Area Sports
Abilene’s Sam Nichols carries basketball — and community — to the Bahamas
By Floyd Miller/West Texas Tribune Sam Nichols spent decades teaching Abilene how to read the weather. Long before that, he was teaching young women how to win basketball games. Now, in retirement, he continues teaching kids in the Bahamas how to play the game he loves — and the Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene…
Read MoreSix inducted into Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame at Abilene ceremony
By Bruce Campbell/West Texas Tribune Six outstanding Big Country athletes were inducted into the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame at a ceremony on April 20 at the Abilene Convention Center. Almost 500 were on hand to applaud as each of these gifted sports figures were introduced by Hall of Fame Chairman Al Pickett. This…
Read MoreForecasting Men’s March Madness 2026
By Jack Walker/West Texas Tribune In over 12 years of coverage and independent submissions for this publication, Mr. Miller has rarely given me a particular sports assignment to write about for the West Texas Tribune. The boss knows I’m in tune with the game when it comes to the wide world of sports, and the…
Read MoreThe worst best Super Bowl recap ever
By Jack Walker/West Texas Tribune Super Bowl 60 was the most predictable and boring climax to a season for any major sporting event championship ever. As projected by oddsmakers and expected by fans (that didn’t even watch a single game of the entire season), the Seattle Seahawks gave the New England Patriots the business on…
Read MoreRecently named Sam Nichols Court honors McMurry’s all-time winningest women’s basketball coach
Last fall, McMurry University introduced the newly named Sam Nichols Court, the basketball court in the Phillips Family Student Activities Center, in honor of Coach Sam Nichols, the all-time winningest coach in McMurry women’s basketball history. And, earlier this month, Nichols was inducted into the McMurry Legends Corner, further honoring his distinguished contributions to…
Read MoreFormer ACU defensive lineman Jerry Lawson transferring to Oklahoma State University
By Carla McKeown According to various news reports, Jerry Lawson, a former Abilene Christian University defensive lineman, is transferring to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater to play football for the Cowboys. Marshall Scott with the Pistols Firing Blog reports that Lawson will be joining Oklahoma State’s new defensive coordinator, Skyler Cassity, who was the defensive coordinator…
Read MoreSeason ends for Abilene High and Cooper in first round of playoffs
The majority of Big Country high school football teams will begin their offseason earlier than usual this year after most locals bowed out in the (Area Round) first round of the UIL Texas state high school playoffs. Only the Cisco High Loboes will continue their postseason journey (as of press time) into the second round…
Read MoreTexas triumphs over OU in Red River Rivalry game, hands the top ten Sooners their first and only loss of 2025.
By Jack Walker On Saturday, October 11, the (currently #22-ranked as of press-time) University of Texas ran over now #13 Oklahoma by a final score of 23-7 to notch another victory and hand the (then) top-ten -ranked Sooners their first loss of the season. At press time OU was 5-1 on the season while UT…
Read MoreCrosstown Showdown prompts closer look at history, tradition of Abilene rivalry
By Jack Walker Just the hype remains following the climax of the annually belligerent Crosstown Showdown at Shotwell Stadium between the Cooper High School Cougars and the Abilene High School Eagles on Sept. 5. Lightening delayed the game and punctuated the theme of the era as AHS rolled over CHS 34-14. The Abilene High defense…
Read MoreMcMurry University issued $2 million Mabee Foundation challenge grant to support new athletics facility
McMurry University recently announced that it has been issued a $2 million challenge grant from the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation to support the construction of a state-of-the-art athletics training facility and practice field. The grant is contingent upon McMurry raising $3,757,800 in philanthropic support by July 8, 2026. The challenge grant will help fund…
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