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Footage of loss serves no purpose for Tigers
10/13/2009
By RANDY GONZALES
rgonzales@dailynews.net
Tiger coach Kevin Verdugo didn't bother looking at game film from Saturday's lopsided loss.
The Fort Hays State University football team suffered its worst defeat of the season, 48-3 at No. 16 University of Central Missouri.
"I didn't watch it," Verdugo said at Monday's weekly news conference. "Nobody watched it."
Verdugo said only once before in his career as a head coach has he not watched film from the previous game.
"It just didn't serve any purpose," Verdugo said. "Kids are already down.
"Not pointing out anything positive on the tape, just re-living the negative," he added.
With so much time Sunday, Verdugo was able to watch more game film on the Tigers' next opponent. University of Nebraska-Omaha comes to town Saturday for the Hall of Fame Game. Kickoff for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup is 2 p.m. at Lewis Field Stadium.
While Fort Hays (4-3 overall, 2-3 MIAA) has dropped two straight and out of the region rankings, UNO (6-2, 4-1) is coming off a 31-21 win over Washburn University, moving 10th in the region.
"They're still doing the same thing offensively, just emphasizing things differently," Verdugo said.
Verdugo hopes the Tigers are closer to 100 percent this week. Five starters didn't practice last week due to illness, while senior offensive tackle Wesley Yarbough missed his second straight game.
Verdugo hopes to have Yarbough back this week, but the team could be without senior defensive end Charlie Carr, who suffered a leg injury against Central Missouri.
Verdugo said it won't be hard to prepare the team for Saturday's game. The players want to redeem themselves after last week's performance.
"As a coach, it's one of your easier weeks" of practice, Verdugo said. "They know they didn't play well."
After this week's game, the Tigers finish the regular season with games against Pittsburg State University, Northwest Missouri State University and Missouri Southern State University. After a promising 4-1 start, the Tigers' season could go in either direction.
Verdugo doesn't want his players to look ahead.
"I just want the kids focused on Omaha," he said.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |