COLLEGIATETIMES
wednesday november 19, 2008 blacksburg, va.
www.collegiatetimes.com
news FORMER ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS PASSES AWAY
New vice There can only be one: Hokies humble Highlanders president’s
move is ‘bittersweet’
Former Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Warren died Nov. 18 at Montgomery Regional hospital. Warren served in the Tech administration from 2003 to 2006. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Nov. 20, at 4 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, community members may pay tribute to Warren by sending donations to the American Heart Association at 200 Evans Street, Christiansburg, Va., 24073.
CANDACE SIPOS
ct politics editor
SGA SPONSORS ‘GREEN EFFECT’ Tailgaters for this weekend’s home game against Duke are encouraged to promote sustainability and environmental awareness and participate in the “Green Effect” sponsored by the Student Government Association, the Residents Hall Federation and the Environmental Coalition. Volunteers will hand out green trash bags in parking lots 1-5 and will collect the bags after the game.
sports ACC HONORS FANNING For her victory at the NCAA Southeast Regional, FANNING senior Tasmin Fanning was named ACC Women’s Cross Country Performer of the Week. By beating the 231-athlete field with a time of 20:07.8, Fanning became the first Hokie to win a regional meet.
tomorrow’s weather SUNSHINE high 45, low 27
corrections If you see something in today’s paper that needs to be corrected, please e-mail our public editor at publiceditor@collegiatetimes.com, or call 540.231.9865.
coming up TOMORROW’S CT See how Tech’s planning to keep pace with parking on campus over the coming years. Look on our Web site for a photo gallery showcasing Tech’s 78-54 win over Radford last night.
index News.....................1 Features................2 0pinions................3
Classifieds..............5 Sports....................4 Sudoku..................5
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 105th year issue 106
MICHAEL SHROYER/SPPS
Shani Grey, left, goes up for a lay-up against Charron Leeper, right, during the first half of Tech’s victory over Radford, 78-54, last night in Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies improve to 2-0 on the young season. Grey had 17 points and six rebounds on the evening.
ALEX JACKSON
ct sports staff writer The Hokies women’s basketball team advanced to 2-0 on the young season after defeating the cross-town rival Radford Highlanders, 78-54, at Cassell Coliseum last night. Last week, head coach Beth Dunkenberger and her team found out they would be without star forward Brittany Cook all season due to a torn ACL. Friday, the Hokies hung on to beat UNC
Greensboro 59-53. Tuesday, they showed once again that with or without Cook, they can still win close and impressively. The Hokies started the game by going on a 10-0 run that lasted more than five minutes to take an early lead over the Highlanders, 14-4. The Tech women continued to apply pressure, outrebounding Radford, 19-14, and holding the Highlanders to 25 percent shooting in through the first 20 minutes of play. The Hokies went into halftime on a fourminute, 7-0 spurt that extended the lead to 34-17.
So far this year, the Hokies have had a hard time maintaining consistent play. “Unfortunately, we fill our heads with a little Latin exam where we break down defensively and let other teams go on runs,” Dunkenberger said. In the second half, the Hokies did not let up. With 16:26 left in the game, Radford finally ended a 14-0 Hokie run that had started with over four minutes remaining in the first half. Four Hokies ended the night in double
see HOKIES, page six
Student political leaders get chance to breathe, reflect CANDACE SIPOS
ct politics editor Whenever Kate Maxwell was not in class over the past couple of months, she was probably working on the McCain campaign. From the beginning of the school year until Election Day, Maxwell’s life was heavily identified by politics. Even though her candidate didn’t win, she said she would do it all over again. “We’d do it all again in a heartbeat,” Maxwell said, referring to herself and the other College Republicans, who could be found calling Blacksburg citizens almost around the clock, going door-to-door to get out the vote and organizing numerous events featuring campaign surrogates at the Republican Headquarters. Maxwell was one of many campaign workers who struggled to balance school and politics. She was the political director for the College Republicans Federation of Virginia, but she’s also a junior political science major. “I definitely missed a good amount of class this semester — I’m sure my professors could tell you,” Maxwell said. “We were working right up until the end. It was pretty crazy.” In retrospect, she said she would have done many things differently throughout the campaign. But she’ll have many more opportunities to work on campaigns, as she plans to stay involved in politics. She will campaign for a candidate in next year’s race for Virginia governor and attorney general, and she’s running for chairwoman of the College Republican Federation of Virginia. Dan Geroe, the president of Tech’s Young Democrats chapter, has also been busy over the past few months. He has been behind President-elect Barack Obama since the primaries, but the Young Democrats didn’t sup-
port a specific candidate during that time. “I would try to convince my friends more in private,” Geroe said. By the time Obama was offered the bid to run for president on the Democratic ticket, Geroe was home for the summer. He returned to Blacksburg to a level of excitement and involvement he didn’t anticipate. “This year was really amazing,” Geroe said. “I’ve never seen the kind of involvement both from a student body or from a campaign before.” Geroe said the Obama campaign’s ability to out-organize the McCain campaign had a major impact on the election. “Obama’s massive outreach abilities (was) pretty much was the most important factor in this race,” Geroe said. In addition to canvassing, organizing many political events on campus, and performing various other duties for the Young Democrats, Geroe, a senior, was taking 4000-level courses during the campaign. He was also applying to law school. He slept about four to five hours, sometimes three, every night. On the Wednesday following Election Day, he skipped classes. “It was just such a relief that I don’t think I woke up until four in the afternoon,” Geroe said. Although he didn’t let his school life suffer and said he couldn’t ask any student volunteers to skip classes, he found other ways to sacrifice. “Don’t skip your exams,” Geroe said, explaining what he told other students who campaigned for Obama. “Embrace the fact that you’ve got an education. Instead of sacrificing your school time, try to sacrifice the other stuff.” “The other stuff” was social time and relaxation, Geroe said. He only had positive remarks about the
College Republicans and McCain supporters in general, but he said they implemented more of an old-fashioned campaigning style. “I think they kind of did the same stuff that we did, just on a smaller level with the smaller staff that they had,” Geroe said. “College Republicans worked as hard as they could. They did their best with what they had.” But Geroe said Republicans ran the same campaign they’ve been running for the past 20 years, which wasn’t as effective this year. The Democratic candidate for president had more money than the Republican for the first time in that 20 years, and there was a higher “general excitement level” this year for Obama, Geroe said. Chris Cox, Tech’s chapter coordinator for the Students for Barack Obama, contributed to that excitement level. To him, campaigning for Obama was more important than going to class. “I think that this election and the changes that are going to be made will define our generation,” Cox said. “I never felt like I had done enough.” Cox admitted he skipped a lot of class throughout the campaign. “The last two days before the election, I just didn’t go,” Cox said. He made calls to voters, canvassed, and organized many on-campus events himself or alongside Geroe. His organization and the few others that registered students to vote managed to sign up 6,000 students on campus. They put in hundreds of hours for campaigning that could have been spent going to class, doing homework or hanging out with friends, all three of these political leaders would have had it no other way. “I think you can ask anybody who was involved in the campaign — every bit of it was worth it,” Geroe said.
Ed Spencer hasn’t recovered yet. But anyone who walks into his office wouldn’t know it. Though laidback, Spencer is by all standards a professional man who comes to work in a suit and newly polished black shoes. He’s earned a large office on the Virginia Tech campus, a long room layered with books, pictures of his family and lines of awards. After 25 years at Tech, Spencer looks at his computer screen through a huge magnifying lens that’s attached to the top of it. He will retire in about three years, but from a new office. After the death of Vice President for Student Affairs Zenobia Hikes, University Provost Mark McNamee asked Spencer to take over the vacant position. Though Spencer is glad to receive the opportunity, he can’t speak many words about his predecessor with dry eyes. When asked whether her work as vice president was an inspiration to him, he could only nod. “I can’t talk about her without tearing up,” he said “The circumstances that I come SPENCER into this position are just bittersweet,” Spencer said. “It’s an opportunity for me to carry forward her plans and leave my own mark on the university.” Spencer heartily proclaimed his similarities to the late Hikes, saying that they had “remarkably similar views.” “In many ways, her agenda has always been my agenda,” Spencer said. “I think she was very committed to the principles of community, as am I. She and I both have been focused on making sure that we have a welcoming community for everyone. She cared very deeply about students, and I have always had a students-first philosophy and approach in whatever I have done.” They also both graduated from the University of Delaware, where Spencer received both an M.A. and Ph.D in social psychology. This marked the conclusion of a long line of education. Spencer received a B.A. in psychology from the University of Rochester and an M.A. in student personnel administration in higher education from Syracuse University. Spencer spoke of his somewhat confusing path to becoming Tech’s vice president for student affairs. When he entered college, Spencer’s plans were to go into medical school administration work. Though he loved medicine and attended medical school, he had a change of plans and did not obtain a medical degree. “Some people talk about ministers feeling a call,” Spencer said. “I literally felt a calling to work with undergraduate students and graduate students.” After holding three positions in student affairs at the University of Delaware, Spencer began his career at Tech in 1983 as the director of Housing and Residence Life. He held three other positions in the division before reaching his final destination at Tech — vice president for student affairs. He now looks over the 15 departments in the division of student affairs. But his aim is to never forget the everyday student in all of those departments. “My passion is students,” Spencer said. “I love the time I spend with them. The student who’s not happy with something, the student who wants career advice, the student who wants a letter of reference — that’s how my day is made up. It’s made up of ever-changing moments. No day is the same as the next day.” Other faculty attest to his student-centered mentality. “He’s got a strong work ethic and a very strong studentcentered focus,” said Director of Housing and Dining Services Rick Johnson. “He’s really worked for students for over 30 years. He’s a very strong advocate for students.” Johnson, who has worked with Spencer for 15 years, said he thinks that Spencer’s easy-going, relaxed manner is why students like him so much. Johnson said Spencer would absolutely fill the job well, partly because he was already doing much of the “nuts-and-bolts” work in student affairs. Johnson said the units Spencer supervised “were some of the key student-impact units.” University Provost Mark McNamee, who offered Spencer his new position, said Spencer is the senior ranking official in student affairs and has tremendous life experience in the field. “He’s very well qualified for the position,” McNamee said. “He’s worked very closely with Zenobia, and … it’ll be a very consistent transition.” He added that with the budget challenges the university faces coupled with the trauma of losing Hikes, he wanted the transition to be as smooth as possible so the office wouldn’t lose any momentum. “(Hikes) really put into motion a lot of changes and brought a lot of excitement,” McNamee said. “Dr. Spencer had worked closely with her and was fully supportive of what she was trying to do. He wants to keep her legacy going.” Spencer fully understands the reasoning behind his appointment. “They wanted someone who had gone through April 16 with them,” Spencer said. “They wanted stability. They didn’t want a new person coming in and trying to enact a new agenda. They felt that would be unfair to them and to the new person.” McNamee has appointed Spencer for a three-year term, which works perfectly with his retirement plan. Such a search brought Hikes to this same position in the summer of 2005. But Spencer never thought that vice presidency would be the end of Hikes’ career. “I fully expected that she would have moved on into a college presidency,” Spencer said. “I have really never aspired to that. I always dreamed of being a vice president, and I didn’t think that was going to happen.” Spencer will readily admit his excitement about reaching “the end of a career ladder,” but he hopes to bring honor to the legacy of his predecessor. “I don’t think you are going to find that I’m going to be radically different from Dr. Hikes,” Spencer said, fighting back more tears at the mention of her name. “We were two peas in a pod.”
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editor: bethany buchanan email: features@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: w 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., f 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
november 19, 2008
Latest Bond flick ‘Quantum of Solace’ packs a punch High-octane action, jawdropping chase scenes and even a sentimental side to James Bond make “Quantum of Solace” a KIRSTEN smashing good GRAVELY time. regular Daniel Craig returns as James columnist Bond in the 22nd film of the series and the most successful in the opening weekend box office numbers, grossing more than $70 million. This film picks up a bit from the last Bond movie in MOVIE REVIEW 2006, “Casino R o y a l e .” Consumed by revenge to find his love Vesper’s killer, Bond relentlessly pursues him while trying to stop a deceiving environmentalist from stealing a country’s water supply. The opening scene gives a heartracing start. Bond is chased around Italy in a sexy Aston Martin DBS, which sadly is destroyed by the end of the chase; however, with cameras all over the place and a constant barrage of new scenery every second, some members of the audience looked as though they were going to get sick and almost everyone looked as if they had a headache by the end of the series. That scene wasn’t just a part of a motion picture; it was part of a motion-sickness picture. The movie was fast paced all the way, through — almost too fast. It was difficult to enjoy the film and understand the entire plot, because in a flash there was a new person added to the mix and you were wondering what happened in the last scene and preceding minutes.
COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES
James Bond (Daniel Craig), walks through a South American desert with Camille Monte (Olga Kurylenko) during “Quantum of Solace.” Craig is a knockout as Bond. He brings back the rugged charm he delivered in “Casino Royale.” Though less suave than Pierce Brosnan as Bond, Craig carries a sense of compassion throughout the film even though he is perceived as a man with hardly any emotion. He tries to dispute this fact but fails when Judi Dench’s character, “M,” says to Bond that she thinks he is
motivated by revenge. Bond replies, “I am motivated by my duty.” Clearly that is not the case, as you can see Bond in his emotional struggle of losing the person closest to him. Speaking of “M,” Dench plays her brilliantly as her character is brought more to life in this film. More than just Bond’s boss in “Quantum,” she has developed an emotional connection to him, and when her life is
threatened, she has a difficult time keeping Bond in check when he wants to find the person who was out to kill her. From the viewer’s perspective, it is an interesting way to watch a wannabe mother-son dysfunctional relationship. Her trust for Bond is shaky in this one, but it shines through by the end. When it comes to Bond girls, I don’t think anyone has matched up to Halle Berry in 2002’s “Die Another Day.” A Bond girl needs some flare, a feisty personality with some fire in her actions. What is delivered is a girl with a sob story who is a constant damsel in distress. The Bond films seem to love to always use a small-name actress. Sometimes it’s a hit, but in this film, with Olga Kurylenko, it’s a huge miss. The biggest downfall to the film for me was the lack of the usual gadgets that make everyone say, “I want that,” or the constant hot cars that keep up with Bond’s taste in style, speed and technology. He trots along in a busted-up VW bug at one point with the Bond girl — seriously? The love story aspect to the movie took the avid Bond fan for a spin, and not in the best way. Hearing conversations afterward, the “sappiness” to the movie was not a plus. Some fans are just out for the hard action and intricate plots to save the world. For a chick watching it, however, the love story could have been refreshing. Personally, I would have been more entertained with hot cars, more Bond in a tux and gadgets he pulls out of nowhere. Overall, “Quantum” is a great addition to the Bond series. It was very well directed and written. The cinematography was on point, and the locations were entertaining to watch, but the risks taken with the storyline could be its only downfall.
QUANTUM OF SOLACE DIRECTED BY: Marc Foster STARRING: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko RATED: PG-13 PLOT: Bond tries to stop an environmentalist out to control nations’ water supplies while finding the person who killed his love. GRADE: B+ SHOWTIMES FOR TODAY, NOV. 19: 11:30 a.m., 12:20, 1:10, 2:00, 2:50, 3:40, 4:30, 5:20, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:20, 10:10 p.m. at Regal New River Valley Stadium 14
You might also like. . .
“Casino Royale”
“Die Another Day”
“Dr. No”
directed by Martin Campbell. James Bond tried to prove himself as an agent with his first mission, which orders him to stop a dangerous banker for terrorists from winning a poker tournament.
directed by Lee Tamahori. Pierce Brosnan plays James Bond as he tries to stop a diamond mogul from using outer space weapons to control the world and spread terrorism.
directed by Terence Young. Original Bond Sean Connery searches for his lost colleague, lands on the island of Dr. No and discovers his scheme to destroy the U.S. Space Program.
Basshound guitarist discusses the music industry, Blacksburg crowds TOPHER FORHECZ
ct features reporter Playing for the third time in Blacksburg this year, the instrumental band Basshound will perform at the Lantern tonight with opening act Boogieburg. The group will hit Blacksburg Q&A in the midst of a 10-day tour. Somewhere in between Charlotte and Wilmington, N.C., guitarist Greg Maly took some time to speak over the phone with the CT earlier this Sunday.
Q: You guys seem to be on the cusp of playing big gigs like festivals versus clubs; how has your schedule been changing recently? A: The primary thing is that we’re breaking into different markets. Working our way into different states, different cities and just having the regional influences of the festivals we’ve been playing has allowed us to really break out and drive many, many miles farther.
Q: The band has played in Blacksburg before; how has the response been? A: Awesome. We expect a really good show this coming week. The first time we came through was in August, and school wasn’t even in session and we came through on Tuesday, and it was very well attended. We came through the third week, Sept. 12. It was a really good turnout, probably three-quarters full. I anticipate a full house on Wednesday, but we’ll find out.
Q: How was the Lantern? A: It’s a really great club. We were very impressed. They got in touch with us probably early summer letting us know that they were opening up and they wanted to start getting bands in there. So we just took them up on it. We played at Virginia Tech two-plus years ago at Cabo Fish Taco, and it was cool because we had friends down in the area; we were in college then, so we had college friends there. But this time we’ve been coming through, and this is definitely a much different atmosphere.
“Working our way into different states [and] cities and just having the regional influences of the festivals we’ve been playing has allowed us to really break out and drive many, many miles further. “ - GREG MALY GUITARIST Q: I read that you lost your front man last year; did that change the dynamic at all? A: It actually changed it a lot. He was one of our driving forces in more of our song-based material, more of our kind of folk rock. He was more of that in our sound. So when he left, a big piece of that left as well. I guess you could say that we have evolved into something a little more specific as of late because the rest of us listen to more progressive, instrumental-based music. Our shows are much more reliant on the improvised sessions of the shows and the energy of the instruments as opposed
to the vocal lines, so it definitely did change things. Q: When did you guys just decide to go for it? A: Probably about the time that our singer quit. Part of the reason he left was that he couldn’t really keep up with the schedule; it’s a big commitment of time and energy. I think about a year ago when he left, the rest of us kind of made a decision. There’s a certain commitment that you have to make to your life to do this.
Q: Unknowingly, was the band moving in a serious direction anyway? A: We were just playing as much as we could at that point because it was obviously fun and is something that we all wanted to do. But you can’t really make the commitment to do it until you see the tangible results that said, “OK, this could actually work.” So I’d say that over the past two years, we’ve been learning to actually to make it work and what it takes. How many shows you have to play a month and what it takes to get crowds out. Once we all realized what it took and said, “OK, this is actually a viable option,” that’s when the decision was made. Q: What’s something about the music industry that you did not expect to learn coming into it? A: We’ve been pushing hard as a band for so long that if I could come up with all the lessons learned it would be kind of funny. Things you didn’t expect — some towns have incredibly nice club owners that take care of you from top to bottom and just want to make sure the musicians are happy, and some don’t give a shit about musicians
and just have a club and are trying to make cash. It’s a big lesson in learning how to work with people. It’s just a business like anything else. Music, when it comes down to it, you have to really be conscious of it working as a business as well, and that’s something that we’re learning a lot about. You have to run on a budget, and you have to do things like pay for gas and insurance, and so it becomes a small business. You’re not just playing music anymore; it becomes your employment. You’re always learning and you’re always trying to figure out how to maintain what you’re trying to accomplish.
Q: Where did the learning process through the industry start? A: Blake (who plays the keyboard), he actually worked in and around the music business for a few years, so he got a very good inside view of what the inside of music industry looks like. And when you meet with club owners all the time and you book shows all the time, you learn a whole lot about what makes the music industry turn. It’s just like anything — you don’t necessarily go to class for it, but you learn just by doing, so we’ve just been pressing really hard on booking and writing and promotion for years now, and it becomes something you adapt to and you learn how to make it work. It’s a lot of trial and error.
Fans anticipate tonight’s show Senior English lit major Rachel Burch attended the last Basshound show in Blacksburg. Just returning from Europe, she was happily surprised by her first Basshound show. “They seemed really into it,” she said. “When I saw them they had already played here before. It seemed like they were excited to come back because they were really positive about playing in Blacksburg, then it showed in their music and everybody was really excited. I remember there was a really awesome turn-out for the show.” A frequenter of the Blacksburg live music scene, the last show has guaranteed Burch’s attendance at the upcoming Wednesday gig.
Q: So what’s next for Basshound? A: What’s next? Well, tonight’s
comes out, that’s going to be good for us on many levels, and we’ve been in the studio working on that since late August. I think we’re going to go on tour out West in January and February, and then when we get back we’ll do our circuits in the area, and then we’re hoping to really play nonstop for most of the summer and try to hit as many festivals and cities as we can.
Wilmington. We’re working on a CD, actually. We’re going to come out with an album hopefully toward the beginning of the New Year, within the first couple of months. So when that album
Q: What should Virginia Tech students expect from Basshound on Wednesday? A: We have a current challenge to
“One of my favorites,” she said about the last time Basshound played in town. “At the top of the list. I would say, of the semester so far, that’s one of the main shows that sticks out in my head. Everybody was having a blast.” The dance-inspiring sound of Basshound is something that attracts Burch to that improvisational category of music to which the band belongs. “They’re a fusion of different sounds,” she said. “They aren’t just one specific type, which makes them a pretty awesome band. I’d say funky, like a jam band, but more like funk and snare to them. Definitely some dance music that you can get down to.”
Virginia Tech students to try and have a better time then we’re going to have on Wednesday night, because we all try and get on stage and have a good time no matter what’s going on in the room. One of the things that we’re definitely going to be able to do is it’s going to be a different show than the last two times we were down there because we do our best not to ever repeat shows in front the same crowds. So it’ll be a different show, and it’s going to be a really good crowd on Wednesday. So I think people should come out and expect some really high-energy music.
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editor: laurel colella, david mcilroy email: opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: mw 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
november 19, 2008
EDITORIAL
For the love of cherry limeade: Give us Sonic or give us death The new Sonic coming to Blacksburg was a controversial issue for town council and remains one for Blacksburg residents. In June the town council denied a special-use permit application that would have brought Sonic to the new First and Main shopping center. Areas of concern included lack of pedestrian accommodation, loudspeaker noise and the worry that cars would loiter with their engines on in the drive-in section. After changes to the building design and policies, however, the Town Council accepted Sonic’s application on Nov. 12. Although Sonic’s been officially approved, local approval might not come as easily. Less noise and more sidewalks probably won’t kindle much warmth for the newest grease peddler in the hearts of anti-Wal-Mart Blacksburgians. The proximity of the two may just provide too easy a link from one incoming chain to the other. Admittedly, though, Sonic is substantially more innocuous than Wal-Mart. One more fastfood venue doesn’t compare to the small city of corporate impersonality that Wal-Mart threatens. Currently, there’s not a huge fast-food presence on South
Main Street. The only other real option for empty calories at a speedy pace in south Blacksburg is the Wendy’s across the street. And Wendy’s offers moderately different cuisine. Blacksburg in general, however, is certainly not lacking in fast-food restaurants. There’s at least one of all the major lowquality food joints conveniently situated within walking distance of campus. The five-minute drive northbound on Main Street into the fast-food epicenter is not likely to be enough time for anyone to fall into a hypoglycemic coma. And maybe, on the way, the grease craver will cast a favorable eye on one of the numerous food establishments on Main Street that offer food options with a reasonable amount of trans fat. There is even a Sonic located in the surprisingly concealing town of Christiansburg. Just as the other Macado’s, few people in Blacksburg seem to know (or care) that it’s there. Who knows, though, maybe the new Sonic will reveal to people their lifelong love of fried macaroni and cheese bites.
Surviving the longest week of your student life Holidays are coming, but before we get to relax and eat turkey, we must endure what I have come to think of as the longest week LIZA of the year: the week preceding MILLER Thanksgiving regular break. As usual, columnist all of the work and assignments I have postponed throughout the entire semester must be turned in before I can bow out of Blacksburg and go home to my family. I know it’s partly my fault that this week is so long, but it doesn’t make it any less difficult to endure. So, of course, this week is also when my cravings start to kick in. Not in the traditional turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes sense — my cravings for some reason are more of the musical kind. Procrastination can take many forms, and for me, procrastination exists in the form of my iPod. For some reason nothing makes me yearn to listen to music more than a pile of books and a long to-do list. Something about being swamped with work makes me want to put down the book and turn up the volume. And since I can’t seem to listen to any song without singing along, these cravings do not lend themselves to helping me study in the slightest.
My natural solution is to seek solace in the library or a public place where listening to music is forbidden and singing along with headphones is severely frowned upon. There just isn’t a polite way to jam out to Chris Brown so, with that in mind, I try to spend as much time in the library as possible. The library seems to be a place of refuge for a musical junkie such as myself, but instead of studying, I find myself browsing my peers’ iTunes libraries and adding to my own. I spend more time researching free music downloading sites than I do for all my classes combined. Any normal Tuesday I could examine a random iTunes library and resist listening to the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or the enticingly random Ski Trip Mix someone has anonymously put together. This week, arguably one of the busiest of the semester, I just can’t hold back exploring new sounds. In between exploring playlists, I find myself daydreaming about my break, and visions of my family surrounding a huge turkey are replaced with the more delicious idea of the car rides to and from Virginia Tech. My wildest holiday fantasy — I am alone in my car, exams behind me and absolutely no obligations for the next four hours except driving myself home. I can guiltlessly turn up the volume and sing at the top of my lungs to whatever I desire. It will be a jam session to be remembered, and even though it’s only three days
away in reality, the work that stands in my way and the self control it will take to not start my jam session early makes me feel as though break may as well be scheduled for next year. I was thinking about this addiction as I half-watched the TRL finale episode Sunday night. I usually don’t watch TRL, but as a tribute to my 12-year-old self I tuned in to say goodbye to what used to be my favorite show. They had a countdown of the most requested videos of all time, and as if it were yesterday, all the words came back and I sang along with almost every song. At least half of my brain must be devoted solely to song lyrics because I can remember every fluctuation and undulation of songs that I haven’t heard in years. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could reprogram my memory to memorize my textbooks instead of the first N’SYNC album? Certainly the lyrics to “Bye Bye Bye” are useless to me now, but what would be useful are chapters 6 through 9 for my test at the end of the week. If only I could put my notes into song, I’d be a straight-A student and studying would be as easy as pumpkin pie. But then, if my textbooks and notes replaced all the songs in my memory, it would make road trips extremely dull. What would I do if I didn’t have songs to sing along to on the way home? I certainly wouldn’t sing my notes; no one should have to study during Thanksgiving break.
The editorial board is composed of David Grant, David McIlroy, Laurel Colella, Sally Bull, Jackie Peteres, Alexandra Kaufmann and Jenna Marson
College sports have a problem. No, I am not talking about rampant recruiting violations or the farce that is the BCS. I’m not even talking about how the WAC is not considered a “major” conference, despite the fact that they are clearly better than the Big East, ACC and the Pac-10 minus USC. The NCAA’s biggest problem is the growing joke of the studentathlete. Don’t get me wrong — the student-athlete is far from dead. Most athletes take school very seriously, major in something that really interests them and eventually “go pro in something other than sports,” as the ACC commercial goes. No, the problem arises when you get players such as Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart or Kevin Durant, who could care less about school and are only there because the rules tell them they have to before they can go make millions. While this problem is far more pronounced in basketball, where the great players only need to stay academically eligible for one semester to play before going pro, the situation in football is not much better. Look at the current top 5, according to Rivals.com: Alabama graduates 49 percent of its players, Texas Tech 79 percent, Texas 42 percent, Florida 72 percent and Oklahoma 44 percent (Virginia Tech football is 72 percent). These low numbers can be partially attributed to the fact that since they send so many players to the pros, many of them do not graduate before leaving. Personally, I think these numbers should embarrass their universities. If a school’s job is to educate its students and you have people such as Knowshon Moreno enrolled, you might as well help them out, as you would any other student. This is why I propose that schools start offering football and basketball as majors. I know it sounds crazy, but think about it; the professional sports industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, yet
athletics are looked at as just an extra-curricular activity at schools. Tim Tebow does well in school (He has a 3.77 GPA, according to UFL.edu), but is he really going to use his degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences, if he evens stays long enough to earn it? The answer is no. Tebow went to Florida to become an NFL player, the same way I came to Tech to become a mechanical engineer and you did to become what you want to be. It’s not fair for someone who is gifted mentally to make the most of her talent by going to medical school, but a gifted athlete has to pick a ruse major, as his athletic prowess is not sharp enough. Here is how this system will be implemented. First, these majors have to be extremely exclusive, only the best of the best should get in (think Harvard Law). This ensures that only those players who are surefire future professional athletes are allowed in, because this major will be pretty useless for anyone who doesn’t make it as an athlete. It will be a 2 year to 3 year program, since this is about how long these players usually stay. The core curriculum will involve in-class advanced strategy, as well as business classes to help them manage their money once they get out, since according to the Toronto Star, roughly 60 percent of NBA players go broke within five years of retiring. I think this system would ultimately raise the level of play in the NBA and NFL as well as the NCAA because I think players will stick around school for another year or so to finish this degree. It will make them more intelligent about the game they play, plus their skills will be more refined from more time in college. Players would also come out of school older and more mature, with a better sense of money management, which will help them in the long run. And how sweet would a master’s in football from Penn State or a B.A. in basketball from UCLA sound?
Matt Gagnon senior, mechanical engineering
Your letter could be here. E-mail us at: opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com
Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief David Grant Managing Editors David Harries, Sharon Pritz Public Editor Cate Summers Special Sections Editor Meg Miller News Editors Caleb Fleming, Ashley Oliver, T. Rees Shapiro News Reporters Gordon Block, Zach Crizer, Gabe McVey, Riley Prendergast, Rebecca Thomas News Staff Writers Shannon Aud, Laura Duke, Justin Graves, Michelle Rivera, Lindsey Taylor Politics Editor Candace Sipos Features Editor Bethany Buchanan Features Reporters Kirsten Gravely, Topher Forhecz, Teresa Tobat, Jonathan Yi Opinions Editors Laurel Colella, David McIlroy Opinions Staff Sally Bull, Jackie Peters Sports Editors Thomas Emerick, Brian Wright Sports Reporters Joe Crandley, Justin Long, Ed Lupien, Melanie Wadden Sports Staff Writers Garrett Busic, Matt Collette, Lindsay Faulkner, Hattie Francis, Alex Jackson, Mike Littier Copy Editors Erin Corbey, Sara Mitchell, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Kristen Walker Photo Editor Kelly Harrigan Associate Photo Editor Go-Eun Choi Layout Designers Christine Fay, John Kayrouz, Ben MacDonald, Josh Son, Sara Spangler Illustrator Mina Noorbakhsh Multimedia Editor Phillip Murillas Multimedia Producer Matthew Langan, Becky Wilson Multimedia Reporters Candice Chu, Bryce Stucki, Peter Velz Online Director Christopher Ritter Web Developer Jeff Klassen Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager Ryan McConnell College Media Solutions Staff Advertising Director Patrick Fitzgerald Asst Advertising Directors Sarah Ford Jenna Given, Katelynn Reilly Ads Production Manager Anika Stickles Asst Production Manager Alyssa Peltier Ads Production/Creation Breanna Benz, Alllison Bhatta, Lisa Hoang, Kaiesha Morgan, Mike Payne, Lindsay Smith, Lara Treadwell National Account Executive Joey Mazzei Account Executives Libbey Arner, Oran Duncan, Tyler Ervin, Jennifer Heimlich, Kavish Hemrajani, Jimmy Henderson, Dustin Hurst, Alex Iskounen, Kelli Lyman, Marcello Sandoval, Amanda Sparks, Jennifer Vaughn, Amanda Whitt Assistant Account Executives Alexandra Boddie, Lauren Klooster, Kaelynn Kurtz, Carissa Nichols, Molly Vaira Marketing Manager Robert Zayaz III Office Manager Joey Mazzei
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Allow college athletes to major in their sport of choice
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To ignore the benefits of nuclear energy would be a huge mistake ANTHONY KALASKAS guest columnist I would first like to praise Paige Pinkston’s column, “Implementation of alternative energy sources is what U.S. needs” (CT, Nov 14), for bringing attention to a critical issue. More emphasis on balancing energy and environmental policies should be placed on the political agenda for the days and decades ahead. While Pinkston rightly points out that an increased emphasis must be placed on alternative energy sources such as nuclear, solar and wind, I believe that there is a bias that unfairly diminishes the potential benefits of nuclear power. With balance in mind, a disproportionate amount of time was spent on nuclear energy’s drawbacks and dangers, as opposed to its benefits. In this regard, we are drawn to the already pervasive anti-nuclear attitude that environmental groups such as Greenpeace and the Sierra Club promote. In an ever-growing world, natural resources are becoming increasingly strained, populations are skyrocketing and the need for energy is becoming absolutely enormous, not only in the states, but the Third World as well. This trend will only intensify as the developing world creates more races toward first-world standards. Therefore, I would deem it an uninformed and irresponsible decision by lawmakers if they were to scrap nuclear power as too dangerous and polluting. Hitherto, we must ask ourselves these questions: Why should we strongly consider nuclear energy? And why is there such an intense pushback from environmental groups? To outline why we should consider nuclear energy, I will build on arguments previously raised in the Pinkston column. Pinkston mentioned that nuclear energy “does not create greenhouse gas emissions.” This is true; it does not produce the greenhouse gas mainly emitted by
human activity, carbon dioxide. In fact, nuclear energy accounted for 36 percent of voluntary greenhouse gas reduction in 2005, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In other words, nuclear energy prevented roughly 138 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Nuclear energy has already proven to provide large-scale electricity production 24/7 economically, compared to wind and solar, which only do so sporadically. One prime example of this success is France, which procures about 75 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy. In a related point, we should preclude any preconception that nuclear energy in any way undermines our environmental protection laws, such as the Clean Air Act of 1970. Indeed, if nuclear energy has affected this law, it has only helped it by cutting emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. About one-third of total U.S. electricity comes from clean-air sources, such as wind, solar and nuclear. Of those clean air electricity sources, nearly 90 percent comes from nuclear energy. In fact, without nuclear power plants, many states would be unable to meet federal air quality standards. This has helped states reduce air pollution to a greater degree and at a lower cost than expected. In perspective, we must take into account the tremendous benefits that nuclear energy offers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the health of our nation’s cities and citizens depends on it. In cities such as Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Dallas and Pittsburgh, smog has run rampant leading to infamous code-red air quality days. I believe that it is inexcusable in today’s world of expansive technology and scientific innovation that we struggle to breathe in our own environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 100 nuclear generating units are currently operating in the United States. However, under today’s
strenuous demands for electricity, it is obvious we need more. The road to building more nuclear power plants is far from unobstructed, though. As mentioned earlier, organizations and interest groups such as Greenpeace and the Sierra Club have vehemently opposed the construction of nuclear power plants. Now, on a personal note, I deeply admire both groups and support a majority of their positions. Bluntly, I would rather have them influence policy on Capitol Hill than corporations such as Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell or Chevron. However, on the issue of nuclear energy, I not only feel disconcerted over the environmental groups’ positions, but also slightly perturbed. When we examine why these groups oppose nuclear energy, the reasons appear quite clear. The Sierra Club cites the disaster at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant. Meanwhile, Greenpeace emphasizes the damage caused by the Chernobyl disaster. Now, we find the reason to be quite clear. The reason is fear. Fear that a catastrophe could occur. Fear that millions of people could die. Fear that a nuclear holocaust could emerge. However, before we jump and turn into a collective modern-day chicken little, we have to ask ourselves whether these outcomes are at all likely or realistic. The answer is no. These events were both isolated and rare. The likelihood that nuclear disasters would occur perennially is absolutely remote. In fact, if there were an impending catastrophe before us, it would instead be a change so subtle that it is occurring right under our noses, and that is global warming. Therefore, when we search for alternative energy, nothing should be precluded, especially nuclear. I believe that the world is at a crossroads. If we are to ignore the benefits of nuclear energy, we only trap ourselves in a cycle of environmental destruction. Perhaps when it comes to nuclear energy, the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” is the most appropriate.
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editor: thomas emerick, brian wright email: sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com phone: 540.231.9865 office hours: w 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.; t 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
november 19, 2008
Close losses plagued men’s soccer in ’08 For now, the NFL isn’t passing fancy
ED LUPIEN
ct sports reporter The Virginia Tech men’s soccer team finished its season last Tuesday after exiting the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament with a 31 loss in the first round to North Carolina State. After notching their best finish in the program’s history in 2007, the Hokies went 5-13-1 in this year’s regular season. The Hokies also went winless in their conference slate, right up to the final home game of the season against Boston College, against whom the Hokies lost 2-1 after scoring the first goal of the game. “The game was a microcosm of what has happened all season long,” head coach Oliver Weiss said after the loss. “We fight and we do everything we can. We’re inferior in a lot of ways, and we find ways to lose the game. We don’t have the belief; we don’t have the personnel. It’s like we didn’t understand how to win a game this year, and we carried that around with us all season. Even though the effort was great and the fight was great and we scored a goal, we found a way to lose it. I’m disappointed that the regular season is over because of our inability to improve.” On the season, Tech allowed 30 second-half goals compared to 16 first-half goals. But Weiss and the Hokies could not tell what kind of season they were in for right away as the team began its regular season play at the UP Nike Invitational in Portland, Ore., where Tech came back after being down to tie Portland and then defeated Washington while being a man down in overtime. “Those two wins need to be something that we grab on to and use to remind ourselves that we can win games,” said junior defender James Gilson. And then the losses came — 12 of the last 16 regular season games to be exact. Several of the defeats came at the hands of much smaller midmajor opponents, including Hofstra, Appalachian State and High Point. “The low point was probably when we lost to Appalachian State and High Point in the same week,” Gilson said. “Those two teams we should beat every season regardless how good we are. I would use the word ‘embarrassing.’ We lost 8-2 to Wake Forest, but we weren’t even expected to beat
ALEX JACKSON sports staff writer
MARK UMANSKY/SPPS
Tech defender Alexander Baden puts his hands on his head in frustration after a missed opportunity for a Tech second-half goal during the Hokies’ loss to Appalachian State, 2-1, on the night of Oct. 21. them so I don’t consider that loss as bad.” There were several factors that led the Hokies to have the type of season that saw them finish in the cellar of their conference, one of which was the number of injuries that plagued the team, beginning before the season even started. “We had Alexander Baden, one of our leaders on the field, get hurt in April,” Gilson said. “He sort of anchored our defense last season. We gave up a lot of goals this season, some of which would not have been allowed if we had him back there. (Midfielder) Charlie Campbell was our best tackle a year ago, too, and losing him was devastating because all the freshmen had to step up and start playing. Not only does Campbell score goals, he takes pressure off everyone else on the field.” The fact that the team never really found a starting goalie also created much confusion on the field as there
seemed to be a different keeper in goal every game. Freshman goalkeeper Thomas St. Germain started seven games while his teammates, juniors Stefan Caulfield and Brendan Dunn, each started six. “The goalie issue was a big thing this year,” Gilson said. “We never really established a number-one goalkeeper. We were changing it up every game. (St. Germain) started playing more than the other two toward the end, but I still don’t think the situation was resolved. One of the three will need to step up next season in order for that to happen.” But the problems on the field were not confined to the net, as nine out of the 11 starters from last year’s squad were gone. Gilson, who leads the team in scoring along with freshman forward Emmanuel Akogyeram with six goals apiece, chose to view the glass as half full and take an optimistic approach on the future. “The most positive thing to take
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
out of the season is that every freshman got the chance to play,” Gilson said. “It’s a real vital experience playing against ACC competition. Most classes don’t get to experience that.” Gilson and sophomore defender James Shupp were the only two Hokies to start every game of the regular season with 20 other players receiving starts, 10 of whom were freshmen. While he was not new to the team and did not lead the team in any statistical category, the most important player on this year’s squad was perhaps junior Brendan Dunn, who came into the season as the team’s starting goalie but shined after he moved to the forward position. “Brendan Dunn was probably the team’s MVP this season,” Gilson said. “He was our starting goalie at the beginning of the season, made a couple of mistakes and got taken out. He could’ve thrown in the towel for the season, but coach asked him to play at the forward position. Dunn approached that situation with open arms and did great. He scored goals, had assists and turned out to have a big impact on our offensive attack.” What was perhaps most astonishing about the transition from goalie to forward was that Dunn looked like a natural in the field at times. He tallied two goals and two assists while playing well enough to make 13 starts at the position. “He’s a clever player and knows the game,” Gilson said. “He knows the right thing to do just from playing so long. Even if his touch was off or if he was too slow, he generally did the right thing.” Although it is uncertain where Dunn will be on the field next season for the Hokies, it is definite that the team will return all but four of its members. Baden and midfielder Scott Dillie will be the biggest departures. As the senior captain, Dillie was third on the team with three goals. Even with the losses, Gilson — one of five juniors on this year’s squad — is confident that the team will be competitive in 2009. “I think we can contend next year,” Gilson said. “A lot of ACC schools lose key seniors and players who are the best players on their teams, and we don’t really lose that many. Our defense is going to be better and our attack is going to be better. We’re going to be better.”
The Miami Dolphins have the same record as the Dallas Cowboys, Kurt Warner is the best quarterback in the league and Terrell Owens is currently ranked 39th in receiving yards.
Can you believe that? This season, Sunday afternoons have been anything but ordinary. Prior to the beginning of the season, the John Claytons and Mel Kipers of the media world predicted what they thought would happen in 2008. COMMENT The general consensus was that the star-studded Dallas Cowboys and the nearly perfect New England Patriots would be at the top come February. Tom Brady was simply supposed to be too much to handle and the Cowboys, who loaded up on talent over the offseason, wouldn’t be stopped. Then, they played the games. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the unexpected occurred. After losing star cornerback Asante Samuel this summer to the Philadelphia Eagles, golden boy quarterback Tom Brady got knocked out for the season. In Dallas, the year began and the well-oiled machine Jerry Jones had worked so hard on to build over the offseason failed to find its ignition. A few weeks later, ESPN’s pundits were scrambling for material. Peyton Manning struggled in Indianapolis while new Pats signal caller Matt Cassel was not posting very Brady numbers. Now, things have gotten so weird that the Atlanta Falcons, led by rookie quarterback Matt Ryan and rookie running back Michael Turner, are competing for a playoff spot. Even the New York Jets are playing well. The game has changed. Last year, the Patriots showcased one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. The Pats sprinted to 18-0 and dominated nearly every team they faced before falling in Super Bowl XLII. That night, they were dominated in the trenches by a Giants team that had sent just one player to the Pro Bowl. Much like the economy, however, the game didn’t change overnight. In 2001, the Ravens won the Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer starting at quarterback. They did it with a fast defense, tough running and a team much different than the characteristic champions of the ’90s. There was no Steve Young, no Troy Aikman, no John Elway and not a hint of a game plan similar to that of the Super Bowl-champion Rams just a year prior in 2000. The Ravens didn’t need it. As the decade continued, a trend developed. In Super Bowl XXXVII, the Buccaneers won, intercepting probowl quarterback Rich Gannon five times, while completely dominating on the defensive side of the ball. Two years later, the Patriots won their third championship in four years behind a tough defensive line and a ground game led by Corey Dillon, who ran for a franchise record yard total that year. One year later, in Super Bowl XL, the Steelers beat the top-ranked Seahawks offense by shutting down league MVP Shaun Alexander and getting it done through hard-earned yards on the ground. Not until Super Bowl XLI did a high–powered offensive team truly take the cake. The 2007 Colts won
that year as a result of an improved defense, however. The Colts’ Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis provided the pressure needed to win the Super Bowl that Indianapolis couldn’t achieve in years past without a defense. The game had changed. This season, you finally see it. Currently, the Titans and Giants sit atop their conferences with defenses that rank first and fifth in the league, respectively. Tennessee is undefeated, sitting at 10-0 with journeyman Kerry Collins starting at quarterback. Collins leads a passing offense ranked 29th in the NFL. His number one target is a guy named Bo Scaife, his starting tight end. The Giants aren’t much better — ranked 22nd in passing. Who needs to pass? Unlike many of the power teams of the ’90s, the Giants and Titans win games on the ground. By controlling the clock with two of the leagues best rushing offenses and applying pressure on the defensive side of the ball, teams like the Giants and Titans have amassed a combined record of 19-1. Clubs picked to win big prior to the season, such as the LaDainian Tomlinson-led Chargers and the Saints — who added Jeremy Shockey over the offseason and still struggle with Drew Brees and Reggie Bush — are losing. The league seems to be taking notice, too. Adapted approaches on offense have led to success for some squads. In Cincinnati, Detroit and San Francisco, teams with some of the best weapons in the league on the offensive side of the ball have sputtered because of poor performance from the quarterback position. While San Francisco’s new head coach Mike Singletary was busy chewing out tight end Vernon Davis on the sideline a few weeks ago, teams such as the Jets, Minnesota and Tennessee were enjoying success. There, coaches have chosen older, more reliable quarterbacks over young quarterbacks to be safer with the ball. And they’re not just winning: They’re contenders. In Miami, Baltimore and Philadelphia, the “wildcat” formation has fooled defenses and led to offensive success for otherwise inept lineups. While it doesn’t lead to offensive powerhouses, it allows teams such as Baltimore and Miami to do just enough to win behind top-ranked defenses. Currently, the top 17 defenses in the league represent teams at or above .500. The Texans are 3-7 this year, despite sporting the fifth-best passing offense in the league. The NFL has transformed dramatically since the prolific 49ers teams of the previous decade. No longer are the Terrell Owens, Chad Johnsons and LaDainian Tomlinsons necessary to win football games. Hard-nosed defense and tough play from the offensive line are in vogue now. Statistically, being safe with the football, controlling the clock and letting your defense take care of everything else is making teams the best they can be. Great coaches like Jeff Fisher and Tom Coughlin have recognized the shift, and their game plans and general managers have set them up with the personnel they need on the field to win games. Successful teams this year aren’t flashy and usually don’t score from 90 yards out in seconds, but they physically dominate and outexecute their opponents. Don’t be surprised to see the same teams come playoff time.
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wednesday, november 19, 2008
sports in brief BEAMER LOOKS FORWARD TO DUKE Frank Beamer kicked off Tuesday’s 1 p.m. press conference by revealing the thought that was on every reporter’s mind. “Cold o=ut there,” he said. He then delved into matters more specifically pigskin, giving a brief analysis of the Duke football squad that will come to cold, blustery Southwest Virginia on Saturday. He quickly noted that the Blue Devils did clobber Virginia by a 31-3 margin earlier in the season. He had trouble pronouncing the surname of Duke linebacker Michael Taulili, but lauded the defensive force that leads the ACC in tackles. He also mentioned quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, who led the ACC in total offense before an injury knocked him out of last week’s
game. Lewis may not play on Saturday, but wide receiver Erron Riley has caught seven touchdowns and will suit up. There was also much talk about two other teams that will face off on Saturday, as Georgia Tech must defeat Miami on Thursday night for the Hokies to keep their ACC Championship hopes alive. Beamer said he’s pulling for the Yellow Jackets, but that his focus remains on Duke. He attributed much of Thursday’s poor offensive output to inconsistent blocking. When questioned in regards to Bryan Stinespring’s job security, Beamer sternly repeated his mantra that he and his staff are working hard to think about things like that. Beamer defended the third-andtwo call on the final drive that saw Tyrod Taylor hand off to back up tailback Dustin Pickle, explaining that Pickle has speed to hit the hole but that the hole was just “stuffed.”
Hokies: Women Georgia Tech’s runoriented offense rout Radford foreign to Miami SHANDEL RICHARDSON
sun sentinel
MICHAEL SHROYER/SPPS
How ‘bout them apples?
Tech’s Utahya Drye is defended by Radford’s Kahealani Vick as she dribbles toward the basket in last night’s win over the Highlanders. from page one
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figures. Junior forward Utaha Drye, sophomore guard Shani Grey and junior guard Lindsay Biggs outscored everyone on the floor, including everyone on the Radford squad. Junior guard Lakeisha Logan added 10 in the effort, as well. Shani Grey led the attack with a career-high 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting and six rebounds in just 24 minutes. “I talked to (Shani) about doing the things that make her special, being a defensive specialist, being a spark that gets hands on balls, gets rebounds,” Dunkenberger said. “When she does those things, the offense seems to come around,” she said. Biggs was active all night long under the basket. She said the team talked prior to the game about stepping up now that they’ve lost quality players like Cook. “A few players are hurt, Cook’s out — everyone on the team has to step it up,” she said.” The junior scored 15 points on 6of-11 from the field while recording eight rebounds and dishing out a career-high six assists. “I just tried to do that. I just tried to look for my shot, create for other people, and my teammates were making it,” she said. Down low, Drye was 6-for-10,
pouring in 14 points and adding five boards and five assists in 32 minutes. The Hokies held their largest lead of the game with 10:59 left when they were up by 33 points to the tune of 58-25 after a lay-up by sophomore forward Brittany Gordon. Radford didn’t stand a chance for the rest of the half, only getting as close as 17 points behind with just three minutes to go. Junior forward Kymesha Alston led the Highlanders with 11 points, eight rebounds and one assist on the evening. Junior forward Charron Leeper and Radford senior guard Johnette Walker also added 11 points apiece in the game. Radford fell to 0-2 on the season, while the Hokies kept their record unblemished. Tuesday night’s contest was the 29th meeting between the two clubs, with Tech now holding a 20-9 lead in the series. The Hokies have won 11 of their last 14 against Radford and Dunkenberger is 4-1 in her matches against the New River Valley rival. Tech will attempt to go for its third straight win to open the new year on Thursday night when it faces-off against North Carolina Central at 7 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum. On Sunday, the team will travel to Fairfax in a match-up with George Mason before it heads to face off in the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., over the break.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes saw an unfamiliar face leading the scout team offense this week. All season, quarterbacks Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith have been under center, but not the past few days. Devon Hill, a freshman walkon receiver, took charge of the role. A former high school quarterback, Hill’s speed is what the Hurricanes hope can help them best prepare for Georgia Tech’s triple option on Thursday. “It’s going to be pretty hard,” defensive lineman Josh Holmes said. “You don’t see offenses like that all the time.” Yellow Jackets first-year coach Paul Johnson hit the rewind button when he decided to use the triple option. It was once the preferred choice of college coaches but has gone the way of the Chuck Taylor basketball shoe. Few teams use the run-oriented attack, preferring the trendy new formations such as the spread and pro-style offenses. Johnson, who ran the wishbone for six years at Navy, remains a firm believer that it can still have success in a major conference. So far, he’s right. The Yellow Jackets rank eighth in the nation with 250 rushing yards a game. They are 7-3, and a win against the Hurricanes would put them one step closer to a berth in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. For UM, this will be the first time it has faced a Division I-A power option team since Arkansas in 1991. The Hurricanes played I-AA Georgia Southern, another option offense, in
1994. UM also faced Nebraska and Heisman Trophy quarterback Eric Crouch in the 2002 Rose Bowl, but coach Randy Shannon said that was more of a speed option team. “There’s no science to (preparing for) it,” Shannon said. “If guys are doing their job and playing assignment football, you’ll be successful. . . . You have to have everybody chasing the football. If you don’t, you’re going to have a tough time.” Just how effective the Georgia Tech offense is depends on the health of quarterback Josh Nesbitt. He has been bothered with an ankle injury since playing North Carolina on Nov. 8 but is expected to play. Nesbitt is the Yellow Jackets’ second-leading rusher with 498 yards and six touchdowns on 123 carries. Running back Jonathan Dwyer has 1,056 yards, and Roddy Jones is also a threat (347 yards). The UM players haven’t seen this kind of offense since their high school days. “Triple option is really not that hard,” said freshman defensive tackle Marcus Forston. “It’s about fundamentals and everybody taking care of their assignments.” The Hurricanes have stressed forcing turnovers to prevent long drives. Most of the practice drills were based on disrupting the flow of an offense that requires lots of discipline to contain. “You get turnovers when you play assignment football,” Shannon said. “We stressed this week that we have to tackle everybody up high. The quarterback is going to carry the ball high. So every time we tackle them this week it’s up high, grabbing the arms. That’s where most of the turnovers are coming.”