Just like that, it's over

I really don't know what to say after Union's 58-3 loss at Saint Francis today. I mean, Union didn't play that bad, but Saint Francis played very well.

The Cougars took advantage of great field position. They averaged started their drives on the Union 39 in the first half and finished the game with an average field position of Union 48. When a team is getting great field position like that, it's tough to beat them, I don't care who the team is.

The Bulldogs should be proud of all they've accomplished this season, and I really hope this loss doesn't sour that for them. Union did a heck of a lot more than anyone expected, but a lopsided loss like that tends to dampen things.

It's just a rough way to end the season.

Hopefully, the Bulldogs can take this feeling and use it for motivation heading into next season. Union has a good number of players returning, and this sour taste in their mouths could make them hungry next season.

Here are some things to think as the Bulldogs now close the book on 2008 and begin preparing for 2009:

• Union returns its entire offensive line, and there will be just ONE senior next year on the 0-line.
• Terence Pollock, Mike Brinkley and all but one wide receiver will return. Pollock ran for over 1,300 yards this year, Brinkley threw for more than 2,500 yards and 32 touchdowns and a band of young receivers will be back in the fold. How can you not be excited about that?
• The Bulldog secondary will return. With another year of maturity, the Union defensive backs should begin to shut down the opposition's passing game.
• Five of the six regularly-used defensive linemen return. The d-line did a great job this season making its way to the backfield and opening lanes for the Bulldog linebackers.
• Jacob Appleby still has three years left. The place-kicker booted 13 fields and made 46 PATs. I'll take 85 points out of my kicker any time.

While the loss does leave a bitter taste in my mouth right now, all is not lost.

In fact, this may just be the beginning.

Not the same ol' Bulldogs

In case you've been hiding under a rock, the Bulldog football team is off to one of its better seasons in years. Union is 3-0 for the eighth time in program history and the first time since 1994!

And as they go for its first-ever 4-0 start, the Bulldogs will square off against Georgetown in a battle of NAIA Top 20 teams - and Union is the higher ranked team at No. 16 with the Tigers coming in at No. 18.

Can the Union-Georgetown game be any bigger? It's the Mid-South Conference East opener for both. The Bulldogs snapped a 23-game losing streak against Georgetown with a 28-21 decision on the Tigers home field to end the 2007 season. (Oh, and by the way, that loss kept Georgetown out of the playoffs for the first time in 12 years and snapped the Tigers' streak of winning and/or sharing the conference championship at 11 years.) So, revenge will be on Georgetown's mind come Saturday.

These are certainly fun times. Don't know about you, but I can't wait until game time.

Here are some more random football notes:

• One player to watch for - because opposing defenses will be - is No. 26 Terence Pollock. All Mr. Pollock did last week was ripped of a 198-yard, 2-touchdown performance, earning him the MSC Offensive Player of the Week nod. On the season, he's rushed for 400 yards and is on pace to become just the third player in program history to rush for a 1,000 yards in a season. Also, he is only 223 yards away from becoming the third player to run for 2,000 yards in a career!!! Currently, Terence is ranked third in the NAIA in rushing yards per game at 133.3.
• Willie Williams is certainly making his presence felt as he ranks fourth, fifth and 13th in the NAIA in tackles for a loss, sacks and total tackles.
• Jacob Appleby has played just 3 games in his collegiate career, but he's already making an impact. Currently, he ranks third in the NAIA in Kicking Scoring with an 8.3 points-per-game average. At Faulkner last week, Jacob booted three field goals to tie the school record and scored 11 of the team's 23 points as he was named the MSC Special Teams Player of the Week.
• The Bulldogs have rushed for 608 yards and passed for only 561. The last time Union finished the season with more yards rushing than passing was in 2003 when it ran for 1838 and passed for 1370.
• In the previous seven seasons Union started the year 3-0, the team finished no worse than .500 (5-5 in 1993). The Bulldogs posted a winning record in the other six seasons.

How 'bout them Bulldogs!!!

WOW!!!

What else is there to say after the amazing football game this weekend?

The Bulldogs defeated the then-No. 24 team in the nation. They did it in an impressive manner, dominating ball control in the second half and just wore down Malone. It was a true team effort. The defense did all it could to keep the team in it in the first half, while the offense seized control of things in the second half.

Malone might've had more yardage and more first downs, but Union led in the category that matters most - the FINAL SCORE!!! 35-28.

In amongst the great team effort were some spectacular individual performances.

Kyle Callahan had just four catches all day, but he hauled in three TD passes - all three of which were SportsCenter worthy.

After a rough first half, running back Terence Pollock, Darrell Taylor, Tim Coffey and Ben Kelly did what they needed to do to eat up the clock and keep Malone's offense off the field. Quarterback Mike Brinkley did a commendable job of managing the clock and guiding the team to victory. And just think, Brinkley's just a freshman.

On defense, the line did a tremendous job getting pressure on the quarterback while the linebackers and secondary just did their thing.

The Bulldogs are now 2-0!!! It's been since 1994 that Union has been able to say that.

And now, the Bulldogs are ranked in the NAIA Top 25!!!

Union is currently tied for No. 18 in the latest NAIA Football Coaches' Poll. The last time Union was ranked the year was 1996 - and the ranking did not last long. The Bulldogs finished the 1995 season 7-2-1 and ranked 16th, just missing the NAIA playoffs. So, coming off the stellar, Union entered the 1996 season with high hopes and expectations and were ranked in the Top 25.

But things didn't go so well for Union in 1996. The Bulldogs finished the year 1-9 - with the only win being an 24-23 overtime victory over Cumberland (Ky.) College. (So, the year wasn't a total loss :-D )

The 1996 began a long, dry spell for the Bulldogs. Union has not had a winning season since 1995.

Twelve seasons and counting ...

Hopefully, the counting stops in 2008.

There's something special going on with this year's Bulldogs. The offense is relatively young yet overflowing with talent. The defense has strong senior leadership, especially in the linebacking corps. And it just seems everything is aligning just so, giving at least this old SID the hopes that a winning football season is just over the horizon.

I've been at Union since 1999, but I remember the winning seasons in the early 1990s. I was working at the local newspapers at the time, and football Saturday in Barbourville was an event - and it still is. The fans have always come out and supported the Bulldogs. Union football fans are among the most loyal and faithful. Yet, there was a certain buzz around Burch/Nau Field during those winning seasons.

And now, that buzz is starting to come back. Don't believe me? Then join me at Burch/Nau Field on Sept. 27 to see for yourself.

And the honors start rolling in ...

I must admit it. I tend to be a 'Proud Papa', if you will, when it comes to the student-athletes at Union. And when my student-athletes are honored, my chest swells.

Well ... today my chest nearly exploded.

This was the first week for conference player of the week awards and today was the first week for the NAIA Football Player of the Week honors. And Union College was very well represented.

In the Appalachian Athletic Conference, Christina Prindle was named the Volleyball Libero of the Week, Aaron Miller is the Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, Marcela Salum the Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week and Brittany Puryear the Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.

In the Mid-South Conference, Union took two of the three Player-of-the-Week awards with Terence Pollock earning the offensive honors and Willie Williams taking home the defensive honors.

Willie took things a step further in picking the NAIA Defensive Player of the Week nod. (Here's a neat fact for all you Bulldog fans: Union has had the last two NAIA Defensive Players of the Week. Patrick O'Neal received the honor in the final week of the regular-season in 2007 after Union defeated Georgetown for the first time since 1938 - and no I don't get tired of writing/saying that last sentence.)

A total of seven honors (and six student-athletes honored) in ONE DAY!!!

Yes, Monday was a good day.

Does a 'Papa' proud ... :-D

Now, I can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings.