Last fall, the New Mexico Highlands University football team opened the season 4-0 before losing a pair of quarterbacks to injury and ended up finishing the season 4-7.
Whatcom County football fans know that the Cowboys took a big step toward protecting their quarterbacks for the next four seasons on Friday evening, Feb. 10, when Lynden senior offensive lineman Taylor Witman signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the school.
New Mexico Highlands is a Division II program that plays in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
"I think next year they're going to be a top contender to go for a Division II national championship," Witman said in a phone interview late Friday.
Witman, a 6-foot-4, 260-pounder who played mostly left guard, definitely will bring a fair share of knowledge about how to win titles with him next fall to Las Vegas, N.M. As a three-year starter for the Lions, Witman was a big part of Lynden's runs to the Class 2A state championships in 2009 and 2011. Last fall, he helped pave the way to 5,276 yards of total offense during the Lions' first unbeaten season.
Witman said he got a number of looks from schools around the country and chose New Mexico Highlands over offers from Humboldt State and Northwestern in Iowa as well as the chance to walk on at a couple of other Division I FCS schools.
"The coaching staff (at Highlands) really impressed me," Witman said of his decision. "I got the impression from talking to them that they really want me there, and I like what they had to say. They have 10 Division I transfers coming to the school, so I think they're going to be pretty good, too."
Though he has yet to visit the campus, Witman said he also was impressed with the business program at the school.
"I was calling (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Sheldon) Cross (Friday) to talk some more about the school, and all of a sudden it hit me," Witman said. "So at about 5:30, I said I'm thinking about becoming a Cowboy, and (Cross) was so excited. I'm looking forward to it."
WIAA CONSIDERS PROPOSALS
Lummi football coach Jim Sandusky may be able to leave the calculator in the office next fall.
A proposal to change the "mercy" rule for Class 1B to bring it into line with the other five classifications in the state is among of list of 16 proposed amendments released earlier this month that the 2012 Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Representative Assembly will consider this spring.
Lummi was one of 10 1B schools from around the state credited with proposing the amendment to change the 1B "mercy" rule to a running clock after the second-half point differential reaches 40 points, just like it is in all other classifications.
The current 1B rule ends the game any time that 40-point margin is reached during the second half.
Sandusky has often spoken against the current 1B rule, because it doesn't give him a chance to put in his younger players late in lopsided wins to help get those players on-field experience. The Blackhawks reached the 40-point margin in half of their 12 games in 2011.
According to the WIAA release, "Ending a game abruptly is disappointing for both teams and is often more embarrassing and demoralizing for the losing team, not because of the loss, but because of not being allowed to finish."
The WIAA also is expected to consider changes to the out-of-season definition this spring, possibly adding a 10-day school-designated "dead" period for all teams.
Paid and volunteer coaches are already restricted from coaching present or future athletes from Aug. 1 through the first day a specific sport turns out and from the final day of the state tournament until the conclusion of the final spring state tournament.
The new proposed amendment would require each school to designate a 10-day period during the summer when all athletes and coaches would be prohibited from using school equipment and facilities, including school weight rooms.
According to the WIAA release, the "dead" period would allow coaches and players a chance to spend time with their families and help reduce coach and athlete burnout from overworking. It also would allow schools an annual opportunity to schedule maintenance or upgrades to school and district facilities.
Among other amendment changes the Representation Assembly is considering this spring are:
? A proposal that would allow 2B, 1A and 2A schools that can demonstrate that their enrollment in their school district for the next two-year classification cycle is below the cutoff point to move down in classification. Movement by a school would not force another school into a higher classification to replace the school with declining enrollment.
? A proposal to force all schools to use a WIAA-approved physical form for student athletes to ensure that all athletes are evaluated on the some criteria.
? A proposal to count regular-season basketball tournaments as two games, rather than the current system which can count them as many as three or four games, depending on the length of the tournament.
? A proposal to extend baseball's "mercy" rule of ending a game that has a 10-run margin at the end of any inning after the fifth to the state playoffs.
? Proposed changes to the amendments for the appeal process for ejections from contests.
The amendments may be modified during the Winter Coalition on March 12 and are expected to be reposted March 15. Any that pass will go into affect on Aug. 1.
Reach David Rasbach at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2271.
MOVING ON
Here is a look at the Whatcom County high school seniors who either have signed or are planning to sign National Letters of Intent or have made commitments to be student athletes in college:
Student athlete High school Sport College
Jesse Antczak Blaine Football Minot State
Coryn Bajema Lynden Christian Soccer South Carolina
Jessica Bertucci Sehome Soccer Western Washington
Brett Gunderson Meridian Football Simon Fraser University
Madison Heilmann Sehome Soccer Loyola Marymount University
Jasmine Hommes Lynden Christian Basketball Montana State
Raney Lepper Mount Baker Volleyball Western Washington
Samantha Logan Mount Baker Soccer Whatcom Community College
Trevon Myhre Nooksack Valley Football Central Washington
Kristina Nelson Ferndale Soccer Eastern Washington
Andrew Price Blaine Football UNLV
B.J. Salmonson Nooksack Valley Football Washington State
Jake Schroeder Ferndale Baseball Washington State
Olivia St. Claire Bellingham Soccer Graceland (Iowa) University
Bri Smith Bellingham Soccer Whatcom Community College
Carrie Starbuck Lynden Volleyball Saint Martin's University
Sarah Taubenheim Sehome Soccer Whatcom Community College
Brielle VanZonneveld Lynden Christian Volleyball Seattle Pacific
Taylor Witman Lynden Football New Mexico Highlands
NOTE: To report a Whatcom County high school student athlete that is planning to continue their playing career in college, please contact David Rasbach at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2271.
