Off and Running Game On!
NEWS Volume 1 • Issue 9
•March 2, 2012 •
Game On!
Off and Running Through the first three weeks of the season, the Texas A&M International University baseball team has proved just how talented they really are. The Dustdevils started the season winning five of their first six and recently knocked off the Angelo State Rams, the No. 18 team in the country. “Coming into the season we didn’t really focus on expectations,” said Head Coach Chad Porter. “Our focus from the beginning has been to stay in the moment and master the process… the results will come if you can do that. We knew that we were a capable group coming in, but I think it’s obvious that we are a long way from reaching our full potential.” One aspect that the Dustdevils have been able to hang their hat on so far is their pitching staff. The TAMIU rotation ranks third in the conference in team pitching with an ERA of 2.83. “We’re really proud of the way our pitchers have handled themselves in pressure situations this year,” said Porter. “We have been in some tight ball games and if those guys don’t keep their composure, then we might be telling a different story right now. The Dustdevils (8-5, 7-5 HC) are currently tied with Newman University for third in the conference Standings. The Dustdevils will be home on February 2-3 hosting a three-game series versus Incarnate Word.
Repeat Champs For the second consecutive year, the Texas A&M International University men’s soccer team was honored as the Heartland Conference Champions. In front of 475 fans, the Dustdevils recieved their conference championship rings and posed for pictures in front of their new championship banner. The Dustdevils finished the 2011 season with an overall record of 12-3-2 and a perfect 8-0 record in conference play. Don’t expect the men’s soccer team to slow down any time soon - the Dustdevils will return the majority of their starters for their 2012 season, as well as several skilled additions to their roster.
For the first time in the history of Texas A&M International University Athletics, the Heartland Conference Tournament is headed to Laredo. After clinching their second consecutive conference title, the Dustdevils men’s basketball team will have home court advantage in the Heartland Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, as they look for their second consecutive berth into the NCAA DivisionII South-Central Regional Tournament. Men’s Basketball Head Coach Shane Rinner and Associate Head Coach Bryan Weakley weighed in on what it means to be the first team in TAMIU history to have earned the right to host the conference tournament. “I think it’s a great accomplishment for these players,” said Coach Rinner. “I think it’s a tribute to their hard work, their willingness to sacrifice and their commitment to our program and doing things the right way. We’re really happy to host the tournament, we’re excited about the opportunity and it’s going to feel great to play in front of our fans. It’s a tremendous thing for this city and this university to be able to host.” “It’s a great opportunity for us to host because it brings some recognition to an institution and an athletic department that has made huge gains in the last few years.” said Coach Weakley. “Our hope is that it creates excitement around the community and allows fans to come and see what our program is all about.” The South-Central Region is made up of teams from the Lone Star Conference, MidAmerica Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Heartland Conference and Great American Conference. The top eight teams from the region will play in the NCAA SouthCentral Region Tournament March 10-13, hosted by the top seed. Winners of the Lone Star Conference, MIAA, GAC and Heartland Conference tournaments receive automatic bids into the regional tournament.
www.godustdevils.com
Athletic Director’s Corner Really Important People
I once knew a man who had everything – fame, fortune and prestige. He was a person who everyone admired in the world of sports because he had it all. Unfortunately, he also knew that and acted out his importance. Then one day, as he tells the story, he was in a remote location in West Africa giving a clinic when he decided to take a walk to a nearby village. Seeing some unique items for sale he decided to purchase a few things. When he reached for his wallet, he realized that he left it in his room. So he proceeded to tell the merchant who he was, why he was there, and that he would return later with the money. The merchant replied, “Who are you and what do you do again?” He repeated to the merchant who he was and that he was a famous basketball coach from the United States. To that the merchant replied, “What’s basketball?” Coach Al McGuire, then the head coach at Marquette University, said he never felt so insignificant. From that time on, no matter what he did or how many more accomplishments he achieved in life, he said he will always remember that the really important people are those that can keep their lives in perspective. Coach McGuire was one of those special people who was passionate about teaching young people successful life skill, as are all of the coaches at
In Motion Evan Matteson explodes to the rim versus St. Mary’s
Will Wurth makes a diving throw to first versus Newman University
Home Event Schedule •3/2 Men’s Basketball vs. UAFS/UTPB, 5:30 p.m. •3/3 Heartland Conference Basketball Championship 4 pm •3/2 Baseball vs. Incarnate Word (DH), 12 & 3 p.m. •3/3 Baseball vs. Incarnate Word, 12 p.m. •3/12-13 Men’s Golf, TLU Bulldog Invitational •3/12-13 Women’s Golf, Lion Invitational •3/16 Baseball vs. St. Edward’s (DH), 12 & 3 p.m. •3/16 Baseball vs. St. Edward’s, 12 p.m. •3/19-20 Women’s Golf, Midwestern State Invitational •3/23 Softball vs. Newman (DH), 1& 3:30 p.m. •3/24 Softball vs. Newman, 12 p.m. •3/27 Softball vs. Incarnate Word (DH), 2 & 4:30 p.m. •3/27 Baseball vs. UT Brownsville, 2 p.m. •4/6 Baseball vs. Arkansas Fort-Smith (DH), 12 & 3 p.m. •4/7 Baseball vs. Arkansas Fort-Smith, 12 p.m.
Meet The Coach Name: Chad Porter Head Coach Baseball Chad Porter is entering his fourth season as Head Coach of TAMIU baseball. In his three seasons in Laredo, Porter has compiled a 56-104 overall record for the Dustdevils, with a 47-81 mark in Heartland Conference play. Before arriving in Laredo Porter spent five years as head coach at Ohio Valley University, a NCAA Division II member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Dustdevil Platinum Club Sponsors
Thank You
On behalf of the student-athletes, coaching staff, athletic administration and the University, we wish to sincerely thank all of the members of the Dustdevil Club. Your continued support is what keeps our student-athletes successful, both academically and athletically.
Be part of the team... Join the Dustdevil Club at GoDustdevils.com
•March 2, 2012 •
Game On!
Off and Running Through the first three weeks of the season, the Texas A&M International University baseball team has proved just how talented they really are. The Dustdevils started the season winning five of their first six and recently knocked off the Angelo State Rams, the No. 18 team in the country. “Coming into the season we didn’t really focus on expectations,” said Head Coach Chad Porter. “Our focus from the beginning has been to stay in the moment and master the process… the results will come if you can do that. We knew that we were a capable group coming in, but I think it’s obvious that we are a long way from reaching our full potential.” One aspect that the Dustdevils have been able to hang their hat on so far is their pitching staff. The TAMIU rotation ranks third in the conference in team pitching with an ERA of 2.83. “We’re really proud of the way our pitchers have handled themselves in pressure situations this year,” said Porter. “We have been in some tight ball games and if those guys don’t keep their composure, then we might be telling a different story right now. The Dustdevils (8-5, 7-5 HC) are currently tied with Newman University for third in the conference Standings. The Dustdevils will be home on February 2-3 hosting a three-game series versus Incarnate Word.
Repeat Champs For the second consecutive year, the Texas A&M International University men’s soccer team was honored as the Heartland Conference Champions. In front of 475 fans, the Dustdevils recieved their conference championship rings and posed for pictures in front of their new championship banner. The Dustdevils finished the 2011 season with an overall record of 12-3-2 and a perfect 8-0 record in conference play. Don’t expect the men’s soccer team to slow down any time soon - the Dustdevils will return the majority of their starters for their 2012 season, as well as several skilled additions to their roster.
For the first time in the history of Texas A&M International University Athletics, the Heartland Conference Tournament is headed to Laredo. After clinching their second consecutive conference title, the Dustdevils men’s basketball team will have home court advantage in the Heartland Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, as they look for their second consecutive berth into the NCAA DivisionII South-Central Regional Tournament. Men’s Basketball Head Coach Shane Rinner and Associate Head Coach Bryan Weakley weighed in on what it means to be the first team in TAMIU history to have earned the right to host the conference tournament. “I think it’s a great accomplishment for these players,” said Coach Rinner. “I think it’s a tribute to their hard work, their willingness to sacrifice and their commitment to our program and doing things the right way. We’re really happy to host the tournament, we’re excited about the opportunity and it’s going to feel great to play in front of our fans. It’s a tremendous thing for this city and this university to be able to host.” “It’s a great opportunity for us to host because it brings some recognition to an institution and an athletic department that has made huge gains in the last few years.” said Coach Weakley. “Our hope is that it creates excitement around the community and allows fans to come and see what our program is all about.” The South-Central Region is made up of teams from the Lone Star Conference, MidAmerica Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Heartland Conference and Great American Conference. The top eight teams from the region will play in the NCAA SouthCentral Region Tournament March 10-13, hosted by the top seed. Winners of the Lone Star Conference, MIAA, GAC and Heartland Conference tournaments receive automatic bids into the regional tournament.
www.godustdevils.com
Athletic Director’s Corner Really Important People
I once knew a man who had everything – fame, fortune and prestige. He was a person who everyone admired in the world of sports because he had it all. Unfortunately, he also knew that and acted out his importance. Then one day, as he tells the story, he was in a remote location in West Africa giving a clinic when he decided to take a walk to a nearby village. Seeing some unique items for sale he decided to purchase a few things. When he reached for his wallet, he realized that he left it in his room. So he proceeded to tell the merchant who he was, why he was there, and that he would return later with the money. The merchant replied, “Who are you and what do you do again?” He repeated to the merchant who he was and that he was a famous basketball coach from the United States. To that the merchant replied, “What’s basketball?” Coach Al McGuire, then the head coach at Marquette University, said he never felt so insignificant. From that time on, no matter what he did or how many more accomplishments he achieved in life, he said he will always remember that the really important people are those that can keep their lives in perspective. Coach McGuire was one of those special people who was passionate about teaching young people successful life skill, as are all of the coaches at
In Motion Evan Matteson explodes to the rim versus St. Mary’s
Will Wurth makes a diving throw to first versus Newman University
Home Event Schedule •3/2 Men’s Basketball vs. UAFS/UTPB, 5:30 p.m. •3/3 Heartland Conference Basketball Championship 4 pm •3/2 Baseball vs. Incarnate Word (DH), 12 & 3 p.m. •3/3 Baseball vs. Incarnate Word, 12 p.m. •3/12-13 Men’s Golf, TLU Bulldog Invitational •3/12-13 Women’s Golf, Lion Invitational •3/16 Baseball vs. St. Edward’s (DH), 12 & 3 p.m. •3/16 Baseball vs. St. Edward’s, 12 p.m. •3/19-20 Women’s Golf, Midwestern State Invitational •3/23 Softball vs. Newman (DH), 1& 3:30 p.m. •3/24 Softball vs. Newman, 12 p.m. •3/27 Softball vs. Incarnate Word (DH), 2 & 4:30 p.m. •3/27 Baseball vs. UT Brownsville, 2 p.m. •4/6 Baseball vs. Arkansas Fort-Smith (DH), 12 & 3 p.m. •4/7 Baseball vs. Arkansas Fort-Smith, 12 p.m.
Meet The Coach Name: Chad Porter Head Coach Baseball Chad Porter is entering his fourth season as Head Coach of TAMIU baseball. In his three seasons in Laredo, Porter has compiled a 56-104 overall record for the Dustdevils, with a 47-81 mark in Heartland Conference play. Before arriving in Laredo Porter spent five years as head coach at Ohio Valley University, a NCAA Division II member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Dustdevil Platinum Club Sponsors
Thank You
On behalf of the student-athletes, coaching staff, athletic administration and the University, we wish to sincerely thank all of the members of the Dustdevil Club. Your continued support is what keeps our student-athletes successful, both academically and athletically.
Be part of the team... Join the Dustdevil Club at GoDustdevils.com
