THIS IS WEST TEXAS A&M
FOOTBALL College football, in the State of Texas. Played under the lights on Saturday night. In front of the largest, most enthusiastic crowds, Supporting the Buffaloes on the largest stage in all of NCAA Division II.
Record-breaking performances A winning tradition A history of post-season competition
Tough on the road, Nearly unbeatable at home This is West Texas A&M Football Have you got what it takes to be a Champion?
A CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION Over the past six seasons, West Texas A&M has performed at a championship level. With 59 victories during that span, the Buffaloes can claim one of the highest regular-season winning percentages in all of college football. It adds up to three consecutive Lone Star Conference championships, FIVE NCAA Playoff appearances and SIX consecutive seasons of post-season play.
The Buffaloes’ high-powered offense has continually ranked among the National leaders in scoring, passing and total offense. And, their aggressive defensive play ranks among National leaders in sacks and tackles for loss.
It’s a long-standing tradition.
With victories in every post-season bowl appearance they’ve ever made. A tradition built with outstanding student-athletes…over 100 of whom have gone on to play professionally.
Are you up to the challenge?
Be a part of the West Texas A&M championship tradition.
99 Yards. That’s the length of Taylor Harris’
touchdown pass to Stephen Burton on Oct. 9, 2010 vs. Tarleton State. The play was the longest passing play in WT history and tied both a Lone Star Conference as well as an NCAA mark for the longest passing and scoring plays in history.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Every WT road contest is televised, live. Game day coverage also includes the largest newspaper in the Texas Panhandle and the Buffalo sports Network broadcasting games into five states.
DON CARTHEL HEAD COACH
To say that Don Carthel has elevated the West Texas A&M football to that of national prominence would be an understatement. What Carthel, who earned his 100th career collegiate victory Sept 28, 2010, in a 37-27 win at Angelo State, has accomplished over the past six seasons at WTAMU is simply amazing. He took a program that had won just seven games combined over the previous four years and guided it to six winning seasons, five NCAA Division-II playoff appearances, four LSC South Division titles, three-consecutive Lone Star Conference Championships, a bowl appearance - and 59 victories. During his first season in Canyon, Carthel and the Buffs surprised everyone, having been picked to finish last in the LSC preseason poll, as they registered a 10-1 regular season record and captured the school’s first Lone Star Conference Championship in 19 years. Carthel was honored by his peers as the 2005 LSC Coach of the Year. Following that breakout campaign, Carthel set out in 2006 to let the LSC and the rest of NCAA Division II know that WT’s 2005’s success was no fluke. The Buffs left little doubt, as they posted an 11-2 season and became the first squad in school history to claim back-to-back outright conference championships. After leading the country in Division II average attendance the previous year, Buff fans again came out in droves, helping WT to again rank first, nationally, in total attendance. That only set the stage for what was to come during the 2007 campaign, as the Buffs confidently went about amassing the school’s first-ever undefeated regular season, going 11-0 to claiming a third-straight Lone Star Conference championship and advance two rounds into the NCAA post-season playoffs.
Another 11-win, record shattering campaign followed in 2008, as the Buffs again were among the biggest draws in NCAA Division II. That season saw Carthel’s squad set no fewer than 15 team, 21 individual, 26 LSC and eight NCAA playoff records. In 2009, playing a schedule that featured six nationally-ranked opponents, and playing the nation’s then-top-ranked team twice, Carthel rallied an injury-riddled squad from a 1-5 start to six consecutive wins posting a 7-5 mark and the school’s first bowl appearance since the 1967 season. He then guided his 2010 squad to a sixthconsecutive winning season and a fifth NCAA playoff appearance. Carthel and his wife, the former Cindy Phillips, of Farwell, Texas, have two adult children, Colby (the Buffs’ defensive coordinator) and Courtney as well as three grandchildren.
COLBY CARTHEL DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Having completed his fifth season with the WTAMU football staff, defensive coordinator Colby Carthel has overseen the development of a Buffalo defensive unit that has held four opponents scoreless and five teams to three points or less over the past four seasons. Carthel led a 2010 Buffalo defense which was among the national leaders in sacks and pass efficiency defense, while linebacker Shad Baichtal ranked nationally among sack and tackle-for-loss leaders. In 2009, Carthel’s defensive unit held two opponents to less than 200 yards in total offense, while, individually, defensive end Eugene Sims earned AFCA all-America honors as well as being selected as LSC Defensive Lineman of the Year, as well as being taken in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams. In 2008, Carthel oversaw the development of linebacker Jared Brock who was a 2008 AFCA all-America selection, as well as earning LSC South Linebacker of the Year accolades. During 2007, lineman Brandon Swain earned first-team Little all-America honors, as well as being named LSC Defensive Lineman of the Year under Carthel’s direction. Carthel graduated from Angelo State in 2000 with his bachelor’s degree in Biology. Carthel is married former West Texas A&M AllAmerican volleyball player and current WT assistant volleyball coach, Sarah Butler and the couple resides in Canyon.
MIKE NESBITT OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Mike Nesbitt recently concluded his fourth season with the West Texas A&M football staff, as well as his initial season as the program’s offensive coordinator. In 2010, Nesbitt’s offensive unit produced over 6,300 yards in total offense, ranking second nationally, while scoring 42 points per game, fourth-highest among NCAA Division II offensive units. During the 2009 season, Nesbitt oversaw the programs receiving corps. Under his tutelage, WT receivers caught 355 passes for 4,251 yards, the third-highest receiving yardage total in WT history. In 2008, Nesbitt oversaw the development of current Carolina Panther receiver Charly Martin, who broke 23 individual WT, Lone Star Conference and NCAA receiving marks. For the year, Martin grabbed 95 passes for 1,867 yards and 22 TDs to earn all-LSC and all-America honors During 2007, Nesbitt-developed receivers Martin and A.J. Ruffins combined for 114 receptions 1,546 yards and 20 TDs. Additionally, Martin received all-America honors. After concluding his collegiate career at University of New Mexico, Nesbitt spent time in the NFL as a punter with the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings organizations. He then returned to UNM where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1996. Nesbitt and his wife, Camille, reside in Canyon and have one son, Gavin.
BILLY BEST
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH / OFFENSIVE LINE
A key to the success of the WT passing game is its offensive line. The person charged with overseeing that unit is associate head coach Billy Best, who recently concluded his fifth season with the Buffaloes’ coaching staff. Over the past four years, the Buffaloes’ offensive line has provided protection for an offensive unit that has ranked among the top-two passing attacks in the nation while also ranking among the top three, nationally, in total offense. Over those same four seasons, the Buffs have allowed just 81 QB sacks in 2,492 passing attempts. Individually, linemen J’Marcus Webb, Devario Dorsey, Tommy Crowley and Pat Schwenke earned first team all-Lone Star Conference honors under Best’s guidance, with Webb earning several all-America mentions as well as having been selected in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. The 2006 season saw Best assist in the production of three All-LSC offensive linemen. Best played collegiate football at Millsaps College and the University of Louisiana-Monroe, earning his bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Performance from ULM in 2001. He received his master’s from WTAMU in 2007. Best and his wife, Jennifer, a registered nurse, reside in Canyon with their dogs, Boudreaux and Rocky.
NICK PAREMSKI
ASSISTANT HEAD COACH /SECONDARY RECRUITING COORDINATOR
Now in his sixth season with the West Texas A&M football program, Nick Paremski serves in the multiple roles as the team’s assistant head coach, secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. Paremski’s secondary units have ranked among the Lone Star Conference leaders in passing efficiency defense. In 2010, he oversaw the development of cornerback Tae Evans, who was named LSC South Defensive Back of the Year. Over the past few years, he has also developed the talents of defensive backs Darnell Johnson, Arseel Shakoor, Bret Jones, Cashmin Thomas and Curtis Jefferson, all of whom garnered various post-season accolades. In 2006, Paremski helped a pair of Buff defensive backs garner AllLSC honors as WT claimed its second straight LSC Championship. Paremski earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of WisconsinLa Crosse and holds a master’s of Business Administration from Texas A&M-Kingsville. Nick and his wife, Krista, reside in Amarillo and are the parents of a son, Huston.
JOEL HINTON INSIDE RECEIVERS
Joel Hinton just concluded his third season on the West Texas A&M coaching staff, and his second as the inside receiver’s coach. Hinton graduated from Baylor in 2008 with a degree in physical education. While at Baylor, he was a student assistant/manager for the Bears’ football team, working with Guy Morriss’ coaching staff for four years. While at Baylor, Hinton learned the intricacies of the Air Raid offense under former Buffalo offensive coordinator Lee Hays. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, he came to WT in the fall of 2008 as a graduate assistant coach and he took over the Inside receiver’s coaching responsibilities in the fall of 2009. Hinton completed his Master’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from WT in the spring of 2010. Hinton is married to the former Jessica Sanderson of Robinson, Texas. She teaches special education and coaches volleyball and softball at Amarillo (Texas) Caprock High School.
DEREK HOMER RUNNING BACKS
Derek Homer recently concluded first season as a member of the West Texas A&M football staff, where his primary responsibility revolves around the WT running backs. The Fort Knox, Ky., native is a 1997 graduate of Fort Knox (Ky.) HS, where he was the state of Kentucky’s all-time rushing leader at the time of his graduation, having gained 8,224 yards and earning Kentucky ‘Mr. Football’ honors He continued that success as a running back at the University of Kentucky, lettering for the Wildcats from 1997-2000. He earned freshman all-Southeastern Conference honors, was a team co-captain in 1998-2000 and finished his career ranking as the Wildcats’ fifth alltime receptions leader. Homer earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/Communications from UK in 2003. His coaching resume includes high school stints at Bryan Station (Ky.) HS in 2003, Lexington (Ky.) Christian Academy HS in 2007 and Pelham (Ala.) HS in 2009. Homer makes his home in Canyon, Texas.
SARAH RAMEY STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
Sarah Ramey recently concluded her fourth season as the head strength & conditioning coach at WTAMU. Ramey works with WT student-athletes in all sports in the areas of strength training and physical conditioning, the benefits of which can be seen in the numerous honors and team championships which WT has garnered during her tenure at WT, as well as by her being recognized as the 2009 recipient of the Samson Equipment Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year Award, as given by American Football Monthly. From 2003-06 she served as an assistant strength and condition coach at the University of Colorado. In that capacity, she worked with the school’s football, volleyball, women’s soccer and alpine skiing squads. In addition, Ramey also is a registered yoga instructor and taught yoga classes at Colorado. During her collegiate days, Ramey was a three-year volleyball letter winner at Wichita State where she played middle blocker and right side hitter for the Shockers. She earned the Missouri Valley Academic Excellence Award in 2000 and maintained a 3.83 GPA while graduating with a degree in Exercise Science in May of 2002.
Play on the Biggest Stage One of the greatest spectacles in college football is the sight of West Texas A&M’s mascot, Thunder, running across the field in front of a packed house at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium The Buffs have led the nation in Division II total attendance in four of the last six seasons under Coach Carthel, and ranked among the top-3 in each of the last two years. The Buffs averaged just under 14,000 fans per regular-season home contest during the 2005 campaign, 12,049 fans per game during the 2007 season and 11,896 per contest in 2008, including crowds in excess of 22,000. Having celebrated its Golden Anniversary during the 2009 season (the Buffs’ contest against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sept. 26, 2009, marked 50 years to the date that the stadium was dedicated), the stadium boasts the largest seating capacity of any on-campus football facility in NCAA Division II, seating 20,000 fans in its unique, bowl shaped surroundings. The largest crowd to ever see a contest at Kimbrough Memorial occurred on Oct. 13, 2007, when 23, 276 fans packed the historic stadium to see WT defeat Eastern New Mexico, 62-31.
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BUFFALOES IN THE PROS
Number of Buffaloes selected in the NFL draft over the past two seasons. Keith Null (St. Louis Rams) went in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft, while J’Marcus Webb (Chicago-sixth round) and Eugene Sims (St. Louis-seventh round) were selected in the 2010 draft.
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Buffaloes who have been on NFL active rosters over the past two seasons. Anthony Armstrong (Washington Redskins), Keith Null (St. Louis Rams) and J’Marcus Webb (Chicago Bears) have all seen starting duty at the NFL level. Two Buffaloes, RB Mercury Morris and LB Jesse Powell, were members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins team that is renowned for ‘The Perfect Season’.
John Ayers, Mercury Morris and Jesse Powell were members of seven Super Bowl teams. Ayers was with the San Francisco 49ers for Super Bowls XVI and XIX, as well as being with the Denver Broncos for Super Bowl XXII. Morris and Powell were members of the Miami Dolphins’ Super Bowl VII and VIII teams. One of the longest NFL careers of any Buffalo belonged to offensive lineman Reggie McElroy, who played 13 seasons (1983-96). McElroy spent his first seven years with the New York Jets. He also played for the Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos before retiring following the 1996 season.
WT Athletics Home of Champions Men’s Basketball
26 Championship banners. 24-consecutive winning seasons. 11 NCAA tournament appearances. Six LSC Tournament titles. Four LSC South Division championships.
Women’s Basketball
31 winning seasons since 1975. 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. 15 LSC Regular Season titles. Nine LSC Tournament Championships. Eight LSC South Division titles. Four trips to the NCAA Elite Eight.
Football
Six consecutive winning seasons. Five NCAA playoff appearances over the past six seasons. Four LSC Championships.
Men’s Soccer
A Conference power. A Regional power. A National power. Five NCAA Tournament appearances. Four Conference titles.
Women’s Soccer
13 LSC championship appearances. Nine LSC championship finals appearances. Five LSC Championship titles. One Elite Eight appearance.
Softball
In just five seasons under head coach Kevin Blaskowski, the program has averaged over 25 wins a season with a 2010 LSC South Division Championship and program’s first ever NCAA postseason appearance.
Volleyball
A National Power. 21 NCAA Regional appearances. 17 Lone Star Conference regular-season championships. 16 LSC Tournament titles. 11 Elite Eight appearances. Four National Championship matches. Three National Championships.
IT’S MORE THAN ‘GOING OFF TO COLLEGE.”
It’s discovering what you’re made of… Explore Your Interests.
A Great Value at a Great University
West Texas A&M University offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs and 43 graduate programs ranging from accounting to education, music therapy, sociology and wildlife biology. The small-town atmosphere at WTAMU is a terrific environment to discover your interests and find what you’re passionate about learning and accomplishing.
West Texas A&M costs about 35 percent less than the average of other State universities. In cold, hard cash, this means a total savings of $3,000 - $9,000 per year. During the academic year, WTAMU will award $33 million in financial aid and $2.5 million in scholarships to students.
WTAMU provides a major university experience without the big college hassles and expense. WTAMU, a member of The Texas A&M University System, boasts an enrollment of more than 7,700 students from 35 states and 30 countries. The University honors its 100-year history, but continues to grow and reflects an energy for the future. WTAMU is a student-driven University that offers the ultimate college experience through a perfect balance of liberal arts and career-oriented programs combined with various campus activities and numerous community involvement opportunities to ensure future success. It’s a place where students come to grow, learn and lead. The historic campus dates back to the early 1900s, but offers a modern appeal with more than $95 million in capital improvements during the past 10 years, including the new $21.8 million Buffalo Sports Park. The new facility is home to the largest grouping of synthetic athletic fields in the United States, with competition facilities for baseball, softball, soccer and track & field, practice fields for football and soccer and recreational fields as well as basketball and tennis courts, a jogging track and grand lawn.
DISCOVER THE BUFF IN YOU Where you want to go. Who you want to be.
Undergraduate Fields of Study
Go BUFF Wild! Get Involved.
College of Agriculture, Science and Engineering • Agribusiness • Agricultural Business and Economics • Agriculture • Animal Science • Equine Industry and Business • Plant, Soil and Environmental Science • Agricultural Media and Communication • Computer Science • Engineering Technology • Mechanical Engineering • Pre-Engineering • Biology • Biotechnology • Environmental Science • Geology • Medical Technology • Pre-Dentistry • Pre-Medicine • Pre-Pharmacy • Pre-Physical Therapy • Pre-Veterinary Medicine • Wildlife Biology • Chemistry • Mathematics • Physics • College of Business • Accounting • Economics • Finance • Information and Decision Management • General Business • Management • Marketing • College of Education and Social Sciences • All-Level Education • Elementary Education • Secondary Education • Criminal Justice • Political Science • Applied Arts and Sciences/Emergency Management Administration• Pre-Law Studies • Public Administration • Psychology • Social Sciences • Social Work • Sociology • Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities • Art • Dance • Graphic Design • Musical Theatre • Studio Art • Theatre • Mass Communication — Broadcasting • Mass Communication — Print Media • Mass Communication — Public Relations • Speech Communication • English • Spanish • Geography • History • Music • Music Composition • Music Therapy • Music Performance • Applied Arts and Sciences • General Studies • College of Nursing and Health Sciences • Communication Disorders • Nursing • Sports and Exercise Sciences • Athletic Training
You’ll have interests outside of athletics, be it politics, religion, community service, a profession or most any other area of interest you can think of, WTAMU has a place for you to get involved. With more than 100 campus organizations, countless traditions and activities, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of the action. You could be a Communications Buff, a Business Buff, an Engineering Buff . . . or maybe you don’t yet know what kind of buff you’ll be. No worries. The first-year experience at West Texas A&M gives you lots of opportunities to find your interests, talents and abilities. Trained counselors and fascinating classes help you narrow down the options and find your passions. Stop stressing. We’ll help you Discover the BUFF in You.
West Texas A&M University Dept. of Intercollegiate Athletics WTAMU Box 60049 Canyon, Texas 79016 806-651-4400 www.gobuffsgo.com