, doing color or sideline reports when East has won the Cannon Game. Of course at first glance this seems impossible. East had a nice four-year run from 1993-1996. The Eagles also won five straight from 1978-1982. Well in '81 and '82 I was just cutting my teeth in the field and was assigned to doing live reports of Pueblo County football. 1992 was my last full season doing high school broadcasts on the radio before my industry imposed hiatus (I refused to work for free LOL). So in years '93 to '96 I was nowhere to be found on the airwaves. 1997 was my first year doing play-by-play for Channel 19 which just so happens to be the first year of South's current 14-game winning streak. Most years during this span it was pretty much a given that South would win the game. Hell there was even talk of doing away with the series alltogether. But starting under David Ramirez and now with Paul Andrada at the helm there is a renewal of Eagle pride. Part of this is because of the drop to 3A where East has been able to experience something that South football fans have become used to and that is success. And the old saying is success breeds success. Last season East narrowly missed a playoff berth. This year they are right in the thick of it again at 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the 3A South-Central League. South on the other hand has fallen on hard times. They wont make the playoffs this year. They are beat up both mentally and physically. Sure they do get a handful of players back this week for this game but will that be enough. Now that we have covered all the background here is how I see the game unfolding. In years past East had to rely on going around or over the top of South. The past two seasons East had closed the size gap with the Colts but this year it is my opinion they have closed the pure physical and toughness gap. Eagles possess a dynamic playmaker in Rico Ramirez. South in some ways is still a mystery on offense going into this game. Quarterback Branden Mondragon is back in the fold although his true health is perhaps iffy at best. Branden Castro is a good strong runner. Clayton Smith is a potential gamebreaker if given enough touches. On defense South played a fantastic game last week at Cheyenne Mountain and probably should have won the game against the 6-0 Indians. I see this game unfolding as a slugfest. East must not be tempted into trying to trick the Colts. They must be patient early and then take their shots with Ramirez down the field. South on the other hand must be willing to take some shots down the field to loosen up the Eagle defense. I envision sophomore Garrett Krage coming up big on a deep slant/post pattern. QB Mondragon must come up big when this/these moments occur. Being a Colt means I give them an automatic seven points. My prediction is South in overtime 21-20. The difference will be the Colts converting/stopping a two-point play in overtime.