The runners are familiar, but the coach is new. Well, not exactly brand new. Lauren Timms is the head coach of Llano High’s cross country teams, but she was an assistant in the athletic department last year, and has another notable tie: Lauren Parker was in the LHS Class of 2009 and was on the CC team that finished second in state in ’08.
“Apprehensive at the beginning,” Timms told me.
DALLAS — Will Kliff Kingsbury get a ring if Oklahoma, California, or, oh, by the way, Texas Tech, wins a conference title, national championship, or bowl game? Well, why not? He was the head coach of Baker Mayfield (now at
OU), Davis Webb (now at Cal) and currently, Patrick Mahomes, who’s nearby — in a Lubbock dorm room.
Mayfield and Webb — former Red Raiders — are good, all right, but you got the feeling at Big 12 Football Media Days, July 18, head coach ...
Llano volleyball girls practically filled the auxiliary gymnasium on the opening day of August, as two-a-days bid an unofficial farewell to summer.
The assembly included all high school classes. The varsity is loaded with familiar names, which translates to a much more inspiring word in athletics: experience.
“{It’s a} good core,” head coach John Black said, as he surveyed the Lady Jackets prior to Act II of the two-session workout.
One quarterback threw the ball, while another watched and offered enthusiastic suggestions. Student and teacher. One lefty, one righty. One — Ben Walling — is heading into his first full year as Llano High’s starting QB. The other — Sean Salisbury — played for Southern California in the 1980s
and for Indianapolis, Minnesota, and San Diego in the NFL and Winnipeg for two years in Canada.
“This is my passion.
Llano High School football players go through drills on Monday morning, the first day of football practice. The Jackets are gearing up for their Aug. 26 opener at Smithville.
DALLAS — I’m not sure how many times a Texas football preview story begins with: “Horns Get a Kicker!” This one does, because it was recently announced that Trent Domingue (13-17 FGs) was leaving LSU to spend his fifth year in Austin. The Tigers decided not to re-up Domingue’s scholarship, so Charlie Strong said, “We’ll ‘foot’ the bill!” Or something similar.
UT’s 2015 lack-of-athletes’ feats began with a missed extra point by then-senior Nick Rose, denying Texas a 45-45 ...
Two of Llano High’s finest track and field athletes will compete in Houston, Aug. 1-5, in the AAU National Junior Olympics.
Wyatt Casey, who graduated in May, will run the 800 meters in the 17-18 age group, while sophomore Courtney Reina will throw the shot put and discus. She’s among the 15-16-year-olds.
“It was a big confidence boost,” Casey said of his two-minute time in the 800 in the qualifying meet in San Antonio.
Rest? You’re lucky if both eyes are allowed to blink. Your challenge is merely facing 60-70 offensive plays a game and guys who’ve been throwing the ball since Pop Warner was known as Kid Warner. Cohen Cockburn of Lampasas was tossing it 60 yards in 7-on-7. And the streaking receivers are asking, “Why did the flight last so long?”
“Three steps and {they} throw,” lamented Llano defensive coordinator Clint Easley.
If this had been billed as a five-year plan, this is the season for the granddaddy, the Highest Five — Craig Slaughter enters his fifth campaign as the Llano High head football coach. He’s also offensive coordinator.
I know you’ve heard this line before, so let’s just admit plagiarism and be done with it: “Llano will be great again.” My claim, and “great” may be a tad strong, but you face a problem plagiarizing if you mess up the original sentence.
“Can’t wait,” says Slaug ...
