McCollum's Column: From buses to ads — a range of citations
From the Cotton Bowl to basketball, here’s a new assortment of “David’s Citations” for the interesting, commendable, weird and just plain zany in sports:
TWINKIE BREAKDOWNS: On the way to Thibodaux, La., for last week’s basketball game against Nicholls State, the bus carrying the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears broke down. On the way from Thibodaux to Conway, the bus carrying the Nicholls State men also broke down.
NICE JOB OF LAYING OFF THE WHISTLES: During the first half of the recent men’s basketball game between Hendrix and Sewanee, there were a total of five fouls. Smoothest half seen in awhile. Until ... During the first half of Saturday’s game between the UCA Sugar Bears and the Lamar Lady Cardinals, there were four fouls called, two in the final three minutes.
BUT THEY FOUND THE WHISTLES: There were 20 fouls called in the second half, five times more than the first half, in the Sugar Bear-Lamar game.
ARE RECRUITING TRIPS LIKE ‘THE AMAZING RACE?’: The Lamar University Lady Cardinals have players from Australia, Sweden, Greece, Peru and Ukraine. They do have eight players from Texas.
FITTING FORMATION: During the Cotton Bowl game against Arkansas, Kansas State went into a wildcat formation with a running back taking the snap. It was pure, Wildcats in a wildcat.
TOUGH BROTHERS FROM COAST TO COAST: Two of the four teams in the NFL semifinals are coach by brothers Harbaugh, John for the Ravens and Jim for the 49ers.
MORE DRAMATIC SIGNAL: Kansas State fans often raise their hands in a wildcat claw, like Texas fans do the double-fingers for longhorn. As a Kansas State player, who sustained a head injury was being wheeled off the field taped to a stretcher, he slowly raised one arm and slowly worked his hand into a claw to signal fans he was OK. The maneuver was met with a thunderous ovation.
BEST COMPLIMENT: Stephen F. Austin coach Danny Kaspar about Conway freshman Micah Delph, “That young man is the epitome of what we are looking for as far as character, work ethic and coachability.”
BEST ‘IN YOUR FACE’ TO A REALLY BIG FORMER RAZORBACK: As Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones was welcoming Razorback fans to his football palace at a pep rally, he talked about being a dream of his to bring the Hogs to the Cotton Bowl as well as the Cowboys being in the Super Bowl at the Stadium. As he mentioned the Cowboys being in the Super Bow, one fan shouted loudly at the pep rally, “Not ganna happen!”
SIGN THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED AT BUD WALTON ARENA: During the Arkansas-Michigan game, a digital sign at the scorers table advertising a casino.
(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)
