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I remember growing up and hearing folks
say...
"I've got good news and bad news, which do you want first?" I almost
always said, "Gimme the good news" So here it is.
THE GOOD NEWS
* With the win over Southwest Baptist, the Mules have already
improved upon last year's record with two games remaining in the
regular season.
* No new significant injuries occurred in the game in Bolivar.
* Willie Fritz, now the All-Time Winningest Coach in UCM Football
History, continues to move up the MIAA coaching ranks, now at 81
wins as a Division II Football head coach.
* The Mules are young and should challenge for the MIAA title in
2008.
* The Mules are getting back to where they control some of their own
post-season destiny. With a win this Saturday, the Mineral Water
Bowl looks to be quite probable, with an NCAA playoff berth still
possible.
* Central appears to now have 3 legitimate signal callers behind
center with redshirt freshman Tommy Corwin getting some quality
snaps last weekend.
THE BAD NEWS
* Central faces a foe on Saturday they haven't beaten in 4 years.
* Injuries continue to plague the Mules.
* UCM loses two of the best players in the Willie Fritz era after
this season in punter Matt Frankel and safety Kendall Ricketts.
While the secondary should still be very tough without Ricketts in
'08, Frankel will be virtually impossible to replace.
* With the exception of the game against Missouri Southern, the
Mules have not become the team that Coach Fritz wants them to be...
...that is, the team that "Finishes".
* Though the three QBs all have 1 or more years of remaining
eligibility, it's anyone's guess as to who will be the starter next
year, let alone, next week.
THE GAME AGAINST WESTERN
This Saturday's game will likely determine which of these two teams
will end the season tied for #2 in the MIAA. Should Washburn beat
PSU, this game could determine who will end the regular season as
the highest regionally ranked team in the conference behind
Northwest Missouri State.
Like the Mules, the Griffons are young and have improved as the
season has gone on. The game is in St Joe and Western coach Jerry
Partridge seems to have the Mules' number. On paper, the Mules look
to match up well against Western, and the health of the Mule D could
be the difference in this game.
I've heard that some of the key injuries are healing, so barring
losing the turnover battle, or having a rash of penalties, look for
the Mules to end the slump against the "Partridge Family" and win
the game going away in the 4th quarter. Final score...
Central 31
Western 21 |
