Do the Wranglers Believe?
Christopher M. Duchene
Tuesday April 27, 2004
“We need to find a way to close teams out,” Wrangler QB John Kaleo said following their second straight loss.
Many fans had begun to leave with smiles on their faces as Austin led by two possessions with under a minute to play. In their minds Austin was on their way to upsetting one of the top teams in the league in the New Orleans Voodoo. In a game that was filled with everything you’d expect from two division opponents fighting for the crown, the Wranglers simply were on the unfortunate end. Players diving over the boards for balls, trash talking, extra activity after the plays had ended. This was an old fashioned street fight that Austin looked to be winning. But just like in any fight when someone puts their hands down they can get hit with a haymaker.
The Voodoo threw that haymaker with a touchdown and then eventual onside kick recovery, followed by what would be the game winning touchdown. And the Wranglers got knocked down and lost a great chance to be in position to win their division. But now the question will be, “Can the Wranglers Get Up?”
It’s going to be tough. They are going to have to come together as one. Veterans will have to make plays, rookies will have to show what they have, and they may even have to have some luck on their side to do it, but in watching this team all season long, yes these men have what it takes to get up.
“Coach Foster knows who he can count on down the stretch,” an elderly man said to me walking out of the arena. “The talent is on this team to win some games and make the playoffs.”
With that kind of confidence from Wrangler fans, they do have a chance. You look at the remaining schedule and see the Wranglers have to win at least three out of five to give themselves a chance. Four wins and they will be there. The rematch in New Orleans in the last game of the season may even decide the Wranglers fate this season.
Wrangler fans in Austin believe that it can be done. The question is: Do the Wranglers believe?
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.
