I must say that over the weekend I was a little lost without a basketball game to call on the radio but with the holiday just a few days away it gave me time to look back and reflect on what has taken place this fall with the BC football team and now with two nationally ranked basketball teams.

Tom Rethman's team finished strong and with a ton of returning players is in a position to take the momentum they had this year and really turn heads next season. If you have the chance to talk to Tom you can't help but be excited for him and his staff as they build Briar Cliff football into a program that the University, students, and alumni are proud of. I think next season's opponents will have an extremely difficult time scoring on BCU and we can hope for continued improvement from Lehi Tonga. Tonga should have some nice weapons to throw to in Chase Colvin and Zac Kliment, and Stevhn Leavy will again be running with a propose...to win football games. Good luck to Coach Rethman and staff in recruiting.

As far as the basketball teams are concerned the campus should be abuzz with excitement because the two teams we are watching have the potential to be special come tournament time. Mike Power's team won two more games in Florida improving to 11-2 and have now beat an NCAA Division II team in Minnesota-Crookston and an NAIA Division I team, Georgetown (KY) 99-95 in the Cruzin Classic. Following the Hastings loss I talked to Christine Schroeder and she told me that she believes that this team is close...by close I believe she means close to contending for a GPAC championship. She knows from her playing experience at BC what it feels like to be a part of a really good team and you can see the sparkle in the coaches eyes knowing that Liz Grider is a potential NAIA national player of the year, and the supporting cast is there to not only make the NAIA tournament but to make some noise in it.

Todd Barry's team stumbled into the holiday break losing to Grand View last Tuesday. The loss was disappointing simply because Briar Cliff was the better team. The Chargers ran the Vikings off the floor in the first half and I thought looked like a true top 10 team. The second half was downright ugly. Judging by Coach Berry's comments following the game I believe he will use that second half performance as a learning tool and will have his team ready to take on Mayville State at home December 29th and against Bellevue on the 30th. I hope that fans realize just how good this team is and will be. The Chargers are in the top 10 because they belong there and will be on a mission to prove it following Christmas break.

Watching the two teams battle for GPAC Championships come the new year is going to be very exciting and I think support from fans, students, and alumni will be a boost when the GPAC powers invade the NFC to play the Chargers. The schedule in the GPAC doesn't do a team any favors so it will be survival of the fittest but the components are in place for success. The first half of the season has been a blast and I look forward to bringing you the games on the radio.

May everyone have a blessed holiday season. Take the time to enjoy time with your families and rest up because your Chargers will need you to be loud and proud and help root them to victory. Go Chargers.