That changed one Saturday in November. It appeared the Vols would sneak by hapless Vandy with a 24-16 win. Not only had the defense played poorly, the refs had called two huge penalties so blatantly not supported by video evidence even the commentators expressed puzzlement; Kiffin’s feelings regard poor officiating are all ready on record. The game would go down in the victory column, but no one in Neyland Stadium was feeling victorious, least of all dour Coach Kiffin.

In the final few moments of the game, the defense was holding its own and fans were preparing for a Vandy punt so the Vols could run out the clock.

Suddenly, Wes Brown intercepted the Commodore quarterback’s third down pass and ran it in 25 yards for a touchdown, ultimately vaulting Tennessee to a 31-16 victory.

Kiffin smiled. He also bounced down the sideline, pumping his fist in the air, knocking over his own quarterback, Johnathan Crompton, in the process. Blame it on his youth if you will, but the Tennessee sideline has never seen so jubilant a celebration from a coach.

It was over quickly, and by the time the extra point was declared good, his deadpan expression had snuck back on.

But Vol fans got an early Christmas present. Not only did this game clinch their bowl bid, they witnessed a rare glimpse of happiness from their young coach.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Austin Peay (22-9) sees its season end in the semifinals for the second consecutive season. Morehead State (22-9) advances to the championship game and will meet top-seed Jacksonville State.

The Lady Govs offense struggled from the opening serve and finished the night with just 52 kills in the five-set match. More telling was Austin Peay’s .113 attack percentage – its lowest since the regular-season’s opening weekend.

Austin Peay fell in the OVC semifinal round for the second consecutive season, falling to Morehead State in five sets, Friday night. (Austin Peay Sports Information)

Senior Stephanie Champine was the epitome of the offense’s trouble, recording a match-high 18 kills but also committing 11 errors to finish with a .101 attack percentage. Junior Taylor Skinner had the best offensive evening, finishing with eight kills, no errors and a .500 attack percentage. Junior Jessica Mollman had seven kills and seven blocks.

Freshman Amber Gruenschlaeger led Morehead State with 14 kills and nine blocks. She was one of five Eagles players to record more than 10 kills in the match.

Morehead State recorded 63 kills and a .150 attack percentage while also posting 102 digs and 14 blocks.

Morehead State took advantage of Austin Peay’s troubles, winning the first two sets. After committing  four errors and allowing Austin Peay to jump out to a 6-1 lead, Morehead State put together an 11-4 to take a 12-10 lead. Austin Peay briefly retook the lead at 13-12 but surrendered four straight points to give Morehead State a 16-13 lead which it would not relinquish on the way to a 25-21 win.

The second set saw the Eagles jump out to a 10-4 lead. However it was a messy offensive set in which both teams combined to record 18 attack errors. That allowed the Lady Govs to slowly climb back into the set and close within one point, 19-18. Morehead State would fend off the effort and hold on to win 25-22.

After the break, both teams combined to put together the match’s most competitive set with 11 ties and five lead changes. Austin Peay would lead by four points, 22-18, late in the set but Morehead State closed back within a point, 23-22, before the team’s traded service errors followed by a Mollman kill to end the set.

Morehead State put Austin Peay on the ropes in the fourth set, taking a 12-7 lead and forcing an APSU timeout. That timeout proved effective as the Lady Govs scored the next eight points – four courtesy service aces by sophomore Paige Economos – to take a 15-12 lead. That run provided enough impetus to push the Lady Govs to a 25-21 match-tying victory.

The Eagles put the Lady Govs on the ropes again in the fifth set, jumping out to a 6-1 lead, but made the lead stick. Austin Peay would close to within one point, 11-10, but could not tie the set as Morehead State advanced with the 15-12 victory.

- AP -

APSU Governor's Head Coach Dave Loos

Govs head coach Dave Loos fields a young team, led by preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference selection senior Wesley Channels, who had a game-high 17 points and six assists at Akron. The young Govs have featured a balanced scoring attack through their first two games. Sophomore Anthony Campbell leads the way averaging 15.5 ppg., followed by Channels at 15 ppg. and sophomore point guard Tyrone Caldwell at 12.5 ppg. Youth will be served for Austin Peay in a starting lineup that likely will feature Channels as the only upperclassmen.

Now the Govs turn their attention to a challenging three-game slate that begins with IUPUI, Friday, followed by ACC power North Carolina State, Saturday, before a Sunday game against Niagra.

IUPUI joins the Govs as being the other road team to win their first-round Glenn Wilkes Classic game on the road, picking up an 88-82 win at Drake. While the Jaguars have six newcomers on their roster, head coach Ron Hunter also returns four starters. That includes senior forward Robert Glenn, who was the Summit League Newcomer of the Year last season.

North Carolina State, meanwhile, lost its top-three scorers from last season which led to the Wolfpack being picked 10th in the 2009-10 ACC Preseason poll. They do, however, return two starters in Javier Gonzalez and Tracy Smith. The Pack opened its season with a 69-53 win against Georgia State in first-round GWC play, behind Smith’s 18-point, 11-rebound effort.

Niagra is coming off a 76-69 win against Drexel, 8 a.m., Tuesday, game as part of ESPN’s 24 Hours of College Basketball Tipoff Marathon. The Purple Eagles lost by four points, 69-65, at Auburn to open the GWC. Returning for Niagra are two first-team MAAC selections – senior guards Tyrone Lewis and Bilal Benn – and Lewis the league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year

Any fan who chose to sit this one out will surely regret it. They would have missed the season in which Alabama’s field goal kicker broke school records for all-time scoring. They would have missed some of the wackiest fumble recoveries in recent memory. And they would have missed the unimaginable decline of Florida’s super-quarterback Tim Tebow.

Todd Tebow (University of Florida Athletics)

However, one cannot dismiss the importance of the off field shenanigans. Though not every team is rebuilding, the league as a whole is. SEC performances on the national stage have gotten more press recently, even though this decade has seen the slip of the pageantry and spectacle that places this conference among the college football elite. With the loss of parity in conference play, the Iron Bowl, the World’s Largest Cocktail Party, and even the Third Saturday in October had begun to lose their importance.

In this season, the intensity of old rivalries has been revived, and the myriad young players and fresh coaching staffs are paving the way for the next few seasons to be some of the most exciting yet. Despite the lack of huge upsets and rearranging standings, almost every team has shown the potential to be a contender for the 2010 December championship. One predictable season is a small price to pay for what is to come.

The Clarksville Fox facing the Tennessee Valley Tigers

This is adult women’s full contact football, so all players must be 18 years or older by April 1st, 2010. You do not have to live in Clarksville to play for the Fox. They have players from as far away as Evansville Indiana, and many areas in between. So if you are a woman, and want to play, we want you on this team! The Fox is looking for women of all sizes and levels of athletic ability. If you are willing to learn to play football, and want to be a part of this team, we will work with you and mold you into a full contact football player!

For more information, you can visit to the team’s web site at www.TheClarksvilleFox.com. You may contact Owner and GM Rob Brown via email at or by phone at 931-320-2976.

Stephanie Champine

Champine becomes the third Lady Govs all-time to receive the league’s “Player of the Year,” joining Connie Caldwell (1987) and Isabel Canedo (1992). In addition, it is the first time in program history that three players received All-OVC (first or second team) honors in the same season.

“When I first met this team back in March, there was a prevailing sentiment the other coaches in the OVC didn’t respect the athletes of Austin Peay as much as they perhaps should have,” said Austin Peay head coach Mike Johnson. “My challenge to them was to simply worry about getting better each day and the fringe benefits such as All-Conference awards would come. Our team has taken that mindset to heart, and I’m proud of the gains we have made. I am so very happy for all of the Lady Govs. These are team honors, and Champ, Sarah and Jess would be the first to tell you that.”

Champine, of Lambertville, Mich., was named first-team All-OVC for the second consecutive year, becoming the third APSU player to receive back-to-back first-team honors, again joining Caldwell (1986-87) and Canedo (1991-92) among a select group.

Champine led all OVC players with 4.50 kills per set in league play this season. In fact, her 309 kills during the league’s 18-match slate were 106 more than the next closest hitter in league action. Champine also led the league in points, averaging 5.07 points per set.

Through the end of the OVC regular-season, Champine was ranked 21st nationally in kills, averaging 4.35 kills per set, and 28th in points, averaging 4.76 points per set. Her 470 kills this season are third-most in program history and her .258 attack percentage is 11th-best in a single-season. Her 875 career kills are the second-most by a junior college transfer, 40 behind the mark set by Canedo (915, 1991-92).

“The best words I can use to describe Stephanie’s season are she has been ‘consistently dominant,’” said Johnson. “I can count on two hands the number of times she was willing to put this team on her back and will us to victory. The most impressive part of what she has done is every team knew what she was capable of – she didn’t fly under the radar by any means. Instead, people would gear their entire defense towards stopping her, and she would still post kill after kill against them.

“While her statistics alone are mind boggling, they don’t tell the whole tale of what she has meant to this team. In addition to her offensive prowess, she is also one of our best defenders, stabilizes our serve receive, and is one of our captains. We talk to our team all the time about being a ‘complete player.’ Champ has been exactly that.”

Alisaleh, of San Antonio, Texas, joins Champine on the All-OVC first team squad, her first career honor. They become only the second pair of APSU teammates to receive first-team All-OVC honors in the same season, joining Canedo and Melissa Gailey who were both named to the 1992 All-OVC squad.

Under her guidance, Austin Peay ranked second in both team attack percentage (.250) and kills per set (13.03) in league play. Alisaleh statistically was ranked as the league’s best setter, averaging 11.15 assists per set in OVC play.

Sarah Alisaleh

Alisaleh currently is ranked 55th nationally in assists per set (10.63) overall this season. That average ranks seventh-best in a single-season, two years after she posted a school-record 11.89 assists per set.

“Much has been made of late of the faster offense we have been employing,” Johnson said. “The lynchpin towards pulling it off though has always been accurate serve receive passers and a setter that can locate very precisely. We feel very fortunate that Sarah has developed into the latter. With the bevy of talented hitters in our midst, it can be easy for some to overlook Sarah’s talents. I can say with complete confidence, though, that Sarah is an integral reason those hitters look as good as they do. Through tremendous poise, she has kept this offense in rhythm all year.”

Jessica Mollman

Mollman, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was selected second-team All-OVC, her first career honor. After getting off to a slow start in non-conference play, she picked up her performance in conference action finishing seventh in attack percentage (.312) among OVC hitters. She was third on the team in kills per set (2.36) during OVC play and posted a career-high 65 blocks through the regular season’s end.

“Jessica has made great strides over the course of the season,” said Johnson. “She has always had the ability to get kills, but after taking charge of the intellectual aspect of the game, she has really blossomed. Our offense flows when our middles get hot, and Jess has surely been making that a habit of late. Also, Jess has also been a powerful motivating force behind the scenes, and for that we have all better. It’s also important to note that great ball control is fundamental for being able to effectively run attacks out of the middle, and an honor for a middle hitter is as much an honor for our serve receive passers – Champine, Kirstin Distler, and Paige Economos.”

Austin Peay returns to action at the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference volleyball tournament at Jacksonville State. The tournament begins Thursday with first-round action. The Lady Govs, who receive a first-round bye, will face the winner of the Morehead State-Eastern Kentucky first-round pairing in a 7:30 p.m., Friday semifinal contest.

Lipscomb (1-2) got off to a fast start as Austin Peay had difficulty controlling the ball. The Lady Govs began the game making just 2-of-10 from the field and committed six of its 11 first-half turnovers in the opening seven minutes. The Lady Bisons took advantage and opened a nine-point, 13-4, lead with 13:33 remaining.

Junior Ashley Herring led the Lady Govs with 23 points in a victory at Lipscomb, Tuesday. (Keith Dorris/Dorris Photography)

But Austin Peay (1-1) did not allow the lead to reach double-digits as juniors Salem Richardson, Brooke Faulkner and Ashley Herring each hit a basket when the lead threatened to reach 10 points. The field goal by Herring sparked a 16-5 run over seven-plus minutes that ultimately gave Austin Peay its first lead, 25-23 with 2:10 remaining. Freshman Meghan Bussabarger’s field goal with 1:31 left gave APSU a 27-26 halftime advantage.

The Lady Bisons opened the second half again with a better start the Lady Govs. Lipscomb opened the frame with a 10-5 lead to take a four-point, 36-32, lead six minutes into the half. However, Austin Peay responded with the game’s next nine points to retake the lead, 41-36, just four minutes later. The Lady Bisons battled right back with a 8-3 run to tie the game, 44-44, with 8:04 remaining.

Austin Peay took over from there. Herring turned the tide with a three-point field goal to give Austin Peay the lead for good.The lead reached seven points, 55-41, after senior Nicole Jamen hit a pair of free throws. Herring closed the game by making seven of eight free throws in the final 48 seconds to secure the victory.

Herring led all scorers with 23 points, making 6-of-13 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. She added eight rebounds and three steals in 36 minutes of action. Jamen chipped in nine points and grabbed a game-best 14 rebounds.

Austin Peay dominated the boards, posting a 50-40 rebounding edge. The Lady Govs 18 offensive rebounds turned into 21 second-chance points.

Jenna Bartsokas led Lipscomb with 16 points, one of three players to reach double-digit scoring territory. The Lady Bisons were doomed by a 6-of-17 (35.3 percent) free-throw performance.

Austin Peay returns to action when it hosts nationally-ranked Middle Tennessee in a 7 p.m., Saturday contest at the Dunn Center.

The punt return was Holt’s second touchdown – the first coming on a 22-yard run earlier in the third quarter. Holt, the Football Championship Subdivision leader in all-purpose yards, finished with 222 all-purpose yards – 77 rushing, 37 receiving, 25 on kick returns and 83 on punt returns. It also was Holt’s seventh two-touchdown game this season.

Sophomore Ryan White led the Govs offense with 27 carries for 115 yards, becoming only the sixth player in APSU history to run for 1,000 yards–he now has 1,024 yards on the season.

APSU Running Back Ryan White

The Govs running back tandem was buoyed by a strong second-half Govs defense. APSU’s defense bounced back after allowing two first-quarter Tigers touchdowns.

Tennessee Tigers Wide Receiver Travis James scoring the first touchdown of the game

Tennessee State came out in a hurry, scoring its first touchdown on the initial drive. Quarterback Calvin McNairl opened the drive with a 29-yard pass to Travis James. The Tigers smartly worked their way down the field and McNairl hooked up with James again for a nine-yard touchdown pass only 3:01 into the game.

Austin Peay’s defense spent a lot of time on the field in the opening frame, working a nine-play, five-minute TSU drive into a punt. The Govs offense sputtered as well, going three and out on its first drive and picking up a first down on 14-yard White scamper before punting on its second possession.

Tennessee Tigers Wide Receiver Marquez Williams scoring the second touchdown of the game

McNairl completed a 22-yard pass to Marquez Williams for the Tigers second touchdown, to take a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. In all, the Govs defense spent more than 10 minutes on the field during the frame.

Holt and White shared the load in carrying the Govs down the field in the second quarter. The pair converted on a pair of third downs, leading to junior Jontamion Forrest’s three-yard TD plunge with 8:03 till the break.

APSU Running Back Jontamion Forrest scoring the third touchdown of the game

The Tigers led 14-7 going into halftime.

The second-half start resulted in trouble for the Govs when a muffed kick return and a fumble gave TSU the ball inside the Austin Peay 30-yard line. A long run by McNairl set up his third touchdown pass, a seven-yard strike to Ronald Bright, giving Tennessee State a 21-7 lead.

Austin Peay found its groove on the ensuing drive. Freshman quarterback Jake Ryan converted a second-and-long with junior tight end Chris Litteral to get things going. White and Holt took turns slicing up the middle before Holt broke free for a 22-yard touchdown run – capping a six-play, 52-yard drive – that left the Govs trailing 21-14.

Freshman Antwaun Majors recovered a TSU fumble on the subsequent kickoff, giving the Austin Peay offense a start at the TSU 25-yard line. Freshman kicker Stephen Stansell made a 43-yard field goal, narrowing the margin to 21-17 with 9:49 left in the third.

McNairl opened TSU’s next drive with a 10-yard completion, but the Govs held strong over the next set of downs. They stuffed TSU’s Donte Thomas and senior Chris Newell sacked McNairl on second down. The stonewall Govs defense set that stage for Holt’s game-winning punt return, which saw the junior go right and then cut back to his left, picking up a wall of blockers along the way.

The two teams combined for 54 yards of offense in the fourth quarter. Senior LaDarius Davis intercepted McNairl and the Govs withstood a TSU try on fourth-and-five with 2:04 to seal the win.

McNairl finished with 189 yards passing, completing 17 of 23, and also led the Tigers with 51 yards rushing. Joseph Hills was his favorite target, making six catches for 54 yards.

Govs’ sophomore safety Amius Smith had a game-high 12 tackles, including seven solo stops. Newell finished with seven tackles – 2.5 for loss and one sack. Senior Kit Hartsfield also had two tackles for loss.

Ryan completed 8 of 22 passes for 101 yards, connected with six different receivers along the way. The Govs outgained the Tigers 302-293 in total offense.

Austin Peay closes its season with 1 p.m., Saturday, contest at Tennessee Martin.

Photo Gallery

Photos from the first Half of the APSU vs TSU Game.

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On senior day, Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team sent its seniors out with a victory, posting a three-set victory (25-14, 27-25, 25-20) against Murray State, Saturday, in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Dunn Center. It was the regular-season finale for both teams.

Austin Peay (22-8, 15-3 OVC) opened the match with a wire-to-wire victory in the opening set. The Lady Govs jumped out to an 8-4 lead and did not look back, leading by as much as 11 points, 22-11, late. The Lady Govs posted 15 kills in the opening set while the Racers were limited to eight kills.

The APSU Lady Govs playing the Murray State Racers

Ilyanna Hernandez making a kill against Murray State

Murray State (12-17, 11-7) put up a battle in the second set and the two teams traded the lead four times. A Jade Guo kill pushed the Racers to set point, 24-23, but the Lady Govs fended it off with sophomore Ilyanna Hernandez’ kill. After trading points, junior Kayla Grantham gave Austin Peay its first set point, 26-25, which in capitalized on immediately with sophomore Paige Economos’ service ace.

The third set was close early with the two teams battling to four ties in the first 12 points, the last coming at 6-6. Back-to-back service aces by Grantham gave the Lady Govs a 13-9 lead which they would not relinquish. The lead was no larger than three until the set’s end.

Senior outside hitter Stephanie Champine led the Lady Govs with 17 kills and added four service aces. Junior middle blocker Kayla Grantham chipped in eight kills and team-best six services aces.

Austin Peay recorded 47 kills in the victory but found separation courtesy a 15-service ace performance as six different players recorded an ace.

Ashley Nenninger making one of her 10 kills

Logan Su led Murray State with 11 kills and Ashley Nenninger chipped in 10 kills. The Racers were held to 39 kills in the contest and did not record a service ace.

Austin Peay begins play in the upcoming Ohio Valley Conference volleyball tournament with a Friday semifinal contest against an opponent to be determined. The tournament begins with first-round action, Thursday, at Jacksonville State’s Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Lady Govs receive a bye into the semifinal round courtesy their second-place finish in the league standings.

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It was the season opener for both teams.

Austin Peay trailed by as much as 17 first-half points but used a 13-2 rally, sparked by a zone defense, near half’s end to cut the deficit to six, 31-25. Additionally, a pair of sophomores also charged the Govs offense—point guard Tyrone Caldwell scored six points, including a three pointer and a traditional three-point play, and forward Anthony Campbell added five, including a long three pointer.

APSU at UT (Courtesy: David Weinhold/UTSports.com)

But No. 10 Tennessee adjusted their offense to APSU’s zone early in the second half as senior forward Tyler Smith, an All-America candidate, scored eight of the first nine points to put the game at 40-25. It wasn’t until 15:40 mark of the second half that APSU scored its first points, a jumper from freshman Chris Reaves.

But the Volunteers’ Cameron Tatum then sandwiched a pair of three pointers around Campbell’s three pointer to Tennessee up by 17, 58-41. That deficit was too much for the young Govs to overcome battling a much taller and physical Volunteer team that wore down APSU in the final 10 minutes to build a more comfortable lead.

Campbell led all scorers with 17 points, going 7 of 12 from the floor, while senior guard Wes Channels added 13 and Caldwell 11. Channels also the led the Govs’ rebounding efforts with eight as APSU was dominated 46-33 on the glass.

The Governors shot just 34.5 percent (19 of 55) from the floor compared to Tennessee’s 49.3 percent (34 of 69).

Scott Hopson, who nailed four three pointers, led Tennessee’s efforts with 16 points while Tatum, who had a trio of three pointers, had 15. Smith finished with a double-double, scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds, as did Wayne Chism, who had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Governors will return to action, 1 p.m., Sunday when they travel to Akron to face the Zips, defending Mid-American tourney champions and the strong favorite to win the league in 2009-10.

Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team quickly dispatched visiting Tennessee Martin in three sets (25-10, 25-9, 25-10), in Ohio Valley Conference action, Friday night, at the Dunn Center.

Austin Peay (21-8, 14-3 OVC) led each of the three sets wire-to-wire and needed just 30 kills in the victory, recording a .324 attack percentage. They did not record more than two attack errors in any of the three sets. The Lady Govs recorded nine service aces in the contest and posted six blocks.

Kirstin Distler firing a setup shot towards UT Martin

Tennessee Martin (8-20, 2-15) played without its two regular setters who were suspended earlier in the week. The Skyhawks posted 19 kills but were charged with 25 attack errors, seven ball handling errors and four service errors in the contest.

Senior outside hitter Stephanie Champine had 10 kills in the contest, her 25th consecutive match of 10 or more kills. Sophomore outside hitter Ilyanna Hernandez chipped in six kills and two blocks.

Lauren Montague led Tennessee Martin with nine kills.

Austin Peay wraps up its regular-season slate with a 2 p.m., Saturday contest against Murray State.

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The Govs signed eight high school seniors and one junior college sophomore to letters of intent. The nine players hail from seven different states: Tennessee, Colorado, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey and New York. Four pitchers, including three left-handed hurlers, are included in the count along with two catchers and three fielders.

An APSU Baseball Game from 2008

“Each year’s recruiting class is extremely important if you are going to consistently compete for championships at any level,” said McClure. “To that point, we believe our 2010 class looms large in our program’s ability to be successful on the regional and national level. For Austin Peay to continue to compete for championships and have the kind of success we want in both the OVC and in the NCAA tournament over the next few years, this class needed to be full of talent and depth.”

Following the 2010 season the Govs will see 11 players depart due to graduation, including four pitchers. The Govs will lose pitchers Zach Gerler, Stephen Huff, Ricky Marshall and David Vicini. In addition, the team’s two most experienced catchers – Trey Lucas and Josh Purcell, who combined to catch 48 of the Govs 52 games last season –will depart the program.

“I am very excited about this group’s talent and believe it could be the strongest signing class in my twenty-plus years at Austin Peay,” McClure said. “With the loss of four of our most experienced and talented arms on the pitching staff, we had many needs, including attempting to replace 11 seniors overall. We set a goal to sign ten to twelve players with the desire for this class of incoming freshman to be a top 25-rated recruiting class. Our staff has worked extremely hard to prepare for this event. Under the direction of Joel Mangrum, our new recruiting coordinator/pitching coach, and assistant coach Jake Peterson, I believe we are very close to doing that.”

2011 Austin Peay Baseball Incoming Class

• Mason Caldwell, 6-0, 190-pound, left-handed pitcher, Bartlett, Tenn. (Bartlett HS)
• Rolando Gautier, 6-2, 185-pound, left-handed pitcher/outfielder, Pennsauken, N.J. (Pennsauken HS)
• Chris Gili, 6-0, 160-pound, infielder, Manorville, N.Y. (Eastport-South Manor HS)
• Jordan Hankins, 6-0, 185-pound, infielder/outfielder, O’Fallon, Mo. (Fort Zumwalt North HS)
• Hunter Smith, 6-1, 180-pound, outfielder, Humboldt, Tenn. (University School of Jackson)
• Zach Toney, 6-3, 220-pound, left-handed pitcher, D’Iberville, Miss. (Jones County JC)
• Peter Torres, 5-11, 185-pound, catcher, Miami, Fla. (Coral Park Senior HS)
• A.J. Walkenhorst, 6-1, 165-pound, right-handed pitcher, St. Peters, Mo. (Fort Zumwalt South HS)
• Matt Wollenzin, 6-1, 195-pound, catcher, Lakewood, Colo. (Green Mountain HS)

Individual Biographical Sketches and head coach Gary McClure’s comments

PITCHERS

Mason Caldwell

6-0, 190, LHP, Bartlett, Tenn. (Bartlett HS)

Career Notes: Under head coach Phil Clark, compiled a 4-2 record and 2.76 ERA as a junior… recorded 44 strikeouts in 43 innings… led the Panthers to a third-place state finish and was ranked ninth in final Tennessee Baseball Report Top 10 (all classifications)… made two relief appearances in 2009 Class AAA state tournament, finishing 1-1 with nine strikeouts in eight innings, surrendering just three hits… at the plate finished junior season batting .307 with 27 RBI and 10 doubles… selected to Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association’s Region 7/8 Team… selected to District 14-AAA all-district squad as a junior.

McClure Comments: “We believe Mason will come in and compete for an important role on our pitching staff and team as freshman. He has a bright future at Austin Peay and we look forward to his development and progression as a pitcher. Next year will be Mason’s first year not playing a position and pitching and we know that he is going to be able to contribute right away.”

Rolando Gautier

6-2, 185, LHP/OF, Pennsauken, N.J. (Pennsauken HS)

Career Notes: Under head coach Pete Nardello, was a left-handed pitcher and played outfield… at the plate, batted .500 with 11 doubles and three home runs… on the mound was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA… second team All-South Jersey selection… first-team all-conference… selected to play on 2009 East Coast Professional Showcase… was one of three incoming APSU players (Chris Gili and P.J. Torres the others) who played with the South Florida Bandits.

McClure Comments: “Rolando has very good control and great mound presence, things we look for in high school pitchers. He also has a great upside because of the looseness of his arm and his body type. I believe he has the chance to play a major role on both our pitching staff and as a position player as a true freshman. He is a very mature young man who I believe can handle both the physical and mental adjustments necessary to be successful immediately at the Division I level, and I have no doubt that the tools are in place to do so.”

Zach Toney

6-3, 220, LHP, D’Iberville, Miss. (Jones County JC)

Career Notes: Under head coach Christian Ostrander, led the Bobcats with a 10-1 record and 2.67 ERA… made 19 appearances, including 13 starts, throwing 77.2 innings… threw four complete games and also recorded a save… allowed just 72 hits, struck out a team-best 85 batters… was a first-team All- Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges selection and led team to school-best 33-16 mark… prepped at D’Iberville High School

McClure Comments: “Zach is a gamer. He wants the ball when the game is on the line. We feel Zach is going to play a big part in the future success of this program. He’s a blue-collar kid that has worked for everything he has achieved. Toney will command a fastball that will sit in the upper 80’s and will touch a lot of low 90s, a sharp two-plane slider that has gotten better every time out this fall, and a change-up that he can throw in any count.”

A.J. Walkenhorst

6-1, 195, RHP, St. Peters, Mo. (Fort Zumwalt South HS)

Career Notes: Under head coach Keith DeShurley, compiled an 8-2 record and 1.41 ERA as a junior… in 69.2 innings pitched, struck out 68 batters and walked just 19… tossed shutout in district championship game… threw complete game, allowed one unearned run and struck out seven in state semifinal contest as team won Class 4 MSHSAA Championship… was a second-team All St. Louis Metro selection and a third-team all-state selection… was a one of two incoming players (Jordan Hankins the other) to play on St. Louis Pirates summer travel team run by former Govs standout Rick Strickland.

McClure Comments: “I have seen A.J. pitch a lot and he has the ability to make a major difference in our starting rotation right away as a freshman. He is a competitor who comes right at you with everything he has and refuses to lose any battle. A.J. already understands what it takes to be successful on the mound.”

CATCHERS

P.J. Torres

5-11, 185, C, Miami, Fla. (Miami Coral Park Senior HS)

Career Notes: Under head coach Tony Casa, batted .363 with five home runs and 17 RBI as a junior… caught every game as a sophomore and junior… was an honorable mention All- Dade selection by the Miami Herald as a junior… was one of three incoming APSU players (Chris Gili and P.J. Torres the others) who played with the South Florida Bandits.

McClure Comments: “P.J. has a chance to be as good as any catcher we have had in our program since I have been here, and we have had some great ones including A.J. Ellis, who is currently in the big leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers. I like P.J.’s toughness and feel for the game. He has grown up in an area where the competitive level of baseball is greater than almost anywhere in the country. P.J. – like Wollenzin, our other catching signee – can really swing the bat and also hits for power from the right side. I couldn’t feel any better about the situation we will have with these two young men behind the plate for the next few years.”

Matt Wollenzin

6-1, 195, C, Lakewood, Colo. (Green Mountain HS)

Career Notes: Under head coach Brad Madden, hit .559 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in 20 games as a junior… was Jefferson County League “Most Valuable Player” and all-conference selection… selected to All-Colorado Class 5A honorable mention squad… hit walk-off grand slam in 14th inning of district championship game to advance Green Mountain to state tournament, also had a two-run home run in seventh inning of same game… was selected and played in 2009 Area Code Games.

McClure Comments: “After seeing Matt play and having followed the progress of his junior season we feel Matt has the opportunity to come in and hit in the middle of the lineup and contribute heavily as a freshman. Matt – like P.J, our other catching signee – can really swing the bat and also hits for power. I feel confident about the situation we will have behind the plate with these two young men the next few years.”

FIELDERS

Chris Gili

6-0, 160, IF, Manorville, N.Y. (Eastport-South Manor HS)

Career Notes: Under head coach Tom Digennaro, batted .425 with five home runs and 30 RBI as a junior… was selected All-County as a junior and All-League as a sophomore and junior.

McClure Comments: “Chris is a very fundamentally sound infielder with good feet and hands who possesses the arm strength to play either position in the middle infield. He also is a solid hitter who makes good, consistent contact and does all the little things correct on offense. As a player overall, Chris loves the game and knows how it is played, I believe he understands the kind of player he has to be. He is not going to beat himself and therefore we believe he will develop into very nice player as he matures and gains strength.”

Jordan Hankins

6-0, 185, IF/OF, O’Fallon, Mo. (Fort Zumwalt North HS)

Career Notes: Played under head coach Dan Springman… Honorable mention St. Louis Post All-Metro Utility as a junior… first-team ESPN RISE Magazine All-St. Louis Area as a pitcher… hit .473 with two home runs, nine doubles and 27 RBI… on the mound, went 6-1 with a 2.02 ERA in 45 innings-pitched, striking out 60 and allowing only 13 earned runs… named a Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association (MHSBCA) All-State Honorable mention as a utility player… was the Panther’s Most Valuable Player in 2009… has a career 17-3 record on the mound… was a one of two incoming players (A.J. Walkenhorst the other) to play on St. Louis Pirates summer travel team run by former Govs standout Rick Strickland.

McClure Comments: “Jordan is very valuable defensive player, because he has the ability to play a number of positions well. He plays third base, second base and can play either corner outfield spot. During this last year he also started catching, where he has improved tremendously. His versatility and understanding of how the game is played along with his strong bat will go a long way toward getting him in the lineup early in his career.”

Hunter Smith

6-1, 180, OF, Humboldt, Tenn. (University School of Jackson)

Career Notes: Played under head coach Brad Dyer… Bruins were TSSAA Class AA runners-up in his freshman season… as a sophomore, hit .484 with six home runs and 17 doubles… was a Tennessee Sportswriters Association All-State selection…. named to the 2008 Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Region Six team… named to All-District 14 team as well as earning District 14 Most Valuable Player honors in leading the Bruins to a District 14, Region 8 and Sectional titles before falling in the second round of the state tournament… as a junior, led the Bruins to a third consecutive district championship and was named all-tournament… batted .390 with 20 doubles and 32 RBI.

McClure Comments: “I have seen Hunter play quite a bit and he seems to find a way to get the big hit or make the big play each time. He is a pretty strong kid coming out of high school who has the tools and the knowledge to be a very good college baseball player. He runs a 60-yard dash in 6.7 to 6.8 seconds, has a very strong throwing arm, and swings the bat well. Hunter loves to play and knows how to play the game.”

This weekend also will bring to a close the careers of three Lady Govs players – Stephanie Champine, Kirstin Distler and Marisa Jordan. That trio will be recognized before the start of Saturday’s contest against Murray State.

Austin Peay wraps up the 2009 regular-season with a pair of Ohio Valley Conference matches this weekend. (Courtesy: Lois Jones/Austin Peay)

Austin Peay (20-8, 13-3 OVC) is assured of a second-place finish in this season’s OVC race after winning at Tennessee Tech, last Saturday. It is the program’s best league finish since winning the regular-season crown in 1992 with a 15-1 OVC record. The Lady Govs also secured their second consecutive 20-win season – its ninth 20-win campaign all-time.

The Lady Govs return to the Dunn Center after concluding a five-match road trip with a 3-2 record – the lone losses coming to Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season champion Lipscomb and OVC regular-season champion Jacksonville State. Champine led the Lady Govs with 83 kills during the road trip, averaging 4.15 kills per set. She enters the weekend ranked 22nd nationally in kills per set (4.34).

Tennessee Martin (8-19, 2-14) recently ended a nine-match losing streak with a five-set victory against future OVC opponent SIU Edwardsville, last Friday. Junior Lauren Montague leads the Skyhawks offense with a 3.03 kill per set average, recording 282 kills this season.

Murray State (9-16, 9-6) enters the final regular-season weekend with a five-match win streak after posting a four-set victory against Southeast Missouri, Tuesday. The Racers are one of two teams (Jacksonville State the other) to defeat the Lady Govs during the OVC slate, winning a four-set contest, Oct. 16, in Murray. Sophomore Logan Su received the league’s “Offensive Player of the Week” award, Monday, after recording 22 kills and a .488 attack percentage in two matches.

“I look at this weekend as our last opportunity to improve prior to the OVC Tournament,” said Lady Govs head coach Mike Johnson. “Equally as important, we are celebrating the athletic careers of three exceptional people prior to the Murray State match. We’re hoping all the football fans show up just a few hours early to see how special these athletes are.”

APSU signed 6-9, 225-pound center Matt Hasse (pronounced Hass-ee), of Napierville (Ill.) High School; 6-7, 215-pound forward/center Joe Harms, of Belleville (lll.) Althoff; 6-6, 230-pound forward Will Triggs, of Edwardsville (Ill.) High School, and 6-5, 180-pound guard Thomas Greer, of West Carroll (Atwood) High School. All four prep players will be a part of the 2010-11 recruiting class.

Hasse and Harms immediately will offer APSU something it has been somewhat lacking in recent times, legitimate low-post play.

“I think that is something that really stands out, we have signed some kids that have some size,” APSU coach Dave Loos said. “We have been undersized for so long that this is probably big news.  Joe Harms is 6-7 and Matt Hasse is 6-10 on a good day. Matt also has some size to him as far as his body build. Joe is a left hander who is really aggressive and has a good stroke. They give us something (size) we haven’t had in awhile.

“Both of them, in addition to being good prospects from a basketball standpoint, are certainly not guys you are going to have to worry about in the classroom. They are both top-notch student—I think Matt is going to be a physics major and Joe is just a terrific student. It makes a little easier on the old coach.”

Their respective styles and background remind Loos of another former Govs post player, 6-8 Zac Schlader, who played from 2002-05.

“They are reminiscent of Zac in a lot of ways,” Loos said. “They are great guys with a lot of character about them and terrific in the classroom. If they turn out to be the kind of player that Zac Schlader was I will just absolutely tickled to death because he was a pretty good basketball player for us.“

Hasse averaged 10 points and eight rebounds per game as a junior and was named a Top 50 recruit in Illinois. Harms, meanwhile, averaged only 5.5 points per game a year ago but shot 85.5 percent (59 of 69) from the floor for 22-8 Althoff, which lost to Champaign Centennial 65-60 in the Class 3A Springfield Super-Sectional—Centennial went on to win the state title. His strong offseason during AAU play saw his stock rise dramatically.

Triggs, meanwhile, averaged 15.9 points, shooting 64 percent (159 of 263) and 10.7 rebounds a game last season. He scored in double figures 26 times, including 15 double-doubles in 28 games as Edwardsville finished 22-6.

“Will Triggs is a big-bodied guy who is competitive, who is tough and is pretty athletic,” Loos said. “That gives us a guy who I think is going to be a good OVC-type player. He is that mid-sized guy who is really strong. We are really excited about him. Of course, he is a former teammate of Anthony (Campbell). We found out in a hurry that kids coming out of that program are pretty well coached. Triggs will be like that too. Mike Waldo just does a terrific job at that school.”

Greer, meanwhile, is the only guard the Govs signed early. And he is a big guard, someone who is reminiscent to a pair of former Govs, Todd Babington with his offensive skills and Rhet Wierzba with his basketball acumen.

Greer averaged 24 points and 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for West Carroll High School, where he is coached by his father, Mike. He helped lead West Carroll to a 16-8 record a year ago and the District 13-A championship.  He was first-team Class A All-State and was the 2008-09 District 13-A Most Valuable Player.

Greer already has scored 1880 career points entering his senior season. He is a 20-10 McDonalds All-America nominee and Class A Mr. Basketball candidate.

“Thomas is 6-4, 6-5 kid who can shoot it, can pass it, can handle it…just really knows how to play,” Loos said. “He is a coach’s son and spent his whole life in the gym.  He just has a real feel and knack for the game—he has just been around it his entire life.  We are really excited about what he can bring to the floor.

“We are getting some guys from different programs that have some outstanding coaches. I don’t Matt’s coach that well because he is new, but certainly the other three guys are very accomplished and that gives them a leg up when they arrive. They know what this game is about and how to go about playing it.

The first coach forced out was Tennessee’s Phillip Fulmer. Despite a ranking among the most winningest active coaches, numerous SEC titles, and a national championship on his resume, in an early November press conference, he announced he would not be returning for the 2009 season. Though the rest of the nation questioned the ousting of a veritable institution such as Fulmer, Vol Nation was irate over the increasing number of losses against ranked opponents, disappointing play in the post-season, and the possibility of a second losing season in just three years. Not all fans agreed removing the head coach was the answer, but everyone met the announcement of his replacement with a raised eyebrow.

Lane Kiffin had no college head coach experience and his most recent job was as head coach of the dismal Oakland Raiders. Though he had impressive results as offensive coordinator at Southern Cal, his instant stirring of the hornet’s nest eliminated any goodwill that could be gleaned from his past. However, he has been able to back up his talk with victories and close losses against the nation’s top teams. More importantly, he has brought the swagger back to Rocky Top and energized the fan base. The Vols agree athletic director Mike Hamilton brought an upgrade to the program.

Tommy Tuberville’s resignation was announced immediately after the 2008 season. He had led the Tigers to an SEC championship, a perfect season in which the Tigers should have competed for the national championship, and numerous bowl victories. However, he tried to fix what wasn’t broken by installing a new offensive scheme. The failure of players and staff to adjust quickly enough led Auburn to its first losing season since 1992. Not even his winning record against arch-rival Bama could save him.

His replacement raised as many questions as his firing. Few had heard of Gene Chizik, a former Auburn defensive coordinator who was currently on the hot seat at Iowa State. Tiger fans were outraged the administration would hire a coach who had just gone 2-10 at a minor Big 12 school. Chizik quickly silenced his critics with a 5-0 start and gave them room to talk with a three game losing streak. In his latest conference game, his team decisively beat Ole Miss, but the season ending Iron Bowl will reveal his ability to hold his own in the SEC. The jury will remain out until all the evidence is in.

Sylvester Croom voluntarily resigned from Mississippi State after the most lopsided against Ole Miss in history. Though everyone was sad to see him go, no one could say it wouldn’t be better to give someone else a chance. Croom had coached in some huge upsets, including two against the Florida Gators, and done well considering the difficult of recruiting in Starkville, but he still had a lone winning season. The Bulldogs hired Florida’s offensive coordinator, Dan Mullen. His style has given the team a spark, but they’re still sitting at 4-5 and in imminent danger of yet another losing season. This appears to be a lateral move.

It has been posited the shelf life of a college football coach is ten years; the statistics give credence to this theory. If this is indeed Mark Richt’s final season at Georgia, as many believe it is, Damon Evans will have to weigh the advantages and risks of a non-traditional hire.