Shawn Jones is in his tenth season as the radio play-by-play voice of Mules football, basketball and baseball. In addition to his radio and television duties as host of Sportspage, he is UCM's Associate Athletic Director for External Relations in charge of marketing, promotions, media relations, fund-raising events and special events. Greg Hassler is in his ninth season as the sideline reporter and pre and post-game host for Mules broadcasts. He is the Sports Director of flagship stations 1450 KOKO and The Bar 98.5 FM. Joe Moore and Bob Jackson will provide color analysis this season and Moore will also contribute to this column. Jackson has been a part of the UCM broadcast team since 1981 and is UCM's Athletics Promotions Coordinator and Web Manager. Moore is a former Mules football player and UCM Athletic Media Relations Director. He is now an instructor in UCM's Department of Communication.

  by Greg Hassler
  Central Football Sideline Reporter
  October 8, 2009

 

Homecoming is always an exciting time on the campus of UCM, and this year is no exception. From the pep rally on Friday to the Parade on Saturday and the 4th ranked Jennies Volleyball team playing on Friday and Saturday nights, there is truly something for everyone. This Homecoming will feature a near must win game for the Mules Football team if they want to see their goals of postseason realized. Normally on Homecoming you get a cupcake that you can roll over…unfortunately, that is not the case for the Mules. The Mules will be the underdog on Saturday to the Fort Hayes State Tigers. The Mules are 5 and 1 and ranked 10th in the Super Region 4 while the Tigers are 4 and 2 and ranked 8th in Super Region 4.

Coach Verdogo has done a great job in Hayes Kansas in transforming the RMAC Tigers to the MIAA Tigers. This is a talented group…James Walker at RB is second in rushing in the MIAA…Special Teams is a big part of what the Tigers do well…C.J. Lovett is 3rd in the league in kick returns and is very electric with the football. What the Tigers have this year that they didn’t have last year is big, athletic wide receivers…this guys get down the field and make plays.

The key for the Mules this week will be pressure on QB Mike Garrison…the Defensive Line has got to continue their great play this Saturday. The Mules are banged up in the secondary so pressure is a must. This is a big regional match up so get out to the stadium on Saturday and make some noise

THERE ARE SEVERAL HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES INVOLVING UCM ATHLETICS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE THIS WEEK…….THE HOMECOMING PEP RALLY IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IT BEGINS AT 4:30 PM FRIDAY AT WALTON STADIUM/KENNEDY FIELD…….FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7 PM, ALL FORMER MULES FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE INVITED TO A FOOTBALL RECEPTION IN THE MARKEY LOBBY AT WALTON STADIUM/KENNEDY FIELD……FOOD AND BEVERAGE WILL BE PROVIDED… There will be a wrestling team Alumni reception and reunion on Friday, October 9th at 7:00 PM at the White Rose Pavilion on Ming Street in conjunction with the UCM Legends of Wrestling induction ceremony……..ALSO FRIDAY NIGHT, THE 4TH RANKED JENNIES VOLLEYBALL TEAM HOSTS NORTHWEST MISSOURI AT 7 PM….SATURDAY, THE PARADE BEGINS AT 9 AM ON HOLDEN STREET IN WARRENSBURG AND ALL MULE TRAIN DONORS ARE INVITED TO 314 SOUTH HOLDEN TO VIEW THE PARADE…THREE LOTS WILL BE OPEN FOR TAILGAITING AT 11:30 AM…..THE LOT NORTH OF THE UCM PHYSICAL PLANT, THE POLICE ACADEMY LOT AND THE LOT AT THE CORNER OF HOLDEN AND SOUTH STREETS WILL ALL BE OPEN……OF COURSE THE FOOTBALL GAME BETWEEN THE MULES AND FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS KICKS OFF AT 1:30 PM AT WALTON STADIUM/KENNEDY FIELD.....12:10 AIRTIME ON THE UCM SPORTS RADIO NETWORK.........…. SATURDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 PM, JENNIES VOLLEYBALL HOSTS MISSOURI WESTERN….

"View From The Press Box" is published every Wednesday throughout the football season.