Quote of the Day - 4/30/09

FAITH

“Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods."

-- C.S. Lewis

End of the Semester Reminders

1) Take care of your academics as the semester winds down. In a few short years your academic efforts will be far more important than you probably realize.

2) Make sure you meet with your position coach sometime this week.

3) Coach Huck is hosting a dinner at 6:00 PM Thursday night. We will eat, and get summer workout manuals.

4) Get your pics made for the Media Guide tomorrow (Thursday) at 3:30 PM at the GAC.

5) Honor God.

Quote of the Day - 4/28/09

SUCCESS

"I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen."

-- Frank Lloyd Wright

Quote of the Day - 4/27/09

"The distinctive character of a child is to always live in the tangible present."

-- John Ruskin, British social critic (1819-1900)

The Week

Events for the week:

Thursday @ 3:30 - Media Guide pics at the GAC

Thursday @ 6:00 - dinner @ Coach Huck's

Make sure you meet with your position coach sometime this week.

Quote of the Day - 4/24/09

VALUES

"It is not who is right, but what is right, that is of importance."

-- Thomas Huxley

Quote of the Day - 4/23/09

PURPOSE

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

-- George Bernard Shaw

Float Trip 2009

From Coach Simmons:

• We will meet in the Ganus parking lot at 6 a.m. - please be on time and ready to go. Have someone check and make sure you wake up. If you have a car or truck, please be willing to drive. We are floating the Spring River near Hardy, Ar. The drive is about 2 1/2 hours. Everyone plan on pitching in a little bit of gas money for the guys that use their vehicles. The cost to Float in a canoe or raft is the same, $18 each. It would be great if as many of you as possible paid Coach Simmons ahead of time, like today or tomorrow.

• If you have plans for the evening and need to get back, I believe you could easily be back by 4:00. If you are like me and you would rather go slow and enjoy the day, you will probably get back closer to 7:30.

• Make sure you wear something solid on your feet. Sandals would be a terrible decision. Old tennis shoes are perfect.

• Bring lots of sunscreen, it is supposed to be a hot day. Perfect!!!

• Feel free to bring small coolers, with drinks and sandwiches. It is a lot of fun to eat on the river bank and watch the scenery. If you bring a cooler, I would advise that you bring some string or rope to secure it to your boat in the unlikely event that your boat capsized.

• The trout fishing on the river is excellent. If you have questions about the fishing and what to bring, call Coach Simmons. You must have a fishing license and a trout stamp to fish.

• Come with your game face on, I know it is going to be a memorable day. I guarantee that something will happen that you guys will be talking about 20 years from now.

Men, do you know your enemy?

The following thoughts are primarily taken from this website.

In his book, The Art of War, Sun Tzu writes, "If you know the enemy, and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."

Guys, we face the sexual temptation battle every day. So know yourself; that you're capable of falling. Know the enemy; they will be relentless in promoting pleasure without consequences. And the best way to win the battle? Don't get into one. Block the TV channel. Throw away the magazines. Give somebody that will hold you accountable - your wife, girlfriend, fiance, mother, accountability partner, etc. - access to your computer.

Click here for more.

Ladies, if you didn't know this about guys, then you need to know, and you need to help. If you did know it about guys, yet you've done nothing to help, then shame on you. Most guys that do "know themselves" do not like the fact that they are tempted with such.

Caption this . . .

Quote of the Day - 4/22/09

SELF DISCIPLINE

"He that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows nor judge all he sees."

-- Benjamin Franklin

Bisons for Christ

Today is Bisons for Christ. Most of the football team will be conducting a camp for area youths. Some will also be doing work for some elderly folks. Thank God that we can serve others.

Quote of the Day - 4/21/09

CHOICES

"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'"

-- C. S. Lewis

Tuesday

Spring practice is officially over. Check back later for a final summary.

Two things on today's agenda:

3:10 PM - Meeting in Room 100 for all players who are going to be involved in the Bisons for Christ football camp

3:30 PM - Turn in equipment

Upcoming events:

Wednesday - Bisons for Christ

Thursday - Begin position meetings with coaches

Saturday - canoe trip

Next Thursday - final team meeting/cook-out at Coach Huck's

Bisons for Christ

Sunday Night at 8:30pm in the Rhodes Fieldhouse, there will be a devotional centered around the Bisons For Christ Day. This will take the place of the normal 8:30pm worship service that usually takes place at Downtown Church. It would be nice if as many of you who could attend that would.

Next Wednesday at 2:15pm, there will be a Kickoff for the Bisons for Christ on the front lawn. Please wear your Bison Gear to this and represent us well.

Wednesday night, after the Football Camp and other Bisons for Christ projects, there will be a get-together at the College Church of Christ. There will be FREE FOOD and people will talk about how their project went. Hopefully, one of your teammates will be sharing some things that happened at the camp that day.

Quote of the Day - 4/20/09

THANKFULNESS

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

One More Time

The Bisons will take the practice field one more time this spring today at 3:25. O vs. D scrimmaging will begin at 4:00.

Spring Game Cancelled

Due to inclimate weather, the Bisons will not have their Spring Game today. We will conclude spring practice Monday at 3:25.

Quote of the Day - 4/17/09

FAITH

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."

--Thomas Merton

Bench Press

Tyler O'Quin (Sophomore, WR, Wylie, TX) significantly bettered his bench press max yesterday. Tyler did 275 lbs. for 10 reps, which is a projected max of well over 350. Great job, Tyler.

Bisons for Christ

This next Wednesday is "Bisons for Christ." Most of you will be involved in the football camp on the game field for elementary kids. However, we need a few guys to work on two other projects. The first is with Coach Perry. He needs 5 guys to go with him to a widow's house and cut down some trees. If any of you have worked with chainsaws before and want to do that, let me know. Coach Beason needs 3-4 guys to go to another widow's house and clean some windows. E-mail Coach Beason or Coach Perry if you would like to help them.

Quote of the Day - 4/16/09

PURPOSE
“Life without a purpose is a languid, drifting thing; every day we ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves, 'This day let me make a sound beginning, for what we have hitherto done is naught.'"

-- Thomas Kempis

Thursday

The Bisons had another good day yesterday on the practice field. The format was similar to Tuesday's: a strong focus on technique and honing skills, and ending with some group competitions. Notable perfromances were turned in by:

• Roger Hurts (DL)
• Keenan Kitchen (DL)
• Brad Parker (OL)
• James Kee (OL)
• The QBs, RBs and Receivers in the Pass Skel session

Today we will spend the afternoon lifting and reviewing film. Offense will lift at 3:10 and meet afterwards. Defense will meet at 3:10 and lift afterwards.

Tomorrow we'll be back on the practice field for a light practice in preperation for Saturday's spring game.

The Sunshine School

(By Scott Goode, Harding University Sports Information Director)

Harding head football coach Ronnie Huckeba announced Tuesday that his team's Spring Game will benefit the Sunshine School. The game will be played Saturday, April 18 at 5 p.m. at First Security Stadium. Admission to the game is free, but a donation to the Sunshine School is encouraged.

The Sunshine School is a small, private, non-profit school that serves individuals with developmental disabilities from preschool through adult. The school is currently attempting to raise money for a new building.

"This is a chance for people to come out and see the future of the Harding football program and help out the Sunshine School at the same time," Huckeba said.

The Sunshine School currently serves 60 individuals and needs more space to serve those currently on the waiting list. A new building on Airport Loop in Searcy will increase the size of the school and allow it to serve more people in need. The projected cost of the building, along with an endowment for repairs and upkeep, is $2 million.

The Harding cheerleading squad will be giving away Bison athletic gear at the game and concessions will be available.

Continuing a tradition that began last year, honorary captains will represent both teams. The honorary captains will be Ms. Charlene Prock, the wife of former head coach John Prock, and former Harding football great Tom Ed Gooden.

Quote of the Day - 4/15/09

LEADERSHIP

"To get the best out of a man, go to what is best in him."

-- Rev. Daniel Considine

Wednesday

Last Friday the Bisons capped off the week with some live scrimmages. It was probably the best the defense has looked all spring. The defense exhibited a lot of intensity and enthusiasm, as well as excellent execution.

We had a great day on the practice field yesterday. The OL and DL really battled each other hard for about an hour straight. The LBs, DBs, WRs, QBs and RBs had a very good Pass Skel session, too, with a lot of guys on both sides of the ball showing marked improvement. Overall, it was one of the best days we've had this spring.

Noteworthy performances from the last few practices:

DL - Travis Davis

LB - Jason Thomasson

DB - Pete Richardson

OL - Garrett Taylor & Evan Wynne

RB - Jeff Wood

QB - Zach Tribble

WR - Kurt Adams

We'll be back on the practice field today using a similar format to yesterday.

Quote of the Day - 4/14/09

LEADERSHIP

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something."

-- Plato

Spring Game

Harding Bison Football will host its Spring Game Saturday, April 18 at 5:00 PM at First Security Stadium. All are welcome. Admission is free, and donations will be accepeted on behalf of the Sunshine School.

We will also be hosting a recruiting day for student-athletes from the class of 2010. Festivities begin at the Ganus Athletic Center at 3:00.

Following the game, there will be a cookout for all players, recruits, and signees from the 2009 signing class.

Tuesday

The Bisons will hit the practice field again today as they wrap up their last few days of spring practice. All groups will be on the field at 3:25. The focus of today's practice will be on fundamentals and execution. Most of the day will be spent in O and D groups, but we will have a period of Pass Skel/1-on-1 pass rush.

Quote of the Day - 4/13/09

“Whatever you are, be a good one."

-- Abraham Lincoln

Monday

Due to some potentially bad weather, the Bisons will have meetings and lift today. The schedule for the week is as follows:

Monday
2:30pm - Safeties/LBs meeting
3:10 - Kickoff Coverage Team Meeting
3:25 - TEAM MEETING (EVERYONE)
After the team meeting, offense will be in position meetings and defense will be in the WEIGHT ROOM; we will switch after

Tuesday - Practice

Wednesday - Practice

Thursday - Meetings and Weights

Friday - Light Practice

Saturday - Spring Game at 5pm (Cookout afterwards)

Quote of the Day - 4/10/09

LEADERSHIP

"He who has learned how to obey will know how to command."


-- Solon

Friday

The Bisons return to spring practice today, and will get after it. We will do a lot of live scrimmaging with the O vs. D, and have some live reps of punt vs. punt block. The schedule is as follows:
3:25-3:40 - Warmup
3:40-3:55 - Offensive/Defensive Team
3:55-4:00 - Team Prayer
4:00 - Begin Scrimmage

We will also have a light practice tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM. Here is the schedule:
9:30-9:45 - Film session to review Punt/Punt Return (Room 111)
9:45-10:45 - Offense/Defense film
10:55 - Long warmup on the field (dress: shorts and shoulder pads)

Quote of the Day - 4/9/09

HUMILITY

Humility is not the same as low self-esteem, and it is not the opposite of confidence. In fact, the truly humble person walks with absolute confidence, knowing that we are simply vessels through whom God wants to accomplish His work."

-- Andrew Murray

Wednesday Update

The Bisons had a good, physical practice yesterday. A lot was accomplished in our O vs. D sessions. Notable performances were turned in by the following:

• Cade Caton (SR, WR, Rogers, AR) made some unbelievable catches yesterday
• Jason Thomasson (JR, LB, Daingerfield, TX) played very physical from his LB position
• Josh Jones (SR, DB, Torrance, CA) laid some great licks from his Safety spot
• LJ Tarrant (RsFR, OL, Cabot, AR) has really stepped up the last few days at C
• Andrew Jackson (SR, DL, Milton, FL) continues to play with a great motor
• James Kee (SO, OL, Searcy, AR) is getting better each day
• Kris Wildman (RsFR, DL, Warren, OH) continues to show improvement after moving from LB to DE

We'll have a light day Thursday, but we'll do some more battling on Friday.

Quote of the Day - 4/8/09

CONCENTRATION

“Concentration is the secret of strength."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wednesday

The Bisons will be back on the practice field today (actually, the game field at First Security Stadium). We'll begin at 3:25, and at 4:40 we'll get into some live team drills. Inside Drill will be at 4:40, Pass Skel and 1-on-1 Pass Rush at 5:00, and ending with Team Scrimmage at 5:20.

Quote of the Day - 4/7/09

DISCIPLINE

"The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment."

--William Arthur Ward

Tuesday

Punt return will meet at 3:10 in room 111.

Defense will start in the weight room today at 3:30, and offense will be in the film room. We will switch at 4:15.

The schedule for the rest of the week is as follows:

Wednesday - indy, inside run, pass skel, and scrimmage (similar to last Friday's practice)

Thursday - long film session, followed by practice devoted to corrections and coaching from the film with no competition and limited contact in prep for Friday

Friday - warmup activities, special teams and scrimmage

Saturday - Since film time is so critical and at a premium, we plan on working out on Saturday this week. We will start at 9:30 in the film room. We will be on the field at 10:45 for a short workout designed to correct mistakes and coach from Friday's film.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The last day to drop a class has been changed from this Friday (10th) to next Friday (17th).

Quote of the Day - 4/6/09

CONFIDENCE

We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

Monday

The Bisons will be back on the practice field today. We will have a punt return/punt block meeting at 3:45, with position meetings prior to that. We'll be on the field at 4:00, and will begin with some more 1-on-1 challenges.

Jasper Bodiford (DB) vs. Jaycob Baker (RB)
Josh Udeh (DB) vs. Chaz Rogers (QB)
Brian Maupin (LB) vs. Teddy Luke (RB)
Luke Tribble (DB) vs. Cade Caton (WR)
Drew Dawson (OL) vs. Joey Stallings (DL)

The schedule for the rest of the week will be as follows:
Tuesday - lift & film/meet
Wednesday - practice & scrimmage
Thursday - film and practice (similar to Monday)
Friday - practice & scrimmage

We also need to get in a second lift on our own sometime on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

Signees

In the last couple of weeks the Bisons have inked a couple of more quality signees to the recruiting class of 2009.

Alex Finley
5-11, 180
WR
Highland Village, Texas (Marcus HS)

• Had 21 receptions for 220 yards and three TD as a senior at Marcus High School
• Two-time Athletic All-District 6-5A
• Voted team captain
• Member of the National Honor Society

Ryan Brown
5-5, 155
RB
Newberry, Fla. (Newberry HS)

• Earned First-Team All-State and First-Team All-Area as a senior at Newberry High School
• Named his team's Offensive Player of the Year
• Rushed for 1,900 yards and scored 23 touchdowns
• Returned five kickoffs and three punts for touchdowns
• Member of the Newberry Chapter of FCA and Newberry FBLA

You can see Newberry's highlight video here. Ryan is #7.

Welcome to the family, Alex and Ryan.

To view the complete list of 2009 signees, click here.

Quote of the Day - 4/3/09

It's not what we eat,

but what we digest that makes us STRONG;

Not what we gain,

but what we save that makes us RICH;

Not what we read,

but what we remember that makes us LEARNED;

And not what we profess,

but what we practice that gives us INTEGRITY.

-- Francis Bacon

Weekend

Have a good weekend and continue to hold one another accountable. Remember, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up . . . Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." -- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12

We'll be back at work for Day 5 of spring practice on Monday.

Friday

The Bisons will be back on the practice field today in full pads. Defense will be on the field at 3:15, and offesne at 3:25.

We'll have some more challenges at 4:00.
Chris Montague (OL) vs. Eddie Frazier (DL)
Kennard Henderson (LB) vs. Jeff Wood (RB)
James Kee (OL) vs. Josh Aldridge (DL)
Kale Gelles (WR) vs. Aaron Gillaspie (LB)
Tyler O'Quin (WR) vs. Heath Hammonds (LB)
Zac Ross (WR) vs. Josh Jones (DB)

At 4:40 we'll start some more live drills with O vs. D.
4:40 - Inside Run Drill
5:15 - Pass Skel & OL vs. DL 1-on-1
5:40 - Scrimmage

Quote of the Day - 4/2/09

APPRECIATION

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

-- Frederick Keonig

Thursday

We will have a PUNT TEAM MEETING at 3:10 in room 111. If you went any reps on Punt Team yesterday or if your name has ever been on the punt team list, you need to be at this meeting.

Offense in the weight room at 3:30. Defense in meetings at 3:30.

Wednesday Update

The Bisons had a great first day in full pads yesterday for spring practice. More time was spent in drill work and fundamentals, but we also had the privilege of getting to have a little contact and live drill work.

We began the practice with some one-on-one challenges, which were intense and productive. Keenan Kitchen and Caleb Simmons started us off, and they really set the tone for the day. Keenan showed why he very well could be an All-GSC defensive lineman, and Caleb also showed that he too could earn a spot on the all-conference team as well. The rest of the guys that competed were equally entertaining, and we look forward to a lot more of these challenges as spring progresses.

The offensive line and defensive line competed in some one-on-one pass rush drills. Coach Simmons felt his entire defensive line showed great improvement since last fall, and noted Travis Davis and Roger Hurts as having exceptional reps. Offensively, Coach Perry thought the aforementioned Caleb Simmons, and Brad Parker had a good session.

While the linemen were battling it out, the skinnier guys had a 7-on-7 period. The defense continues to work on their revamped defense, and is showing signs of improvement each day. Newcomer Josh Jones looked very good in the secondary. It was also good to see LB Jermaine Blanchard back out there in the black and gold. Offensively, the passing attack went 20 of 26. Zack Tribble went 10 of 16, Chaz Rogers went 8 for 8, and Trey Martin went 2 for 2. Several receivers had catches, and all of the seasoned, veteran receivers showed great things, and the young guys are also making great progress.

We ended the day with an intense 3-on-3 drill led by the always intense Coach Simmons. Notables from the 3-on-3 drill for the defense were Morgan Toline, Jeremy Townsend and Andrew Jackson. Notables for the offense were Cade Caton, Kyle Young and LJ Tarrant.

We’ll lift and watch film today, and be back on the practice field tomorrow.

Quote of the Day - 4/1/09

SERVICE

"Life is about service, and in serving there is a lot of suffering, but that suffering brings a great deal of joy. But that joy can be real only if people have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness."

-- Leo Tolstoy

Let the games begin!

Today we will begin our first day in full pads with a few one-on-one challenges. Here are the match-ups for today:

Keenan Kitchen (DL) vs. Caleb Simmons (OL)
Jermaine Blanchard (LB) vs. Kurt Adams (WR)
Jeremy Townsend (LB) vs. Jordan Watson (WR)
Andrew Jackson (DL) vs. Garrett Taylor (OL)
Roger Hurts (DL) vs. Brad Parker (OL)
Travis Davis (DL) vs. LJ Tarrant (OL)
Jeremy Holt (RB) vs. Morgan Toline (DB)
Rashad Rayner (WR) vs. Darren Newson (DB)
Kyle Young (RB) vs. Jason Thomasson (LB)
Bruce Hall (OL) vs. Mark Gutierrez (DL)

More match-ups to come.