by: Karen Handel

For the majority of us fitness-business owners, we are in this business first and foremost for the love of the game. But, as we’ve all heard over and over, sometimes love just isn’t enough.  New challenges will inevitably present themselves, and in order to stay in this competitive business successfully, we must have our heads in it 24 hours a day.  Personally, I often wake up in the middle of the night trying to resolve any recent challenge that has presented itself.  This insomnia seems directly attributed to my difficulty in finding a clear perspective on my current challenge.  Our businesses, after all, were created from love, and ever since, blood, sweat and tears have been poured into them, so separating the emotion from the challenge solution is a perplexing challenge in and of itself.  But, I think I may have found a solution.

I recently watched an interview with Russia’s wealthiest citizen, Mikhail Prokhorov, who in 2010 purchased the worst team in the NBA, the New Jersey Nets. He describes business as a game, which is not uncommon, but, what intrigued me was that when asked about the overwhelming amount of stress he has in his life due to his businesses, he replied calmly, “I like stress, it is my competitive advantage.”  Now that is statement!

Think about that for a minute. Use the very fact that you have previously handled your past challenges, objectively, void of emotion, and ultimately successfully, to your competitive advantage.  When presented with new challenges we often forget we have proven ourselves before, and that we do already know, and have previously taken, the steps needed to take to gain a clear perspective and, thereafter, find our solution.  New challenges are inevitable, so why not embrace them, and the more we embrace and resolve them, the better we will become at facing new ones.  It is a competitive edge and preparedness that I believe most others do not have.

So I encourage all my fellow fitness-business owners that, when next confronted with a challenge, take a step back, regain your objective and unemotional perspective, enjoy the stress and let the others have the sleepless nights!

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The Shadow Party: How George Soros, Hillary Clinton, and Sixties Radicals Seized Control of the Democratic Party by: David Horowitz & Richard Poe

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Former Texas Tech head coach Spike Dykes addresses the crowd at McMurry's Football Awards Banquet, honoring the 2011 team.

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University paid tribute to its 2011 football team on Thursday evening at its annual awards banquet held at the Abilene Country Club. Former Texas Tech head coach Spike Dykes was the keynote speaker for the festivities.

The evening opened with an invocation delivered by Kevin Washington from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Master of Ceremonies was McMurry radio broadcaster David Bacon.

Billy Libby, McMurry’s CHAMPS Life Director, presented the awards for Academic All-American Southwest Conference. The War Hawks had 12 honorees, including: Kyle Wayne Kelley, Alex Crisman, Jake Mullin, Nick Hernandez, Eric Shaffer, Austin Brooks, Jacob Owen, Jordan Carter, Kiefer Price, Grant Feaster IV, Corey Hall and John Kowalski. Kelley was also named an ASC Distinguished Scholar Athlete.

McMurry Director of Athletics Ron Holmes recognized the ASC conference awards. McMurry landed 15 players on the  all-conference team, with taking ASC Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Mullin, who was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, also earned first-team all-conference honors along with the individual award. Joining Mullin offensively on the first team was senior tight end Delfonte Diamond and offensive guard Bertrick Ervin.

Defensively, senior free safety Will Morris and junior defensive end Hall landed first team all-conference honors. Morris, a Katy native, earned first-team honors for the third consecutive year while Hall added his second all-conference award after earning second-team honors last season.

McM head coach Hal Mumme displays the War Hawks’ “hardware” from the 2011 season!

Senior linebackers Kerry Gambleand Hernandez were named second-team all-conference along with junior corner

D.J. Baiza. R.J. Long, Price and Justin Johnson earned second-team all-conference honors on offense.

Earning honorable mention all-conference honors on offense was Shaffer, Nolan Hankins, Greg Livingston and Jeret Smith.

McM President Dr. John Russell announced the regional and national accolades afforded to the War Hawks. Head Coach Hal Mumme was named D3Football.com South Region Coach of the Year while Morris and Diamond earned first team honors.

Mullin, Ervin and Baiza were second-team honorees. Hall was a third-team all-South Region defensive team selection.

McMurry’s senior class members were also recognized, with each receiving their jersey framed. Many in the group were a part of a team which went 0-10 their freshman year (prior to the arrival of Mumme), to this past season’s 9-3 record, ASC runner-up finish and first-ever NCAA Division III playoff bid in school history.

A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of rings to program members in recognition of of their NCAA playoff berth and historic season in War Hawks’ football history.

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University football head coach Hal Mumme has announced the 2012 War Hawks’ schedule, the first of the program’s era as an NCAA Division II affiliate. McMurry will be competing as an independent while making the transition from NCAA III to NCAA II.

The ambitious schedule will pit the War Hawks versus a variety of competition and at various levels. The breakdown of McM’s slate of games for 2012 will include two NCAA Division I schools, four with NCAA Division II membership and four NAIA representatives. Just for good measure, the War Hawks will also play one contest versus an international foe.

Both NCAA Division I opponents play in the Southland Conference, a member of the Football Championship Series (FCS). Two teams are members of the Lone Star Conference (NCAA II) and five opponents compete in the Central States Football League.

“I feel that this schedule will be a good test for our program,” Mumme said. “It’s a good test, but at the same time, a very fair and competitive test. We are going to be challenged week-in and week-out against schools that are already competing with scholarship athletes.

“We have the type of athletes here whom I believe will respond very well to the rigors of this schedule. The old adage about iron sharpening iron holds true; as we make the jump to the next level we are going to meet new and progressively more challenging opponents.”

Here is a summary and brief look at each of McMurry’s 2012 football opponents:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30 – at Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Texas – Shotwell Stadium):
The Wildcats (8-3 in 2011) are NCAA II and Lone Star Conference members … This will be the 40th meeting between the teams, but the first since 1971 … ACU leads the series 24-15 … McMurry’s last win in the series was in 1968 (16-3).

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 – at McNeese State University (Lake Charles, La.):
The Cowboys are NCAA I FCS members and play in the Southland Conference … McNeese was 6-5 overall, 5-3 in the Southland Conference race (good for 3rd place) … McMurry has faced McNeese in the past and owns a 2-0 record against the Cowboys, however the meetings took place in 1957 (7-6) and 1958 (21-0).

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 – Home vs. Wayland Baptist University (Wilford Moore Stadium):
The Pioneers, an NAIA member, reinstated its football program for the 2012 season after a hiatus of 70 years … this will be the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between WBU and McMurry … The Pioneers are members of the CSFL.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 – at Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Goodwell, Okla.):
The Aggies are members of NCAA II and of the CSFL … OPSU was 3-7 in 2011 … This will be the 22nd meeting between McMurry and Panhandle State, with the War Hawks holding the 14-7 edge in the series in which all the meetings took place between 1972-98 … McM won the last meeting, 55-26.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 – vs. Southern Nazarene University (Grand Prairie, Texas):
This is the first meeting between the War Hawks and the Crimson Storm (located in Bethany, Okla.), with the game being played at the neutral, midway site at Grand Prairie, Texas (at G.P.H.S.) … SNU is transitioning to NCAA II this year and moving to the Great American Conference … The Crimson Storm was the CSFL co-champions in 2011, sporting a league record of 4-1 and 9-3 overall.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 – at Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas):
The Cardinals hold NCAA I FCS affiliation and are members of the Southland Conference … LU was 4-7 overall in 2011, 2-5 in the league (6th place) … McMurry and Lamar have met twice before in football, in 1953 (a 32-27 McM victory) and in 1954 (a 19-13 Cardinals win) … Lamar is in its third season since reinstating football in 2010 after a 20-year absence on campus (1990-2009).

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20 – at University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas):
McM will travel to Incarnate Word in what will be the team’s final road game of the year … The Cardinals are NCAA II and Lone Star Conference members … In 2011, Incarnate Word went 2-8 overall and 2-6 in the LSC (7th place) … The Cardinals are in their fourth season of intercollegiate football and will be facing McMurry for the first time.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 – Home vs. Langston University (Wilford Moore Stadium):
McMurry will host the Lions in its annual Homecoming Game … Langston, an NAIA member, shared the CSFL championship last year with a 4-1 league record (7-3 overall) … Langston (located in Oklahoma City) and McMurry have met just once previously in football, with the Lions taking a 26-21 decision during the 1990 season.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 – Home vs. Texas College (Wilford Moore Stadium):
The Steers, playing as members of the NAIA, were 0-11 in 2011 and 0-5 in the CSFL … TC is located in Tyler … The Steers and War Hawks have meet once prior in football, a 2010 meeting won by McM (64-0).

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 – Home vs. Bacone College (Wilford Moore Stadium):
The Warriors are NAIA affiliates and placed third in the CSFL in 2011 (3-2 league record and 5-6 overall) … Bacone is located in Muskogee, Okla. … The Warriors are 0-1 versus McMurry in football, having lost a 41-6 decision in 2010.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 – Home vs. University of Mexico (Wilford Moore Stadium):
The Pumas are located in Mexico City … They are coming off of a 6-2 season, losing their championship game by a single point (after going for a 2-point conversion in the title tilt) … The Pumas won Mexico’s national championship in 2010 … The team has scrimmaged several NCAA III teams in the United States, including McMurry last season … The University of Mexico is celebrating playing its 85th season of American football in 2012 … The team plays its home games in Mexico City’s Olympic Stadium, home of then 1968 summer Olympic Games.

McMurry University War Hawks
2012 Football Schedule

DATE (DAY)  OPPONENT (LOCATION)
Aug. 30 (TH) @ Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Texas)
Sept. 8 (S) @ McNeese State (Lake Charles, La.)
Sept. 15   -open-
SEPT. 22 (S) WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY (WILFORD MOORE STADIUM)
Sept. 29 (S) @ Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Goodwell, Okla.)
Oct. 6 (S) #vs. Southern Nazarene (Grand Prairie, Texas)
Oct. 13 (S) @ Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas)
Oct. 20 (S) @ University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas)
OCT. 27 (S) *LANGSTON UNIVERSITY (WILFORD MOORE STADIUM)
NOV. 3 (S) TEXAS COLLEGE (WILFORD MOORE STADIUM)
NOV. 10 (S) BACONE COLLEGE (WILFORD MOORE STADIUM)
NOV. 17 (S) UNIVERSITY of MEXICO (WILFORD MOORE STADIUM)

#played at Grand Prairie High School (Grand Prairie, Texas)
*Homecoming Game
Home games in BOLD CAPS

McM President John H. Russell (L) and Head Coach Hal Mumme (R)

War Hawks to Take on ACU on August 30

Jake Mullins is the FRS Quarterback Performance of the Year award winner for 2011

ABILENE, Texas – The state of Texas DID find itself with a winner on Super Bowl Sunday.

McMurry University quarterback Jake Mullin – a product of Burleson High School in the Dallas/Fort Worth area – pulled off one of the biggest upsets since David slew Goliath by winning the FRS Quarterback Performance of the Year contest. The results of the fan voting (conducted via social media) were announced as a part of the 2012 All-Star Football Challenge show on ESPN2 prior to Sunday’s Super Bowl game.

Mullin was joined by several dozen teammates, War Hawk fans and staff to watch the announcement in McM’s Campus Center.

“It’s awesome,” Mullin said of winning the award. “Hopefully, this gets (the McMurry) name out there even more. I just want to thank everybody who supported me; that voted for me. If it wasn’t for them, there’s no way I could have done this.

“I’m getting the honor, but it’s more of a team thing because the receivers make plays for me and the linemen block. There’s no way I could have done it without them.”

Mullin out-distance such notable weekly winners from the college football season as Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III (Baylor), projected No. 1 NFL Draft pick Andrew Luck (Stanford) and next year’s Heisman hopeful Matt Barkley (USC) to win the award. The junior signal-caller was the only non-NCAA Division I nominee in the voting (McMurry is an NCAA Division III school).

“This is a fantastic honor for both Jake and for McMurry University,” McM Head Coach Hal Mumme said. “Just to have Jake mentioned in the same sentence with some of the names of the other nominees was a high compliment. For him to have won the contest was a testament to Jake’s skills and abilities as a quarterback, as well as his knowledge of our offensive system.

Mullin’s award-winning performance came last October 15 versus Texas Lutheran University, when he threw for 614 yards and four touchdowns in the War Hawks’ 60-16 victory over the Bulldogs.

In that game, Mullin completed 43-of-57 passes with no interceptions, on his way to setting both the school and American Southwest Conference records for passing yards in a game. His efforts also helped the McMurry team set an NCAA III record for total offense in a game with 848 total yards.

Mullin will return for his senior season at McMurry in 2012 and be leading the program as the University’s athletics program moves to NCAA Division II beginning in the Fall of 2012. Mullin was a nominee for the 2011 Gagliardi Award as the top player in NCAA III. Mullin, the ASC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-ASC member, passed for 3,371 yards and 29 touchdowns in 11 games while completing 64 percent of his passes. Early in the season, he became McMurry’s all-time passing yardage leader and, through three seasons, has amassed 8,979 passing yards and 89 touchdown passes.

“I’m looking forward to Jake being able to showcase his talents at the D-II level next season,” Mumme added. “People are going to see that his ‘tools’ as a quarterback will transcend whatever level of competition at which he plays.”

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University football Head Coach Hal Mumme introduced his “Class of 2012” on Wednesday evening, a list of 18 student-athletes who will be the cornerstone of the War Hawk program’s transition to NCAA Division II beginning in the Fall of 2012.

The group will also be among the first student-athletes on the McMurry campus to receive athletic scholarships since the 1976-77 season.

As one examines the demographics of the “Class of 2012,” not surprising perhaps is the fact that no less than 13 of the newcomers will be on the offensive side of the ball and should enhance Mumme’s “Air Raid” offense. The largest number of recruits were at the wide receiver position, where all five come in with both good credentials and good size. The quintet all stands better than 6-foot, with two of them checking in at 6-foot-3.

Up front on offense, McMurry brought in some sizeable protectors. Among the four men added to the offensive front – charged with giving the War Hawk quarterbacks time to scan the field in the high-powered scheme – three check in at 300 pounds or better. The incoming “O-line” has an average size of 6-foot-4 and 294-lbs.

Mumme has also added three running backs to the McM stable, as well as a state championship quarterback.

On defense, the initial “Class of 2012” members includes two safeties, a defensive end, as well as a state championship and all-state linebacker. One special teams player – a kicker/punter – rounds out McMurry’s first wave of recruits for 2012.

As far as the high school supply line goes, three players will be coming from 3A state champion Wimberley (Brady Lambert, QB; Nick Alana, LB; Taylor Robertson, OL), along with two each from Denton Guyer (Josh King, K/P; Ryan Williams, S) and Smithson Valley (Easton McIntosh, WR; Nolan Nasis, OL).

Mumme’s group will have some local flavor with one recruit each from Abilene (Paxton Grayer, RB), Abilene Cooper (Garrison Railsback, DE), Brownwood (Stehl Ratliff, RB), and San Angelo Central (Corey Lopez, WR).

Burleson (Barrett Cain, WR), Sachse (Billy Cole, RB), Ft. Bend Hightower (Ryan Nelson, WR), Corpus Christi Moody (Charlie Thornton, OL), A&M Consolidated (Brett Mahnke, S), Allen (Jake Trotter, OL) and Grand Prairie (A.J. Singleton, WR) all contributed one player, as well.

Three of the new War Hawks will also be bringing Academic All-State credentials in as a part of their résumés.

“I think that this group will be a great compliment to the outstanding things the players over the past few seasons have accomplished here,” Mumme said. “This group will also be integral as we make that move toward full NCAA Division II membership and the type of young man we want to represent McMurry University Football.

“We obviously want a high-caliber athlete. But just as important is that we have individuals who can carry the name of McMurry – as well as the city of Abilene – to other places as we compete and be good ‘ambassadors’.”

Junior quarterback Jake Mullin (left) and Delfonte Diamond (right) were named BSN all-Americans