It's about time

I know I usually talk about girls sports here but I have to say, El Dorado's football team is looking mighty good. How good? Well, at 8-0 the Wildcats are off to their best start since Russ Bechtelheimer's 1991 team went 11-1 before losing to Barry Lunney and Fort Smith Southside in the playoffs.
I thought that 1991 team with Carlos Meeks, Winston Alderson and those guys was the most talented team I'd covered. That is, perhaps until now.
Actually, from a talent standpoint, the old team is still probably superior. From a football standpoint, this year's group is looking special.
El Dorado shut out Lake Hamilton 28-0 on Friday. Yes, the same Lake Hamilton that won state last year and was averaging 30.4 points per game this year. The Wolves couldn't even get a sniff against the Wildcats.
It was probably the best defensive effort I've seen since Little Rock Central did it to El Dorado a few years ago.
El Dorado's offense? Well, it's getting the job done although in less than spectacular fashion the past few weeks. I'll blame the muddy field for some of that.
Anyway, can the Wildcats win state? Yes. Will they?
YES!
Don't tell anybody I said it but, after what I saw last week, I'm picking El Dorado to end its 50-year drought and capture another football state championship.

Way to go, Lady Cats

Last night, Jason and I sat in the office and waited for Kev to return from his assignment. It's probably the first time in history the sports staff has waited for volleyball news.
El Dorado hosted J.A. Fair in the final conference volleyball match of the season. Fair had already defeated the Lady Wildcats once. This was El Dorado's last chance at a victory.
Although none of us follow volleyball closely, we assumed this was also El Dorado's only chance at qualifying for the state tournament. Since Fair and the Lady Wildcats are the two weakest teams, we thought one would get in and one would be left home.
So, we sat and waited for Kev to come in and tell us who won and if the Lady Wildcats did manage to win, if they made it to state or how that would be determined.
Finally, Kev came in the door and I quickly asked, "Who won?"
Kev responded somberly, "Fair."
That's it. Volleyball season is over, I thought.
I asked Kev just to confirm that thought.
"No, El Dorado goes to state, too," he said.
"Wha, Wha, What!!!!"
"How could they qualify for state? They went oh for the season," I asked. "They didn't win a game. What do you mean they're going to state?"
Kev looked as if he'd just seen a ghost as he said, "Since they only had six teams, everybody made it."
My question is, how do you go winless and then accept a berth in the state tournament? My question to the athletic director is, how do you let a team that goes winless, load up on a bus and drive to Jonesboro and probably spend a night in a hotel?
That's money you could be spending on hospitality room food for the media.
It's stunning to me how piss poor sports are getting in this state. I remember back when I first came to El Dorado. I watched Union and Parkers Chapel's girls battle it out in the conference basketball finals. The winner would have to beat the No. 4 ranked team in the state to advance. The loser would have to beat the No. 2 ranked team in the state to advance. Two teams with 30 wins apiece and both would have to run through Hades just to get to the state tournament.
Now, years later, a team doesn't win a game all year and earns a trip to the big dance.
What can I say?
"Woo Hoo! Way to go, girls!!"