Photo by: Florida Tech Athletics
// ANNIKA SUNDQUIST SPORTS EDITOR A car accident claimed the life of student athlete Christian Lake, 21, from Rockledge, Florida. Florida Tech welcomed him with open arms after his transfer from Eastern Florida State College. He had been an immediate positive force on the Cross Country and Track team, was going into his senior year and was expected to graduate in December of 2019.
"Christian came to us in the fall of 2016 and quickly established himself as one of our most durable and hardest working athletes on the team. Christian quickly made lasting relationships with his teammates and got along with everyone. Christian will always be a part of the Florida Tech Cross Country family. Our team is deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the Lake family at this time," Florida Tech's head cross country
What is The Crimson? // MARY KOZAITIS EDITOR- IN - CHIEF Maybe it’s your first time picking up a copy of Florida Tech’s newspaper, maybe you pick one up here and there, or hopefully, you’re a regular. In any case, The Crimson is your one-stop shop for events both on and off campus. This includes campus life, national and world news, sports, entertainment, technology and everything else that relates to Florida Tech. Our mission is to provide connectivity across campus between students, faculty, staff, clubs, organizations, and anything in between. The Crimson has been a 100% student-run publication for this campus since our beginnings back in 1967. Not even our faculty advisor,
communication professor, Mr. Petersen, makes edits prior to printing. We utilize our First Amendment right for freedom of press to find the information our readers need. It even states in Florida Tech’s Media Board Governing Document that our freedom to write is guaranteed and cannot be interfered with by Florida Tech. We are a completely uncensored voice for the students at this university. This causes our paper to have its minor imperfections, but our student’s freedom to explore and learn the writing process from the inside outweighs the importance of being a standardized publication found on other news stands. CONTINUED ON 2
coach, Pete Mazzone, said. In the time he spent in the Florida Tech Athletics Department he touched many lives. His teammates all spoke of him in high regard. “He was a great kid. I was on the track team with him, and I loved being his teammate," returning cross country teammate, Kevin Richardson, said. Both teams Christian was a part of were impacted by his loss. He was an all around great athlete and student at Florida Tech. "I'm deeply saddened
to hear about Christian's passing," FIT Head Track & Field Coach, Jason Munsch, said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. This puts into perspective how precious life is and that you can't ever take anything for granted.” Condolences to the friends, family, and faculty impacted by Christian Lake in his time here at Florida Tech from the entire staff of the Florida Tech Crimson.
International Love Story Long distance relationships can be hardespecially when there is a 37 hour plane ride involved. That is the distance Nipuni Dias, a Florida Tech graduate in chemical engineering from Thailand, took to see her boyfriend this April. Connor Haskin, a spring 2017 Florida Tech graduate in aviation management from Upstate New York, will be able to see his visiting girlfriend for a single month. Then she goes back home to Thailand for the season. The name most people call her by is not her legal name. Dias goes by “Cooks” because of a childhood story and because she said it is easier to pronounce. “When I was younger, I always used to steal cookies from my kitchen. I would
// MARY KOZAITIS EDITOR- IN - CHIEF always get in trouble from my parents for eating them and they started to call me cookie monster. From there, it was shortened to ‘Cookie’ and then eventually ‘Cooks,’” said Dias. Most of her friends and family, including her boyfriend, have stuck with the nickname. The couple met via mutual friends and have been dating for approximately two years. They started off as friends for a long time and slowly started going on solo dates with one another. Haskin and Dias do all the things normal couples would do. They talk on the phone together, watch CONTINUED ON 3
The Florida Tech Crimson
Tragedy strikes Florida Tech Campus
Issue 1 August 22 Fall 2017
ISSUE 1
AUGUST 22
OPINION
What is The Crimson? (Cont.) CONTINUED FROM FRONT Your free Crimson newspapers are printed on a bi-weekly basis and distributed in red Crimson kiosks or stands throughout campus (see map) every other Tuesday (#TuesdayNewsday). You can “like” us on our Facebook page for instant news updates. We, as writers and students furthering our education, strive to produce a newspaper that our boss will approve and want more of. Our boss is you. Our readers are our
priority and we write for our audience because your support is what keeps us moving. We want the students, faculty and staff at Florida Tech to pick up a newspaper that is relevant, informative and fun to read. We eagerly welcome ideas and feedback from our readers. We do not print every story nor take advantage of every story idea we receive, but we do try our best to act in favor of our audience and provide them with the most accurate and interesting content possible. If you are interested
in becoming a part of our Crimson team check-out the column below for more information. We also allow one free ad per year for each student organization and club. If you have questions, constructive feedback, a written story, or a story idea you would like to submit, we welcome and read all e-mails sent to crimson@fit.edu. We hope that you enjoy reading The Crimson and take advantage of the wonderful opportunity that newspapers have to offer; after all-- you are our boss.
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Reasons to join:
◆ Internship opportunities ◆ Course credit
◆ Paid or work study positions ◆ Chance to travel to journalism conference (last year we went on a paid trip to Washington D.C.) ◆ Endless networking and involvement around and off campus ◆ Tangible work to add to your portfolio ◆ Have your name published ◆ Great work experience ◆ Strengthen writing, editing and design skills ◆ Be “in the know” on campus
Regardless of major or class standing (both undergraduate and graduate students included), anyone interested in becoming a part of our team is welcome to join our staff. We hold weekly meetings to plan each issue over the shared enjoyment of free food. We meet in our newsroom located behind Grissom Hall every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Any newspaper is incomplete with only a staff of writers—we welcome students interested in photography, videography, business, layout/web design, editing, and coming up with creative story ideas.
Photo by: Mary Kozaitis
Red stars indicate large Crimson kiosks and purple stars indicate small Crimson newstands. Kiosks are located in four locations on campus: in front of Crawford Science Tower, Panther Dining Hall, Harris Commons and the Dorm Quad. Small newstands are located in various places on campus: Evans Student Center, Evans Library, The Denius Student Center, Skurla Hall, Crawford Science Tower 1st floor, Olin Engineering Complex, Olin Life Science, Olin Physical Science, The Clemente Center and Panther Dining Hall.
Mary Kozaitis Editor-In-Chief mkozaitis2014@my.fit.edu
Ted Petersen Advisor tpetersen@fit.edu
Eleanor Mathers Managing Editor lmathers2014@my.fit.edu
Doug Schoeller Copy Editor dschoeller2013@my.fit.edu
Audrey Gangloff Copy Editor agangloff2013@my.fit.edu
Annika Sundquist Sports Editor asundquist2014@my.fit.edu
Abeer Janakat Design Editor ajanakat2013@my.fit.edu
Nathaniel Ashton Photo Editor nashton2015@my.fit.edu
Elin Svensson Business Manager esvensson2013@my.fit.edu
Lindsay Isaac Social Media Coordinator lisaac2015@my.fit.edu
Sean Moroney Distribution Manager smoroney2014@my.fit.edu
The Florida Tech Crimson is a student-run newspaper published every two weeks during the academic year, with the exception of breaks and holidays, by the students of Florida Institute of Technology. General circulation of the paper is approximately 1,000 copies per issue. The Florida Tech Crimson is a service for Florida Tech students, staff, faculty, alumni and the general public. The Florida Tech Crimson strives to inform the public and to use its editorial sections as open forum for debate on campus issues. The Florida Tech Crimson welcomes input and opinion pieces submitted by students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Florida Institute of Technology. Published letters may be edited without notification for length, libel, good taste or other reasons at the discretion of our staff. The opinions expressed herein The Florida Tech Crimson and our website do not necessarily represent the student body, staff, faculty, alumni or Florida Institute of Technology or its partners. Images and stories submitter to The Florida Tech Crimson and their derivative works become the intellectual property of the Florida Tech Crimsons. Depicted works of art and or product may be subject to copyright to their respective owners. Advertisers may contact the Florida Tech Crimson for sizes and pricing at crimson@fit.edu. All contents copyright The Florida Tech Crimson unless otherwise notedp. All rights reserved. No part of the Florida Tech Crimson may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-In-Chief. The Florida Tech Crimson is always looking for new writers, columnists, photographers and designers. Contact us at crimson@fit.edu for more information.
ISSUE 1
AUGUST 22
OPINION
International Love Story (Cont.)
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The Local Column Freshman already “has it all figured out” // DOUG SCHOELLER COPY EDITOR
Connor and Cooks sit together on their favorite spot on the couch preparing to watch a movie.
Photo by: Mary Kozaitis
CONTINUED FROM FRONT movies with one another and spend holidays together, but they also work intwo different time zones. With Thailand being 11 hours ahead of Melbourne, Haskin is often times going to bed when Dias is going to work. The most they can typically talk in a day is for an hour when one of them is on the way to work. It takes a lot of staying up late on the phone and sleep deprivation to make the relationship work, according to Haskin. Even with technology, the 9,392 miles between them is difficult. “One of the hardest parts is I can’t tell Connor things about my life as they happen. A lot of things I want to tell him in person or I don’t want him to wake up to it in a text message. He isn’t with me in the moment,” Dias said. Despite the distance working against them, Dias
and Haskin are able to maintain their relationship. Haskin is excited to travel to Thailand this summer for the first time for Dias’ cousin’s wedding. After that, the next time they will be able to visit one another will not be until Christmas, when Dias will be visiting Haskin in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Dias experienced snow for the first time when she went to New York with Haskin for their first Christmas together in 2015. Dias said that once she put her hands into the snow and felt it for the first time, she decided she prefers the warm Florida climate. The couple has met each other’s families and they all get along well, despite cultural differences. Haskin takes a part in the family’s groupchat they have together. Dias and her family are slightly more “americanized” because of the English school she
attended back home, but she can still speak fluent Thai. The couple has future plans figured out, due to the closeness they have within their own families. They said they plan on moving to California after two years of working because it is the closest they can get to Dias’s family in Thailand while remaining in the United States. Leonardo Silveira, a spring 2017 Florida Tech graduate in aerospace engineering and roommate of Haskin’s has known the couple since they started dating. He strongly believes they will continue to make their relationship work. “It’s something they have special going on between those two,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult, but they’ve been making it work and will make it in the long run.”
Local freshman, Brent Helmholtz, sat in the dining hall last Thursday evening contemplating his visit to the Fall Student Involvement Fair. According to reports, he claimed that he “has it all figured out.” “I’ve been at this university for four whole days and I’m pretty confident I have this whole college thing figured out,” said Helmholtz. “I’m here at the dining hall, I know exactly what I’m going to eat every day, I know when my classes are, and I know how to study. Pretty sure these next four years are going to be straightforward.” These comments followed Helmholtz’s visit to the “OrgFair,” where he signed up for five different organizations that interested him. “They’re just a couple of small things to occupy my free time,” he explained after being questioned about if he’s managing his time correctly. “Figure if I attend Surf Club four hours a week, go to FITSSFF for two hours a week, go bowling on Wednesday nights with the FIT Bowling Club, and prepare for designing the next rocket with the Student Rocket Society from time to time - according to my math I’ll have a whole 30 hours
left each week to focus on my schoolwork. It will be easy enough. I only have 5 classes this semester.” It was pointed out to him that Helmholtz’s only prior academic experience had been high school, which could perhaps be misleading as to how efficiently he could complete a college curriculum. “It’ll be fine, I mean homework is homework. Can’t be too hard to handle. It’ll be fine.” Helmholtz later logged onto the newly formatted Florida Tech website, proud of his enrollment at the university, and went to his Department of Electrical Engineering page. There he read that “integrated lab experiences give students training and time with the latest fiber optics, microelectronics, analytical instrumentation and design software.” “See… it’ll be fine,” he exclaimed. A drop of sweat fell to the floor.
How to Have Stress Free Printing // NANCEY GARMER ACTING ASSISTAND DEAN OF EVANS LIBRARY
· Make sure there is money on your student ID card to print. Add funds through access.fit.edu – Add Panther Cash · Verify your color selection at the printer – the color and price are displayed on the printer’s screen $.10 per page for b/w and $.40 for color · Change your color selection/price by using the
Options button · The Tracks ID card used to swipe at the printer must match the Tracks ID used to log in to the computer to print · Mobile printing is available! Email pdf print jobs to mobileprinting@ fit.edu using your @my.fit. edu account. Pick the prints up on any campus printer within 24 hours. · Scan to your @my.fit. edu account from any printer. Scan pdfs directly to your flash drive.
· Printing instructions are posted above the printers in all campus locations: all floors of Evans Library, Evans Hall Lab, Olin Engineering- first floor lab and second floor lounge, Harris Commons- second floor Psychology study room, College of Business- Babcock Oaks If you have any other questions, Just Ask! at the Library iDesk.
Photo by: Nancey Garmer
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STUDENT LIFE
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Fall 2017 Freshman Survival Guide
Here is a collection of short interviews from Florida Tech students ― read about dorm room essentials, favorite places to eat or study on-campus, and locations to visit in Melbourne. Students also share which items to never walk around campus without and their best pieces of advice to start the semester. // LINDSAY ISAAC SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Ahmed Chowdbury, Mechanical Engineer Senior
Photo by: Ahmed Chowdbury
Name: Joseph Laguna (Below) Major: Business Administration / Sports Management Class standing: Senior Fun fact about yourself: I'm my mom's first kid and a middle child at the same time. Hobbies: Football, fishing, video games, netflix Essential dorm supplies: Foam mattress topper and toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, hand sanitizer) Favorite places to eat on campus: Panther Dining Hall and The Rat Favorite places to visit in Melbourne: Paradise Beach, Ave B Beach and Melbourne Mall Best places to study on campus: The 4th Floor of the library or the small study rooms in Evans Hall Is there an item you always carry with you? A phone charger Helpful on-campus resources: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the Math Advancement Center (MAC). Best piece of advice to start the semester: Learn your schedule and plan out how to effectively manage your time. Favorite part of Florida Tech: The class sizes are small enough that you get to know the professors well and vice versa.
Joseph Laguna, Business Administration/Sports Management Senior Photo by: Joseph Laguna
Name: Ahmed Chowdhury Major: Mechanical Engineering Class standing: Senior Fun fact about yourself: I always carry some Cholula Hot Sauce in my bag! Hobbies: Reality TV, baking, yoga Essential dorm supplies: A planner, kettle, and some disinfecting wipes! Favorite places to eat on campus: The SUB for lunch, the Rathskellar for dinner and the bookstore for snacking ― they have the best candy. Favorite places to visit in Melbourne: Downtown Melbourne has a fantastic small town vibe. I love Jacqueline's Bakery and Sugar Shack! Best places to study on campus: The 4th floor of Evans Library and the Denius Student Center. Is there an item you always carry with you? Power bank for my phone and my laptop. Helpful On-Campus Resources: The library ― they are incredibly helpful. Best piece of advice to start the semester: Please don't miss the first few days of classes. Favorite part of Florida Tech: The Botanical Gardens and the Black Kat’s Cafe.
Julia Torres, Computer Information Systems Graduate Student
Photo by: Julia Torres
Name: Julia Torres Major: Computer Information Systems Class standing: First year master’s student Fun fact about yourself: I am a NASA nerd to the max. Hobbies: Listening to audiobooks, learning and expanding my programming knowledge, all things tech or computers or cybersecurity Essential dorm supplies: Desk lamp, monitor rack, water bottles Favorite places to eat on campus: PDH and Black Kat’s. Favorite places to visit in Melbourne: The Mansion Restaurant Best places to study on campus: Evans Library, especially the Digital Scholarship Lab. Is there an item you always carry with you? My laptop and my cell phone. Helpful on-campus resources: The Academic Support Center and Holzer Health Center. Best piece of advice to start the semester: Manage your time and money wisely. There's nothing worse than having bad grades and being broke. Favorite part of Florida Tech: All the awesome people I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with, students and staff alike.
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STUDENT LIFE
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Fall 2017 Freshman Survival Guide (Cont.) Name: Francisco Bayon (Right) Major: Aerospace Engineering Class standing: Junior Fun fact about yourself: I have lived in three very different countries and I was exposed to countless cultures growing up. Hobbies: YouTube, basketball, gaming Essential dorm supplies: Asides from the obvious supplies to get organized, I'd recommend whiteboards and corkboards. They're very helpful for keeping ideas organized and setting reminders. Favorite places to eat on campus: My absolute favorite place out there has to be the Rathskeller. Their pizza and subs are great and their wings are the best I've ever had! Plus, they're open late. Favorite places to visit in Melbourne: The beach, especially Canova Beach! It's the only one around that allows dogs, so I can always find my two favorite things there. Best places to study on campus: For normal, everyday studying, the best place on campus is Evans Library. It's equipped with a very advanced lab on the second floor that has ergonomic furniture and a perfect studying environment on every floor. For late night cramming, I'd recommend Evans Hall. The second floor of Evans Hall has large study rooms and a whiteboard and projector that can be used 24/7 as long as you have access. Is there an item you always carry with you? Definitely my laptop. I found it much easier to carry ebooks and take notes using only one device around campus. Helpful on-campus resources: Clubs. There are a lot of things you can learn from officers who have already gone through what incoming freshman have gone through. As an engineer, I'd recommend joining the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Student Rocket Society (SRS) for those taking aerospace, or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for those starting mechanical engineering.
Francisco Bayon, Aerospace Engineering Junior Photo by: Francisco Bayon
Best piece of advice to start the semester: Don't procrastinate. You may have heard it 100 times before, possibly even by the little voice of reason in your head. You may have been able to get away with it in high school, but come sophomore year at Florida Tech you'll be regretting that terrible habit more than ever. Favorite part of Florida Tech: My professors. I've found all my professors on campus to be very understanding and helpful. Talk to your professors whenever you can. Visit them during office hours, and you'll learn a lot about what they've done in the past and how to go about achieving the most with your time here.
ISSUE 1
AUGUST 22
CAMPUS LIFE
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CAMPUS LIFE
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ISSUE 1
AUGUST 22
OPINION
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Summer Movies: Wonder Woman and The Chief // ELEANOR MATHERS MANAGING EDITOR
"Wonder Woman" (2017) movie was an amazing feat in cinematic history for many people, especially for women. As the highest-grossing live-action film in the DC Extended Universe, with a female lead and female director, "Wonder Woman" hit Internet Movie Database (IMDB) with a 7.9/10 and Rotten Tomatoes with 96% "liked" rating from over 100,000 people. However, I found something more within the movie that many people considered, but may have overlooked. I am half Kiowa Apache, a Native American Tribe with headquarters in Oklahoma, and much of my knowledge of the culture comes from my father and his late father. Representation of the Native American culture in Hollywood has been very scarce and accurate
representation has been even more difficult to find. Movies like “Geronimo: An American Legend” (1993) and “Apache Warrior” (1957) are some of the better representations so far and even those have been practically lost to history. There are few Native American actors that make it to the screen with significant roles. Sitting in the theater during "Wonder Woman", when I heard Eugene Brave Rock speak the Native American Blackfoot language, I was in tears. His costume, his voice, and his involvement as The Chief had me in awe that Hollywood was not depicting a Native as a broken-English speaking, moody character. I was even more astounded when The Chief continued to play an important role in the movie,
his braids not coming undone in some dramatic scene, his relationship with Wonder Woman relaxed, and his demeanor strong. Brave Rock spoke to director Patty Jenkins about his costume and how his first words to Wonder Woman would be in Blackfoot. The significance of this moment in Hollywood history goes beyond what many people understand. It is important to recognize that someone from a culture can help encourage a movie to accurately depict what should be shown. There are many cultures that are either misrepresented or underrepresented in pop culture and I have patiently waited for the cinema to catch up and give me an accurate depiction of the people I grew up in awe of. I have not looked for examples of
Eugene Brave Rock with Gal Gadot in costume. misrepresentation in Native filmography nor for the percentage of representation over the last few years because I am content with hoping that this will be the movie that takes the trend upward. I am sure many people will understand how I am filled with pride and happiness when I saw the vision that this movie has
Photo from Movie Pilot
painted. There is heavy significance to what The Chief and Wonder Woman spoke about when speaking in Blackfoot. It was the only conversation in the movie that wasn’t subtitled. I’ll leave you with the exciting choice to either look it up for yourself or remain unspoiled.
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STUDENT LIFE
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Letter to the new panthers // ABDUL ELNAJDI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Welcome, Panthers, to one of the most diverse colleges in the United States. Florida Tech is like a small United Nations, with students coming from more than 54 nations and speaking nearly as many, or more, languages. My name is Abdul, a graduate student in the biochemistry department and I want to share my story I have had at Florida Tech. Of course, the beginning was never easy! I am from Libya, which is a Muslim country located in North Africa. Coming to Florida was a big step, but a challenge I had to accept and being Muslim made this challenge even harder. I arrived in Melbourne knowing almost no one, but a Libyan student who helped me find a house
near the university. The first week at the university was dismal! I didn’t know anyone, didn’t speak to anyone and everyone was busy with lectures and homework. I am a social person and from where I come from it was easy to build relationships on the first day of school, but it was different with Florida Tech. It could have been the language barrier, the fact I am a Muslim, or the fear of being rejected after starting a conversation. I use to go to Florida Tech every day and never talk to anyone. One day though, I gathered my strength and decided I needed to find a place where I could meet new friends. The next day, when I was having lunch I noticed one of the fraternities
tabling in the SUB, spoke with them and gave them my email. A few days later I met with them, went bowling and ate pizza. At this point, excitement began to enter my life. After one month, I became a member of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity and became more active, leaving the house early in the morning and not returning until evening. I went to clean beaches, play video games, watch movies and bake for Market Day. We went camping and helped with cooking food every Wednesday in the church, where I met new friends. All my fear and doubts about being a Muslim went away and there was no exclusion or racism from any student at the university.
My first summer in Florida was really fun! Lots of get-togethers in my house with friends from the U.S., France, The Netherlands, China and India. I have friends from the local community in Melbourne too, who actually invited me to celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween with them. So, new Panthers, I have some ideas for you to consider. This university wants you to succeed and wants you to enjoy your time too. My suggestions come from personal experience. Do not be afraid to meet new people and take every opportunity to get to know your classmates. Look for organizations or clubs that meet your ambitions and where you can occupy your
time with useful things. Understand that being a student is a full-time job and you need to work hard, but you must focus on not just academics, but also interactions with others Take advantage of the opportunity to be involved at Florida Tech, learn about the activities of the university and be a part of it. My journey will end this fall and your journey will begin. I will go back to my country with unforgettable memories and I will always be grateful for that moment when I decided to leave my home and join Florida Tech. Best of luck and welcome to Florida Institute of Technology, where the world is in your hands.
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SPORTS
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PANTHER’S HOST JORDANIAN NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM //AUDREY GANGLOFF COPY EDITOR Jeeda Al-Naber, 18, a Jordanian on the Florida Tech women’s soccer team, found herself battling on the soccer field against the women she was teammates with just weeks before. On Friday, Florida Tech played their first regular season game against the Jordanian national women’s soccer team. “It was exciting,” said Al-Naber. “I honestly didn’t know who I wanted to win or who I was rooting for, but I was very excited to play.” Al-Naber has played with the Jordanian national team for the past several years of her soccer career. Now, she is a freshman for Florida Tech. The Jordanians had never played against a team from the United States and Al-naber said the matchup would be a special one. “The two teams have very different styles of play. Here [at Florida Tech] it’s more physical and about who is going to get to the ball first. It’s a lot more competitive,” said Al-Naber.
Jordanian women's national team at the Rick S. Field after their win. Photo by www.jfa.com.jo
The opening minutes of the game were tough for the Panthers. The two teams held each other in check until late in the first half when the Jordanians scored the first point of the game. Head coach, Dustin Smith, said that in the first 10-15 minutes the speed of play by the Jordanian team showed and his team was left a step behind. “I think once we got settled into the game we started showing a little bit of our physical dominance,” said Smith. “They’re [the Jordanians] like Energizer Bunnies, we had to figure
out how do we combat that.”
able to shut out the Florida Tech team and scored
“I honestly didn’t know who I wanted to win or who I was rooting for but I was very excited to play.” The Panthers showed renewed energy and more aggressive play in the second half. However, none of the Panthers’ hard drives or breakaways resulted in points scored. The Jordanians were
another point of their own late in the second half. “It was two different kinds of styles but at the end of the day I thought it was great because … [they] both played beautiful soccer,” said Smith.
Despite missing her home and old teammates, Al-Naber said she is excited to start her career at Florida Tech. “The Florida Tech team made it easier because I directly transitioned and made friends,” said AlNaber. “I think they’re really nice and they take football very seriously. They welcomed the freshmen in a way that I didn’t expect at all.” The Panthers had two tough losses in their first week of play, first against University of Miami and next against the Jordanians, but Smith said that his team does have one of the toughest schedules in the country. “We have proven that we have a lot of energy, we have some physical toughness, mental toughness. As long as we continue to build on that, with the type of schedule that we have, I think we have the opportunity to go pretty far,” said Smith. The Panther’s first game of regular season play is Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. against Texas A&M UniversityCommerce at Rick Stottler Field.
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SPORTS
Head Coach Steve Englehart talks to team about preparing for a long season.
Photo by Audrey Gangloff
FOOTBALL PREPARES FOR HOME OPENER SEPT. 2 //AUDREY GANGLOFF COPY EDITOR As the Florida Tech football team wraps up preseason camp and begins regular practices, head coach Steve Englehart is determining what kind of team he has to work with this year. “[They’re] very different. Very different than in the past,” said Englehart. “The group that we graduated last year were the pioneers of the program. When you lose a group like that, the team will never be the same. It takes on a new face, and it's not any better or any worse. It’s just different.” Englehart explained that the graduating class of last year took with them some of the last players who had been with the program since the beginning in 2013. “They had been through
the hard times, had been through the first practice year, the first year when we really weren’t very good,” said Englehart. “They built and saw the rise of the program. This group with all the all the new faces, some of the transfers, they only see the success that we’ve had. They’ve never seen what it took to get here.” Englehart said a challenge for this year is getting the new players to understand that if the team doesn’t continue to work to progress, then they will fall back. However, Englehart believes this year’s team is the most talented that Florida Tech has seen so far. But every team has strengths and weakness. Preseason camp is when the coaching staff gets their first personal look at their players
and what their game might look like for the coming season. “Right now I think our strengths are our running game. We have a bunch of really solid running backs and I think our offensive line is run blocking better than they are pass blocking at this time,” said Englehart. Englehart said the mix of weak pass protection and young quarterbacks is a combination that needs to improve so that passing can come along a lot better than what it is. “It has less to do with the ability and more to do with the execution part, the mental part of it. It’s just a matter of everybody being on the same page,” said Englehart. “I think our receivers are really talented, we’re just not doing a great job of getting the ball to
them as well as we should.” On the defensive side of the ball, the only worry that Englehart has for this season is that all his players stay healthy. He said his entire first string and half of his second string players are really good and if they are able to play out the whole season then there is a good chance that Panther defense will be really strong this season. The schedule of games this year start with tough teams and it won’t get any easier as the Panther’s progress through the season. One of their first games is against McNeese State, a Division 1 and top-20 ranked program. “It will be a really challenging game,” said Englehart. “And then we get right into Gulf Southeast Conference play. The
Find yourself twiddling your thumbs during the week? WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO. Join the weekly Crimson meetings on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in the newsroom (the back enterance of Grissom Hall) to snag a story and a slice of pizza.
backend of our schedule is typically those teams that are competing for the conference championship, so every game I think gets a little tougher. Tougher because of the length of the season, the grind of the season, keeping our players in tune, plus playing really good football teams in the GSC.” The Panthers kick off their season at the Florida Tech Panther Stadium, located at Palm Bay high school, on Saturday Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. against Virginia University of Lynchburg. “I just hope that we continue to get more support not only from the community but from the school and the student body to come out to games,” said Englehart. “Hopefully everybody has a good time.”
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Photo by Florida Tech Athletics