It's cold but who cares? It's football time

After a 6-plus hour bus ride, the Bulldogs have arrived in Fort Wayne, Ind.

As we began to cross the Ohio-Indiana border, we were greeted by a snow storm. Nothing real bad, just a lot of blowing snow to make visibility a little difficult. Fortunately, it didn't last long, and by the time the Bulldogs got to Bishop D'Arcy Stadium for their walk-through, only a few flurries were blowing around. And the snow was gone by the time we left the field.

It's been fun watching this team. The whole ride up, this was just another bus ride to yet another game. However, once we arrived at D'Arcy Stadium, the excitement quickly began to show.

A number of players ran around the field - some in just T-shirts, to get the feel of the field and of course the feel of the cool air.

You could see on every one's faces - The Bulldogs have made it the NAIA Playoffs. Union has arrived.

I don't know what the final outcome will be tomorrow, but I guarantee you this is going to be a memorable weekend.

Random thoughts

• It was kind of neat driving past Georgetown en route to Fort Wayne. I mean, for years, Georgetown has been THE hurdle that Union couldn't get over. A number of losses to the Tigers prevented Union from winning the conference title and kept the Bulldogs out of the playoffs. And now, Union has posted back-to-back wins over Georgetown, the Bulldogs are in the playoffs, and the Tigers are not. It's definitely a new day.


• Seeing Bishop D'Arcy Stadium in person made me realize how nice Burch/Nau Field really is, especially after the upgrades the past two years. Bishop D'Arcy Stadium is a nice facility, and how sports turf and is used for football and soccer. But the only thing I'll take over BDS over Burch/Nau Field is the home grandstand. BSD has a large seating area with the stands stretching 20-25 rows (maybe more) up and a covered concessions area under the grandstand. Yet, Burch/Nau Field has a much better playing area and I'm partially to the press box as well. And the little additions to Bulldogs' home turf - the fence, the golden bulldogs, the covered picnic area, the paved walking track - just set Burch/Nau Field apart.


• I'm excited about the future of the Bulldogs. Yes, I know the season isn't over yet, but I can't help to think about potential of this group. There are no seniors on the offensive line and just ONE junior on the two-deep. Union will lose just one player at the skills positions on offense. However, the defense is a different story as the Bulldogs have four seniors who either start or play a big role including three linebackers. Of course, Union had some big holes to fill this season and made its way to the postseason, so anything's possible.

And we're off ...

Well, the Bulldogs are FINALLY on the road en route to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The buses were supposed to pull out the Centennial parking lot at 8 a.m. HOWEVER, departature was delayed nearly an hour after one of the buses didn't want to start up this morning. (Shoot, it's around 20 degrees this morning, I didn't want to get going this morning.)

But after waiting nearly an hour for the bus to arrive, we pulled out just before 9 a.m. and are headed north - to where it's colder.

Although the little hiccup with having to wait for a bus to arrive, the mood of the team is good. Everyone is just taking everything in stride, enjoying the ride and getting ready for the weekend of playoff football.

You got a player or two trying to sing along with their Ipod. The movie "Next" is now playing on the DVD player on our bus and folks are settling in for the trip.

For a program making its first-ever playoff appearance the team appears to be taking a very businesslike approach, like it's just another game on the schedule.

Me? I'm pumped. Like I posted a couple days ago, I've been looking forward to seeing the Bulldogs make the playoffs. Even back in the early- and mid-1990s when I was working at Corbin Times-Tribune, I've been pulling for the Bulldogs to make the playoffs. I recall watching the 1995 team come up just short.

And since then, it's been a rocky ride for the Bulldogs. (Yet, there is no need to rehash all that.)

The 2008 season has been nothing but magical, and now we're on our way to take on the No. 3 team in the NAIA playoffs.

Despite the 'bus' issues, this is going to be a fun ride.

More from the road later.

Comin' Around Again

So this is what it looks like around here, huh? So many things have changed, but a lot of things have remained the same. This is almost like a high school reunion for me.

For those of you who do not know who I am, I was the SID at Union from 1991-99. Back then, Larry Inkster was the man at UC, Darin Wilson was a Bulldog baseball player-turned coach-turned head coach, and some guy from the Corbin Times-Tribune named Jay Stancil was the only reporter we could get to come to Barbourville on a regular basis. Now, Larry Inkster's STILL the man, Darin is doing a great job in heading up the athletic department, and Union has one of the best SID's in the NAIA in Jay Stancil. The job that he and Gene Renfro are doing is just phenomenal. I'd like to think that I helped lay the foundation in the sports information office at Union, and Jay and Gene have built the Sears Tower on top of it. You all should be proud of what is going on at Union.

Now, back to the real reason I'm here. I've been following the Bulldogs from afar as a proud alum and former employee. The 2008 football season at Burch-Nau Field has been nothing short of amazing. I remember the two near-misses we had for playoff bids in 1992 and 1995, especially in 1995. We were on a six-game winning streak and led Lambuth (who was on top of the Mid-South Conference at the time) 24-7 at the half. Late in the fourth quarter it's 24-17 and the Eagles block a punt with around a minute to play. They score and tie the game at 24-24, then almost make a 43-yard field goal as time expires. That turned out to be the last tie game in Union history (since overtime went into effect starting in 1996), the Bulldogs finish 7-2-1 and ranked No. 16 in the NAIA. But we don't receive a bid because of a conference champ finishing lower than us in the polls. Talk about disappointment. Everyone on the staff kept thinking -- much like a Cubs fan -- "Wait until next year!".

Well, next year took 13 years, but it's been some wait. Tommy Reid came in before the 1996 season and has come from grad assistant to assistant to head coach. He has seen the ups and downs of the programs and has stayed the course. He has built the program back up from the mid-90s era, and we all saw a glimpse of what was to become this year's playoff run when the Bulldogs (FINALLY) beat Georgetown in the final game of the 2007 season. I was broadcasting our (McKendree University) season finale at Iowa Wesleyan College when Jay sent me the text. I'll be honest, I started to choke up during our game. Fortunately, we were up 35-0 with three minutes to go and probably no one was listening. But we all saw so many close calls during the 90s against G-Town that it was sweet to get that news.

The Union College Bulldogs are in the NAIA Football Championship Series. That has a nice ring to it. Now, it's time for a little bit of reality because their first-round opponent is no slouch. St. Francis (Ind.) is a perennial final four team, and I've seen them many times in Savannah at the championship game. They have a great facility, a super coach in Kevin Donley (former Georgetown head coach for those of you who may not know) and another great SID in Bill Scott. The Bulldogs will have their hands full, but if I know Tommy, he will have the Bulldogs prepared and ready to go.

If you have the chance to head north, I implore you to make the trip. Be a part of history for the Bulldogs. Make this magical ride last just a little longer. I wish I could be there.

GO BULLDOGS!!! You've made us proud.

Scott Cummings
Proud Alum (1991)
Former UC SID
Forever a Bulldog

Who Let the Dogs Out?!?!?!

Tonight, I went to Wal-Mart with my daughter in tow. And because my 5-year-old bundle of energy and joy was with me, she dedicated what channel my XM Radio got turned to. (What can I say, I'm a softee.)

On the way home, a song came on, one that I hadn't heard in a couple years. But yet, it was one that brought back a lot of memories.

Blaring through my speakers was "Who Let the Dogs Out" by the Baha Men.

Like many, when the song came out, I liked it. It was fun, catchy and it fit Union. After all, we are the Bulldogs.

Well, during the 2000 season - the year the Baha Men produced their version of the song, the song got played at Burch/Nau Field. Over and over and over.

We played it when the team ran out on the field before the game. We played it when the team scored. We played it when the team into to the lockerroom at halftime and when they came back out for the second half.

And when Union won, it got played REPEATEDLY.

"Who Let the Dogs Out" was played on average 10-15 times per game.

Needlesstosay, many of us got sick of the song and it didn't get played again anywhere on campus for a long time following the 2000 football season.

But hearing the song again tonight brought back some fun memories, and some painful ones as well.

You see, it was five games into the 2000 season that Union won a game. That win was the first win in THREE YEARS, snapping a 25-game losing streak.

After beating Lambuth 14-10 to end the 1997 season, Union went 0-10 in 1998, 0-11 in 1999 and started the 2000 season 0-4 before enjoying a three-game win streak.

I have always enjoyed Union football. Saturday's at Burch/Nau Field are a blast for me, win or lose. (Obviously, it's always more fun when the Bulldogs win.)

Yet, there's always been something keeping the Bulldogs from getting over the hump.
I can't tell you how many games I've seen Union battle, go toe-to-toe against the opponent, only to come up just short of getting the victory.

One of the most gut-wrenching losses I've witnessed in Union history (that's encompassing all sports) came on Homecoming 2006 when the Bulldogs fell to Frostburg State 7-3. It was an ugly game. Neither offense get anything generated for the field was an absolute muddy mess. (This was the final season of Union having a natural grass surface.)

With less than three minutes remaining, Union was up 3-0. Forced to punt, the feeling was good because the Bulldog defense had held strong ALL DAY. However, the punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown, sealing Union's fate.

I mention all this to just give you a sense of how fun, how amazing, how exciting this football season has been and continues to be.

The Bulldogs are 9-2!!! NINE WINS and just TWO LOSSES!!!

Since 1995, Union had not won more than four games in a season. In the three seasons prior to this year, the Bulldogs had just 11 wins.

And now Union is heading into the NAIA Playoffs!!!

How great is that?

Union has been blessed, especially in the past five, six years with some amazing teams. Women's basketball has been to three national championship tournaments. The baseball team went to the NAIA World Series and placed 5th. Women's soccer advanced to the Final Four in 2002, the same year the mountain biking team won the NCCA National Championship. The men's and women's tennis teams both have made back-to-back trips to the NAIA Sweet Sixteen, and the softball and volleyball teams each have won their first conference championships in program history.

Every program has enjoyed some sort of success this decade. All but football.

Until now.

So, tonight, as my daughter danced in the backseat to sounds of "Who Let the Dogs Out", I enjoyed the journey and the lengths the Bulldog football program has come over the years.

And the ride isn't over.

FORE!

Well, believe it or not, the Fall Golf season for Union wrapped up Tuesday. For the last event, both the men's and women's teams posted second place finishes at the Fall AAC Tournament. Now grant it, the two rounds were just the start and Union and the rest of the conference will play two more rounds in the Spring, but this has Eric Wyrick's squads in a good place.

It was good for Magnus Lundberg and Tiffany Willis to post impressive rounds as well. Willis finished second while Lundberg came in fourth. Both are in great shape for All-AAC honors come April.

By the way... the Spring portion of the AAC Championship will be hosted by Union at Wasioto Winds in Pineville! Hopefully the home course advantage will be kind to the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs. We will have to wait and see though.

Brinkley and his band of merry men

OK, I have waxed rhapsodic about how fun and amazing this football season has been thus far ... and the scary part is that there are still SEVEN MORE GAMES LEFT!!!

The Bulldogs have taken us - well, at least me - on a fun ride. And one of the problems at the helm of this thrilling ride is quarterback Mike Brinkley.

As with any new season, there are a number of question marks facing a team. For the Bulldogs, one of the big one was how to fill the void left by Joey Waters. He only threw for more than 3,200 yards and had 27 passing TDs last season. Not easy numbers to replace.

Yet, Brinkley has stepped in nicely.

The 6-foot-1 quarterback has not been flashy, has not racked up huge yardage, but more importantly he has held his composure and guided the team with limited mistakes. Through the first four games, Mike has thrown for 814 yards and 9 TDs and completed just under 61 percent of his passes. Against Georgetown, Mike managed the game very well as he threw for a season-high 253 yards and completed 77.3 percent of his passes.

And Brinkley has spread the wealth as well, hitting eight different receivers this season with only three registering double-digit catches. Ben Kelly leads the team with 19, while Kyle Callahan has 16 and Chris Thomas 13.

Additionally, there's been a different leading receiver each week. Callahan and Thomas led the team in week one with 7, then Kelly led the way against Malone and Faulkner with 6 and 4, respectively. Against Georgetown, the show belonged to Rolando Dyer, who hauled in a 6 catches for 98 yards and 2 TDs. Heading into the game, Dyer only had 2 catches for 32 yards.

Chew on this thought: Brinkley is just a freshman. With the maturity and composure he's showing in the pocket now, it gets me kind of jazzed to think about what's to come.

Here are some other random football tidbits:

• The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 34-0 in the third quarter this season.


• In addition to being on a 6-game win streak, Union has won its last 3 in a row on road, its last 3 in a row at Burch/Nau Field and its last 3 in a row versus ranked opponents.


• Union is 4-0 for the first time in program history. Other first-time 4-0 teams this season include the Tennessee Titans, who've never reached that mark even during the franchise's heyday as the Houston Oilers.

Riding to the Top

Another weekend and another successful run for the Union cycling team. This time it was up at the University of Michigan.

Rachel Millsop is making an impact with a pair of wins Sunday. She has five wins so far this year and could contend for the MWCCC Rider of the Year honor. She would be the third Union rider to ever win the award and it would be back-to-back years a Bulldog wins it.

Zach Winn is the defending MWCCC Rider of the Year and is not doing bad himself. He picked up a time trial win Sunday to lead a pack of Bulldogs in the event. What does that say about the Union team when the Bulldogs have four of the Top-5 finishers?

Grant it, the cycling travels north for most of the races, but if you get a chance, the NCCA National Championship is in Banner Elk, N.C. from Oct. 24-26. It should be an exciting event all weekend. Could Union capture the national championship to go with the 2002 title? Only time will tell, but first thing is first, reclaim the MWCCC Championship. That will be determined Oct. 11-12 at Purdue (Ind.) University.