The Commerce Journal

Local News

Discussion

January 6, 2013

A LOOK BACK AT 2012 IN COMMERCE SPORTS

High school, university have opposite turnouts

By Caleb Slinkard The Commerce Journal

COMMERCE — Last year was a disappointing year for Texas A&M University-Commerce, but change is on the horizon as the university searches for a new athletic director and head football coach. The volleyball progam made significant strides under head coach Craig Case, and the men’s basketball team is off to a fast start this year.

For Commerce High School, 2012 was a year that will not be forgotten any time soon. The football squad won their first playoff game in a decade, and the volleyball program went undefeated in district play en route to a 30-8 record and deep playoff run.



A&M-COMMERCE LOSES ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

2012 was not a good year for A&M-Commerce sports. The football, soccer, men’s basketball and women’s basketball squads all posted losing records. Only the volleyball team recorded a strong season, with a 20-11 record. The 2012-13 season has also been a positive one so far for the men’s basketball team, as they enter 2013 with a 9-3 record and head coach Sam Walker is knocking on the door of the all-time wins record.

The disappointing seasons were enough for the university to not renew Athletic Director Carlton Cooper’s contract after five years with A&M-Commerce. The university has narrowed its search for a new AD to four finalists.

Head football coach Guy Morriss was hired in 2008 with much fanfare, and he immediately delivered with a 5-5 season and a Lone Star Conference North Division Championship.

But the honeymoon did not last long, as the Lions posted records of 3-8, 1-9 and 1-9 in the next three seasons. He resigned at the conclusion of the 2012 season. The only national news that Morriss made while head coach were his comments following a campus-wide theft of the student newspaper, The East Texan. Morriss will serve as a special assistant to the new athletic director.



CHS FOOTBALL AND VOLLEYBALL TEAMS HAVE SEASONS TO REMEMBER

Commerce High School celebrated bi-district championships for both their varsity football and volleyball teams. The football team finished the season with a 7-5 record and their first playoff victory in a decade. The volleyball squad went undefeated in district play and finished with a 30-8 record. They lost to eventual state champions Brock High School.

Text Only
Local News
Featured Ads

Poll

Recent graduates, what are your plans for the summer?

Find a job. It's time to get into the real world.
Relax for the summer. I need it.
Time to go for the Master's degree. The real world scares me too much.
Live in my parent's basement. Hey, it's free rent until I know what I want to do.
     View Results
Facebook
AP Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide