If you took a look at football’s anemic offense and 2-3 record, you might say this is a downfall for ETSU athletics. Of course, you’d be wrong, too.
Right now, ETSU volleyball, tabbed as no better than seventh in the Southern Conference in preseason, is on a nine-match winning streak.
Already, the Bucs (12-1, 8-1) have knocked off the College of Charleston, Davidson and Furman, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, in the preseason poll. What’s more, they’ve done it in convincing fashion, sweeping the Wildcats and Paladins while losing but a single game to the Cougars.
New coach Deane Webb has instilled a positive attitude in his players, and they’ve responded with rock-solid defense and ball control.
Senior setter Carey Cavanaugh has been the anchor since opening day, serving up plenty of assists while remaining a threat to hit double figures in kills and digs as well.
This weekend provides three chances to see the Bucs in Brooks Gym, of which two will provide stern obstacles to a continued streak.
After Friday night’s tilt with Chattanooga at 7 p.m., another team with but one conference loss comes calling 2 p.m.
On Saturday: Georgia South-ern. Webb and company have already defeated the Eagles once, in a five-game match, but that was in the early-season Winthrop Tournament, and does not count toward league standings.
Monday night brings Western Carolina for a 7 p.m. rematch of the only loss ETSU has suffered thus far.
After that night, October – a month during which the Bucs have swooned after strong starts in the past – will be halfway done.
A group of quality opponents will remain on the schedule, which will include but three more home games.
If the Bucs remain on top of the Southern Conference standings Tuesday morning, however, look for them to stay there the rest of the way.
Less than a month now until the game of the year in Division I-AA football: Georgia Southern versus Furman.
Last week, Eagles running back Adrian Peterson hit the century mark in rushing totals for the 36th consecutive game, laying claim to yet another record.
The 1999 Walter Payton Award-winner broke the all-time all-division NCAA mark of 35 straight games with 100 or more rushing yards.
That distinction has many touting his chances to be amongst the top three Heisman vote-getters, which would mean a trip to New York for the award ceremony in Dec.
A trip he might not take simply because his team, the defending Div- I-AA national champions, have improved to 5-0 on the season and sit atop the latest I-AA USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll.
It would be surprising if they, Adrian Peterson and Louis Ivory, were not in a playoff game the day of the Heisman presentation.
It is Nov. 3 that is circled on the Eagles’ calendars, however, since that’s when Furman, and 2000 Walter Payton Award winner Louis Ivory come to town.
Furman, at 4-1, their only loss at I-A Wyoming, is No. 3 in the I-AA USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll.
Sometimes the best sports stories, however, involve the bumblings and sheer luck of sports writers such as yours truly.
A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in the Mini-Dome press box watching the ETSU-Western Carolina game.
If you saw it, you’ll recall the 20-6 Buc loss was amongst the most moribund games you’ve seen this year.
This was especially troublesome to me since I was charged with writing a feature on something outstanding in that contest, preferably something involving an ETSU player.
My sports editor, Michael Farkas, who was sitting next to me, and I racked our brains but didn’t see too much to pursue other than the heightened-security angle, which, thankfully for my personal safety, was no great shakes.
For my career safety, however, I had to find something.
I had been told that a guy working in the ticket booth would have something to say on this matter, so out into the darkness and up the ramp I went.
I knocked on the door and who should appear but Mark Spencer.
The assistant athletic director for business operations, proceeded to tell me he was working in a similar capacity with the Olympics the night in 1996 when a bomb went off in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.
What’s that old saying about a blind squirrel and a nut?
I think it’s about a nutty blind squirrel, who moonlighted as a hack sports writer, falling off a tree and into a story.

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