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'Bring the juice': Tigers remain focused
8/28/2007
By NICK McQUEEN
Hays Daily News
"Bring the juice" is more than just a saying for the 2007 Fort Hays State University football season.
It's a team philosophy inspiring the Tigers to bring maximum energy each and every time they take the field.
In Saturday's 55-3 rout of Western State (Colo.) College to open the season at Lewis Field Stadium, the Tigers brought the juice, and an extra large bottle opener. Now that the first "W" for the season is out of the way, Fort Hays focuses on its bye week, and an extra few days of prep for Colorado School of Mines on Sept. 8.
"You normally give yourself one day to enjoy it and move on to the next one,"¬Fort Hays coach Kevin Verdugo said in his weekly news conference Monday. "We started prepping for Mines, and trying to make sure and keep the edge that we gained in the offseason "
Demonstrated by senior tailback Jordan Hickel's 128-yards, four touchdown performance in the blowout, the Tigers looked fresh and explosive in the opener, a payoff for many weeks of summer conditioning and a low impact camp and practice heading into the season.
"It's easy to run through a lot of big holes. Not taking anything away from Jordan, but up front, especially early, we played pretty well," Verdugo said. "Those defenses were not very common things."
"We tried to make sure in training camp we took care of him physically, because it's going to be a grinding season," the third-year coach added.
The excitement level was also felt by the fans in the student section at Lewis Field Stadium following the rout as the Tiger team gathered on the track while the Tiger band played the fight song. It left the Tigers with a sample taste in their mouths.
"We're all really excited to come back and get on it again," said Hickel, a fifth-year senior from Claflin.
That level of excitement, and that freshness was also shown in the Tiger defense, which held Western State to just 14 yards rushing, and forced four fumbles to go along with five sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
"They've been chomping at the bit to play against someone else. They were every bit as fresh as Jordan,"¬Verdugo said. "They brought a lot of energy. That's something we talk to with our little say, 'bring the juice' and I think we're starting to learn that you can't play without it."
Tiger junior linebacker Joey Cotton had one of those sacks and 2Ôªø1Ñ2 tackles for loss.
"We got in the weight room (this summer) and it paid off," Cotton said.
Fort Hays starts preparation for Mines at today's practice. Mines is another member from its former conference, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, a team that is always a difficult read.
"We played well, but I don't think we played as well as some might think," Verdugo said of the opener. "We need to make sure we hammer those details in. All next week is hammer home those details. We have to make sure and stay on them, and keep focused and keep that sense of urgency."
The point total was the highest output since the Tigers put up 58 points against Fort Lewis (Colo.) College in 2002, and it was the first season-opening win since a 16-10 win over Emporia State University in 2000.
Tiger junior kick returner Bryan Haynes was honored when the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association handed out honors Monday. Haynes was awarded the Special Teams Player of the Week. The 5-foot-10 transfer from the University of Massachusetts had a 66-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter, setting up a Tiger score and a 32-yard return in his only other opportunity in the fourth quarter.
"We've got to try and make use of his special skills and talents, and hopefully we can get him involved more in the passing game," Verdugo said. "We didn't throw the ball all that much the other night, but hopefully, we're able to put it up in the air a little more, and he can make a difference there also."
Senior transfer Ryne Salyer came in at quarterback when a hit on starting senior Shane Jackson struck a nerve. Both will see the field all season, Verdugo said. It's a combination the Tigers expect will work well all year.
"Everyone enjoyed (winning) all the way around. That's something we'll be able to continue to do this year. Winning is a habit, losing is a habit,"¬Verdugo said. "We have to continue to stay away from that losing habit, and expect to win, and expect good things to happen."
Sports reporter Nick McQueen can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 128 or by e-mail at nmcqueen@dailynews.net.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/11 | Central Missouri | L 4-2 |
| BB | 5/10 | Missouri Western | W 4-3 |
| BB | 5/09 | Emporia State | L 6-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
