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Officials with Texas A&M-Commerce and Tarleton State announced last week that the schools' men's basketball teams will play for the "Gudger Grail," beginning this season.
The trophy will go to the winner of the season series between the schools that
are part of the Texas A&M system. The trophy is named for Jim Gudger, the
late Texas A&M-Commerce men's basketball coach who coached the Lions from
1969-83. He won 203 games in 14 seasons.
The teams will determine the first Gudger Grail winner Jan. 5 in Commerce. It's the only game between the teams this season.
Games played in tournaments or the postseason will be included in the season
series If there is a tie, the trophy will stay with the team that had possession
of it from the previous year.
All-Americans
Three players from the Lone Star Conference and one from the American Southwest
Conference were named to the annual Associated Press Little All-American team
last week.
Britt Lively, an offensive lineman at Lone Star member Abilene Christian, was
the only player in either conference as a first-team selection. Lively, a 6-foot-5,
315-pound offensive tackle from Silsbee, is the 22nd player in ACU football
history to receive first-team All-America honors.
Texas A&M-Kingsville center Kevin Palmer was a second-team selection, while
Hardin-Simmons offensive guard Adam Hernandez and Texas A&M-Commerce punter
Chris Miller made the third team.
Hawaii next stop
East Texas Baptist punter Scott Verhalen accepted an invitation to the 2004
Hula Bowl Maui All-Star Football Classic, scheduled for next month in Hawaii.
Verhalen is a four-time American Southwest Conference punting leader. He has
averaged 42.9 yards over his four-year college career.
Briefly
• Tarleton State signed two men's basketball players last week, Justin
Johnson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Tyler, and Jake McWilliams, a 6-7 forward from
Vidor.
• The Texas Wesleyan women's basketball team defeated Hillsdale Baptist
87-51 last week. The Lady Rams are 8-4 and will not play again until Jan. 10.
• The Hardin-Simmons women's basketball team defeated rival McMurry 80-60
on Dec. 16, with five players scoring in double figures. The Cowgirls are 6-1
and ranked 20th by D3Hoops.com.
• The Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team lost its first game Dec.
16, 68-66 to Savannah College of Art and Design. The Lady Crusaders are 6-1
and are one of three teams in the ASC with one loss.