OPTIMIST THE
FRIDAY October 8, 2004
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Abilene Christian University
Vol. 93, No. 15 1 section, 8 pages www.acuoptimist.com
Serving the ACU community since 1912
Winter wardrobes:
Abilene’s artistic attractions:
Cats face winless Rams:
A winter clothing drive was organized to help the students from Madagascar. Page 3
Students looking for art-related activities have a variety to choose from in Abilene this month with ArtWalk and the Poets Corner. Page 6
The football team will play Angelo State at Shotwell Stadium on Saturday. Page 8
Some choose to quit pledging Number of those depledging slightly higher than last year By EMILY CHASTAIN STUDENT REPORTER
To depledge or not to depledge — that is the question students are considering as the month-long pledging period continues for social clubs. Twenty-three students have depledged this year as of Thursday night. Clubs sent out a total of 378 bids to potential pledges, said Mike Spell, director of judicial affairs and adviser of social clubs, in an e-mail. The term "depledging" means that an individual has decided to no longer participate in a social club and does not follow through with any more of the pledge process. That student usually talks with social club officers about his or her decision and is asked to contact the Office of Judicial Affairs as well. See CLUBS Page 7 Image courtesy of 2004 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Seeing the lights Gary Gaines’ road to ACU winds through West Texas By BRIAN ROE SPORTS WRITER
always fair to the kids. “Every coach understands his job is on the line,” Gaines said. “You’ve either just been fired or fixing to be fired.” The life of a coach brings different destinations, but through it all, Gaines said he always trusted that God would provide. Gary Gaines was born in 1949 in the small West Texas town of Crane.
Gary Gaines lives in a world few will ever experience. His resume includes district championships, playoff appearances and even a 1989 high school state championship. Even more surreal, the coach was featured in a best-selling book, Friday Night Lights and that portion of his life from 1988 will also be shown in the bigscreen version of the book. To d a y, though, Gaines Photo courtesy of CREATIVE SERVICES sits in his ofHead football coach Gary Gaines will be portrayed in the film fice reflecting on his own life. “Friday Night Lights,” which is being released this weekend. As a coach, Gaines moved from town to town Oil fields fueled the economy in every few years with wife and two Crane, but football fueled the lifeyoung children. blood of the community. Naturally, “I’ve been blessed so much with Gary Gaines played football. my wife, Sharon, and with my famSee GAINES Page 5 ily,” Gaines said. “This job it isn’t
‘Nice guy’ role was a relief for Thornton in ‘Lights’
ior off-screen don’t share the characteristics of ACU’s head football coach. Thornton and his former spouse Angelina Jolie were known By KYLE ROBARTS for wearing each other’s blood samSPORTS EDITOR ples around their necks and talking Among other roles, Billy Bob openly about their sex lives. Thornton has played a racist prison “He’s a good coach, he’s loyal to guard, a mentally his players, he’s challenged murderdedicated, depender and a vulgar, able, and reliable,” drunken Santa. senior linebacker And now he’s Gary Shawn Taylor said Gaines. of Gaines. “He Academy Award wants the best for winner Billy Bob his players.” T h o r n t o n Even with his (Monster’s Ball, diverse and risqué Sling Blade, Bad roles, Thornton Santa) will appear found coach Gaines’ in screens across ‘nice guy’ character America in Friday a relief as an actor. Night Lights as head “I had a feel for coach of the 1988 the kind of guy he Permian High was, and actually as School Panthers, an actor, I liked it also known as Gary better that he’s a Gaines. The film is nice guy because RALPH NELSON/2004 Universal Studios usually in sports based on the national bestseller Billy Bob Thornton plays coach movies, the coach is with the same title Gary Gaines in the adaptation of just intense 24 written by H.G. H.G. Bissinger's prize-winning hours a day, and Bissinger that book, “Friday Night Lights.” people don’t act like opens this weekthat,” Thornton end. said. “I’m glad that they didn’t tell For those who know Gaines, See THORNTON Page 5 Thornton’s past roles and his behav-
Congress votes not to change XO rules Students can run for executive office with 2.5 grade point average By JONATHAN SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Students’ Association voted down an amendment to the bylaws that would have increased the required grade point average from 2.5 to 3.0 to run for an executive officer position. The amendment, which would have needed a twothirds vote from Congress, fell 20-23 with two abstaining. Senators Casey Bingham, sophomore political science major from Conroe, Brandon Smith, freshman political science major from Keller, and Missy Mae Walters, senior political science major from Abilene, See SA Page 7
Committee selects ten queen nominees Finalists chosen from pool of 279 nominated last week By JACI SCHNEIDER OPINION EDITOR
Ten senior women were kidnapped Wednesday night, taken to the Alumni Relations Office and notified they had been nominated for Homecoming Queen. Last week, students nominated 279 women to the Court, and students will vote for one
of the top-10 nominees for Queen from Oct. 13 to 15. The Queen’s Activities Committee of the Homecoming Steering Committee organized the kidnapping of the 10 women, said Betsey Craig, coordinator of Queen’s Activities for Homecoming. “It’s all kinds of fun and a surprise,” she said. The committee decorated the alumni office and prepared snacks for the women after the kidnapping. Jenny Fullerton, senior speech pathology major from
Garland, said she was surprised when the kidnappers came to her Sigma Theta Chi meeting. “Ten people dressed in black came knocking on my door,” she said. “It was intimidating, but it was funny. I was really shocked, but I’m really excited.” Laci Bills, senior exercise science and special education major from Sherman and vice president of Ko Jo Kai, also said she was surprised at the announcement. “I had no idea, but it’s such
an honor,” Bills said. “I just think it’s going to be really neat to be part of the Homecoming tradition. It’s something I’ll remember forever.” The women will take part in a Queen’s Tea the Friday of Homecoming Week, which will include the Coming Home Court — queen nominees from 10 years ago, Craig said. The nominees will be presented in Chapel on Friday and Saturday of Homecoming and ride in convertibles for the See QUEENS Page 7
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Excited Homecoming Queen nominees sit around a table and celebrate in the Alumni Relations Office after being brought together and notified of their nomination Wednesday night.
CAMPUS Friday, October 8, 2004
8
DAY
Calendar&Events Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fund-raiser, ACU football game, Shotwell Stadium.
Faculty Women’s Meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Faculty-Staff Dining Room.
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Unstress Day.
Freshman Tailgate Party, 12:30 p.m., Shotwell Stadium.
Social club officers meeting, 5-6:30 p.m., Living Room.
Campus Life Division breakfast, 7:30 9 a.m., Living Room.
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Sigma Theta Chi Grub.
Movie Night, 6:30-10 p.m., Living Room.
Service Saturday sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Friday
Wellness Week, “Passion for Life,” 11:30-1:30 p.m., Hilton Room.
GATA Grub. McNair Scholars, all day, Campus Center ticket windows.
Gamma Sigma Phi Grub.
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Frater Sodalis Grub.
Pruett Gerontology display, all day, Campus Center tables.
Bible study group, 7-10 p.m., Living Room.
Sunday
Sub T-16 Grub.
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Saturday
ACU Computer Auction, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Hilton Room.
Correction In the Oct. 6 issue on the page 9 story “Computers up for auction,” hardware analyst Scott Fletcher was misidentified. Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.
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Monday
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Volunteer Opportunities KGNZ radio needs male volunteers beginning at 9 a.m. on Oct. 21 to unload and set up for the Caedmon`s Call concert that night. Volunteers will receive free tickets to the concert. Interested students can contact Doug Harris at KGNZ at 6733045. The Noah Project needs volunteers to answer hotline calls and attend to shelter needs. For information, contact the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.
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Wednesday
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables. McNair Scholars, all day, Campus Center ticket windows.
Tuesday
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
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Campaign video viewing, 1-2:30 p.m., Hilton Room.
SA Live, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Campus Center tables.
Movie Night, 6:30-10 p.m., Living Room.
Service Saturday sign-ups, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Campus Center ticket windows.
Thursday
Homecoming Steering Committee Meeting, 9:30-10:45 p.m., Hilton Room.
Movie Night, 6:30-10 p.m., Living Room.
McNair Scholars, all day, Campus Center ticket windows.
McNair Scholars, all day, Campus Center ticket windows.
About This Page The Optimist maintains this calendar for the ACU community to keep track of local social, academic and service opportunities. Groups may send announcements directly to optimist@jmc.acu.edu or to the Page 2 Editor, ACU Box 27892, Abilene, TX 79699.
To ensure that an item will appear on time, the announcement should be sent at least 10 days before. The Optimist may edit items for space and style. Corrections and clarifications of published news articles will be printed in this space in a timely manner.
Chapel Check-Up Credited Chapels to date: Credited Chapels remaining:
33 38
CAMPUS NEWS
Friday, October 8, 2004
Page 3
University core courses undergo committee re-evaluation Requirement changes should take effect in fall 2006 By CHRISTY GOWER FEATURES EDITOR
ACU administrators are examining what the university requires as its core courses, the courses every student takes regardless of major. This is the first time it has been done in about 15 years, and Dr. Jeff Arrington, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the review is overdue. “The general education should command more interest and attention because it has to do with what we think all stu-
dents should know,” Arrington said. Arrington is chair of the General Education Review Committee, which has been researching and reviewing the general education curriculum as a whole and will release three proposal drafts later this month. “Our committee won’t make changes,” Arrington said. “We’re going to put the flag up on the flagpole with three different sorts of plans and see what kind of feedback and reaction we get, and then we’ll build one that addresses the learning outcomes and what we hear from the faculty.” The faculty must approve any major curriculum changes, and Arrington said he hopes the
faculty will vote on the drafts in April and at least one other time before the final changes come in effect for freshmen entering the university in 2006. He said the committee has expressed a lot of interest in courses that connect lessons from multiple subject areas, similar in design to the Honors Program’s humanities courses. He said this is important because, while universities tend to isolate subjects, the world tends to connect them. “I think we can model for our students that kind of connected learning by these kinds of courses,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing where we come out with regard to talking about how we connect our
This would look great with that skirt
learning as opposed to how we departmentalize.” Arrington acknowledged that connections are not always possible or practical, but he said courses that do connect multiple subjects should be in balance with those that do not. He said the committee members are paying attention to how the world has changed since the spring of 1990, the last time the courses were examined. “We don’t need to prepare students to do the same sorts of things that they were doing years and years ago when this curriculum was first considered,” he said. “We need to talk about preparing for the future.” Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen,
By NATHAN CRUMMEL STUDENT REPORTER
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Staff Photographer
Parade grand marshals selected Lewis, Moore chosen to receive traditional honor By MALLORY SHERWOOD STAFF WRITER
Steven Moore, assistant professor of English, and Susan Lewis, instructor of journalism and mass communication, were chosen as this year’s Homecoming Parade grand marshals by the 35-member Homecoming Steering Committee. Moore and Lewis will ride in a convertible in the Homecoming Parade on Oct. 23 and be honored at a special Chapel following the parade. “These professors stood out as leaders, have a good attitude, genuinely care about the students and take the time to get to know them,” said Danielle Dilworth, member of the Homecoming Parade Committee and junior integrated marketing and communication major from Plano. Members of the Homecoming Parade Committee burst into the faculty members’ classrooms with purple and white balloons and M&Ms Sept. 29 to tell them of their award.
“The first thing I did was laugh because it is such an unusual honor,” Lewis said. “The more I thought about it though, it really is a big honor, and I am grateful to them for thinking of me.” Grand marshals for the parade have been a tradition since 1992, allowing students to show professors they are important to the university and they have made a difference in students’ lives, said Samantha Adkins, coordinator of Alumni Programs. Dilworth said Moore is well known by students around campus because of his friendly and cheerful attitude. “I’ve never met Steven Moore before, but I know exactly who he is,” Dilworth said. “His energy and upbeat attitude is visible every time you see him, and he always smiles and says, ‘hi.’” Other students and faculty agree that Moore is an excellent choice for this honor. “Professor Moore has been a wonderful role model to students, both English majors and non-majors, through his love of language, literature, learning and his dedication to serving God,” said Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the English department, in an e-mail.
Similarly, Lewis has impacted students with her positive attitude and care for the students. Kylee Peterson, member of the Homecoming Parade Committee and junior integrated marketing and communication major from Granbury, said she considers Lewis more of a friend than a professor. “She was my U-100 professor when I was a freshman and introduced me to the culture of ACU,” Peterson said. “She genuinely cares about her students and teaches us things we can apply in our life, things we’ll actually use in the future.” Peterson also said that ACU chooses grand marshals for the parade because it is a tradition and they want to honor those who do so much for ACU but don’t realize it. Lewis and Moore join a list of other faculty members such as Dr. Francis Churchill, Rita Harrell, Mark Lewis and many more. “It is not an honor you can put in a box,” Lewis said. “It is one that very few people can claim, and I’m very happy and grateful for that.” E-mail Sherwood at: mes02e@acu.edu
requirements. He said they found this method in Greater Expectations, a national report produced by the American Association of Colleges and Universities for state schools. He said they went beyond that by asking how the maxims changed for a Christian school. “I’m kind of wondering if we can be more overt about helping students build a wellgrounded Christian worldview that can equip them for life in their profession,” he said, “as well as life in their family and life in the community and in their church…life as a citizen and traveler in the world.” E-mail Gower at: cng02a@acu.edu
Abilenians take out their trash Citywide fall cleaning program ends Saturday
Jenny Nitamane, freshman political science major from Antananarivo, Madagascar, and Ando Randrianarisoa, freshman computer science major from Ambatondrazaka, Madagascar, search through clothing donated by students, faculty and staff in the Communication Disorders and Communication departments Thursday. The Malagasy students arrived in the United States with only summer clothing, so students, faculty and staff from the two departments organized by word of mouth a winter clothing drive and had the Malagasy students visit Sherrod Don Morris Room 134 to choose as much clothing as they wanted, said Gaye May, administrative coordinator for the Department of Communication.
provost and chair of the council that reviews changes in general education courses, said in an email that the council has done significant background work on the curriculum over the last three years and has passed that information down to the review committee. “The nature of the world has changed substantially in the past few years,” he said. “Hence as a faculty, we need to determine whether the current [general education curriculum] adequately prepares students for the 21st century.” Arrington said the committee relied on student learning outcomes, which evaluates what a student knows, can do and values, when looking at
Citizens of Abilene are encouraged to participate in “Fall Clean for Abilene,” hosted by the city of Abilene and Keep Abilene Beautiful, taking place this week. The program, which began Tuesday and ends Saturday, invites citizens to clean out their homes and garages and bring the discarded items to the Environmental Recycling Center at 2209 Oak St. According to a news release, the ERC is accepting such items as appliances, wood, furniture, bedding, yard trash and clothing, along with common recyclables such as aluminum cans, plastics, newspapers and cardboard. A small additional fee is necessary for the removal of certain items such as tires and computer and electronic equipment. The recycling center is not accepting junk cars and sug-
gests citizens contact a local junk or salvage yard and have the vehicle towed. Some dealers are willing to tow the vehicle away for free and pay the owner $50 to $100 if the owner has the title, according to the news release. Citizens with “junker” cars can also take advantage of Power 103 and MTV’s Pimp My Ride contest currently taking place. The winner’s car will be completely renovated and “pimped out” as is seen on the MTV show. All entries must be entered by Oct. 15 in order to be eligible for the contest. For details, visit Power 103’s Web site. Jenna Grime, a member of the Service Action Leadership Team, has been involved in a number of community service projects since arriving at ACU, including Service Saturday and ACU for Abilene, and said the Fall Clean event is a great idea. “I think it’s wonderful for people in the Abilene community to come together and to make Abilene a little more beautiful,” Grime said. Grime, junior English major from Archbold, Ohio,
said she and her roommates have their own little recycling center at their house and each do their best to be as conservation friendly as possible. Grime encouraged other ACU students to be good stewards of what they have been given and to at least be aware of the opportunities to conserve whenever possible. “Just because you are only here for four years does not mean you don’t have to take care of what you have been given,” Grime said. Grime admitted that sometimes it is hard to recycle when the appropriate outlets for recycling are not available. “There is not a lot of recycling that goes on on the ACU campus,” Grime said. “We see trash cans everywhere but never anything for recycling.” Fall Clean is one such outlet for students and residents in Abilene to take advantage of the recycling facilities, Grime said. E-mail Crummel at: optimist@acu.edu
VIEWSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
Page 4 The issue: The final two debates for presidential candidates will be this week.
Our view: Students should watch the debates to be informed about the issues.
The solution: Students need to watch the debates, especially if they are undecided or feel uninformed. They need to be openminded and respect opposing opinions, even if not in agreement with them.
October 8, 2004
Debates informative; help voters decide The second of three presidential debates is Friday night where the candidates will discuss issues relating to foreign policy, homeland security, and economic and domestic policy. It will be in a town hall format with President Bush and Senator Kerry sitting on stools answering questions submitted by audience members at Washington University in St. Louis. Typically, the people who tend to watch the debates are the people who need to see them the least. It is the people who don’t have an opinion on
issues or are unThe last All three debates combined will cover an array of decided who presidential issues, so it is important to watch more than one. debate will be really need to watch them Wednesday in But no matArizona with ter what category one falls in, if advertising or making cam- the same format as the first they want to be informed on paign stops because the state debate. All three debates comthe issues in this election, it is will essentially vote for Bush. bined will cover an array of imperative they listen to the This makes watching the issues, so it is important to stances of the candidates com- debates even more important watch more than one. ing from their own mouths, for Texans as one of the only The key to becoming inand not what other party mem- venues to hear the candidates formed on issues is having an bers and campaign ads may say. discuss the issues at hand. open mind. If one sits there and The first debate Sept. 30 scoffs at one of the candidates, If one is unsure of whom to vote for, they should watch the focused mainly on the war in regardless of what he is saying, debates and listen to what each Iraq, and an estimated 62.5 then they are missing the point million people watched Bush of the debate. Having an open candidate has to say. Because we are in Texas, and Kerry square off for 90 mind and taking the other both parties have not been minutes, according to cnn.com. side’s position into considera-
Daniel Barcroft
In My Words
Pledging creates too many whiners raphical information of all the Pledging. The word alone makes me club members. When I’m sitting in class want to take a month-long sabbatical from school each listening to a group of guys moan about how tired they fall. It’s not just are because they had to run the rainbow of last night, or I’m walking colors worn behind a crowd of girls who each day, the are discussing how they l u n c h b o x e s , haven’t talked to their best n o t e b o o k s friend in a week, I always just and bricks I want to interrupt them and see pledges express my true feelings: Get carrying a- over it. Lori’s story round, or the Pledges knew going into Lori o u t l a n d i s h the process that it was going outfits they to be tough, and this is the Bredemeyer create to help cheer on their course they chose. They saw teams for intramural games. how things worked last year, and they attended Those aren’t what rushes and went really affect me to all the informabecause I just Instead of tion meetings, have to put up with looking at Bellyaching all and they shouldn’t be surprised them. the time ... suck about the comThe thing that involbothers me the it up and make mitment ved. most about pledthe next few They should ging is the comcome to grips plaining. Sure, I’m griping right weeks a positive with the fact that they may not get now about what I experience. to take a midafterdislike about plednoon nap for a ging, but the whining I hear from pledges few weeks or go on a date this month. The work and the visis excessive. Most of the time it’s about its and the exhaustion is all time — they don’t have time to part of it, and in a couple of complete all their activities; weeks, it will all be over. So to pledges, I’d like to they don’t have time to attend Chapel; they don’t have time say instead of bellyaching all to wash their clothes, or see the time about how hard your their friends or go to work on life is, suck it up and make the next few weeks a positive a regular basis. I always hear about how experience. It will make cammuch they’re behind on home- pus a bit more pleasant for all work, and tomorrow they have of us. to finish 10 visits, help plan for grub, work on the Homecoming float and find time to E-mail Bredemeyer at: memorize the names and biog- optimist@acu.edu or lmb00g@acu.edu
Campus rescued from Dimetapp haze Something drastic is happening on campus. Word on the street is that the Marketing Club is asking us not to wear purple for a while, but white instead. Now, as we walk across campus, we’re definitely going to see someNo Pun for thing missing if they are able to Barcroft pull this off. Daniel This campus Barcroft isn’t going to look the same without the violet-colored T-shirts (or polo shirt, if you fit into the description of “Faculty or Staff”). And, in my humble opinion, it’s going to be a welcome change. Purple is a funny color, if you ask me. When you’re
If something is purple, it’s rich, vibrant, slap-youupside-the-head purple. talking about clothing, it doesn’t play well with others. A little bit of it goes a long way, and there’s not really such a thing as “mildly” purple. If something is purple, it’s rich, vibrant, slap-youupside-the-head purple. On second thought, that’s not really true. I’ve seen dresses around Easter time that were a nice pastel violet. But I think it’s fair to say that ACU has picked the farthest thing from that to represent our school. Now I’m not downing our school colors. I think the purple and white are great, and I’ve got as much school pride as the next guy (providing the next guy isn’t Willie the Wildcat). It looks great
on all the signs and advertisements, the Web sites, and here and there in building decoration. But purple does not look good on my body. To be honest, as I’ve looked around for the last (hmrfmumble) years I’ve been here, I notice that purple is not a color for guys to wear. Show me a guy who looks good in purple, and I’ll show you a guy who doesn’t know he looks goofy in purple. You could perhaps make an argument that girls have an easier time of it; outside the bubble you probably see it on more gals than guys. But even they have to be tired of trying to get together the very same clothes and accessories
every time they want to show school spirit because it’s all that will match the ubiquitous royal hue. But, like so many things, the good students, faculty and staff of this university have made the sacrifice for the sake of school spirit. And now, with the new campaign toward white, they won’t have to. Now, instead of the Friday Chapel crowd reminding you of Dimetapp, we’ll be wearing shades because of the blinding glare of the white. But still, I think it’ll be refreshing for a while. I mean, seriously — just try and tell me you don’t have a white T-shirt somewhere.
In Your Words What do you think about all the rain we’ve been having lately?
Respond to Barcroft at: optimist@acu.edu or dwb99a@acu.edu
time for planning or recruiting. Just a couple of general pleas made to the student body, one day set aside for a collection and an army of volunteers who answered the call. I have heard some questioning whether it is possible for a Christian to remain relevant in a constantly changing world. Monday we heard the answer. It was a resounding “Yes!” I am so proud to be considered part of this student body. Together, we rose up a standard and declared the glory of our Lord’s name. We witnessed God working through us to bless others in
the knick of time. It took a moment and a chunk of change; imagine what timely measure the Lord would use to impact the world around us with a submitted life. It is my belief that a people who remain near the heart of God will always have a place in expanding His kingdom. We answered because we were sensitive to our Father’s heartbeat. We showed ourselves faithful. We have passed the test; are we prepared for the calling?
Editorial and letter policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Optimist Editorial Board and may not necessarily reflect the views of the university or its administration. Signed columns, cartoons and letters are the opinions of their creators and may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the Optimist, its Editorial Board or the university. The Optimist encourages reader response through letters to the editor but reserves the right to limit frequent contributors
or to refuse to print letters containing personal attacks, obscenity, defamation, erroneous information or invasion of privacy. Please limit letters to 350 words or less. A name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published. Address letters to: ACU Box 27892 Abilene, TX 79699 E-mail letters to: optimist@jmc.acu.edu
YOUR VOICE Re: Following Chapel Monday, students donated more than $3,000 to a hurricane relief effort in Haiti.
OPTIMIST
Sharde Henley
Josh Willingham
sophomore business management major from Houston
junior accounting major from Arlington
“We need the moisture, but it sure is a pain.”
Layne Rouse SA executive president senior communication major from Midland
THE
“There’s a lot of it. It’s making things wet.”
“It’s horrible because I just got my hair done a week ago, and every time I get my hair done it rains.”
Students stepped up to help Haitians As a member of Pi Kappa, we have a habit of asking ourselves, “What is something we could try that only God could do?” As a member of this student body, on Monday, what we witnessed was nothing short of a miracle. More than $3,000 came from the ACU family in support of the ACU alumni and Haiti missionaries sponsored by Healing Hands, exceeding all expectations (including my own). The amazing thing to me was that this massive, primarily student-targeted fund-raising event happened without much
tion leads to a better understanding of the issues. One does not have to agree with an opinion in order to respect it. The presidential debates should lead to debates between Americans, discussing and dissecting issues and gaining a better understanding of topics. They should not, however, lead to arguments. We commend the College Republicans and College Democrats on campus for coming together to watch the debates, and we hope this can be a learning opportunity for both sides.
“I like the rain, but I’m afraid I might fall down sometimes.”
Tracy Schiebel
Tray Richards
junior nutrition major from Fort Collins, Colo.
junior kinesiology major from Tuscola
The Optimist Editorial Board
Published by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Abilene Christian University
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE
Friday, October 8, 2004
Page 5
Thornton: Actor awarded for roles about the team, these kids and their coach,” Thornton said. “The way the town comes into me that he was wound up every play is how they react to the minute of the day because that coach and the team and vice wouldn’t be as interesting to play. versa. ... There is stuff about the “I like to play a different part town, but it all relates to the in every movie; I like to change team.” up, and I’m sort of known for Though seeing 10,000 to that—usually when they want 12,000 people attend a high somebody to be different, I’m school football game doesn’t the guy they call. That’s the joy surprise most locals or those of acting for me is to be able to raised in Texas, Thornton do that, and I never played a believes that Odessa’s obsessive coach or a teacher,” Thornton interest with a bunch of boys said. playing football will surprise Thornton has played many others around the nation. fictional characters in his career, “The intensity was pretty but with his performance as much what I expected; it was Davy Crockett in The Alamo, pretty intense in Arkansas with the Razorbacks, and there’s and now as coach Gaines, he’s some fanatical fans. The towns enjoyed the challenges of playin Arkansas are the same way, ing real-life characters. it’s just not to the same degree as “You feel a certain obligation it is in Odessa,” Thornton said. to get it right since you’re dealthink ing with a real “They say that he doesn’t curse, so I didn’t in the “I somebody person, so out there is some movie. It’s hard to yell at players without cussing.” from (Los here more presAngeles) sure,” ThornBilly Bob Thornton, who plays Coach Gary Gaines in Friday Night Lights would be ton said. “You p r e t t y just try to read up on them as much as you can; the Houston Astrodome, former shocked by (the intensity).” Obviously, the roles that I think it is a lot better to play a Wildcat players Sione Ohuafi real character that not every- and Blake Lewis served as Thornton has played in his preextras in the film and were talk- vious motion pictures do not body knows. “In Texas towns where Gary ing with Thornton, when Lewis define him as a person, but with Gaines coaches, people know offered to dial up Gaines’ office the roles he’s taken and his ecwhat he’s like, but the rest of the line so they could speak. centric behavior off-screen, country won’t know, and I don’t Gaines did not answer, so Thornton hasn’t displayed much of the ‘nice guy’ image have to imitate him,” Thornton Thornton left a message. “I just told him that I hope I coach Gaines is known for. said. “It is a bad thing for an However, the coach may be actor to try to do—to try and do you justice; I’d like to meet imitate somebody. I think the you sometime, hopefully you’ll in good hands with the actor, as be proud of what I do, and I cer- Thornton has been recognized performance suffers.” Thornton didn’t need a tainly don’t mean any harm. I by several different organizawhole lot of coaching when it hope you’re OK with what tions for his past performances in a variety of different roles. He came to coach Gaines’ slow, we’ve done,” Thornton said. The two haven’t had the even received a Golden Globe southern drawl or sports background. Thornton was raised in chance to talk or meet, but both nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Hot Springs, Ark., was the son have said that they wish they Musical/Comedy Picture for Bad Santa. of a basketball coach and lived could have. Thornton had read the book in Houston for a time as well. For Monster’s Ball, the “I talked to a lot of people before accepting the role, but as National Board of Review that knew him; since I was far as the controversial portray- (USA) named him Best Actor, raised down that way, I knew al of the town and coaching and Thornton was nominated the accent wouldn’t be that far staff, Thornton said he had to for the Academy Award for Best look past it. off,” Thornton said. Actor for his role in Sling Blade. “Once I started the movie, I The actor played football in “I think that they took the early high school, but he mostly had to concentrate on the script; best of the book out of there and played baseball as a pitcher. A I couldn’t pay much attention to made a good movie out of it,” tryout after high school with the book,” Thornton said. Thornton said. “I’m just a small The chapters in Bissinger’s part of the movie; I’m just kind the Kansas City Royals turned sour when he broke his collar- book alternate between the of there coaching the team, and bone, and that was the end of town and the team, but for the the movie is its own animal, and screen’s sake, Thornton said the we’re just people that service it.” his sports career. However, some things about film mainly focused on football. “A movie has to have a cenGaines’ character were not so E-mail Robarts at: kdr00c@acu.edu tral point of view, so it’s really easy for Thornton. Continued from Page 1
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Coach Gary Gaines talks to starting quarterback Greg Wiggins during Saturday’s football game at Shotwell Stadium against Southeastern Oklahoma State.
Gaines: Job a ‘dream come true’ a book about how this football team could bring a community together. “He said it would be like Hoosiers,” Gaines said. At first Gaines balked at the idea of a newspaper guy documenting the town and the team. But Bissinger convinced him this book would positively capture the essence of high school football in Texas. Bissinger moved to Odessa and followed the Permian team to practices, meetings, games and everywhere in between. “He always carried his notepad and pen with him writing everything down,” Gaines said. The season ended with Permian losing a disappointing game to the Dallas Carter Cowboys in the semifinals of the state playoffs. The Panthers rebounded the next year and won the 1989 state championship. The book featured the 1988 season, but the film has Permian playing for the state championship that year. Friday Night Lights was released in 1990. Gaines was
was.’ That was reassuring to hear that from one of my playGary looked up to many ers,” Gaines said. coaches in his youth but none After four years in Lubbock, more than his uncle: Richard Gaines returned to the high Gaines. Sadly, Richard died at school level in 1994, spending the age of 28 from a brain two seasons at Abilene High tumor. and four in San Angelo at “I had many great coaches Central High School. growing up but my uncle was In 2000, Abilene Christian kind of a hero to me,” Gary University offered Gaines a new said. career opportunity: coaching Gary Gaines excelled in athcollege football. letics but his passion was clearACU was the opposite of ly football. almost every other team Gaines “He’s so into football he even had coached: unsuccessful. The stretches with the players,” said dismal Wildcats had never even ACU football player Mike participated in a Division II Caudle. “He cares about the post-season game and hadn’t players too. He prays before and been to the playoffs since winafter every practice with us.” ning the NAIA Division I Eventually Gaines became the national championship in 1977. starting quarterback at Crane Regardless, Gaines said ACU was a dream job. High School. His successful “This is something I had not high school career led him to done before, and that appealed play college football at Angelo to me,” Gaines said. “When I State University. went back to San Angelo, I was After graduating from ASU 47 years old, and I didn’t think in 1971, Gaines landed his first there was any possibility for coaching job at Fort Stockton professional advancement. This High School as an assistant job is a dream come true.” coach. A year later he became Wildcat football player the assistant coach at Monahans C l a y t o n High School “I think everyone has trials in their life, Farrell said he and stayed four years a d m i r e s but it’s your faith that can get you through.” before becomGaines for his ing the head demeanor. Gary Gaines, head football coach coach at “He’s such Petersburg a great coach High School. because of his “Petersburg was fun. It was a one of the first to receive a copy calmness,” said Farrell. “He great place to get my feet wet,” of the book. Bissinger called demands respect, but his calm Gaines said. “The town was Gaines and said, “You’re going demeanor really keeps our team only 1,300 people, but every to like it.” Gaines, however, said together.” Friday night was like the he never read the book. In 20 seasons as a head Cotton Bowl for me.” Gaines recalled his wife, coach, Gary Gaines has comGaines went from Petersburg Sharon, calling him in tears piled a 121-96-1 record. His reto Denver City and then to over what she had read in the cord at ACU is 18-28, but the Odessa to become an assistant book. The pages were filled Wildcats posted back-to-back coach at Permian High School. with racist accusations and per- winning seasons in 2002 and The move paid off as Permian sonal details about the lives of 2003 for the first time since won the 1980 state champi- players and coaches. 1997. onship. Gaines left Permian for “People said that my family Gaines gets out of his chair Tascosa High School in and I weren’t even portrayed in and moves carefully toward the Amarillo and then returned to a negative light,” Gaines said. wall on the right side of his Monahans as the head coach. “Maybe not, but I was the cap- office. Hanging on the wall is a Gaines spent two years as tain of the ship. And the nega- cluster of pictures. He points the head coach at Monahans. tive reflects on the head coach toward the pictures and proudHe left because another coach- too.” ly looks at his four grandchiling position was available at Gaines left Permian after the dren. He stares at the pictures Permian. This time the opening release of the book for Texas and smiles before going back to was for a head coach. Tech to be the Red Raiders line- his desk. Gaines never knew his deci- backers coach. He recruited “What we went through sion to leave Monahans and be- some players from Permian and with the book was difficult, but come the head coach at Per- even talked to one about the compared to other things in life, mian would still be discussed 1988 season. it was nothing,” Gaines said. more than 15 years later. “When I went to Texas Tech “I think everyone has trials Before the 1988 season, a ,I had a guy who played for me in their life, but it’s your faith newspaper editor from Phil- at Permian, and I asked him if that can get you through.” adelphia named H.G. Bissinger he ever heard anything racist pitched the idea to Gaines that from me or any of the other he move to Odessa, follow the coaches. He said, ‘No coach, I E-mail Roe at: bpr00a@acu.edu Permian football team and write wouldn’t have played if there
Continued from Page 1
“They say that he doesn’t curse, so I didn’t in the movie. It’s hard to yell at players without cussing, but we pulled it off,” Thornton said with a laugh. Bissinger’s book isn’t a favorite topic of Gaines’. It reflected poorly on his staff— making inferences of racism and forcing injured players to play. “It’s hard not to take that stuff personally; I think my perception a lot of times differed from (Bissinger’s)—I wouldn’t consider the experience to be a big positive,” Gaines said. Bissinger, who followed the Odessa team around for an entire season, wrote his perceptions and stories of the team and the town based on what he encountered. Thornton was sensitive to Gaines’ feelings, however. While filming a game scene at
RALPH NELSON/2004 Universal Studios
Billy Bob Thornton, playing ACU’s head football coach Gary Gaines, leads the Permian High Panthers of Odessa to the state playoffs in Imagine Entertainment's adaptation of H.G. Bissinger's prize-winning book, “Friday Night Lights.” The film opens nationwide Friday.
ARTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
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The Box Office Figures are for the weekend of October 1-3 and are in millions. Total grosses in parentheses. 1 Shark Tale—$47.6 (new) 2 Ladder 49—$22.1 (new) 3 The Forgotten—$11.8 ($38.1) 4 Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow—$3.28 ($30.6) 5 Mr. 3000—$2.53 ($19.1) 6 Shaun of the Dead—$2.48 ($6.93) 7 Woman Thou Art Loosed—$2.33 (new) 8 Resident Evil: Apocalypse—$2.31 ($47) 9 First Daughter—$2.16 ($7.13) 10 Cellular—$2.01 ($28.2)
Abilene features artistic activities for students Contrary to popular belief, Abilene offers enjoyable events By DEE TRAVIS ARTS EDITOR
One of my many observations since arriving on this campus is a vast falsehood many students seem to have bought into: There’s nothing to do in Abilene. What is that? True, the vast desert surrounding the campus no doubt helps to further this attitude, but it’s always best to consider the glass half full. There’s usually something to do in Abilene, but many students are simply unaware. Therefore, to make a long story short, the following are some upcoming arts-related
events I feel you should know about. Enjoy.
The Poets Corner “The Poets Corner” is a new forum for sharing original poetry. On Oct. 18, the Abilene Public Library will conduct the event, open to readers of all ages. Registration is required for the event, although preregistration isn’t necessary; simply register the day of the event. The main auditorium will feature readings of original poems from 6:30-8:30p.m., and refreshments will be served. The library is located at 202 Cedar St.
ArtWalk ArtWalk is an event many students are completely un-
1/-/1 Rascal Flatts, Feels Like Today 2/-/1 Hilary Duff, Hilary Duff 3/-/1 Clara, Goodies
4/1/2 Green Day, American Idiot 5/2/3 Nelly, Suit 6/-/1 The Used, In Love and Death 7/6/5 Ray Charles, Genius Loves Company 8/4/3 Nelly, Sweat
aware of. Some students have heard the name but have absolutely no idea where or when it is. ArtWalk is Abilene’s biggest cultural event, and it occurs downtown every month; the next ArtWalk will be Thursday. Various museums, stores and restaurants open their doors to ArtWalkers from 58:30 p.m., and many of them make special offers. The Center for Contemporary Arts began the ArtWalk celebration 10 years ago and continues to play a major role every month in contributing to the event. This Thursday, one of the main attractions will be The ErinShire Gardens Folk Festival. Folk musicians will be located all across downtown to serenade ArtWalkers. The Center for Contemporary Arts
is featuring the Seven Trains of Thought exhibit. City Hall will feature more than 100 photographs taken in conjunction with the Summer ArtReach program. Copies of the Shinnery Review’s 2004 publication of ACU students’ artwork and poetry will be on sale, and just to top it off, all ArtWalkers will receive free trolley rides.
The Paramount Many students don’t take advantage of the fact that Abilene is home to one of America’s great historic movie theatres. The Paramount was constructed in 1930 during the golden age of Hollywood, and many films now shown in the Paramount’s classic series were shown there decades ago
in their first run. The theatre was completely renovated in 1986, complete with new lighting and sound equipment, and the theatre is currently home to live performances as well as movies. This weekend, the Paramount will be showing GasLight, a legendary suspense thriller starring Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, and also featuring the film debut of Angela Lansbury. Showtimes are Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30. Thursday, for ArtWalk, the Paramount will be showing Super Size Me, a 2004 Sundance film about obesity in America. The only showtime is at 7:30 p.m. E-mail Travis at: dxt02a@acu.edu
New York Times best-selling fiction novels
Top-selling Albums Numbers indicate: current position, last week’s position and total weeks on the chart.
October 8, 2004
9/-/1 Marilyn Manson, Lest We Forget: The Best Of 10/5/6 Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dying
Numbers indicate: current position, last week’s position and total weeks on the list. 1/-/1 Stephen King, The Dark Tower 2/1/3 Patricia Cornwell, Trace 3/2/80 Dan Brown,
The Da Vinci Code 4/-/1 Maeve Binchy, Nights of Rain and Stars 5/4/4 Susan Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell 6/3/2 Sidney Sheldon, Are You Afraid of the Dark? 7/5/53 Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet In Heaven
8/6/39 Dan Brown, Angels and Demons 9/-/1 Neal Stephenson, The System of the World 10/8/20 Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason, The Rule of Four
JUMPS
Friday, October 8, 2004
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Homecoming Queen nominees
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Laci Bills, senior exercise science and special education major from Sherman, Amanda Thompson, senior fashion merchandise and marketing major from North Richland Hills, and Nichelle Wall, senior psychology major from Abilene, ride in a van with other kidnapped Homecoming Queen nominees on Wednesday night.
Queens: Homecoming to be busy Continued from Page 1 Homecoming Parade Saturday. During halftime of the football game, the 2004 Homecoming Queen will be announced.
“It’s going to be a really busy week,” Fullerton said. Misty Willcox, senior elementary education major from Bedford and pledge-mom for GATA, said she will also be really busy that week, but she said
she’s looking forward to the excitement. “It’s an honor,” Willcox said, “and it’s really exciting and fun.
• Laci Bills, exercise science and special education major from Sherman • Jenny Fullerton, speech-language pathology major from Garland • Jenni Kripner, elementary education major from San Antonio • Rosalyn Perry, elementary education major from Abilene • Allison Sevier, marketing and management major from Sulphur Springs • Lydia Spies, biology and Bible major from Glen Rose • Moriah Steward, secondary education major from Fort Worth • Amanda Thompson, fashion merchandise and marketing major from North Richland Hills • Nichelle Wall, psychology major from Abilene • Misty Willcox, elementary education major from Bedford
E-mail Schneider at: jrs02a@acu.edu
SA: GPA bill debated Continued from Page 1 presented the amendment as a way to increase the academic standards of executive officers. “SA takes a lot of work,” Smith said. “We don’t want to put people in a position where they have a 2.5, 2.7 GPA going into their senior year.” However, some members questioned raising the required GPA to run for executive office. “One of the missions of SA is to get people involved,” said Jeremy Gudgel, chief financial officer and sophomore accounting major from Andrews. “Raising it would make the requirements a lot harder, and it would make it more elite.” Some contended that GPA says something about the character of the candidate. “If you’re going to be an executive officer, you need to be one that has a hard work ethic and a good work ethic,” said Tyler Cosgrove, executive
treasurer and junior finance major from Amarillo. “If your GPA is below a 3.0, I am going to question your work ethic.” Smith said there has not been a problem with executive officers with GPAs lower than 3.0 in recent history, but some still questioned the proposal. “The students know how to pick leaders, they know how to pick people who know what they’re doing,” said Jeff McCain, junior integrated marketing communication major from Liberty. Representatives from Healing Hands International attended the meeting to receive the donation made by students after Chapel on Monday for the relief effort in hurricane-stricken Haiti. Students raised $3,880.57 to send with missionaries to Haiti to buy food and water for those who lost possessions in the hurricanes. E-mail Smith at: jvs02a@acu.edu
Volleyball: Wildcats Clubs: Students depledge for many reasons look to bounce back Continued from Page 1
Continued from Page 8 helped ACU go 2-0 to open conference play. Along with her 122 assists, Martin added 12 digs, two service aces, two kills and one block last week. ACU faces Texas A&MKingsville on Saturday at 2 p.m. Kingsville, generally at the bottom of the LSC South Division, is currently 1-0 in conference and playing well with an upset over Tarleton State. Carthel said the team must
play better on the road, and the team still has plenty to prove. “We haven’t earned anything yet,” Carthel said. “We still have a lot we want to accomplish. We’ll start this weekend by really focusing and putting away road games.” The Wildcats return home to host St. Edwards on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. E-mail Roe at: bpr00a@acu.edu
"Depledging is always going to happen,” said Hillary Mudroch, senior criminal justice major from Angleton and president of Delta Theta. “It's a personal choice. People think you hate them if they depledge, and that's kind of a myth." Six students have depledged Delta Theta. Mudroch said this number might be one more than the average for her club, and higher than most other clubs. The realization of how busy their schedule is and the amount of money involved
“It’s a personal choice. People think you hate them if they depledge, and that’s kind of a myth.” Hillary Mudroch, president of Delta Theta
doesn't sink in for all the girls until pledging really starts, Mudroch said. Spell said he has received many responses from people who were offered a bid that was not their first choice. "[They] give the club a try only to find that they do not feel it is a fit for them," Spell said. "Others realize how much of a time commitment is
Golf: Team has time off before next contest Continued from Page 8 the first, but couldn’t string anything together as he shot 74 and 82 in the next two rounds. Samples said that’s the challenge for this year’s squad: getting it all together at the same time. “We have a lot of talent, a lot of raw talent,” Samples said. “It’s just getting everything together. We’ve got to get rid of the big numbers.” Campbell also said the team played well at times in
Phoenix, but not so well at others. “We were right in there after the first round, but we faded a little at the end,” he said. Cal State Bakersfield showed no such problems with consistency and repeated as winners of the tournament. The Roadrunners were 12 under par as a team, while Western Washington, the only other team to finish below par, was nine under and finished second.
Scott Sikes from Texas Wesleyan University won the individual title, posting three below-par rounds on his way to a nine-under score. Other ACU players included Kyle Byerly, who was 16 over and finished in a tie for 72nd, Curtis Harris in 76th, and Zach Starnes, who tied for 79th. Of the three, Harris posted the lowest round with a 74 on the first day. It’s those low scores scattered around the scorecards that makes Samples think this team has
something. “We’ve got enough talent to compete with anybody,” Samples said. The Wildcats will get their next shot at competing when they travel to San Antonio for the Rattler Invitational at The Golf Club of Texas on Oct. 18-19.
E-mail Roe at: weg02a@acu.edu
involved in the process and realize that they do not have the time to give." For Richard Keker, sophomore elementary education major from Sugar Land, depledging was solely an issue of time. Keker said he depledged Gamma Sigma Phi on Tuesday after noticing his academics had started to suffer. Pledging wasn't giving him enough time
to complete the observation hours he needed for his elementary education major. "All the guys I pledged with are still my friends," Keker said. "I'd probably pledge again if I had the time next year." At this time last year, 10 students had depledged with a total of 20 depledges for the year. Spell said he has a hunch there might be more students who choose to depledge in the remaining weeks of pledging.
E-mail Chastain at: optimist@acu.edu
SPORTSFRIDAY OPTIMIST
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October 8, 2004
LSC South Standings Football Team Div. 1. A&M-Kingsville 2-0 2. Midwestern State 2-0 3. E. New Mexico 2-0 4. A&M-Commerce 0-1 5. ACU 0-2 6. W. Texas A&M 0-2 7. Angelo State 0-2
Tot. 4-0 4-1 3-3 2-3 2-3 1-4 0-6
Volleyball Team 1. Angelo State 2. ACU 3. A&M-Kingsville 4. Tarleton State 5. E. New Mexico 6. West Texas A&M
Div. 2-0 2-0 1-0 0-1 0-2 0-2
Tot. 15-4 16-6 7-12 13-9 12-5 11-9
Briefs Manning #1 punt returner in the nation Sophomore defensive back Danieal Manning is officially the No. 1 punt-return specialist in the nation through Oct. 2. Manning didn’t qualify for last week’s leaderboard because he hadn’t returned the minimum number of punts required. That was mostly due to opponents punting away from the Pre-season All-America selection. Manning has returned six punts (2 for TD) for 219 yards, giving him a 36.5 yard average per return. The next player on the leaderboard trails Manning by 12.1 yards with an average of 24.4 yards per return. In the Lone Star Conference, Manning shadows its next leader by 23.9 yards as Midwestern’s Marcus Stenix is the closest thing to competition for Manning with a 12.6 yard average. - Kyle Robarts Sports Editor
This week in Wildcat sports... (home events in italics) Saturday, October 9 VB: at TX A&M-Kingsville, 2 p.m. FB: Angelo State, 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 12 VB: St. Edward's, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 14 VB: at Angelo State, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 16 FB: at West Texas A&M, 7 p.m. CC: Chile Pepper Festival, Fayetteville, Ark
BRIAN SCHMIDT/Chief Photographer
Freshman receiver Jerale Badon runs after a catch in Saturday’s 35-15 loss to Southeastern. Badon caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Greg Wiggins, giving him two on the season. He leads all ACU receivers with 270 yards in five games.
Must-win for Wildcats Saturday Rams, 0-6, look to win while Wildcats look to get offense clicking By KYLE ROBARTS SPORTS EDITOR
To say that the two football teams meeting at Shotwell Stadium Saturday have their backs against the wall would be an understatement. The Angelo State Rams (06) will be looking for their first win all year, while the Wildcats will be looking to snap a two-game losing skid and get back on track to revive hope for a playoff run. The Rams lost a heartbreaker 38-35 on Saturday to Eastern New Mexico, a team that beat ACU the previous week 28-21. Angelo State jumped out 28-6 with 2:24 left in the third quarter against ENMU, before the Greyhounds stormed back to score 32 points in the final 15:57 of the game. The Wildcats just came off a 35-14 loss to Southeastern
Oklahoma State where they committed five turnovers to give them eight in the last two games, and a total of 12 for their three losses. Oddly enough, when the Wildcats don’t turn the ball over, at least in 2004, it leads to victories. In the 23-14 win over Northeastern State and the 31-14 stomping of Tarleton State, ACU didn’t turn the ball over once. The team’s inconsistency on offense has been costly. The Wildcats are 10th in the conference in time of posTaylor session, averaging just 28:29 with the ball in their control, and are ranked 12th out of 13 in total offense, averaging just 293.2 yards per game. Defensively, the secondary has lived up to the pre-season hype of being considered one of the top secondaries in the nation. It leads the conference
Football allowing just 169.4 yards per contest. Stopping the run is an entirely different story however, as the Cats have allowed 192.6 yards per game. Though Angelo State is winless thus far in the season, the team has proved to be disciplined. They rank third in the conference in time of possession (32:19), second in penalty yards (53.2 ypg), and have a +7 turnover margin whereas the Wildcats have a –4. For ACU to improve on its consecutive 6-4 seasons, the team will need to win out. At 2-3 they have five games remaining, all in the LSC South. The team still has Texas A&M-Kingsville (ranked #4 in the nation), and 4-1 Midwestern State to face. Theoretically, if the team were to run the tables, they’d at least be in a tie for first place in the LSC South and would have to rely on the regional polls for a playoff berth. The NCAA takes the top six teams from each regional
Game Preview
poll to the postseason. Before last week’s loss to Southeastern, ACU was ranked 12th in the Abilene Christian (2-3, 0-1) vs Angelo State (0-6, 0-2) Southwest Date: Saturday Oct. 9, 2004 Time: 2 p.m. Region poll but Location: Abilene dropped out Stadium: Shotwell Stadium (15,000, turf) after suffering Audio: KULL 92.5 FM or streaming audio at www.tsrnsports.com its third loss of the season. Senior linebacker Shawn Colors: Purple and White Taylor said that Coach: Gary Gaines (18-28, 5th season) w i n n i n g Saturday’s game Colors: Blue and Gold would be the best way to get Coach: Jerry Vandergriff (141-98-2, 23rd season the team back on track. Wiggins is currently listed “Angelo hasn’t won all as probable for Saturday’s year, and this is going to be a matchup with the Rams. good chance for them,” Taylor However, if Wiggins is unable said. “They’re a good team, to play, red-shirt freshman but if we play like I think we Brock Pierce will fill the void. can, we can shut them out – Pierce completed two of goose egg.” four passes for 14 yards and Starting quarterback Greg one interception. Wiggins was injured with an E-mail Robarts at: ankle sprain in Saturday’s kdr00c@acu.edu game with Southeastern.
Abilene Christian (2-3)
Angelo State (0-6)
Team finishes 14th in Arizona Teams bode well vs. D-I schools Samples top finisher for Wildcats; finishes 31st overall in Phoenix By WARREN GRAY SPORTS WRITER
The ACU golf team showed some promise in the Grand Canyon University Fall Invitational Monday and Tuesday, but finished 14th at Estralla Mountain Ranch in Phoenix. The Wildcats displayed what coach Mike Campbell described as “bright spots” throughout the tournament, epitomized by the play of Matt Samples. Samples, who finished tied for 31st, shot a 78 in the first
Golf round but managed to drop 10 shots in the second round to finish with a four-under 68. Campbell said Samples played very well in the second round, but Samples was not satisfied. “It was kind of disappointing that I didn’t play better in the first round,” he said. Samples attributed his shaky start to his inconsistent putting. Unlike most Texas golf courses, where bentgrass greens are primarily used, Estralla Mountain Ranch featured bermuda greens. “Some of the guys had never even putted on bermuda greens before,” Samples said. “There’s just a totally dif-
ferent feel.” Samples continued his upand-down play in the third round. Although he hit every fairway, he came away with a 75, thanks in large part to his short game. He said he would have been much more competitive in the tournament had his putting been where he wanted it. “I missed some easy putts; it’s all putting,” Samples said. “I’ve been working on that.” After Samples, the next highest Wildcat finisher was Carlos Alvarez, who finished in a five-person group at 47th. Like Samples, Alvarez posted one below par round, a 70 in See GOLF Page 11
Streak snapped; Cats fall Team loses in four games to Lubbock Christian University By BRIAN ROE SPORTS EDITOR
The Wildcats are in the midst of their toughest road trip of the season, traveling to Stephenville Thursday night to face Tarleton and going to Kingsville for Saturday’s match against Texas A&M-Kingsville. ACU looks to rebound off a surprising loss to Lubbock Christian on Tuesday night in Lubbock. The Wildcats, who
soundly defeated LCU in three straight games at home on Sept. 7, lost in four games. ACU has not beaten LCU in Lubbock since head coach Brek Horn arrived at ACU. “We don’t want to take anything away from LCU, but we played poorly,” said assistant coach Sarah Carthel. “We were not prepared mentally, and we didn’t play to our potential.” The Wildcats were also without the services of two players: junior setter Lindsey Martin was removed from game one because she rolled
Volleyball her ankle, and junior middle blocker Ashlee Motola was held out of the game to rest an abdominal injury. Martin, who injured her ankle last season during conference play, is expected to return this weekend. For her performance last week, the junior earned Lone Star Conference South Division setter of the week. Martin distributed 122 assists (15.25 per game) and See VOLLEYBALL Page 11
Two men, one woman finish in top 10 individually By STEVE HOLT SPORTS WRITER
The latest additions to the men’s cross country team wasted no time making a positive impact, just weeks after arriving in the United States for the first time. Kenyan Nicodemus Naimadu and Burundian Laurent Ngirakamaro placed seventh and 12th, respectively, at the Oklahoma State University Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla., helping the Wildcat men to a third-place team finish. Senior Bernard Manirakiza was ACU’s top runner Saturday, placing fourth with a time of 24:20 over the 8,000-meter course, but the immediate contributions of Naimadu and Ngirakamaro against mainly Division I competition were the story of the day. Naimadu finished the race in 24:27, followed by Ngirakamaro, who ran 24:48. “They are talented young men,” said head coach Jon Murray. “They handled everything real well – the newness of everything, the training.” Junior Martin O’Kello was slowed down by a strained calf, but he still managed to finish 22nd in 25:11. Transfer Lucky Hadebe rounded out the top five with a 36th-place
finish, completing the course in 25:49. The women’s team finished 10th overall, led by another fast race by transfer Adeh Mwamba. Mwamba continued to show why she is expected to be a contender for an individual national title, placing third overall in the competitive field. Mwamba finished the 5,000-meter course in 17:44, a season best for that distance. Sophomore Olha Kryv’yak was again the No. 2 runner for the Wildcats, finishing 20th in 18:30. Transfer Trina Cox was 49th overall in 19:18, followed by Denise Morgan and Mollye Stanford in 95th place and 103rd place, respectively. Cox said she was disappointed with her race, but that the team performed well as a whole, despite race-time conditions that were about 30 degrees cooler than most of the ACU athletes are used to. “It was a good race, good competition,” said Cox, who recently transferred from Santa Rosa Community College in California. “As a whole team, we did just fine, considering the weather, the competition.” The Arkansas men were the team champions Saturday, while the Texas Tech women took top honors. The Wildcat women are still hurt by the absence of junior Abbie Waters, who has been hampered by a nagging injury all season. Cox said that in addition to getting Waters back as the team’s No. 4 run-
Cross Country ner, the Wildcat women will have to do a few more things to earn a berth to the Division II national championships. “I think to get to nationals we’re going to have to work hard as a team and pass more people off,” Cox said. “We just have to beat as many people as we can.” The men’s team seems to be on track to win its fifth consecutive South Central Regional title and earn its eighth total top-10 finish at the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships, to be run in Evansville, Ind. Murray said the team’s apparent weakness after three meets is the time gap between the fourth and fifth runners. “We’ve just got to get our fifth runner up there, either Lucky or [freshman] Vincent [Morogah]. We just have to keep packing them up toward our No. 1 runner,” Murray said. “Through three, we’re running with anyone.” Neither ACU team will race Saturday, instead training in preparation for the Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 16 in Fayetteville, Ark. The Chile Pepper likely will be the best competition either team will see all season, featuring many of the top teams in the nation. E-mail Holt at: smh00a@acu.edu