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The Railers lost a game at Springfield
that I really hoped they would win. I felt it might set the tone for
the rest of the year and help them eke out another win or two. Now
their backs are against the wall, and they’ll have to take care of
business all by themselves. I know they can do it, I’m just not sure
that THEY know they can do it!
Illini
lost at sea…
Are you STILL mad that no one wanted to
give the Illini any respect before the season started? Maybe those
people knew more about this team than they were letting on? The
coaching staff STILL maintains that the losses are solely a matter
of execution — that guys are trying to do too much and are getting
out of position. Oh, if it was just that easy. I’d wager to say that
virtually any LDN reader could be 1-4 right now as coach of this
unit. It is very discouraging and very difficult and painful to
watch.
Now I know what my dad meant when he
told me how difficult it would be to be a fan in the Midwest. On the
coast we’re used to speedy, quick, agile athletes at all the quality
positions… Oh well, I digress.
The sad thing is that this season held
so much promise, and now it has gone up in smoke. This REALLY tests
the resolve of the fans. Many fans don’t want to be tested, as
attested by the throngs who had seen enough and left at HALFTIME on
Saturday. While I preach loyalty everywhere I go, I can’t really
blame them after what we’ve been forced to endure so far this year.
A couple of weeks ago my son tried to
run out on the field, and it’s a good thing I stopped him; he might
have hurt someone — something our missed tackles and sloppy play are
not likely to produce.
I could say more, but I won’t. Well,
except for this: This was not a very good Michigan team that we let
have their way with us on our home field, and that is sad and
disgusting.
ISU falls
…to Eastern Illinois 45-10 as Dwayne
Smith tallied the only points via the TD route for the Redbirds. EIU
started quickly, taking an early 17-0 lead, and the Birds could
never get back into the game. Stephen Carroll did add a field goal
to the cause. Both teams evened their records at 2-2.
Bears
find another way to lose
…this time, in overtime. Lots more
conservative play calling seems to haunt the Bears at times. The
injuries on defense seem to be taking their toll on Chicago as well.
Hopefully they can repair the ship before the cheeseheads come to
town.
LC and
LCC continue to duke it out
If you like outstanding women’s sports,
you should be taking in LC and LCC volleyball matches. These two met
twice more this past weekend in a tournament in the beautiful new
Laughlin Center. In the first match, LC hung tough, but LCC put them
away in three. However, it was a different story in the championship
round. LC won two of the first three games before LCC rallied back
to hoist the championship trophy.
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Credit LC for some gritty play and
their fans for outstanding support. I REALLY commend their fans for
encouraging their team as they did. LCC’s fans were pretty awesome
as well, and when a whole gym has an electricity like this tourney
had, that’s what college sports should be about!
Congratulations to Breanne Prunty,
Christen O’Malley and MVP Ren Cox for making the all-tournament
team. Congrats also to Beth Guy of the Lady Lynx for also securing a
spot on the all-star team!
"FANdamonium"
Greg Taylor and I want to continue to
thank you for making the Monday night sports showcase so fun to do.
We love talking sports, and your calls, e-mails, etc. make it all
worthwhile. Tonight at 6 p.m. set your Web browser to
www.lincolndailynews.com
and click on the live link in "Hear it here!" to transport you to
our live show. You can also tune your TV dial to CITV Channel 5 or
your radio dial to FIX-FM 96.3.
We’ll REALLY need your help tonight as
we cry into Greg’s Kool-Aid! Maybe you know how some of these teams
that we support can get themselves right.
Tonight’s special guests include
Lincoln College soccer coach Mark Howard along with some of his
players. I believe the Lynx are 6-4 and have a win over a top 10
school, Lewis and Clark. You soccer fans will NOT want to miss coach
Howard’s comments about how exciting his team is and what home games
you might be able to attend in the next few weeks. We also hope to
entertain members of LCHS coach Jan Dickerson’s tennis team.
Over the next few weeks we hope to
shine the spotlight on as many prep, collegiate and pro sports as we
are humanly able to. We hope to have former WAND 17 sports anchor
Ron Rector do a show or two with us. We also hope to have Decatur
Herald-Review sports editor Mark Tupper on board for a show. We’ve
asked LCHS golfers and swimmers to join us soon as well, and we plan
to get soccer and any other athletes showcased as well. IF you play
on a team or would like to have a shot at being on the show,
send us
an e-mail and we’ll try to hook you up.
Also, if you are a junior high or high
school student and you are interested in maybe becoming a sports
journalist,
send us an e-mail. We hope to select one or two students
to maybe be a guest host in the studio with us. Hope to hear from
you soon.
Have a great
week, everybody, and let’s hope our teams get off the snied! And
good luck, Cardinals, in the desert!
[Jeff
Mayfield]
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