11-15-19 Digital Edition

the rocket

Friday November 15, 2019 • Volume 103, Issue Number 4 • An Independent, Student-Run Newspaper

www.theonlinerocket.com

THE ROCKET STAFF PRESENTS NEWS SRU POLICE INVESTIGATES POSSIBLE VANDALISM A3 CAMPUS LIFE OFFICE FOR INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE SPEAKS ON SELF - CARE & DIVERSITY C2 SPORTS TRANSFER WILL ROBINSON JR. BRINGS ADDITIONAL SPARK TO ROCK FRONT COURT D6 COVER DESIGN BY: KEEGAN BEARD AND EMILY HEYN

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Watch WSRU-TV's livestream of the town hall

NEWS

Athletic training faces change Undergraduate program phasing into graduate program

By Haley Potter Senior Rocket Contributor

SRU will be implementing a graduate level athletic training program to begin in the summer of 2020. This comes after all programs nationwide must phase into the graduate level in order to move forward.

Jackie Williams, the program director of the athletic training program, said they are currently phasing out the undergraduate athletic training education program, a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. This new program will teach students in two years how to become athletic trainers.

“We provide them with skills and knowledge for the national certification exam and for graduation,” Williams said.

The new program allows students to get their master’s degree by getting any undergraduate degree that they choose, as long as they take the pre-requisite

courses for the athletic training graduate program.

Williams said the most common undergraduate major to get into this program would be exercise science.

“Students can finish and become an athletic trainer in five years if they take the 3+2 pre-professional athletic training undergraduate program in three years and then apply to graduate school and finish that in two years,” Williams said.

These students would finish with an undergraduate degree in exercise science and a master’s degree in athletic training. She said that everyone is positive about the new program. “ We are taking applications and accepting students,” Williams said.

“We will have students coming to our graduate program from other places as well as SRU students.”

She said the program will begin with a few courses in the summer and then right

GRAPHIC BY ALLISON DOWNS

into the fall and spring semesters.

Williams said that she is excited for this new program to give more students the opportunity to complete the program and become athletic trainers. She said many students prior to this wanted to change their major to athletic training

during their Sophomore, Junior or Senior year, but that was not doable for undergraduate students.

She said SRU has also had several student athletes interested in the program, but the timing of both clashed.

“The time restraint from their sport and the time students spend doing

clinical experience happen at the same time,” Williams said. “If a student athlete is at practice then the athletic training student might be providing medical care to that specific team.”

She said with the new program, it will be easier and more doable for student athletes because they would go to graduate

school after their sport eligibility.

Williams said the department is ready to begin growing this program.

“For 45 years, we have had Athletic Training at SRU in some form, so we are excited to start at the new level as a master’s degree,” she said.

SGA hosts mental health town hall Panelists and attendees discuss first aid training, athletics and counseling

By Hannah Shumsky Editor-in-Chief

Disclaimer: This staff editorial contains mentions of death and suicide and may be triggering to some readers. Please use caution before reading.

To submit a care report for yourself or someone you are concerned about, search "Student Support" at sru.edu.

If you or someone you know needs help, local help is available through campus police (724-738-3333), the counseling center (724738-2034) and student support (724-738-2121).

Other resources include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) and the Crisis Text Line (text “HOME” to 741741).

The Slippery Rock Student Government Association (SGA) hosted its second town hall this semester with a focus on mental health.

The town hall featured six panelists: Jennifer Philips (assistant director of Buildings A and D), Janet Flecker (nurse practitioner at Student Health Services), Ken Messina (clinical director of the counseling center), Jayne Hale (co-chair of

President's Commission on Mental Health), Stacy Arend (athletic trainer for baseball and men's soccer) and Kim Coffaro (assistant director of the Office of Disability Services).

During introductions, Coffaro stated that 30% of students are registered w i t h t h e Of f i c e o f Disability Services with a mental health related diagnosis. In a given semester, between 500 and 600 students are registered with the Office of Disability Services for any type of diagnosis.

Flecker added that the health center had 470 visits related to mental health so far this semester.

About 130 students, professors and administrators were in attendance. Within 30 minutes of the town hall, the audience submitted 31 anonymous questions; by the end of the night, over 60 anonymous questions were submitted.

The first audience question asked how the university responded to the deaths of three SRU students by suicide within the past year. David Wilmes, chief students affairs officers, was not on the panel, but spoke about his insight on being part of those conversations.

"I'm the new director of the counseling center because obviously things weren't going great last year, or else I wouldn't have this job."

– Dr. Ken Messina, clinical director of the Student Counseling Center In all three situations, Wilmes, SRU President William Behre and re p re s e n t a t i ve s f ro m residence life and/or student support were present.

Wilmes said that the group contacted each student's close friends, faculty who taught each student and residence hall neighbors for two of the students.

Wilmes specifically mentioned how the university chose to not use the word "suicide" in the emails that notified university stakeholders.

"I will also tell you because I'm a ver y transparent person that we had a conversation about, 'Do we say that these are suicides?', not because we were afraid that that was going to cause something on campus, but because the families had just found out literally hours before," Wilmes said. "We have to think about the fact that these individuals had families, had parents."

With Messina just joining SRU in August, preparing for his move to Pennsylvania during the same time as one of the student deaths, many of his responses to questions mentioned plans to come with the counseling center.

"Like I tell everybody, I'm the new director of the counseling center because obviously things weren't going great last year, or else I wouldn't have this job," Messina said.

For one of his goals, he emphasized outreach into the community. So far, the counseling center has made appearances at events on campus, such as the Mental Health Awareness Fair. Messina himself also attended a training session for community assistants in case anyone wanted to talk during or after the training.

Changes in counseling center hours may also occur in the future. One audience member said that she believes more hours in the evenings may be more convenient for students.

"I personally can't go to my morning class, go to an hour of therapy and unpack emotional trauma, then go to my afternoon class and still be productive," she said.

A large portion of the discussion also involved athletes, who may not be able to go to the counseling center due to their practice and class schedules. In her role as an athletic trainer, Arend said that athletics needs to address two groups about mental health: both student athletes and their coaches.

"I will say our student athletes are amazing at opening up about mental

health and talking about it," Arend said. "Our coaches, on the other side, are a little different because they're just an older generation, so we are trying to have those conversations in our coaches meetings.

We met in May in regards to starting that conversation."

During the panel, Wilmes also revealed that faculty weren't required to attend mental health first aid trainings.

"There are opportunities, so they would need to take advantage of those," Wilmes said.

Messina added that he wanted to include brief training at new faculty orientations.

"A big part of the process to start introducing faculty to mental health would be to get them early when they're here so we can maybe start changing how faculty view mental health," Messina said.

SGA will post the responses to the unanswered questions from the town hall onto its CORE page within the next two weeks. SGA will also look to host more town halls in the spring semester based off of feedback from this town hall.

November 15, 2019

NEWS

A-3

The provost search begins One candidate aims for focus on minorities and adult learners

By Haley Potter Senior Rocket Contributor

Five candidates for the position of provost and vice president of academic affairs at Slippery Rock University will visit campus in November. As part of their visits, each candidate will deliver a public presentation and answer questions during an open session.

Slippery Rock University began holding presentations on Nov. 7 in Smith Student Center room 321. The first presentation was delivered

by Dr. Ron Darbeau, a current professor and Dean at University of Arkansas Fort Smith.

Darbeau introduced his presentation with background about himself.

He holds a PHD in organic chemistry from John Hopkins University and is a native of the Twin Island Republic in Trinidad and Tobago, where he did his undergrad. Darbeau is currently in his fifth year as Dean of the College of STEM and School of Education. He also serves as the interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences at UAFS. Darbeau said that his experience visiting Slippery Rock has been quite positive.

He enjoyed the people that he got to meet during his original interview and during the day of his presentation.

"The attendance in this room speaks to your

investment in this institution," Darbeau said in his opening statement to everyone filling the room.

Darbeau said he has been a consumer of education for the past five decades.

"I am a firm believer in the transformational power of higher education," he said. "I know what higher education has done for my life, for my children, and for their lives."

Darbeau told the audience some of his beliefs about higher education and some plans he would have to change it, specifically at SRU. He said he believes there is a social contract that higher education has with the public. He said that the public trust has been slowly eroded by higher education in many ways.

"We find ourselves in a position where we are not trusted by the public in many ways and they do not want to fund us, but why would they," Darbeau asked.

He said that there are misconceptions with higher education.

"We tell people that an undergraduate degree will take four years, yet only 19% of students finish their degree in four years," Darbeau said. "Less than half of students finish their degree in six years, and 31% leave without a single credential and nothing to show for it besides debt."

Darbeau said that institutions block those students who leave the

institution and can’t go anywhere else out.

"Unless you can throw a baseball or football at the speed of light, your pathway into the middle class is through higher education," he said.

He said that courses need to be adjusted. For instance, he said that most students have to take college algebra even though it is a class designed for people needing calculus.

"We force this on students and then they pay the price for it," Darbeau said.

He said that 40% of students take out student loans and that the U.S. is first in all developed nations in terms of students entering college, but 20th in terms of getting them out.

"We have watched storm clouds gather upon horizons for decades and have heard people crying, but we have been slow to respond," Darbeau said. "That time for us to wait is long gone."

He used the term "academic suicide" as a way of describing what higher education is doing and how they are losing the public trust.

Another main point that Darbeau discussed is the need to build an environment for adult learners. He said the number of 18 year old’s starting college is dropping rapidly while people are seen starting college later in life with different circumstances.

"We need to build a model that identifies adult workers in the industries and create

programs that are needed to attract those students and mechanisms on campus to support them," Darbeau said.

He said there are people working days, who have kids to put to bed, and that it is impossible to ask those people

"Absence of people who look and sound like you sends a clear message that you don't belong."

– Dr. Ron Darbeu, candidate for provost and V.P. of academic affairs to come to campus 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all weekdays.

"We need to embrace online education in a real and meaningful way," Darbeau said.

He said that online classes have evolved from videos of people teaching to something more advanced. Darbeau mentioned that there will be a group of students who will

forever want that on-campus experience.

"We need to build the other end of the spectrum as well," he said. "We do not want one to threaten the other, but we want everything from one end to another to come together and meet students where they are."

Darbeau said that if 78% of students are adult learners, institutions will need to build a robust online program and train faculty accordingly.

He also mentioned setting baseline exams for certain classes.

"If I worked for my family business running books for 15 years, how can I not get credit for Accounting 101," he asked. "It doesn’t mean I should get automatic credit, but faculty should set a benchmark."

Another point that Darbeau really emphasized was the need to attract minority and underrepresented students.

"It is not just about getting them in, it is making sure they stay," Darbeau said. "There is a difference between diversity and inclusion, and everyone deserves to feel welcomed."

Darbeau gave the example of his daughter who is currently applying to medical school.

"My daughter went to a presentation for medical school and when we called her she told us she was not going there because everyone presenting were old, white guys," Darbeau said.

He said that he is certain those men did not say anything offensive, but that it was the point that the absence of people who looked like his daughter made her feel like she did not belong.

"Absence of people who look and sound like you sends a clear message that you don’t belong," Darbeau said. "It shows that the school did not invest in having someone who looks and sounds like us."

He said that the university needs to be intentional about making all voices heard in a meaningful way.

Darbeau also said that the school needs more international students and study abroad programs. He said that there are resource and visa issues, but that the institutions need to tap more into study abroad, student exchange, and faculty exchange.

"We need to create pathways and opportunities for those types of students to succeed," Darbeau said.

Darbeau answered several questions from the audience as well, many related to topics in his discussion such as making minorities feel welcome and how he plans to execute these new systems.

"There are certainly problems that need fixed, but we are bright people and we can figure it out," Darbeau said.

The remaining four candidates will present Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Nov. 21 and Nov. 25 in SSC room 321 at 3:30 p.m.

Intersectionality signs vandalized GIESO condemns intolerant behavior, addresses microaggressions

By Allison Downs News Editor

The President's Commission on Gender Identity & Expression and Sexual Orientation (GIESO) announced via social media that some of the #IntersectionalitySRU lawn signs were vandalized.

"While we do not yet know the specific identity or motives of the perpetrator, we do know that destruction of these signs contributes to a feeling of not being safe on campus for our LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff," GIESO's Facebook post reads. "The signs also showed support to people of color and people of varying national origin."

"We'd like to call on the whole campus community to join us in condemning homophobia, transphobia and racism in all their forms," the post continues, "and working to make SRU a place where all members of the community can feel free and safe to bring their whole selves."

The campaign was established and announced earlier this semester as part of LGBTQ+ history month to increase awareness and knowledge of the different intersections within the LGBTQ+ community. The signs featured popular slogans from other social justice movements such as "Black LGBTQ+ lives matter" and "No LGBTQ+ human is illegal" to show that other forms

of oppression exist within each other.

Vanessa Vought, co-chair of GIESO, said she is deeply upset by the vandalism and that the incident has been discouraging because of the overall anticipation of the campaign.

"This is kind of disappointing. Our initial aim was to recognize this population and celebrate them during their special month, but this knocked us down a few pegs," she said. "I came in Monday morning and found this out, so it was an awful start to the week."

A report was filed with university police, and the investigation is ongoing, but Vought is unsure of the actions that will be taken, let alone if the culprit will be identified.

She isn't sure what she would say to the vandal if they were face-to-face, but she believes that the person may not have been educated or the person didn't fully understand the consequences of their actions. She said the motive isn't necessarily relevant though because the impact of the incident has been more prevalent than whatever the specific details may be.

"There's been this pattern on campus of intolerant behavior, and I think all of these pieces add up to a greater whole," Vought said, referring to the vandalism of a Black History Month poster in the spring 2019 semester. "If I could, I would love to sit down with this person, talk about it

PHOTO COURTESY OF SRU GIESO

Two of GIESO'S #IntersectionalitySRU campaign lawn signs were vandalized. GIESO spoke out against the intolerant behavior on their social media channels, asking others to join them in condemning homophobia, transphobia and racism.

and provide them with the education that we were initially trying to provide."

Speaking directly to members of the LGBTQ+ community, she said GIESO is still actively serving them.

In response to the vandalism, GIESO has implored other

departments, organizations and clubs to band together to condemn this behavior and show their support for the community.

"I was with the HOPE students Monday night and we were talking about microaggressions," Vought

said. "These microaggressions are kind of like mosquito bites, but this is a pretty big mosquito bite for our LGBTQ+ community."

She added that this incident is just another weight to add to their already large pile of heavy stressors.

"We need to show them a little bit of extra love this week," she said. "Like any other student, they're facing finals and stress with their classes, and now they have this on top of all of that. It's one more thing they have to deal with now, and they shouldn't have to."

NEWS

A-4

November 15, 2019

POLICE BLOTTER November 7 - Police received a call from custodial staff at Vincent Science Center stating that an individual was inside the building after hours for the third day in a row. The responding officer made contact, identified the individual and was told they are not permitted in the building after hours.

November 9 - Police were dispatched for a fire alarm activation at Building E. An officer arrived at the scene and no one answered the door. Officer made entry into the dorm room and no one was there. The alarm activation appeared to be a malfunction. A message was left with Health and Safety and the alarm system was reset.

November 7 - University police responded for a vehicular accident that occurred in the Advanced Technology and Science Building Circle by the flag pole. No injuries were reported and vehicles were drivable. The drivers exchanged information.

The accident was deemed non-reportable and no further police action was taken.

November 9 - A person came into the police station to report that she had been assaulted at Ginger Hill Tavern the previous evening.

Borough PD took a report from the person when the assault occurred. The person was advised to contact the reporting Borough officer.

November 7 - University police received a call for a vehicular accident on West Lake Lane. An officer responded at the scene, no injuries were reported and both vehicles were drivable. Information was exchanged and no further police action was taken.

November 7 - Police received a call for a vehicular accident on Kiester Road. No injuries were reported and vehicles were drivable. Information was exchanged and no further police action was taken.

November 7 - Police received a call from a CA at Building B reporting an alcohol violation involving several individuals in a dorm room. The responding officer made contact and alcohol was found. The case was referred to Student Conduct, no further police action was taken.

November 7 - While police were responding for an alcohol violation at Building B, a CA at the same building reported an upset individual who was yelling, screaming and hitting things. The individual was brought to the CA's office and officers spoke to them. The individual was upset over a video game that he was playing with a friend. The person was transported by police to the station where police notified their parent. The parent picked up the person and took them home for the evening. No further police action taken.

November 8 - Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) requested backup with a strong-arm robbery at The Grove apartment complex. The victim, a nonstudent, was "pistol-whipped" and was transported to Grove City Medical Center. University police secured the perimeter of the apartment while PSP gained entry of the apartment. PSP is investigating, and a suspect has been identified.

No further action was taken by university police.

November 8 - Police received a report of an individual who was attempting to climb into a first-floor window at Watson Hall. A description was given, but the responding officer was unable to locate the individual. The officer spoke to a CA and they believed that the individual may have been a resident of the dorm room. The officer knocked at the dorm room and announce themselves, but no one came to the door. The window was closed from the outside of the building.

November 9 - University police stopped a motor vehicle for a moving violation on Kiester Road which resulted in drug paraphernalia being located inside the vehicle. Shayne Myers, 18, was cited with a drug violation; Mark Craighead, 19, and Quincy Graham, 18, were cited with disorderly conduct.

November 9 - PSP requested backup in response to multiple fights breaking out in the visitors parking lot at University Village. University police responded on scene and three individuals were identified. PSP arrived on scene and took over the investigation. No further action was taken by university police.

November 10 - Police received numerous complaints from a motorist for being charged $10 to park on campus for a cheerleading event at Morrow Field House. The incident is under investigation.

November 10 - Police received an E-phone activation at Morrow Field House. Persons on scene stated that all was okay. A dispatcher reviewed the cameras and all appeared to be okay.

The alarm system was reset.

November 10 - Police received a call from a CA at Building E stating that an odor of marijuana was emitting from a dorm room. The responding officer contacted the residents of the room and did not find any drug paraphernalia, but did find alcohol. The case was referred to Student Conduct, no further police action was taken.

November 11 - Police received a report of several LGBTQ+ lawn signs that were damaged and a few that were pulled out and thrown in a fenced area behind Patterson Hall. It is unknown when the incident occurred and the case is under investigation.

November 11 - Police were dispatched for a traffic accident on Central Loop that involved a university vehicle. No injuries were reported and both vehicles were drivable. Safety was notified and no further police action was taken.

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November 11 - An individual arrived at the station to report that while they were parked in the Union Commuter Lot, an unknown person(s) slashed their front left tire. The case is under investigation.

November 11 - Police received a call from a Health Center nurse stating they they received a call from an individual at Building E who needed medical assistance. University police contacted the individual, and they were transported to the Health Center.

November 11 - The Health Center called dispatch and requested an ambulance for an individual who needed medical treatment. Emergency medical services arrived on scene and transported the individual to Butler Memorial Hospital.

November 11 - The Health Center called dispatch and requested an ambulance for an individual who needed medical treatment. Emergency medical services arrived on scene and transported the individual to Grove City Medical Center.

November 12 - Police responded for a vehicle on Stadium Drive that had slid into a curb and flattened their tire, causing their air bags to deploy.

Officers pushed the vehicle off the curb and the driver was issued a citation for driving at unsafe speeds.

November 13 - Police received a call from a concerned parent that they hadn't spoke to their child since the previous night. An officer contacted the individual at Building F and all was okay. The parent was notified.

November 13 - Police received a call about an individual who may have needed medical treatment. The person was located at Building F and transported to the Health Center.

November 13 - Police received a missing person report from a parent that hadn't heard from their child since Nov. 10. Responding officers arrived at the person's dorm room at North Hall and spoke to roommates when the missing person arrived.

An officer asked if all was okay and the person stated yes and that he was with his parent. No further police action was taken.

November 13 - Police received a call about an individual who may have needed medical treatment. The person was located at Smith Student Center and was transported to the Health Center.

November 13 - Police received a call from a CA at Building D reporting an odor of marijuana coming from a dorm room. An officer arrived on scene, contacted residents and recovered drug paraphernalia. Kylie Garvey, 18, and Vanessa Goodnight, 18, were cited with disorderly conduct.

COMPILED BY ALLISON DOWNS

O OPINION

Volume 103, Issue Number 4

220 Eisenberg Classroom Building Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057 Phone: Fax: E-mail:

(724) 738-4438 (724) 738-4896 therocketnewspapersru@gmail.com

EDITORIAL BOARD Hannah Shumsky

Editor-in-Chief

Allison Downs

News Editor

Karl Ludwig

Sports Editor

Hope Hoehler

Campus Life Editor

Lesa Bressanelli

Copy/ Web Editor

Keegan Beard

Photo Editor

Aaron Marrie

Multimedia Editor

Nina Cipriani

Assistant News Editor

Zack Bonnette

Assistant Sports Editor

Brendan Howe

Assistant Campus Life Editor

Sam Shiel

Assistant Copy/Web Editor

Hannah Slope

Assistant Photo Editor

Dr. Brittany Fleming

Faculty Adviser

ADVERTISING STAFF Nicole Tolliver Emily Heyn

Advertising Manager Assistant Advertising Manager

ABOUT US The Rocket is published by the students of Slippery Rock University five times per academic semester. Total weekly circulation is 2,000. No material appearing in The Rocket may be reprinted without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief.

The Rocket receives funding from the SGA Student Activity fee paid each semester by students. All other income is provided through the sale of advertising.

Advertising inquiries may be made by calling (724) 738-2643 or by emailing rocket.ads@sru.edu.

CORRECTIONS If we make a substantial error, we want to correct it. If you believe an error has been made, call The Rocket newsroom at (724) 738-4438. If a correction is warranted it will be printed in the opinion section.

OPINION

Our View

A student athlete's balancing act DISCLAIMER: This staff editorial contains mentions of death and suicide and may be triggering for some readers. Use caution before reading.

For an organization that stresses the importance of its student athletes' personal and academic success, the NCAA has a funny way of showing it sometimes.

Despite the NCAA's chief medical officer declaring mental health as the single most important health and safety concern in 2013, the "Power Five" conferences in the NCAA didn't require its members to make mental health services available for all students until 2019.

It took the shocking suicide of Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski to spur the NCAA into motion.

For most college athletes, especially at the Division II level like Slippery Rock, student athletes compete in athletics simply for a love of the sport. For most, it's the first time in their lives that they are on their own. These student athletes live away from their parents, away from the rigid structure enforced by parents and high school schedules. Living on their own, these student-athletes are given the chance to stand on their own two feet for the first time.

With the choice to get more involved in clubs and organizations on campus, continuing their academic studies and figuring out who they are as people, the newfound freedom for these student athletes can be tough to balance with their athletic responsibilities.

Who do student athletes turn to if and when they are struggling with mental health?

If the star quarterback of the football team is struggling with depression and the backup goalie on the field hockey team is struggling with her mental health, do they receive the same help? Do they receive any help? While these student athletes will not

truly seek help unless theyy eir coaches ask for it, are their equipped to deal with these topics if they do ask for help?

The education off and ce of continued vigilance coaches, trainers and those associated with st be athletic teams must prioritized. We believe acultyy that all professors, faculty and administrators who work at SRU must al health complete a mental training, like thee trainingg tal Health provided by Mental First Aid USA. pp y As is the case at Slippery Rock, counselingg centers puses are p on college campuses g ramping up theirr coverage and availability of mental urage g our health. We encourage enter to do own counseling center the same. he SRU Currently, the counseling center hours are 10 n Mondays y a.m.-6:30 p.m. on d 8 a.m.and Tuesdays and dnesdays, y 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, ridays. y Thursdays and Fridays.

For the busy athletee with oursa full class load, hourslong practices and mes, travel for away games, these hours are not accessible enough to sufficiently addresss the mental health off a student athlete.

While studentt al athlete mental us health is an obvious he priority with the ingg stigma surrounding mental health in athletics, uld extend this coverage should nd not just j to all students—and those struggling with mental health. ddition to This is all in addition malizing the need of normalizing mental health conversations on s. college campuses.

The recent Studentt Government Association town hall on mental health was an effective first start, but we cannot let thiss energy diminish. ete Student athlete mental health is risis certainly not a crisis unique to SRU, but by combatting these challenges in our y, we own community, eness continue our awareness pport pp efforts to show support n and for our own Green White.

GRAPHIC BY: HANNAH SLOPE

In the Quad

Question: Do you feel that there are enough mental health resources for SRU's student athletes?

By: Aaron Marrie

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions to The Rocket are available. Subscriptions are $20 per academic semester and $35 for the full academic year.

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EDITORIAL POLICY The Rocket strives to present a diverse range of opinions that are both fair and accurate in its editorials and columns appearing on the Opinion pages. “Our View” is the opinion of the Editorial Board and is written by Rocket editorial board members. It reflects the majority opinion of The Rocket Editorial Board.

“Our View” does not necessarily reflect the views of Slippery Rock University, its employees or its student body. Columns and cartoons are drafted by various individuals and only reflect the opinions of the columnists.

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Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affiliation, if any. Please limit letters to a maximum of 400 words. Submit all material by noon Wednesday to: The Rocket, 220 ECB, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057. Or send it via e-mail to: rocket.letters@sru.edu.

Lauren Niziol Junior Exercise Science Eighty Four, PA

Ethan Corbin Sophomore Marketing Fairview, PA

Amy Myers Sophomore English Literature/Philosophy Fairview, PA

“I don’t think that there are any mental health services that specifically target student athletes...

Although I feel a lot of times athletes are less inclined to seek help."

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard much about it and I’m not a student athlete myself so I don’t know about any of the resources.”

“The hours of the student counseling center are I think until 4:30 or 5 and that’s probably extremely difficult for a lot of student athletes to get in to those times because it is very short."

OPINION

B-2

November 15, 2019

Support the NWHL (and maybe someday Plastic water bottles: Unethical and unnecessary they'll come to Pittsburgh, too)

Madison V. King Madison V. King is a junior political science major, a commuter SGA senator and member of the social justice committee, the news director at WSRU-FM and a transgender woman. She can be found on Twitter @madisonvking.

In 2015, after years of development by 28-year-old league commissioner Dani Rylan, the National Women’s Hockey League played their first game. The NWHL was the first professional major league women’s hockey league in the United States since 2007, and was also the first women’s hockey league to actually pay its’ players. Since then, the league has expanded to five teams from the original four – the Boston Pride, the Buffalo Beauts, the Connecticut Whale, the Metropolitan Riveters, with the Minnesota Whitecaps joining the league in 2018 – and also became the only major women’s hockey league in the US after the 2019 demise of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.

In the months since the CWHL’s collapse, the NWHL has strengthened greatly – bringing on major new sponsors like Chipwich (yes, the ice cream sandwich people), signing a contract giving exclusive broadcast rights to online broadcaster Cheddar,

and expanding their season from 16 games to 24.

Personally, ever since I got into hockey (shortly after the Penguins’ 2016 cup win), I have followed women’s professional hockey just as faithfully – being a dedicated fan of the Toronto Furies of the CWHL prior to 2018 as well as the minor league Pittsburgh Puffins here at home. I have always believed strongly in the importance of gender equality in hockey, and professional women’s hockey really is extremely fun to watch – just as much as the NHL, in my view. Star players throughout history like Manon Rheaume and Amanda Kessel have proven to be just as good at the game as men’s players – to the point that Amanda Kessel’s strength over her brother Phil (yes, that Phil Kessel) has become a running joke in itself. Players like Jessica Platt and Harrison Browne have opened the sport to people of varying gender expressions, creating a sport that is truly more welcoming to folks who may not conform with their birth gender (myself included – although I can barely stand up on the ice at this point).

However, as much as the NWHL is loved and appreciated by their fans, they are still struggling in some regards. A strike by some professional players seeking league-provided healthcare and basic, living salaries that began after the dissolution of the CWHL led to a loss of some star players from the league, and a lack of investors prevented planned expansions into Montreal and Toronto this season. The NHL has largely turned a blind eye to the NWHL, with only two teams having partnerships with NHL teams (the Minnesota Whitecaps with the Minnesota Wild and the Boston Pride with the Bruins), down from four last season. NHL commissioner (and possible demon) Gary Bettman said that they have no plans to enter the market while the NWHL is still in operation,

completely nixing any hope of a women’s league supported by the major men’s’ league, similar to the WNBA. However, speaking of the WNBA, cases have shown that the more general audience is exposed to women’s sports, the more viewership they gain and the more prosperous they become. The challenge then becomes actually reaching a wider audience, with major sports networks like ESPN unlikely to sign a major broadcast contract with a women’s league like the NWHL. The advent of internet broadcasting does help this significantly, however, still not nearly enough to make up the market share needed to be profitable. As a result, I’ve been simply spreading the word to my friends and family by telling them to just watch a game or two. And those that have done so really enjoy doing so. So I’m using my position here on the opinion page to tell you all to watch them, as well.

I’m sure some of you are reluctant simply because of the lack of a local team. And I understand that, because if there was a Pittsburgh NWHL team, I would certainly be a diehard fan of theirs, just like I am of the Penguins. Both NWHL analysts and most Pittsburgh hockey pundits, however, agree that Pittsburgh is an extremely ripe market for women’s hockey, and the NWHL even held their 2017 All-Star Game at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.

In naming potential NWHL expansion cities, apart from the two Canadian that were already announced, Pittsburgh has always been present. So getting a major league women’s hockey team here in Pittsburgh is simply a matter of supporting the NWHL and ensuring they have the level of support they need to expand here in the future.

To end – women’s hockey is a true sport that most folks tend to ignore. But I really do urge everybody reading to check out the NWHL sometime.

Gabrielle Pezich Gabrielle is a senior environmental studies major and is part of the Geography, Geology and Environmental Club and Sustainable Solutions.

Several Slippery Rock University organizations currently profit off of the single-use plastic beverages available in the on-campus vending machines. In lieu of recent climactic revelations, the continued sale and profit off of these products should be considered unethical.

While the global climate crisis and the plastic problem are not one in the same, they are interconnected. Although a less pressing matter, the plastic problem is still of significance and should not be overlooked, as its effects can contribute to a degradation of environment. The production and improper disposal of plastic water bottles can result in both negative ecological and economic ramifications.

In its most fundamental form, plastic water bottles are bad for the environment because their production requires the use of oil.

The petroleum industry possesses its own host of negative environmental impacts, including air pollution via the production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Another issue with plastic water bottles is that they are often not disposed of properly. Many companies that produce plastic water bottles market themselves as eco-friendly because their products can be recycled.

However, a significant portion of plastic water bottles end up in landfills. The improper disposal of plastic water bottles primarily poses a threat to marine ecosystems, which are being polluted by plastics at a rapid rate. After China issued a new set of restrictive rules for recycling imports in 2017, the United States has been unable to outsource.

The current recycling program infrastructure is outdated and cannot sustain the amount of trash produced by the country. Thus, the number of plastic water bottles ending up in oceans or landfills is increasing.

Economically, plastic water bottles are also costly and unnecessary. Because plastic water bottles are sold by private companies, they are less strictly regulated than tap water and tend to be more expensive.

The water within water bottles is also comparable in quality to that of tap water.

While many plastic water bottle companies advertise bottled water as a healthier alternative, bottled water actually undergoes less frequent and stringent quality testing than tap water. This is because tap water is regulated by the government, but since bottled water is sold by private companies, it does not have to adhere to the higher standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Fu r t h e r m o r e , the commodification of water should be considered unethical, as it is a public resource essential for human life.

To combat the above issues, Slippery Rock University should remove single-use

plastic water bottles from campus vending machines.

Other colleges have already began limiting their plastic waste by banning or limiting the sale of plastic water bottles on campus. Some alternatives to plastic water bottles include the installment of hydration stations that dispense filtered water.

The University could also provide incoming freshmen with reusable water bottles to promote the reduction of plastic waste.

"If Slippery Rock University were to adopt more sustainable methods it would reduce unnecessary plastic waste and make for a more environmentally conscious campus."

Lastly, if Slippery Rock University were to use alternatives to plastic water bottles such as water packaged in biodegradable cartons or aluminum cans, commissions could still be made off of items sold in vending machines without contributing to plastic waste.

As a student of this university, I encourage these organizations to renegotiate the terms of their contract with Pepsi to better act as an educated consumer. If Slippery Rock University were to adopt more sustainable methods it would reduce unnecessary plastic waste and make for a more environmentally conscious campus.

DAYTONA BEACH

WE ARE SPRING BREAK for more information

www.DBSPRINGBREAK.com

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Alyse Schacter Speaks on Mental Health Watch on the WSRU-TV Facebook Page

CAMPUS LIFE

Veteran brings story and fiery comedy

Bobby Henline combines inspiration and humor to entertain his audience

HANNAH SLOPE / THE ROCKET

Bobby Henline, a wounded veteran and well known comedian speaks to those in attendance at the event as part of Military Appreciation Week. Henline shared his journey as the keynote speaker as one of the second events to kick off the week.

By Brendan Howe Asst. Campus Life Editor

“I’m a burn survivor,” he said. “Been extinguished for years, thank you.”

“I’msocheap,Iexpectadiscount on my cremation,” he joked.

In his fourth Iraqi War deployment, Bobby Henline had been stationed in the desert for only three weeks. A dozen years later, he stood in the Smith Student Center Ballroom as a

Military Appreciation Week keynote speaker and comedian, explaining that, after that one fateful April day, his life would never be the same.

“It’s not that my story is any more important than anybody else’s in this room today,” Henline said. “We all have our stories and stuff we go through in life.”

Henline grew up a selfdescribed “Navy brat” in California, with numerous family members having served in the military branch. As a

junior, he dropped out of high school to spend his time as a DJ at a local roller-skating rink.

It was then, Henline said, that he and his uncle had the idea to join the armed forces together.

After his uncle failed the testing to get into the military, Henline was 17 and entering the Navy by himself. Two years later, he was in Desert Storm. Then, he was out of the service for a decade.

It was when two planes were piloted into the World Trade Center by Islamic terrorists that

Henline decided to re-enlist.

Despite having a wife and young children, he knew he couldn’t let such a thing happen to his country and not do anything about it. The next month, he was back in basic training.

“Going back in the second time, at 30 years old, was a little different than going in at 17,” Henline said. “Physically, at 17, it was a piece of cake. Mentally, it messed with my head. At 30 years old, physically, it messed with my body. I was an old man with a potbelly.”

He was deployed in 2003 for the initial push into Iraq.

In the matter of a year, he moved from Kuwait into Baghdad. He returned home after that tour to train for ten months to move up a grade, moving his family from North Carolina to Colorado.

In one photo taken on that second tour in the Middle East, Henline stands in his camouflage fatigues, which are engulfed by a polka-dotted blue cooking apron.

In one hand, he showcases a heavy machine gun with its magazine drooping down. In the other, a cherry pie. He was helping a fellow soldier celebrating his birthday,; his mom and sister having sent ingredients for the pastry they’d make him every year.

“You make these decisions in your life,” Henline said. “To go back into the military, the kids had no idea what that was. Dad’s gone all the time and they’re having a hard time dealing with it, too. Sometimes you have to reflect and think about your decisions as an adult and how they affect everybody else around you.”

After one more deployment in 2005 and a family relocation back to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Henline jokes that he learned his lucky number was three.

On April 7, 2007, a Humvee that Henline and four others were riding in was blown up by an IED. The

vehicle was turned upsidedown, thrown 20 meters, leaving a hole in the ground five feet in diameter and three feet deep. Burnt to the skull, Henline was the only survivor.

It took a year-and-a-half for Henline to get skin back on his head. His left arm was burnt to the point where he could see the tendons in his hand.

“We tried for two years to get my hand to work,” Henline said.

“I kept telling them to take it off in the hospital. It was in the way.”

Henline has undergone 16 surgeries on his eyelids alone.

Doctors weren’t sure they would be able save his left eye. He wore a patch over it on some days, taking a googly and placing it over top.

He needed to have skin taken from his shoulder to reconstruct the left side of his face; they stretched skin from his neck to rebuild the right side. Henline has required six surgeries just so he could turn his head without bothering a scar on his face.

While recovering in physical therapy, an occupational therapist challenged Henline to participate in an open mic night and try to use his comedic talent to cope.

“I went through a hard time, too,” Henline admitted. “Even though I would use my sense of humor to help others and help myself kind of deal with some stuff. I’m still having a lot of trouble with it.”

He has survivor’s guilt. He felt like a burden to his family, especially to his wife at the time, who cared for and cleaned his wounds for four hours a day.

“I would laugh and be strong in front of the kids,” Henline said. “But inside, I would pray to God every night not to let me wake up the next day.”

Once an atheist, Henline did not want to believe in God. He didn’t like the forgiving nature of religion as a whole. He doesn’t believe in a certain theology, rather that it’s a personal connection for everybody.

In a medically-induced coma for two weeks after the incident, Henline remembers looking back, sitting on what he describes as a giant, white iceberg at night, with stars in the sky.

“It was very comfortable,” Henline said. “It was calm. There were voices telling me that I was going to be okay and that my family was waiting for me. When I woke up, that’s when I knew there was a higher power and that I was here for some reason.”

Henline has acted in Netflix’s “Sophie and the Rising Sun” and Showtime’s “Shameless.” He’s performed at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas, Laugh Factory in Chicago and Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles. The humor helps Henline keep his PTSD and anxiety at bay.

Henline believes that a single cupofcoffeecanenduphelpingto purchase a new house for a family.

For example, he explained, a single mom could be in the drivethru behind you, flustered and running late for work. Paying for a coffee for her could change her mindset, leading to her doing great at her job and earning her a raise to pay her mortgage.

“We beat ourselves up, going ‘I’ve got to find this purpose. I’ve got to know why I’m here,’” Henline said.

“It could be because your grandkids are going to do something amazing. Maybe you’re going to be there and save someone’s life someday just because you talk them.

And you don’t even know it.”

Recently, Henline started his own foundation, Forging Forward. The charity does retreats, hosts veteran speakers, and partners with other nonprofits, as it did with Off-Road Outreach in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Henline will check into in-patient therapy in early December for three weeks, learning how to use mental health outlets better.

Veterans Day Ceremony

Introductions, keynote speakers, raising of the colors, and cadet enlistment recognition took place at the Veterans Day Ceremony Nov. 11 with ROTC taking the reins.

KEEGAN BEARD/ THE ROCKET

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CAMPUS LIFE

November 15, 2019

Talk about it, fight the stigma

Schacter speaks on mental health and being open in the conversation

By Hope Hoehler Campus Life Editor

A graduate of medical school, Alyse Schacter travels, having conversations about mental health and its stigma.

As part of IZE Week, Schacter spoke to more than 20 students in attendance about her mental health journey and how to be open about the conversation.

Schacter’s mental health hasn’t always been a smooth road. Developing significant OCD at the age of 12, Schacter dealt with intrusive impulsions and worries about hurting inanimate objects.

Schacter said her passion about mental health stemmed from her journey with her own mental health. She began traveling at the age of 16 to discuss the mental health stigma.

Schooling was never an easy time for Schacter. She said her intrusive impulsions made her act in ways that would seem odd to her fellow seventh grade classmates.

“I would be worried I was hurting the ground when I walked,” Schacter said. “I would get on my hands and knees and feel the ground, because I felt bad.”

Not sure what to do, Schacter’s mom talked to her classmates about OCD

and what Schacter was going through.

Schacter said that her classmates were incredible, creating a schedule to give her piggyback rides to class so she didn’t have to touch the floor.

Schacter’s parents preached a culture of openness, encouraging her to talk openly about her struggles to those she became close to.

“Not everyone’s willing to help, but people that are, are fantastic,” Schacter said.

Despite setbacks in grade school, Schacter attended adult high school at the age of 19, eventually getting accepted into med school to work towards her dream of becoming a doctor.

Still practicing openness about her mental health, Schacter wondered how she would manage her journey. Going to school to become a doctor, Schacter said she felt ashamed that she was helping other people when she needed help herself.

Looking back, Schacter said that professionals questioned if medical school was the right option for her with her OCD. “It’s like a trap,” Schacter said. “It’s like there’s something inherently wrong with me.”

Schacter isn’t the only person to carry that mindset. She said that she’s open about her struggles because if she doesn’t do it, then she doesn’t expect others to be open about it.

Schacter understands that sometimes it can be hard to open up to others and believes it’s because not many people know what to say to someone who is struggling.

Engaging with the campus community is one way that Schacter believes people can become more open.

She also emphasized being more aware of those around, thinking about your friends and challenging ourselves to ask how others are doing.

“You don’t want to deal with it alone,” Schacter said.

“You shouldn’t have to.”

Although Schacter said there were times during med school where she felt alone, she had a roommate who supported her throughout her journey.

There was a period during med school where Schacter was doing poorly, and went home, not sure if she would have to leave school. She said she left her room a disaster, but when she returned, her roommate had reorganized and cleaned her entire room.

Schacter said that her roommate wasn’t the type of person to verbally ask if Schacter was okay but found that helping Schacter clean was something she could do to help her during her journey.

“I don’t know if I could have finished med school without her,” Schacter said.

Helping others and being a support system for them is something that Schacter agrees with, but also made sure that students know they need to care for themselves too.

Students in attendance said that they use the resources they preach to others, share struggles with a group of friends and remind themselves that it’s okay to not be okay.

Schacter said that people rarely sit in silence and think about themselves, and how they’re doing. She said it’s important to remind yourself that it’s alright to feel bad sometimes.

“We try to push emotions aside,” Schacter said. “But you don’t try to push aside a stomachache. You can’t.”

Similarly to not ignoring or pushing down physical conditions, Schacter said people need to embrace their authenticity and be real, making it easier to talk about their challenges.

However, asking others to open up may not come easy for everyone Schacter reminded the audience. Some people may reject help, which Schacter said could be a reflection of what they’re going through.

Schacter said that even if people reject approaches of help, it is always important to be kind and check on them.

“Anytime you show someone kindness, it becomes part of their DNA,” Schacter said. “Although from a

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALYSE SCHACTER

Alyse Schacter spoke to students and faculty about her stuggles with mental illness and increased the conversation surrounding its stigma.

medical perspective that doesn’t make any sense.”

Schacter encourages students to not only check in on their friends and classmates, but to become educated on mental health.

Providing the CDC page on mental health as an excellent choice for resources and information.

“We don’t have an excuse anymore to not be educated on mental health.”

Self care, discussion and inclusivity Students learn to find their joy in self-care and increase the discussion

By Jack Konesky Senior Rocket Contributor

MORGAN MILLER / THE ROCKET

Students attend the Diversity Dialogues focused around self-care.

Attendees participated in group discussions and learning activites.

The Office for Inclusive Excellence (OIE) hosted the final Diversity Dialogue for the semester on Tuesday, Nov. 12 in the Smith Student Center, discussing self-care’s meaning and importance for the SRU student body.

The event was guided primarily by Keshia Booker, the Assistant Director of Multicultural Development for the OIE, with the assistance of two additional OIE members due to the number of attendees.

During the event, students were encouraged to participate in activities and discussions that asked them to consider quotes centered on self care, give their own definition of self-care and rate themselves in various categories of self-care.

A common misconception, Booker says, is that self care is simply a physical and emotional process that doesn’t extend beyond those strict categories. As with all other Diversity Dialogues, Booker said that her goal was to help students consider the scope of these issues and how they apply to the entire student body.

“I hope that, in the end, our students can take the time to

think about being inclusive and being able to have conversations around similar subjects,” Booker said. “If nothing else, I hope that they take a look at Slippery Rock and how it’s running things, and then, if they’re looking for more inclusivity, they are able to push for it respectfully or celebrate it if it already exists.”

Self-care was the fourth and final Diversity Dialogue for the Fall 2019 semester, a position which Booker chose in hopes of ending on a more positive note by discussing a topic which centered on joy and how to attain some form of it.

“The first Diversity Dialogue was ‘What Makes a Community’ because I wanted

GRAPHIC BY HOPE HOEHLER

By Daniel Young With finals quickly approaching, it is easy to find yourself falling behind and becoming overwhelmed. Whether this is your freshman ye a r, s e n i o r ye a r, o r in between, Lambda has some great tips for you that will keep you organized and stress free during this frantic time.

First, look ahead in all your syllabi and find out when your scheduled final times are or when your final projects are due. Afterward, fill out a planner or calendar to block out specific time slots, allotting adequate time for studying and working on final projects. Complete any minor assignments before they are due and you will have more time for studying and major a s s i g n m e n t s . Ti m e blocking your days has been proven to increase the productivity in college students.

Second, when studying for your exams, color coordinate your flash cards or handwritten/ typed notes. This will allow for you to know which are designated to the specific class for which you are studying.

I f u s i n g f l a s h c a rd s t o s t u d y, t r y a d d i n g visuals to your cards.

The use of visuals allows you to easily recall the information studied.

While studying or working on your projects, listen to Lo-Fi music or white noise. It has been scientifically p r ov e n t h a t l i s t e n i n g t o L o - Fi m u s i c h e l p s your brain focus while completing activities.

Listening to white noise has been proven to help with memor y retention.

Last, keep the space around you cleaned and organized.

Whether at school or at home, having a clean

workspace is beneficial to your productivity. If the space around you is cluttered, you will not want to study for finals or work on final projects.

To properly p re p a re f o r s t u d y i n g , begin cleaning and completing small errands in the weeks prior to finals. This will make it easier on you, so you do not have to worry about completing these minor t h i n g s w h i l e y o u a re t r y i n g t o p re p a re f o r f i n a l s . Ac c o m p l i s h i n g smaller tasks can instill a sense of productivity and motivate you to continue working.

Although these were just a handful of tips you can use, there are various others that may h e l p y o u . Ho p e f u l l y these tips have helped you prepare for a nonstressful finals week and we wish you all the best!

Film Review Columnist

Besides Avengers: Endgame, no film this year has garnered more discussion and hype from critics and internet film communities than Parasite, directed by the acclaimed South Korean filmmaker, Bong Joon-ho.

Parasite currently sits at the number two spot on Letterboxd’s top 250 films of all time based on user ratings, despite only premiering in May at the Cannes Film Festival and just recently getting a limited release in North America.

This leads to the idea of the internet hype machine – how often should we let it dictate what kind of movies we see? Do we allow ourselves to be swept up in the countless tweets and YouTube reviews praising a film, or should we be more focused on what we as individuals want to see, rather than the masses?

While I mostly lean towards the latter option, I found myself intrigued with the amount of love that the internet was giving Parasite. Other than it being a critical darling, I knew almost

nothing about it. Despite this, I decided that, for this time, I would allow myself to go see a movie solely based on the hype it was getting. Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest – the film deserves every ounce of praise it gets.

I don’t want to give away much about the plot, since doing so would be a disservice – it benefits the viewing experience to know as little as possible going in. The basic plot follows a poor South Korean family as they try to earn money through whatever small jobs they can get. The son of the family, Kim Ki-woo, learns about a new job opportunity through his friend... and that’s about all I’m willing to give away. Just know that the story will not go in whatever direction you’re expecting it to.

Now, after reading the basic description, you might be slightly intrigued, but also worried that the movie could turn out to be a two hour and twelve minute slog.

In reality, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Before seeing Parasite, you should take every pre-conceived notion you have about “foreign cinema,”

to have a basic conversation around what community is at Slippery Rock -- how one views it, how one participates -- those sorts of things,” Booker said.

“I felt like without a sense or understanding of community, we wouldn’t be able to truly excel with the other three topics.”

Going forward, the Office for Inclusive Excellence plans to continue the Diversity Dialogues series in the upcoming Spring 2020 semester. Booker says the plan is to return in March with the same format of four consecutive weeks of conversation, though potential topics are still being discussed.

wrap it up into a little ball, and toss it in the trash. One of the reasons the film works so well is because not only does it refuse to conform to a single genre (it straddles the line between comedy, thriller, and satire often), but it also refuses to conform to what you, the viewer, thinks it’ll be.

There’s this idea that foreignlanguage films are inherently more challenging viewing for some reason, but Bong Joonho has crafted a film that can appeal to both the casual viewer and to the cinephile.

The cinematography is beautiful, the story is absorbing and intense, and it will keep a general audience hooked but its central themes of love, family, and economic class give those wanting to dig deeper plenty to dissect. As Kim Kiwoo says throughout, “It’s so metaphorical!”

All of the acting throughout is phenomenal, too (even the child actors do well), but special praise deserves to go to the father of the family, Kim Ki-taek, played by Kang-ho Song. Having worked with Bong Joon-ho before in some of his other films, he fits into this story naturally and you can tell that he was picked for the role for a reason. His believability and line delivery make him deserving of some kind of award, to be perfectly honest – his performance is one of the very best of the year, alongside Adam Driver’s & Scarlett Johansson’s "Marriage Story" and Willem Dafoe’s "The Lighthouse."

In short, watch this movie.

I am, indeed, contributing to the hype on this one, but in this instance, every ounce of it should be believed. Hop aboard the hype train, even if you normally don’t allow yourself to, and be swept away by what is easily the best film of 2019 so far.

S

Sanders' triumphant return At theonlinerocket.com

SPORTS

The courage to continue Redshirt sophomore linebacker makes triumphant return to the field

By Zack Bonnette Asst. Sports Editor

Between all the magnificent touchdowns, tackles and highlights, it is no wonder how football has become one of the most popular sports across the world.

It is exhilarating to watch modern day gladiators put on twenty pounds of armor and collide play after play, as they try and overpower the other team and score.

But after the game is over, and there is no more violence and drama, what happens then? What happens when the game is over, the stadium is empty, and no one is watching anymore?

During their respective season, the adversity football players face on the field is witnessed once a week, but is forgotten when they aren't lined up between the white lines.

These athletes leave the sport of football behind, and join everyone else in a much more important game: life.

Redshirt sophomore and Slippery Rock University linebacker Arison Sanders is no stranger to dealing with adversity, no matter if it's on the football field or in every day life.

A standout in high school in both academics and athletics, the Akron, Ohio native was an honor roll student and lettered three times in football, while also winning state championships in both 2015 and 2016.

After graduating from Archbishop Hoban High School, Sanders then came to Slippery Rock University in the fall of 2017 as a dual-major in Safety

Management and Spanish, while planningg to continue his football career on an rship. athletic scholarship. sity struck.

Then, adversity g It was during his freshman anders would year when Sanders begin his first battle against blood clots. The blood mporary halt clots put a temporary ootball to Sanders' football career, forcing the prospective linebacker to redshirt, as ealth was in his overall health jeopardy. d to get g back Determined nders would to the field, Sanders ercome his battle and overcome blood clots in 2017, and later wass able to al play his firstt officia official pp y season for thee Slippery tyy footballl Rock University team in 2018 as a redshirt freshman. cribed his first Sanders described is first season season with his ck as a wayy with The Rock mated to the to get re-acclimated djusting j g to the game, while adjusting gge football. speed of college on was myy "Last season man season, redshirt freshman that was moree jjust ggettingg he swingg of back into the nders said. things," Sanders "Last year wass just getting acclimated." ned an alreadyy Sanders joined talented group of linebackers d the likes of which featured Brad Zaffram, Tim Vernick, and Trysten McDonald.

Though it was his first ers was more season, Sanders than happy to contribute in any way that he could. "[I] was jjust ggettingg ere I could," my plays where Sanders said. "Whether it was blowouts or if somebodyy play, y had to come out for a p it was just beingg readyy ur name was whenever your called on."

In his first healthyy season ock, Sanders with The Rock, ediate impact p made an immediate d, especially p y when he filled, ams. He led on special teams.

18 in special p the team in 2018 g a teams tackles, registered ight g tackles season-high eight rsville, and against Millersville,

got his first collegiate sack against Gannon.

Sanders described 2018 as a chance for things to go back to normal and to learn the defensive scheme. And for a few months, things were normal as

workouts in 2019, Sanders would suffer another setback.

"We

Sanders continued to find where he fit in with the team and improve upon his game.

In the midst of summer

PHOTO COURTESY OF SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY/ GRAPHIC BY KARL LUDWIG

were up [at Slippery Rock] f o r optional training

Sanders went on to say and we had lifted arms the day before aand the next we that as he went through were going out to run and the process of recovering wa just hurting from another blood clot, my calf was really bad," Sanders said. he kept his faith in God The fact that th the team did and is thankful of the not have an any workouts in support his coaches and the day prio prior, signaled that fellow teammates gave something was not right, him throughout his road Sanders said. said to recovery.

"I finishe Sanders said the coaches nished the workout, kept running runnin and was just made sure to let Sanders like 'man this t doesn't feel know that he will always be right'," Sanders San said. "So a part of the football team I just made my way back no matter what happens to Ohio, Ohio went to the and ensured him that hospit hospital and of course they would not take away it was a blood his athletic scholarship, c regardless of the linebacker's clot."

This time, circumstances. With the the blood clot overwhelming support formed in his from those around him, calf, and once Sanders wanted to return again Sanders' to playing football, if he football career could control it.

"That was part of the hung in the b reason why I wanted to fight balance.

"A "At that hospital, and work hard to get back," they told me I Sanders said. "I knew I had could couldn't play again," people who have my back Sande and that made the process Sanders said.

Unw Unwilling to depart go so much easier. It took from th the game that he a lot of load off and it just has invest invested so much time made me feel so much into, Sanders San went and better. I can't even really sought a second s opinion explain it. I love the team, I a few day days later. It was really do." ultimately d determined that Sanders would go on to a return to ffootball was not miss the first five games ruled out oof the equation, of the 2019 season, before as Sanders' recovery would returning in Slippery be monitor monitored over time. Rock's most important There was one o unfortunate game of the year up until guarantee from fr the doctor that point, against Indiana however.

(Pa.).

"Once I got the second With just over five opinion th they said 'Well minutes of regulation time look, we'll we'l put you on played, Sanders would have your blood thinners and his name called upon, as see how it goes,'" g Sanders McDonald went down said. with a freak ACL injury The docto doctors went on to tell in the first quarter after Sanders that if he happens to returning an interception suffer from another blood for a touchdown. clot, that his time in football SEE FOOTBALL PAGE D-8 will be done done.

The everlasting race

By Aaron Marrie Multimedia Editor

15 meets. 15 times lacing up. 15 times Kacey Raible would run for the Slippery Rock University cross country team. It all started in the fall of 2017.

Raible started at Slippery Rock in 2016 but closed out high school not really enjoying cross country so she decided not to join the team. Cross country track and field head coach, John Papa, suggested that she try it. Fast forward to 2019 as she finished just one spot away from being in the NCAA Divison II National Championships.

"I started working super hard towards a goal just to get on the regional team," Raible said. "Now I ended up getting top ten in the region."

Raible actually didn't even realize she almost had the opportunity to run until after her ninth place finish on Saturday at the NCCA Division II Atlantic Region Championships.

"I was not at all, though, expecting to have even a chance of going to nationals individually," Raible said. "That was a huge surprise to me."

"One shot of competing with the best of the best of D2," Raible said.

Raible's goal coming into the season was to be around last year's performance of 18th. Raible knew that was going to be hard and the competition was going to be tough.

"One shot of competing with the best of the best in D2," Raible said, if she had been given a shot to participate at nationals.

As a team, Raible said, they wanted to make it to nationals as they had lost one of their top four runners from last season. Raible also highlighted the overnight meets and the trip to Colorado earlier this season.

"Cross country is more of a family base so I love going to different meets where we stay the night and just bond," Raible said.

When Raible isn't running though, she is living in McKay. Raible is a dual major in early childhood and special education. Raible has won scholar-athlete awards multiple times balancing a mixture between academics and athletics.

"I've been taking 18, 19 credits the whole way up so I've had a lot on my plate," Raible said. "Running

almost helps me balance my classes which is why I think it turned into me becoming better because I use running as a stress reliever."

Raible said she found that needed to find that balance when it came to athletes and it really does help her. Raible found that enjoyment when it came to running and now that her cross country career is over and is moving toward track season she looks past her time her at Slippery Rock.

"I can see myself in the future maybe taking on some 5K races or maybe a half marathon," Raible said. "I definitely will continue to run."

With Raible's career in cross country ending she wants her team and future cross country members to know one thing.

"I most importantly want my team and future athletes on the cross country team just to know to believe in themselves," Raible said.

"I went from the bottom, not competing, last on the team in works outs to a top ten regional qualifier." "I don't know how many people can say that, that they went from the bottom to the top." "That was all believing and hard work."

PHOTO COURTESY OF SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

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November 15, 2019

PSAC heavyweights fight for bragging rights The Rock looks to capture PSAC title against Kutztown

By Brendan Howe Asst. Campus Life Editor

“We don’t want a participation trophy,” Shawn Lutz said. “We want a championship trophy.”

Two of Division II’s remaining eleven undefeated teams will converge Saturday afternoon for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship game. For the fifth time in seven years, Slippery Rock will participate in the contest, traveling almost five hours to Kutztown University to face its biggest test this season in the Golden Bears. The Green and White is seeking its 12th league crown and first since it had gone back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.

Last weekend’s triumph at Gannon was the Rock’s 16thstraight PSAC West victory, rounding out a second consecutive perfect run through the division. Only California (Pa.) has done the same since the conference increased each division to eight teams.

Both squads are 10-0 for the first time in their programs’ histories, but the similarities don’t stop at the season records.

Led by three-time All-PSAC East second-team selection Collin DiGalbo, the Kutztown attack shares the ball and averages over 37 points per game. The redshirt senior DiGalbo, rested last weekend against Millersville, is Division II’s leading active passer, with 8,327 yards in 39 career contests.

“He’s why they’re undefeated,” Lutz, SRU’s fourth-year head coach, said. “In this league, if you don’t have an elite quarterback, you’re just going to be average.

The thing that creates problems with [DiGalbo] is, yeah, he can make all the throws, but they do so much quarterback running with him.”

With Harlon Hill candidate and first-team All-PSAC West passer Roland Rivers, Slippery Rock has posted 323.3 yards per game through the air, secondmost in the PSAC. The passing attack ranks sixth in the entire country. The prolific senior quarterback is fourth in the

country with a .726 completion percentage.

The two quarterbacks are the only active passers in all of Division II who have thrown for over 7,000 yards and ran for at least 1,000 yards in their careers.

Rivers, with 83 passing touchdowns, and DiGalbo, with 68, rank first and third, respectively, among active quarterbacks in that category Kutztown’s rushing offense is the second-best, statistically, in the PSAC. To supplement fifth-year senior tailback Abdul HassanNeblett, with 798 yards and nine touchdowns, the Golden Bears frequently run designed keepers for their quarterback. DiGalbo has an even 100 rushes for 430 yards and nine touchdowns.

In the team’s first game, against Assumption, DiGalbo busted loose for a team-long 76-yard scamper.

Along with his passing prowess, Rivers leads Slippery Rock in rushing. In 111 attempts, he’s galloped for 538 yards and six touchdowns. Senior running back Charles Snorweah, a grad transfer from Rutgers, has grinded out five yards a carry for 463 yards despite being sidelined by an injury for an extended period of time. Junior back Desean Dinkins has picked up 254 yards on the ground.

Golden Bear wideouts Jake Novak, Mason McElroy, Diego Torres, and Jerry Kapp have each scored four touchdowns and caught between 22 and 31 footballs. 6’3”, 245-pound Jack Pilkerton has 406 yards and leads the receiving corps with half-adozen touchdowns.

“We won’t see a tight end better than No. 87,” Lutz said of Pilkerton. “They flank him out and put him in a lot of different spots. He can make the jump balls and we’ve got to know where he is.”

“Against [DiGalbo], you’ve got to man up and cover their receivers,” Lutz said of the way the Kutztown quarterback distributes the ball. “If you play zone, this guy will eat you alive.”

In redshirt juniors Henry Litwin and Jermaine Wynn Jr.,

the Rock has the best receiving tandem in the conference. The duo has combined for 122 grabs, 1,882 yards, and 24 touchdowns through the team’s first ten games.

Cinque Sweeting has 657 receiving yards and nine touchdowns while Qaadir Dixon has 332 yards and three scores.

Under first-year offensive designer Adam Neugebauer, the attack sits first in Division II in passing effieciency (195.2), third in scoring offense (47.9 points per game), and 10th in total offense (499.0 yards per game.)

“I think, really, to be perfectly honest with you, there’s only one team that can stop our offense,” Lutz said. “And that’s ourselves.

That would be us turning over the football, a rainstorm, a snowstorm. I’m not trying to be cocky about that, but we’re so explosive in so many ways.”

Rivers and company have tallied 61 touchdowns, tied for most in the PSAC. The Golden Bear defense, having conceded a league-low 16 touchdowns, is anchored by its defensive backfield. Safety Shawn Turber-Ortiz, a redshirt junior with an All-PSAC East honor to his name, paces the team with 75 tackles and four interceptions.

Senior cornerback Ahkee CoxCowan holds the school record for career pass breakups (49) and passes defended (61.) Junior safety Nick Palmer has snared four picks as well.

Chasing DiGalbo will be the PSAC’s sack leader in Chad Kuhn, who will be seeking to add to his total of 10.5 on the season.

Linebacker Brad Zaffram leads the team in tackles with 70 and with 18 tackles for loss, he leads the conference.

Ranking second and third in the PSAC, both teams’ rush defenses are almost identical.

Slippery Rock allows only 2.9 yards per opponent’s attempt while Kutztown has granted 2.8 yards a carry. Other than Cal U’s meager 50.9 ground yards given up per game, KU’s 91.5 and the Rock’s 92.7 have been the lowest in the conference.

With Kutztown hosting its first conference title game since

KEEGAN BEARD / THE ROCKET

Tight end Colton Richards and offensive lineman Ryan Podgorski celebrate in the end zone in a game this season.

2011, Slippery Rock can expect the bleachers to be chock-full.

Lutz believes his team will see the road game as just another challenge.

“Our guys kind of like going into another place and getting booed and kind of being the underdogs.

They thrive on stuff like that […] They won’t back down and they won’t be intimidated.”

Accolades don’t matter right now for Lutz, who said the season starts now for his group. “ R i g h t n ow, w e’r e 0-0,” Lutz said. “What

are the odds of us winning a national championship? There’s only going to be one that going to be satisfied with their season. But, winning a PSAC championship is something you’ll never forget.”

Foundation for the future Improving the equity of women's athletics at SRU

By Karl Ludwig Sports Editor

By Hannah Shumsky Editor-in-Chief

"Lift as you rise," Andrea Miller said.

Miller, the assistant athletic director for compliance and the senior women's administrator, serves many roles on campus, especially within the athletic department.

During Miller's time as a student athlete in college, a year spent on Slippery Rock's lacrosse team, she found her platform as a student athlete allowed her to positively impact the campus as a leader.

Which she strives to impart upon current student athletes at SRU. "We don't want to beat each other down, so we're always there to support each other," she added. "Females in athletics need to lift as we rise and be leaders, but we also need to be genuine friends to those other females on our teams."

SRU is home to seven men's and 10 women's teams. With so many student athletes across all sports and genders, the athletic experience allows student athletes to create meaningful bonds across every sport.

This was exactly the case for Miller as she grew up with a prominent involvement in sports.

"I think it added structure to my life when I was growing up," Miller said. "I actually had a lot of friends that I had just because of sports, at other schools. It wasn't just the high school or the elementary school that I went to."

Slippery Rock volleyball coach Laurie Lokash plays off this idea, adding that coaches need to serve as ambassadors of their games and provide as many opportunities for young girls and women to grow and learn to stand on their own.

"It's not so much just women in athletics, most coaches are ambassadors of

their games," Lokash said.

"Whether it's kids coming to Slippery Rock or kids coming to your camp in the summer, sports does a lot for girls."

When college athletics are brought up in conversation, rarely does a female athlete feature heavily in those discussions.

Using professional basketball as an example, in 2015, the Women's National basketball Association averaged 202,000 viewers per game. In 2018, the average National Basketball Association broadcast on TNT averaged roughly 1.5 million viewers.

"Boys have that natural aggressive instinct and it's okay to be rough and tumble," Lokash said. "Girls sometimes are socialized in a very different manner. I think sometimes girls need to learn to stand on their own."

As a milestone in women's collegiate athletic history, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law in June 1972, prohibiting dis-

crimination on basis of sex in any federally-funded educational program. Schools weren't required to meet these requirements in athletics programs until 1978, but this specific law was short lived.

In the case of Grove City College v. Bell in 1984, the Supreme Court of the United States concluded that Title IX only applies to certain programs, excluding athletics from Title IX protection. This was reversed in the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987.

After three women's varsity sports were cut in the mid-2000s, a group of female athletes at Slippery Rock sued the university under Title IX. The university and the group of athletes settled, bringing with it reparations to begin to fix the years of neglect that the women's sports had endured.

In the years since, field hockey has returned to its varsity status. Men's sports like wrestling, tennis and

golf were cut, which allowed greater equity between men's and women's athletics.

"I know some people probably have some bitter feelings about the Title IX thing that happened here, but that's what was needed to get things on an even keel," Lokash said. "It can't be okay for one team to be getting x number of dollars a day to eat while maybe another team gets five dollars less. Whether that's men's or women's, or vice versa, it doesn't matter. An athlete is an athlete is an athlete, and they should be treated that way."

While the status of women's athletics at Slippery Rock is at an all-time high, that does not mean things are perfect. Lokash feels that there is always room to improve moving forward.

Football and men's basketball continue to dominate the athletic department, and likely will continue to do so in the years to come, but the first step toward equity has al-

ready been initiated with the hiring of a senior women's administrator. Which, is essentially the highest ranked woman in the athletic department.

With the addition of Miller as the SWA, the process has already begun, and she has embraced the opportunity of providing support and help to other women administrators and student-athletes.

Providing women's athletics more representation and opportunity will go a long way in continuing to improve the equity between men's and women's athletics. Having another seat at the table in SRU's athletic department opens the door to future representation and mentorship.

"The other female sports and coaches have another ally on their side to speak on their behalf," Miller said.

"Not just that, but it also gives us an opportunity to help them rise and grow as they move on to different positions."

November 15, 2019 Tholel is a freshman forward from Tri City Christian by way of Almere, Netherlands.

The 6-7, 215 pound freshman averages 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 15 minutes per game.

Revelinio Tholel 1 - Freshman Forward

SPORTS Seadey is a redshirt junior guard from Wakefield in Centerville, Va. The 6-1, 175 pound guard attended George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College before coming to The Rock last season.

Andre Seadey 2 - RS Junior Guard

Walker is a redshirt senior guard from Sp r i n g b ro o k in Burtonsville, Md. The 6-0, 160 guard is averaging 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in 20.5 minutes per game.

Lindsey is a freshman forward from Meadville in Meadville, Pa. The 6-8, 210 pound forward has collected eight rebounds in limited playing time this season. He is the alltime leading scorer at his high school.

Donovan Walker 3 - RS Senior Guard

Lashon Lindsey 4 - Freshman Forward

Robertson is a junior forward from Woodland Hills in Pittsburgh, Pa. The 6-4, 210 pound forward attended the CC of Beaver County before coming to The Rock.

Armstrong is a senior guard from Fork Union Military Academy. The 5-10, 175 pound guard is averaging 22.5 points per game this season. Last season, he was a second team All-PSAC selection.

Deontae Robertson 23 - Junior Forward

Jared Armstrong 10 - Senior Guard

Till is a redshirt senior forward from Wise in Upper Marlboro, Md. The 6-7, 250 pound forward averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game last season. He is a two-time All-Region selection.

Cazacu is a sophomore gaurd from Know School by way of Athens, Greece.

The 6-4, 195 pound gaurd is averaging 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 14 minutes per game.

Micah Till 11 - RS Senior Forward

Taylor is a junior guard from Prep Charter in Philadelphia, Pa. The 5-11, 175 guard attended the CC of Beaver County before coming to The Rock.

Eric Taylor 13 - Junior Guard

Robinson, Jr. is a senior guard from Digital Harbor in Baltimore, Md. The 6-5, 219 pound forward is averaging 31.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game.

Will Robinson, Jr. 15 - Senior Forward

Caruso is a freshman guard from Mars in Mars, Pa. The 5-10, 185 pound guard was a part of two WPIAL championships at Mars.

Nik Cazacu 12 - Sophomore Guard

Fowlkes is a sophomore guard from Canon McMillan in Strabane, Pa. The 6-3, 170 pound guard is averaging 2.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in 14.5 minutes per game.

Jason Fowlkes 14 - Sophomore Guard

Clifford is a freshman gaurd from Taylor Allderdice in Pittsburgh, Pa. The 6-3, 205 pound guard was a part of three consecutive City League championships at Taylor Allderdice.

Bobby Clifford 20 - Freshman Guard

Bounds is a sophomore forward from Battlefield in Gainesville, Va. The 6-7, 210 forward is averaging 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game this season in 10 minutes per game.

Brandon Caruso 32 - Freshman Guard

Will Bounds 24 - Sophomore Fwd.

Britt is a sophomore guard from Woodland Hills in Wilkinsburg, Pa. the 5-10, 170 pound guard is averaging 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in 25 minutes per game.

Cherry is a freshman guard from Altoona in Altoona, Pa. The 6-1, 160 pound guard lettered in basketball twice while playing at Altoona.

Amante Britt 25 - Sophomore Guard

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Nate Cherry 35 - Freshman Guard PHOTOS COURTESY OF SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

SPORTS

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November 15, 2019

November 15, 2019

SPORTS

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For the love of the game Rivers winds down his career at Slippery Rock

Senior quarterback Roland Rivers III surveys the field against Millersville University in Sept. Rivers has passed for over 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns this season.

By Karl Ludwig Sports Editor

His jaw dropped, and his eyes went wide.

The 13 year old boy was not really surprised, but he couldn't help but marvel at what he'd just witnessed.

He was hundreds of miles away, sitting on the edge of the couch in his Atlanta, Georgia home. Yet it was almost like he was there, sitting on a rigid stadium seat at Raymond James Stadium, hundreds of feet away instead of hundreds of miles.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had just zipped a fastball toward the back of the end zone, a pass intended for Santonio Holmes.

Second and goal-to-go. But it was the biggest of the season.

Super Bowl XLIII hung in the balance as the jumbotron showed just 36 seconds remaining in the game, in the season.

As the pass hung in the air, millions of people, including the boy, watched and waited as the ball zipped toward Holmes.

The boy had an advantage though, he knew what was going to happen.

Detroit to Atlanta Atlanta is home for Roland Rivers III, but he spent the early part of his life growing up in Detroit, Michigan.

While he didn't play much football yet, he loved riding bikes and playing basketball with his brothers, one younger and one older. The trio developed a close bond through their childhood, one which has been strengthened through the years.

They're a close family, he says, and football is only part of the equation.

“I’m my brothers' keepers," Rivers says. "Growing up, no matter what adversity or challenges I went through in life, it was always easy to get through it. I didn’t even know anything outside of being with my brothers and having them with me through everything.”

The Rivers family would reside in Detroit until the time Roland was in third grade. That year, they moved down to Ellenwood, Georgia, a suburb just under 20 miles from downtown Atlanta.

Rivers says he still remembers that first day in Atlanta; it's not something he's likely to forget.

“When we moved back down to Atlanta when I was in third grade, we went to visit Martin Luther King Jr.’s house," Rivers says. "We went down there and walked through his house, and that’s a memory I’ll always remember."

The day spent touring King's house was punctuated with a visit to Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta and some time to swim around in the pool. That was a good day spent with family, he says. The beginning of life in Georgia.

Football did not become a big part of Rivers' life until fifth grade. He played pee-wee football, but the game didn't really have his full attention yet, he says.

Living in the suburbs just outside Atlanta, Rivers says he would spend all day out in the cul-de-sac with his brothers.

They'd spend hours playing basketball, tossing the football around or just playing for fun. It was just a fun experience at the time, but it always laid the groundwork for how Rivers would eventually carry himself on the football field.

Football grew into a game that brought the brothers even closer together.

While the Rivers brothers have fun with each other, they are a competitive bunch, he says. The eldest Rivers brother attended

Miles College to play college football while the youngest is currently an All-American safety at Valdosta State.

That passion and excitement that Rivers felt as a child, playing all sorts of games with his brothers, has been something he imparts on his teammates at Slippery Rock. Let's play like sixyear-olds, he says, let's recapture that fun and enjoyment we felt when we were that young.

“That same feeling I had when I was a kid competing with my brothers and always wanting to win is the same thing that persists for me today," Rivers says.

The unconditional love and support has continued to grow as they reach adulthood. With the youngest Rivers forced to miss a year of time at Valdosta State, Rivers says while his brother is facing some adversity, he will continue to be there and guide his brother through it.

When Rivers needs support from his brothers, they've always been there for him. And he will continue to be there for them.

Martin Luther King High Most NFL quarterbacks tend to have run the gauntlet of starting every single game from junior high football, high school football and Division I college football before finally entering the league as heralded draft picks.

That's not the case for Rivers, an NFL hopeful following the season.

He started for his varsity football team while at Martin Luther King High School in Ellenwood, Georgia, but he was a tight end. He got his only taste of quarterback action as the starter of the junior varsity team.

Rivers says he enjoyed blocking and catching passes as a tight end, but he truly had a passion for playing quarterback.

It wasn't until his junior season that he was finally handed the reins of the Martin Luther King offense.

“My junior season, I only played in three games, but I played really well," Rivers says. "I think I threw for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns in those games. Going into my senior season, that was my first full season as a starting quarterback.”

As a senior, Rivers led the Lions to a 7-4 record and a spot in Georgia AAAAA State Playoffs. His 2,685 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air earned him an All-State honorable mention.

However, that season came to a premature end, with an exit in the first round of the state playoffs. But, if it's any consolation, it came at the hands of one of the leading NFL MVP candidates this season.

“We faced off against Deshaun Watson in Gainesville in the first round of the playoffs," Rivers says. "It was a rainy game, and they came out on top, 28-14, but going up there and playing against a competitor like him [was great].”

The loss left Rivers hungry for more football, and he was ready to head to the next level.

Valdosta and Injury Perennial Division II powerhouse and 2018 NCAA Division II champion Valdosta State currently sits at No. 1 in the Division II rankings. They haven't budged from that spot in a while now, last having lost way back in 2017.

If things had gone according to plan, Rivers would currently be leading the Blazers toward a second consecutive national championship.

Rivers says the Blazers offered him a full scholarship coming off his senior season at MLK and the plan was to start all four seasons in Valdosta.

The plan got off to a slow start, and Rivers spent most of his time as the backup quarterback during his freshman season. In limited playing time, he still threw for 548 yards and six touchdowns compared to just two interceptions.

That wasn't enough for Rivers, though, he says. He earned the starting job the following season and through seven games, the Blazers were 6-1 and ranked in the top 10 in the country.

Valdosta defeated Delta State in its homecoming game that season, but Rivers suffered a season-ending injury. He would miss the remaining three games that season and Valdosta suffered a loss to UNC Pembroke in the first round of the NCAA playoffs.

“I’m thankful for everything that I've gone through. It makes me more appreciative of the game of football. I’ll never step on the field, do anything or take the game for granted,” — Roland Rivers III He never suited up for the Blazers again.

His shoulder injury which held him out the entire 2017 season eventually got into his head. He says he wasn't sure his shoulder would ever be 100% again.

“I read about guys like Drew Brees and his shoulder injury and Braxton Miller had to change his whole position because of a labrum tear, so not knowing if I would be able to play the game that I love at a high-level again was definitely scary,” Rivers says.

While he was out of football for a while, Rivers says he kept his faith through the entire ordeal. He rehabbed hard, working day in and day out to get back to the shape he was in before going down with an injury.

A way of coping with the injury, he says, was working the youth around the university.

“I worked at a boy’s and girl’s club back at Valdosta State, and I really found a passion for doing that, just seeing the impact that I had on being around the youth," Rivers says.

At a point in his life where he wasn't quite sure where he was going or what he was going to do, he says the kids he worked with helped take his mind off his troubles. The kids helped him through a rough patch in his life.

The impact of the time spent with the boy's and girl's club was enough to instill in him a passion for working with children, a calling that he says awaits when his time with football is finally over.

Standing head and shoulders over most adults and more than three times the size of most children, Rivers feels that sometimes people may think he's an imposing figure -- they're right about being an imposing figure. But he says he's actually nicer than what most people think.

“I’m a guy who loves helping people and loves passing positive energy to everyone I come in contact with," Rivers says. "I’m a very loving person, and as I’ve grown into my mature ways, I learned I love working with kids and being a mentor to the youth.”

Valdosta was an up and down experience for Rivers, with his time as a Blazer ultimately ending prematurely. That doesn't bother Rivers though. In fact, he only feels gratitude for the entire process.

It brought him closer to the game he loves most of all.

“I’m thankful for everything that I've gone through," Rivers says. "It makes me more appreciative of the game of football.

I’ll never step on the field, do anything or take the game for granted. I love it, it’s my passion and it’s what I want to do in my life. I’m glad I had to go through [the injury] to realize how much the injury meant to me.”

Slippery Rock “I can see into the future," Rivers says, after a second of thought. Not in the literal sense, but in a way that if options are laid out, he says he would be able to help a person work through their choices.

OK, maybe in the literal sense, too.

“I wouldn’t say I always had this vision, but leading up to deciding to come up here, Slippery Rock wasn’t even the school that was in mind," Rivers says. "I had a vision of me playing in this green uniform, I still have that vision in my head today, I was in a green uniform with these white pants. ... Maybe it was just destiny for me to come up here.”

Rivers had seen Slippery Rock in national rankings, recognizing the name from searching the rankings while at Valdosta, but he had no idea where the school with an odd name was located.

There's no way he could have pointed it out on a map.

“I really took a leap of faith," he admits, "but I’m glad that I did."

Very soon after arriving at The Rock, he felt how different the atmosphere was. His love for the small town was immediate and it has only grown as Slippery Rock has welcomed him like a prodigal son returning home.

Former Valdosta State quarterbacks coach Justin Roper was actually the one to bring Slippery Rock to Rivers' attention after the former was named as SRU's new offensive coordinator in early 2016.

After doing some research, looking up former Rock quarterback Tanner Garry, Rivers noticed a few things. Garry put up monster numbers in his lone season, and despite missing the playoffs, Slippery Rock was a missing piece away from heading back.

A puzzle piece the size of a smooth-talking, strong-armed quarterback from Georgia.

Like everything in Rivers' life, he worked hard and earned the starting job. Coming into camp late, he was stuck behind Rock quarterbacks Andrew Koester and Taylor King heading into Week 1 of the 2018 season.

It wasn't until injuries to both players that Rivers was afforded the chance to finally take the field.

Less than two years later, he has broken the record for all-time passing touchdowns in a career at Slippery Rock.

Through 10 games this season, Rivers is a leading Harlon Hill Award candidate. His 3,107 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns (a single-season SRU record) rank inside the top five nationally.

While proud of those accomplishments, Rivers says they're individual awards. What he wants is so much bigger and more important: the NCAA championship. He wants it like nothing else he's ever wanted, except maybe playing in the NFL. Maybe.

Besides, with two guaranteed games left, Rivers has time to continue putting eye-popping numbers. With some luck, he says he'll be able to push those numbers so high that no player will ever be able to catch him.

With the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game against Kutztown on Saturday, Rivers has a chance for redemption, too. After laying an egg against West Chester in the PSAC title last season, he can rewrite that part of the storybook.

Ranked No. 2 in Super Region One, Slippery Rock will attempt to knock off Kutztown and claim the No. 1 seed in the region and ride through the playoffs with home-field advantage.

While nothing is guaranteed, none of it would even be possible without a huge leap of faith.

"I needed to go somewhere else and stand on my own two feet as a man and just figure out who I am as a person," Rivers says. "If I’m a leader down there in Valdosta, and if I’m a leader here, I’ll be a leader anywhere I go.”

Leaving home for a cold, rainy place that he knew nothing about is exactly what he needed. It's what he wanted to do, even with his parents questioning the decision. In his heart, he says, leaving Valdosta for Slippery Rock felt like the right thing to do.

“Now that I’m here at The Rock, everything happened for a reason," Rivers says. "If I had to go out and change anything, I wouldn’t change anything at all.”

The experience has allowed Rivers to learn a lot about himself.

Away from family and friends, he has been forced to grow up and take care of his responsibilities.

Fending for himself, Rivers would love to eat salmon with some broccoli and potatoes every day, but he usually settles for Boozel Dining Hall instead.

In the afternoons, he'll get some grilled chicken and make a fresh chicken salad. If it's early morning, after finishing up a practice, he'll grab a bowl of oatmeal. At Slippery Rock, Boozel is the go-to.

NFL "With My Team" by the Creek Boyz blasting in his ears, Rivers sits in the locker room of Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

It's half an hour until game time, and instead of tens of thousands of fans packing the bleachers, it's a few thousand.

Which, for the Division II level is a lot, can't compare to anything Division I has to offer.

Division II football doesn't produce NFL players. NFL hopefuls don't come to the Divison II level because it prepares them for NFL level football.

That doesn't stop Rivers from dreaming, working and busting his butt to get to that level.

"All the haters and all the doubters who said you can’t make it from D-II... I never let that get to me," Rivers says. "I’m still going to continue working. I’m not there yet, but I feel confident in my ability to play quarterback at the highest level.”

Slippery Rock does not have the resources and connections that an athlete would find at even a lesser-known team in Division I football.

It would have been easy to give up on the NFL, he says. At any point along the way, it may have even been easier to give up.

Rivers believes his best football is still ahead of him, a sentiment shared by Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz.

Lutz has praised Rivers for his ability to seemingly improve each and every week.

While on the stat sheet, Rivers may not have seemed like he had the biggest day against arch-rival Indiana (Pa.)

KEEGAN BEARD / THE ROCKET

this season, Lutz says Rivers was in complete control of the game.

On arguably the biggest possession of the season, Rivers orchestrated a 14-play, 7-minute drive, capped off by a touchdown from SRU running back Charles Snorweah, to put the game out of reach and secure one of the biggest wins in the region.

A 4th-and-1 on their own side of the field stands out on that drive, but it was a 3rd-and-7 play that cemented Rivers as a clutch player.

With a couple of Crimson Hawks defenders bearing down on him in the backfield, Rivers rolled out of the pocket, avoiding the defense, and fired a perfect pass 13-yards down the field to pick up a crucial first down.

A couple of plays later, Snorweah scored the game-sealing touchdown.

“That play on third down to Cinque [Sweeting]," Rivers says.

"That was the play where after the play, all I could hear was the crowd. It seemed like the moment after that catch… I was in that moment for a long time. Even though we ran a play 15 seconds later, it just felt like that moment is one I’ll remember for life.”

A 45-42 victory over the Crimson Hawks, the second consecutive in one of the biggest rivalries in Division II football, saw Rivers complete clutch throws, extend plays with his legs, and most importantly, win the game.

Despite Rivers' level of play on the field never reaching this point before, he expects and predicts more from himself.

“I feel like my best football days are ahead of me, that’s exactly how I feel," Rivers says. "Every game, I’m learning more about myself and what I’m able to do on the field. I’m excited. I love this position; I love playing football and there’s no greater game than football.”

The Super Bowl "And it is... CAUGHT FOR A TOUCHDOWN! By Holmes!" Al Michaels shouted, celebrations erupting on the Steelers' sideline.

Rivers was right all along.

"I just knew Ben Roethlisberger was going to go down the field and make it happen," Rivers says, holding his Slippery Rock helmet in one hand as he surveys his teammates warming up beneath an overcast sky.

Watching that play, Rivers decided then and there that he was going to be an NFL quarterback.

“I really fell in love with the game of football when Ben Roethlisberger threw that game-winning touchdown to Santonio Holmes in the back of the end zone against the Cardinals," Rivers says. "Ben Roethlisberger became my favorite quarterback. That’s when I really chased after wanting to be a quarterback. That’s what I wanted to do right then and there.

With a smile on his face, Rivers, who looks a bit like Ben Roethlisberger when he throws his helmet on, turns toward Bob DiSpirito field, watching his teammates mill around before practice starts.

After a brief pause, he sprints forward toward the huddle of teammates at midfield.

His team needs its leader.

D-6

SPORTS A glimpse into Super Region One

November 15, 2019

Slippery Rock and Kutztown battle for supremacy in the region

By Zack Bonnette Asst. Sports Editor

With another football season winding down in Division II football, a clear picture has formed that features the probable teams that have a chance to be selected to compete in the national playoffs that are slated to begin on Nov. 23.

Much different from Division I that only features a four-team playoff format, Division II features 28 teams from across the United States to battle it out in hopes to hoist the national championship trophy.

These 28 teams are put into 4 super regions of 7 teams each, with the top-seeded team in each super-region receiving a first-round bye, as well as home-field advantage up until the semi-finals, where the representative teams from each region are then reseeded.

With the start of the Division II playoffs just under two weeks away, the No. 8 Slippery Rock football team is primed to make some noise in the postseason for a second consecutive season.

Compiling a 10-0 regular season record, The Rock is off to its best start in its illustrious 121-year history and is firmly entrenched in playoff contention, coming at No. 2 in the third set of NCAA Super Region One rankings.

As it currently stands, five Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams are ranked in the top seven in the region. The only team ranked ahead of The Rock is the very one that

stands in their way for the right to be called PSAC champion, Kutztown University. Notre Dame college comes in at third, followed by Indiana (Pa.), Shepherd, West Virginia State and West Chester to round out the teams who currently qualify to make the playoffs in the Super Region One. With an undefeated regular season under their belt, The Rock has a chance to capture their 12th Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title as they travel 295 miles away from home to take on the Golden Bears on Saturday at 12:05 p.m.

Besides deciding the champion of the PSAC, Saturday's game also carries massive playoffs implications both for The Rock and the Golden Bears.

The victor of Saturday's game will clinch the top spot in the regional rankings and be guaranteed a first-round bye in the national playoffs as well as home field advantage through at least the semifinals round.

Although the first t w o s e e d s i n Su p e r Region One are virtually guaranteed to go between Slippery Rock and Kutztown, there is still a lot of room for a potential shakeup in the rankings in advance of the final set of rankings that are set to be released Sunday.

Notre Dame college who is currently ranked third in the region, faces off against the sixth ranked regional team We s t Vi r g i n i a St a t e .

W i t h We s t V i r g i n i a State holding two losses

1. Kutztown (10-0) 2. Slippery Rock (10-0) 3. Notre Dame (Oh.) (9-1) 4. Indiana (Pa.) (9-1) 5. Shepherd (8-2) 6. West Virginia State (7-2) 7. West Chester (8-2) 8. Tiffin (8-1) 9. Urbana (7-3) 10. Ohio Dominican (6-2)

KEEGAN BEARD / THE ROCKET

Junior wide receiver Jermaine Wynn, Jr. faces his locker room before a game this season. Wynn, along with fellow junior Henry Litwin, are considered the best receiver duo in the PSAC.

to their name and Notre Dame college coming off a bad loss against unranked Glenville State, the loser of this game may very well be on the outside looking in when it's all said and done.

West Chester currently sits at number seven in the regional rankings and draws a tough game against California (Pa.).

If the Golden Rams fail to stave off the Vulcans in the regular season finale, the defending PSAC champions will surely miss the final cut.

Ranked eighth through tenth in the Super Region One rankings,Tiffin,UrbanaandOhio Dominican are knocking on the door of the playoffs, anxious for one of the top seven teams to make a mistake ahead of Sunday's final cut.

Another interesting but potential scenario that can take place within the Super One playoffs, is a potential rematch between bitter rivals Slippery Rock and IUP. The scenario in which this would happen isn't so far fetched, either. The Rock would need to defeat Kutztown and, therefore,

earn the number one seed in the region and IUP would need to take care of a lowly Shippensburg squad to secure the fourth seed and a home game in the first round of the playoffs against the likely five seed in Shepard.

If In d i a n a we re t o move on from there, then that would set up a rematch in one o f t h e b e s t r i va l r i e s across Division II, as the Green and White w o u l d we l c o m e b a c k the Crimson Hawks to Mihalik-Thompson stadium.

However, a lot can change ahead of ahead of the last set of regional rankings, as the games still need to be played.

These scenarios aren't guaranteed to happen by any means, but they offer some interesting insight as to how much is still to be decided in the coming days.

Out of the 57 teams that comprise Super Region One, only seven will emerge from the dust on Sunday with a chance to become the 49th Division II national champion.

Transfer finds a home at The Rock Senior forward makes his mark at Slippery pp y Rock

By Tyler Howe Senior Rocket Contributor

It was a normal day, Will Robinson Jr. was at home relaxing, when all of a sudden the phone rang.

It was a coach who had heard about him from a pickup game he had played weeks earlier. Robinson had just left Mcneese State, where he played the 2018-2019 season, and he was looking for places to transfer.

That coach was Slippery Rock men’s basketball head coach Ian Grady, and he had taken a real interest in Robinson and wanted him to come play for the Rock.

“The person who I talked to after I played pickup told me, ‘If you need help or anything like getting into school or whatever I can help you,’ and my phone had been blowing up and I didn’t think I’d need help, so when he called and told me about the school I was like ‘Where? Like what?,’” Robinson said. “And I just gave it a chance and coach showed they believed in me the whole time, and they just kept pushing and pushing, I figured if anyone wants me this bad then maybe that’s the place I need to be.”

Coming out of high school, Robinson was a highly sought after prospect. The path t o g e t t i n g re c r u i t e d however, was not an easy one for Robinson.

Robinson played for four different high schools in four years. Ultimately he would lead his final high school to a state championship, while also receiving first team-all conference honors and was named district player of the year.

“Winning ors] [those honors] nd was surreal and te we won a state ip p championship o, that year too, so it truly was a ent surreal moment allyy and I was really yyself,” happy for myself,” d.

Robinson said. enior year, y After his senior Robinson gott looks from y schools like Maryland, nd Depaul. p Temple, and emic reasons Due to academic binson had though, Robinson

“Winning [those honors] was surreal and we won a state championship that year too, so it truly was a surreal moment and I was really happy for myself,” — Will Robinson unior college to take the junior route.

Although Robinson had rts attention gotten all sorts sion I and from Division g the Division II colleges, only juco offer he received was from Gulf Coast ulf Coast State. At Gulf ege, g State College, R o b i n s o n 4 averaged 19.4 p o i n t s and 5.4 re b o u n d s and also

earned FCSAA/ g NJCAA Region 8 All-State and A l l - Pa n h a n d l e conference honors. playing y g After p for Gulf Coast g for State College y two years, Robinson decided to make the p to Division jump I basketball. In the end it came down to two colleges,

Mcneese State and C o a s t a l Carolina. “ C o a s t a l Carolina was myy number two, I was y an hour awayy maybe from tellingg the coaches there that I was ggoingg to verballyy commit, and then p and I talked to myy parents theyy didn’t reallyy p push me y but I knew the that way, y g at coaches and everything Coastal Carolina and theyy y y said maybe you should g awayy from people p p yyou go knew back home,” Robinson said. the After conversation with his p parents, he decided to go to Mcneese State, but the onlyy reason he even

considered it p in the first place was because he knew a ggood friend who was ggoingg to p y there. At Mcneese play State, Robinson started the first two games of the

p y over season and played 30 minutes in both games, but saw his minutes cut and onlyy started one more game that season.

“After the season g g to I was going y I had stay, a good

p relationship with some of p y over there, the players and then I had a sit down with the coach he told g I was a me he thought g p y but he didn’t good player, think he could fulfill the p promises he made me g g into that season,” going said Robinson.

“Once we had that sit down I let him know I plan on trying my best

p at some point p to be a pro y g six or and if I’m p playing g seven minutes a game that’s p y not ggoingg to probably pp and let him know happen g g to transfer,” I was going said Robinson.

Fast forward to now, Robinson has alreadyy had g two bigg games and received PSAC west athlete of the week honors in his first p y g for the Rock. week playing g In the first two games of the p season, Robinson posted back-to-back doubleg doubles and averaged p 31.5 points.

Robinson g g of the was the highlight g loss against Fairmont State p g up p 38 points and putting 12 rebounds.

The Rock will soon return redshirt-senior M cah Till, who has been Mi Micah g y out due to eligibility issues and Robinson looks forward to taking the court with him.

“I can’t wait for him g g to come back, he’s going to be a crazyy addition to this team. I’m lookingg forward to seeingg what he does, he’s been in gy getting g g back the gym p so you y know I’m shape, excited,” Robinson said i . said.

Both Robinson and Till are Maryland natives but before coming to the Rock,

Robinson hadn’t heard of Till. When Robinson announced that he was comingg to play for the Rock, he

had friends iin the basketball world reach out and tell Ti played here, him that Till wasn’ until he came but it wasn’t here that he knew who he was. Now Robinson and togg Till live together, and very b on the court soon will be g together for the Rock.

Robinso Robinson hopes to p h position himself for a chance to play pro, but also wants the team to be number one come the end seaso of the season.

“ I ’m just another piece to the puzzle, I’m just trying to make sure everyone stays together, as far as the team I feel like we’re going to be at the top when it’s all said and done, at least that’s the plan anyways," — Will Robinson “ I ’m j u s t a n o t h e r piece to the puzzle, tr I’m just trying to make sure everyone stays g together, as far as the fe like we’re team I feel g g to be b at the top going when it’s all said and d o n e , a t l e a s t t h a t ’s p a the plan anyways.

We we’v got a long know we’ve g so we’re just wayy to go, y g to work hard tr ying w and do what we need to do to be at the t o p a t t h e e n d ,” Robin Robinson said.

November 15, 2019 Johnson is a redshirt senior guard from Keystone in Knox, Pa. The 5-8 guard is averaging 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. She attended St. Francis before coming to The Rock.

Madison Johnson 1 - RS Junior Guard

Harris is a redshirt junior guard from Neuman Gorreti in Philadelphia, Pa. The 5-5 guard is averaging 1.5 points per game. She attended Harford Community College before playing for The Rock.

Kasch Harris 3 - RS Junior Guard

SPORTS Quick is a sophomore guard from Cornell in Coraopolis, Pa. The 5-6 guard is averaging 15.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. She attended the University of the District of Columbia before playing for The Rock.

Daeja Quick 2 - Junior Guard

Grandy is a sophomore guard from Sharpsville in Sharpsville, Pa. The 5-8 guard attended Carlow before playing for The Rock. She lettered four times in basketball while playing at Sharpsville.

Emily Grandy 4 - Sophomore Guard

Gibson is a freshman guard from Laurel in Laurel, Pa. The 5-5 guard is averaging 2.0 points per game. She is the all-time leading scorer and holds the career mark for assists and steals at Laurel.

Lindsay is a freshman guard from New Castle in New Castle, Pa. The 5-9 guard has played four minutes this season. She was a 2019 Lawrence County Player of the Year nominee.

Caroline Gibson 5 - Freshman Guard

Lindsay Frabotta 10 - Freshman Guard

Fusaro is a sophomore guard from West Shamokin in West Shamokin, Pa. The 5-8 guard is averaging 3.0 points and 1.0 rebounds per game.

DeSalve is a freshman guard from DuBois in DuBois, Pa. The 5-7 guard lettered four times in basketball while at DuBois.

Olivia Fusaro 11 - Sophomore Guard

Chelsea DeSalve 12 - Freshman Guard

Gibson is a senior forward from Karns City in Chicora, Pa. The 5-10 forward averaged 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season.

Sydnor-Crooks is a junior forward from Mastery Charter South in Philadelphia, Pa. The 5-11 forward was the first player to score 500 points in Mastery program history.

Leann Gibson 20 - Senior Forward

Nylla Sydnor-Crooks 21- Junior Forward

Andrews is a junior guard from South Park in Pittsburgh, Pa. Andrews is averaging 1.0 points per game this season.

She lettered four times in basketball while playing at South Park.

Hinderliter is a senior guard from Redbank Valley in Seminole, Pa. The 5-9 guard is avraging 16.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. She is a two-time second team All-PSAC selection.

Brittany Andrews 22 - Junior Guard

Ketterer is a senior froward from Lincoln in Ellwood City, Pa. The 6-0 forward is averaging 3.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Karrington Ketterer 24 - Senior Forward

Weber is a sophomore forward from Central Dauphin in Harrisburg, Pa. The 6-1 forward has not played in a game yet this season.

Carol Weber 34 - Sophomore Fwd.

D-7

Brooke Hinderliter 23 - Senior Guard

Curd is a freshman forward from Youngstown Ursuline in Giard, Ohio.

The 6-0 forward is averaging is 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

She was a third team Division II All-Northeast Inland District honoree in high school.

Anyah Curd 30 - Freshman Forward

McGraw is a sixth year head coach from Tiffin University. McGraw is has coached The Rock to a 5782 record over that stretch, completing an almost unmatched turnaround in program history.

Bobby McGraw Head Coach PHOTOS COURTESY OF SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

November 15, 2019

THE ROCKET

D-8

A long way from over Rock football is not satisfied with perfect regular season

PHOTO COURTESY OF SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

Senior quarterback Roland Rivers III stands with his team before a game this season. Rivers has broken the single-season and career passing touchdown records, and he will have a chnace to break the passing yardage mark.

By Karl Ludwig Sports Editor

When the Slipper y Rock football team defeated Gannon Saturday afternoon at the McConnell Family Stadium, histor y was made.

Se n i o r q u a r t e r b a c k Roland Rivers III broke a few records, senior kicker Jake Chapla broke another record and the Slippery Rock football

team became the first team in the school's 121-year history to start the season 10-0.

Slipper y Rock head coach Shawn Lutz said that winning the elusive tenth game without a loss was a cool feat, but to him, his team is nowhere near where they want to be.

"10-0 is nice, but that's not our goal," Lutz said.

"Our goal is to maximize and go as far as we can."

With an away game against Kutztown for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship coming up, Lutz said this week, Slippery Rock will enter the game 0-0.

A loss to Kutztown, besides being a second straight loss to a PSACEast team in the PSAC title game, would take away home field advantage and the recipe for a loss would be that much more potent.

"Lose in the PSAC championship, lose in the first round of the playoffs and you're a 10-2 football team who's really frustrated with the season," Lutz said.

So, while 10-0 is nice, Lutz said that the time for reflecting comes once the season is over. With 28 teams vying for the national championship, he questioned how many teams actually have a chance of bringing

the trophy back to its stadiums.

"What're the chances of us winning the national championship?"

Lutz asked. "There's going to be one team that's going to be excited with their season.

Everyone else is going to be disappointed."

L u t z w a s complimentary with his team's ability to improve and adapt each week.

He attributed Slippery

Rock's unbeaten run to the ability to run the ball as the season wore on.

"The thing we've done that I'm most proud of is we've gotten better each week," Lutz said. "Our two biggest games, California and IUP, we had 200 yards of rushing."

Two players who have instrumental in the success of this season's team, Rivers and Chapla, continued their ascent of Rock record books.

In j u s t 2 2 g a m e s , Rivers set the alltime career passing touchdown record with four touchdowns against Gannon. His 64 touchdowns surpassed Nate Crookshank's record of 60 which was set in 2007.

This season, through 10 games, Rivers set the single-season touchdown record, passing Tanner Garry's record of 32 set in 2017.

Chapla, already the most prolific kicker i n p r o g r a m h i s t o r y, c h a s e d d ow n f o r m e r Bloomsburg kicker Dan Fisher to become the highest scorer in PSAC history.

His 362 points lead all players to ever play in the PSAC, but he still trails Fisher's alltime field goal mark by nine.

Sl i p p e r y Ro c k w i l l have another chance to improve to a programbest 11-0 with a win over Kutztown in the PSAC championship Saturday.

Kickoff is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.

Bigger than football CONTINUED FROM D-1

With a leader in the defense going down in Slippery Rock's biggest game of the year, Sanders described the rollercoaster of emotions the team felt after simultaneously experiencing one of the best and worst moments of the game. "[McDonald] never made his way to the sideline and everyone was like 'Wow, Trysten's out.'" Sanders said.

"That was our best linebacker in terms of physicality and knowledge."

In his first game back in full uniform, Sanders would find himself contributing a large role in one of the most heated rivalry games in the region.

"I had only been in pads for a week," Sanders said. "I didn't get camp or anything like that."

Sanders recalled his coaches asking him about his knowledge of the defensive playbook and if he was ready to go in and play. Anxious to get his chance once again, Sanders gave the team all that he had.

The returning linebacker would go on to contribute to a 45-42 win over the Crimson Hawks, that gave Slippery Rock a chance to control its own destiny to capture the Pennsylvania State Athletic Western Division title. Sanders described how it felt to persevere through health issues once again and return to contribute to his team.

"It felt good to get back, I was very glad that [the coaches] had that trust in me," Sanders said. "The support system here, I have never had anything like it. My teammates were all happy that I was out there, it's just good to be back."

PHOTO COURTESY OF SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

Redshirt sophomore linebacker Arison Sanders (right) angles toward the play to make a tackle during a game against Clarion on Oct. 26. Sanders recorded one tackles against the Golden Eagles and three tackles and a half tackle for loss against California (Pa.) on Nov. 2.

Since returning against IUP, The Rock has played five more games, with Sanders making his presence known when he is on the field.

The following week against Gannon served as productive outings for Sanders, as he registered nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, both career highs.

Also, in The Rock's most recent win over Gannon, Sanders returned a fumble for a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter, contributing to an impressive 56-7 victory.

Now, Sanders gets to play in the biggest game of his collegiate career, as The

Rock takes on Kutztown on Saturday at 12:05 to decide the PSAC champion.

Through all he has faced on and off the field, Sanders shared an important lesson he has learned on his journey over the past three years.

"When I got the blood clot the very first time, it

made me realize that nothing at all is guaranteed," Sanders said. "Keep faith in yourself, keep faith in God, and you know it's gonna work out. You just gotta appreciate every single thing that you do in life."

With no guarantee if his blood clots will return or

not, it is clear that Sanders has maintained a positive outlook through thick and thin.

As the late Winston Churchill once said, 'Success is never final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts'.