Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Inside Sports 7 December a tragic month for Javelina athletics

Philip Perez - sotexmedia@gmail.com

AMK family mourns loss of footballs Romig and baseballs Madden

Travis Madden was slated to begin pitching his freshman year before his tragic death last month.

Commentary
By Mark Molina

File photo

Defensive standout Matt Romig lost his battle with Luekemia this past Dec.

Free throws prove costly for Hogs as Cards surge late

First reported on www.southtexannews.com
By Mark Molina
When somethings free, take advantage. Thats something the Texas A&M-Kingsville mens basketball team will now remember when heading to the charity stripe and the game is on the line. The Javelinas (8-9,4-6) couldnt convert free throws, and could not finish after having their worst shooting night of the season in a 59-55 loss to the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals (10-7, 5-4), Saturday. With the win, UIW completed a two-games in three days season sweep of AMK. The Javelinas shot 33 percent from the field, going 21-of-63, and 44 percent from the charity stripe (8-of-18) on the night, including seven misses and no trips to the line for Ashton Brown, the nations top free-throw shooter. When you miss free-throws except for being up five now youre up seven, youre up nine. Its a difference maker, head basketball coach Pete Peterson said. Weve been a great free throw shooting team all year. I dont know whats going on there but the games where we havent sunk free throws like tonight, Midwestern, Cameron; all games we couldve won. The Cardinal size altered the Javelinas shots in the paint all game long with a big front court that had the size advantage in the deep post with UIWs 7-foot Ian Markolf holding nearly five inches on AMK post players. AMK led 47-42 with just over seven minutes to go, but was quickly answered by a 8-2 run that gave the Hogs a 50-49 lead with 4:09 remaining. From that point on, the Cardinals didnt allow a field goal for the next two minutes. UIW led by as many as eight in the final minute but AMK could not muster a comeback. We lost two in a row and we need to step it up, Peterson said. We played hard, we just had a terrible shooting night from the field. Junior guard Ryan Layssard finished the night with 12 points, five assists and three steals to lead the team, followed by Marcus Fords 12 points and Darryl Nashs 11 off the bench. The Cardinals shot 39.3 percent from the field, making 1-of-11 from three-point range and were 14-of-19 at the charity stripe. Dionelle Rucker led UIW with 18 points off the bench to go along with eight boards and two assists. Markolf had 10 points and eight rebounds while altering a number of shots on defense. Shaun Umeh and Chris Johnson each added nine points while the Cards pulled down three more rebounds than the Hogs giving them a 44-41 edge. The Javelinas played on the road last night against St. Marys Rattlers. For info on that game, visit www.southtexannews.com

s the spring semester gets under way, the memory of fallen Javelinas on the campus of Texas A&M Kingsville remains fresh in our minds. December became a month of mourning as AMK lost two student athletes in the span of just one week. Travis Madden, a freshman baseball player from Edna, was found dead at a Kingsville apartment complex, Dec. 12. Matt Romig, a standout football player, lost his year -and a half long battle with Leukemia Dec. 18. After special memorial services were held for both students, it became clear that the time finally came to move on and remember them not for the tragic way they were so abruptly taken, but for

the impression they made on AMK. I never personally met Madden or got the opportunity to cover any of his performances, but based on the turnout at his memorial service I quickly learned from the responses of people in attendance that he was a great talent with a big heart. Many will miss him and for those such as myself who did not meet him, it was apparentwe missed out. Unlike Madden, Romig had already settled in as a face in Hog Nation going into his sophomore season as a member of the Javelina football team in 2010. As much as a talent as Romig was on the field, interviewing him was such a treat simply for the fact that a talented, physical football player could be so humble in a cause that had a bigger picture aside from him. My longest trip out of state to cover a game became one of my greatest memories as a writer because of Romigs

performance. At Northwest Missouri State Romig was only 1.5 sacks away from tying former Javelina great and NFL Hall of Famer John Randles single game sack record. Romig had 4 1/2 sacks. Randle had six. Romig may have missed the mark, but the look in his eyes when he attacked NWMS quarterback Blake Bolles was second to none. He was outstanding on his best day. I knew he was destined for great things and it only makes you wonder with his caring, humbling attitude and a strong work ethic how much he could have accomplished accomplish. We now continue our lives on this campus, but the memory of Romig and Madden will live on, because like we say in Hog Nation. Once a Javelina always a Javelina. The entire spring sports season should be dedicated to these two young athletes.

Photo courtesy Javelina Athletics

At press time, Marcus Ford (above) and the Javelinas played last night versus St. Marys.

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2011 - 12 Mens Basketball LSC Standings

School Tarleton State Midwestern Cameron West TX A&M Incarnate Word Eastern NM A&M - Kingsville Abilene Christian Angelo State A&M - Commerce Conf. 9-0 8-1 7-3 6-4 6-4 4-6 3-6 2-8 2-8 1-8 Overall 17-1 15-1 10-5 12-5 10-7 11-8 8-9 8-10 8-11 6-11

School

2011 - 12 Womenss Basketball LSC Standings

Conf. 10-0 9-1 8-3 8-3 7-4 5-6 4-6 3-8 2-8 2-9 0-10 Overall 13-5 13-3 12-4 10-7 9-8 10-7 9-7 5-12 3-13 7-10 1-15

Tarleton State Midwestern Cameron Angelo State West TX A&M Incarnate Word Texas Womens Eastern NM A&M - Kingsville Abilene Christian A&M - Commerce

Intramurals 5 - 5 Basketball

Entries due by Jan. 31 at 5 PM. $25 per team. Preseason Feb. 1 & 2.

Play begins Feb. 6 - Mar. 8 in the Student Recreation Center. For more info. Call 361-593-3059

Is there no room for players with faith in the NFL?

ont blame Tim Tebow for the negative publicity he receives - blame mass media for creating the stir. Tebow is being the same Tebow he has always been, and why not? If he can portray a positive image for our nations youth, then more power to him. Sure, the Tebowing is annoying and possibly can be seen as a bit arrogant, but that opinion is suspect according to who you ask. Since when is it wrong to practice your faith in every aspect of your life? The world would be a better place if more people had that type of faith in theirfaith. Tebow is certainly not the first athlete who has been outspoken about his or her beliefs in a higher power or religious practice. There was Reggie White, the Minister

Observation

Philip J. Perez

Editor in Chief

(361) 668-4611 Robert Jenkins III Operations Manager

of Defense and Primetime Deion Sanders, both NFL superstars who were open about their faith. Sure, God probably doesnt condone the excess that is Primetime, but Sanders managed to keep himself grounded and avoided the off-field problems that the Cowboys of the 90s were famous for. Who remembers Kurt Warners interview with Mike Tirico from ABC after his Superbowl victory? It went like this, Tirico, Kurt, first things first tell me about the final touchdown pass to Isaac. Warner: Well, first things first, Ive got to thank my Lord and Savior up above thank you, Jesus! (random thought: does God get all the credit after a loss?) With all the critics of

players like Tebow, who are doing positive things in a world where we are so quick to forgive a forget those negative actions of players like Pac-Man Jones or Michael Vick, I have to ask, what damage can a little positive energy do in this world of constant negativity? Forget Tebows talent or lack thereof. This isnt about that. This is about the positive message, however loud and obnoxious it may be, that is reaching football fans, young and old and the impact it is making, positive or negative, regardless. Tebow is still making some sort of impact, we can all agree. That impact is the first step in changing the character of so many who are in desperate need of character adjustment. We can give Tebow credit for that.