Bulldog Sports
Former Bulldogs football coach retires
Eastland honored for 20 years of service at New Waverly
NEW WAVERLY — On the same day in which Bob Eastland was honored after giving 20 years of service to New Waverly High School, he also ended his teaching career.
Eastland, who was the New Waverly athletic director and football coach for 15 years before resigning from both positions in 2005 but continued to teach, received a signed football from former Bulldog football players as part of his going-away present.
“I’ve got a lot of memories of all the kids from all my years of coaching,” Eastland said. “After being here for 20 years and coaching for 17 of them and seeing them grow up as fathers, like Shane Barge who was my first starting quarterback and now is a leader in the community, is pretty neat. That’s one of the benefits of being in one place for a long time.
“I enjoyed the years of coaching because I had some really good coaches. ... To have that and just be in a good community was very fortunate for me.”
Along with spending time with his family, Eastland will be able to focus his energies on running Hilltop Icehouse in Point Blank, which he purchased in March.
“I’ve been running that and teaching,” Eastland said. “Right now, I feel like there’s a big weight off my back where I can spend my time there. It’s been around since 1982. I was very fortunate to be able to buy it. So that is my retirement home.”
John Duplichan, who was on Eastland’s final team and currently plays offensive line for McMurry University, has fond memories of the former Bulldog boss.
“He’s one of the strictest coaches I’ve had, which made me a better man,” Duplichan said. “He taught us a lot about respect. I use that every day, whether it’s on the football field or off. I respect my elders, my coaches and people I don’t know. I really enjoyed the two years that he did coach me.”
Former Bulldogs star Paul Donelson has had a stellar career in football following his years at New Waverly and remains thankful to Eastland for that.
Donelson starred at Sam Houston State as an All-American safety. After graduating from SHSU, Donelson returned to New Waverly as a coach. In the role of defensive coordinator, Donelson helped lead the Bulldogs to the Class 2A Division II semifinals. The former Bulldog is currently the safeties coach at Class 5A Spring Westfield.
“He was a good man as well as a good coach,” Donelson said. “He always has the kids’ best interests in mind. He taught me a lot about preparation for games and also for college. He really drove home the point that I can have a career in football after I graduated from New Waverly. He’s a big reason of why I’m where I’m at in my life. He got me on the right track. He’s definitely going to be missed. He’s a good man and has deep respect for everyone around him.”
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Bulldogs are back again in 2010
They’ve been here before and know Austin all too well.Two years ago, the New Waverly Bulldogs made their first trip to the state tournament, but it ended rather quickly in a disappointing blowout loss to Tuscola Jim Ned.
Then last March, the Bulldogs got past Shallowater and advanced to the state championship game only to fall to defending state champion Ponder 51-39.
This time around, the Bulldogs are determined to take another step forward and come back with a state championship. They’re back again in 2010, and they say they’re going to finish the job this time. -
Bulldogs pass first test
NEW CANEY — Though it had been more than a week since the New Waverly boys played a meaningful game, the Dogs didn’t show an ounce of rust Thursday night.
With a strong defensive effort, the top-ranked Bulldogs cruised past East Chambers 78-36 and into the Region III quarterfinals where they’ll face either fourth-ranked Kountze or Buffalo early next week. -
Lady Dogs live to play another day
Leading by 16 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, it appeared as if the Lady Dogs would coast to an easy playoff victory.
The only problem was that Kirbyville never stopped playing. The feisty Ladycats made a game out of it.
Barely, the Lady Dogs held on, escaping with a 52-51 victory in Angelina College’s Shands Gym to advance to the area round of the Class 2A playoffs.
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Dogs clinch outright district title
NEW WAVERLY — If the Bulldogs haven’t already made space in the trophy case, they can do so now.
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Lady Hornets set playoff date
The Lady Hornets might have lost out on an outright district title Tuesday night at Willis, but the Lady Hornets got a big win Wednesday.
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Bulldogs blast Groveton 107-23
NEW WAVERLY — It certainly didn’t take long to figure out if the Bulldogs would continue their lengthy district winning streak.
In the opening minutes of Tuesday’s game against Groveton, the Bulldogs hit shots and forced turnovers. Top-ranked New Waverly scored the game’s first 19 points and rolled from there.
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New Waverly girls, boys crush Onalaska
The Lady Bulldogs took one step closer toward getting into the playoffs after cruising past Onalaska 56-16 Friday night.
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Bulldogs start new signing day tradition
In front of their friends, families and classmates, X’Zavious Harrison, Kyren Watts and his twin brother Tyren Watts fulfilled lifelong dreams as they signed scholarship offers Wednesday afternoon to play college football.
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Bulldogs are back again in 2010
