collegian.csufresno.edu
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017
ARE FOOTBALL WINS BOUND TO MAKE COMEBACK?
Fresno State’s Award-Winning Newspaper
Page 8
LARS MAISCHAK
Lecturer in Twitter controversy: ‘They have not found me guilty of any of these things’ By Collegian Staff @TheCollegian
“In hindsight, Twitter is rubbish in using it like I did as a scratchpad or as a journal,” admits history lecturer Lars Maischak after his graphic Twitter posts against President Donald Trump and Republicans made na-
tional headlines in the spring. Maischak recently spoke out for the first time since April, when the public became aware of his social media posts. Editors of The Collegian who met with the history lecturer pressed him on whether his Twitter posts were written with violent intentions. He continuously denied that. “I don’t want that. It would be tragic,” he
said. “It wouldn’t send the right signal to do that.” Maischak said he got online threats after news broke of his posts. However, he said he did not deem any of them credible. And he forwarded the threats to authorities, he said. Conservative websites like Breitbart and The Daily Caller first reported on Maischak’s tweets. Then, local and national media
scrutiny followed. The political firestorm revolved mainly around the Twitter posts, which included language some interpreted as alluding to a political assassination. The posts also expressed views critical of capitalism and fascism. “To save American democracy, Trump must hang. The sooner and the higher, the better,” one of Maischak’s tweets said. Another read: “Justice [equals] the execution of two Republicans for each deported immigrant.” The posts were branded with hashtags, like “the resistance.”
See LARS MAISCHAK, Page 3
VIEWING
Daniel Avalos • The Collegian
Fresno State students wear their eclipse viewing glasses to get a glimpse of the partial eclipse over Fresno. The eclipse-viewing event took place outside the Engineering East Building on Aug. 21, 2017.
Students eclipsed with historic sight
By Alexandra Harrell @TheCollegian
Fresno State students and staff gathered around campus on Monday to watch what many called the “Great American Eclipse,” the first of its kind in nearly 40 years. The Fresno State Henry Madden Library hosted Experience The 2017 Eclipse Across America, a solar eclipse viewing party along with a live stream of the eclipse from NASA. David Drexler, digital initiatives librarian at the Henry Madden Library, said students could hang out in the library and watch the eclipse’s totality in parts of the country. “We only get a partial eclipse here,” Drexler said. “People can sit and watch the totality,” said, “because we don’t get a total eclipse here. We only get a partial eclipse.” Those attending the live stream cheered as they watched a total eclipse pass the sun. The live stream allowed the audience to see the total eclipse from many different locations across the United States. “We had sort of a spontaneous gathering outside the front door,” Drexler said. A large crowd gathered outside of the library to witness the eclipse with the protection of special viewing glasses. “The big thing about this eclipse is that it goes straight across North America and the U.S., and it has totaled in a lot of places.” Drexler said. According to Drexler, the solar eclipse is an important event because it gives scientists a lot to study.
“When they have a total eclipse, they can see the corona of the sun,” Drexler said. “For the rest of us, we’re just doing this because it’s neat to watch.” At the Engineering East building, students took photos of the eclipse with their phones. Some tore apart pairs of their glasses so their friends without glasses could view the eclipse. Carter Dana, an electrical engineering student, said he came out to the Engineering East Building around 9 a.m. to watch the eclipse because he considered it a once-in-alifetime opportunity. The university was handing out safety viewing glasses to watch the eclipse and although they went quickly, Dana said he was able to score a pair. Cindy Wathen-Kennedy, public relations communications specialist at the library, said about 200 people attended the event. Wathen-Kennedy said the solar eclipse is significant to her because it brings everyone together. “It’s just nice to have something collectively we can all enjoy and feel good about,” Wathen-Kennedy said. “ [There’s] a lot of turmoil in our world right now, but everyone loves the eclipse. It’s just nice to see everyone so joyful and happy, and there’s nothing divisive about it.” WATCH: For video on this story, visit our website: http://fresnostate.edu/collegian
CONVOCATION
Students asked to be ‘curious’ at convocation By Hayley Salazar @Hayley_Salazarr
Professor Jes Therkelsen from the department of media, communications and journalism was chosen as this year’s keynote speaker. In his speech, he stressed the importance of curiosity driving students in their
college careers and beyond. “I wish you the courage to be curious and to not be afraid of curiosity,” Therkelsen said. “It takes courage to be curious just as it took courage for you to come to Fresno State.” Therkelsen says curiosity is related with youth and is lost quickly as people are taught through movies, stories and tradition that “curiosity kills the cat.”
Daniel Avalos • The Collegian
Jes Therkelsen Speaks in front of a crowd of a couple thousand new students. Therkelsen was elected to be the keynote speaker at the New Student Convocation at the Save Mart Center on Aug 21, 2017.
OPINION
GOT OPINIONS? We want to hear them. COLLEGIAN-OPINION@CSUFRESNO.EDU WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
2
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Daniel Avalos • The Collegian
As semesters come and go, The Collegian always stays
By Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado | @cres_guez
As new students step foot on the Fresno State campus and transfer students are getting to experience a new college setting, one thing has remained the same throughout the years at the university. The Collegian, a decades-old student newspaper, is here to serve the student
population. As the editor in chief this semester, I hope for the free exchange of ideas on this campus. We all come from different backgrounds and with a diverse set of life experiences – it’s inevitable that our ideas might clash at some points during a class discussion or a casual walk through the university. And perhaps that is why The Collegian has been able to exist for so many years. It is now a 21st century multi-media platform for those ideas to be shared. It is a place to find the latest information on news and policies that impact students and faculty. And the population at Fresno State continues to grow. We are online and on social media, too. As we get ready to embark on a new se-
mester, keep The Collegian in mind. Go to it to be in the know of life on campus. Recommend it to your friends and professors. We need the readership support of every student on campus. There is great value in staying informed and acting on informed decisions. Fresno State will hold elections or important meetings and run campaigns for numerous things. We are here to tell you about it. There will be challenging information you read from The Collegian. So we welcome your opinions. Send us a letter if you feel compelled to share your thoughts with a wide audience. It’s in this way that we stay connected. The Collegian has committed every semester to bring stories that matter to stu-
dents. And it is committed to go to great lengths in order to bring the information to students. Like interpersonal exchanges, The Collegian seeks to be there with you as you spend your days on this campus. We want to know what hurts you, what makes you happy and what angers you. My goal for this semester as editor in chief is for students to make decisions and speak out after informing themselves with the information our reporters work hard to bring. There are many things on this campus that require the attention of students. We at The Collegian hope we make you as aware of those things as we can. If we miss something, tell us.
Jordan Bradley • The Collegian
THE COLLEGIAN The Collegian is a student-run publication that serves the Fresno State community. Views expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or university. collegian.csufresno.edu
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NEWS
3
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
MOVE IN DAY
New Bulldogs, new homes, new beginnings By William Ramirez @willoveslakers2
The first of 860 new University Courtyard residents were welcomed to their new home with food, speeches and a crash course on school spirit last Friday, also known as Move In Day. The number of new residents, Erin Boele director of student housing explained, has consistently stayed between 850 and 900 for the past few years. The students began moving in at 9 a.m., and student volunteers nicknamed “Baggage Buddies,” eased the physical load that comes with moving into the dormito-
ries by helping the residents unload their luggage. “It’s crazy, it’s a new life, new start,” freshman Joey Audino said. “You’re kind of moving on from living in your house to being on your own.” Audino said he plans to try to make friends quickly in order to make the transition a little bit easier on himself. “Everybody here is in the same boat,” Audino said. “So I’m gonna try and get along with the people around me, and it’ll make me feel more at home.” Fellow freshman Javier Gil shared a similar sentiment. Gil said the most exciting part of living in the dorms is getting to meet new people and make more friends. The anxiety and excitement of meeting
new people was a common theme among the students. However, Boele pointed out that living at the dorms helps ease some of the difficulties that some students have with making new friends. “I think one of the biggest benefits of living at the dorms is that the students have so many people to engage with,” Boele said. But those worries were left for another day thanks to the welcome barbecue. Friday afternoon, when a majority of students were finished unpacking, it was time to eat, mingle and be welcomed by Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro. Castro reassured both students and parents that the new residents were in the best hands possible.
“We’re going be here to make sure that each and every one of the students succeeds,” Castro said. “I promise that we’re going take really good care of you,” he said to the students. Making its 2017 debut, the barbecue was closed out with a performance by the Fresno State Marching Band. The band performed several of its trademark songs that are typically played at athletic events throughout the school year. Boele described the event as a success. “I think today was excellent,” Boele said. “We got everybody moved in quickly and efficiently and I think everybody is getting settled.”
‘I want to be back in the classroom’ LARS MAISCHAK from Page 1 Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro in April was later forced to issue a statement about Maischak’s tweets. He promised full cooperation with federal investigators. “Professor Maischak’s personal views and commentary, with its inclusion of violent and threatening language, is obviously inconsistent with the core values of our university,” read part of a statement from Castro. Maischak was subsequently placed in a leave of absence from campus. The university and the California Faculty Association agreed that was the best option. This semester, Maischak is tasked with designing online versions of his History 11 and 12 courses, which had been left for other professors to teach in the spring. In a one-on-one interview with the Collegian on Monday, Castro said Maischak has “unique experience” to perform his new role. The Collegian reached out to the California Faculty Association. CFA Fresno State Chapter President and professor of communication at the university, Diane Blair, said in an email she is limited to what she can discuss about Maischak due to “confidentiality obligations.” It was pointless, Maischak said, to post alarming posts online and then try to reason with people who did not see them the way he did. Castro confirmed on Monday the university sought law enforcement in April for a review of the tweets. He said the administration would also conduct their own review of the posts. Maischak said the university did not conduct an internal review like it had stated, but The Collegian could not independently verify that claim. “Fresno State wants to dodge controversy,” Maischak said. “In a political climate where controversy is the order of the day, if you want to keep it underwraps you’re empowering the people who are the loudest and the most violent.” However, the Secret Service and FBI did investigate whether the Twitter posts many deemed threatening were something Maischak intended to carry out. Maischak did not reveal details of the investigation, only saying he felt safe to finally speak out. “They probably know more about me now, than I do myself,” Maischak said of the investigators. “They have not found me guilty of any of these things. I would not be
Chueyee Yang • The Collegian
sitting here otherwise.” Castro said he does not currently know the status of the investigations. “They have not shared that information with the university,” he said. Maischak said he doesn’t believe the Secret Service publicly states who it’s investigating or what conclusions they may come to. But, he said, “You know that they found something if you suddenly disappear. So, here I am.” Maischak had faced calls to be fired when his was caught in the political controversy. Fresno State students and faculty had just been let out for spring break when the news hit mainstream airwaves. The week-long spring break vacation gave Maischak time to plan how to recover from the spotlight. But he knew his university employment – and his life – could be in jeopardy. He weathered the intense media attention as the university also worked to find a way to deal with the situation. When Maischak reached out to the uni-
versity’s administration wondering whether he would return to teach his history courses, the response surprised him, he said. “In a conversation with the official of the university, what was said was, ‘We were hoping that you would address the concern of security by tendering your voluntary resignation,’” Maischak told The Collegian. Castro did not comment on that accusation. He also denied any donor funds were withheld from the university as a result of Maischak’s actions. Maischak argues that his arguments online are “legitimate in the framework of history,” regardless of how anyone may interpret them. In the classroom, he said, students are encouraged to have their own ideals and beliefs. His only challenge to them is to back up their arguments. Having been raised in Germany, Maischak said, the parallels between his country’s history of “European fascism” and the United States’ “present government” concerned him. Considering the history, Maischak said
he had a “dark train of thought.” Then the tweets were written. A separate question arises from Maischak’s controversy. Is academic freedom on university campuses in jeopardy? The lecturer slammed Fresno State, accusing the the university of giving in to fear from conservative attacks. “I’m speaking morally. They are standing in the history books at this point as the first school who didn’t just give in to right-wing pressure, but that actually did the bidding of the right-wing,” Maischak claimed. In Monday’s interview, Castro painted a different picture of speech at Fresno State, saying “I believe strongly in the freedom of speech… I think it’s important for us to do that in a civil and respectful way.” He said it is important the university model that idea for the community and beyond since universities are often the best places to have open discussion. Maischak also said he welcomes constructive discussions with those who took offense at his tweets. “I wouldn’t go and get another Twitter account,” Maischak said. He explained that 140 characters do not give enough space for thought and debate. “It’s not productive. You really need to be able to make a longer argument,” Maischak said. “Or else you may be misunderstood and that can have consequences.” Inside the classroom, Maischak said, he would not use that kind of rhetoric with students because it would cause a distraction. However, he added, he is always open to dialogue from any side of the political spectrum. His wish now is to return to lecturing. Maischak said, “I want to be back in the classroom.” Maischak’s contract expires in May. Attention may now turn to what the precedent may be for other faculty with similar situations in the future. Castro said the university will follow policies in place as well as honor the collective bargaining agreement in regards to Maischak. “We will continue to communicate about what’s happening,” Castro said.
A&E
4
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
MUSIC
‘Avocados’ start the semester off fresh Midnight Avocados perform in The Pit on Aug. 22, 2017 during Tunes at Noon. Midnight Avocados have a new single on the way and are currently working on an EP.
By Eric Zamora @TheCollegian
The Tunes at Noon series in The Pit kicked off this semester with Fresno State student band, “The Midnight Avocados.” It was the first of the Tunes at Noon events that will be held in The Pit throughout the semester and is organized by USU Productions. The student-based group helps with events such as Homecoming and the Powder Paint Dance Party in the Spring 2017 semester. They plan to organize other smaller activities such as a craft night to get students involved on campus. Tunes at Noon brings students bands or
local musicians to campus. “Tunes at Noon has been around for a long time, and we always try to keep it diverse, so it’s always different genres of music whether it’s country, whether it’s a DJ coming in, or whether it’s more rock, but we like to have that offered for our students,” said Marine Vardanyan, an education graduate student and assistant for Student Involvement and campus events and programs. Musicians and bands like “The Midnight Avocados” are signed on to perform months in advance, with the schedule for this semester already completely filled. “The Midnight Avocados” played a setlist featuring a contemporary jazz style, including a saxophone and trombone in some
of their songs. Members include vocalist, pianist and guitarist Austin Coleman Head, lead guitarist Bradford Boyajian, bassist David Piland, drummer Gene Abella and vibraphone player Daniel Phene. “We put [this] together to play weddings and make some cash and have some fun and then we started writing. We got together and were like, ‘Let’s take this to the next level,’” Head said. “So now we’re all originals. We write all of our own music.” Head, a music education student in his final year, met most of the band members through the music department on campus. With time, they all got together to form their band. “The Midnight Avocados” is influenced
Fresno State student Austin Coleman, Midnight Avocado’s lead vocalist, performs during Tunes at Noon at The Pit on Aug. 22, 2017.
Alejandro Soto • The Collegian
by singer-songwriter musicians such as Randy Newman and Tom Waits, which are channeled through the band’s similarly piano-driven songs and Head’s vocal inflections while singing. “We don’t like to take it too seriously. We’re having fun and we’re just doing what we love to do,” Head said. Students walked up and down the stairs toward the Student Union as music played. Some offered their opinions. “I think they’re not bad, like they’re not my style, but they’re very, very loud,” said Majerle Reeves, a final-year math and mechanical engineering major. “They need to do more [leveling] of the parts.” The next concert in the Tunes at Noon series will be this Thursday in The Pit.
Alejandro Soto • The Collegian
THE COLLEGIAN • A&E
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
PAGE 5
MUSIC REVIEW
The sounds of summer seventeen By Selina Falcon @SelinaFalcon
It is no secret that 2017 has been a great year for music, and the songs that graced the airwaves this summer further reveal that. Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has been all over the radio with his song “Shape of You,” but it is “Galway Girl” that took the spotlight this summer with its catchy chorus and traditional Irish folk sounds that Sheeran has revamped for modern listeners. “Galway Girl” was instantly a fan-favorite when Sheeran released his third studio album “Divide” in March. It makes sense that it became a hit once it was introduced to radio listeners. “Body Like A Back Road” by country singer Sam Hunt broke records this summer by topping Billboard’s “Hot Country Songs” chart for 25 consecutive weeks. It also made the crossover to pop radio. Simply put, “Body Like A Back Road” is one of those feel-good country songs that is easy to listen to any time of the day. Demi Lovato released her new single “Sorry Not Sorry” in July, and it’s a song that will get stuck in your head for hours on end. Lovato has found her element with “Sorry Not Sorry,” and as someone known for empowering songs, this may be her best. Someone who surprised a lot of people this summer was former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson with his single “Back to You” featuring Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals. “Back to You” is quintessential 2017 pop
music done well, and it easily trumps Tomlinson’s 2016 debut solo-single “Just Hold On.” Bebe Rexha and Tomlinson’s vocals mesh together perfectly, and it is clear the time Tomlinson spent working on his new music paid off. British pop-punk band Neck Deep showed up at the end of summer with the new single “In Bloom” from its new album “The Peace and The Panic.” Lead singer Ben Barlow has never sounded better on the angst-filled track that has already gotten continuous radio play. Neck Deep has contributed quite a bit to the current revival of pop-punk and “In Bloom” will be one of those songs that people take note of when they think of that revival. While there are many more songs that took over summer 2017, there was only one that was inescapable. According to Billboard, “Despacito” by Lusi Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber has spent 15 weeks at No. 1 on the “Billboard Hot 100” chart and is “the longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 of the 21st century.” Aside from having big-name artists attached to it and a cool beat, what is most impressive about “Despacito” is that it is almost entirely sung in Spanish, yet it sits upon a Billboard chart full of songs in English and it gets played on Top 40 radio. This summer offered one of the most diverse selections of music we have seen in a while and we can expect even more new music before the year is over. If that music is anything compared with what was released this summer, we are in for a treat.
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Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.
Greg Williams • Atlantic Records Press
This Week in Entertainment Tunes at Noon USU Productions presents Tunes at Noon, a free lunchtime concert at The Pit. Playing on Thursday at noon will be local country music duo Aubrey Road. This event is open to the public. For questions or accommodations, contact Student Involvement: 559278-2741.
Shania Twain tickets available Country singer Shania Twain announced she will be touring in 2018 in support of her new album, “NOW.” She makes a stop at Fresno State’s Save Mart Center on Aug. 1, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, or at the Save Mart Center box office. Ticket prices range from $32.95 to $152.95.
Tunes at Noon Local multi-genre group Eva Scow and The Experience will perform in The Pit on Friday, at noon. This event is open to the public. For questions or accommodations, contact Student Involvement: 559-2782741.
Fresno State Night at Campus Pointe Fresno State Night will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Square at Campus Pointe. There will be games, live music, prizes and deals exclusive to Fresno State students (must present student ID). Salsa dance lessons will begin at 6 p.m., and local alternative-rock band Call Me James will perform at 7:30 p.m. For questions or accommodations, contact Student Involvement: 559-278-2741.
you
THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
PAGE 7
‘Teamwise, we’re more like a family. We enjoy being here.’ FOOTBALL from Page 8
Diego Andrade
Deputy District Attorney Tulare County Criminal Justice Major Fresno State
“Being raised by immigrant parents in the Central Valley drove my aspiration to aid Valley residents by becoming an attorney.” Law School 101
since the spring. He said the team has bought in and is committed. The offense returns 10 starters, including sophomore quarterback Chason Virgil. Virgil is competing for the starting job with junior college transfer Jorge Reyna and Oregon State transfer and Dinuba native Marcus McMaryion. “It’s a good competition,” Virgil said. “There’s a lot of good talent. Either one of us can go out there and make plays and help the team win. That’s all you want at the end of the day, so it pushes the team as well. They see us competing hard. It gets everybody else pumped.” Tedford said none of the quarterbacks are standing out over the others, and there is no timetable to name a starter. Virgil said the offense is shaping up well, but it still has “some kinks to knock out.” He said the offense has picked up all the new plays in fall camp and is on the same page. Compared with this time last season, the offense has more energy every day, Virgil said. “We’ll make mistakes,” Virgil said. “A lot of guys get on themselves a little bit, and that’s a good thing. Nobody wants to make mistakes, and people are being coachable, too.” The new coaching staff’s effect on the team is noticable to junior running back Dejonte O’Neal. “It’s a big difference,” O’Neal said. “Teamwise, we’re more like a family. We enjoy being here.” O’Neal said the team has a rope in the locker room, and every player holds it. It signifies that every player is accountable to each other, he said. “If you’re making a block, make sure that you understand that it’s not about you,” O’Neal said. “It’s about the person behind you that you’re blocking for. It’s a live person with a family that he needs to go home to. He’s important to this team just as everybody else.”
O’Neal is one of the running backs who will see playing time this season. Tedford said it will be a running back by committee offense. “As far as I’m concerned, the days of one back carrying the whole load are over,” Tedford said. “We really need to keep guys fresh, so it’s really important to have some depth at that position.” Along with O’Neal, the running backs who will make up the committee include senior Dontel James, sophomore Josh Hokit and freshman Ronnie Rivers, son of former Bulldog running back Ron Rivers. “Our rotation is really good,” O’Neal said. “Those are my brothers, and we all come to compete every day. When a back is hot, he’s hot. We’re going to keep him in. When he gets tired, we’re going to come in and keep him fresh. We’ll keep the backfield rolling.” James is the leading returning rusher with 697 yards in 11 games. Hokit emerged on the scene in the second-to-last game of the season against Hawaii last year, rushing for 97 yards on 18 carries, one of the best performances by a Bulldog running back all season. Junior KeeSean Johnson led the team in receiving with 66 catches, 773 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and returns alongside junior Jamire Jordan as the starting wide receivers. Johnson was an All-Mountain West honorable mention selection last season. All of the projected starting offensive linemen have experience starting, led by senior center Aaron Mitchell, who paces the team with 24 consecutive starts. The offense is ready to lead the charge and turn around the program, starting with the first game, as players indicated. “I feel like we’re a smarter team,” O’Neal said. “I feel like we’re well-prepared for this game, and we’re going to execute because, like I said, we’re going to hold the rope for the whole community – for Fresno, in general.”
2017 Football Schedule
Wednesday, August 30, 7-9pm You’re invited to this free program to learn more about the legal profession and what a law degree can do for you! At this forum you will be introduced to law school, from courses offered to admission requirements.
Sep. 2 vs Incarnate Word
Oct. 21 at San Diego State
Sep. 9 at Alabama
Oct. 28 vs UNLV
Sep. 16 at Washington
Nov. 4 vs BYU
Register now at www.sjcl.edu or 559/323-2100
Sep. 30 vs Nevada
Nov. 11 at Hawai’i
Oct. 7 at San Jose State
Nov. 18 at Wyoming
Oct. 14 vs New Mexico
Nov. 25 vs Boise State
A Degree in any Major Qualifies you to Apply to Law School. Next LSAT, Saturday, December 2, 2017 Go to www.lsac.org to register by October 18.
The grass may not be greener in Oklahoma PAWSPECTIVE from Page 8
now accepting applications SJCL admitS StudentS of any raCe, CoLor, and nationaL or ethniC origin.
Coexisting with Westbrook on the court is one thing, working on a fruitful relationship off the court is another thing entirely. Team chemistry is often an overlooked dynamic that can make or break a team. History tells us that having more than one big personality on a roster can ultimately lead to an irreparable rift that manifests itself on the court.
Westbrook and George have also been outspoken at various times in their careers, so do not be surprised if we see more than one instance of the two taking shots at one another through the media, especially if the season does not go according to plan. With only one year left on George’s contract, if the two struggle to find a happy medium in time, it is almost certain that he will leave Oklahoma City for greener pastures.
SPORTS
8
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
FOOTBALL
’Dogs’ offense improving as season nears By Daniel Gligich @danielgligich
Redshirt freshman running back Deonte Perry (#4) runs with with ball during practice on Aug. 22, 2017.
Megan Trindad • The Collegian
Coming off of a 1-11 season, the Bulldogs’ offense is making strides to prepare for the season opener against Incarnate Word. The game is less than two weeks away. After the worst season in school history, where former head coach Tim DeRuyter was fired eight games in, athletic director Jim Bartko brought in former Bulldog quarterback and offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford in a bid to turn the program around. Tedford led the team through the spring practices, and fall camp started at the beginning of August. “We’ve had a really good camp, very productive,” Tedford said after practice Tuesday. “Now as we wind down the week here on Thursday, there will be more game plan-type stuff. We’ll start practicing for Incarnate Word, so it’s exciting to finally get to this point and have a chance to focus on someone else.” Tedford said the team’s standards on how it practices every day out improved
See FOOTBALL, Page 7
PAWSPECTIVE
The new power couple out West
Wikimedia Commons
Former Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George (#24) drives to the basket while being defended by Charlotte Bobcats power forward Anthony Tolliver (#43) during the second half at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 5, 2014. The Bobcats won 109-87.
By Michael Ford @MFordCollegian
After years of rumors about his desire to leave Indiana, former Fresno State basketball star Paul George finally got his wish when he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a blockbuster deal. George, 27, and now in the prime of his career, was reportedly unhappy with the Pacers’ inability to rebuild a team that would be a serious threat to dethrone the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are the reigning
NBA Eastern Conference champions led by LeBron James. The Western Conference is no joke, though, and George might just be in for a rude awakening. The competition in the Eastern Conference is markedly worse than in the West, and George was still unable to make it to the NBA finals. It certainly will not get any easier moving to the West, despite playing with another great player. Learning how to play with an MVP like Russell Westbrook presents a challenge that he never had to deal with in Indiana.
There will be hiccups along the way. A team cannot just throw two great players together and expect it to automatically work as if it is some science experiment. It takes time and patience to figure out how to play with someone else who is used to also being the top dog in an organization. George does not have to look hard to find hints on how the dynamic between him and Westbrook will play out. Former Thunder player Kevin Durant, and now NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, was thought to have left the Thunder due to his unhappiness playing alongside Westbrook.
This is of particular note for George as he and Durant have similar playing styles. Both thrive on the ability to break down defenders one-on-one off the dribble to score. The problem is, so does Westbrook. George ultimately will become frustrated with Westbrook as the two are bound to struggle with the dilemma of whom will take the last shot at the end of a close game. George has always been that guy in Indiana, and Westbrook has been the same with the Thunder.
See PAWSPECTIVE, Page 7