The Implosion

The Belles won an attendance contest so Casie Adams, Christy Rasmussen, Lindsey Leatherman and Alix Flores got to help push the button to implode one of the high rise dorms on our campus. The implosion was awesome! It was loud and exciting. One minute the building was there and within seconds it was gone. Since we had to get up early to be at the implosion, we went ahead and had practice. It was our 10th practice and thing are moving right along. We still have alot of work to do, but we are getting better everyday. This week we have two scrimmages on Thursday and Saturday. I know the players are ready to compete against another team. Come on out Thursday night at 6:00 to get your first look at the 09-10 Belles.

OCDD

Offensive courage and defensive discipline! Practice has begun! OCDD is what we are trying to develop in practice and even though we have a long way to go, we are working hard and having fun. In fact yesterday I fell on the floor laughing at Casie Adams. We were working on filling the lanes and Casie was in the wrong lane, so she "sprinted"or tried to "sprint" to the correct lane. The determined look on her face just cracked me up! Anyway, we are working hard we just have to get to the point where we can work hard and SMART! We will get there.


Sunday was the first practice when we had all 15 players at practice. Paige Weishuhn sprained her ankle at Midnight Madness and Jasmine Fuller was sick for the first two practices. On Friday, Stacy texted me that Casie was not feeling well and might not be at practice. She later sent me another text informing me that they were at the clinic and she probably had the flu. An hour later, Stacy called me and she was in the emergency room with Casie. She didn't have the flu. I went to the hospital to see her and she was in pain. They were thinking that it was her gall bladder. Stacy stayed at the hospital with Casie and I went to practice. About half way through practice, Stacy and Casie walked into the gym. Casie had kidney stones. Very painful, but at least she didn't have to have surgery. She even practiced the next day!


We don't have practice today until 7 p.m., so the players can go get a flu shot. Hopefully it will help keep us healthy this season.

Midnight Madness

Well, we survived the Madness! The crowd was great and the 'Belles had alot of fun. They showed off some of their dance moves (??) and they beat the Rams in the three-point shooting contest. Casie Adams was on fire!! We scrimmaged for about five minutes and Paige Weishuhn sprained her ankle. That was a bummer, but hopefully she won't be out long. She did make a great post move though and made the shot, before she hurt her foot.

We are exactly one hour away from our first offical team practice and I know the coaching staff and the players are ready to go! Our first scrimmage is Oct 29th at 6:30 p.m., so put that on your calendar.

Get your Ram Horns up!!!!!!

LSC Challenge Champions!

All the challenges are completed and the 'Belles Basketball team won the LSC Challenge trophy! The picture does not do the trophy justice. Stacy and Katie made, yes made, a replica of the LSC Championship trophy and decorated it with the most awesome embellishments. The embellishments represented all the activities the 'Belles conquered to win this challenge.

Tonight we had a team dinner and completed the last written challenge. The girls had to answer some questions about leadership and what and how they were going to contribute to our team's success this year. They all did an exceptional job. I was very impressed and inspired by their answers. We are going to have a great season! After the trophy presentation we went to our locker room and had a meeting about the upcoming season and practice expectations. The girls also received all their new gear. It was like Christmas morning. Crystal Whalon, a former Belle, designed our t-shirts and sweat shirts and they look great.

I am currently trying to stay awake for Midnight Madness. It is a great way to kick off the season and the players and ASU students love it, but us old folk can barely stay awake to enjoy the fun!

I can't wait until tomorrow. Nothing beats the first day of practice!

If you are going to Midnight Madness and you don't see me there, please give me a call and wake me up!

Setting records

There were two records set at our annual Alumni Game. The most points scored and the most points given up! This year, the teams were chosen by age and even though they fought hard, the older alumni were unable to pull out the victory. I think this is the fifth annual Alumni Game and Kylie Nabors and Kelli Goble informed me after the game that they have never won an alumni game. Weird. I feel bad about that and I vow to "try" to remedy that situation next year.

Win or lose, the game was a lot of fun. It was very high scoring, which is unusual. Kandra Lakey and Sharon Beam were on fire for the younger alumni, but everyone on both teams contributed. Jeremy Bryant did a masterful job with the announcing and Ryan Salinas and Quinn Barfield were the referees. Thanks for helping us out on a Sunday afternoon!

The current 'Belles had a busy weekend. We had a recruit on campus and Saturday the 'Belles had to read the sportsmanship statement at the volleyball game and usher at the football game. They did a good job and if you were at the football game, you know it was freezing. They also attended the alumni game and the upperclassman had to bring desserts for the reception after the game. Only three more days before team practice begins. I can't wait! Wednesday we will have a team dinner and Midnight Madness. Please come join us at the Junell Center on Wednesday night at 11 p.m.

The 'Belles won the Penny War that was used to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I am proud of them and hopefully we keep up the winning attitude and effort!

Don't forget - Midnight Madness!

Saves and such

Well tomorrow is the big day. The 'Belles get to step up and save a teammate. We had a meeting today to determine who was saving who. It was short and sweet and we had plenty of volunteers. Their were a few guidelines they had to adhere to. The team can save a teammate if they were unable to attempt the challenge because of injury, but the team can only save an individual one time. If an individual did not complete the challenge successfully, they had to attempt it one more time and then a teammate has to save them. Tomorrow we will attempt the West Texas Challenge (20 sets of two down and backs) first, then we will go to the park to attempt the Tarleton State Challenge (2.8 miles), and we will finish up at the pool with the North Division Challenge. Here is a list of players that volunteered to save their teammates:



Ashley James - Tarleton State

Morgan Youngblood - Tarleton State

Kori Hall - West Texas

Jasmine Fuller - West Texas

Lindsey Leatherman - North Division

Casie Adams - North Division

Christie Rasmussen - North Division



The team will also be saving five players that were unable to attempt the West Texas Challenge.



I am really looking forward to tomorrow and watching the 'Belles take a big step towards reaching all our very lofty goals for this season!



I also wanted to mention that this Friday, West Texas A&M will be inducting my Dad into their Hall of Champions. My Dad played and coached at WT and this a very well deserved honor. For our family this is bitter sweet, since our Dad is suffering from Alzheimers. I am dreading and looking forward to the induction ceremony.



The volleyball team has two big matches this week after being on the road for a month. Please come out and support them and don't forget about the 'Belle Basketball Alumni game on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Lone Star Conference Challenge

Last week we attempted the West Texas challenge. The girls had to run 20 sets of two down-and-backs. The first set they had 24 seconds and then they had 25 seconds for the last set of 10. It was by far the toughest challenge yet but the 'Belles did great. I was extremely proud of Jasmine Fuller who finished first for all 20 sets and usually with time to spare.

We had quite a few of the 'Belles that were unable to attempt the challenge because of injury or threat of injury. Next week, their teammates will be able to save them and we will complete the final challenge by writing a letter of recommendation for themselves. This Lone Star Conference Challenge has been very successful. It has helped develop the team concept and has made conditioning a little less boring. But some of our players are suffering with shin splints probably caused by conditioning on different surfaces. Deciding how to get and keep your players in shape without wearing them out is always a tough call. We have a very long season and it is very physically demanding, and you have to be in great shape to be successful.

We only have a week and a half of our group work and conditioning. Midnight Madness is Wednesday night (Oct. 14) beginning at 11 p.m. We will have our first official team practice on Thursday, Oct. 15. I can't wait to really get started!


Don't forget to come out to the Alumni Game on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. and we hope to see you at Midnight Madness.