The WTAMU football team will have one final chance at claiming the Wagon Wheel trophy in the homecoming matchup against Eastern New Mexico University on Oct. 10 at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
The Buffaloes are coming off a Lone Star Conference loss to Midwestern State University, 31-19. The loss drops WT to an overall record of 1-5, (0-2 LSC South). The Greyhounds of ENMU also suffered their second conference loss against Angelo State, 47-23. The Greyhounds are sitting at 2-4 overall (0-2 LSC South).
“This should be a great football game and a great atmosphere,” Don Carthel, head coach, said. “This is a big game on both of our calendars. We definitely want to win and have the bragging rights to keep the trophy right here in Canyon.”
Prior to the 2009 season, athletic directors and commissioners voted on the schedules for the 2010-11 seasons.
According to Michael McBroom, athletic director, ENMU volunteered to switch divisions from the south division to the north. McBroom said there were a variety of reasons behind Eastern’s decision to switch.
“The talk of Eastern switching came up when it looked like Incarnate Word was going to come into the conference,” Carthel said. “They were looking to balance the North and South. Somebody was going to have to go to the North and Eastern was willing to do it.”
The Wagon Wheel game has a rich history of tradition starting back in 1945 when WT notched a 57-6 victory over the Greyhounds. ENMU and WT did not see each other on the field again until 1986 when the rivalry resumed with Don Carthel, head coach of the Greyhounds at the time, helped pioneer the idea.
The winner of the game received the traveling Wagon Wheel Trophy until the next matchup. Since 1986, ownership of the wheel has been contested every year except 1991, when WT did not compete in football.
“The idea started with our student bodies,” Carthel said. “They wanted to have a natural rivalry and traveling trophy so we came up with the idea of a Wagon Wheel.”
According to Carthel, the Wagon Wheel was picked up off a ranch outside of Portales, N.M. The wheel was taken to a blacksmith and fixed up. It is still the original wheel that is used today.
The Buffaloes lead the current series of Wagon Wheel wins, 12-11-0. In the 2008 expedition, WT walked away with the trophy after defeating ENMU, 51-27 at Blackwater Draw, N.M. It was the fourth-straight season the Buffs claimed the trophy. Now, as Incarnate Word University looks to enter the Lone Star Conference, ENMU seems to be looking for a way out.
“I would rather them stay in the South so we can continue to play them,” Derek Peoples, defensive lineman, said. “The North is an easier division. Nothing against any of those teams, but the South teams have more on their plate.”
Ultimately, the addition of Incarnate Word also affects the 2010 schedule for the Buffs. In 2008, the Buffs played four non-conference opponents, finishing the season with an overall record of 11-2.
The 2009 season has been a similar story with four non-conference opponents from across the nation. These games comprise teams from the regions such as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The 2010 season is looking for a few changes such as the possibility of having only one non-conference game.
“I think that a ten-game schedule will hurt us in the playoffs,” McBroom said.
I don’t like the fact that we’ll be playing ten games with opponents from our conference.”
Another impact this change is going to make is on the fans. In 2007, WT boasted a record-breaking crowd of more than 23,000 fans. WT’s largest crowd this season was during the home opener against Grand Valley State with 15,093 fans.
“I think everybody is going to be disappointed,” Carthel said.
It’s a neat concept and it’s a natural rivalry. It’s a shame we aren’t going to be able to play them.”
Although athletic officials are still working out the details on the switch, it can be predicted that there will not be a Wagon Wheel contest during the 2010 season. The 2010 season may be a year away, but the Buffalo coaching staff is focusing on the current season and the Homecoming contest against the Greyhounds.
“We’ve got one goal this week and that’s to beat Eastern New Mexico University,” Carthel said.
Carthel and the Buffaloes will put this strategy to the test on Oct. 10 when the Greyhounds come to town. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.