The 2009 season was a great time to be a fan of ACU football. The Wildcats finished with a 9-4 record, and earned a fourth consecutive playoff appearance, and the future looks even brighter for the boys in purple and white. The Wildcats need the fans to be an even bigger part of the action at Shotwell Stadium in 2010

In head Coach Chris Thomsen’s five years in Abilene the Wildcats have missed the playoffs only once, and have won their first playoff game and first Lone Star Conference title during his tenure. His first season at the helm was rough as the Wildcats won only for of their 10 games. However, ever since his Wildcats have compiled a record of 38-11, and with a young lineup, 2010 promises to be another successful season as well.

The 2009 season also saw the Wildcats reach the football summit. Following their week seven38-14 drubbing of Angelo State, the Wildcats ranked as the top team in the nation, via the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll. The ’Cats ascension to the top of the polls was not only a boon to morale in 2009, but adds new promise to the future.

“I think that, first of all, this says a lot about all the time and work put in by our coaches and players,” Mosley said. “I’m proud of the way our coaches and players represent not only the team, but the university. This is a boost in the arm.”

Following the 2008 season the Wildcats lost three of the greatest players in program history. Quarterback Billy Malone graduated, running back Bernard Scott is playing for the Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Johnny Knox is catching passes from Jay Cutler for the Chicago Bears.

Normally losing three great players will cripple a team, and while the Wildcats’ offensive productivity did slip in 2009 the emergence of new young talent made the drop-off less noticeable.  As the Wildcats move forward into the 2010 season, they will move forward with an exciting young team. Next season the Wildcats new young stars will have another season under their belts and that means more experience and more confidence in 2010.

Last year the Wildcats started a redshirt freshman quarterback in Mitchell Gale, who took over a sputtering ACU offense in week six. Gale did not disappoint throwing for 300 yards in his first start. The upcoming season should be exciting as Gale will have his first full season as the Wildcats starting gunslinger.

Gale will be complemented next year by a talented young rushing tandem in backs Reggie Brown and Daryl Richardson. In 2009 Richardson rushed for 990 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Reggie Brown rushed for 988 yards and seven touchdowns. The Wildcats will also return their leading wide receiver Edmund Gates. Gates caught 49 passes for 702 yards and five touchdowns in 2009, but his production will likely increase next season as he and Gale develop more and more chemistry.

Additionally the Wildcats offense will be supported by a stout defense in 2010. In 2009 the Wildcats had the top overall defense in the Lone Star Conference, and the top rushing prevent defense in the entire nation. The Wildcats will return many starters on defense in 2010 including linebacker Fred Thompson. The highlight of Thompson’s 2010 season had to have been the Wildcats game against Texas A&M Kingsville, during which Thompson had nine total tackles, forced two fumbles, and collected 1 ½ sacks on Javelinas’ quarterback Billy Garza.

If recent years are any indication, 2010 will feature another exciting year of football on the Hill. The Wildcats gained national attention in 2009 with not only their No. 1 ranking, but also with other special moments. The Wildcats played in the first ever nationally televised game at Shotwell Stadium in their season opening game against Northwest Missouri State, a 19-14 win for the Wildcats. The Wildcats also played their first ever game at Texas’ most famous stadium, the Cotton Bowl. The Wildcats pulled off a 20-14 win on a rainy night in Dallas when Drew Cuffee returned an interception for a touchdown in overtime.

Special moments like the above are why fans can’t afford to miss a minute of the action in 2010. The Wildcats need fans decked out in purple and white to be in the stands rooting them on next year. The Wildcats will have an exciting schedule in 2010, with many great rivalries and tough in conference opponents. Regional rivals Tarleton State and Angelo State will both pay visits to Shotwell Stadium, and the ’Cats will make the always memorable trip up to the Panhandle to take on West Texas A&M in Canyon.

The Wildcats drew some great crowds in 2009 including a crowd of nearly 13,000 on hand to watch ACU battle WTAMU on homecoming. The team hopes to have even more bodies in the seats in 2010 as they hope Shotwell Stadium will become one of the toughest places in the nation for visiting teams to play. The student body at ACU is excited about the 2010 season, and anticipates a great season for their beloved Wildcats

“I can’t wait to see what the team is going to be like,” said Sophomore Farron Salley. “I feel like a lot of the players we have this year will have more experience and be better equipped to handle pressure in the future.”

The Wildcat Experience would not be the same without the great fans that fill the stands and create the unique environment that is ACU football. To be a part of the experience in 2010, season family passes can be purchased, or individual game tickets can be purchased from the athletics office, or at the gate at Shotwell Stadium.

Don’t miss a minute of the action as Mitchell Gale, Reggie Brown and the rest of the squad look to bring the Wildcats closer to the promised land, and bring a third national title home to Abilene. Bleed purple and White in 2010.

Quick Glance at the Wildcats 2009 Season

• RECORD: 9-4
• All-Conference: 21 All Conference Players
• Playoffs: Second Round Loss to NW Missouri State
• Key Players

QB: Mitchell Gale

RBs: Daryl Richardson

WR: Edmund Gates

• Head Coach: Chris Thomsen 42-17 in 5 seasons

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Come be a part of the action in 2010 as the ACU Wildcat Football team looks to continue its recent run of success. The Wildcats keep moving toward their goal of a national championship, and you can’t afford to miss a single play!

The USA Today/ESPN coaches poll has the Kansas Jayhawks #1 atop the preseason poll, with Michigan State and Texas rounding out the top three. Last year’s champion, North Carolina, sits fourth to begin the 2009-2010 season.

Economic reports indicate that the U.S. economy grew at a rate of 3.5% in the 3rd Quarter, the biggest boost in two years. The uptick ended a streak of four consecutive down quarters, the worst economic downturn in 62 years. The U.S. housing market has also improved growing at a rate of 23.4% annually.

House democrats took another step towards comprehensive healthcare reform with a new $894 billion bill presented  Thursday. Among the bills reforms is a hotly contested government backed public insurance option. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi contends that the new bill insure 96% of Americans, cut the deficit by $30 Billion, and subsidize poorer uninsured Americans.

On his usability website useit.com, Jakob Nielsen discusses the merits and inconveniences associated with extra features on a web interface. Ultimately Nielsen contends that the more gadgets and gizmos a site has, the greater the likelihood of mistakes. Nielsen concludes that extra features allow, “more rope for users to hang themselves with.”

He uses the example of a computer mouse. Apple contends that the presence of a right-click option presents more opportunities for error. However, Nielsen argues that the right-click option serves as an example of where extra features provide benefit.

He also discusses the engagement levels of users. Nielsen believes that most web users have a low tolerance level, and just want to get things out of the way, and thus extra features can pollute. He compares people’s engagement level to Photoshop. There is a simple program for beginners, an intermediate program for savvy camera users, and an extensive and pricey software for professionals. He then connects the subjects of web usability and Photoshop with the idea that websites can have differing levels of complexity just like Photoshop, and should in that case target only a specific audience.

Nielsen concludes his thoughts with the idea that websites can increase users engagement levels as the users become more involved with the site.  In the end he contends that the words of a site far out value fancy interface and features. He contends that sites should perform usability tests and offers a thesis that users care far less about the site than their architects think.

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/features.html