Scrimmage match

We played Centre (KY) in our first and only scrimmage match this year down in Danville and it ended 2-2. We had goals from Ibrahim Diarra (Soph) on a fine assist from Evan Elko and an absolute "goal of the season" strike from Felicien Muyumba (FY) on an assist from Holden Bucher. We played 22 different players in enough combinations to make your head spin in a match played with somewhat more zeal tha most "friendlies". Keepers Chris Marshall and Sam Embry split the halves and each played very well. Several firstyears made impressive debuts: Mussa Ibrahim from Michigan and Jacob Ebbs from Massachussetts joined Feli in their first outing in the maroon. Center backs Kumba Mbayo and Mike Nsoesie also excelled as we survived the usual aerial bombardment.

Ibrahim Diarra

Felicien Muyumba

This weekend we play in the El Rodeo Classic (first one since 2009), opening Friday against Cincinnati Christian and then taking on Millikin from Illinois on Saturday. Early this week I intend to post a note on the beginning of "EC TV"---our plans to live stream matches this year.

PS: Was it fate that Liverpool also drew 2-2 this weekend ?

Kumba Sez

When you're in preseason and it's summertime you need to eat your fruities. Be like Kumba Frank and make your coach proud of you.

Preseason begins

The year has begun and a good start it has been. After a summer of spectacular heat, the first days of training camp have seen temperatures in the 70's with no real heat in sight. I just almost laughed myself sick in the assistants' office listening to the antics of the new/old women's coach as we discussed drug use and the rabbit used by the magician who came to our department retreat---don't ask, you hadda be there.

On a serious positive note, the team averaged level 15 on the beep test, establishing a new high mark. Firstyear Jacob Ebbs (who spent his summer in Bolivia at 12,000 feet altitude) got to level 17:3 for the individual record. I'll attach photos of our new area soon so you see the basic new layout here. 32 on the roster right now.

An early meeting at the field near the cemetery which now serves as a practice area.

We're still working with the resistance bands and getting good results.



Kumba, Tiqi Brown, Mussa Ibrahim, Shvan, Mike N, Corey

Advent of Preseason and Spiderus Giganticus Brownus

Summer travel and all my little vacations are over and we're on the downhill road to my 32nd preseason at Earlham. So much has changed that it'll take more than this post to describe.

Foremost, we have a new assistant men's coach, Tommy Crabill. Tommy's an OWU grad who has been an assistant at Baldwin Wallace and Alma recently. Also a Cincinnati native (Sycamore HS), Tom has already joined us and is helping us prepare for the coming year.

Our old boy Rob Richardson has moved on to Brevard College in North Carolina where he will assist a Div II men's program. We wish him well.

Before Rob left we (mostly he) had to clean out the "tin barn" in back of the former game field (I'll explain later) near the cemetery. As I drew the door down for Rob to exit in one of the green gators, a spider plopped down from above somewhere. It was big (for a spider), maybe about a half dollar size body, dull brown with blue (?) spots on its back. It lasted only a second or two as Rob ran right over it with the gator, completely squashing it.

I know what you're thinking..."Roy was a teenager in the 60's, wasn't he ?". But NO, I really saw it and for the purpose of establishing a scientific record I have named the beast Spiderus Giganticus Brownus. Now we'll have to return to the barn to get out our gear for the season. Not only that, but we have to get the goals and more out of the wood barn (old horse barn) behind it. What really lives in that hole about halfway in on the left ? Sounds like the perfect job for the new assistant and the firstyears to me.

You may have noticed that I labeled the field near the cemetery as the former game field. Indeed it is. We are moving to the former field hockey game field area where we last played sometime in the 90's. Field Hockey moves to the stadium field which will be artificial turf this fall. There are more changes than this afoot and a later post will tell about them.


PS: this late thought: do I resemble John Goodman (star of the movie Arachnophobia) a little ?