November 20, 2009
Scott Pummell - Sports Editor
Consistency key to Griffon men
Friday, Nov. 20, 2009
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009
Monday, Nov. 9, 2009
Bearcats decimate Mules
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
Monday, Nov. 2, 2009
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009
Heritage Park helps bring all of Missouri to St. Joseph
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Spratt to host NFL scrimmage
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009
Lessons in logistics set in
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009
Monday, Aug. 17, 2009
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009
Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009
Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Obama seeks common cause with Muslim world
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Allen shows his stuff for NFL scouts during Pro Day
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
‘No shortcuts’ in football, life
Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009
Monday, Jan. 19, 2009
Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009
Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008
Western looks forward to benefits from hosting Chiefs camp
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008
Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008
Friday, Nov. 20, 2009
Missouri Western coach Tom Smith knew the challenge for his men’s basketball team this season before practice even started: offensive consistency.
It was the struggle in 2008-09, and it’s an issue early this season.
But the latest on-the-court lesson arrives tonight at the Griffons’ annual early season showcase, the Hillyard Classic.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009
In 2008, Northwest Missouri State running back LaRon Council faced the unenviable task of replacing Xavier Omon, one of the more dominant running backs in Division II over his four-year Bearcat career.
“The one thing about him,” Northwest coach Mel Tjeerdsma said, “is that I don’t think anybody thought he could come close to doing what Xavier did.”
Monday, Nov. 9, 2009
Northwest Missouri State’s only loss of the season came in the opener at Abilene Christian.
The Bearcats, a young team that appears to be peaking just as the playoffs get underway, might get a chance to make amends for that single stumble.
Bearcats decimate Mules
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Central Missouri scored first Saturday, but Northwest Missouri State answered with a pace the Mules never matched.
The Bearcats’ offense scored on five of their first six possessions — four of the drives took less than 2 minutes — and overwhelmed the Mules 56-14 in front of 6,600 people at Bearcat Stadium.
“We want to push the tempo — roll, roll, roll,” said Northwest left tackle Dane Wardenburg. “That’s our big thing. And it worked.
“They were getting tired. You saw it happen.”
Monday, Nov. 2, 2009
After scoring his first touchdown, Benton’s Matt Ziesel ignited a Youtube sensation, found his way onto newspapers across the country and starred on television news broadcasts throughout the region. Today, the media attention hits a new level.
Matt will be featured on ESPN’s “E:60” at 6 tonight.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
The Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State women’s teams both struggled last season.
And the MIAA coaches’ poll reflected that. The coaches picked the Bearcats at ninth out of 11 teams. The Griffons stood at 10th.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri’s recent dominance takes the debate out of the MIAA preseason expectations. The drama comes down to who will emerge from the middle of the pack, Missouri Western men’s coach Tom Smith said.
Baptist and Central — who were picked No. 1 and No. 2 in the coaches preseason poll released Tuesday — both earned Division II postseason berths last year, but the rest of the conference got shut out.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
The length of four football fields. That’s about all that stands between Jesse Thrasher, his driver and $150,000 at the World Long Drive Championship.
Western offense struggles with 3rd-down conversionsSunday, Oct. 25, 2009
Missouri Western quarterback Drew Newhart threw for 383 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Michael Hill ate up 143 yards and scored a touchdown. Receiver Ferrell McGhee stabbed six catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Griffons’ offense made enough little mistakes to allow Missouri Southern to charge back for a 35-34 upset of No. 12 Western on Saturday at Spratt Stadium.
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009
Before Saturday, Missouri Western perched itself near the top of the MIAA. Missouri Southern flailed around at the bottom.
The Griffons proceeded to heap up more than 500 yards and collected four turnovers against the Lions. But Western also amassed enough mistakes — missed tackles, dropped passes, errant field goal attempts, a blocked punt, fumbled snap, game-deciding sack and turnover, and more — to reward a persistent Southern team with a 35-34 triumph, marking the Lions’ first road victory in more than a year.
Heritage Park helps bring all of Missouri to St. Joseph
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
When the 16 high school softball teams converge on St. Joseph tonight and Friday, they’ll find an operation that’s getting practiced at hosting championships. The Missouri State High School Activities Association’s State Softball Championships, which start with a social tonight and semifinals on Friday, are part of a string of events the city has recruited since opening Heritage Park Softball Complex.
Northwest, Western women's programs seek to restore self-confidenceWednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Basketball comes down to a confidence game this season for the Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball teams.
Both teams collapsed last season, and now the two coaches trying to restore the programs — Lynn Plett at Western and Gene Steinmeyer at Northwest — say this season comes down to the players’ faith in themselves.
“We’ve got to restore confidence in our program,” said Steinmeyer, whose Bearcats went just 9-18 overall and 5-15 in the MIAA. “Two years ago, we won the conference tournament. Then when we stepped on the court last year, that was the most talented team I ever coached at Northwest, and we won nine games.”
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
It’s easy for a team to be enthusiastic and hopeful before playing a single game or even starting practice. But the Missouri Western men claim plenty of substance behind their energy.
The Griffons finished below .500 last season — 14-16 — but surged to a late-season climax, including a run to the MIAA postseason tournament championship game. In the title game, they forced prohibitive favorite Central Missouri to overtime before falling 86-84.
Spratt to host NFL scrimmage
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
Chiefs fans can expect another big highlight during the Kansas City franchise’s summer training camp in St. Joseph next year: a scrimmage at Spratt Stadium with another NFL team.
“For the first year, we’ve been told we are definitely going to have a scrimmage,” said Dave Williams, Missouri Western State University’s athletic director. “We’d love to get a team like the Cowboys or Rams. You know, someone that’s going to be a real hit with the fans.”
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009
In 1981, before Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State ever played each other, the Griffons already despised the Bearcats.
When they met for the first time — Sept. 19, 1981, at Spratt Stadium — the late Western coach Rob Hicklin made T-shirts for his entire team. The shirts read simply “Beat Maryville.”
“‘Gotta beat Maryville this week,’ coach Hicklin kept saying,” said Robert Newhart, a middle linebacker on the team. “It was always Maryville, never Northwest. I don’t know why he refused to call them Northwest. Either he had some deep animosity or disrespect ...”
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
The St. Joseph Country Club and its longtime PGA professional will part ways by the end of the year.
The Country Club has opted not to renew the contract of 17-year pro John Leimbach, who will serve out the remainder of his contract that ends Dec. 31. General manager Ken Leland said the Country Club’s governing board based the decision on finances.
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009
It’s hard to imagine Benedictine College football without Larry Wilcox, its coach for more than three decades and the man in whose honor the Ravens’ football stadium is named.
But the Ravens today start their season without Mr. Wilcox, who underwent open-heart surgery on Thursday and is recovering at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.
Lessons in logistics set in
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
Some simple details blur the line between dreams and nightmares. For Missouri Western State University athletic department leaders, the dream of hosting the Kansas City Chiefs’ summer training camp shifts to the cold-sweat variety when it comes to accounting for 15,000 Chiefs’ fans.
That’s the number of people who show up for weekend practices at the Chicago Bears’ training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., a suburb about 45 minutes from downtown Chicago.
“Crowd size: That’s the big unknown,” said Dave Williams, Western athletic director. “And it’s our biggest concern.”
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009
The only things more useless than preseason sports polls are ticket scalpers at Kauffman Stadium.
That’s especially true at the smaller-college level. So let’s ignore the MIAA polls from earlier this month when Northwest Missouri State got a No. 1 ranking and Missouri Western sat at No. 5.
Instead, we quizzed the coaches about a few players — and how prepared they showed up for practice — who will have roles in determining where the Griffons and Bearcats sit in the only poll that matters: the final conference standings.
Monday, Aug. 17, 2009
Andrew Gilmore, one of Missouri Western’s top recruits two years ago, badly wanted to play offensive line for the Griffons. The Griffons, on the other hand, badly needed him to play defensive line.
So Gilmore, a standout in football and wrestling at Benton, stepped in where the Griffons needed him: at defensive tackle.
But now, in Gilmore’s junior year, Western needs offensive linemen. And it’s finally a chance for both parties to get their wishes.
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009
Forget tourism dollars and marketing profiles and general public goodwill. The Kansas City Chiefs’ plan to relocate their summer training camp to Missouri Western brings benefits in those areas — and more — but that’s all been discussed, understood and accepted.
The Griffons open the football season in 11 days, and that makes it the perfect time to finally talk about what the Chiefs’ annual St. Joseph visit means for Western’s ability to burst through to the MIAA’s top echelon.
Coach Jerry Partridge says, simply, “it’s so huge.”
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009
Last year, local sports fans couldn’t even listen to the University of Missouri football games on the radio.
This year, they’re going to get a wealth of local sports on the radio, thanks to a decision by Eagle Communications, which plans to merge ESPN and St. Joseph sports.
The broadcasting company is shifting the format of KSFT 1550 AM from 1960s and 70s “gold” music to all-sports. The change is planned for Aug. 25.
Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009
Unseasonably low temperatures, a brisk breeze and cool play all marked the quarterfinals of St. Joseph Country Club’s Club Championship.
Mustangs make believers of skepticsSaturday, Aug. 1, 2009
Ryan Hook looked with dubiousness on the St. Joseph Mustangs’ invitation to join their inaugural club this year. He watched the St. Joseph Blacksnakes’ debacle — the embarrassing meltdown that left Phil Welch Stadium vacant during summer 2008.
“I was pretty iffy when they first approached me,” said Hook, a South Side native who plays for Western Kentucky. “I was around the Blacksnakes, and I saw what happened. I didn’t want to be a part of an organization like that.”
Friday, July 31, 2009
Royce Gracie remains one of the most prominent figures in the mixed-martial arts craze, and his early dominance of the Ultimate Fighting Championship still speaks to his legend.
Mustangs start thinking about 2010Friday, July 31, 2009
By nearly every measure, the St. Joseph Mustangs exceeded expectations in their inaugural season. Crowds surged all the way until a record 4,000-plus cheered on the Phil Welch Stadium finale. The team started 12-0 at home, then nearly battled to a MINK League North division title before succumbing during the last regular-season series.
And it all started with two simple philosophies. First, compile a roster built with speed and defense as the top priority. Next? Just have fun.
“At the first meeting, I think the first thing I said was, ‘Hey, you guys got to be able to laugh at yourself. If you can’t, you’re on the wrong ball club,’” said Matt Johnson, the team’s first-year manager. “Because we’re going to poke fun at each other and just enjoy ourselves. That’s our approach.”
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Rob Calloway peers at retirement the way a myopic man reads the fine print in a contract. He keeps pulling it closer and closer to himself.
The St. Joseph boxer plans to box one last time in St. Joseph this fall, and while getting ready for that, he and his fans are taking the chance to reflect on his personal success and the achievement of reestablishing boxing locally.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
As a 12-year-old, Cheri Kempf and her softball team claimed the 15-and-under national ASA championship during a trip to Texas. That experience ignited something in the St. Joseph native.
“That was my first taste of really dreaming about something,” Kempf said, “and then actually accomplishing it.”
She earned the Most Valuable Player Award for the tournament. More importantly, she went on to star at Mid-Buchanan and Missouri Western, where her Griffons team won the NAIA national championship. She played for the U.S. national team, winning the World Cup in 1992, coached at the Division I level, authored books on teaching the sport and opened her own private teaching facility in Nashville, Tenn.
And now her career includes work as a commentator and analyst on ESPN and other national networks as well as the leadership position of commissioner and president of the National pro Fastpitch Softball League.
That resume should dazzle a group of about 500 girls gathered in St. Joseph today to kick off the ASA Girls 14-and-under Class A Northern National tournament, which will be held at Heritage Park Softball Complex this week. The opening ceremonies, which begin at 6 p.m. at Civic Arena, feature Kempf and her story.
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Mustangs established their power in St. Joseph this summer, drawing thousands of people a night to Phil Welch Stadium.
Today, the organization hopes to earn itself status as a regional powerhouse.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Saturday night’s home finale stood as a microcosm of the Mustangs’ 2009 summer: A record-breaking crowd, efficient baseball, perfect weather.
St. Joseph made the most of every opportunity, blistering the Chillicothe Mudcats 5-1 in front of 4,077 fans — a record for the team at Phil Welch Stadium.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
University of Missouri fans around the state enjoyed the Tigers’ nearly unprecedented football and basketball success the last couple of years.
Next year, St. Joseph-area residents get to share a little more in that success.
The Tigers haven’t had a local radio carrier for years, including two years ago when Missouri’s football team spent part of the season ranked No. 1 and last season’s basketball run to the Elite Eight. But KSFT 1550 AM announced Monday that it will pick up the full Missouri football and men’s basketball schedules in 2009 and 2010.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
It’s been more than five decades since a St. Joseph man won the Missouri Amateur golf championship. And it’s been 21 years since St. Joseph has hosted it.
A few local golfers hope that St. Joseph Country Club — this year’s host site — provides the opportunity to change those streaks.
“You know a few things here and there (about your home course) that maybe help out a little. And you get to stay at home and sleep in your own bed,” said Brad Nurski, one of the contenders in the six-day tournament that begins this morning. “You’d like to think that you have a good chance. Hopefully, maybe one of us come out on top. Even better, maybe make it all the way to the final.”
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Taylor Crouse takes his passion for the St. Louis Cardinals on the road at least once every year.
This year, the St. Joseph man’s annual road trip reaped a reward to bring back home: a home run ball hit by Cardinals star Albert Pujols.
“I’ve never been a big foul ball person,” the 31-year-old South Side resident said. “But I always thought that if I could get a home run ball, that would be great. That it was Pujols makes it even sweeter.”
Obama seeks common cause with Muslim world
Friday, June 5, 2009
Invoking the Quran and his rarely used middle name, Barack Hussein Obama declared Thursday that America has a common cause with Islam and never will be at war with the faith — an overture intently watched by the Muslim world and welcomed in unlikely quarters. An Iranian cleric called the president’s speech “an initial step for removing misconceptions.”
Obama spoke at a seat of Islamic learning, his 55-minute address suffused with respect for touchstones of the religion. He said the time had come to “speak the truth” and “seek a new beginning.”
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Pony Express lasted barely a year. That’s what St. Joseph considers a business success — so much so that the community continues to hang its cowboy hat on its lightning-brief Old West adventure 140-plus years later.
Calloway sets two summer boutsFriday, May 8, 2009
Local boxer Rob Calloway still plans to retire with a November bout at Civic Arena. But he’s hanging onto hope that one last chance will extend his world championship ambition.
Griffon softball ready for second chanceTuesday, May 5, 2009
Allison Jones and the Missouri Western softball team spent Sunday night at the Olive Garden, enjoying a little family-style dining and bonding. The pasta provided nourishment and the camaraderie a distraction, but the Griffons’ escape attempt failed to pacify their postseason worries.
“We got our bellies full and tried to pass the time,” Jones said. “That was a long 36 hours.”
After back-to-back losses on Saturday in the double-elimination MIAA tournament, the Griffons’ bid for a national tournament berth stood on shaky ground. It didn’t help that the NCAA selection committee didn’t announce the berths and pairings until well after midnight on Monday.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Missouri Western might have dropped two straight on Saturday to bow out of the MIAA tournament ahead of its hopes, but the team remains upbeat and confident. Their national tournament berth — up in the air after the early MIAA exit — is literally a second lease on life.
“I don’t really feel like we lost our swagger at all,” said pitcher Allison Jones, who is 25-4 with a 1.38 ERA. “We just had a couple of bad games.”
And now the Griffons know exactly who they’ll have to get through in order to advance.
Monday, April 20, 2009
KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City Chiefs for the last decade drafted the way Donald Rumsfeld ran the Defense Department: with a swagger backed up by astounding failure.
Think about it.
Junior Siavii, defensive lineman, second round in 2004. Ryan Sims and Eddie Freeman, defensive linemen, first and second round, respectively in 2002. Sylvester Morris, wide receiver, first round in 2000.
The Chiefs drafted just two Pro Bowlers in the first and second rounds in the last decade: offensive lineman John Tait and running back Larry Johnson. A 2-for-18 record won’t lift a team to the Super Bowl. Or the playoffs. Or anywhere other than a franchise-worst 2-14 season, which is where the organization bottomed out at after the last year.
And that’s why Scott Pioli gets to hand over the Chiefs’ selections to the commissioner at next weekend’s NFL draft. Pioli built a reputation as a top draft and personnel man while helping Bill Belichick build the New England Patriots into, well, the New England Patriots.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley, like many NFL fans, grew up with John Madden. “I hated John Madden,” the 41-year-old rookie Chiefs head coach. “I hated the Raiders, and I hated John Madden.”
That’s because as a child Haley followed his father, a scout, around the Pittsburgh Steelers sidelines. Madden, in turn, coached the Oakland Raiders into a huge Steelers’ nemesis in the 1970s.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Politics is more like professional golf than football. Football’s a team sport. Golf’s all about the individuals.
And that’s why jeopardy hangs around St. Joseph’s latest — and, until recently, best — chance at landing the Kansas City Chiefs’ annual summer training camp.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Unaccustomed to losing, Tom Smith did something at the end of the 2008 season that he’d never before done: He told most of the team that he didn’t want them back. He pulled their scholarships.
Allen shows his stuff for NFL scouts during Pro Day
Friday, April 3, 2009
An ill-timed sports hernia surgery prevented Missouri Western offensive lineman Roger Allen from working out at the NFL Scouting Combine — despite an invitation. Now recovered, an unexpected April snowstorm crimped his make-up date with pro scouts on Thursday.
Scott Pummell Column: Ponson poor pick to usher in new eraFriday, April 3, 2009
It’s been a hard 15 years for Kansas City Royals fans. During that stretch, the Royals bred low moments the way puppy mills work their industry: with abandon, abuse and unrivaled penny-pinching.
‘No shortcuts’ in football, life
Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009
Like many Northwest Missouri farms, a 200-acre homestead just outside Burlington Junction, Mo., sustained one family for generations. But this farm harvested more than agricultural fare.
It also yielded a couple of brothers — Bill and Vince Tobin — who repeatedly touched NFL and college football history.
“When you grow up on a farm, you learn hard work from the first day you can get out, haul hay, shuck corn, feed cows,” said Vince Tobin. “There are no shortcuts.
Monday, Jan. 19, 2009
When it comes to picking up the tab to move the Kansas City Chiefs summer training camp from Wisconsin to St. Joseph, just about every local public entity plans to contribute: the city, the state, Buchanan County, Missouri Western State University and even Western students themselves.
But even as the new price tag grew by $2 million last week — to accommodate a financing fee for the $25 million in tax credits headed to the Chiefs — the only partner not shelling out for the project is the Chiefs themselves.
Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009
The last 20 years offered this community a series of brutal beatings. Historically devastating floods. A mass economic exodus, from the community’s foundation of meatpacking (Seitz and Armour’s, among them) and manufacturing (Mead’s and Quaker Oats) to iconic institutions such as Lee’s Apparel and Stetson Hats and too many more to name.
It’s in this light that state Sen. Charlie Shields calls it a “transformational moment” as the Kansas City Chiefs move their summer training camp to Missouri Western State University. For about a month each year starting in 2010, the city expects at least 5,000 people a day to visit, watch the NFL team work out on the Griffons’ campus and interact with the community. They will spend money, learn more about St. Joseph and hopefully find reasons to come back.
Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008
As a tie-down calf roper, Tyson Durfey competes in 8- or 9-second increments. But he’s grown his career from year to year with longer-term thinking and in steady increments.
And the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association star kicks off the newest season — with the Denver showcase in two weeks — in the best shape of his career.
“Every year, it’s just been kind of a gradual process of getting a little bit better for me,” the 25-year-old Savannah, Mo., native said.
Western looks forward to benefits from hosting Chiefs camp
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008
Drew Newhart grew up a Chiefs fan.
The Missouri Western quarterback, who is from Cameron, Mo., now looks forward to the opportunity to practice on the same field as the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It’ll be interesting to see how they run things compared to us,” Newhart said. “Just having them on the same fields and in the same facilities, it’ll be a great time.”
Western and the Chiefs appear near completion of a deal that will bring the NFL team’s summer training camp to St. Joseph — a deal clinched with the state sending $25 million in tax credits to the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, which oversees the Chiefs’ home, Arrowhead Stadium.
Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008
FLORENCE, Ala. — Providence offers a salve to Northwest Missouri State fans disappointed by the Bearcats fourth straight loss in the NCAA Division II national football championship: hope for a fifth straight trip.
JOB SEARCH
RECENTLY DISCUSSED
Coleman, Intel join forces
(50 comments)
It's your call, Nov. 19, 2009
(46 comments)
City wants grant to battle smoking
(61 comments)
Award offered on weapons theft
(19 comments)
More Popular Discussions
(50 comments)
It's your call, Nov. 19, 2009
(46 comments)
City wants grant to battle smoking
(61 comments)
Award offered on weapons theft
(19 comments)
