Singer Richard Marx and high school football players have virtually nothing in common, except for a line from his song "Don't Mean Nothing."In it, he says "it don't mean nothing . . . until you sign it on the dotted line."Well, today is national signing day, the first day recruits can make their verbal commitments mean something by signing on that dotted line.So far, 23 area players have committed to play at various schools across the nation. Temple and Belton each have one commitment, with both players pledging to Division I-AA schools.Wildcats linebacker Ty Neatherlin will sign with Southwest Texas State today and Tigers receiver Nathan Warrick is slated to ink with SWT's Southland Conference rival, Sam Houston State. Neatherlin's teammate, defensive end Daniel Morrison, may also sign with a college today.Copperas Cove, which has had 10 players sign with I-A schools the past two years, once again has a strong presence this year.The Bulldogs will have two players sign with I-A programs. All-state linebacker John McKinney has committed to Arizona and running back Josh Harrison to Louisiana-Lafayette."We're real pleased and excited for the kids," Cove head coach Jack Welch said. "That's what it's all about. I think if you ask the players to work for you, you need to work for the kids." by Greg Rajan
Everything about Temple's 58-37 girls basketball victory over Waco seemed fitting on Tuesday.Playing before the home crowd on Parents' Night at Wildcat Gym, the Tem-Cats seized District 13-5A's third and final playoff spot. And, in a fashion typical of their 2001-02 season, they had to overcome adversity to do it.Junior post Jamela Phillips went down with an ankle injury early in the second quarter, forcing the Tem-Cats to band-aid their attack against the lady Lions.With Temple holding a 30-21 halftime lead, Phillips returned to key a third quarter run that put the Lions away Persistent rain Monday and Tuesday has wreaked havoc on the area's outdoor sports schedule.The Temple College baseball team's season-opening doubleheader against Galveston College on Tuesday afternoon at the Danny Scott Athletic Complex was washed out.TC coach Craig McMurtry said the Leopards and the Whitecaps, who traveled to Temple on Monday, might try to reschedule the twin bill for later this season.McMurtry said TC is still slated to play a doubleheader against Wharton County Junior College at 1 p.m. today in Wharton. Sophomore left-handers Scott Tower and Sam Hall will still be the Leopards' starting pitchers.The TC softball team's home doubleheader against Blinn College at 4 p.m. today was postponed Tuesday afternoon. Leopards coach Larry Hennig said the teams likely will play each other next week. By Greg Wille
TC teams to play at Hill tonight: When Temple College's basketball teams play Hill College tonight in Hillsboro, the men will be trying to expand their conference lead and the women will be attempting to get back into the race for a playoff spot.The women's game between fifth-place TC (11-12, 4-5 Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference) and third-place Hill (16-7, 6-3) will begin at 6 p.m., to be followed by the men's game between TC (19-3, 8-1) and fifth-place Hill (10-13, 4-5) at 8.Although a victory by the Leopards would give them another 20-win season and a 1 | |
