Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian University, 2002 Page: 111
303 p. : ill. ; 32 cm.View a full description of this yearbook.
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Diamonds in the Rough
t first glance, most people would not be impressed
with the ACU football team's 3-8 finish in 2001.
But then again, 3-8 is better than the 1-9 campaign
the Wildcats compiled in 2000, head coach Gary Gaines'
first season on The Hill.
Considering the circumstances and the subtle recordsetting
performances of two players, the 2001 season provided
its share of memories as well as heartaches for the
ACU football team and its fans.
Entering the season, a revamped offensive backfield
featuring the heralded Texas A&M transfer Colby Freeman
at quarterback, former Sam Houston State running back
Eric Polk and a defense led by Ryan Boozer - gave reason
to believe the Wildcats would be much better in 2001.
However, ACU quickly showed glimpses of old in its
season opening 65-16 loss at Central Arkansas. But the
Wildcats rallied to win two of their next four games, hanging
tough with the second-best team in NCAA Division II,
California-Davis, in a 41-28 setback in their home opener
before defeating Northeastern State University 31-21 to
win their first game at Shotwell Stadium since October
1999.
After a disappointing 37-17 loss at East Central, ACU
put together its best performance of the season, stopping
No. 21 Eastern New Mexico 35-21 in its Lone Star
Conference South Division opener.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats lost Freeman for the season
after the sophomore quarterback broke his fibula and
tore ankle ligaments early in the second half of the contest.
Seemingly, ACU's season went down with Freeman as
well.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Greg Wiggins played
brilliantly in his first collegiate start against Southeastern
Oklahoma State, and Polk continued to grind out yardage,
but the 52-38 loss reflected the inability of the ACU
defense to stop opposing offenses.
ACU, which gave up more than 30 points seven times
during the season, ranked next-to-last in the LSC in total
defense, allowing 434.3 yards per game, while also allowing
409 points (37.2 points per game), the most ever
allowed by an ACU defense.
Two wrongs don't make a right. While the defense
failed to keep points off the board, the offense hit a scoring
drought at the wrong time. Longtime rival Angelo
State blanked the Wildcats 31-0, and ACU reached a low
point in its season after an embarrassing 52-7The Wildcats' winless streak extended to five games
with losses at Texas A&M-Commerce and nationallyranked
Texas A&M-Kingsville.
With nothing but pride to play for, a career-best performance
by third-string running back L.S. McClain led
ACU to a 34-31 victory at West Texas A&M in another
memorable contest against the Buffaloes.
Although the Wildcats failed to produce its first winning
season since 1997, the individual efforts of three ACU
players were hard to ignore in 2001. Senior punter Brad
Raphelt, a walk-on from Pearl, Miss., and Polk etched their
names in the ACU record books.
Raphelt proved hard work, perseverance and dedication
truly pays off in the end. After earning all-LSC honors
in 2000, Raphelt established himself as not only the best
punter in ACU history, but the nation as well, shattering
Leondus Fry's 45-year-old record by averaging 44.1 yards
per kick on the way to being named first-team all-LSC and
all-West Region and recognized on five all-America
teams.
Boozer, a senior linebacker, continued the play in 2001
that set him apart from other linebackers in the nation during
his storied four-year career at ACU. Boozer led the
team in tackles for the third year in a row with 104 while
earning all-West Region recognition for the third straight
season and all-America honors.
Polk carried the load and carried it well for ACU in
2001, finishing with 1,211 rushing yards on 257 carries,
the best single-season totals for a running back in ACU
history.
The Wildcats' running game will have a dynamic 1-2
punch in 2002 when Polk, who also received all-LSC and
all-West Region accolades, teams up with University of
Texas transfer and former all-state Abilene High standout
Arturo "Sneezy" Beltran in the ACU backfield.
Things don't get any easier in 2002. The Wildcats will
face four NCAA Division II playoff teams from a year ago
- Central Arkansas in the season opener, consecutive road
games at California-Davis and Tarleton State before making
the long trip south to perennial LSC powerhouse Texas
A&M-Kingsville Nov. 9.Homecoming drubbing against Tarleton State.
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Abilene Christian University. Prickly Pear, Yearbook of Abilene Christian University, 2002, yearbook, 2002; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth39886/m1/114/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.