Community/Team Events

I can agree with stlscooter that the crowd was large, enthusiastic, and loud. Looking at the 2 photos, if you sat further back than the fans pictured, which was maybe 75% of the people there, most speakers were very hard to hear. Unfortunately I was not able hear any of the interview with Antonio Thomas and Chuck Bailey. I could hear Josh Hughes and Tanner Cuff who both spoke about their prior playing experience. Hughes has enjoyed the friendly Evansville fans and being invited to their homes this summer for dinners. Tanner said his CC team went undefeated his first season until losing in the championship game. Last season they lost only five games. Ten players from those teams got D1 scholarships.

The coaching staff for both the men's and women's teams were there enmasse. Six women players and 11 or 12 men players were also there. The players and coaches spent 30 minutes prior to the formal interviews chatting with fans. I got to talk with both Chuck Bailey and Tyler Myers. Both are very well spoken and enthusiastic about the season starting.

Here is what I was able to glean from Rags speaking. He introduced DJ to a rousing applause and also Peter Funk. Rags said he has known Funk since his Valpo assistant coaching days. He said Funk knows the Valpo offense very well and UE's offense will be employing very many elements of that offense. The OOC schedule was set up for more home games. The extra weeks of summer practice were invaluable. All players competed hard and willingly over the summer which he said was not necessarily the case last season.

Fall Festival I presume: