Cowboys Earn National Kudos

Coming off a season where it went 9-2, Hardin-Simmons’ football team is receiving some preseason hype by the state and national preseason magazines. HSU is picked seventh nationally by Sporting News and 15th by Lindy’s Sports.

The Cowboys, who return 13 starters, have a reason to be optimistic. They lost a pair of close games to national semifinalist Mary Hardin-Baylor a year ago, both of those games came in Belton and the Crusaders have to come to Abilene this year. The winner of the game has won at least a share of the American Southwest Conference title every year since UMHB came into the league in 1998. Both Lindy’s and Sporting News magazines have the Oct. 3 HSU-UMHB game as one of their national games of the year.

Some of the biggest reason for optimism is a defense that improved drastically a year ago and returns eight starters. In 2007 the Cowboys ranked last in the nation in scoring defense and they Cowboys improved that to 71st nationally last season. If there is continued improvement, the defense could actually be one of the team’s strengths this season.

If there has been one thing over the years the Cowboys could hand their hat on over the years it has been its offense. HSU returns a lot of its skill position players, but will rely on a rebuilt be not inexperienced offensive line. Heading the returners for the Cowboys is quarterback Justin Feaster, who threw for over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns a year ago.

Lindy’s Sports has named Feaster a preseason second-team all-American. He was the ASC player of the year last season and with another solid season would set all of the HSU passing records. His former Glen Rose high school teammate and Cowboy safety Michael Tracy has also been picked as a preseason second-team all-American.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine picks the Cowboys second in the American Southwest Conference.

HSU will report August 15 for fall workouts. The Cowboys will open its 20th season of the Jimmie Keeling era with a game at home against Whitworth.