The Signpost: LT. GOV. APPROVES VACCINATION SITES AROUND UTAH NEWS » PAGE 5 ARTS AND HUMANITIES COLL

Friday | January 22, 2021 | Volume 93 | Issue 3

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NEWS » PAGE 4

NEWS » PAGE 5

LT. GOV. APPROVES VACCINATION SITES AROUND UTAH

ARTS AND HUMANITIES COLLEGE GETS NEW DEAN

NIKKI DORBER | The Signpost

WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY

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Honors Program

By LISSETE LANDAVERDE Reporter

Weber State University hosted a Zoom webinar with author and antiracist activist Ibram X. Kendi and President Brad Mortensen on Jan. 13. The two discussed how to be antiracist and celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy.

About a thousand people were in attendance.

Kendi is a professor at Boston University, founder of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research and one of Time magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People of 2020. He is also the author of many books regarding antiracism, including his bestseller “How To Be an Antiracist.”

Kendi describes “How To Be an Antiracist” as a book that recounts his upbringing and the times that he has experienced racism in his life. In the book he concludes that black or white people do not cause racial power, rather; it’s the result of racist policies and racism

in general.

The keynote began with Mortensen mentioning Kendi’s article in The Atlantic, titled “Denial Is the Heartbeat of America.” The article discussed the Capitol riots that happened on Jan. 6 and the statements politicians made saying it’s not representative of what America is.

“I wanted to make the case, both using distant and recent history, that it’s precisely who we are, that what we saw at the U.S. Capitol is part of this country,” Kendi said.

An analogy often brought up during the event was the comparison between racism and cancer, as Kendi and his family members have struggled with cancer.

Racism, much like cancer, must be diagnosed and treated. Cancer cannot go away by not talking about it, and neither can racism, Kendi claims.

A doctor diagnosing their patient with can-

cer is doing so to help the patient, not attack them. Kendi believes diagnosing racism should be seen in the same light.

“The person who diagnoses the nation as being racist, diagnosing the person as being racist, what if we saw them in that vein? As actually the folks who are trying to save this nation, who are trying to urge people to get treatment, so they stop hurting others, even themselves,” Kendi said.

Mortensen brought up the topic of diversity in Utah, specifically regarding the educational achievement gaps seen with minority groups.

He asked Kendi for advice on how to make positive changes to reduce said gaps.

Kendi recommended taking into consideration why the gaps exist and identifying the problem. He also advised policymakers not to blame minority youth or the people educating them, but rather the policymakers themselves.

For someone who may be unsure about

LISSETE LANDAVERDE | The Signpost

Ibram X. Kendi joins WSU President Brad Mortensen over Zoom to discuss antiracism.

MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2021 | 03

where to start with participation in antiracist actions, it is easiest to look at one’s passions.

Kendi explained there is a chance injustices already exist in the area of that passion that one can fight to correct. There are also organizations one can join to create an antiracist environment.

On Jan. 18, it was announced that Kendi would be partnering with Netflix to adapt three of his books into television programs.

The full recorded webinar will be accessible until Feb. 2 on WSU’s website. ASL interpretation is available.

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NIKKI DORBER | The Signpost

04 | MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2021

By CAITLYN NICHOLS Section Editor

Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson visited the Weber-Morgan COVID-19 vaccination site in the Dee Events Center on the Weber State University campus on Jan. 20.

The visit was part of Henderson’s tour of all the vaccination sites throughout the state. Weber-Morgan was her 10th visit out of the total 13 sites.

She said all sites in general are going well, each tailoring to the needs of the community, and that Weber-Morgan’s site was impressive and smooth.

The vaccine rollout for Weber and Morgan counties started on Jan. 5 at the Dee Events Center by invitation only to healthcare workers and volunteers in non-hospital settings, including medical and dental services and emergency responders.

“We are so grateful to have Weber State University in our backyard,” said Brian Bennion, executive director of the Weber-Morgan

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson visits COVID -19 experimental vaccination sites throughout the state of Utah, including the Dee Event Center in Weber County.

Health Department. “They have made their facility and staff available to us and have been active participants in keeping this community safe throughout this pandemic.”

Jan. 20 was the first day the Weber-Morgan Health Department made vaccinations available to the general public, starting with all those aged 70 and older. Bennion said they had maxed out on the number of appointments they could take that day, at 1,810 appointments, due to running out of vaccines.

Henderson said demand is greater than supply for the vaccine right now. The faster they administer the vaccine, the more people that get it, the more likely they will be to get more vaccines.

“We’re not going to get more doses if we have a whole bunch sitting on shelves in the state that haven’t been administered yet,” Henderson said.

Henderson mentioned that Gov. Spencer Cox issued an executive order a couple of weeks ago to get these doses administered within seven days. Henderson’s message was that if the health departments can get it

administered quicker, as in within five or six days, that would be ideal.

The categories to receive the vaccine after 70-plus have not yet been determined, but Henderson said they would be arranging that within the next few weeks Bennion said the goal is to work quickly through the priority groups, hopefully getting them done with at least the first dose of the vaccine by the end of February.

Bennion said they’ll then, of course, have the second dose to worry about, unless Johnson & Johnson can get its one-dose vaccine out soon, which might make the process quicker. He said they’re working as efficiently and quickly as they can.

How quickly they can get the vaccine out depends on how quickly they can administer it and receive more doses. Amid all the uncertainty, Henderson and Bennion ask the public for patience.

“Certainty is something that we don’t have a lot of right now, but we’re doing the best we can with what we have,” Henderson said.

Henderson also said there is much uncer-

tainty about how quickly this vaccine will help the community return to a pre-pandemic normalcy, again depending on how quickly it can be administered.

“It’s still going to be a little bit of time, but this is the means to the end, and it’s really nice to finally be proactive instead of simply reactive in this pandemic,” Henderson said.

Bennion said they’ll keep vaccinating as long as there are people who want to be vaccinated. The goal, of course, is to get 100% of the population vaccinated.

Until the state infection rates lower to a comfortable and safe level, the state will continue to follow pandemic mandates.

“We’re just happy to be able to have the vaccine and start putting it in people’s arms, and we’ll continue to share our plans as they develop,” Bennion said.

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Weber State University

MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2021 | 05

Deborah Uman is the new dean of the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities at Weber State University.

By JOSHUA KAMP

Reporter

Weber State University welcomed Deborah Uman, a New York native who comes from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, to serve as the new dean of The Lindquist College of Arts and Humanities beginning Jan. 4.

Uman has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Yale University and completed master’s and doctoral degrees in English literature at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

“I am a huge Shakespeare and Milton fan,”

Uman said.

From the literature she has written about and studied, a favorite of hers that stands out is Aphra Behn, a 17th century playwright, poet, translator and woman of controversy who shook up societal norms.

“She was probably a spy … Virginia Woolf called her the first Englishwoman to earn her living by her pen.” Uman said.

Uman is an active trumpet player and author of Women as Translators in Early Modern England. She also co-edited a collection of scholarly essays researching the art of perfor-

mance in the 16th and 17th centuries in the book Staging the Blazon in Early Modern Theater.

“I see my ultimate job as making sure the college runs smoothly and that faculty have all the tools and resources they need, so in turn students can get the best possible education,” Uman said.

Lindquist College contains the departments of English, foreign languages, communication, performing arts and visual art and design. Amanda Sowerby served as the interim dean of Lindquist from May 2020 until

Uman’s arrival.

“If people have new ideas for new curriculum and new programs, we want to be able to support those ideas,” said Uman.

Uman, who enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing, said she’s excited to be here in Utah.

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06 | MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2021

WSU ALUMNUS RECEIVES TIME MAGAZINE’S

GUARDIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD Pete Sands, a Weber State University alumnus formerly known as Halbert Pete, was selected as a “Guardian of the Year” by Time magazine for his work in helping the Navajo Nation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When COVID-19 hit the United States, Sands was working as the communications director of the Utah Navajo Health System.

“Back in February of last year, there were just rumblings of the coronavirus,” Sands said.

“It wasn’t a question of if it was going to get here; it was a question of when it was going to get here.”

Sands then worked with the clinic to organize a COVID-19 relief program for the Navajo Nation in Utah. They set up testing sites and helped deliver food, water and firewood to those in need.

The relief program started to gain national and international attention.

Time magazine chose to award Dr. Anthony Fauci and frontline health workers the 2020 award. The spotlight rested upon specific individuals throughout the world that had worked to make a difference on the front lines of the pandemic, including Sands.

Time had previously published a feature story about Sands and his work in its magazine in May. “A photographer from Time came down and followed me around for about a day. I had a feeling I was going to be in Time magazine again, but I didn’t know it was going to be for this,” Sands said. “It’s a very high honor for me, one I hope that I’ll remember forever.”

The relief program continues, and Sands and the clinic are extending their aid to Native

American groups in Arizona and New Mexico.

Sands, who hails from the Navajo-Indian reservation, is a filmmaker with his own small film company and crew, SidewinderTV, based out of Ogden. He says on his Storyhunter page that he learned a lot of his filmmaking skills from WSU. However, Sands’ plans weren’t always aligned this way.

Sands graduated from WSU in 2008 with hopes of becoming a lawyer. However, he remembers getting accepted into law school and not feeling the passion and happiness he had once felt.

Sands remembers being asked what he was going to do instead. In response he pointed at the guitar in the corner. He was told he was crazy, that he was never going to make anything and that being a lawyer was what he had worked for.

It was then that Sands changed his passion from being a lawyer to going on the road and playing music seven nights a week. From there, his band, Pete Sands & the Drifters, was formed. It introduced Sands to the film world where he made cameo appearances on the show Yellowstone for several episodes.

Throughout his journey, Sands has always had one goal: to inspire and help others.

For Sands, his heart will always be here in Utah.

“I’ve been out in Hollywood, Nashville and Austin for so many years that I lost that part of me coming from this place,” Sands said.

“Coming back here I’ve realized I can use all that I’ve done to help others, and hopefully inspire them, too.”

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Pete Sands

By KIERSTYNN KING

Reporter

Weber State alumnus Pete Sands is chosen as Guardian of the Year by Time magazine for his work in helping the Navajo Nation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

$

MyWeberMedia.com| October 06, 2020 | 7

? $ ?

Interested in the student fee process?

STUDENT FEE RECOMMENDATION

COMMITTEE will be holding open meetings beginning Jan. 22, 2021, to

decide where your student

fees will go beginning in the 2021-2022 school year.

More information and for Zoom links:

weber.edu/StudentAffairs/sfrc.html

08 | MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2021

Section Editor

“Stay up all night, go get ice cream and just be teammates, because tomorrow you probably won’t be.”

This was the advice given to Chloe Camarero, twin sisters Faith and Lauren Hoe and the rest of the Weber State University softball team as they pressed for answers regarding the implications that COVID-19 would have on their 2019-20 season.

The next day, March 12, 2020, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced that it was canceling all winter championships and spring sports seasons.

When asked to reflect on when the season was canceled, Camarero, a fourth-year infielder from San Diego county, shook her head as if still in disbelief while saying, “How could you ever expect a pandemic?”

She’s right—how could you? The Wildcats were going to attempt to repeat their 2019 Big Sky Tournament win, but instead they were bundled up together as tears streamed down their faces, not because they suffered defeat, but because their season was lost.

On the morning of March 8, 2020, the ‘Cats had just beat the Pacific Tigers 5—3. Five hours later, they were set to have a matchup with the Nevada Wolfpack, who was the host of the tournament. The doubleheader never happened; WSU suffered their first cancellation of the year.

Weber State was only 12 days away from playing their first game against a conference opponent and 16 days away from their home opener against the Utah Valley Wolverines.

In the 2018-19 season, they were dominant against their Big Sky opponents. WSU racked up a record of 14—2 and were awarded the crown of conference champions.

Lauren Hoe, a third-year catcher from Walla Walla, Washington, feels a strong contrast between playing conference games compared to non-conference games. She describes it as two different worlds.

“Before league, you play about five games during the weekend and you don’t know your

opponents outside of the little bit of scouting.

You’re learning during the game,” Lauren Hoe said. “Once league starts, you’re playing the same team three times, and you know all of the hitters, pitchers and practice against certain types of pitches all week. It’s a lot more pressure.”

Faith Hoe echoed how her twin sister felt, but also added that while losing is never an option, it’s not acceptable when going against teams in your conference.

“There’s an intensity in those games that are just not there for the others. You don’t want to lose ever, but you primarily don’t want to lose against those teams. You will do anything to win and every at-bat matters in those seven innings,” Faith said.

Not long after the NCAA canceled its seasons did college campuses also begin to close. This left students everywhere scurrying to find out if they would be staying in town or going back No. 16 Chloe Camarero gears up to take a swing at home plate. home to their families. After sticking around for a couple of weeks to bond with their senior teammates, Camarero and the Hoe sisters from the locals were lackluster. A silence that and that’s something we take into account,” would not return to Ogden for another six has resonated to this day. Weeks before the Lauren Hoe said. team made history, they were subject to an Being a team that resides in the Big Sky, the months. unfair headline after suffering a lopsided Wildcats are typically much smaller than outThose last few days in Ogden were special defeat against the Utah State Aggies. of-conference teams, but they embrace the for the trio; they had built bonds with their The reason is glaring, and it’s okay to say it role of David while battling Goliath. older teammates and learned a lot in the how it is: female athletes have been treated “Softball is a cool sport, and it’s a cool time process. It’s been nearly a year since the differently than male athletes for as long as to be playing.

In the years that we’ve been in season was canned, but to this day, the fact they’ve played.

There is a level of respect and college, it’s grown leaps and bounds,” said they didn’t get the exit a senior deserves does interest that has been earned but ignored for Faith Hoe. “I think it develops an underdog not sit right with Camarero. quite some time and the consequences for it mentality that you take onto the field. We’re “If you look at the legacy that they left are non-existent.

Yet through it all, they’ve still not afraid to admit that we’re going to be a and all they’ve done for the past four years. managed to make progress. smaller team than [the University of] Utah, . . out of all the classes that deserved such a Lauren Hoe is rejuvenated about the Utah State or UW, so we go in with a mentality grand ending, they didn’t get it. That was progress that’s being made and gave a nod to like we have nothing to lose.” heartbreaking,” Camarero said.

Faith Hoe went on to detail the lack of elite The legacy of the senior class includes a win Monica Abbott, a former all-American pitcher at the University of Tennessee, who received softball that is found in the state of Washington in the regional round of the NCAA tournament the first million dollar contract in the history of and recalls traveling to California to go against over Cal State Fullerton, which marked the first the sport at the end of spring 2016. high-quality teams while pointing out that time in the history of the Big Sky that one of “I’m so excited for the sport of softball.

We while Chloe is from the golden state, her high their teams notched a win in the tournament. got our first million dollar contract for a pitcher school also wasn’t a premier program.

The other two teams they faced during the in a pro league, they are building more seats “When we came here [to Weber], we were round were UCLA, who won the national at the hall of fame stadium, ESPN’s Holly just happy to have uniforms and to keep championship, and the Missouri Tigers.

Rowe comes to softball games and announces playing the sport that we love. It’s given us the Through that long journey that ended on for us.

Overall it’s sad to see where women’s gift of not having expectations, and we just May 18, 2019, in Los Angeles, the media sports are, but our sport specifically is growing play as hard as we can.

We’re honored to be coverage, fan attendance and recognition The Signpost Archives

By RAYMOND LUCAS

MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2021 | 09

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other rather than facing off against each other and saying, ‘Why does she keep hitting it?’ or ‘Why does she keep striking me out?’ instead of just being happy for them. Now I can cheer them on wholeheartedly, and it’s just an awesome time that we’re about to enter,” Faith said.

Camarero is ready for the intensity to be channeled at an opponent instead of each other.

“Faith said this the other day, but WSU softball, in general, is very competitive, and when scrimmaging each other it can get intense sometimes, so it’s going to be exciting to be back as one in that dugout and cheering,” said Camarero.

Lauren Hoe is looking forward to the unity that comes along with watching her teammates shine once conference play starts to roll around.

“When you get into league play, you just get close with this group of girls that come with Wildcats went head-to-head against Utah State. connections that you can’t make at practice.

You go through tough times and you just become close,” Lauren Hoe said. “Another thing I’m excited to see is our teammates step up and be studs, get recognized, and get posted all over social media while hopefully making it back to the NCAA tournament.”

Weber State softball has a motto when facing off against Big Sky teams: sweep teams, don’t settle for a draw. They won’t face off against a Big Sky team until March 26, but they will make their season debut on Feb. 12 against the Oregon Ducks in Phoenix at the Grand Canyon Kickoff.

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here and love wearing Weber State across our chest,” she said.

Athletic programs throughout the country are powered by both football and men’s basketball thanks to the revenue that is brought in during their respective seasons, which is what Lauren nodded at when explaining there is no bitterness towards other teams at the school.

“A lot of the girls on the team are appreciative of our male sports because we know that without them, we wouldn’t be where we are.

Without football and basketball, we probably wouldn’t even be able to have a team, so although the situations that we are put in are tough, we always want to go support them,” said Faith Hoe. “We’re happy for them and we know that the higher they get with credit and fame, the higher we get as well.”

Gradually, the perception of women’s sports is beginning to shift. For evidence of that, look no further than the United States soccer team.

“The first thing that comes into my head is women’s soccer. When you look back at what they did, their exposure skyrocketed and they gained so many new fans. Through that, we achieved lots of different avenues in sports and I think that’s what helped every women’s sport gain a lot of attention,” said Camarero.

“We’re women and we can do anything.”

As women’s sports continue to reach new heights, the women’s softball program will look to do so as well. They are 22 days away from their return to the diamond and the elation is prevalent.

Faith is ready to get back to rooting for her teammates rather than constantly facing off against them at practice.

“I’m tired of hitting off our pitchers. I’m ready to be in the dugout cheering for each

Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com Lauren Hoe keeps her eye on the ball as Utah steps up to the plate to bat.

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Wildcat Faith Hoe slides home.

Camarero slides at home base to score for Wildcats as teammate Pestka looks on.

10 | MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2021

WILDCATS’ CLAWS

CRACK THE CENTURIONS’ ARMOR

Weber State Athletics

IN A HISTORIC GAME

The Wildcats saw Yellowstone Christian College arrive in Ogden in what turned into a historic game for Weber State.

By MILES SHAW

Asst. Section Editor

Weber State University’s men’s basketball team last played on Jan. 2 when Utah Valley came to Ogden. In the first of two non-conference games over the weekend, the Wildcats saw Yellowstone Christian College arrive in Ogden in what turned into a historic game for Weber State.

“We had two things we wanted to accomplish with this game and number one is we needed to play a game, we needed to play in a game situation to try and establish some timing and rhythm and get our game legs back.

Second thing was to get some guys some minutes that deserved them,” Wildcats Head Coach Randy Rahe said.

The Centurions marched into Ogden prepared for a battle, but the game was decided by the end of the first half when Weber State held a 29-point lead.

The Centurions left the Dee after a 124—44 defeat at the paws of the Wildcats.

In a historic night for the Wildcats, the team buried 22 3-pointers, the most in a single game in school history.

“Anytime you see the ball go in the basket it helps your confidence. It was good to see the ball go in especially with the long layoff and how long we’ve been off and the few games we’ve played,” Coach Rahe said.

From the opening tip Wildcat big men, Dontay Bassett and Michal Kozak were on fire from beyond the arc. Bassett finished the game three of four and Kozak four of six from three-point range.

“That’s one of our strengths, we’re going to let them shoot it. Our big guys can shoot, we run an offense where if you don’t come out and guard them we’re going to shoot it, that’s part of our plan. If they’re open they’ve got the green light,” Rahe said.

Bassett put up 13 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists on the night while looking dominant with his shooting touch.

“First thing I like about Dontay is he’s a

great leader he talks and talks and talks, he’s a high energy guy, he loves to lead and he’s very selfless,” Rahe said.

Cody Carlson crashed the boards like a rebounding machine, reaching a near double-double of eight points and seven rebounds in the opening 15 minutes of the game. He finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

David Nzekwesi caught fire off the bench from deep to end the first half, burying a 3-point bucket, and hitting another deep jumper to send the Wildcats to halftime.

Weber State held a 29-point lead going into the locker room at halftime by the score of 53—24.

Kozak drilled back-to-back threes, extending the Wildcat lead to 79—30 early in the second half.

KJ Cunningham caught and hammered home an alley-oop slam off a lob from Dillon Jones and minutes later another fast break leaping dunk from Cunningham broke triple digits for the Wildcat 100—35 lead with over

seven minutes left to play.

Bringing the game home for Weber State was the Wildcat bench led by Darweshi Hunter. He dropped a team leading 17 points.

“He deserves to get worked in the rotation, I wanted to see what he has, and what he showed me is he’s a gamer, and when the lights come on he’s not afraid of anything, and he’s a very confident kid, and my goal is to get him into the rotation,” Rahe said of Hunter’s performance.

Hunter also finished second on the squad with five assists, while going perfect from beyond the arc drilling four of four three-pointers.

“It felt good, I haven’t been playing so it felt good to get shots up, I’m trying to work my way into the lineup, so when I get on the court try and make the best of it, and it starts on defense and the offense will come,” Hunter said.

The Wildcats hope to resume conference play Jan. 21 against Southern Utah at the Dee. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com

MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2021 | 11

Reporter

Coming off a resounding 124-44 win against Yellowstone Christian College the night before, Weber State University returned to Dee Event Center and clawed their way to a 94-79 comeback victory against Tarleton State University on Jan. 17.

After a game where WSU won by 80 points, Tarleton State came to Ogden with a point to prove as the Texans continue through their first season as a division one program with a non-conference game against Weber State.

Just minutes into the game, Weber State center Dontay Bassett received a technical foul, waking both teams up after a slow start.

The game was fairly even as each team traded points and the lead changed 12 times in the first half.

The Texans’ guard, Montre Gipson, punished the Wildcats as he scored 13 points and went 3-3 from behind the arc in the first half.

Gipson finished with 26 points and 4-4 threepoint shooting.

“He’s [Gipson] a good player. He is a player that we watched a lot of game tape and when he hit his first shot, he got in a rhythm,” Wildcats Head Coach Randy Rahe said.

Tarleton State went on a 7-0 run after Gipson scored a three-point shot in the first half, helping the Texans take a 41-32 lead.

Wildcats guard KJ Cunningham and Texans guard Tahj Small both scored three-pointers before the end of the first half, leaving Tarleton State up 44-35.

“We played a little flat-footed and they [Tarleton State] were so small and athletic that our bigger guys out there had a hard time keeping up. We had to turn the tables and be more aggressive in the second half,” Rahe explained regarding what was said at halftime.

And being more aggressive was what they did.

Gipson made a layup and three-pointer at the beginning of the second half to extend the Texans’ lead to 14 with the score being 49-35.

After that, WSU started tightly defending and putting pressure on the Tarleton State offense, causing the Texans to lose possession.

Weber State forward Cody Carlson scored a layup off a rebound bringing the score to 5549 and kickstarting a comeback.

WSU would slowly erase the deficit as guard Zahir Porter made two free throws and a three-pointer, giving the Wildcats a 56-55 lead.

Weber State would continue their 10-0 run after guard Isiah Brown scored a free throw and a mid-range jumper to make the score 59-55.

Later on, forward Dillon Jones scored a crucial layup, which helped WSU go into cruise control with the lead 67-63. Jones scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds, both season-highs.

Porter scored yet another three-point shot to to make the score 72-63.

He would end up scoring 13 of the next 15 points Weber State got, including two highlight reel dunks and a side-step three that made the Texans’ guard Shamir Bogues seem to go missing.

Porter would end up scoring 18 out of his 23 points in the second-half.

“I was definitely just feeling it tonight; it was one of my better nights,” Porter said.

Brown found it difficult to score with only five points in the first half, but he would find his groove as the first-year Wildcat put up 16 points in the second half to give him 22 on the night.

After a strong first 20 minutes for Tarleton State, the Wildcats found a way to break the Texans down with overturning a nine point deficit into a 15 point victory.

Weber State had 59 points in the second half compared to only 35 by Tarleton State.

“We have a tough team. We never back down when our backs are against the walls,” Porter explained.

Southern Utah University makes the trip up to Ogden to take on Weber State in a Big Sky Conference game on Jan. 21.

It is the first Big Sky Conference game that WSU will play in since the Dec. 20, 2020, 7472 loss at Portland State. There have been four games on the Wildcats’ schedule in the Big Sky that were canceled due to safety protocols and procedures dealing with COVID-19.

“We’re excited. We got to get back to playing Big Sky games. We got a really good opponent coming in on Thursday,” Rahe said.

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Weber State Athletics

By ALEC CIPOLLINI

Weber State returned to Dee Event Center and clawed their way to a 94— 79 comeback victory against Tarleton State University on Jan. 17.

12 | MyWeberMedia.com| January 22, 2021

MILES SHAW Asst. Section Editor

TYLER HASLAM Reporter

After a crazy, up-and-down year in the NFL — between all the gridiron action, the cancellations and star players sitting out due to positive tests for COVID-19 — we’ve finally arrived at the playoffs. There’s just nothing else in sports like it, and two weeks are already in the books! We’ve broken down the games into our five biggest biggest takeaways so far, from the most exciting part of the pro football season.

1. Aaron Rodgers and the Pack are rolling and seem completely unstoppable.

M: Even though Green Bay appeared in the NFC Championship game last year against the 49ers, this season felt different from the get-go. I’m a Vikings fan, so I’ve seen more than I’d like of Aaron Rodgers since he took over for the old gunslinger in 2008. Also, his insane season started against my team! When he tore out of the gates to open the season, dropping dimes all over Minnesota on the way to four touchdowns, everybody watching could tell it had at least a little bit to do with the Packers neglecting to find him more weapons in this past draft and instead picked Utah State’s quarterback Jordan Love. However, the

way Davante Adams has been playing shows maybe Green Bay doesn’t need anybody else.

T: Well, I’m a Packers fan, and I also found the off-season the Packers put together a little puzzling. After making the NFC title game last year and getting throttled by the 49ers, it was obvious changes needed to be made. They were still just one win away from a Super Bowl appearance, so I didn’t think a total rebuild was needed. But now it looks like all the Pack needed to take the next step was a little continuity and time together. The fact that Aaron Rodgers and offense played the way they did this past weekend against the best defense in the league should make Tampa Bay and maybe even the eventual AFC champion a bit concerned.

M: For sure, but while the Rams’ defense is by the numbers the best, they clearly showed the victory lap they took in Seattle to be more because of Seattle having a disastrous performance than the Rams just giving it to them, although the Wilson’s pick 6 was as ugly as it gets. But the Pack running them out of Lambeau maybe isn’t as impressive as, say, the cheeseheads beating down a fully right-minded Seattle squad. Next week with the Buccaneers, it’ll be a whole different story. Also, the snow in Green Bay is usually to its benefit, and although they have a Florida team coming to town, Tom Brady’s the quarterback, and he’s no stranger to freezing temperatures and snowstorms — just ask Jon Gruden and Raider Nation.

T: Yeah, I think weather is an overrated advantage — especially when you’re playing someone like Brady. Like most playoff games, I think this game will be won by who wins the turnover battle, and Rodgers has been elite this year at avoiding turnovers. So we’ll see if the Buccaneers’ defense can challenge Rodgers in that way.

2. The Buffalo Bills duo of Josh Alllen and Stefon Diggs continues to make history, along with the team’s playmaking defense.

M: Bills vs. Ravens was probably the most interesting game of this weekend. But we wouldn’t be Weber State Wildcats if we didn’t

start with Taron Johnson’s 101-yard pick 6, which tied the record for the longest interception return in NFL playoff history.

T: Yeah, that play was amazing. Not only was it impressive on its own, but in the scope of the whole match, it arguably won the game for the Bills. Especially considering it was such a low-scoring game. But to have a play that big be made by a former Wildcat makes it that much more awesome.

M: No doubt, and while Damian Lillard put Weber State on the map by burying game-winners on the hardwood, Johnson’s doing the same on the gridiron. But awesome play aside, I do feel bad for Lamar Jackson, who’s had a rough go of it in the playoffs. Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s coaching is downright mind-blowing sometimes. Jackson has a great throwing arm, and it seems like he never drops back to pass, and when he did, the Bills immediately were all over him. He only threw for 162 yards, which is not going to win a playoff game. I would think Jackson and his offense would be happy with some coaching changes. Baltimore! Hire former Raven and future Hall of Fame receiver Steve Smith!

T: Yeah, Jackson is a guy who’s very easy to root for. I think this was just a bad and unlucky game for the Ravens. If the normally-automatic Justin Tucker hit those two manageable field goals and Jackson avoided that Taron Johnson interception, the Ravens could’ve easily been the team that advanced. Plus, they were without all-pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley for the last half of the season and he obviously would have helped protect Jackson in this game. So I’m not ready to hit the reset button on the Ravens’ offense. Jackson is still young, and they’ve got a lot of good pieces. They could certainly benefit from drafting a possession receiver who could help him move the chains in obvious passing situations.

M: Sure, but the Ravens’ offense needs more weapons in total. Other than Marquise Brown and J.K. Dobbins, the offense needs some players who can make plays without Jackson having to make miracles happen just

to make a catch.

T: They certainly need more pass-catching options. I’m not sold that Marquise Brown can be a number one receiver. He seems more like a complementary guy who specializes in stretching a defense deep. I don’t think the Ravens have much in the form of cap space, so they’ll likely have to use the draft to get those new weapons.

M: That being said, let’s not take away from the Bills. They’ve been on a tear this whole year, and it’s in large part because of ex-Viking Stefon Diggs, who put a receiving clinic on the entire league this season on his way to leading the league with 1,535 receiving yards. Josh Allen’s always had a cannon for an arm and been able to throw it all over the gridiron, but in his first two years, he had nobody to throw to! That’s certainly changed, and Diggs just makes their offense so much more dangerous.

They don’t even run the ball all that much!

T: Everybody seems to be rooting for the Bills because seeing the Bills advance this far in the playoffs is something we haven’t experienced for many, many years. Josh Allen is the real deal and fun to watch, but I agree with you — the Bills do not run the ball that much, and when they do, it’s not very effective.

If they want to win in the AFC championship and the Super Bowl after that, they’ll need to have some semblance of a run game in order to keep opposing defenses on their heels. It doesn’t help that they lost former Utah running back Zack Moss to a season-ending ankle injury. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong, though.

M: If Buffalo gets a running back in this year’s draft, they’ll be scary next year. Not to say Zack Moss isn’t the running back of the future for them, but the Chiefs got Clyde Edwards-Helaire at the bottom of this past draft, so we’ll see how that shakes out in the spring.

3. Patrick Mahomes is next-level, and the Chiefs seem prepared to torch any opponent they face, but if he doesn’t play next week, do the Chiefs even stand a chance against Buffalo?

T: If Mahomes doesn’t play, I’m not sure I like the Chiefs’ chances. Playing Buffalo — with

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady celebrates his fourth-quarter touchdown during his team’s 30-20 playoff win against the Saints in New Orleans.

the exception of this past weekend — usually means you’re going to have to score 30-plus points if you want a chance at winning. I think the Chiefs can keep it close with Chad Henne under center, but the offense obviously wouldn’t be as dynamic as it would be with Mahomes. However, if Mahomes does play, I definitely think the Chiefs win. Last Sunday against the Browns, if not for a missed 33yard field goal, the Chiefs would have scored on every drive led by Mahomes. Credit to the Browns for making it close, but if Mahomes stays in that game, I think we may have been looking at a comfortable double digit win for the Chiefs.

M: Definitely, Mahomes is the Chiefs. But they can keep it close, especially with its defense not getting run over like it has at times in the past, like in Mahomes’ first year, when it got torched by Brady and the Patriots. Tyrann Mathieu’s one of the greatest to lace up a pair of cleats on the defensive side of the ball. He had a career-making year this past season, snagging six interceptions in the regular season and a big one on Baker Mayfield this past weekend. He’s ranked by Pro Football Focus as the sixth best safety of 2020, but I’ll throw numbers away on this one and just say he’s the best in the NFL, and the LSU Tigers will make it tough for the Bills’ offense, but I’m thinking it’ll be a shootout for the ages, especially if Mahomes is behind center at 100%. But Diggs is going to get what he wants in this game, so Chiefs fans better be praying Mahomes plays so he can be bombing it out to Tyreek Hill and checking it down to Travis Kelce.

T: So I think if Mahomes plays, I like the

Chiefs in a shootout, but if he doesn’t play, I like Allen, Diggs and the Bills to pull away.

M: I’m feeling like Buffalo’s going to its fifth Super Bowl, so I’m taking Buffalo to win in a shootout or by at least a touchdown if Mahomes isn’t able to play.

4. Father Time finally beats Drew Brees, but Tom Brady continues to elude him.

M: What a game this was! After the Saints pounded the Bucs when they played in the two regular season matchups, Brady got his revenge in the SuperDome, where he’s no stranger, having won his first Super Bowl there. I was rooting for the Buccaneers in this one because it’s been cool to see Brady showing he’s still got the arm this season and that he can be successful with Darth Belichick breathing down his back and giving him nothing to work with. Also, this season cemented that outside of Cam Newton leaping over the pile at the goal line, nobody does quarterback sneaks quite like Tom Brady.

T: Yeah, this was an awesome game. I was torn with the final result, though. While I think the NFL postseason is a better place with Tom Brady in it, I was sad to see Drew Brees go out the way he did. With reports saying he will retire after this season, I was bummed to see his career come to an end in a loss that he probably found very disappointing. But the Bucs were the better team and deserved the win.

If you would’ve told me before this game that Mike Evans, Antonio Brown, Chris Godwin and Rob Gronkowski combined for seven catches, I would’ve thought that the Saints would be the winners going away. That just goes to show there’s more to Tampa Bay than just Tom Brady

and his weapons and that should be a concern for the Packers.

M: Seeing Brees go is sad for Saints fans, but again, as a Vikings fan, seeing Sean Payton sent home in the playoffs is a great feeling even with it being Brees’s final hurrah in the bayou. And even though the Buccaneers’ receiving corps wasn’t lighting it up in New Orleans — Godwin’s drop in the back of the end zone eye-poppingly displayed — Mike Evans has been one of the best receivers in the NFL since his rookie year, and it’s awesome to see him doing damage in the playoffs after the start he’s had to his career. This was his seventh straight 1,000-yard season, breaking the one-and-only Randy Moss’s record. He’s also the most underrated receiver in the league and has been for his whole career. It’ll be fun to see what he can do against the Packers’ secondary.

5. The Lombardi Trophy found its way to Kansas City last season, but will another be on its way? Or instead, will it head to the frozen tundra full of cheeseheads, or will the Buccaneers carry the loot right out of the stadium and into their hometown?

T: It’s so hard to say, because I could see any of these teams hoisting the trophy at the end.

The Bills seem like the least likely to win, but they still have a generous chance. As a Packers fan, given the way the Packers have played the last couple of postseasons, I fear that a total collapse is on the horizon for them. They suffered their worst loss of the season against Brady and the Bucs back in week five, but the Packers feel like a different team now. So as of right now, I’m going to cross my fingers and

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say the Packers are my favorite to win it all.

That being said, I wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest if the Chiefs repeat or if Brady gets his seventh ring.

M: That loss to Tampa in week five was ugly.

But that was so early in the season, it might not matter too much. Also, considering the Saints’ 38-3 drubbing of Tampa in week nine and the Buccaneers handling them yesterday shows anything’s possible in the playoffs.

T: Assuming that Mahomes and Edwards-Helaire play, my Super Bowl matchup is the Chiefs and the Packers. The Packers fan in me is choosing them to win the big game 34-27 over the Chiefs. Aaron Rodgers will cap off his likely MVP season by getting his second ring. I just hope if I put it out there, I’ll make it happen, but in all reality I’m probably jinxing them by doing this.

M: I’m going with the Buccaneers, led by

by Brady to secure the Lombardi Trophy over the high-flying Bills in a shootout of a Super Bowl, 38­-35. A Super Bowl title returns to the Pirates’ Cove for the second time since Jon Gruden’s squad defeated the Oakland Raiders in 2003, and Brady gets a Super Bowl without the famed “Patriot Way,” which I’m sure all of us fans know is something he would like to desperately have.

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Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans warms up before the wild-card matchup against Washington at FedExField.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks for a receiver as Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Morgan Fox (97) pursues during an NFC Divisional playoff game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Jan. 16, 2021. The Packers advanced, 32-18.

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