CASPER, Wyo. - Nick Guy, Adam Mueller and Jena Lien figure they're the lucky ones - luckier, at least, than their younger National American University teammates.

That's because, as seniors, they knew this College National Finals Rodeo would be their last.

That didn't make the news that this also would be the last season for the entire NAU team any easier to digest. Guy and Lien say they were just as stunned by that announcement two months ago as any Maverick.

It's just that, because they'd already begun to prepare for the end of their college careers, they could be a little more philosophical about it.

"I still can't believe it," Lien said of the announcement earlier this year that NAU planned to phase out its athletic program. "The rodeo team has been so important to the school. It's a big deal. It was a shock at first, then sadness.

"This is a doubly bittersweet experience for me. It's my last time here (at the CNFR), but it's also the last time for NAU. I'm just fortunate I don't have the stress of the younger kids, who weren't sure where they were going to go after this."

Mueller agreed.

"I was expecting that this would be my last time wearing the (NAU) blue vest. Turns out, it's that way for all of us."

NAU coach Glen Lammers said the announcement that the school intended to close its athletic program caught everyone connected with the program by surprise. But he's quick to add that he's proud of the way his student-athletes handled the disappointment, because they refused to allow it to become a distraction. They recommitted themselves to having an outstanding season and getting as many competitors as possible to the CNFR, he said.

"We've got a group of kids with such positive attitudes and such bright futures," he said. "We did talk about this rodeo. What is our strategy? Our strategy for this rodeo hasn't changed for the last 13 years I've been coming here.

"I told them 'If you give it everything you've got and be prepared, and as long as you did everything you could, you'll be satisfied with the results.' It is an important rodeo, but you can't put any extra pressure on yourself. I don't think this being the last rodeo is changing any of their performances."

The one thing Lammers said he did stress is that his cowboys and cowgirls not give up on their educations. As many as 10 of his underclassmen are considering transferring to Black Hills State, where he will take over next season as head coach.

Junior E.J. Karp will remain at NAU, where he plans to complete his degree in equine management. He still has three classes and an internship to complete before he graduates. Sophomore Weston Garrett, who already has an associates degree in welding out of Texas, said he is considering focusing all his attention on a professional rodeo career.

But, for the rest of this week, the focus for the Mavericks is on the CNFR.

Guy, who graduated in May with a degree in business administration and will be an assistant coach at Chadron State next season as he pursues his masters, said the news that the program will cease to exist at the end of this week has had a galvanizing effect on the Mavericks.

"We have used this as a motivator," he said. "I think every one of us has worked a little harder to end this on a good note. I give a lot of credit to everyone on the team. Right now, no one is thinking about what happens next week or next year. We're thinking about this week. We're determined to represent NAU with the same pride we've always had."