Searching for sushi? Go Green’s. page 3 LUKE MASON / SPPS
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES 107th year, issue 79
News, page 2
Food & Drink, page 3
Torgersen Hall open 24 hours
Opinions, page 5
Sports, page 7
Classifieds, page 6
Sudoku, page 6
Rocking a full house
DANIEL LIN / SPPS
Audience members danced and crowded against the edge of the stage in the Squires during the Super Mash Bros. concert.
AFTER CROWD CONTROL ISSUES, EVENT PLANNERS CONSIDERING FUTURE PLANS LIANA BAYNE associate news editor MARK UMANSKY / SPPS
Students studying in Torgersen Hall will soon be able to use only the atrium and the bridge areas 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
BRIDGE, ATRIUM NOW OPEN AFTER MONTHS OF STUDENT REQUEST FOR 24-HOUR STUDY FACILITY SARAH WATSON news reporter The bridge and atrium of Torgersen Hall are now open 24 hours, seven days a week for use as a study area. Ken Smith, associate provost for resource management and planning, said the university is responding to requests made by the Student Government Association. “For students who want to study overnight, it provides them a space,” Smith said. The initiative to make Torgersen a 24-hour facility began in 2008 with Melissa Yates, an SGA senator. Former SGA president Brandon Carroll worked with Yates on the project throughout last year. “We found that the lack of an on-campus 24/7 study facility was an important issue to students,” Carroll said. Carroll said only three out of Tech’s 25 State Council of Higher Education of Virginia peer-reviewed schools did not provide a 24/7 on-campus study facility for students. After collecting data and searching for a facility, Yates and Carroll found Torgersen to be the most practical option for a 24-hour facility. According to Yates, students were already using the area to study. Additionally, Torgersen provides safety, open spaces and close proximity to both dorms and parking lots. Yates and Carroll were told in the spring that Torgersen would not be a 24-hour facility. However, university administrators opened Torgersen bridge and atrium at the beginning of the fall 2010 semester. “We looked over the summer for a viable, feasible option,” Smith said. The administration found Torgersen was the best option. “The student body is very excited for their first 24-hour study facility on campus, but we’re still working toward having our ideal,” Yates said. The SGA’s proposal, completed in the spring, asked for two large lecture halls, two computer labs and the atrium to
be available 24/7. It did not include the bridge. “We’re great, we’re happy with this,” Yates said, “but where do we go from here?” Yates said opening just the bridge and atrium wouldn’t supply students with appropriate areas for group study. Students will not have access to computer labs within the building. Yates added that students would be asked to leave classrooms and computer labs at midnight, but security guards have the authority to unlock those rooms if the bridge is full. “The bridge is not large enough to house all of the students studying after midnight,” Yates said. Smith said the administration is working to provide additional seating over the course of the semester. “It is a foresight that (occupancy) is going to be an issue,” Yates said. Security is another concern for both the SGA and the administration. “We want to provide a safe, secure place to study,” Smith said. Therefore, a security guard will be stationed in Torgersen bridge. “We felt security cameras would be cheaper, but we don’t care as long as the building is secure and students can study safely,” Yates said. To keep the facility secure, students are required to check in and out and present their Hokie Passports to the security guard on duty. Currently, students wishing to enter Torgersen bridge or atrium after midnight must enter at the back of the building, facing the upper quad, but Yates hoped a different door would be the entrance point. “We want the entrance to be the door on the Drillfield because it is well lit,” Yates said. In addition, Yates is wary about leaving an entrance to Torgersen unlocked and would prefer Hokie Passport access. The access program is currently in a trial period, therefore, students need to utilize the facility to ensure that it will remain open, Yates said. “Everybody needs this facility,” Yates said. “Everybody utilizes it.”
Security issues at Friday’s Super Mash Bros. concert are leading event coordinators to examine how future concerts are handled on Virginia Tech’s campus. The Commonwealth Ballroom in Squires Student Center was filled to its 1,500 person capacity Friday night when the group showcased its signature mash-ups of popular songs. Audience members with glow sticks left the show drenched in sweat. The anticipation of Super Mash Bros.’s set and the high volume of energetic concertgoers in the room caused several issues for concert coordinators. “This event really kind of snowballed,” said Laura Wedin, director of alumni and student programs. Wedin advises the class system, which sponsors and coordinates the annual free concert. “Normally, we don’t have security issues, but there seemed to be a buzz,” Wedin said. “I think it’s the nature of this style of music.” Sandy Bass, president of the class of 2012, said he understood the reason the dancing crowd had a rowdy attitude. “I think it’s kind of expected,” he said. The concert was publicized via Facebook and word of mouth.
Tech Police raised the number of officers attending the concert from two to four in the days leading up to the concert. During the opening act, The Wave Exchange, Tech Police escorted a concert attendee from the room after the attendee launched a glow stick at the band. The glow sticks were given to audience members as they entered the Commonwealth Ballroom. “The police did not like that we had glow sticks,” Wedin said. “We’d never had glow sticks.” Wedin said next year, glowing necklaces may be used instead of hand-held glow sticks. Later, when trying to transition the crowd from the opening concert to the pep rally period of the evening’s entertainment, it took between 10 and 15 minutes for the audience to comply with requests to move back and sit down. The requests were made for audience members to sit down so student dance groups could have space to perform. Soon after the audience settled, though, “Enter Sandman” played, and many of the audience members stood up again. “I thought it was ironic for everyone to sit, then play ‘Enter Sandman,’” Bass said. When the house lights were brought down for Super Mash Bros.’s portion of the concert to begin, the audience rushed for-
DANIEL LIN / SPPS
Concertgoers sported glow sticks and glowing necklaces provided by the class of 2012, which hosted the event. ward to the edge of the stage. Tech Police, contracted security firm RMC Events, staff of the Virginia Tech Union and the SAA, which is advised by the alumni association, helped provide security and guidance for concertgoers. In addition to six Tech Police officers, Wedin said four RMC Events staffers were present. Wedin said a barricade, which would have kept concertgoers from rushing toward the stage, was not used because the need for it was not anticipated. “The barricade wasn’t in our funding,” she said. She said it would have cost about $1,300 to establish the barricade. “In hindsight, I think we could have gotten a barricade,” Wedin said. “We have never gotten a band
that has promoted this buzz.” Though the concert did raise a few issues with crowd control, Wedin said the event went well given that staff did not expect such a large crowd. “If we do something similar next year, we will do something to make it safe and enjoyable for everyone,” she said. Wedin said support staff from Tech Police, RMC Events, VTU and SAA “did a good job.” Bass said the fact that the Commonwealth Ballroom filled to capacity “was awesome.” Wedin said barricades would be considered for future concerts. She said she is also looking at revising the schedule of the welcome back concert, potentially to put the pep rally at a different time, or to eliminate an opening band.
A US ‘legacy of waste’ left in Iraq LIZ SLY mcclatchy newspapers KHAN BANI SAAD, Iraq — The shell of a prison that will never be used rises from the desert on the edge of this dusty town north of Baghdad, a hulking monument to the wasted promise of America’s massive, $53 billion reconstruction effort in Iraq. Construction began in May 2004 at a time when U.S. money was pouring into the country. It quickly ran into huge cost overruns. Violence erupted in the area, and a manager was shot dead in his office. The Iraqi govern-
ment said it didn’t want or need the prison. In 2007 the project was abandoned, but only after $40 million of U.S. taxpayer money had been spent. The prison is just one of the more vivid examples of what is likely to be “a significant legacy of waste” in the reconstruction program, saidStuart Bowen, the head of the office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, which audited the project as well as many others littering the battered Iraqi landscape. With U.S. combat operations officially over and Washington’s reconstruction effort winding up, Iraqis complain that America is leaving little
behind to show for an investment that President George W. Bush promised in 2003 would parallel the post-World War II Marshall Plan in its scope and accomplishments. “I am very sorry because America spent a lot of money without any tangible results,” said Ali Baban, Iraq’s minister of planning, who is responsible for overseeing the projects now being handed over to the Iraqi government. “The Iraqi people heard a lot about American assistance, but really they didn’t touch it or feel it.” Many things went wrong, officials say, looking back on seven years of missteps and successes that could offer
lessons for Afghanistan, where reconstruction expenditures are expected to surpass those of Iraq next year. Under pressure to produce results quickly, U.S. officials awarded no-bid contracts to companies with little knowledge of the country they had pledged to help. Projects were haphazardly planned and poorly executed. As the insurgency erupted, projects were either destroyed or the costs of providing security to continue them ballooned. And perhaps most important, officials say, Iraqis were not consulted as to which projects actually would see IRAQ / page two
2 news
university editor: philipp kotlaba, liana bayne, gordon block newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
september 1, 2010
[
nation & world headlines
]
Va. court picks first female chief justice The Virginia Supreme Court on Tuesday announced its selection of Justice Cynthia Dinah Fannon Kinser as its new chief justice — the first woman to attain that position. Kinser, of Lee County, will take the place of Leroy Rountree Hassell Sr., who has served two terms as chief justice and was the state’s first black chief justice. Aside from the cases themselves, the Virginia Supreme Court’s chief justice plays an important role overseeing and administering the state’s entire judicial system. That includes the magistrate system, the court system -- including district, circuit and appeals courts -- and the Virginia State Bar, a disciplinary system for lawyers. Kinser was voted in to her new role by the other justices on the seven-judge Supreme Court. She’ll assumer her new role on Feb. 1. Kinser was appointed to the high court in 1997 by former Gov. George Allen, and was twice elected by the General Assembly. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee, and a law degree from the University of Virginia. Kinser previously served as Lee County’s commonwealth’s attorney, and as a U.S. magistrate judge in the federal system. Hassell said in a press release that he’s “confident that Chief Justice-elect Kinser will serve the court as Chief Justice with the highest distinction.” -peter dujardin, mcclatchy newspapers
CORRECTIONS JUSTIN GRAVES -Contact our public editor at publiceditor@ collegiatetimes.com if you see anything that needs to be corrected.
COLLEGIATETIMES
Iraq: U.S. money squandered, some say from page one
be useful. Baban said the Iraqi government has taken on only 300 of the 1,500 reconstruction projects handed over so far by the U.S. The rest have been “put on the shelf,” he said, because they are too shoddy to continue; aren’t needed; or are incomplete and lack the documentation such as plans and contracts that the Iraqis would need to finish them. By no means was all of the money ill-spent, Bowen said. Around $20 billion has been plowed into training and equipping the Iraqi security forces, an investment he said is generally seen to have paid off, in the form of an army and police force judged reasonably capable of taking over day-to-day security as U.S. troops go home. But when it comes to the broader ambitions of the reconstruction program, success is harder to pin down. Perhaps nothing symbolizes the failure of America’s aspirations in Iraq more than the lack of electricity. Back in 2003, the newly installed U.S. occupation authority announced plans to increase Iraq’s power generation to 6,000 megawatts a day by the summer of 2004, deemed enough to give Iraqis a big boost compared to the Saddam Hussein era. Six summers and $4.9 billion in U.S. taxpayer money later, Iraqis are sweltering in temperatures that routinely hit 120 degrees, with no more than a few hours of electricity a day in most places. Domestic production has peaked at around 5,500 megawatts, public anger is growing, and demonstrations protesting the lack of power have turned violent. U.S. officials blame the shortfall in part on soaring demand, now estimated at 14,000 megawatts, as consumer goods flooded into Iraq’s newly free market. After more than a decade of sanctions and three wars, Iraq’s infrastructure was found to be far more decrepit than originally thought. The postwar looting in 2003 took a huge toll on what remained of the existing network. And then the insurgency erupted, frequently targeting U.S. efforts to get the network going. But mistakes were made too, said Iraq’s deputy electricity minister, Raad Haras. Only 20 percent of a network of U.S.-built distribution stations in Baghdad’s Sadr City district are functioning; the rest were either substandard or blown up by insurgents, he said. A power plant in southernBagh-
[
nation & world headlines
]
Earl may churn up Virginia waters
CAROLYN COLE / MCT CAMPUS
In downtown Baghdad, along the Tigris River, American dollars went into rehabilitating the riverfront with parks and grass. Many Iraqis come to enjoy the evenings by the river. dad is operating at 50 percent capacity because it wasn’t designed to withstand Iraq’s searing temperatures. “They didn’t consult us,” he said. “They sometimes did a good job, but sometimes not.” The story was similar in other sectors. A recent audit cites the example of an unfinished slaughterhouse in Basra — price tag $5.6 million — that was undertaken without securing a supply of water to wash away the blood. The cost of a $32.5 million sewage treatment facility for the war-ravaged city of Fallujah, begun in 2005 by the U.S. military, has mushroomed to $104 million, and will now reach only 4,300 homes, instead of the 24,500 originally envisioned, if it ever reaches any homes at all. Although the treatment plant is almost complete, the contract did not include a pipeline to connect the plant to the town. “I asked the Americans, what is the benefit of building such a project without building the pipeline?” said Fallujah’s council head, Hamid Ahmed Hashem. Iraqis marvel at the price tag attached to many of the ventures. The 94-bed Children’s Hospital in Basra, launched with much fanfare by first lady Laura Bush in 2004, was origi-
nally pegged for completion in 2005 at a cost of $37 million. It remains unfinished, and the cost has spiraled to$171 million, $110 million of which was provided by U.S. taxpayers. When it does open, perhaps this month, the state-of-the-art hospital will be a good one, Health Minister Saleh Mehdi Hasnawi said. “But it was very, very expensive,” he said. Security accounted for a huge portion of the costs, said Charles Ries, who headed the economics section at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in 2007-08. He estimates that 30 percent of all the money spent on reconstruction went toward paying foreign security contractors to guard sites and personnel, a cost that Iraqis wouldn’t have incurred. Although corruption has been found, it does not account for a large amount of the squandered money, officials say. Audits so far have resulted in 43 indictments, 34 convictions and the restitution of $70 million worth of embezzled funds. But the failure to consult Iraqis or to reach out to local firms was significant, Ries said. Under the Marshall Plan, the U.S. gave money to Europeans to carry out projects. “In Iraq, we appropriated a lot of money early and programmed it our-
selves, with no consultation with the Iraqis, in a whole big hurry,” he said. “Consequently, the Marshall Plan went a whole lot better.” Yet America cannot be held responsible for all the reconstruction shortfalls in Iraq, U.S. and Iraqi officials say. The Iraqi government has committed even more money to the effort than the U.S. — at least $97 billion — though it is unclear how much of that has actually been spent because the government has not audited its own accounts. In many instances, it was assumed that the Iraqi authorities would provide the finishing touches to technically sophisticated projects. Often they didn’t, a reflection of the broader dysfunction of the Iraqi government as well as the failure to consult Iraqis on what they wanted and would use, officials say. Successes tend to have been simpler in scope and smaller in scale. Several Baghdad parks renovated by the U.S. military for around $2 million apiece are jammed with people every day, as is a swimming pool in Sadr City. Micro-grants to shopkeepers of a few thousand dollars each helped regenerate the local economy in Baghdad after the U.S. troop buildup in 2007 tamped down violence.
Hampton Roads dodged Danielle, but may be in Hurricane Earl’s sights. If Earl comes through Virginia, it will have to hit hard to bring down the trees and power poles that “fell like dominoes” in September 2003, said Ken Jones, Emergency Management Coordinator for Newport News. The dearth of rain in 2002, followed by an extremely wet 2003 leading up to Isabel’s landfall created conditions where “the ground just couldn’t hold onto the trees,” Jones said. “That was a really unique event,” Jones said. “The drought caused the roots to come to the surface and there were lots of leaves on the trees. The ground looks pretty good out there now, so if Earl comes through here, we should be in better shape.” Still 1,400 miles from Virginia, Earl had grown to Category 3 hurricane with maximum wind speeds measured at 125 miles per hour Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The National Hurricane Center in Miami expects the storm to grow to a Category 4 storm as it makes its way through the Caribbean, before weakening slightly as it nears the eastern United States. Chugging along at about 15 miles per hour, Earl should be off Virginia’s coast around 8 a.m., Friday as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing with it 14- to 18-foot seas, said Mike Montefusco, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Wakefield office. The weather service forecasts place Hampton Roads at the extreme western edge of the storm’s projected path. -dan parsons, mcclatchy newspapers
september 1, 2010
editors: lindsey brookbank, kim walter featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865
food & drink
COLLEGIATETIMES
3
More Than Coffee no more, hello Pita Vera Green’s combines concepts
to create Blacksburg favorite
R
eturning students may notice “Pita Vera,” a new name on Main Street’s row of restaurants taking the place of “More Than Coffee,” but they should fear not, as the local favorite has changed its name but will ultimately remain similar to its previous incarnation. Touting authentic Lebanese cuisine, More Than Coffee was a popular restaurant among Virginia Tech students, and that will likely hold true for its revamped counterpart. After the restaurant changed hands in May 2010, new owners decided to change the name to Pita Vera. Patrons often mistook the name “More Than Coffee” to indicate a coffee shop much like its neighbor, Bollo’s. However, the location has always housed a Mediterranean cuisine restaurant, and now the name will fit what it has to offer. There will be some changes, however, to the familiar restaurant. While the menu will be almost the same, there will be a few new additions. Pita Vera offers a wider selection of vegetarian dishes, such as grape leaves, tabouli and new salads to the already sizeable list of veggie-lover options on the current menu. The new menu is still being finalized and will be introduced in mid-to-late October. While there was confusion about what beverages Pita Vera lists on its menu, it will have a variety of teas, a few beers on tap and a larger list for bottled beer, with a new addition: wine. The same delicious baklava and other desserts will continue to
pita vera 235 North Main Street Open Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. be offered. Although Pita Vera is vegetarianfriendly, it also provides a range of non-vegetarian options. The kabob platters are served with a half a pound of meat, such as chicken or beef, alongside freshly-baked pita bread, vegetables and hummus. The kabob platters are some of the pricier items on the menu, but considering the portion size and the quality of the food, it is well worth it. Also on the menu are pizzas ranging from small for a single customer to large for a group. Prices range from
LUKE MASON / SPPS
Green’s diners can enjoy sushi, as well as other healthy choices.
OWNED BY MORE THAN COFFEE’S OLD CHEF, GREEN’S GRILL & SUSHI BAR OFFERS DIVERSE, UNIQUE DISHES LUKE MASON / SPPS
Pita Vera, previously called More Than Coffee, recently changed its name to show customers that it does not just serve coffee, but it also offers a variety of Mediterranean dishes such as chicken kabobs. around $6 for the small to about $9 for the large. The basic pizza comes with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce, along with a huge list of toppings that can be added for an additional cost. The sandwiches are served wrapped in fresh pita bread with a range of seasoning. The shish tawook, for example, comes stuffed with grilled chicken pieces, french fries, lettuce, tomato and garlic spread snugly wrapped in a warm pita. The sandwiches come with either a house salad or chips, which can be substituted for $1.75, and it’s well worth it. Students may breathe a sigh of relief that their favorite entrees will still be there, but should be informed the interior is going to be quite different. The owners are planning on updating the slightly worn interior with hardwood floors, new paint, tables and chairs. Thankfully all this work will be done after hours, and the restaurant will be open for business as normal during the renovations.
MAJONI HARNAL -features reporter -international studies major -junior
LUKE MASON / SPPS
The zatar wrap is one of Pita Vera’s many Mediterranean specials.
G
reen’s Grill and Sushi Bar is a brightly lit and simply decorated restaurant offering a welcoming atmosphere, a fair-priced menu and an eclectic mix of food that reflects the diverse background of its owner, George Elabboud. Born in Lebanon and trained as a chef in Los Angeles, Elabboud opened Green’s at the beginning of summer 2009. “I have worked in kitchens and as a bartender before,” Elabboud said of his inspiration for the restaurant, “and a sushi bar combines both.” Green’s offers an assorted menu with specialties in sushi and Middle Eastern grill items. The combination of affordable prices with a healthy and varied menu has made Green’s a local favorite of both students and professionals in the Blacksburg area. A local resident for more than seven years, Elabboud previously cooked at his family’s restaurant, More Than Coffee, now called Pita Vera, located on North Main Street, before branching off on his own. He describes the Green’s menu as being “balanced, with popular local favorites being the special rolls and platters.” The main advantage for the grill and sushi bar is a varied menu, which includes everything from a homemade veggie burger, to shrimp tempura to the exotic Katia tuna, with most entrees priced between $4 and $9. Elabboud looks forward to also offering wine, sake and beer. Everything from the nigiri rolls
to the specialty subs and salads are made with fresh and healthy ingredients, something Elabboud believes is important. “Everything is homemade, including the dressings and sauces,” he said, pausing for a minute by the bar and overseeing his busy kitchen and waitstaff. Biological sciences major Henry Wakley, who has worked at Green’s for three months, explained that at the hybrid restaurant there is a little something for everyone. “There is vegetarian stuff, regular hamburgers and Mediterraneanstyle food,” he said. “That’s (the) one way to know the food is good is because everyone who works there eats there too.” While Green’s may be smaller and less showy than some of its other downtown counterparts, its simplicity and friendly staff lends it charm and a relaxed atmosphere. True to his heritage and experience, Elabboud’s dishes, as stated on the restaurant’s website, “bring together a multitude of flavors from across the world,” that feel like a perfect addition to Blacksburg’s growing international community.
MIKA MALONEY -features reporter -Spanish major -senior
september 1, 2010
page 4
El Rodeo goes south of the border with second location ANDREW REILLY features staff writer Fans of Mexican restaurant El Rodeo will soon have a new location to get their margarita and enchilada fix. The fixture of downtown Blacksburg is opening a new location in the First & Main Shopping Center on South Main Street by the end of September, in addition to its current location on North Main Street across from 622 North. “El Rods,” as the restaurant is commonly known, is a local stalwart known for its low-priced menu and variety of alcoholic beverages. The student-favorite margaritas even received a first place Best of Blacksburg 2009 award from Collegiate Times readers. The goal of the new location isn’t to siphon off customers from the original establishment, but to attract an entirely different audience, according to manager Julio Arellano. “I think it’s a good location for another Mexican restaurant,” Arellano said. “We just felt like we could get a different clientele over there.“ El Rodeo management has been
planning the new restaurant for more than a year and a half. The location, Arellano said, was partly inspired by the lack of Mexican dining options in the area. “When (El) Guadalupe’s was there, they used to do pretty good business. Then they closed,” he said. “I think there’s a void for a Mexican restaurant in that area.” The First & Main Shopping Center, owned by Fairmount Properties, is an upscale commercial area housing several restaurants including Sake House of Japan, Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill and Salad Creations. Arellano said the shopping center fits with the restaurant’s goal of attracting a more residential audience from Christiansburg and Blacksburg. “I was thinking the shopping center should bring a lot of customers in,” Arellano said. For students, the new location offers an alternative to the original restaurant on crowded nights. Since the alcoholic beverages and proximity to downtown are central to El Rodeo’s appeal, some doubt students will frequent the new location on a regular basis. “I think I’ll stick to the one closest
to my apartment,” said Sarah Shriver, a senior communication and political science major. “It’s really close to the other downtown bars. I think it’s a better location.” Shriver said students going to El Rodeo to drink will likely stick to the North Main restaurant to avoid the need for designated drivers. Alex Barrett, a junior hospitality and tourism management major, said the original location has problems, including a small parking lot and crowded dining room, but doubts those factors would be enough to make her travel to the new establishment. “I feel as if I would go there if I was in the area but not on the regular,” Barrett said. Arellano isn’t worried about the new location hurting the business of the original restaurant. “It might affect it a little bit, but I don’t think it will be that much,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll lose that many customers.” The new building is tentatively scheduled to open at the end of September. Arellano said plans for any grand REBECCA FRAENKEL / SPPS opening celebration will be announced El Rodeo plans to open its second location in the First & Main shopping center at the end of September. after the opening date is decided.
look down.
pick up.
opınıons 5
editors: scott masselli, gabi seltzer opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
september 1, 2010
The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
Your Views [letters to the editor]
Boise State game worth the trip
I
t’s as cliche as it gets, but add one more person to the list of people who offer you the ageold advice of “enjoy college, it’ll be over before you know it.” Take it from this super senior enjoying his “victory lap,” and make it up to Maryland this weekend. While I understand the perceived advantages to watching on an HDTV and enjoying the comfort of Blacksburg, too many of my “responsible” friends — those who graduated four years after enrolling — would do about anything to make it to FedEx Field Monday night. These are the same friends I made the decision of “staying home” with several times in the past four years for big games. The difference now is their responsibilities are considerably more real now than
Local, state officials should collaborate
Y
our locally elected Commissioner of the Revenue is your first line of contact to assist you with both state and local tax issues. Consumer-friendlyofficesare staffed to help both individuals and businesses with real estate and personal property taxes, including the personal property tax relief program. In many localities the commissioner’s office may also operate as a Department of Motor Vehicles office providing a convenient one-stop-shop for both state and local vehicle license registration and personal property tax assistance. Commissioners may also provide local citizens with valuable income tax assistance. Your commissioner also administers taxes adopted by the local governing body for businesses in several areas. They also oversee the special tax relief and land usage programs. Elected commissioners serve at the pleasure of the voters and are directly accountable to you, the taxpayers of Virginia. They provide fair, equitable and impartial assessment administration of taxes adopted by the local governing body. In doing so, they are part of a vital system of “checks and balances” that ensures the confidentiality of taxpayer information and that no one area of government has complete taxing authority over its citizens. As a Commissioner of the Revenue, I, like so many commissioners, believe that there are more opportunities for the state and local governments to work together to serve your needs and make the best use of our limited tax resources.
in the dream world known as college. Believe it or not, this will be your life before you know it. I know for a fact you don’t have a final exam on Monday afternoon (or Tuesday morning for that matter). If it takes pulling an all-nighter on the road to make it to your overlymotivated professor’s 8 a.m. on Tuesday, negotiate a couple of dollars off of your tickets from a scalper and invest in some Red Bull. Nobody that I know of leaves college and says “I wish I had experienced less.” We are some kind of lucky to have the quality of football program we have thanks to Coach Beamer; so get out there and support them. No excuses, be a part of Hokie Nation and get to the game. Go Hokies!
Bill Bason super senior marketing major
For example, every citizen is required to register their vehicles both locally and with the state for tax purposes. The information required for both is nearly identical. Combine the two. Commissioners of the Revenue have the ability, the space and the willingness to do this while potentially reducing the total number of DMV employees and allowing DMV to focus on the issuance of drivers licenses. The vast majority of businesses in Virginia are small, locally owned and well known to local commissioners of the revenue. These businesses should be able to complete all organizational and tax registration requirements at the local level. This would ensure that all that should be registered are being registered. The Georgia Department of Revenue recently discovered, though a joint audit with a local county tax commissioner, 1,000 businesses that had properly registered for local business license but had not registered with the Georgia Department of Revenue for Georgia Sales Tax. According to estimates, in this one county alone, the loss in state sales tax revenue amounted to $250 million. Local commissioners of the revenue are well suited to provide these tax saving measures. We are linked electronically with the state which assures that taxes due the state accurately reach the state. All of this can be completed in a customer friendly manner with real people to help you. Visit our offices to see what we can provide for you.
William Page Johnson, II President Commissioner of the Revenue Association of Virginia
we’re YOUR newspaper. express your views.
send an e-mail to opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com with your letter or guest column attached.
MCT CAMPUS
Scandals lead to waning trust in American political leaders A
lmost 400 years ago, Thomas Hobbes published “The Leviathan”. It became one of the most widely read and important philosophical books of the era. Today, almost everyone with a high school education has heard of the predominant theory of Leviathan, which is the social contract. Our founding fathers were acutely aware of Hobbes’ work on social contract theory. They believed the system of government they outlined in the Constitution would work well because it followed the theory’s most basic tenant: In order for a state to be legitimate, the people must consent to be ruled by it. This historic move toward democratic republicanism formed much of the basis for what is commonly referred to as American pride. Our rationale for this pride is based on our belief that government is designed to serve us rather than enslave us. Well then shame on you, Washington. Today, it would seem as though the people on Capitol Hill take great delight and relish in making a mockery of the social contract James Madison and the rest of the delegates at the Philadelphia Convention worked so hard to craft. Have you ever heard the common retort that “politicians are all liars anyways?” It seems as though it is indeed difficult to have a conversation about politics without encountering this response. This retort is usually delivered once someone has actually given some thought to the political situation of our nation. If nothing else, it serves to indicate the underwhelming morality and trustworthiness of American presidents and congressmen. This disturbingly popular colloquial maxim says it all. We simply do not
trust the men who have been been given the reigns of our country. It may seem like basing a condemnation of our nation’s leaders upon one cliche is irrational. However, it clearly embodies the current political air in the United States of America. Just take a look at the latest polls on the subject. President Barack Obama’s personal approval rating for Aug. 16 was at 44 percent according to Gallup polls. If you can conceive of it, Congress is fairing far worse. The most recent survey revealed that a mere 19 percent of Americans approve of their legislative body. It is difficult to argue with those kinds of facts. While those figures certainly have a lot to do with the overall poor status of the nation’s economy and the current conflicts we are engaged in, there has to be more to these low percentages than just the recession. Even during the time of the Great Depression, approval ratings were never as low as they are now. Given the current state of affairs, it seems like the pertinent question to be asking is, “Why do people not trust politicians?” The answers can be found in the newspapers. It is only September, but just this year there have been eight political scandals at the state level alone. The Bush administration alone chalked up more than 21 scandals. Obama had barely received the name plaque on his office desk by the time we learned ACORN, one of the key organizations in his rise to senatorial superstar status, was telling people how to deal drugs and avoid taxes. Alaska, a state where approval ratings are relatively low, has had no shortage of bad luck with corrupt politicians. Former Gov. Sarah Palin failed to fulfill her duty by resigning
from her position long before her term ended. Less than a year later, seven of the most prominent Republican leaders in Alaska (including Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens) were being investigated for accepting bribes in return for giving tax breaks to an oil corporation. Richard Blumenthal, attorney general for the state of Connecticut, bragged about his military service in Vietnam during his political campaign. He spent his entire glorious military career in Paris Island, South Carolina. Lying about honorably serving your country, Mr. Blumenthal? Surely there can be no redress to such egregious dishonesty. In the “good old days,” such scandals were the exception. Now, they are becoming a very unfortunate rule. We should no longer wonder at the nature of these abhorrent approval ratings. After all, it is only human nature to stop trusting and approving of a group of liars and thieves masquerading as leaders. Hobbes asserted in order for the government to be a legitimate state, the people must consent to being governed. Suffice it to say that the 19 percent approval rating is a clear indication that American politicians have abrogated their 250-year-old social contract with the American citizens. Shame on you, Washington, for failing to hold up your end of our bargain.
ADAM SMITH -regular columnist -sophomore -philosophy major
Reality shows exemplify change in definition of American Dream G “ rowing up in suburban New Jersey, I was always told that hard work, dedication and selfrespect could lead me anywhere. I now know that anywhere no longer includes the “Jersey Shore.” Thanks to MTV’s latest installment in the network’s oh-so-impressive reality show collection, millions of Americans, myself included, have been exposed to the likes of Snooki and the gang, infusing the cast’s lingo and lifestyles into their own. But a larger cause for concern than their drunken antics and public arrests is their representation of society. In past times of economic distress and political confusion, people could always believe in the idea of the American Dream: If you work hard, everything will be all right. The dream, however, has taken a sharp turn from the wholesome to the indecent, trading in its hard hats for hair poofs. “No work, all play” has become the road to a big payday, with these television staples earning more than most Americans could ever dream of. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino will reportedly bank $5 million by the year’s end while the other cast members earn thousands of dollars for as little as a club appearance. Now, before you go punch Snooki in the face (again), remember that the bulging payroll isn’t confined to Seaside Heights. Lauren Conrad from “The Hills” pulled in $125,000 per episode, and everyone’s favorite Armenian drama queens, the Kardashian sis-
ters, earn anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 for tweeting about a given company, according to ABC News. It is thanks to this new influx of television personalities that a new American Dream is taking shape. While a carefree, financially stable lifestyle is by no means a revolutionary desire, it is the immoral means of its acquisition that have changed dramatically. Morality is not a word most of these people live by. In fact, I’d be surprised if half of the aforementioned celebrities could spell the word. So, is it so wrong to believe in integrity, despite the reality that finding a wealthy and respectable social figure is harder than finding a UVa fan in Squires Student Center? Look, I get it. The whole partying lifestyle and skin-exposing catfights are ratings boosters. It’s not rocket science. But since when does that kind of behavior lead to cushier lifestyles than the highly educated, productive individuals of our country? Millions of Americans are struggling in this economy, and this is where the money is going? What may not be as surprising is the fact that the economy is partially responsible for this onset of “reality.” According to an article in People Magazine, “The Situation” was — get ready — a mortgage broker before crashing onto the MTV program. The crash in the economy led to a change in his career path, one that involved a lot fewer button-up shirts and a lot more exposure.
So, is it so wrong to believe in integrity, despite the reality that finding a wealthy and respectable social figure is harder than finding a UVa fan in Squires Student Center? CAITY LAUB COLUMNIST
It’s an unfortunate case and there are many, many more around the nation just like him. Yet it goes to show how a hard-working job and respectable living cannot survive the times like these — yet the alternative option is held in such high regards financially. With examples like this, it is no wonder young people today are readjusting their expectations and goals. I have nothing personally against these people; it is their lifestyles and rewards from said “jobs” that I think are unjustified and unfair. While there may not be a price on happiness or hard work, it seems as though MTV and other cable networks are doing everything they can to match it.
CAITY LAUB -regular columnist -senior -HNFE major
Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Peter Velz Managing Editors: Zach Crizer, Michael McDermott Public Editor: Justin Graves Senior News Editor: Philipp Kotlaba Associate News Editors: Liana Bayne, Gordon Block News Reporters: Claire Sanderson, Sarah Watson Features Editors: Lindsey Brookbank, Kim Walter Features Reporters: Matthew Borysewicz, Majoni Harnal, Mika Maloney Opinions Editors: Scott Masselli, Gabi Seltzer Sports Editors: Michael Bealey, Garrett Ripa Sports Reporters: Nick Cafferky, Alex Jackson, Courtney Lofgren, Ed Lupien, Josh Parcell, George Tillerson Public Information Director: Dishu Maheshwari Training Director: Kelsey Heiter Copy Editors: Taylor Chakurda, Thandiwe Ogbonna, Spenser Snarr Layout Designers: Katie Biondo, Danielle Buynak, Nick Ferri, Josh Son, Victoria Zigadlo Illustrators: Candice Chu Online Director: Jamie Chung Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: David Harries Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Sara Mitchell Business Manager: Luke Mason Lab Manager: Mark Umansky College Media Solutions Ad Director: Nik Bando Asst Ad Director: Brandon Collins Account Executives: Emily Africa, Matt Freedman, David George, Melanie Knoph, Hunter Loving, Inside Sales Manager: Wade Stephenson Assistant Inside Sales Manager: Diane Revalski Assistant Account Executives: Maddie Abram, Katie Berkel, Kaelynn Kurtz, Erin Shuba Creative Director: Chloé Skibba Asst Production Manager: Casey Stoneman Creative Services Staff: Katie Biondo, Colleen Hill, Jenn Le, Erin Weisiger Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters to the Collegiate Times. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 Fax: 540-231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com All letters to the editor must include a name and daytime phone number. Students must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include position and department. All other submissions must include city of residence, and if applicable, relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). All letters should be in MS Word (.doc) format, if possible. By submitting a letter, you hereby agree to not engage in online discussion through comments on the Collegiate Times Web site. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is comprised of the opinions editor, editor-in-chief and the managing editors. Letters to the editor are submissions from Collegiate Times readers. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Have a news tip? Call or text 200-TIPS or e-mail newstips@collegiatetimes.com Student Media Phone Numbers Collegiate Times Newsroom 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The Collegiate Times receives no funding from the university. The Collegiate Times can be found online at www.collegiatetimes.com. Except where noted, all photographs were taken by the Student Publications Photo Staff. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, e-mail spps@vt.edu. The Collegiate Times is located in 365 Squires Student Center, Blacksburg, VA, 24061. 540-231-9865. Fax 540-2319151. Subscription rates: $65 semester; $110 academic year. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, 2010. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.
september 1, 2010
page 6
Policies:
Place An Ad Today
CLASSIFIEDS WWW.COLLEGIATETIMES.COM 540.961.9860
Visit our business office at 618 N. Main St. 9am–5pm 9am 5pm Monday–Friday Monday Friday,, or place an ad online at collegiatetimes.com.
Deadline: Three business days prior to publication by 3PM.
Rates: Rates as low as 32¢ per word, contingent on the number of days to run. Prepaid. 15 word minimum. Cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
FREE CLASSIFIEDS FOR VT STUDENTS! students must come to 618 N Main ST to place the ad Childcare Tickets for Sale Tickets Wanted Volunteers
Sub-Lease Travel Rides Campus
Legal LEGAL TROUBLES? Call for Free Consultation with Attorney on Alcohol, Assault, Drug, Traffic Charges, and VT Student Conduct Referral. Joel S. Jackson, PC. www.joeljacksonpc.com. 540.961.5297
Travel Getting cold time to Plan your Spring Break 2010 Get Away! Learn how to travel to beautiful locations like Jamaica, Acapulco and the Bahamas on a party cruise. Find out what other Virginia Tech Hokies are headed to your destination. -Adrian Email: Awhite@Studentcity.com for more information
Wanted COOK WANTED Apply at Montgomery County Moose Lodge, 255 Ridinger Street, Christiansburg, VA 540.382.9294
ACROSS 1 SFPD alerts 5 Event with a baton 10 Term referring to a prev. citation 14 Crux 15 Greek market 16 Two-fifths of one quarter 17 Ecuador neighbor 18 Pricey mushroom 19 Educ. catchall 20 Tingly feeling 23 H.S. equivalency test 24 Retail ad word 25 Monitor, briefly 26 Sit-up beneficiaries 29 W.C.’s “My Little Chickadee” costar 31 Makes a case 33 Through and through 37 Proofing mark 38 “Stroke!” shouter, for short 39 Jessica of “Fantastic Four” 42 Control tower concern 47 Strange thing 49 Keats work 50 “Fat chance!” 51 __ Lingus 52 Canyon and Sierra 55 Small amount 57 Directions appropriate for the activity suggested by the last words of 20-, 33- and 42Across 62 Surface magma 63 Flared dress 64 Luminous glow 66 Tree of Knowledge site 67 They may be pulled by teams 68 Pass over 69 Masculine principle 70 Fusses 71 Big top DOWN 1 Rock booster 2 Tiny sound 3 Adriatic port
Textbooks for Sale Textbooks Wanted Lost & Found Help Wanted
Furniture for Sale Mattress Sets College Student Discounts - Twin $99, Full $109, Queen $119, King $179 - Delivery Available 540.260.9091
For Sale HALLOWEEN COSTUMES, WIGS, MAKEUP AND ACCESSORIES. SHOP EARLY AND BEAT THE CROWD. PARTY CENTRAL, 1701 S. MAIN (NEXT TO WENDY’S). 9531170
For Rent FOR RENT UNIVERSITY TERRACE 4Bdr.2bathCondo wide screen tv Available Aug.1st.2010. $1,100 mo. reduced, Clean, nice Call 540-230-2964.
By Donna S. Levin
4 Smarted 5 Fast time in Fallujah 6 Ray and Peter’s co-Ghostbuster 7 Parliament members 8 Coliseum 9 Alito and Thomas are graduates of it 10 Fingered, as a perp 11 Original host of “The Price Is Right” 12 Words upon arriving 13 Many Founding Fathers, philosophically 21 Big rig 22 Architect Saarinen 26 Tack on 27 Short farewell 28 Like many high achievers 30 Cut with acid 32 Mohair source 34 Pastrami seller 35 Fenced, perhaps 36 __ 67: Montreal fair 40 “Dude!”
For Sale Events Health & Fitness Automotive
Notices HONOR STUDENTS: Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society is seeking motivated students to establish a campus chapter. Contact: Director@PhiSigmaTheta.org WWW.THEKEYPLAY.COM Hokie Football Analysis, Perspective, Commentary and Community
Personals ADOPTION Pediatrician and hubby in northern Virginia wish to adopt newborn. Approved by licensed child-placing agency. Med/legal expenses. Loving home! Contact us toll free 1-866581-5494 www. EdandMargaretB. freehomepage.com
Notices Wanted Musical Roommates
Greek Notes For Rent Personals Furniture for Sale
Help Wanted *****BARTENDING***** MAKE UP TO $300/ DAY. No Experience Necessary. Training Available. 1-800-965-6520 EXT210
LAYOUT DESIGNER The Collegiate Times is accepting applications for 2010-11 Layout Designers. Work evening shifts to design newspaper pages. InDesign experience needed; advanced training is provided. The position is paid and is eligible for Work Study. Apply online at collegemedia.com/ join today! VT students only!
Software developer Seeking talented developers with MacOS Cocoa, iPhone and/or Android experience for part-time work. Send resume to jobs@nanocom. com.
6/10/09 Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2009 Tribune Media Servies, Inc.
41 Pesky picnic problem 43 Let __: stop obsessing 44 One dismounting from a horse, maybe 45 URL, e.g. 46 Ducky color? 47 Subject of “Annie Get Your Gun” 48 Reply to “Gracias”
6/10/09
53 Rostropovich’s instrument 54 Watched furtively, with “on” 56 Brag 58 Spacecraft beverage 59 Backwardsarrow command 60 Microwave 61 Hibernia 65 Fitting
GRAB YOUR COPY BEFORE EVERY HOME GAME
Downtown Living South Main Living North Main Living Prices Fork Living
The Collegiate Times reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement it deems objectionable, at any time. No refunds are available. The advertiser assumes full responsibility for his or her advertisements and agrees to hold the Collegiate Times harmless for the content of all advertisements authorized for publication and any claims that made may be against the Collegiate Times. Any questions concerning ads, please call the Better Business Bureau at 1.800.533.5501. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at 1.800.669.9777.
Patrick Henry Living Christiansburg Living
sports 7
editors: michael bealey, garrett ripa sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ telephone number: 540.231.9865 COLLEGIATETIMES
september 1, 2010
Top NCAA teams to watch this season BLAIR KERKHOFF mcclatchy newspapers
1. OHIO STATE 2009 RECORD: 11-2 Outlook: The Buckeyes have the makings of a national championship contender. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor’s uneven season ended with an outstanding Rose Bowl performance and he’s making most short lists as a Heisman favorite. Most of his teammates from the starting offense return and seven starters return from a defense that ranked fifth nationally in total defense. The schedule takes Ohio State to its top contenders, Wisconsin and Iowa, and we’ll know much more about the Buckeyes on Sept. 11 when Miami, Fla., visits the Horseshoe.
2. ALABAMA 2009 RECORD: 14-0 Outlook: Uh-oh. The news of Mark Ingram’s knee injury and arthroscopic surgery sent shivers through the Crimson Tide nation. Will it be a one-game recovery for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, or will the absence extend through early season games against Penn State, Arkansas and Florida? Coach Nick Saban said a short recovery is expected, and new starter Trent Richardson, who rushed for 751 yards and eight touchdowns last season, is more than capable. With most starters returning, offense wasn’t supposed to be an issue for the Tide. Nine new defensive starters take the field Saturday against San Jose State, but the base 3-4 coordinated by Kirby Smart should again be dominant. Six SEC opponents have open dates before tangling with the Tide this season.
3. BOISE STATE 2009 RECORD: 14-0 Outlook: Are the Broncos national-championship worthy? If they beat Virginia Tech on Monday in Landover, Md., they’ll drive the conversation until a loss, but don’t hold your breath there. Boise is a nation’s best 26-1 over the past two seasons. Nearly every starter returns from a 140 squad. Quarterback Kellen Moore is a Heisman contender, and the defense and special teams figure to be among the nation’s best. Hunted rather than hunter, the expectations are soaring in Boise in 2010. Will history repeat? Alabama began its national title path last season by beating the Hokies on a neutral field.
4. FLORIDA 2009 RECORD: 13-1 Outlook: Opponents knew what was coming during the Tim Tebow years and still couldn’t stop him. John Brantley follows one of college football’s greatest quarterbacks, and the Gators won’t subject him to the hits Tebow took. The skill positions are reloading, but the offensive line is experienced and should ease the transition. Coordinator Charlie Strong and a slew of NFL draft selections are gone from a dominant defense, but it should be one of the best units in the SEC and nation.
5. OKLAHOMA 2009 RECORD: 8-5
2002 that the Cornhuskers, ranked eighth and ninth in the major preseason polls, were this highly regarded entering a season? Sure enough. But defensive tackle Jared Crick (9 sacks) and cornerback Prince Amukamara should keep that side of the ball strong as Ndamukong Suh moves on. Alex Henery is a major weapon as a kicker/punter, and the running game is expected to be solid behind an experienced offensive line. As for quarterback competition among Zac Lee, Cody Green and Taylor Martinez, coach Bo Pelini says wait until the opener to see who gets the job.
9. MIAMI, FLA. 2009 RECORD: 9-4 Outlook: If the Hurricanes win the ACC’s Coastal division they’ll deserve a high ranking. Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and North Carolina should all be in the race, and on top of that, the Hurricanes have games against Florida State, Pittsburgh and Ohio State. Eight defensive starters are back, led by end Allen Bailey. Quarterback Jacory Harris should generate some Heisman buzz. For the first time in coach Randy Shannon’s five seasons both coordinators, Mark Whipple on offense and John Lovett on defense, return.
10. VIRGINIA TECH 2009 RECORD: 10-3 Outlook: Virginia Tech runs a reverse this season. Known for defense and special teams, the Hokies are rebuilding those units this season. But they’re stocked at the skill positions, especially the backfield. Returning after sitting out 2009 because of a knee injury is Darren Evans, who set an ACC freshman rushing record (1,265 yards) in 2008. Getting Evans’ carries last year was Ryan Williams, who rushed for 1,655, breaking Evans’ record. Getting them the ball is quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who led the ACC in passing efficiency last year.
11. OREGON 2009 RECORD: 10-3 Outlook: Too many legal run-ins got Jeremiah Masoli run from the program (and to Mississippi), but the defending Pac-10 champ Ducks still have the league’s best talent. With 17 returning starters, Oregon is also among the most veteran Pac-10 teams. A knee injury to running back LaMichael James threw a scare into coach Chip Kelly, but James has returned strong. Kelly named Darron Thomas over Nate Costa at quarterback for the opener.
12. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 2009 RECORD: 9-4
decreased each season. The seat’s a little warm for coach Mark Richt, but the Dawgs look to improve this year with most offensive starters back and enthusiasm on defense with new coordinator Todd Grantham. Wide receiver A.J. Green is among the nation’s best, but look for Georgia to establish a running identity.
17. GEORGIA TECH 2009 RECORD: 11-3 Outlook: Quarterback Josh Nesbitt is back for his senior season and says his legs are at full strength to run Tech’s “flexbone.” Nesbitt underwent ankle surgery after leading the Yellow Jackets to last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a BCS appearance. Anthony Allen becomes the team’s new feature running back, and linebacker Brad Jefferson is the best of eight returning starters on defense.
18. FLORIDA STATE 2009 RECORD: 7-6 Outlook: Jimbo Fisher has more to work with than Bobby Bowden did in 1976. Fisher takes over for the legendary Bowden, winner of two national championships, and quarterback Christian Ponder should make the transition a smooth one. Ponder is one of 10 returning starters on offense. Mark Stoops, younger brother of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, takes over the defense. They’ll meet in the season’s second week at Norman.
19. ARKANSAS 2009 RECORD: 8-5 Coach Bobby Petrino stands 5-11 after two years of SEC play, but the fans believe this team is prepared to burst onto the national scene. It starts with strong-armed quarterback Ryan Mallett, who guided the league’s top scoring offense last season. The concerns are on defense. The Hogs surrendered 30 or more points to four league foes last season. On Sept. 25, the nation’s focus will be on Fayetteville, when Alabama visits.
20. WISCONSIN 2009 RECORD: 10-3 Circle Oct. 16 and 23. The Badgers play host to Ohio State, then visit Iowa so the Big Ten could be decided in that stretch. Wisconsin returns 10 offensive starters from the unit that led the conference in scoring and plenty of optimism after beating Miami in the postseason. Quarterback Scott Tolzien is a fifth-year senior and led the conference in passing efficiency in 2009. The defensive line gets a makeover, but the back seven should be among the Big Ten’s best.
21. UTAH 2009 RECORD: 10-3
Outlook: The Trojans are getting on with it. A fifth-place Pac-10 finish last season, an Emerald Bowl appearance for goodness sakes, near-death-penalty sanctions, a new coach, recruits who bailed _ and Southern California is still talking about an undefeated season this year. “They didn’t say we couldn’t play hard,” said linebacker Michael Morgan. Matt Barkley returns at quarterback, but the offense has to pick up. The Trojans are 14th in the preseason AP poll, but are banned from this year’s USA Today coaches and Harris polls.
Surest thing in college football is Utah in the bowl game. The Utes have won a college-football record nine straight, including two BCS appearances. Utah will reach the postseason once again because of a top-notch backfield with tailbacks Eddie Wide and Matt Asiata. Three new linebackers is the defensive concern, but there’s enough talent here to make the Utes a contender in their final year of the Mountain West before moving to the Pac-10.
Outlook: Landry Jones’ transition season came a year early as he became the primary starter after Sam Bradford’s two injuries. He’ll have offensive stars such as running back DeMarco Murray and wide receiver Ryan Broyles to work with. The defense should be ferocious with stars like end Jeremy Beal and linebacker Travis Lewis. Kicking is the concern. The Sooners had walk-on tryouts last week. Oh for the days of Garrett Hartley.
13. IOWA 2009 RECORD: 11-2
22. WEST VIRGINIA 2009 RECORD: 9-4
Outlook: Was there a more fun and charmed team than Iowa last season? Undefeated until quarterback Ricky Stanzi’s ankle injury, the Hawkeyes still managed an Orange Bowl triumph. They figure to be in the Big Ten championship mix with Stanzi back for his third year as a starter (18-4 record) and one of nation’s most heralded defensive units, led by end Adrian Clayborn.
6. TEXAS 2009 RECORD: 13-1
14. NORTH CAROLINA 2009 RECORD: 8-5
Outlook: Consecutive nine-victory seasons work for most programs, but the Mountaineers won 11 in each of the previous three, so there’s a touch of fan restlessness as coach Bill Stewart opens his third season. But with the Big East’s best defense and fleet running back Noel Devine operating behind a stout offensive line, West Virginia could steadily move up the rankings this season.
Outlook: The Longhorns’ secondary proves anything is possible if you put your mind to it. In 2008, Texas intercepted six passes. Last year it led the nation with 25, and the Longhorns enter this season with three in the secondary _ cornerbacks Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown and safety Blake Gideon _ on the Thorpe Award watchlist. All eyes will be on quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who takes over for Colt McCoy. Texas looks to smooth the transition by giving the offense more balance.
Outlook: Nobody’s having fun when a media day news conference opens with the athletic director reading a statement and the football coach demanding no questions about an NCAA investigation. But that was the scene in Chapel Hill last week. If the Tar Heels plow through the distractions, they should be formidable with 19 returning starters. Defense should roar, although tackle Marvin Austin has been implicated in the probe into players’ association with an agent.
7. TEXAS CHRISTIAN 2009 RECORD: 12-1 Outlook: Returning quarterback Andy Dalton was much improved last season, reducing his interceptions from 23 the previous year to eight in 2009, and was chosen the Mountain West’s offensive player of the year. In all, nine offensive and eight defensive starters plus excellent special teams are back from a team that fell only to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, though one loss is huge: All-American defensive end Jerry Hughes. The Frogs open with Oregon State at Arlington, Texas, and their BCS bowl hopes may hinge on a Nov. 6 visit to Utah.
8. NEBRASKA 2009 RECORD: 10-4 Outloook: Has it really been since
15. AUBURN 2009 RECORD: 8-5 Outlook: Let’s just say universal acceptance didn’t greet Gene Chizik last year upon taking the Auburn job after a 5-19 stint at Iowa State. But Chizik guided a young team to an 8-5 finish, and an SEC West title run is possible if quarterback Cameron Newton develops. Newton started his career at Florida before transferring to Blinn (Texas) Junior College, where he passed for nearly 3,000 yards. Linebacker Josh Bynes leads eight returning starters on a defense that slipped last season while the offense soared.
16. GEORGIA 2009 RECORD: 8-5 Outlook: From an 11-victory season in 2007 that ended with a Sugar Bowl win, the Bulldogs’ victory total has
23. OREGON STATE 2009 RECORD: 8-5 Best team in the nation not to win a conference/division title the previous four seasons? The Beavers could make a case. They’ve averaged nine victories in that span. Another contender is expected in Corvallis on the strength of running back Jacquizz Rodgers. Oregon State breaks in a new quarterback, Ryan Katz. Senior defensive tackle Stephen Paea is one of the nation’s best.
24. MISSOURI 2009 RECORD: 8-5 Let’s see quarterback Blaine Gabbert play without a limp for a season. Before the ankle injury against Nebraska: 11 touchdowns, no interceptions. After: 13 touchdowns, nine picks. Improvement must come on defense, especially the secondary. The last two opponents of 2009 combined for 1,062 total yards.
25. NOTRE DAME 2009 RECORD: 6-6 The overachieving coach takes over the underachieving program. Brian Kelly, a winner at every stop, brings an up-tempo offense but doesn’t have much experience at quarterback. The defense switches from a 4-3 to 3-4 to plug the run. New energy plus a softer schedule push the Irish to the 7-8 victory range.
Check Thursday’s CT for the
Football Preview
september 1, 2010
page 8
Volleyball manages win two weekend games against Tennessee GEORGE TILLERSON sports reporter Virginia Tech’s volleyball team managed to take two out of three contests at the Comcast Lady Vol Classic this weekend at the University of Tennessee. The Hokies completed a 3-0 sweep of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Lady Mocs in the first round of the tournament and followed it up with a tough 3-2 victory over Xavier. However, the No. 19 Tennessee Lady Vols were too much for Tech in the championship match as the hosts strolled to their third consecutive sweep of the tournament, 25-18, 25-17 and 25-21. “Tennessee put us on the defensive the entire match,” said Chris Riley, Hokies head coach. “They are humongous and aggressive. I think we were a little overmatched. We’re a good team, and we’ll be at that level quickly.” In the Hokies’ match against Chattanooga, the team’s .356 hitting percentage was its best since Sept. 9, 2009, while they managed to hold the Lady Mocs to a dismal .142. Junior setter Erin Leaser led the blocking attack with a career-high six block assists. “I think our team did really well on offense, first off with kills and transition,” Leaser said. The first set was rather close with 13 ties and four lead changes. The Lady Mocs jumped out to an early 7-4 lead, but the Hokies quickly tied it up at 77. The match held a one-point spread
over the next several plays, until the Lady Mocs ran out to their largest lead of 22-17. Tech then won five points in a row and eventually prevailed in the set 28-26. The Hokies maintained that momentum into the second set, as they cruised to a 25-19 win. The Hokies were dominant in the third set as they quickly got out to a 9-1 lead. They didn’t let up, going on to win 25-10. All-American Felicia Willoughby led the team with 10 kills and added five block assists. The Hokies second match against the Xavier Musketeers was far more challenging. The Musketeers took control in the first, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead. They never looked back, going on to take the first set 25-19. Tech led throughout the entire second set in order to tie the match 1-1 with a 25-19 victory of its own. The third set started out in a dead heat, with six ties in the first 22 plays. However, the Hokies eventually pulled away and went on to win the set 25-18. The fourth set was the most exciting, with 11 ties and three lead changes. The deadlocks included 10-10, 15-15 and 21-21. The Musketeers were on the cusp of winning the set at 24-22, but a kill by Hokies outside hitter Justine Record followed by a bad set by Musketeer Stephanie Vorherr tied things up at 24-24. However, the Musketeers stormed right back with their 14th kill of the set, and a crucial attack error by Willoughby gave them the 26-24 win.
With the match tied, the Hokies ultimately won the overtime set 15-10. “I think as a team, we need to focus on communication more,” said Cara Baarendse, sophomore middle blocker. “Our front row needs to communicate better with our back row and we need to play more together as a team.” In the final tournament match, the Lady Vols had too much firepower for the Hokies, as they swept Tech. The Hokies only led at one point throughout the entire match, 6-4 in the second set. Leaser was a bright spot for the Hokies, recording her second doubledouble of the day. “They have huge hitters so our blocking was a little out of sync in that game,” Leaser said. “They have a fast offense and they served very aggressively so we struggled on defense.” Following the match, Tennessee announced the Comcast Lady Vol Classic All-Tournament team. Baarendse and Willoughby represented the Hokies. “I expect to win every tournament, so that doesn’t change. I think our kids are disappointed with the way we played against Tennessee, not the loss, just the way they played,” Riley said. “I think they are looking forward to playing someone else. To get it out and put it on someone else.” Tech returns to action this weekend to host Coastal Carolina, Jacksonville State and Long Island in the fifth annuAUSTEN MEREDITH / SPPS al Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational The team practicing for last weekend’s tournament. The Hokies defeated the University of Tennessee held in Cassell Coliseum on at Chattonooga 3-0 and Xavier 3-2 before falling to No. 19 Tennessee in the championship match. Sept. 3-4.