Now that the madness known as March is nearly over I thought I had better get back to the blog. Spring has sprung.

Dr. Tim Van Alstine said in the media he has received a good group of applicants for the women's basketball head coach position. Having a good candidate pool to choose from is a nice 'problem' to have.

Spring Football central page is up and running. Fans can check out all the write ups and interviews. Scrimmage set for April 2nd and 9th then the Bruce Craddock Memorial Spring Game on the 23rd.

I'm looking forward to the Butler vs. VCU game. Personally, have to root for Butler to cut down the nets but wouldn't mind seeing VCU win it either.

Obi Emegano (MBB recruit) helped his team win a state 6A title in Oklahoma and he was named conference 'Player of the Year' and to the state all-tournament team.

How about 4 Summit League 'Players of the Week' this week. As I recall, a personal record since I've been at Western (baseball, mtennis, softball, mgolf).

Great crowd for the baseball home opener last Sunday, especially considering the weather.

Congrats to the men's golf team for winning the Beu/Mussatto Invitational. Two cold, windy days to play golf.

Softball has had some crazy scoring games last week, and good crowds at McKee Stadium to witness. Keep it rolling Leathernecks.

Had a great visit last Friday in Quincy with members of the media. That was a long overdue lunch with them. Communicating on Twitter (@WIUSID) great but always enjoy the face-to-face meet and greets. The day before got to lunch with John Bohnenkamp from Burlington. Good times for all.

Lee Calhoun Memorial track and field Invitational will take place April 8-9. Some of Saturday's final events will be televised on WIU-TV3.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest updates. Till next time... Go Leathernecks!

Thanks John Bohnenkamp...

Burlington Hawkeye sports reporter John Bohnenkamp had a great blog on Friday, I just had to share.

Thanks John for all the great coverage this year and that yet to come.

Posted in March 4th, 2011

by John Bohnenkamp in Uncategorized

Western Illinois University’s 7-23 season was reflected in the Summit League’s postseason awards.
Senior guard Matt Lander, who was in the top 10 in the conference in scoring and assists, was only an honorable mention selection. Forward Kaimarr Price, who was in the top 10 in rebounding and blocked shots and in the top 20 in scoring, was left off the all-conference and all-newcomer teams.
The Leathernecks lost their last 13 games of the season, and the reality in all-conference voting is losing teams don’t see individual honors unless someone has a season that can’t be ignored.
Lander averaged 17 points per game, ranking seventh in the conference, and his 2.7 assists per game rank ninth. He led the team in scoring in 23 games, and scored in double figures in every game but one.
Price, bothered by a sore right knee for most of the season, averaged 10.8 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds.
Not surprisingly, Oakland’s Keith Benson was named the conference’ player of the year and defensive player of the year.
Benson was joined on the all-conference first team by teammate Reggie Hamilton, IUPUI’s Leroy Nobles and Alex Young, Oral Roberts’ Dominique Morrison and South Dakota State’s Nate Wolters.
The second team was IPFW’s Ben Botts, UMKC’s Jay Couisnard, Oakland’s Will Hudson, South Dakota State’s Clint Sargent and North Dakota State’s Michael Tveidt.
Lander was joined on the honorable mention list by Oral Roberts’ Damen Bell-Holter and Warren Niles, IPFW’s Frank Gaines, and UMKC’s Spencer Johnson.
South Dakota State’s Jordan Dykstra, a freshman from Rock Valley, was named to the all-newcomer team. He was joined by Oral Roberts’ Steven Roundtree, the conference’s newcomer of the year, Oakland’s Travis Bader, UMKC’s Reggie Chamberlain and IUPUI’s Stephen Thomas.

Happy Birthday Colonel Rock!

By: Darcie Shinberger, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

MACOMB, Ill. - Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Col. Rock III, happy birthday to you! Or in dog-speak, ruff-ruff-ruff, etc.

He joined the Western Illinois University family in May 2010 as a 10-week old pup. Today (March 3), WIU's live four-legged mascot, Col. Rock III (aka Rocky) turns one year old, and what a year this canine has had. From public appearances - including those that require "black tie" - to learning new tricks, Col. Rock has been in the spotlight since day one. Joe Roselieb, assistant director of residential facilities, and Carisa Swanson are Rock's owners (or perhaps are "owned" by Col. Rock!).

"This past year raising and training Col. Rock and seeing the impact he has had on WIU's campus and in the Macomb Community has been tremendously fulfilling and so much fun," Roselieb said. "I am consistently impressed and amazed by his intelligence and the things he has learned. He understands several tricks and commands, and just keeps learning. He's eager to please and loves to be around people. He's the perfect mascot, and he is a great companion. I look forward to coming home each day and seeing his slobbery, wrinkled face running towards me."

The English bulldog was donated to Western by Richard and Beth Siess of the Siess Ranch in Seneca, KS. Through the efforts of George Visoky, Dr. Karen Blakeley of Macomb's All Pets Veterinary Clinic, Bill Bailey, director of the WIU School of Agriculture and many other University and community organizations and individuals, Col. Rock's care and "creature comforts" are tended to.

"Col. Rock has been received with such great enthusiasm by students, faculty and staff. He is a show-stopper wherever he goes, and it's obvious that our community members love him as much as we do," said Vice President for Student Services Garry Johnson. "Along with our 'two-legged' Rocky mascot, Col. Rock is a symbol of not only our outstanding athletics program, but also of our tremendous school spirit and pride. We owe debt of gratitude to everyone who helped reintroduce 'The Colonel' to campus."

To follow Col. Rock's exploits on Facebook type Colonel Rock in the search bar or go to his page at facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/pages/Colonel-Rock-III-Rocky/124304417598114

Col. Rock's photo shoots, taken by his personal paparazzi (WIU's Visual Production Center photographers), can be found at http://photos.wiu.edu/lightbox/. Click on Athletics, Miscellaneous and "Colonel Rock III," "Rocky and Family in studio and outside" and "Rocky and house in studio."