Tarleton State is now in the big-time — Division I

FROM MY FRONT PORCH

Sam Houston is the publisher of the Hood County News. He is also an actor, author, playwright, performer and entertainment producer/promoter.

Lots of wonderful changes are happening with our friends and neighbors over at Tarleton State University.

How many of you realize that Tarleton is now an NCAA Division 1 school, meaning they are competing with some of the biggest of the big boys in the world of collegiate athletics? Just this past week ESPN announced a deal with the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) to nationally televise the conference’s basketball and football games! Tarleton State is a proud member of the WAC and is super excited about the opportunity to play on the “big stage” and the exposure national television can bring.

How cool is it to have a wonderful school like Tarleton, a school so many Hood County families have attended, be part of “big league” college athletics? Nothing I like better than going to topflight college football and basketball games.

Yes, I know it will take some time for Tarleton to grow into its new sports surroundings, but how much fun will it be watching it all happen? The best thing is, Tarleton is right in our backyard, the tickets are relatively inexpensive, and I can take the family and enjoy a great game. I know I am going to get some tickets and support my new favorite college team! Look for some great coverage of Tarleton sports in the HCN, and some special stories about Granbury athletes and students who are making a difference.

COVID COVERAGE

I got several emails or notes this week about the way the Hood County News has covered the COVID crisis. Several people pointed out they had read information in the Thursday Fort Worth Star-Telegram that was not included in our Saturday newspaper.

Please understand, we consider the COVID crisis to be a serious issue and certainly one worth reporting. However, the information the Star-Telegram published was not released to the press until AFTER the HCN had gone to print. Within 30 minutes of receiving the press release we got the information on our website, and it was included in our social media. We had additional coverage in our very next newspaper edition, as we attempted to make people aware of the situation at our hospital and the rise in COVID cases. Please check our website for up-to-date and all the last-minute information we receive about COVID in Hood County. We want to keep you informed, and try our best to do so.

JUST GUESSING

Do you ever stop and think, in 20 years, what are we going to look back on and shake our head about? Currently, I sometimes think about things people did years ago and I laugh or shake my head in disbelief. Things like polyester leisure suits, platform shoes for men, bell-bottom hip hugger pants, and girls with permanents using so much hair spray to keep it standing in place, they could have been declared to be a biohazard!

Wonder what the future world will think about yoga pants, tattoos, not getting vaccinated, and so many men getting mullets. I probably won’t be there to see it, but I am guessing the past is going to have a lot of explaining to do!

Thought for the day: There is no greater stranger than looking in the mirror and seeing the man I used to be.

Until next time.

sam@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 260