Fall issue 2

The official student newspaper of florida Tech

Fall, issue 2

September 4, 2013

The students’ guide to Florida Tech football tailgating David Barkholz Sports Editor College football and tailgating – you can’t have one without the other.

Thanks to a document released by Florida Tech Athletics detailing the rules and general information of all game day activities for spectators, it has finally been revealed what exactly tailgating at Florida Tech will be like.

The verdict: students and fans can expect to receive a full tailgating experience in all six of the Panthers’ home games this coming fall.

The document, released on Aug. 31 and titled, “2013 FLORIDA TECH FOOTBALL: INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW,” is the final product of a 12-person football tailgating committee that began meeting in April to discuss game day activities on both the Florida Tech and Palm Bay High School campuses.

The committee consisted of Florida Tech employees from various departments, including alumni, athletics, athletic fundraising, facilities, marketing and communications, residence life, ROTC, security and student activities.

The six-page document was broken down into three main sections: parking, tailgating and stadium. Here is what you need to know about each:

Parking Stadium parking for home games will be located in six different lots throughout Palm Bay High’s campus and the parking lots at the northwest corner of Babcock Street and Eber Boulevard.

Parking in these areas will be $5 per vehicle, cash only.

All lots will open two hours before kickoff and have attendants on hand to direct traffic in and out of Pirate Stadium each game.

Fans can bypass the $5 fee by parking at Florida Tech, free of charge. Free shuttles will be available to transport spectators to and from Palm Bay High starting two hours before kickoff.

Tailgating Tailgating for home football games will take place exclusively on Florida Tech’s campus in designated areas and will begin three hours before kickoff.

The designated areas for tailgating will include the Clemente Center parking lot, parking decks located adjacent to Panther Dining Hall, parking spaces leading from the parking decks to the Military Science and Machine Shop buildings, the parking lot located behind Harris Center for Science and Engineering and the lawn located directly to the left of the same building.

Alcoholic beverages and grilling will be allowed, however keg beverages and open-flame grilling in the parking decks will not be permitted.

In addition to parking lot activities, an area will be set aside for tents in the Panther Den, which will be located to the east of the Varsity Training Center and along the eastside of the football practice field.

Photo by Aaron Funk Tafadzwa Armani, Matthew Welborn and Carissa Thiel celebrate College Colors Day. Here, concessions will be made available and games for children will occur on the practice field itself. An information tent will also be set up to answer any questions.

Canopies will also be allowed for tailgating practices, but cannot be larger than 10’x10’.

Roughly two hours, 45 minutes before kickoff, students and fans will have the opportunity to join the Panther Pep Band and the FIT cheerleaders and show support for their home team during the Panther Prowl, the name of the Panthers’ walk from their pregame meal in the Denius Student Center to the Varsity Training Center.

Stadium After entering Pirate Stadium, re-entry will not be allowed.

For the safety of everyone, all bags will be searched. Weapons, coolers, umbrellas and artificial noise makers will not be allowed entrance into the stadium at any time.

Outside food and drink will also not be allowed to enter the stadium. In-stadium concessions will be made available for spectators.

Intoxicated or disorderly individuals will not be tolerated and are subject to removal from the premises.

The engineering behind football

Profanity, abusive or threatening language by spectators may also result in removal from the game.

Portable cushions and seatbacks are allowed, but will be limited to no more than 18” in width and 15” in depth.

Rain gear that doesn’t obstruct the view of other individuals is also permitted.

In the case of any emergencies (such as the threat of lightning), spectators will be asked to leave the stadium and proceed to a designated school building for safety.

Kelsey McMullan Sci/Tech Editor The object of American football is to move the ball across a goal line. Players can achieve this goal through a combination of throwing, kicking or running with the ball.

It sounds easy enough, but it gets much harder when you factor in the weight, size and speed of the guy coming at you. Add in the Florida heat and a mass of screaming fans that make it hard to hear your team captains and coaches call plays and you get quite a complicated equation.

Football can be turned into a simple physics problem, but it can also be the source of some modern engineering and medical marvels.

Sophomore football player Daniel Fernandez has been playing for over nine years and became interested in biomedical engineering after being treated for injuries he sustained playing football.

“I got surgery once, and thought hey, this could be a cool

See Football, pg. 7

Photo by Efram Goldberg The trajectory of a thrown football.

New Trolley rOUTES Staff writer Rebekah Duntz covers new trolley routes.

See trolley, pg 3

Coach’s corner Learn about Amy O’Brien, the volleyball coach.

See coach, pg 8

OPINIONS....................... 2 Campus life ................ 3 SCI/TECH...................... 5 Entertainment........... 6 sports......................... 7

OPINIONS Get excited about Florida Tech football

2 -September 4, 2013

David Barkholz Sports Editor Like it or not, football is here and it’s not going away.

Some students on campus won’t like reading that. How do I know? I’ve been in the same classrooms as those students over the last four semesters. I’ve heard the groans, complaints, back-handed comments and jokes about Florida Tech football whenever it’s been brought up in class discussions.

Heck, not even everyone at The Crimson is excited about the football team…

The reasoning behind these students’ lack of support are legitimate: Yes, the majority of you did not ask for a football team; yes, the sports management major was largely designed to draw in new athletes; and yes, the money and man-hours spent building a new football program could have been used in other places on campus that directly affect everyday life at FIT. But none of those reasons overcome this one, simple fact: college football is an attentiongrabbing, money-making, statusraising, beast of a machine.

Let me ask you this: Before the football program, how often did anything FIT-related appear in local newspapers? Before the football program, what were FIT’s chances of appearing on national, live television?

For those who haven’t noticed, Florida TODAY, Brevard County’s local newspaper, has been covering FIT football to death over the

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last few months. Nearly every issue (this is a daily publication) has included at least one story about our new football team – our university.

On Sept. 19, FIT will play West Alabama at home in a game that will be aired on CBS Sports Network. There will be people all over the country watching this game – watching Florida Tech.

This is the type of exposure that few things other than college football can create. Through this football team, exponential amounts of people will come to know the Florida Tech name – people that wouldn’t have the slightest clue as to who we were otherwise.

This means better brand awareness, more prospective students and more tuition dollars.

Yes, a lot of money and manhours were spent building this football program, but how long before the team begins to turn a profit?

The football program will pay for itself, and it won’t take long.

Once it does, that is extra money that can go toward things you care about the most – improved facilities, dorms, parking – you name it.

FIT will always be, first and foremost, a tech school. A football team won’t change that. What a football team will do, however, is help make this a better, more known tech school.

If you need any other reason to get excited about FIT football, try asking the 1,042 other students who are going to the game this Saturday.

CAPS PSA: Savvy sipping to party smarty Stephanie L Field CAPS Whether you “party hardy” or “party smarty,” as the school year begins you may start to notice that it seems like everybody is partying. From football season to apartment parties, it can sometimes feel like the entire campus is one giant tailgate!

This can be a significant source of pressure to make you feel obligated to engage in unsafe behaviors in order to “fit in.”

Most commonly, these activities include irresponsible drinking, dangerous drug use, and risky sexual encounters. Doesn’t that all sounds pretty unpleasant?

Let’s be realistic here: we don’t expect people to never party or experiment, but we do want to educate you about how to be as safe as possible and prevent risky situations.

On September 5 at 7 p.m. in 202 Evans Hall, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) invites you to an event, “Red Solo Cup, Let’s Have a Party.”

Here we will learn about how to stay safe when partying and discuss strategies for navigating difficult situations that may arise at social gatherings. You may be thinking, “I already know how to stay safe!” or “I never drink or use drugs!”

However, dangerous partying situations often occur unexpectedly, and frequent partying can have a significant impact on other areas of your life. While there are many factors involved in partying, this article will fo-

cus on the most prevalent issue in colleges today: alcohol.

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to .08 or higher. In fact, in the U.S., over half the alcohol that is consumed occurs in the form of binge drinking.

Here are some NIAAA “party hardy” facts-by-the-numbers (per year) that may have you thinking twice about your decisions at get-togethers: • 1,825: The number of college students ages 18 to 24 who die from alcohol-related injuries.

• 97,000: The number of college students between ages 18 and 24 who are victims of sexual assault or date rape in alcohol-related situations.

• 100,000: The number of 18 to 24-year-old college students who said they were so intoxicated they were not sure if they consented to sexual activity.

• 400,000: The number of college students between ages 18 and 24 who had unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol.

• 690,000: The number of 18 to 24-year-old college students who have been physically assaulted in circumstances involving alcohol.

• Students who frequently binge drink and party are found to miss class more often and earn significantly lower

grades than their responsible peers. Sure, this sounds like an obvious one, but the research backs it up!

It’s not all bad, though! Did you know that 70% of Florida Tech students engage in responsible drinking? You read that right; a majority of your fellow Panthers do not binge drink, drive under the influence of alcohol, or engage in sexual activity while under the influence.

To give you a better idea of how to be a savvy sipper and be one of the responsible 70%, here are some tips to “party smarty:” • Always eat and drink water before and while drinking alcohol.

• Do not mix alcohol and caffeine (particularly energy drinks or energy shots).

• Use the buddy system.

If you are going out to a get together, bring a close friend and stay by him/her the entire time.

There is power and safety in numbers, which can help to prevent bad decisions or dangerous situations.

• Be wary of date rape drugs. Watch and hold your drink 100% of the time. If you accidentally lose sight of your drink, just get a new one. This goes for all genders!

• Make a plan and stick to it! For example, before drinking determine how much you will drink within a preset time period, what type of drink you will have, and how you will safely arrive and leave.

• Have a designated driver, and if he/she falls through,

call a taxi! Simply said, do not drink and drive a motor vehicle, scooter, or bicycle. Not only are you just as likely (if not more likely) to get injured on a bicycle when intoxicated, but you can also still get a DUI! • Do not drink until you “feel it.” Educate yourself about BAC limits and know the effects of different levels of alcohol for your weight and gender.

• Know that you will already start to feel moderate effects of alcohol at a BAC of .02.

• Also know that when your BAC is .06 you are at the maximum level of feeling positive effects, or euphoria. After this point, as you continue to drink you experience fewer positive effects of alcohol, and instead will begin to feel tired, gloomy, and woozy. Though it may be difficult for you to notice right away, you will also start to lose coordination and your vision will become blurry at this level of intoxication.

• Ask yourself: is one night of partying and fun worth risking your college education, your future career, or even your life? Remember to reevaluate your priorities before going out to have a good time.

Partying tends to be a significant part of the college experience, but making bad choices doesn’t have to be!

Come join us on September 5 at 7 p.m. in 202 Evans Hall to learn how to take control, and understand how to keep yourself and your friends safe!

We hope these are some

helpful hints; however they may not be sufficient for the support you need. Although this article focused on problems related to alcohol, unsafe partying can lead to a number of other unfortunate consequences related to academic problems, drugs, sexual promiscuity, and sexual or physical assault.

If you need help coping, CAPS can help! CAPS is right here on campus to offer assistance for the many challenges faced by college students. To make an appointment with a counselor, you are welcome to call (321) 674-8050 or walk in to the center. CAPS is located beside the Health Center, at the corner of Country Club Rd. and University Blvd.

The CAPS website (www.fit. edu/caps) offers additional information regarding resources, services, and groups, as well as brief screenings for depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, and alcohol use.

We realize it can be intimidating to ask for help, but we hope you reach out when you need us. CAPS is just one of many resources at Florida Tech that supports maintaining a happy and healthy you!

Have a superbly safe and fantastically fun semester! We look forward to seeing you for our “Red Solo Cup, Let’s Have a Party” event on September 5 at 7 p.m. in 202 Evans Hall!

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CAMPUS LIFE

Trolley routes expand to new destinations off campus Rebekah Duntz Staff Writer The trolleys are now in their second year of running, and Florida Tech has made some changes to the program. Students will no longer have to wait as long for the trolleys to pick them up, and they will be able to go to new destinations off campus.

These changes have been made in response to a survey that was sent out last November.

“Last year we actually tracked numbers. The drivers would make checkmarks at each stop to see which stops had the highest board and ridership,” said Greg Tsark, Vice President for Facilities OperaPhoto by Neal Carrera tions.

There are currently two trol“It was originally conceived as leys routes that pick up students a way to get people safely across from stops like Panther Bay or Babcock Street. And I think Mary Star of the Sea and drop for people that still have that them off on campus at either the concern, it’s a great success. In Panther Dining Hall or other desterms of other conveniences that ignated stops along the route. the trolley can provide, we were During the high-traffic times looking at the beach and Walof the day, usually from 8 am to 5 Mart and the mall.

And the mupm, the routes are shorter to creseum in downtown, ” said Tsark. ate a higher frequency. “So now The trolleys will also be stopping at any of the routes you’re only waiting for six minutes to get on,” at the Palm Bay Wal-Mart on Saturdays. said Lee Martucci, Supervisor of As another means of transTransportation. portation this year, there is the “The occasions where they’ll new Panther Shuttle. get filled to capacity would be for The shuttle has been a great the football games. They’ll work success in bringing pilots to the great for that,” Stark said about CAI for their flight training, and the scheduled routes for the it can arrive back to campus as upcoming game season. late as 12 am, depending on the The trolley will soon also be flight schedules that night. “After a way for students to have some everything is closing down, it entertainment and shopping pretty much revolves around the on the weekends, as it makes flight times,” said Martucci on the its rounds through Downtown shuttle routes in the evening.

Melbourne for the “Family Fun In addition to the CAI buildFests” and possibly to Foosaner ing, there are the new housing for film festivals. Students can facilities, Panther Bay, and Mary enjoy a nice meal and a drink on Star of the Sea—or otherwise Friday and Saturday evenings, known as Newman Hall. Panther and then catch the last trolley to Bay has five apartment buildings, campus by 10:30 pm. with 300 beds. Two out of the five

Department changes hope for increase in prominence Allison McLellan Staff Writer The Humanities and Communication department and Behavior Analysis departments are no longer. Instead, they have been replaced with the School of Arts and Communication and the School of Behavior Analysis- a move that many at the university hope will serve to raise prominence of both schools.

The changes to both the former Humanities and Communication and Behavior Analysis departments became official as of July 1. Both schools have seen curriculum changes within the last year. The School of Behavior Analysis added a behavior analyst undergraduate degree last year, and the School of Arts and Communication has added two new minors, textiles and music.

Mary Beth Kenkel, Dean of the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, stated that there were several reasons for the changes.

“The main thing with the

buildings are for flight students, and the other three are designated for Greek organizations.

These students, who will be living about six minutes away, will now be able to board the panther bus and get dropped off at the Panther Dining Hall.

“For the 300 or so students that will be living there, we are doing 30-minute routes where you can get on a bus which brings you right to Panther Dining Hall, which we consider the center of campus. So if you see that bus pull up, generally it’ll be students from Panther Bay or Mary Star of the Sea. And those that need to go Flightline will switch vehicles and go northbound,” said Martucci.

In the event that a person is waiting at a stop too long, the student can call Security at any time. As far as other programs for the future, Facilities Operations may look into other smaller vehicles with lower operating costs and other route destinations. “We are certainly open to any suggestions,” Tsark assured.

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School of Arts and Communication is that they are broad in their scope of offerings,” she said. “We wanted it to be a school rather than a department to reflect the diversity of offerings that they have there to represent that more formally to the university and community.”

Robert Taylor, Associate Dean and Head of the School of Arts and Communication, feels that the change is more indicative of the things that the school does for Florida Tech.

“What has happened is that the Humanities and Communication Department has grown so much, our fields have interests and activities have grown so much that we outgrew our foundations as a department,” he said.

“We are bigger than that.”

As for the School of Behavior Analysis, Kenkel said that although behavior analysis has

traditionally fallen under the umbrella of psychology, that view is changing. “We have so much going on in that area, and we wanted to recognize that, so that is why it became a school.”

It isn’t just faculty members that are happy about the change.

Anushka Boyd, who graduated from Florida Tech and now serves as a Faculty Services Coordinator, said, “Our degrees hopefully hold more validation since they are coming from a school.”

Kate Broderick, a graduate student in Global Strategic Communication, feels that the change will allow her department to gain more recognition. “This is very exciting because in the past the Humanities and Communication department was very low profile on campus,“ she said. “Out of all departments in the school we are unique. Every student has to take 18 credit hours here. I think we are the heart of the campus.”

Both Kenkel and Taylor have high hopes for new programs within the two new schools.

Taylor is hopeful that the change will more accurately describe his school. “It better showcases what we are and what we do to the entire university and beyond,” he said. “It creates a very neat vehicle for new programs and initiatives that are going to come down the road in the years to come.”

Kenkel feels that renaming both departments as schools will increase their profile within both the university and the local community.

“I just think that it helps us build the platform for greater growth and achievements. I am just really thrilled that the university approved of this change,” Kenkel said. “I think it was because of them acknowledging the major contributions that those schools have provided over the years.”

Club Spotlight: The Climbing and Bouldering Club Carlo Mencarelli Staff Writer Rock climbing in the flatlands of Florida? That’s not something you hear about often, but that’s exactly what Samantha Teehan and the fellow members of the Climbing and Bouldering Club do in their spare time at the On The Edge indoor rock climbing gym.

The club welcomes all people to come out to climb with them, even if you just want to try it once.

“Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked,” Teehan said.

The club climbs throughout the year, taking a trip in the fall and spring to climb in other states.

This fall they are travelling to Alabama. The club also competes in the Collegiate Climbing Series events during the year.

“It’s the best workout I can think of, a full body workout,” said Phil Manougian, another member of the club.

While watching Teehan attempt one of the more difficult climbing paths, getting to a box suspended from the ceiling and only reachable by climbing up the wall and across an overhang, Manougian explains why he loves climbing so much.

“You’re competing against everyone, but you’re competing against yourself too, to see if you can do better than you did before,” Phil Manougian said.

“Don’t be afraid, you can start at any level. I’ve even seen two year olds climb before,” Teehan said, after she slipped from the hand and foot holds only to swing safely to the ground with the help of her belay partner.

The club’s home gym, On the Edge Rock Climbing has college night every Friday from 6 to 11 p.m. and students climb for $10.

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4 -September 4, 2013

CAMPUS LIFE

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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Hamid Hefazi Carlo Mencarelli Staff Writer

Coming to Florida Tech from California State University in Long Beach, California, Hamid Hefazi brings a lot to the table for the College of Engineering as a professor of aerospace engineering and the new head of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department.

With almost thirty years at CSU, Hefazi welcomed the change of pace that Florida Tech brought, “Most institutes do research by graduate degrees, Florida Tech does a lot of research at the undergraduate level. This is important for the faculty and the education and experience of students.”

The difference between public and private universities was also a contributing factor for Hefazi when deciding to come to Florida Tech. “[Private Universities] are more student focused and are able to have smaller class sizes.”

With his department having the largest undergraduate enrollment in the school, Hefazi is looking to

further expand the department with the addition of Automotive Engineering as well as expanding the scope of the current degree programs and hiring several new faculty in the next year.

When he isn’t focusing on work, Hafazi enjoys sailing in his spare time and looks forward to the different types of sailing he can take part in now that he lives in Florida. Additionally he has served as a consultant for the 2003 America’s Cup challenge and for wind energy companies.

When asked about the future, Hefazi explained, “It’s an exciting time for engineering as a profession. Students can look forward to having careers that will not only be work, but be very exciting and rewarding for them.”

Mark Nanny, a senior in both ocean and mechanical engineering hopes that the department will move to more of a researched based undergraduate program, “It [Research] is something that really hasn’t been focused on for undergrads. It’s a great resume builder and good experience for every student.”

Dr. Hefazi appears to feel the same way which brings a bright outlook to the MAE department.

Do you want to join the staff?

Email us at crimson@fit.edu!

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Sunday Services at 8am and 10:30am Wednesday Services at 10am and 6pm

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5 - September 4, 2013

SCI/TECH

Software updates: benefit or risk Chris Pangalos Staff Writer Anyone who uses a PC has probably noticed messages stating that their software has or will update at a designated time.

The Windows operating system is well known for its updates which by default periodically install automatically without user input. While many of these updates help your computer to run more smoothly with patches and counter-measures for newly discovered exploits, they may also put your computer at risk In April, Microsoft released security update MS13-036 for Windows 7 which conflicted with certain programs causing users to receive a Blue Screen of Death along with an endless cycle of reboots. Microsoft later “recalled” this patch faulting third-party software and requiring inexperienced users to go through a complex process to get their systems up and running again.

Currently the update system of Windows 8 is also having issues. Many users who have actively tried to update their systems have been unable to. Due to it being a fairly new operating system still facing many requiring many technical modifications, the updates to Windows 8 are of particular importance.

Though these aren’t first incidents regarding Windows updates, in 2007 the simultaneous rebooting of users across the planet due to an update managed to crash the Skype network.

While the crash wasn’t caused by the update itself, it still raises the question of what stress such large

numbers of reboots can cause.

Microsoft isn’t the only company to face controversy regarding updates. When the Sony PS3 was released one of its features was the ability to install a second operating system. In 2010, Sony released Firmware Update 3.21 removing this feature due to it being exploited for piracy. Since Sony’s updates are required to play newer games users were left with the choice of either losing a feature they paid for or being unable to play games and access the network, another feature they paid for.

Most programs, such as Windows, give users the option of disabling updates. While some systems manage to run smoothly without ever installing updates, this often is dependent upon internet usage, software installation, and to a large extent luck.

One of the more popular methods used by experienced users is choosing the updates they wish to install. Some may choose to only install security updates which helps protect them from exploits, while putting their computer at less risk over minor software improvements.

Users can also choose to manually install their updates at a later time providing them the opportunity to check what the update includes, while also reducing the potential for error since the update has already been field tested. Ultimately it’s up to the individual to decide which method suits their particular needs, though it’s recommended that users stay aware of exactly what’s being installed on their PC.

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6 -September 4, 2013

ENTERTAINMENT

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Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright : the triforce of Hollywood Heather Macy Entertainment Editor

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright are an unfathomable trio that makes up what can only be called “the Triforce of Hollywood”.

But what makes them worthy of such a title? Is it because of the comedy in their films? Is it because they are British? Or, is it because they are possibly the only combination of individuals that could do a proper tribute to Krzysztof Kieślowski’s “Three Colors” film trilogy while still making it entertaining enough to put Americans in the theater seats?

Kieślowski was a Polish director who created a series of films that focused on two things: the colors of the French flag (blue, white, and red) and the motto of the French Republic (liberty, equality, and fraternity).

Inspired by Kieślowski’s work, Wright and Pegg set off to do a trilogy of their own, one that would stand as a tribute to Kieślowski’s trilogy.

From that came the “Three Flavors Cornetto” trilogy.

The “Three Flavors Cornetto” trilogy, also known as the “Blood and Ice Cream” trilogy, is a series of comedic films written by Wright and Pegg.

Wright is also the director, while Pegg and Frost play the star actors. Each film is mainly a comedy while also parodying another genre (horror, action, sci-fi), as well as featuring a particular cornetto’s color (red, blue, green). While the name originally started as an on-set joke between the cast, it took off, and later became the official title for the trilogy.

In their first film, “Shaun of the

image property of Focus Features “The World’s End” is currently in theaters.

Dead,” Pegg plays the title character, Shaun, a man stuck in the rut of life, who stumbles through his day as sales advisor at a local electronics store, only to hang out with his lifelong friend, Ed (played by Frost), either playing video games at their shared home or drinking down at their favorite pub, the Winchester.

He has a strained relationship with his clueless mother, he despises his stepfather, and Shaun’s girlfriend, dumps him over his lack of initiative in his life.

With nothing left more but to go down to the Winchester, Shawn and Ed spend the night getting drunk and stumble home, only to

find the next morning that there has been some sort of cataclysmic event overnight that has caused the dead to come to life.

Suddenly, Shawn has to find his initiative, collect his loved ones, and survive before the re-animated dead start taking a real “bite” out of his life.

In the second film, “Hot Fuzz,” Pegg plays Sargent Nicholas Angel, a London cop that is so into his job that he’s putting the rest of the department to shame, and, as his reward, gets transferred to a tiny English village out in the middle of nowhere.

Partnered up with the goofy Danny Butterman, who has seen

far too many cop films to be anything but an annoyingly idolizing, overgrown child, Angel has to figure out whether the sudden and surprising deaths in the village are truly accidents or if there is something sinister going on in this quaint, old English town.

In their third and final film, “The World’s End,” which is currently in theaters, Pegg plays Gary King; a man determined to reunite his old friends and attempt their infamous pub crawl to reclaim former feelings of glory. However, their first attempt was over 20 years ago and it quickly becomes clear that time, and friends, have changed. But

are they the only ones that have changed or is there something strange going on behind the scenes?

What makes these films fun isn’t the witty quips, the way there is always a scene in the beginning that mimics later events, or even playing spot the ice cream cone, it is that this trilogy of films are clearly made by people who not only know their genres, but love them with a passion.

Each is written as both a parody of the genre, but also as a film to be taken seriously, mixing comedy with each genre to create a perfect blend.

Puzzles for September 4

SPORTS

7 -September 4, 2013

the Florida tech crimson

The science and mechanics behind football story continued from pg. 1 field to go into,” Fernandez said.

“This would be a great field for me to help people, and athletes like myself, that would suffer the same kind of injuries that I did.”

There is a surprising amount of engineering that goes into football. The equipment the players wear is constantly being modified to accommodate hot or cold climates, as well as to meet the needs of the players for higher and higher levels of protection.

Under Amour, Nike and other sports companies have been investing in new fabrics that help the human body regulate temperature, wick away sweat or preserve body heat to keep muscles warm.

Football player and sophomore Anthony Hicks is majoring in aerospace engineering and aspires to earn his doctorate degree then do research and development in his field.

He hopes that advances in

helmet technology would help both football players and fighter pilots could better handle g forces and their impacts. He hopes that these advances would also reduce concussions.

Concussions are a major concern of players, coaches and parents.

Riddell is a popular company that produces helmets for a variety of sports, including football.

In an emailed statement, senior communications manager, Erin Griffin stated that, “R&D teams are steadfastly working on the next evolution of helmet technology. Riddell’s core team of engineers boasts a century’s worth of experience, having dedicated their careers to making of helmets more protective and the game football safer. We continue to focus on increasing our knowledge and identifying new ways that our understanding of science can help us improve player protection.”

Matt Higgins from “Popular Mechanics” reports that, “At 5 ft.

11 in. and 199 pounds, Marcus Trufant is an average-size NFL defensive back. Those stats don’t stand out in a league where more than 500 players weighed 300plus pounds at the 2006 training camps. But a DB’s mass combined with his speed -- on average, 4.56 seconds for the 40-yard dash -can produce up to 1600 pounds of tackling force, according to Timothy Gay, a physics professor at the University of Nebraska and author of The Physics of Football.”

Impacts involving high g forces are usually associated with stunt or fighter pilots and astronauts. Fighter pilots frequently experience 8 g forces during maneuvers. To put that in perspective, an intense roller coaster ride will put your body though around 5 g’s. A concussion occurs when the head and brain are impacted by approximately 100 g’s.

Higgins reported that an extreme football impact can reach forces of 150 g’s.

The temperature and weather

Photo by Efram Goldberg

can also affect the ball as well as the players. Frank Vizard, author of Why a Curveball Curves: The Incredible Science of Sports explains when its warm out, the material of the ball will stretch and expand easier, which means it can be kicked farther. The opposite will happen when a ball is being used in cold weather. Cold weather will cause the material to harden and can shorten the distance the ball can be kicked.

Preparation for a game is key, that’s why the team practices so much.

Fernandez explained, “We have been preparing for this first season for two years now.

A lot of preparation has gone to this first Stetson game.”

Fernandez and his team mates have also put a lot of time into their coursework, “For engineering, if you want to be successful in the classroom, a lot of time has to be put into your studies.”

Fernandez often will go to his dorm after practice and devote hours to working on his assignments. He said that because he and his teammates are always together, often they will study together and help each other understand the coursework.

For the team, practicing and preparing for the game takes a lot of teamwork.

Fernandez explained, “you need all 11 guys to make a play work.”

Vizard explains that, to pass the football precisely, the player throwing the ball, usually the quarterback, has to get the ball to maintain a 10 degree angle of attack the entire length of the play.

“The ball’s shape lends it to be aerodynamically unstable, but a consistent angle of attack and a steady spin will help

stabilize the ball during flight,” Vizer said.

Kicking the ball presents a whole new set of variables to the players. To properly kick the ball the holder must be place the ball, laces out, in the correct position for the kicker to hit the ball’s “sweet spot”, a point one inch below the center of axis of the ball.

The ball is usually kicked soccer style, with the upper part of the shoelaces, making contact with the sweet spot. To achieve a field goal the kicker must get the ball into the air and through the yellow goal posts at the end of the field.

Along with all this physics, there is also some math that involves the fans. The Palm Bay High School stadium can hold about 5,000 people. That amount of people could generate over 100 decibels of sound.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration defines dangerous noise levels as, “Exposure to high levels of noise can cause permanent hearing loss.” The noise cause by a heavy truck measures around 85 decibels. A jet takeoff measures around 120, and sporting events fall between the two.

“I want it to be so loud you can’t even hear the plays,” Fernandez said.

He is looking forward to the packed stadium. “I would love to see a packed house, every male with their bodies painted, and even the girls with their faces painted, and so many people that want to see the game that they will surround the fence.”

“I know a lot of people that are planning tailgates. when we ride in on the busses i expect a lot of people to be cheering for us. I expect it to be really rowdy.”

Football picked to finish sixth in GSC preseason coaches’ poll Press Release Florida Tech Athletics In its inaugural season this fall, Florida Tech is expected to finish sixth in the Gulf South Conference, announced by the GSC Office on Wednesday. The Panthers received one fourth-place vote and four fifthplace votes to total six points.

“A preseason poll is simply a prediction based on the past performances and we don’t have a history just yet,” head coach Steve Englehart said. “I did not expect us to be voted ahead of the teams that have a rich history with the Gulf South Conference.”

Defending NCAA Division II National Champion Valdosta State and defending GSC Champion West Alabama are predicted to finish in a first-place tie. Both institutions received three first-place votes and two second-place votes for a total of 32 points.

North Alabama is expected to finish third, Delta State is slotted for fourth and West Georgia is predicted to finish fifth.

The league’s head coaches voted in the poll. Teams received five points for a first-place vote, four for a second-place vote, three for a third-place vote, two for a fourthplace vote and one for a fifth-place vote. The head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Since 1973, the GSC has welcomed 12 institutions to the GSC football ranks. The Panthers will

Photo by Efram Goldberg be No. 13 this fall. FIT enters the conference as its firstever football associate member.

Shorter, which is transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II’s Gulf South Conference, will

become an official GSC member following the 2013-14 season.

On Sept. 7, the Panthers will kick off for the first time at 7 p.m.

ET against Stetson at Palm Bay High School’s Pirate Stadium.

The game is one of six home contests on FIT’s upcoming schedule. FIT will play its firstever GSC game in front of a national TV audience on CBS Sports Network against West

Alabama. The game is scheduled for Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET at Pirate Stadium.

SPORTS the Florida tech crimson

September 4, 2013

Coach’s Corner: Amy O’Brien, volleyball

Cheyanne Kaufman serves.

Player Turned Coach

Amy O’Brien understands the lifestyle of a college volleyball player. After all, she competed as a student at Florida Tech before becoming an assistant coach at Florida Tech only four years ago.

Now, O’Brien is entering her second season as the team’s head coach. O’Brien describes volleyball as the best sport to “Coach, play, and watch.”

Her outlook has allowed her to create the most productive environment possible for her girls.

Due to her recent past experiences as a college athlete, O’Brien can easily relate to her players, giving her the ability to be more intuit. She can recognize when her team may

Sunshine State Conference Preseason Men’s Soccer Poll Rank – Team, Points (1st-place votes) 1 – Rollins, 60 (4) 2 – Lynn, 59 (4) 3 – Tampa, 52 (1) 4 – Florida Tech, 37 5 – Saint Leo, 33 6 – Eckerd, 32 7 – Barry, 24 8 – Nova Southeastern, 19 9 – Florida Southern, 8 Preseason Women’s Soccer Poll Rank – Team, Points (1st-place votes) 1 – Tampa, 61 (5) 2 – Rollins, 60 (4) 3 – Florida Southern, 47 4 – Nova Southeastern, 38 5 – Florida Tech, 31 6 – Lynn, 27 7 – Barry, 26 8 – Eckerd, 25 9 – Saint Leo, 9

Photo by Efram Goldberg

Paula Williams Staff Writer

Fall Sports Preseason Rankings

need an extra day off of practice and when they’re just Team Goals mentally exhausted.

1. Excelling to the national championship A Look to Last Season 2. Putting forth their best efforts academically The Panther’s finished 3. Maintaining posit team with an overall winning spirit record of 15-14 in O’Brien’s first year as head coach in 2012. “Definitely we are goPlayer to Watch ing to look to improve upon Kaitlin Brennan, senior, that,” O’Brien said. middle blocker. Brennan – or K.B., as her teammates call her – is an excellent representative The Road Ahead of the team’s goals this season.

O’Brien emphasizes As team captain, Mama K.B. the significance of the team makes sure her girls are fed and competing in the Sunshine State Conference – a confer- well.

Meanwhile, she is in her ence constantly producing second year of her M.B.A. tough competition. at just 21 years old. With an Nevertheless, she is conacademic focus in International fident in the attitudes of her Business, she is well traveled players entering this season. and well versed.

The Panthers will start 2013 off against Northern Michigan in the UWF Opening Weekend Tournament in Pensacola, Florida.

Preseason Volleyball Poll Rank – Team, Points (1st-place votes) 1 – Tampa, 64 (8) 2 – Eckerd, 54 (1) 3 – Florida Southern, 53 4 – Rollins, 40 5 – Barry, 37 6 – Lynn, 26 7 – Saint Leo, 24 T8 – Florida Tech, 13 T8 – Nova Southeastern, 13

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