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“It’s recommended in the Quran that we actually get together and eat together, with family and friends and we will have a lot of rewards. It’s mainly feast and gathering together,” Hady Bah, a student at WSU, said.

In countries that experience either a midnight sun or polar night, some people follow the city of Mecca’s fasting schedule or use the timetable of the nearest Muslim country. The night meal is referred to as iftar, and the morning meal eaten before sunrise is suhur.

Fasting during Ramadan is required except for those who are traveling, have medical conditions that would be complicated by fasting, breastfeeding mothers and those who are menstruating.

“For some of us, for myself, I need to follow those rules,” Hamud said. “I need something to tell me, ‘Hey, Habon, you can’t do this, don’t do this, and don’t do this, and for this reason.’ I don’t want to have all that freedom to just do anything and everything. Because I want to know where the limit is for me.”

WSU has a growing Muslim community with each year bringing in more diverse students. Hamud started Weber State in 2020 and noticed very few Muslims, but has seen many more members of her community since coming back to WSU in 2022.

“I feel like a lot of people are curious of Islam — what Muslims do, what Muslims don’t do,” Hamud said. “I feel like a lot of people are just curious, and I think that is a good thing, you know what I mean … ask questions instead of just assuming things.”

The month of Ramadan ends on April 21 and a customary saying to anyone observing is “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “blessed Ramadan.”

By SIMON MORTENSEN Section Editor

Weber State University’s football quarterback Kylan Weisser was headed to the gym on the morning of Jan. 3. Staying in his home state of Arizona over winter break, Weisser talked with his parents, grandparents and girlfriend the night before. It was then that he made his decision.

Sitting in his car, Weisser called the Wildcats’ head coach, Mickey Mental. Mental didn’t pick up, but he texted Weisser and informed the quarterback that he’d call back soon. Weisser called his father while he waited.

“He’s like, ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do?’” Weisser said. “I said, ‘Of course. This is always what I wanted. I never wanted to leave in the first place.’”

Moments later, Mental called back.

“He goes, ‘Alright, so we done?’” Weisser said. “I said, ‘Yes sir. We’re done.”

After making phone calls and working out, Weisser tweeted that he’d be coming back to the Wildcats for the 2023 season.

“It’s just a great atmosphere being here,” Weisser said. “No place I’d rather be.”

Since 2018, Weisser’s been a backup quarterback for Weber State. In that role, he threw for 711 yards and played 19 games.

Taking the backseat to former quarterback Bronson Barron after 2020, Weisser said the relationship between the two was interesting.

“Obviously, there was always that, ‘Hey, I’m better than this guy. I should be the one that’s starting,’” Weisser said. “That’s no disrespect to him whatsoever because he was a fantastic quarterback. That was just me being the competitive person that I am, and I’m sure if you ask anybody else in the country that backs up any position on the field, they think that they’re better and they’re the ones that want to be on the field helping the team.”

One of Weisser’s most notable performances was one against Montana State University during an FCS playoff game on Dec. 3.

Stepping in for an injured Barron, Weisser completed nine of 13 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. While Weber State was unable to complete a comeback, Weisser led the offense to 15 points, changing the score from 33–10 to 33–25.

Believing that Barron would come back to lead the team, Weisser decided he needed to make the most of his two years of eligibility. On Dec. 7, he announced on Twitter that he was entering the transfer portal.

“Being a player at Weber State has been absolutely amazing, and I have learned so much from everyone here,” Weisser said in a note attached to the tweet. “With that being said, I have talked it over with my family over many days, and I have decided to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility left.”

Weisser described the experience of entering the transfer portal and looking for new opportunities as terrifying.

“Going into it, it was really scary because I didn’t know,” Weisser said. “I was leaving a full-ride scholarship to have a chance at two degrees, and then hopefully a master’s degree, to potentially just be out of luck and go back home and start working.”

While in the portal, Weisser said he got multiple offers with around seven or eight coming from FCS schools. Of those FCS programs, Weisser said one team who reached out to him was Weber State’s Big Sky conference rival, Idaho State University, who called just after Weisser had gotten off the phone with Mental.

On Dec. 14, Barron also released a tweet stating he was entering the transfer portal. After going to the zoo to see a Christmas lights display with his girlfriend, Weisser was contacted by his roommate, Wildcat running back Kris Jackson. After Jackson told him the news, Weisser immediately called Mental.

“I was like, ‘Hey, so what’s the deal?” Weisser said. “He goes, ‘I want you back, but I don’t want to put you in the same position as the interim head coach. I have to be the guy that’s looking for the best opportunity for this team.’”

Mental and Weisser kept in communication after the call. Once they’d made their decision in January, Weisser contacted every coach that had spoken with him and let them know he’d be returning to the Wildcats.

On March 16, Weber State started spring training, giving Weisser an opportunity to work with the new offense against the Wildcats’ elite defense.

“I’m the luckiest quarterback in the FCS because every single day, I get to play against the best defense in the FCS,” Weisser said. “I don’t care what anybody says. That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it because we have a linebacker core that is to be reckoned with, we have a defensive line that can get penetration on pretty much any offense and we have a defensive back core that can cover the field in three seconds.”

Last season, Weber State recorded 15 interceptions, 29 sacks and 137 stops on third down. Weisser said that playing against the team’s defense has fine-tuned the offense and helped him become a better quarterback.

“That’s one of the things that a lot of great quarterbacks talk about,” Weisser said. “Being able in practice to test your limits and see, ‘Hey, can I fit this ball in this certain coverage?”

On offense, Weisser said he’s looking forward to playing behind an experienced line that’s adding new talent. Taking over the tight end position from All-Big Sky honors player Justin Malone, Weisser said Hayden Meacham is someone who can do it all.

“He can block when you need him to block. He knows every single one of his assignments,” Weisser said. “You don’t have to question him. He does everything on and off the field completely right.”

While at Weber State, Weisser’s goal is to help the team win an FCS title. After losing to the Bobcats in the second round of the playoffs, he said the Wildcats have something to prove.

“We have a chip on our shoulder from last season,” Weisser said. “We’re going to play with everything we have. We’re going to do whatever it takes to win, and I don’t think there’s anything that can stop us from getting what we want with the players and the coaches that we have on this team.”

The Wildcats will play their spring game on April 15 in Stewart Stadium at 1 p.m. The team will travel for their first game of fall to play against the University of Northern Iowa on Sept. 9 at 3 p.m.

El quarterback de fútbol americano de la Universidad Weber State, Kylan Weisser, se dirigía al gimnasio la mañana del 3 de enero. Tras pasar las vacaciones de invierno en Arizona, su estado natal, Weisser habló con sus padres, sus abuelos y su novia la noche anterior. Fue entonces cuando tomó la decisión.

Sentado en su coche, Weisser llamó al entrenador de los Wildcats, Mickey Mental. Mental no lo cogió, pero envió un mensaje de texto a Weisser e informó al quarterback de que volvería a llamar pronto. Weisser llamó a su padre mientras esperaba.

“Me dijo: ‘¿Estás seguro de que esto es lo que quieres hacer?”. dijo Weisser. “Le dije: ‘Por supuesto. Esto es lo que siempre he querido. Para empezar, nunca quise marcharme’”.

Momentos después, Mental volvió a llamar.

Me dijo: “Muy bien, ¿hemos terminado?”. cuenta Weisser. “Le dije: ‘Sí, señor. Hemos terminado”.

Después de hacer llamadas telefónicas y hacer ejercicio, Weisser tuiteó que volvería a los Wildcats para la temporada 2023.

“Es simplemente un gran ambiente estar aquí”, dijo Weisser. “No hay lugar en el que prefiera estar”.

Desde 2018, Weisser ha sido un mariscal de campo de respaldo para Weber State. En ese papel, lanzó para 711 yardas y jugó 19 partidos.

Tomando el asiento trasero del ex mariscal de campo Bronson Barron después de 2020, Weisser dijo que la relación entre los dos era interesante.

“Obviamente, siempre hubo ese, ‘Hey, soy mejor que este tipo. Yo debería ser el que empieza’”, dijo Weisser. “No quiero faltarle al respeto, porque era un quarterback fantástico. Sólo era yo siendo la persona competitiva que soy, y estoy seguro de que si preguntas a cualquier otra persona en el país que respalde cualquier posición en el campo, piensan que son mejores y son los que quieren estar en el campo ayudando al equipo”.

Una de las actuaciones más notables de Weisser fue contra Montana State University durante un partido de playoff de la FCS el 3 de diciembre.

En lugar de Barron, lesionado, Weisser completó nueve de 13 pases para 111 yardas y dos touchdowns. Aunque Weber State no pudo completar la remontada, Weisser lideró el ataque hasta 15 puntos, cambiando el marcador de 33-10 a 33-25.

Creyendo que Barron volvería para liderar al equipo, Weisser decidió que tenía que aprovechar al máximo sus dos años de elegibilidad. El 7 de diciembre, anunció en Twitter que entraba en el portal de transferencias.

“Ser jugador de Weber State ha sido absolutamente increíble, y he aprendido mucho de todo el mundo aquí”, dijo Weisser en una nota adjunta al tuit. “Dicho esto, lo he hablado con mi familia durante muchos días, y he decidido entrar en el portal de transferencias con dos años de elegibilidad restantes”.

Weisser describió la experiencia de entrar en el portal de transferencias y buscar nuevas oportunidades como aterradora.

“Al entrar en él, fue realmente aterrador porque no sabía”, dijo Weisser. “Estaba dejando una beca completa para tener la oportunidad de obtener dos títulos, y luego con suerte una maestría, para potencialmente simplemente no tener suerte y regresar a casa y comenzar a trabajar”.

Mientras estaba en el portal, Weisser dijo que recibió múltiples ofertas, de las cuales unas siete u ocho procedían de escuelas de la FCS. De esos programas FCS, Weisser dijo que un equipo que se puso en contacto con él fue el rival de la conferencia Big Sky de Weber State, Idaho State University, que llamó justo después de que Weisser había colgado el teléfono con Mental.

El 14 de diciembre, Barron también publicó un tuit en el que afirmaba que entraba en el portal de fichajes. Después de ir al zoo a ver un espectáculo de luces navideñas con su novia, Weisser fue contactado por su compañero de habitación, el corredor de los Wildcats Kris Jackson. Cuando Jackson le comunicó la noticia, Weisser llamó inmediatamente a Mental.

“Le dije: ‘Oye, ¿qué pasa?”. cuenta Weisser. “Me dijo: ‘Quiero que vuelvas, pero no quiero ponerte en la misma posición que el entrenador jefe interino. Tengo que ser el tipo que busque la mejor oportunidad para este equipo’”.

Mental y Weisser mantuvieron la comunicación después de la llamada. Una vez tomada la decisión en enero, Weisser se puso en contacto con todos los entrenadores que habían hablado con él y les hizo saber que regresaría a los Wildcats.

El 16 de marzo, Weber State comenzó los entrenamientos de primavera, dando a Weisser la oportunidad de trabajar con el nuevo ataque contra la defensa de élite de los Wildcats.

“Soy el quarterback más afortunado de la FCS porque cada día puedo jugar contra la mejor defensa de la FCS”, dijo Weisser. “No me importa lo que digan los demás. Esa es mi opinión, y me atengo a ella porque tenemos un núcleo de linebackers que es para tener en cuenta, tenemos una línea defensiva que puede conseguir la penetración en casi cualquier ataque y tenemos un núcleo de back defensivo que puede cubrir el campo en tres segundos.”

La temporada pasada, Weber State registró 15 intercepciones, 29 sacks y 137 paradas en tercer down. Weisser dijo que jugar contra la defensa del equipo ha afinado el ataque y le ha ayudado a convertirse en un mejor quarterback.

“Esa es una de las cosas de las que hablan muchos de los grandes quarterbacks”, dijo Weisser. “Ser capaz en los entrenamientos de poner a prueba tus límites y ver: ‘Oye, ¿puedo encajar este balón en esta determinada cobertura?”.

En la ofensiva, Weisser dijo que está dese- ando jugar detrás de una línea experimentada que está añadiendo nuevos talentos. Tomando el relevo en la posición de tight end del jugador All-Big Sky honors Justin Malone, Weisser dijo que Hayden Meacham es alguien que puede hacerlo todo.

“Puede bloquear cuando se le necesita. Conoce cada una de sus tareas”, dijo Weisser. “No tienes que cuestionarlo. Lo hace todo bien dentro y fuera del campo”.

Mientras esté en Weber State, el objetivo de Weisser es ayudar al equipo a ganar un título de la FCS. Después de perder contra los Bobcats en la segunda ronda de los playoffs, dijo que los Wildcats tienen algo que dem- ostrar.

“Tenemos un chip en el hombro de la temporada pasada”, dijo Weisser. “Vamos a jugar con todo lo que tenemos. Vamos a hacer lo que sea necesario para ganar, y no creo que haya nada que pueda impedirnos conseguir lo que queremos con los jugadores y los entrenadores que tenemos en este equipo.”

Los Wildcats jugarán su partido de primavera el 15 de abril en el Stewart Stadium a la 1 p.m. El equipo viajará para su primer partido de otoño para jugar contra la Universidad de Northern Iowa el 9 de septiembre a las 3 p.m.

By COLLYN COWLES Reporter

Women’s

On April 2, the Louisiana State University Tigers faced off against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes for the 2023 NCAA Women’s National Championship. The highly anticipated matchup between LSU star Angel Reese and Iowa star Caitlin Clark did not disappoint.

LSU was able to take Iowa down with a score of 102–85. This championship marks the first for LSU women’s basketball. This national championship game was the mostviewed NCAA Division I women’s basketball game on record, with an average of 9.9 million viewers and 12.6 million peak viewers.

Heading into the national championship game, the University of Iowa knocked out the No. 1-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks 77–73. With 5.5 million views, this matchup is the most-viewed semifinal on ESPN record.

With the win against the Gamecocks, the Hawkeyes were able to clinch their ticket to the championship game. Clark scored 41 points in 38 minutes of playtime. Clark dropped multiple 40-point games and averaged 31.8 points per