Expectations Starting to Increase in Austin
Christopher M. Duchene
Saturday March 13, 2004
“Coach Foster, what are your thoughts on each game so far up to this point being so close? Is being in a close game right after an other going to help your team be ready to win those close games late in the season, or will there be something negative coming out of games if you continue to stay close in all your football games?”
“I think being in close games helps build character,” said Foster. “Our owner asks when we are going to finally win one by 21, but we’ll keep taking those close games. My goal is for our team to be there late in the game with a chance to win. If we have a chance to win the game on the last play of the game every game, I like our chances.”
And winning late in football games is just how the Austin Wranglers have been getting the job done. Before last Sunday’s game against Carolina, I kept contemplating whether or not it would be another close game for the Wrangler franchise, or if the Cobras would finally open up the score against the Wranglers. In the third quarter, when the Wranglers were down 34-21, I finally started to think that this Cobra team could give the Wranglers their first good whipping of the season.
But, just as I started to think like that, the Wranglers closed the margin to 34-27. And on the next Cobra possession an interception by Wrangler Charlie Davidson led to a touchdown pass from Kaleo to Davidson on the next Wrangler offensive drive. Just like that, it was close again, tied 34-34 going into the fourth quarter.
After a Cobra touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Nagy to Damien Groce the Cobras led 55-48. On that day the Wranglers would step up once again, marching the ball to the Cobra 4-yard line with only 4 seconds to play. Everyone in the Austin crowd stood in silence as the ball was snapped and John Kaleo threw towards the end zone. In the back of the end zone was Wrangler receiver Tacoma Fontaine, who made a diving touchdown grab on the last play of regulation brought the Wranglers within one point. The crowd erupted and everyone watched as they were in store for something special.
At home the coaching rule is usually go for the extra-point and play for overtime in front of your home crowd, but today the rule was changed up a bit. Foster sent his offensive troops back onto the field for the two-point conversion attempt to win the game. In a matter of seconds the ball was snapped and Kaleo threw to the flat where wide receiver Shannon “Skinny” Culver was completely open giving the Wranglers a 56-55 victory, defending their home turf once again.
“John Kaleo told me ‘let’s go for two’,” Coach Skip Foster said. “It was a calculated decision and we knew we had a chance to execute the play.”
And execute they did. The Wranglers improved to 3-1 to start off their franchise. With a game this week against the winless Indiana Firebirds, the Wranglers have a chance to go 4-1.
“We are playing good right now,” said Foster. “This team though has not surpassed my expectations of what we can do this year though. Every game from here on out will be a challenge. In this league anyone can beat you on any given night. It only gets harder from here on out. If we play like we are capable of though, we’ll contend with anyone.”
The next couple of games should get interesting indeed. The Wranglers might not be surprising their coach so far this season or themselves, but they are definitely surprising teams and fans across the country. Expectations only get harder from here on out though; Austin fans will be watching with the expectation of winning every game.
Christopher Duchene is from El Paso, Tx. He currently lives in Austin, Tx and is a Freshman at Austin Community College majoring in Sports Management. After college he hopes to attend law school where he will study sports law hoping one day to become a successful sports agent.
