2007 was a long and laboring season. There's no doubt about that. It was Head Coach Dan Hunter's Third Season with Mines and best record so far. Recovering from seniors lost in 2006, the team needed an entirely new starting Attack, but came out and blasted away thoughts of a "Rebuilding Year." As a team, we overcame huge obsticles as well as having too many one goal wins and losses. There was always one thing we could not accomplish: A spot on the "Top 25 National Rankings" voted on by coaches around the MCLA.
In 2006, Mines made two appearances in the voting, but not in the top 25. It only got us fired up. In the 2007 preseason poll, Mines didn't recieve a single vote due to loosing so many seniors. That got us mad.
By the second vote of the season and two games under our belts, the voters saw Mines' potential. Pulling in at #39, Mines didn't leave the ballot for the rest of the season. In the third poll, Mines was #30. In the fourth poll, Mines recieved enough votes for #28. Holding steady, the fifth vote kept Mines at #28. Then, thinking top 25 was inevitable, in the sixth vote, Mines took #26! So close! Don't worry, though. In the seventh and last vote during the season, Mines got to the leader board! #24!
Congrats to the Team and the legacy of our first Top 25 appearance! The hard work our players exemplified was matched only by the honors and games won by way of teamwork. "As a Team."
-Mike Stone
