Longsnapping -Mark Gress Jr.

Besides most back-up players in the National Football League, those who are holders, “wedge-busters” or longsnappers have to be considered the most unsung heroes in the league. Of those, the longsnapper could be the most unsung.

Usually when you hear about longsnappers, like most unsung and underappreciated players, it is when they make a mistake and cost their team a play or even the game that they get noticed. For example, in the 2003 National Football Conference playoffs, the New York Giants set up for a game-winning field-goal and their longsnapper, Trey Junkin, threw a groundball back to the holder and cost the Giants the game and their season.

Never before had a longsnapper been the top news story on ESPN until Junkin’s blunder.

Although unfortunate, I appreciated the fact that the position was getting some press. The last time I had heard the position mentioned on air or read anything in the newspaper, was when, I believe it was FOX, ran a five minute special on Philadelphia Eagles’ longsnapper Mike Bartrum. Bartrum, a tight-end from Marshall University, is considered the best longsnapper in the NFL.

Back in 2002, some national newspapers like the USA Today and the NFL Insider named Bartrum the league’s best longsnapper. He also happens to be one of the highest paid players at his position in the NFL.

I was also a longsnapper, albeit on a smaller level, in high school and adopted Bartrum as someone to model myself after. I watched him for form, but I remember from the special on FOX that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to longsnap.

Personally, I think it is like a golf swing- there are set or common ways of longsnapping, but, because of body type, personal attributes and strengths, players develop their own ways of longsnapping.

I would always go through the same ritual before longsnapping. First, I set my feet up a little more than shoulder width apart and bend my knees slightly. Next, I bent at the waist and grab the football with my strong hand, my right hand. Some longsnappers grab the ball at the laces and others, like Bartrum grab the ball with the “faces”. Comfort and subsequent consistency depend on how you may want to snap. I grip the ball with the laces like I am throwing the football normally, standing upright like a quarterback (not throwing the ball between my legs).

Then, I place my left hand, which is my off-hand, on the “faces” of the football which is used like the off-hand in basketball. It is simply used as a guide for most longsnappers.

In one fluid motion, I would then “snap” the ball back to the punter throwing it through my legs. The right hand, or whatever your strong hand is, should be the most dominant like a quarterback would throw the ball. The off-hand is kept on the ball all of the way through the snapping motion as it helps to create the spiral of the football.

It is an art form. It takes practice and very good form. Very few people can perfect longsnapping like Mike Bartrum. To show how valuable Bartrum is to the Eagles, look no further than one of their most recent acquisitions. The Eagles’ starting tight end Chad Lewis was injured for the season and that moved Bartrum into the backup tight end role. Fearing any further injury to the Eagles’ tight ends, the team decided to sign another free agent so that Bartrum would not have to play with the exception of special teams and the most undervalued position of longsnapper.

How To...by Alexandra Schultheis

Alex Schultheis
January 31, 2004
Professor Bishop

How to Prepare for a Swim Race

Before you spring off the block and make your way down the length of the pool there are a few things that every swimmer must do in order to prepare themselves for the big race.
First thing first, every swimmer must have a pair of goggles. Goggles are essential to a swimmer because they are their eyes during a race. There are several types of goggles that a swimmer can choose from; there are the padded Speedo goggles that come in a variety of colors, the rubber padded goggles that are mostly worn by children between the ages of five to ten, and then there is the intimating and very uncomfortable Swedish goggle. The Swedish goggle is shaped to fit the contour of a very small eyeball, and when a swimmer puts a pair of these extremely painful, but very sleek, eye wear on they transform into a scary, fearless, and incredible swimmer.
The next thing a swimmer must have in order to swim a race is a bathing suit, not just one bathing suit but three bathing suits. The first suit is the racing suit; this suit is designed to fit tightly in order to cause the least amount of friction possible between you and the water. The next two suits are much bigger in size, these are the warm-up suits. Before every big race a swimmer will swim a few laps in a warm-up pool. While warming up a swimmer will wear two big suits over their racing suit to cause drag in the water. The idea behind this bizarre ritual is that if a swimmer can swim with multiple layers on then he or she will swim even faster with only one layer on. Although no one has ever proven this to be true it is an age old tradition that every swimmer, whether bad or good, performs before every big race.
After you have acquired the perfect pair of goggles and have warmed up in all three suits it is time to put on the racing cap. The racing cap is made of rubber and can be found in all different colors. Some swimmers prefer to wear florescent colored racing caps, whereas the more modest swimmers tend to stick to black and white. After you have selected what color cap to wear you have to put it on. Putting on a swim cap can be a very difficult thing to do, which is why it is best to have someone help you with it. Your partner holds the cap upside down and stretches it as wide as it can go, then you lean down and insert your head into the rubber cap. After your head is in the cap, take it from your partner and stand up. Now that the cap is firmly on the top of your head you must tuck all the excess hair in it, all hair must be inside the cap. After you have completed this task you are ready to swim the race.
With your racing suit on, your rubber cap firmly in place on your head, and your goggles covering your eyes you step up to the block, it is now time to begin the race. The crowd is cheering, your coach is screaming from the sidelines, and your heart is beating through your chest. On the announcers command you get in the starting position, and when the gun is fired you spring off the block and begin your journey down the length of the pool.

Neat Article on Control and Command in Baseball

Check this out - it's a clear explanation of different approaches to pitching in the big leagues.


ESPN.com - MLB - Hot Stove Heaters: Best control pitcher

Jump Shot and a Lay-up---KJ

“Take another shot,” he prompted as he flipped the ball back to me.

I was tired and annoyed and he wouldn’t let it go. I stopped the ball with the sole of my foot, then took the front of my shirt and wiped the sweat dripping from my eyebrow. I leaned forward and wiped the dirt of the ball off my hands, mashing it into my thighs against the same cotton of my t-shirt which now smelled like asphalt and hot sun. I looked up at him half squinting, half begging him with my whining face to just let us go inside already.

“We’re not leaving ‘til you make both,” he laughed simply.

And so I set my feet apart, took two dribbles, spun the ball and dribbled a third time, gripped the ball, lined up my forearm, elevated my elbow as I rose off the ground, flicked my wrist, and missed. For the sixth time. And he rebounded and tossed it back out to me. For the millionth time. I stayed there on the court for another ten minutes shooting the same shot from various locations I liked to think were my 'sweet spot'. Finally I made my jump shot and headed in for the lay-up which ironically went in on the first attempt.

Jeremy grabbed the rebound and shot his own, (both went in on the first try) and we raced back in the house shoving one another the whole way until the one who lost got locked out for a brief minute.

And that’s how it happened everyday when I was in fourth grade. I carried on at my own basketball practice the same way when I got older and would take the jumper and the lay-up before I left the court. And it comes second nature to me now when I’m shooting around to perform the routine before I leave the court. And that’s still how it happens these days when we both get a chance to go home and play our favorite game of one-on-one. We both end with a win.

My brother taught me how to play basketball, mainly I think, so that he could have someone from whom he could steal the ball. I'm a girl, two years younger; easy target--that's what I know he was thinking. Our two older brothers were never much into basketball except on Thanksgiving and during a few pick-up games in the summer when either team was short. They played football and enjoyed friends and other things. Jeremy, on the other hand loves it all. And he excels at it all. When it comes to sports and competition, my brother is the most natural athlete I know.

He’ll play any type of ball, but basketball is his passion. He’ll spend hours outside shooting around and faking himself out before I even lace up my sneakers. He loves to play alone, but just as much, he loves when I come outside and play one-on-one with him.

He practiced Jordan’s fade away jumper and Iverson’s crossover on me before anyone. He had to perfect his moves before he used them in a game against his friends, and once he brought it to the next level with them, he’d attempt it in practice during a scrimmage with his high school coach watching. Often his coach would shake his head as the other guys gave him props, and then smile, but there was no way he would allow it in a game.

Jeremy didn’t like that. He doesn’t like the conformity of the game of basketball and the set plays which most coaches swear by. He enjoys the freedom of basketball. And that’s why I like watching him move across the cracked asphalt in the hot sun much more than in any gym.

When I watch him, I can see his love of the game in his quick feet and his sweat-drenched t-shirts. He’s one of those fun-loving passionate guys who could do something so taboo as blocking a 4-year-old kid’s shot repeatedly and bragging about it, and still get everyone who was watching to laugh and smile. When he gets excited about something, I get excited about it too. He has an aura about him that draws people in and his aura is that much stronger when he’s on the court playing ball.

We don’t get together to play that often anymore because we’re both living our own lives and don’t make it home much. But when we do, we make sure to play our game of one-on-one. We make sure we complete a jumper and immediately after, a lay-up. And we make sure we both end on a win.

Sports hero..."Nails"

Mark Gress Jr.

When most people talk about their all-time favorite players or their sports’ “hero”, names like Michael Jordan, Johnny Unitas, Mohammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain or Lou Gehrig come to mind. They are all athletes who exhibited some sort of grace and excellence in most facets of their sport and their life. They may have been heroes for what they did on the court or field, or maybe because of what they stood for off the court or field.

As a lover of all sports, and as a typical boy growing up in America- a baseball lover, I grew up playing, watching, listening and reading about baseball. I was always a fairly good athlete, but my best asset was my “baseball knowledge” and “game/situational” smarts. I knew how to play the game. I knew why to do certain things and why not to do others during the course of the game. Even in t-ball and grade school, I would “take one for the team” or lay a bunt down, or try to break up a double play. I knew a walk was sometimes as good as a hit. I just prided myself on being a smart baseball player.

So obviously, growing up I had to follow and emulate someone on the bigger stage that played the right way and someone from whom I could learn a thing or two. So who better than Leonard Kyle Dykstra. Lenny, a.k.a. Nails or The Dude, played center field for the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies in his career. He was one of the best lead-off hitters during his 12 seasons in Major League Baseball. He played in two World Series’ and proved to be one of the most clutch postseason players in modern history. He had a career .321 postseason batting average to go along with his .433 on base percentage.

More important than statistics, he proved to be one of the best situational baseball players of all-time. “Nails”, as he was referred to by teammates and fans like, was a gritty 5’10”, 167 pound firecracker from Santa Ana, California. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He would always come up to the plate with half a pouch of tobacco packed in his cheek. He had nervous quirks and ticks that would remind the baseball fans of today of Nomar Garciaparra. He would dig his cleats in, tighten his gloves a few times, tap the bat on the ground, and adjust and readjust his batting helmet a half dozen times. After every pitch he would step back out and repeat the process.

Two separate occasions where I imitated Dykstra come to mind. Both came while I was playing in all-star games at the end of the baseball regular season. The first one I remember was when I was about 10 years old and I just singled, back through the middle like Lenny used to do. I took my lead off of first and got a great jump and slid safely into second. Covered in infield dirt from head to toe and while still on the ground, I called time to the umpire. I thought he gave it to me, so I jumped up, stepped off of the bag, brushed myself off, adjusted and readjusted my helmet in true Lenny fashion. The umpire actually didn’t grant my request for time and the second baseman tagged me out. (But that is not the point!)

My second memory also comes from an all-star game but about four years later while I was in the eighth grade. Again and coincidentally, I had just singled back through the middle and was standing on first. Now it is important to realize that there are certain unspoken rules in all-star games. For instance, in football you tend not to blitz and in hockey you tend not hit or get into fights. In baseball, especially an eighth grade all-star game, some people frown on taking out the second baseman or shortstop to disrupt a possible double-play. But, like Lenny and guys like Pete Rose before him, I played every game and every play like it was my last. So I took my lead off of first and got a good jump towards second as I heard a crack of the bat. I peeked in to see where the ball was at and the next thing I knew I was taking an especially “wide” slide towards second base taking the legs out from the shortstop to break up the double play.

That was what Lenny would do. He would play with his heart on his sleeve and pine tar and dirt on his batting helmet. He would play with more baseball and situational smarts than any other player. He would take a walk when the team needed a runner. He was a great base runner and a very reliable center fielder. If more baseball players today played like Lenny, the sport wouldn’t be America’s “past” time.

My Sports Hero: Mike Plante by Geofree Capodanno

In the spring of 1998, I accepted an internship at Central Florida News 13 (CFN- 13), an all-news channel that runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. I remember sitting at the assignment desk of CFN-13 on the second day of my internship, being completely bored. I took the internship because I wanted to learn how to be a sports producer for a news organization, but I was told on my first day that I had to wait two months before I could do so. That was not going to stop me from pursuing my goal as soon as I got an opportunity.

So, on that same day, I walked into the sports department and introduced myself to the one-man sports crew of the day, Mike Plante. I told him my reasons for taking the internship and asked him if I could sit in and help out. He seemed taken back by the question at first before agreeing to let me join him. He told me about the last few interns that he had in the department before and how they really weren’t there to learn. They didn’t want to do anything but “hang around”. I told him that I was going to show him that I was different.

By the end of that day, I had cut two highlights and wrote a tease script for the evening sportscast due to a lot of encouragement and tutelage that Mike provided. Before we left for the evening, he asked me if I felt like I was doing his job for him or not. I let him know that is why I chose this internship over the local network affiliates. I had learned from other students that the CFN-13 sports department was understaffed and needed interns. I didn’t want to sit around and just watch everything. Instead, I wanted to receive hands-on experience and use this internship to gain as much knowledge as possible about what it takes to be a sports producer. Mike told me that if I was willing, he would teach me every aspect about doing every job function critical to running a sports department. After I accepted, he told me that he had never had an intern do what I did on my first day in his department and he was going to tell the news director that I was to be the new sports intern effective immediately. At the time, I didn’t realize that this person would have a great effect on my life both professionally and personally.

By the second month I was there, Mike was sending me with a camera and the keys to a CFN-13 company vehicle to go shoot footage and conduct interviews. This would allow him to go out and do the same for other events so that we could double the original footage for our sportscasts. A lot of the employees and even the sports teams that we covered thought that I was an employee for CFN-13 and not an intern.

If there was someone related to sports that I would say was an influence and inspiration on my career and life in general, it would be Mike Plante. He went above and beyond his job duties, stayed late, and came in early to help me do mock interviews and stand-ups, and even shared personal insight to the politics associated when working in the television business. He didn’t want me to be naive when it was my turn to enter the workplace and be as he called it “green”. He explained the importance of networking and paying one’s dues to the business. Most of all, he wanted me to have fun while I learned.

With that in mind, he surprised me with a press pass knowing that I was a Philadelphia sports fan to go watch the Phillies play the Devil Rays at Tropicana Field. He told me to take a CFN-13 car down and just relax and watch the game. He told me that Curt Schilling was pitching so to go have fun and he’d take care of the sportscast that day. Another time, he did the same thing when the Sixers came into Orlando to play the Magic.

By the time I graduated from college and finished my internship, I had learned all of the job aspects including shooting and conducting in-person interviews with sports personalities, shooting live game highlights, producing sportscasts and sports news packages, and dealing with media relation personnel to obtain press credentials for any events. Also, Mike became not only a mentor to me but a big brother and friend. In the end, I did what I said that I wanted to do and he delivered what he had promised, to teach me everything about running a sports department.

From talking to other students at school, no other sports department really took the time to teach them anything and give them an opportunity like I received. I am generally a humble person, but I have to say that the resume tape that Mike helped me assemble throughout our adventures at CFN-13 was pretty impressive. Unfortunately, the news director did not feel that they wanted to raise the station’s budget and expand the sports department. Mike spend several days in conference with management trying to convince them that expansion was needed and that I was the one they needed to hire. When he tried to explain to the news director about the results that I had proven time and time again, it was all for naught and they decided that expansion was out of the question. I had to look elsewhere for work and my resume tape helped me receive an editor position at the CBS affiliate WKMG-TV NewsCenter 6 in Orlando.

A year later, Mike won a local Emmy for a story he did on a blind golfer. When he achieved this accomplishment, he moved to South Florida and fulfilled his dream of owing his own production company. He presently continues to expand his company as the years go by.

Mike Plante is always just a phone call away whenever I need career advice or any assistance in my personal life. He was happy that I went back to continue my education at Drexel University because he knew that was going after my dream, like he had done a few years back. He told me that he knew I would be successful in my quest because he knows my level of my determination. Mike’s mentoring during my internship and his constant support is the reason why I would say that he has and continues to be an inspiration in my life. I would say that he is my “sports hero”.

Lucky Pink Bathing Suit by: Alex Schultheis

Alex Schutheis
Professor Bishop
January 23, 2005

Lucky Pink Suit

When a small 8-year-old girl walked up to the block to swim the 25-yard freestyle at the SCCSL Swim Championships she wore a neon, pink suit and a bright, yellow cap. As she leaped off the block and kicked furiously in the water she had no idea that she would enter the wall with a league record of 14.02 seconds.
That small 8-year-old girl was Lauren Irrgang. Irrgang is now the Naval Academy’s best female swimmer. She has broken numerous records in the water and is now preparing to attend the 2007 Olympic Trials. Lauren has changed a lot since that 8-year-old who set the league record in the 25-yard freestyle 13 years ago; however, the one thing that has not changed is her bathing suit.
At every competition Irrgang can be spotted amongst the other cap wearing swimmers as the girl in the tattered, pick bathing suit. The same suit that carried Irrgang through the water 13 years ago is the same suit that Irrgang wears to warm up in before a big race. She has bought dozens of other bathing suits since that race but still she wears that pink suit over her racing suit before every race.
“It is my good luck charm, it helped we win then and it is still helping today,” Irrgang said.
Before every big race Irrgang goes to the warm up pool where she pulls out her lucky neon, pink bathing suit and strategically puts it on over her normal racing suit. It takes her several minutes to put it on; there are so many holes and the suit is so fragile from all the chlorine that she must be very careful where she places her arms and legs. When the suit is finally on she enters the water, feet first, and swims a few laps to get herself warmed up before her big race.
After warming up Irrgang goes right to the racing pool and sits in the chair that is provided for her at the foot of her lane. She visualizes the race she is about to swim while wearing her lucky suit. She then begins the process of taking off the suit, making sure she doesn’t put another huge hole in it. Now Irrgang is ready to swim her competition.
When coaches and family members question why she wears the threadbare suit she simply shrugs her shoulders at them. It’s her lucky suit, and she owes no reason to anyone. No one understands why this accomplished young women who holds swimming records in all four events at 15 different pools wears the pink tattered suit; however, it is not for us to understand it is only our job to watch as Irrgang sets yet another record in the same bathing suit that started it all 13 years ago.

The impact of sports on a community story: Daunte Culpepper by Geofree Capodanno

College football in Florida instantly brings to mind well-known football programs such as the Florida State Seminoles, the Florida Gators, and the Miami Hurricanes. During my attendance at the University of Central Florida (UCF) from 1996 thru 1998, there was a different cultural buzz surrounding a certain player for a lesser known football program, the UCF Golden Knights. That player'’s name was Daunte Culpepper.

From the first moment I stepped onto campus, I got to see first-hand what kind of impact that Culpepper delivered to the UCF community. Signs were posted throughout campus that advertised upcoming games with only a picture of Daunte on them. The campus’ box office had a lighted sign displaying “"see Daunte and the Golden Knights play this weekend"” above their ticket sales window. Several students roamed the campus wearing Golden Knight football jerseys with the name Culpepper and his signature number eight on them. Even though I was aware of his hype from reading local newspapers in the past, this kind of saturated exposure came as a surprise to me.

Here is a good time to give a little background information on this athlete to explain why his popularity was so enormous. First, there was his personal life. Barbara Henderson, Daunte'’s biological mother, gave birth to him while she was imprisoned for armed robbery. She turned to Emma Culpepper, a worker at the same correctional facility and Ocala, FL resident, to take care of Daunte while she served for jail sentence. On top of her three adopted children, Emma had been raising four of her late brother’s children as well as seven more from her sister-in-law when she accepted the responsibility of raising Daunte. He considered this core group to be his real family and Daunte credits Emma to be the reason he is the successful person that he is today. The media and fans alike viewed this as Daunte being a regular human-being with real problems who overcame major hurdles in his life growing up. They didn'’t view him as a person who had a god-like complex and born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Then, there was the athletic side of his life which added to his appeal as well. An overall fantastic athlete, Daunte Culpepper was the top high school quarterback of the state who went on to win the title, Florida'’s Mr. Football before he graduated. The mere fact that such a promising athlete like him ended up as the starting quarterback at UCF was actually due to a strange circumstance. His low grade point average discouraged Florida'’s top three athletic programs, the University of Florida, Florida State University, and the University of Miami, from offering him acceptance to their program and an athletic scholarship. UCF saw this opportunity as a chance to acquire a prized asset for their football program. They helped develop a study program for him, including taking certain classes for a second time, to improve his grade point average in which he was successful. Daunte returned the favor when he committed to UCF even after the aforementioned programs began to show interest in him after his grades finally improved. This act alone was a credit to his character, showing belief in a university that believed in him during his troubled times with grades in school.

His impact on the program was instantaneous. UCF was attempting to move their program from Division 1-AA to Division 1-A. After obtaining an athlete of Daunte'’s caliber, the move to Division 1-A would become a reality for UCF beginning in his sophomore year of 1996. Culpepper was heralded as the one who moved UCF into the top tier divisions in college sports with the rest of its state rivals.

UCF graduate James Woodruff, of Orlando, FL, reflected on his memories of Daunte’'s influence over the UCF community. "“Daunte was the talk going on in every class,"” said Woodruff. “"I remember that even my professors would start classes by talking about the prior week’s game and how Daunte did in them."”

Injuries plagued Daunte in his sophomore and junior seasons, including a sprained ankle and a dislocated shoulder. Then, there was talk that he might enter the NFL draft after completing his junior year. But, his promise to Emma that he would earn his college degree plus his concern of being overlooked in the draft by fellow quarterbacks Ryan Leaf and Peyton Manning made his choice clear. He elected to remain at UCF for his senior year and help them in the quest for their first ever college bowl bid.

I clearly remember the day that Daunte announced to the media that he would remain for his senior year at UCF. It was the main topic of discussion among all students. It was even the lead story on every Orlando television newscast as well as the cover story of Orlando'’s top news publication, The Orlando Sentinel. Daunte Culpepper was even taking precedence over the Orlando Magic, which was the only major professional sports franchise in Orlando.

Former Central Florida News 13 sports reporter Mike Plante, of Deerfield Beach, recalls the importance of Daunte to Orlando. "“He was always willing to give all of the local media all of the time we needed for interviews,"” stated Mike. "“He was under the national sports’ radar. So, even though we covered the UCF team locally on a weekly basis, ESPN got first dibs on him when they requested his presence. Sometimes they never gave him back. It wasn'’t by his wishes...…it was by their wishes. He was certainly in high demand for a collegiate athlete from a football program that was very new to Division 1-A.”"

The expectations were high for the Golden Knights in 1998. Culpepper had a new head coach, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and former UCF offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek, who promised to use Daunte to the maximum of his abilities. Culpepper was even being mentioned as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy Award, an award given to the most outstanding college football player.

Rebecca Levine, of New York City, is a UCF graduate who frequently attended the Golden Knights’ football games for her final two years at the university. “"I attended almost every home game in ’97 and ‘98, but ‘98 seemed to have the biggest turnouts,"” said Rebecca. “"I remember being a part of those '‘Daunte!'’ chants. I'’d always feel like I just got out of a concert by the time I got home. Every time he did anything good, we would scream our heads off. It was like Daunte-mania because Daunte was the man.”"

Brielle Baran, a UCF graduate now residing in Secane, PA, was not a huge football fan at the time. But, she was still drawn in by the excitement that Daunte brought to the students and the overall Orlando area. “"When I was a part of UCF'’s weekly news show, we always led off with something about Daunte, even over what was happening on the educational side of the university,"” stated Brie. “"I wasn't really a hardcore football fan or anything like that, but I started going to the games just to see what this hype was all about.”"

The Golden Knights went onto to finish 9-2 that year, yet did not receive an invitation to a bowl game. Daunte Culpepper threw for 3,690 yards and 28 touchdown passes as well as rushing for 463 yards with 12 rushing touchdowns. He also broke former Brigham Young University and now retired San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young’'s single –season pass completion percentage record for a college quarterback by finishing at 73.6 percent. He did finish his career at sixth on the NCAA all-time offense list with 12,459 and 108 (84 passing and 24 rushing) touchdowns. He also accomplished a feat that only two other college quarterbacks, including former Alcorn State and current Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair, had accomplished by throwing for over 10,000 yards and rushing for over 1,000 yards during his college career. Surprisingly, he was snubbed for even a consideration to win the Heisman Trophy award by the time the voting began. His career was full of highlights and records and it was a fun time to watch him lead the Golden Knights if you were living in the Orlando area. But, then it was time for him to graduate and pursue his career in the National Football League.

The Knights' Pub, which is a local bar located just off of the UCF campus, held a huge gathering for the 1999 NFL Draft to see when Daunte would be drafted and what team was going to select him. When the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the first round, the fellow patrons exploded in applause.

Steve Morea, a UCF graduate still living in Orlando, who was in attendance, remembers that moment. “"I remembered when the Vikes announced him as their pick,"” Morea said. "“I started yelling that the next great connection in football was going to be Daunte Culpepper to Randy Moss.” So far, it hasn't been that bad of a connection."

Daunte Culpepper still holds an impact within the Orlando area to this very day. The Knights' Pub started a tradition for the NFL season in 1999 that currently continues on today. They show all of the Minnesota Vikings’ games on the bar’s big screen television. They strictly advertise for all students to come to the bar on the Vikings'’ game days to follow Daunte Culpepper, the UCF alumnus, in his NFL career.

Daunte made the UCF Golden Knights football team an underdog to cheer for and brought the community of Orlando together. The UCF graduates that I keep in contact with still reflect on those days. No matter what team we follow and cheer on, there is always a small place in the back of our hearts for Daunte Culpepper. As James Woodruff states, "“I'’m a life-long Packers fan, but whenever they face off with Daunte under center, I still hope the Packers win...…don’'t get me wrong. But I also hope that Daunte has a good game.”"

Sports Hero Layne Beachley - S.Swanson

Kelly Slater. Laird Hamilton. Tom Curren. Shane Dorian. Rob Machado. These are some of the most famous surfers of their time. As amazing as their aerials, their cutbacks, their big-wave abilities were, none of them could adequately represent the sport for a little girl in Pennsylvania.
It was 1989. I was nine years old with an obsession for surfing. I was too young to paddle out with the boys but not young enough not to dismiss my passion for the thundering surf and the thrill of a glassy ride. Other little girls liked dolls and playing house; I liked scouring bookstore shelves to find any information about the endorphin-loving hellions that mastered the ocean. Surfing wasn’t mainstream, so following the professionals was challenging. Finding one that I could relate to was even more difficult. But then I came across a 17 year old female surfer named Layne Beachley.
Joining the pro tour in 1989 without a single amateur contest under her belt, Beachley surfed hard, determined to make a place for herself among other female greats, such as Lisa Anderson. She was young, lively and competed like her life hung in the balance of a win. You could see it in the way she shredded every wave. She was smart, confident and didn't let the "boys' club" image of the surfing industry deter her from her dreams; I had found my sports hero.
In 1993, Beachley placed in her first world tour event and progressively moved up the ranks each year so that by 1998, she easily took the World Championship Tour title victory. Each year I followed her progress in Surfer magazine, and each year I paddled out on the water knowing that her fearlessness paved the way for me and other women surfers to join the boys in the line-up.
Beachley’s world titles were never total shut outs, but she always won by an unprecedented margin. She averaged five wins out of an average of nine contests for each title. In 2002, Beachley beat Anderson’s record of four world title wins by winning her fifth. The only woman in the world to have that many world victories, Beachley’s modesty made her ever more deserving.
But five world titles couldn’t quell her desire for the extreme. Beachley became the first woman to ever ride a wave that stood 55 feet high. For that, “the Beast” is known to be one of the premier big-wave, tow-in surfers. These are waves so big that surfers can’t possibly paddle into them using their own strength. Instead, they need to be towed in by jet skis.
On December 12, 2003, Beachley won her sixth consecutive World Championship Tour contest. Kelly Slater was the only other surfer to have that many titles, but even he didn’t win them consecutively.
Every time I paddle out, I hear the words that Beachley might be saying to herself: “Charge hard! Paddle for that wave! Stand up on it because you have five guys ready to drop in on it if you don’t get there first. Don’t give up, and don’t pull out of it. Why? Because the boys wouldn’t pull out of it.” Why? Because Layne Beachley wouldn’t pull out of it.
Rachelle Ballard. Kate Skarrett. Megan Abudo. Keala Kennelly. Layne Beachley. These are some of the most famous surfers of their time. But these are surfers that women can relate to, surfers that this woman will always admire.

Game Story- Steelers & Jets

Colleen Wolfe
Com 380
Professor Bishop

Pittsburgh Steelers go 20-17 against New York Jets in OT.

If choking in a playoff game isn’t lethal, I’m sure New York Jets’ Doug Brien wanted it to be after missing not one, but TWO possible game-winning field goals against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The intense overtime game ended 20-17 Steelers with Jeff Reed accomplishing the coveted field goal ending the Atlantic Football Conference divisional playoff game.

It might have been luck, it might have been fate, or even a supernatural force, but Heinz Field was blessed on Saturday when the Steelers became the AFC champions over the Jets.

Having played a record-breaking regular season, the Steelers went into this game with home field advantage; as well as, the only AFC team and forth National Football League team with a 15-1 record. Following true to the record, Pittsburgh was the first to score, when Jerome Bettis rushed for 17 yards on a drive that ended with a 45-yard field goal from Jeff Reed. The ball was then handed right back to Pittsburgh when Troy Polamalu intercepted a pass intended for Santana Moss from Chad Pennington at the Jets 25-yard line. Bettis then made a three yard rush for a touchdown leaving the score 10-0 Steelers with the extra point from Reed.

From this, the game looked to be in favor of the Steelers; however, the Jets decided to match Pittsburgh’s 10 point lead in the second quarter leaving the stadium in a sudden hush. Brien scored a field goal to put up three points for the Jets and was followed by Santana Moss who returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 10-10.

With less than five minutes left in the third quarter, the Jets turned the game over with an interception by Reggie Tonque from Steelers’ rookie Ben Roethlisberger, for an 86-yard touchdown. The third quarter ended with a 17-10 lead against Pittsburgh leading the Steelers to wonder if they were going to have enough time to take the game.

Hines Ward then scored the tying touchdown for the Steelers but it appeared to be all over for Pittsburgh when Brien had the chance to kick a game-winning 47-yard field goal. Heinz Stadium immediately erupted with an overwhelming response when Brien’s kick barely hit the crossbar and was too short.

But Rothlisberger’s rookie mistakes grasped hold of him under the pressure and he threw a second pass which was intercepted, practically handing the game over the Jets. Brien then attempted his second field goal, a 43-yard attempt, and lost it for the Jets when his kick soared to the far left of the goalpost. "I tried to hit it a little harder because I was real surprised I didn't have the distance," Brien said, about the 47-yarder. "The second one I missed. The first one didn't go in."

Game Story: Pats vs. Colts---KJ

Although both teams faced biting wind and frost in the AFC Division playoff game, the Indianapolis Colts trotted off the field for the last time in the NFL 2004-05 season while the New England Patriots emerged from Gillette Stadium with grins plastered on their faces as they prepare to cozy up to the Steelers next Sunday.
Many underestimated New England, the previous Super Bowl champs, who have won 29 of their last 31 games, and expected the Colts to come out victorious this past Sunday. Beloved Colts quarterback and league MVP, Peyton Manning, had an 18-yard completion to receiver, Marvin Harrison, which ended up being his longest completion of the game. The Patriots’ remarkable defensive display held Manning and the Colts to a surprisingly low total, with a final score of 20-3.
The game kicked off to a slow start with Vinatieri completing two field goals and Vanderjagt completing one in the entire first half. After halftime, however, the Patriots decided to kick it up a notch and bring in a touchdown each quarter in only seven-plus minutes as quarterback, Tom Brady passed the ball off to David Givens and then ran one in on his own.
The Patriots ability to force turnovers was a key factor in their win over the Colts, as they recovered two of the Colts’ three fumbles.
The Patriots also capitalized on the poorly productive Colts offense and dominated the playing field mainly due to poor match-ups like that of cornerbacks, Asante Samuel and Randall Gay, with receivers, Harrison and Reggie Wayne, respectively, for most of the game. The Colts played into New England’s strengths and coaches, Belichick and company, had no problem with that whatsoever.
"It was a good defensive effort by our defensive players, absolutely," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. "It was an outstanding effort. I thought really the whole unit did a good job. They covered competitively, they tackled well. We tried to play the run competitively and I thought it was a good, solid effort. When you a hold a team like that to three points, it was a good effort."
Patriots linebacker, Willie McGinest, also explained his view of one of their most fruitful defensive efforts this season.
“To go out and stop Peyton Manning and his offense, it’s a good thing. It’s kind of hard. Not many teams have stopped them all year long,” said McGinest. But the Patriots proved worthy of their playoff match-up against the Steelers when they gracefully shut down the number one offensive team in the league.
The New England Patriots will travel to Heinz Stadium for next Sunday’s game, in hopes of acquiring yet another chance at becoming Super Bowl champions.

Pats-Colts Game Story - S. Swanson

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Bitter cold and whipping snow: Just another football Sunday in New England. And it seems, just another AFC playoff win for the New England Patriots who beat the Indianapolis Colts 20-3. The match-up marked, yet again, the end of the Colts’ road to the Super Bowl.

Noticeably similar to last year’s AFC championship game at New England’s Gillette Stadium, the Patriots defense succeeded in disrupting almost every pass that the Colts quarterback Peyton Manning tried to throw.

Trouncing speculation of a high scoring game, both sides went scoreless after the first quarter. The Colts came out running. The Patriots came out throwing. But with the league’s MVP leading the Colts, and running back Corey Dillon, who anchors the Patriots’ running attack, a strategy change seemed to be in order. After an incomplete pass to Colts tight end Dallas Clark and two thwarted play-action fakes, the Colts offense couldn’t move behind the Patriots’ fast and aggressive defense. Manning just couldn’t seem to get the ball to the receivers, while Dillon charged down the center time and again.

“I think our defense was what made this game successful,” Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady said. “Three points to one of the best offenses in the history of football is incredible.”

The Patriots drove for their second field goal by kicker Adam Vinatieri early in the second quarter, while they held the Colts to a single field goal late in the half. That field goal was the only time the Colts lingered within the 20 yards of the Patriots’ goal line. Linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel were recognizing and anticipating the Colts’ moves, shutting them down at each play. Bruschi’s recovery off of Colts running back Dominic Rhodes fumble showed how quickly the Patriots’ defense was on the ball.

Gaining their rhythm at the end of the second quarter, Colts’ head coach Tony Dungy seemed confident going into the second half.

“We are fortunate to only be three down. I think we can just play our normal game for the second half,” Dungy said.

Dungy didn’t factor in the damage that Patriots Dillion could do.

Rushing for a total of 144 yards, Dillon was key to the Patriots’ strategy. Short passes and patience were what Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick knew would get them past the Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney.

“We were pretty successful in our running game. We wanted to keep Payton Manning off the field and control the clock a little,” Dillon said.

Patriots offense did exactly that, holding Manning to just 238 yards passing. After throwing a scoring pass to wide receiver David Givens and running in a one yard touchdown, Brady and the Patriots locked up the win. Even a final drive by the Colts couldn’t get them the points they needed to beat the Patriots.

“They just outplayed us. They were a little more physical than us…They outplayed us in the second half when it counted,” Dungy said.

"… when you finish with a loss in the playoffs, you can't be happy about it. Eventually, it will be our time,” Manning said. But for now, it is the Patriots’ time once again.

The New England Patriots (15-2) will play the Pittsburgh Steelers (16-1) at Heinz Field on Sunday, January 23 for the AFC division title.

The New England Patriots ‘Running’ their way to a 2nd Consecutive Super Bowl

MASSACHUSETS-After seven years without even a winning season on the Cincinnati Bengals, running back Cory Dillon came to the New England Patriots in the off season and gave the defending champions a powerful run game. Making his playoff debut today Dillon led his team to a 20-3 win over the Indianapolis Colts, generating 144 rushing yards.
Dillon described the Patriots successful offensive strategy: “We wanted to keep Peyton and them guys off the field and control the clock.” The Patriots held the ball for just under 38 minutes including three drives of 15 or more plays. Patriot Quarterback Tom Brady even ran the ball four times reaching the endzone once in this ball control offense. He also threw for 144 yards and another touchdown advancing his post-season record to a perfect 7-0.
Not to be forgotten in the entire offensive buzz was the domination of the Patriots defense. As Tom Brady was quick to point out in a game many experts believed would be an offensive assault from both teams, “Three points to one of the best offensives in the history of football is incredible!” It shouldn’t be a surprise that a team which was 6-1 against Peyton Manning coming into this afternoon would once again baffle the NFL MVP.
Throughout the second half in passing situations Bill Belichick sent out a defensive scheme that used only two linemen leaving nine men to drop back and smother Colts’ receivers. Even Manning, who has a reputation for finding defensive weaknesses and switching the play accordingly, could not come up with an answer to the multitude of unusual formations the Patriots presented to him. What makes their performance even more remarkable is that they did it all without pro-bowl corner backs Ty Law, and Tyrone Poole, and defensive linemen Richard Seymor.
Starting the 2nd half trailing by only 3 points their coach Tony Dungy felt pretty good about his team’s chances but his defense tired spending such long stints on the field and as Tony himself said, “We just ran into a better team today.” The stunned Colts will now join 28 other NFL teams in preparing their team for the 2005 season.
As for the Patriots, they look forward to another AFC Championship game next Sunday the 23rd. They will be playing at Heinz field, the site of their 2001 AFC championship win, against the 15-1 Pittsburgh Steelers who beat the Pat’s in week six. It should be noted though that the Patriots were without Cory Dillon in that game and he will be ready to take on the NFL’s top ranked run defense. Dillon emphasized after the game, “I’m not even recognizing my last seven seasons right now, it’s all about this year.” This attitude is shared by every one of his teammates who would rather focus on these playoffs rather than their past accomplishments

Game Story Assignment by Geofree Capodanno

Reed kicks Steelers to AFC Championship Game in OT
By Geofree Capodanno


PITTSBURGH - For the second week in a row, the New York Jets found themselves in a playoff overtime game. But this time the outcome was different as the Pittsburgh Steelers escaped with a 20-17 win at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The crowd of 64,915 on Saturday evening watched the Steelers advanced to the AFC Championship game next week as kicker Jeff Reed connected for his 19th consecutive field goal, a 33-yarder with a little under four minutes left in overtime. Reed also had a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Jets’ kicker Doug Brien had two chances to seal the fate of the Steelers, but missed consecutive field goal attempts of 47 and 43 yards. After making a 42-yard field goal in the second quarter off of a bad snap, Brien hit the goal post with just under two minutes left in regulation and then kicked one wide left of the goal post with time expiring. “He can make those…he just missed it left,” said Jets’ coach Herman Edwards in his support of Brien. “He’s been a good kicker for us and it’s just a tough day.”

Steelers’ rookie quarterback Ben Rothlisberger, who remained undefeated as a starter, did not have a phenomenal outing going 17 for 30 with 181 yards passing along with a touchdown and two interceptions. The rookie of the year candidate threw one of those interceptions just after the two-minute warning and almost gave the game to the Jets had it not been for Brien’s final missed kick. “It wasn’t me out there today,” Rothlisberger explained about his performance. “I did everything I could to lose the game and luckily our defense did a good job of holding us to the victory.”

Rothlisberger’s poor play was overcome by the spectacular ground attack of running back Jerome Bettis. Bettis had 101 yards rushing with a touchdown in the opening quarter.

Pittsburgh, who is now 16-1 overall this season, did not have a dominant game against the 11-7 Jets, but still wound up with the victory. “We won the game (but) we certainly didn’t play our best game,” Steelers’ head coach Bill Cowher explained it. “We won the game and that’s the most important thing.”

Pittsburgh took a 10-0 lead early after the 45-yard field goal by Reed and Bettis’ three-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, the Jets cut the lead to seven after Doug Brien kicked a 42-yard field goal. While the Jets’ offense seemed virtually ineffective due to playing the NFL’s top ranked defense, their special teams tied the score after speedy wide receiver Santana Moss returned a 75-yard punt to score with just under four minutes left in the half. It was the Jets’ first punt return for a touchdown in the team’s playoff history. The Jets’ defense not only stalled the Steelers’ offense after their early lead, but they also put them ahead when safety Reggie Tongue returned Rothlisberger’s first interception 86 yards to make the score 17-10 in the third quarter.

The Steelers then tied the contest in the fourth quarter when wide receiver Hines Ward took an inside toss four yards and across the goal line on Rothlisberger’s sole touchdown pass. The score remained that way due to Brien’s two aforementioned missed field goals in regulation and ended on Reed’s winning kick in overtime.

This was the third consecutive overtime game the Jets found themselves in overall after losing to the St. Louis Rams in the regular season finale and defeating the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the playoffs. Jets’ running back and NFL rushing champion Curtis Martin, who contributed with 77 yards rushing, expressed his pain of losing a game that he feels they should have won. “I’ve never been this angry about a game. This is a time in your career where you realize how much more than just a game football is,” said Martin. “The passion we had to win this game and to come away disappointed like this…this is the worst way to end the season.”

While the Jets head back to New York after elimination, the Steelers can look forward to hosting next Sunday’s AFC Championship game. There they will face the winner of the AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.

Game Story- Kevin Schuman

Drexel shot 72% from three-point land in the first half that led to a 91-65 routing of conference opponent William and Mary Saturday afternoon at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
Phil Goss came off the bench and scored 15 of his game high 21 points while the team went 13 of 18 from three-point range in the first half. Drexel (7-6, 3-2) went on a 13-3 run that was capped off by a Goss three-pointer with 1:51 left in the half. William and Mary (5-9, 0-5) couldn't recover and trailed 57-35 at the end of the half.
Danny Hinds had another solid outing and ended with 15 points and 4 assists while Dominick Mejia was the third Dragon in double figures scoring 11 points. Bashir Mason had a game high 6 assists with his 9 points and Kenell Sanchez and Sean Brooks led the team with 6 rebounds apiece. Goss had 5 assists to go along with his 21 points.
Corey Cofield was the only William and Mary player to reach double digits as he dropped 20 points off the the bench. Cofield also had a game high 9 rebounds and went 10-12 at the free throw line.
Jeremiah King ended the first half with a half-court shot at teh buzzer. The shot reminded everyone of Bashir Mason's half-court shot to beat VCU just a few days earlier. The shot left the William and Mary players stunned, causing one to even collapse on the floor, while leaving the Drexel fans roaring with excitement.
Both Drexel and William and Mary will be in action again on January 19. Drexel will travel to Fairfax, Va, to play George Mason, while William and Mary will host UNC Wilmington.

One in a Million (Brett Fischer)

One in a Million
While Allen Iverson had his dream of making the NBA Finals fulfilled, a young teenager’s fantasy of attending his first 76ers game finally became a reality. But this was no ordinary experience.
14-year-old Brett Fischer of Orange, California put on his 76ers jacket as he was getting ready to buy a video tape to record game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers. Just as he was about to leave his house, he got a call from his father.
“Brett, tonight we are going to my friend’s house to watch the game,” Morland Fischer recalls. “Bring your Sixers jacket and a video tape. You can record the game at his house. He has an extra VCR in his room.”
But the son did not want to leave on that warm June 8 in 2001. He wanted to be able to watch the game with his parents at his own home. It took the father nearly 15 minutes to finally convince him to watch the game elsewhere.
His dad picked him up and they drove to his friend’s office. He explained to Brett that other people were going to be picked up from the office because they were invited to watch the game as well. A black limousine awaited them as they exited the building.
“The biggest joy of the evening was trying to keep the game a secret from Brett until we actually arrived at Staples Center,” said Morland. “Keeping the game a secret from Brett was not easy because we were traveling to the game in a limousine with other people who did not know of my intention.”
The limousine gradually came to a stop. Fischer looked out the window as the thousands of glistening lights reflected off his innocent eyes. The driver got out of the car and slowly opened Fischer’s door.
“Brett,” his father started to say, “Welcome to Staples Center.”
It was that defining moment in a teenager’s life that Fischer had finally experienced and a moment his dad had been waiting for during his entire parenthood.
“Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! Oh, my G-d, oh, my G-d,” Fischer whispered when he realized he was attending the Sixers game.
“When we arrived at Staples Center, it brought tears to my eyes, to see Brett’s utter state of disbelief,” said the proud father. “This was a true ‘Dad’ and ‘Boy’ moment.
As Fischer entered the arena, goosebumps filled his body as a tear ran down the left side of his face.
“Everything in the world just stopped,” Fischer emotionally stated. “I was in a suite on the lowest level, getting the opportunity to watch my favorite team play in the NBA Finals. My legs shook throughout the entire game. It didn’t seem possible that I could actually be at Staples Center.”
Considering that there were only 18,997 people in attendance at the game and tens of millions of people were watching the game on television, Fischer’s experience was truly one in a million.
But what made it even better was that it was an event that Dad and Boy would get to share for the rest of their lives.

Game Story - Kurt Ritzman

Kevin Anderson dribbled the length of the court and scored the game-winning basket on an uncontested dunk with 4.3 seconds left to give Fordham a 76-74 victory over Xavier, Sunday afternoon.
Anderson had missed seven of his nine shots prior to making the most important shot of his young career. The Fordham Rams improved to 6-9 overall, and 2-2 in Atlantic 10 play, while dropping the Xavier Musketeers to 7-6, 1-2. Three of Xavier’s six losses have been by less than three points, with a fourth loss coming in triple overtime.
Xavier went on a 13-2 run to tie the game at 72 all with 50 seconds remaining in the game. Dedrick Finn, Xavier point guard, hit both of the three-pointers that he attempted during this run, the first coming with a minute and a half to go, and the second was the game-tying basket. Finn had only scored two points before that point. Finn had success distributing the ball, finishing with a game-high six assists.
This certainly was a game of runs, as Fordham went on a 17-3 run to take a 63-51 lead with 7:11 remaining. Corey McCrae, a junior guard that transferred from Wagner when Coach Dereck Whittenburg left Wagner to take the Fordham job, ignited this run. McCrae scored on all four three-point baskets he attempted during the run, and finished with 15 points, hitting on five of six three-point attempts for the game.
Fordham took their largest lead of the first half at 26-18 with 4:57 remaining. After that, Xavier went on a 9-0 run which Justin Cage and Stanley Burrell ignited. Cage and Burrell were Xavier’s leading scorers as they each finished with 19 points. Cage also added seven rebounds, which made him Xavier’s leading rebounder. Six of his rebounds were offensive. Xavier led 31-30 at halftime.
Fordham obtained their largest first half lead with an 11-4 run. Marcus Stout led this run scoring six of the eleven points. Stout finished with 14 points.
Bryant Dunston kept Fordham in the game when they weren’t on their runs. Dunston scored Fordham’s first six points to start the game, and finished with a double double. He was the game’s leading scorer with 23 points, and also the leading rebounder with 11 boards. Nine of Dunston’s 23 points came on foul shots, where he hit all but two that he attempted.
These two teams can only be expected to improve over time, as each team only played one Senior in their match-up. This lack of senior leadership could be responsible for the frantic, sloppy style of play that was especially evident early in the game. Fordham especially is buying into this “youth movement” philosophy as they start three freshman, and those freshman starters scored 46 of Fordham’s 76 points against Xavier.

Game story by Mark Gress Jr.

The Tribe can't match Dragons' shooting or magic

Philadelphia, PA- Just 48 hours after Bashir Mason’s 35 foot heave banked-in off of the backboard to give Drexel a 66-64 win over VCU as time expired, lady luck struck again. This time however, it was Jeremiah King providing the magic. While it may have been a lot less dramatic than Mason’s game-winner, King, a senior guard from Passaic, NJ, tossed in a half-court shot as the first half buzzer sounded to give Drexel a 57-35 halftime lead over visiting William and Mary.

The Dragons (7-6, 3-2) were led by senior guard Phil Goss who finished with 21 points and five assists in 24 minutes of play in a 91-65 shellacking of the William and Mary Tribe (5-9, 0-5). Goss, slowed by what he called a “sinus infection”, came off the bench for the first time this season along with senior forward Sean Brooks who finished with nine points and six rebounds in his second game back from a foot injury. Goss, Brooks and a host of other Dragons have been slowed by injuries and illnesses for much of the last few weeks, which makes their current three game winning streak even more impressive.

Coach “Bruiser” Flint explained, "Phil [Goss] hasn't practiced for the last week and a half. Sean [Brooks] is limited in practice. Kenell [Sanchez] is limited in practice. Jeremiah was sick this week. It's been like a MASH unit the last couple of weeks. We haven't gotten to the point where we're used to playing with one another."

Meanwhile, one of Drexel’s “healthier” players, senior small forward Danny Hinds, who has been somewhat restricted with a soft cast, played more than any Dragon against the Tribe and contributed 15 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Hinds’ shooting has actually improved with the soft cast on his left hand. Coach Flint said, “He doesn’t have that much off-hand on the ball. So, now you do what most good shooters do. That guide hand is really just there to hold the ball.”

The Dragons hope they will be able to heal up before their January 19th match-up against George Mason down in Fairfax, Virginia where they have never won.

Back in the 2001-2002 season, Drexel beat George Mason at the Daskalakis Athletic Center 100-69 in what was a record setting day for the Dragons. On January 26, 2002, Tim Whitworth led the Dragons with 38 points hitting seven of the team’s record setting 16 3-pointers.

On Wednesday versus William and Mary, the Dragons made 15 3-pointers, just one shy of tying that all-time record of 16. Goss, Hinds and N.C. State transfer Dominick Mejia hit 10 of the Dragons 13 first half treys who shot an astounding 72% from beyond the arc.

The Dragons will look to continue their strong shooting and hard-nosed defense as they travel down to George Mason University this week. Since joining the CAA in 2001-2002, Drexel is 2-4 against the Patriots with those 4 losses all coming on the road at The Patriot Center.

Game Story Assignment --- Mark Schieber

The New England Patriots continued their dominance over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday by beating them in their Divisional Round Playoff match up 20-3. The normally explosive Colts offense was frustrated early and often by the under manned Patriots defense. This sustained a record that Peyton Manning would like to forget; he still has never won a game in New England.

In the early parts of the game, a surprising defensive struggle was going on between the two teams. The Patriots put the first points on the board when Adam Vinatieri kicked a 24 yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead. On their ensuing possession the Patriots found themselves in another familiar position. Vinatieri was successful on a 31 yard field goal which put the Patriots up 6-0. A late 12 play drive in the second quarter put the Colts in a position to cut their deficit in half as kicker Mike Vanderjagt made a 23 yard field goal to make the score at halftime Patriots 6 Colts 3.

In the third quarter, the Colts offense continued to struggle against the Patriots defense who were missing two of their starting cornerbacks, yet they did not miss a beat. The turning point of the game came in the third quarter when Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hooked up with David Givens for a five yard touchdown pass completing a 15 play, 9:46 drive that kept the Colts offense off the field.

Trailing 13-3 in the fourth quarter, the Colts went three and out on their first possession of the quarter which allowed the Patriots an opportunity to close out the game that they gladly accepted. Led by the effort of running back Corey Dillon, the Patriots marched down the field 94 yards in 7: 24 and scored a touchdown on a Tom Brady run from the one yard line. By taking some much time off the clock the Patriots left the Colts too little time to make a comeback, securing a 20-3 victory and a trip to the AFC Championship Game next Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Controlling Peyton Manning and the Colts offense this year has been almost an unachievable chore to most teams. However, by applying constant pressure the Patriots forced Manning to make bad throws and sacked him three times. Also, dropped balls and fumbles plagued the Colts receivers which gave the Patriots excellent field position to score points. The dependable running of Patriots running back Corey Dillon, who rushed for 144 yards in his playoff debut, allowed the Patriots to complete time consuming drives and keep the normally lethal Colts offense off of the field. With this win, the Patriots advanced to their third AFC Championship Game in four years, this time to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Back on October 31st, the Steelers beat the Patriots 34-20, ending the Patriots record breaking 21 game winning streak.

Game Story Assignment

by: Michael Smith

ATLANTA – Once again the Atlanta Falcons proved that the ground game is the only game they need to help them win.

The Falcons amassed 327 rushing yards in their 47-17 drubbing of the once mighty St. Louis Rams on Saturday night. The victory sent the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game for only the second time in the team’s 39-year history.

Michael Vick began the ground assault just two minutes into the game when he rushed for 47 yards down the right side. The drive was capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler.

After the Rams used the game’s second drive to respond with a touchdown of their own, Warrick Dunn put the Falcons ahead again with his 62-yard touchdown run just three minutes later. Dunn also scored on a 19-yard rush midway through the second quarter.

The Rams came back with an eight play, 75-yard touchdown drive that brought them to within seven points of the Falcons. But Falcons’ kick-returner Allen Rossum provided the knock-out blow when he returned a Kevin Stemke punt 68 yards for a touchdown with just over a minute remaining in the second quarter. After that the Rams managed only a Jeff Wilkins’ field goal in the final seconds of the second quarter. Rossum went on to set an NFL playoff record with 152 yards on three punt returns for an average of 50.1 yards per return.

Vick set an NFL record of his own as he broke Donovan McNabb’s playoff mark for rushing yards by a quarterback. He ended the game with 119 yards. He rushed for 42 more yards than the entire Rams’ offense. His spectacular running was supplemented by an unspectacular yet accurate passing game which saw him throw 12-16 for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

"Whether it was Dunn slipping in here or there, or Vick with the bootleg . . . we worked against it all week, but we just couldn't stop them," Rams’ defensive end Leonard Little said.

Indeed the Rams’ defense and special teams failed to keep the game within reach, but the offense, despite being shorthanded, did all that it could. Perhaps the brightest spot for the Rams was Kevin Curtis, who was filling in for injured wide-receiving star Isaac Bruce, and scored the Rams’ first touchdown of the game. He also collected 128 yards on 7 receptions. Bruce was kept out of the game at the last minute because of a lingering groin injury. Quarterback Marc Bulger’s 23-35 passing effort for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns also proved futile. Following the game, Bulger informed reporters that he believed the thumb on his non-throwing hand, which he injured during the first half, was in fact broken.

"Every person in this locker room is a little stunned," Rams safety Antuan Edwards said. "In all phases of the game, we got whipped."

The Falcons now await the winner of Sunday’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles. If the Vikings win then they will meet the Falcons in the Georgia Dome next week for the NFC Championship Game. If the Eagles win, the Falcons with travel north to Lincoln Financial Field and be forced to overcome a Philadelphia winter in order to reach the Super Bowl for the second time in the franchise’s history. Their only other appearance came in 1998 when they were defeated by John Elway and the Denver Broncos.

"I've never been involved in anything like this," said Falcons’ center Todd McClure. "It just all fell together."

a night to remember

Leslie Esparza
A night to remember
January 10, 2005






Standing short amongst his teammates at 5 feet 8 inches and 150 pounds Nicholas Reed, 15, a point guard for the Horace Mann …., played his first varsity basketball game on Friday night against Dalton High School.
Nicholas, a sophomore at Horace Mann High School in New York City, a school known for its academic excellence, was bumped up mid-season from junior varsity to varsity to be a starter in the team’s ninth game.
“I’m excited to make varsity, it’s a good opportunity to play at a higher level. The game was amazing, just to play in a college arena was the most incredible feeling,” Nicholas said.
Although the game ultimately ended in a three point loss, the game was a memory Nicholas will never forget with six points to call his own.
“I’m always so impressed by Nick’s heart to always put everything he has into something he really loves. Despite his height and his age, he went out there and practiced and tried his hardest until he made a impression that landed him a spot on the varsity team,” Jill Bright, Nicholas’ mother said.
Maroon and white covered the Horace Mann fans from head to toe, the arena was jam packed with 500 screaming fans from both schools, plus a trio of girls screaming solely for Nicholas.
The girls are everywhere, Mrs. Bright said, they all seem more into the guys on the team than the actual game.
Nicholas, originally born in New York, N.Y., moved to Princeton, N.J., at the age of three, and spent his summers attending basketball camps from the age of eight. He played on recreational teams and on his middle schools’ basketball team.
“The competition in middle school basketball was minimal and nothing like the game I saw tonight,” said Mrs. Bright.
“Basketball is much more competitive in New York than it was in Princeton and now to be on a varsity team I feel like I’m thrown into an entirely different dimension that I really love,” Nicholas said.
Nicholas’ future goals include taking the SAT’s and finishing high school to take on his next basketball challenge, college basketball and then possibly professional basketball.
“He’s really good at basketball and I love him. I want him to teach me how to play like him,” Spencer Bright, 4, Nicholas’ brother said.

Game Story Hypothetical

Your task: write a "precede" story based on this set of hypothetical facts. Remember to think about which pieces of information are most important, and to carefully evaluate each quote for its value to the story.

Again, these facts are hypothetical - they do not reflect reality as it currently stands.

A note about other sources: feel free to visit the Sixers and Heat websites (and the NBA's website for that matter (www.nba.com)) for more information about the players, coaches, etc.

Do not assume that your reader knows all there is to know about the players - team rosters are a great source of supplementary information.

Feel free to be creative in your approach to the story lead and flow. Play with the different lead styles we've discussed.

Here goes:

The Miami Heat, led by Shaquille O'Neal, will play the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, January 24 at the Wachovia Center.

This will be O'Neal and the Heat's first trip to Philadelphia this season. The Heat defeated the Sixers, 93-83, on Nov. 21. Marc Jackson led the Sixers with 21 points in that game. The Sixers' Willie Green had a horrendous shooting night, missing 13 of 14 field goal attempts, and all three of his three-point field goal attempts.

O'Neal, considered by many to be the most dominant player of his generation, will pose a strong challenge for the Sixers somewhat undersized forwards and centers. O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, the second-year guard from Marquette have proven to be a potent offensive combination for the Heat, who currently lead the Southeast Division of the NBA.

O'Neal came to the Heat in a celebrated July 2004 trade with the Lakers that sent Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and Lamar Odom to the Lakers, along with a first-round draft pick. He is averaging 21.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game (but update all statistics!!).

Wade, named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December, is averaging 24.1 points per game.

The Sixers are led by Allen Iverson, the NBA's leading scoring at 29.1 points per game. Iverson averages just more than seven assists per game. Jackson, who attended Temple University, has played well, averaging 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Rookie Andre Iguodala, the Sixers' top 2004 draft pick out of the University of Arizona, has shown excellent speed and slashing ability.

You talk with O'Neal, Iverson, and Sixers' Coach Jim O'Brien. You check your notes, and find these quotes:

O'Brien: "Shaq just plain dominates up front - there's no defending him if he gets position under the basket. Our guys will give it all they have. What they lack in bulk, they make up for in quickness."

Iverson: "What can you say about Shaq that hasn't already been said - he's probably the greatest player of all time - but we can let our guard down when it comes to Wade. He's really quick to the basket, and can flat out shoot."

O'Neal: "Philly is a little short upfront, but they're tough. Jackson stands his ground well. And A.I. is back to his old self, so it will be a challenge for us."


OK, OK, they're not JFK-level quotes - but this is practice.

Your story should run about 500 words and be posted on the blog within 24 hours.

Good luck!