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> ‘A Walk in the Woods’ makes Erin reevaluate her summer.
>>Page 6
1 2 3 4
> Kate turns 21 and tells about her rite of passage. >>Page 3
Tennessee Tech 100 Years later :
An Oracle Series
Celebration at Dogwood Park marks beginning of Centennial year By ERIN GILLILAND Staff Writer
Ben Corda | Photo Services EAGLE INVESTIGATION - Tom Moran (left) and Daniel Warden (right) examine an exact replica of the original eagle. The replica in Moran’s hand was 3-D printed using the new iCube facility on the third floor in the Volpe library.
The Derryberry Eagle RETURNS to its perch By KIM BIGGS Managing Editor & ERIN GILLILAND Staff Writer It was a rainy night in the fall of 1952 when 18-year-old freshman Tom Moran made the decision to steal the Derryberry Eagle. Ever since that night, the eagle perched on top of Derryberry Hall has become a symbol of Tennessee Tech. For over 60 years, students and faculty have looked at the golden eagle with a sense of pride. It all started in 1952, though. Moran entered into his freshman year after spending his summers helping with his father’s telephone company, which was where he first discovered the eagle. “I looked across this road,” said Moran, “and in this green spot here, with an abandoned building behind it, was this eagle.” Sitting in a diner in Monteagle, Tennessee, Tom saw the eagle perched in front of an abandoned hotel. The eagle was sitting atop a stone base rusting from the inside. “I saw that,” said Moran, “and I said, ‘What’s that doing over there?’” Moran just happened to see the eagle several weeks before Tennessee Tech played MTSU – Tech’s biggest rival at the time. “Somehow the two came together in my twisted mind,” said Moran. Moran bided his time until three weeks before the game when he told two of his fresh-
men friends, Roy Loudermilk and Lewis Brown, about his plan. On that rainy evening, the boys drove a Chevy pickup truck to Monteagle with intentions of stealing the eagle. To avoid the suspicion of local police officers, Moran told Loudermilk and Brown to drive around town while he removed the eagle with a pair of tin snips. It took Moran nearly an hour to cut the 70-pound eagle from the stone. He climbed up onto the rocks and placed his hands under the eagle’s 6-foot wingspan, attempting to lift it. “I should’ve had a selfie of me doing it,” Moran said. “I’m standing up on the outside of the eagle, my arms under the eagle … it wouldn’t move.” Moran said this was the only time he was nervous about getting caught stealing the eagle. “I still sweat a little bit about that,” he says. “What if the police are driving around?” Moran was unaware there was a pipe inside the hollow eagle connecting it to the cement base. Fortunately for Moran, the pipe on the inside of the eagle was rusted at the bottom, which allowed him to twist the eagle back and forth until the metal broke. Moran waited for Brown and Loudermilk to return with the pickup truck and made their way back to Tech’s campus. Upon their return, the three boys took the eagle to Bill Francis, student body president at the time. That was the last Moran and his friends knew about it until two weeks
later when Francis revealed the eagle to Tech students during a pep rally in Memorial Gym, where it was met with cheers from the student body. Moran said Everett Derryberry ran onto the stage asking where Francis acquired the eagle. Moran, and the rest of the student body, was unaware Derryberry was in the process of negotiating a deal to obtain the eagle for Tech. After the initial reveal of the eagle, it found several homes before finally resting on top of Derryberry Hall. On Thursday, Aug. 16, the eagle was restored to its perch on Derryberry. Last year, the eagle was taken down for restoration and refurbishment after sitting atop Derryberry Hall for 62 years. Tech alumni Daniel Warden renovated the eagle. “Metal actually fatigues,” said Warden. “And the metal just gets old and brittle. That’s what happened to it.” The original eagle was made out of pot metal, which is a cheap mixture of several other metals. After inspecting the original, Warden decided to recast the eagle, making a new one for the top of Derryberry Hall. The eagle sitting on top of Derryberry today is made out of fiberglass and filled with foam for stability. Since Moran stole the eagle in 1952, he went on to become the first full-time director of Alumni and Development at Tennessee Tech. The original eagle is in the process of being refurbished. The details about where the original eagle will be placed are still being determined by university administration.
Centennial Plaza was filled with faculty, students and alumni Friday night as Tennessee Tech’s Centennial Kickoff celebration commenced. The celebration began on Centennial Plaza and was led downtown to Dogwood Park by the Tech Marching Band and cheerleaders. At the Dogwood Park Amphitheater, the audience was treated to performances by the Faculty Jazz Ensemble, Mentonation, Stage One Dance Studio and monologues by the Tech Players. At the end of the night, the Centennial Traditions Award was given to outstanding members of Tech’s alumni. “The Downtown Kickoff is sort of a way to really connect with the Cookeville community,” said President Philip Oldham. “And that’s not only very historical in nature, but it’s very important in the sense that this camOldham pus was really created because of the efforts of the local community.” The entire evening was devoted to both Tennessee Tech and the city of Cookeville. The Centennial Walk, which began the event, was done in recognition of Tech’s past. “This is the mirror image of an event during the 50th anniversary finale,” said Centennial Coordinator Laura Clemons. “Townspeople marched to campus for a picnic on the Main Quad and to show their appreciation for Tech. “ This was not the only activity at the event done in recognition of Tech’s history. Each monologue performed was inspired by an important Tech tradition and was performed in character as important people from Tech’s history. Monologues featured stories about Dammit the
Dog, Awesome Eagle, “blizzards” at basketball games, the Tech Hymn and the eagle on top of Derryberry Hall. “I think it’s been wonderful,” said Liz Mullens, dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology. “I’ve seen things I’ve never seen at Tech before.” Each monologue provided a backstory for the recipients of the Centennial Traditions Award. Awards were given to nine of Tech’s alumni, faculty and others who were involved as thanks for their contributions to Tech’s campus culture. The kickoff also served as a launch for the new commemorative book, “The Tennessee Tech University Centennial, A Collection of Essays and Photographs.” The book serves as a history of Tennessee Tech and includes interviews and photos taken from Tech’s archives. “This book tells the story in a different way,” said Clemons. “One rich with color and images and the personal stories and biographies of so many of our people over the past 100 years.” The weekend of the Centennial Kickoff also coincided with the Golden Grad reunion, the 50th anniversary of Tech’s 50th class. The class of 1965 was the first class to graduate from Tennessee Tech University, as this was the first year the name had been changed from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. The Centennial Kickoff is only the beginning of the celebrations for Tech’s 100th year. There are seven events planned for the fall semester and four for the spring semester. The events include the dedication of Centennial Plaza, a heavy influence in the Homecoming and Cookeville Christmas parades, and new purple robes for commencement. “This is really a special school,” said Director of Advancement Kristin Wells, “and we want to use this opportunity to show people that.”
Chartwells addresses concerns about changing dining options By ANNALISE FREITAG Beat Reporter During the weekly Student Government Association meeting, Director of Dining Services Sam Holm answered many questions and concerns from the SGA representatives about the multiple dining changes around campus. Holm addressed the closing of The Perch in New Hall South, which included the closing of Grill Nation and Papa John’s. Holm said Read More Online
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the first reason was to allow more variety of food offerings in remaining restaurants. Chick-fil-A now offers a breakfast menu, including chicken biscuits, chick-n-minis, and bacon, egg and cheese biscuits among others. Chick-fil-A also offers four flavors of milkshakes: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and cookies and cream. The second reason, Holm said, was the reduced freshman enrollment, which creates a loss of around $1 million in sales. Holm said closures needed to be made to
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compensate for the loss in revenue. Customer satisfaction is still important, Holm said. Chickfil-A and Which Wich are now open until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The Cafeteria was completely gutted and redone over the summer, Holm said, which was just under a $2 million investment. This spurred the question: “Why would you invest so much into The Caf if you knew enrollment will be down?” Holm said The Caf was the oldest dining area on campus and
was the most popular among dining options. The last and “most important” thing yet to be installed in The Caf is the soft-serve machine, Holm joked. Other senators asked if Back Yard Burger’s breakfast menu was to return this semester, Holm said there was not enough funding to allow both Back Yard Burger and Chick-fil-A to have a breakfast menu. Holm also noted that students’ general breakfast preference was Chick-fil-A over Back Yard Burger.
The last major concern senators had was that dining dollars do not carry over through semesters and are lost if not used. Holm said that dining dollars sales are what drive the food program, and Dining Services still has costs to pay at the end of the day. If unused dining dollars were returned to students, funding would have to come from somewhere else, Holm said, which could mean either closing another restaurant, such as Starbucks, or increasing student tuition.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
>> Reviews
‘Project Greenlight’ is back and just as bright By CAMERON FOWLER Entertainment Editor
Unlike most reality television, “Project G re e n l i g h t ” always seems like a show that can only really happen once every few years. Most reality television is pumped out pretty consistently, while “Greenlight” has opted to be a flashier, much longer process. It brings together several bigname personalities from the film and TV industry, most notably Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who help produce the series, but who also serve as hosts to all the intriguing and intelligent madness that happens week-to-week. In the past, the show has run on the concept of a producer team involving Damon and Affleck choosing their favorite script from an amateur writer and director and giving them the chance to turn that script into their own feature-length film. However, things have changed during the 10-year hiatus. With this season being the fourth in 14 years, Matt and Ben want to take a different route. The changes to the core of “Greenlight” are pretty simple: Instead of choosing
facebook.com/ProjectGreenlight AMATEUR HOUR - Previous films made on “Project Greenlight’ include the historic drama “Stolen Summer,” “The Battle of Shaker Heights” starring Shia LeBouf and Amy Smart and cult horror film “Feast.” a screenplay from amateurs, the producers already have a script written. In this case, the script is a broad comedy titled “Not Another Pretty Woman.” It’s produced by Damon, Affleck, the Farrelly Brothers and a host of others, written by the Farrelly Brothers and supervised by first-season winner Pete Jones. Prospective directors are asked to submit their own short films from which the panel of producers will select the Top 13 tasking them to make another short written by the Farrellys. The panel’s critique of this short turns the entire first episode into a normal reality television episode akin to “Shark
Tank,” “Masterchef,” or any of the other rigid competition-based reality shows out there. The rest of the season turns its focus to the tension between the director and producers and how they work together to make a movie. There is backstory to the players that is normally absent from the rest of the show. While there are still harsh debates on who should direct, it is intercut with juicy drama. The finalists all seem human enough to sympathize with, each having their own vision of what the script should translate to on film. This creates a fun dynamic between the stern selection
process and the finalists being analyzed. Variety is evident in the short films that are created, which is based around a scene in which characters are speed dating. Some filmmakers, such as Chris Capel, quickly become the favorites for some of the producers, specifically the Farrellys. One of the contestants, Ashley Barnhill, had severed ties with her former boyfriend and co-director before she submitted the film they made, citing it as a solo effort, only to meet him again at the panel. Every single one of the finalists seems to really want this job. They each have aspects of the story they would change,
but that doesn’t phase the producers, who understand how the show works and are aware of the diva-like quality that most of the aspiring filmmakers possess. What makes the winner really stand out is their contribution as the main star of this series. The feel of past seasons of “Greenlight” has focused on whomever the panel chose, and this season has plenty of options and avenues to take that route. It’s important to the show and to the audience that they choose someone whose heart is in the project yet who can prove to be a fun personality to watch week-to-week. The directing duo of Leo and Kristin make a very strong case for being distinct, bringing up a problem with the script’s diversity and slut-shaming, which strikes a chord in producer Effie Brown. Brown thinks the team will bring a nice flavor to the film that will make it more diverse, while Damon disagrees, saying that the diversity comes from the casting, not the director. Damon states that he has to give the job to the director with merit, and the two agree to disagree. Damon doesn’t seem to want his mission for the show to disappear but also wants to honor what Brown is saying about diversity, yet he hires a white guy to direct it.
The biggest conflict in the episode is the controversial decision in winner Jason Mann. Audiences can tell Mann is not overly passionate about the project, as he says he would change quite a bit and make it almost completely different, much to the Farrelly Brothers’ annoyance. It seems as if he is using a broad comedy penned by the creators of “Dumb & Dumber” to make something largely poetic, which simply can’t work. The silver lining is the absorbing drama it will produce for the audience. The many facets of how he wants to exact his vision could prove riveting reality TV and make Mann a legend. As the episode ends, Mann wins the job and is placed onstage by Damon and Affleck but pulls them aside and immediately demands that he be able shoot on film and that they fire Jones. Damon and Affleck are awe-struck and intimidated. The episode lingers here in typical reality cliffhanger fashion. Maybe the tension will make this season of “Project Greenlight” unforgettable, but as it moves along, it’s guaranteed that the focus on how a movie is made will yet again provide compelling TV. “Project Greenlight” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. CST on HBO.
Public Image Ltd.’s latest is uneven fun By HANNAH BARGER Entertainment Critic John Lydon, known as Johnny Rotten in his younger and less hygienic years, is not dead. Through some miracle, this music legend and most of his former band, The Sex Pistols, have lived through alcoholism, addiction, and the so-called death of punk rock. The Sex Pistols’ heyday ended years ago, after their bassist, Sid Vicious, died at the age of 21. Seems his luck was not as good. Despite several revivals, the band was never able to recapture the bizarre magic of those three years from 1975 to 1978. But, like many musicians, Lydon showed that nothing was going to keep him down. Public Image Ltd. emerged in 1978, taking the new post-punk scene by storm with their first record, “Public Image: First Issue.” It was jumbled, rude and loud, but noticeably more polished than anything The Sex Pistols had ever released. After several lineup changes and a breakup in 1992, the band enjoyed a fair amount of success, culminating in their most recent album, “What the World Needs Now.” The first track, “Double Trouble,” is a single and it shows. It’s a little bland and formulaic. At the same time, it’s about as bouncy and fun as a song that sounds like your retired neighbor ranting at his wife could possibly be. Both it and the track that follows it, “Know
rockcellarmagazine.com NEVER MIND THE CRITICS - Public Image Ltd.’s 1979 album “Metal Box” came in at No. 469 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time List. Now,” could do with being a little less repetitive, but their sound is spot on. Track three, “Bettie Page,” is decent enough, but its anti-U.S. message is halfhearted and feels about 10 years too late. After the first three tracks, the album takes a turn for the better in a major way. Track four, “C’est La Vie,” is longer and heavier than the first three tracks. I can only describe it as being spooky. It’s a drawn-out, droning song that reminds me of Halloween. Its only problem is that it IS drawnout. It overstays its welcome at around six minutes. Track seven, “Big Blue Sky,” is similar in its dark tone and mournful melody. However, it shines in comparison by bringing in its own complex, sincere lyrics and gloomy vibe. By far, though, my personal favorite song on “What the World Needs Now” is track six, “The One.” It is, oddly enough, really reminiscent of a Paul Simon song. The first time I heard it I was
doing what all students do best – stressing over a project. This song gave me that Paul Simon patented feeling of “everything is going to be fine.” The final track, “Shoom,” is predictably vulgar and menacing. While repetitive, the music itself is cool enough to make up for the predictable lyrics. Overall, “What the World Needs Now” has done something highly improbable for bands that have been at it for years: soundwise, it manages to live up to Public Image Ltd.’s previous albums. While it lacks some of the raw energy the band’s youth brought to the table, it takes the idea that a bunch of old dudes can’t still be cool and smashes it into little pieces. Overall, I give it six out of 10 stars. I recommend it to anyone looking to get more into this band. Even if you don’t like it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the band’s previous efforts.
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denverpost.com CAN’T BEAT THE VIEW - The majority of “A Walk in the Woods” was filmed at Amicola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, Georgia.
Robert Redford and Nick Notle tred familiar trails in the inspirational movie ’A Walk in the Woods’ By ERIN GILLILAND Staff Writer Just as summer ended and students were getting used to the long days of school and homework, “A Walk in the Woods” premiered, forcing everyone to re-evaluate how they spent their three months off. Based on the nonfiction book by Bill Bryson, “A Walk in the Woods” tells the story of two men in their sixties who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail. The name would suggest a leisurely film where two men have interesting adventures along the AT. While the movie was still very good, it was a little more fast-paced than what I was expecting. Bill Bryson, played by Robert Redford, and his friend Stephen Katz, played by Nick Nolte, are starting on the trail in what seems like a whirlwind. From there, though, the movie follows the men perfectly, flowing well as they try to navigate the weather, people and pitfalls of the Appalachian Trail.
Unfortunately, the jokes and characters seemed a little overdone. Redford’s character is one we’ve seen dozens of times – a man who wants to get away from the city and enter nature, despite never having done it before. However, Redford was able to push past the cliche and create a character I can easily get behind. His performance was certainly heartwarming, a perfect match for the sullen and crude Stephen Katz. Nolte’s character also starts out as a cliche, but by the end of the film he has pushed through the stereotypical character and shows that no matter what your age, you can still grow up. The source of most of the laughs in the film, Katz ended up becoming so much more than the comic relief. I wish I had seen more of the beautiful landscapes on the Appalachian Trail. It seems like a wasted opportunity to set a movie in such a well-known place and not show more of it. The lack of more hikers was also a disappointment, though we do get a taste of the interesting people on the Trail when
Kristen Schaal makes a short appearance. The amazing talent that appears in the film also made too short of an appearance. Nick Offerman and Emma Thompson were barely there, despite the need for more hikers. Kristen Schaal’s character Mary Ellen is comedic genius, but she’s barely a percentage of the diversity that makes up the people who choose to hike the Appalachian Trail. The folksy soundtrack perfectly matches the scenery of the movie, transporting the audience to the Blue Ridge Mountains with Bryson and Katz. By the end of the film, you find yourself wishing you were there with them, falling in creeks and camping in the snow. “A Walk in the Woods” gave me a new respect for the people who hike the Trail, while at the same time making me wonder if I could do it. Perhaps next summer, the film will have hundreds more hikers attempting the trek, taking pictures where Bryson and Katz stood, and wondering what the shovel is for.
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Tuesday, September 22, 2015 Send letters to the editor to oracle@tntech.edu oracle@tntech.edu.. Include your name, email address and limit letters to 300 words. Anonymous letters are not accepted. Deadline for letters is 4 p.m. Friday. We reserve the right to edit grammar, length and clarity.
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OPINIONS
Please drink responsibly: Bingeing the new norm? KATE TREBING Opinions Editor
T w o weeks ago I became legal. The big 2-1. The socalled age of “adulthood.” By this point in their lives, American citizens can legally adopt children, apply for a commercial driver’s license, and pay their own electricity and utility bills. Yet, on the 21st anniversary of their birth, Americans are given the freedom, even encouraged, to flaunt their new “adult” status by throwing aside their reservations and toasting to newfound freedom at the nearest bar. This day is supposed to be the grand coming-of-age celebration, but many Americans won’t even remember what they did after 5 p.m. Don’t get me wrong; I am not a prim and proper teetotaler. In fact, I had made hopeful plans to go out with some friends on this grand day to celebrate my own rite of passage. But, as per usual with my plans, things did not turn out as I had expected, and I found myself stuck in a class that Wednesday night, Starbucks frappuccino in hand and eyes following the clock’s slow progression toward 9 p.m. Needless to say, I did not feel like venturing into the night by that point. Yet, my disappointment only lasted for a short time. I began to reason with myself. What exactly did I want to go out and do? Drink myself into a state of oblivion while my underage friends looked on and documented
my humiliation on facebook? Not that they ever would do that- friends don’t let friends’ drunken deliriums find their way onto social media. But I digress. I couldn’t rationalize my desire to go out and solidify my new adulthood by acting the part of an irresponsible child and expecting my closest friends to babysit me. Why do we Americans feel this great need to overindulge in every good thing? The evidence of our gluttony is inescapable. The Golden Corral buffet (beside which a billboard ironically touts a trendy diet pill). The detox treatments designed to flush away evidence of drug usage in our bodies. The rehab clinics that are never short of patients. Even the storewide deep-discount sales that compel shoppers to buy multiples of every item simply because the price can’t be beaten. I love a good sale just like any other girl, but must we always linger on extremes? Some argue that our nation’s tradition of bingedrinking is a result of the high legal drinking age. American children are so deprived of alcohol that they just cannot resist the urge to overindulge the moment they are unleashed. Yet, America is not the only nation in the world to have a legal drinking age. Iceland, Japan, and Thailand have a minimum drinking age of 20; while the legal age in Austria, Spain, and Portugal is 16-17. China does not even have a legal drinking limit, while Afghanistan has outlawed alcohol entirely. Yet, it is Americans that seem to cling to this social norm of binge-drinking at the first legal opportunity. So
Courtesy of ProCon.org DRINKS FOR EVERYONE - The minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) varies from 10-21 years old depending on the country.
The majority of the countries included in this study have an MLDA of 18-19.
what makes usso different from the rest of the world? Our nation was founded on a strong set of principles. The first generation of Americans was committed to working hard for the essentials of life and taking nothing for granted. Things have changed since that time. U.S. citizens today seem to seek out new ways to overindulge, without being reprimanded for their gluttony. We may drink before this golden age, but we will only do it in public once we’re legal. We might eat that entire quart of ice cream (guilty!), but we make sure the rest of the house is fast asleep before we creep to the kitchen. What
happened to our self-control? The issue here is not with the alcohol. Alcohol has been a staple of the human diet for as long as (or longer than) many essentials in our meals. Before our modern methods of water purification, the process of fermentation was a trusted method of sanitation for our drinks. Many European restaurants serve wine with meals as we would serve soda products. The difference? They don’t drink wine as we drink our Cokes. We stopped being conscious of how much we are putting into our mouths. We ceased to be aware of the effects of bingeing on our bodies and minds. In short,
we have taken ourselves for granted. We stopped showing our bodies some self-respect. I am the first person to admit to these allegations. I finish this article with a slightly guilty conscience as I think back on the snack attack that fueled this self-righteous rage. What can I say? Caffeine jitters give me the munchies, which fuels the need for more sugar. Maybe I instinctively knew my body’s tendency to act on extremes, and subconsciously I decided to veer away from the night life calling my name on that fateful birthday. I can only speak for myself. I truly believe that we
must make decisions like these on our own terms, for our own selves. I do not hold to the one size-fits-all rule that drinking is bad, and we should call for the second Prohibition (because the first one went over so well). What I believe is simply that we should not take advantage of a social norm and use that as an excuse to disrespect our bodies. We were made for so much more than that.
Kate Trebing is a junior communication major with a concentration in public relations. She can be reached at kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu.
The weekend students' dining dilemma ERIN GILLILAND Staff Writer Tennessee Tech boasts 10 thousand students, 2,200 of whom live on campus, according to the Residential Life’s page on Tech’s website. That’s two thousand students on campus each weekend, some with no cars, and all with free time. Since The Perch has now closed, students have already lost two options for food. During the weekends, however, almost everything closes, leaving them with even fewer choices. The only two restaurants that are open every day are the dining hall and Back Yard Burger. If students want to eat anywhere else, they have to walk or drive off campus. Why even have so many restaurants if they’re going to close on the weekends when students need dining options
THE
Courtesy of sayanythingblog.com
FRIES WITH THAT - Many students find dining options on campus to be limited over the weekends. more than ever? The Perch was one of the most popular places to eat on campus, especially on the weekends. Now
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if you don’t want to eat in the Caf, your only option is Back Yard Burgers. What if students want something healthy to
eat? Sure, Back Yard Burgers has salads. Kind of. Staying healthy on campus is already difficult, and it gets even more difficult on the weekends. The only restaurant that doesn’t sell greasy fried food is Which Wich, and of course they close early Friday afternoons. What’s the worst thing that could happen if they opened more restaurants on Saturdays? Students would be happy? Chartwells would make more money? I understand Chick-filA being closed on Sundays; the entire corporation closes on Sundays. And of course I understand why Chartwells wouldn’t open every restaurant. They can’t afford to keep restaurants open for just 20 percent of students. But would it really hurt them to have a few more options? It would create jobs and give
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students a place on campus to hang out and do homework. Weekends are also the time most students spend their leftover flex dollars. If they haven’t used all their meals over the week and need to buy extra food to make up for it, their only options are either the Caf or Back Yard Burgers, especially since you can no longer buy small snacks at the Caf. I’m not even saying the restaurants have to stay open for their full hours. Abbreviated hours would be completely understandable. But if it’s Sunday afternoon, and I want something other than burgers or Caf food, I should have that option, especially considering the fact that I have paid for a meal plan, and I have paid to have more than two options. By closing almost all of their restaurants on the weekends, Tech is basically telling
the on-campus students that they don’t matter enough to have options. When I lived on campus, I felt like I wasn’t wanted, like Tech wished I would spend every weekend at home. One of my favorite things about Tennessee Tech is how well it accommodates all of its students. But on the weekends it’s like they completely forget the ones who live here. Sure, it’s just a small percentage of the 10 thousand who are here during the week. But 2,200 is still a lot of people. Why should they be forced to choose between just two restaurants? Why can’t they go to Which Wich if they want to? Erin Gilliland is a junior in communication with a concentration in journalism. She can be reached at eegillilan42@students.tntech.edu
2. Originality is required. 5. The Oracle reserves Plagiarized works will not the right to edit for style, The Oracle encourages be considered. grammar, length and readers to write letters and clarity. commentaries on topics of 3. For verification, letters interest. A few guidelines: and commentaries MUST 6. Submissions must be include your name, e-mail received by 4 p.m. on 1. Letters should not address, home town and Friday. exceed 300 words. classification or title. Commentaries should be 7. Your thoughts are free. around 500 words and 4. Letters may not run Think often, think free. include a picture of the in every edition due to writer. space. kdtrebing42@students.tntech.edu
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Page 4 || COOKEVILLE, TN || THE ORACLE
SPORTS
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
>>Inside the Game
FOOTBALL
Football earns hard-fought first win of the season in home opener By JORDAN PACE Asst. Sports Editor
Shea Haile | The Oracle
CATCHING CATES- Krys Cates celebrates after one of his catches against Mercer University Saturday night. Cates had 197 yards and seven catches during Tech’s 29-22 victory.
Bend, but don’t break. The Golden Eagles gave up 416 yards and 27 first downs to the Bears offense, but a few late-game heroics were enough to escape with a 29-22 comeback win over Mercer Saturday night at Tucker Stadium. Tech’s defense, while it looked sloppy at times, forced the Bears to settle for short-yardage field goal tries at the end of several drives. After giving up drives of 66, 56, 59 and 37 yards, Mercer fell short in the red zone on three times, settling for 24, 26 and 19-yard field goals, including a missed 37-yard attempt. While the Golden Eagles were gashed on a few drives, giving up a pair of touchdowns on 89 and 63-yard drives, limiting the Bears to just three points on three occasions in scoring territory kept their opponent at bay. “That wasn’t the game plan,” Tech head coach Watson Brown laughed. “We’re just bending way too much. We aren’t breaking. Them kicking field goals and us scoring touchdowns is the difference in the game.” Tech established the tempo early in the contest. How early? Fifteen seconds from the opening kickoff. On the second play from scrimmage, junior quarterback Jared Davis launched a pass to redshirt sophomore re-
VOLLEYBALL
the night again. Facing 3rdand-goal at the 8-yard line, Davis tossed up a ball to Cates – with just one man to beat – who grabbed the ball and fell in the end zone for the go-ahead score with just 1:47 to go in the game. But the touchdown wasn’t enough. Opting to go for two, Brown and Davis called for Cates’ number again, who reeled in a grab on the opposite side of the end zone, giving Tech a 29-22 lead. The Bears came up empty on its final series, allowing Davis to lead the Golden Eagle offense in victory formation to stamp Tech’s first win of the season. While the Bears collapsed, falling behind to some critical passes from Davis and runs from Ladarius Vanlier and Radir Annoor, they certainly didn’t give away a free win Saturday night. Mercer controlled the clock for 34:14 to Tech’s 25:46, putting up 261 rushing yards on a heavy 51-carry effort. “Just pure grit,” said Brown of the win. “We made a lot of mistakes, but we hung in there. Eighty-seven plays to (our) 56 – you don’t win that many games with that. We’ve got to find ways to make stops on defense, and we made a lot of mistakes, but it’s nice to make mistakes when you win. It’s a whole lot more fun. Brown’s players echoed his talk of grit.
“We never give up; it was all gas, no breaks,” said senior running back Ladarius Vanlier. “That’s something that gives us confidence knowing that whenever we put it together and execute our game, it’s going to be rough on our opponents.” For Cates, who had a career night recording 197 yards and two TDs on seven catches, the performance was particularly special considering he hauled in his first touchdown since Nov. 2, 2013 before missing all of last season with a preseason foot injury. His breakout night was enough to earn the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week award. “It’s super uplifting to me,” said Cates. “My mindset hadn’t been right for the past few games, but my teammates gave me some confidence for this one.” Brown added that Cates was due for some numbers and praise. “It was time for him to be one of those ‘go-to’ guys,” said Brown of Cates, “and lo and behold, he showed it again. It’s what he was as a freshman before he got hurt, and I think he’s going to be hard to handle the rest of the year.” Brown and players returned to Overall Field this week to prepare for a road trip to Murray State for their first OVC matchup of the season. The Golden Eagles (1-2) and Racers (1-2) kick off at 6 p.m Saturday.
SOFTBALL
Volleyball goes 1-2 during invitational By SHEA HAILE Sports Editor The first ever Golden Eagle Invitational was held Friday and Saturday in the Hooper Eblen Center. The volleyball-filled two days included three appearances by the Golden Eagles. The team began the invitational with a match up against the Towson University Tigers. The Tigers, fueled by two double-digit kills performances from Jocelyn Kuilen and Jessica Lewis, took the match in three sets [25-21, 25-20, 2523]. Senior Cody Dodd, who ended the game with 12 kills, led Tech in the same category. Shealene Little had her first experience as a true starter in the contest, earning nine kills. “Shealene Little was really good,” said head coach Dave Zelenock. “Every week she is getting a little bit better and a little bit better. Even in the first match [against Towson] she played well.” The Golden Eagles’ next appearance was against the University of Western Carolina Catamounts in a 7:30 p.m. match up Friday. Tech was able to obtain a 16-9 lead in the first set. The Catamounts narrowed the lead to four twice, but Tech had an answer both times and won the set 25-17. The Golden Eagles had another impressive start in the second set, reaching a seven-point advantage. Western Carolina came storming back with seven straight unanswered points to tie the game 14-14 in set two. The Catamounts closed out the set with an 11-4 run and tied the game 1-1. Tech would outlast
ceiver Krys Cates, who beat a defender in the middle of the field and ran untouched for a 74-yard touchdown. A John Arnold PAT gave Tech a 7-0 lead before the students participating in the third annual “Running of Freshmen” could find their seats. “It was a post (route), and J.D. put it right on the money,” said Cates of the opening score. “I knew I had (the defender) beat after I turned him around, and (Davis) threw a perfect ball.” After an 8-yard Avery Ward touchdown pass from Mercer’s John Russ and a blocked PAT attempt for Tech nose guard Mike Cain, the Golden Eagles increased their lead to another score, as Davis dove into the end zone on a 7-yard scramble. On its next drive, Tech gained 63 yards before running back Dorian Carter punched in a 1-yard touchdown – his first collegiate score. Mercer made its comeback in the second half. The Bears looked like a new team in the third quarter, scoring 16 unanswered points on Russ’ 1-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown and another field goal – their third of the game – to take a 22-21 lead. After three scoreless drives blanked the first half of the final quarter, Tech began its last drive with 7:23 on the clock. Davis, who had connected with Cates on four passes for 160 yards already, found his favorite target of
Womens’ golf places third at Murray By HOLLY MORGAN Beat Reporter
Shea Haile | The Oracle
SERVE IT UP- Shealene Little completes a serve against Towson. Little earned nine kills and eight digs in the game. Western Carolina in a highly competitive third set, winning 27-25. The Golden Eagles gained momentum from its home crowd throughout the entire match, especially in the last two sets. Six hundred eighty fans, including an energetic student section, attended the game. With the game on the line, the Catamounts were in desperation mode. The team tied the set five times but was unable to gain an advantage. The Golden Eagles were able to hold on and win the set 2521, sealing the victory. Dodd was a top performer again for Tech with 25 kills and 10 digs. The senior’s impressive play has become an expectation. “It’s expected now,” said Zelenock. “She is kind of back into her groove and I am more surprised when she does not put up a doubledouble. She is supposed to because that is what seniors do.” Another impressive performance came from junior Sharon Anderson. Anderson had 55 assists in the game and added 14 digs to her stat sheet.
After the victory, Tech was on the court again Saturday for an 8:30 a.m. game against the University of Idaho. The Vandals hindered Tech with its efficient blocking. Idaho had 22-block assist during the match, which attributed to the 3-0 [25-19, 25-17, 25-20] win. Dodd was the only Golden Eagle with double digit kills in the contest. “With this team that we just played [Idaho] we had to swing fast and hard every time and not care if we got blocked,” said Zelenock. “We knew we were going to get blocked straight down and I think it effected us too much, so that is what I am disappointed in, is our reaction to getting blocked.” The loss dropped the Golden Eagles to 1-2 in the invitational. Following the three home games, Tech will be on the road Friday and Saturday. Friday the team will begin Ohio Valley Conference play at Eastern Illinois University, and Saturday Tech will travel to Southern Illinois UniversityEvansville for another OVC clash.
The Tennessee Tech women’s golf team finished third at the Murray State Invitational in Murray, Kentucky last week, aided by the exceptional play of Allyson Dunn who earned All-Tournament honors. The MSU Invitational was played at Miller Memorial Golf Course with each player having only 36 holes to make their mark. Whitney Robertson, Maddi Everts, Allyson Dunn, Haley Davidson and Megan Williamson all represented Tennessee Tech. Following its third place finish, Coach Polk Brown set goals for his team. “The main goal is for the team to continue to improve each day. We obviously want to be competitive in each tournament we play while hopefully giving ourselves a chance to win, but it’s all about the process,” said Brown. “We need to approach every day with a championship mindset with no excuses whatsoever. Win the day each and every day. The rest will take care of itself.” During the first round, Robertson led the Golden Eagles with a 5-over-par 77 making her tied for seventh out of 75. Everts and Williamson both ended the day tied for 22nd, carding 79s. Dunn carded an 81 and Davidson an 89 to complete the first round of play. As a whole, Tech finished the first round with a combined score of 316, which put them in fifth place. It was during the second round the next day that Dunn began to shine after she worked on her shortcomings from the previous day. “I was very disappointed with my score after the first round, so I was determined to get out there and have a good day on Tuesday,” said Dunn. “I just wantBrown ed to help out the team after not being of much assistance the first day.” Dunn said she realized she had a lot of
trouble putting the first day, so she and Brown arrived early on the course to practice before the second round. “I felt much more comfortable going into the second round and had a much more positive attitude,” said Dunn. “I wanted to prove to myself Dunn that I could play a lot better golf at that course than I had the day before.” Dunn started the day tied for 33rd overall and went on to play the best performance of her career. She carded a career low 3-underpar and ended the invitational with scores of 81-69 – 150, tied for fourth place. Her performance earned her All-Tournament honors for the first time in her career. “It felt awesome to get All-Tournament honors for the first time. It was even more special that I had my parents there to watch,” said Dunn. “Hopefully this will be the first of many tournament honors for me.” Dunn wasn’t alone in Tech’s success; Everts ended the invitational tied for ninth with scores of 79-76 – 155. Not far behind was Robertson who tied for 12th carding 7779 – 156. Williamson tied for 35th with scores of 79-83 – 162 and Davidson ended the invitational tied in 68th with an 89-89 – 178. The Golden Eagles scores of 316-307 – 623 were good enough for a third place finish. Everts credits part of their success during the second round to having a good attitude. “I am proud of this team for making the jump in the standings on Day Two. After round one, everyone was disappointed with the score but rather than having poor attitudes, we saw it as an opportunity to play better in round two and that’s exactly what we did,” said Everts. “The team’s determination and heart for the game is a big asset. Those qualities are what make teams successful.” The Golden Eagles are ranked third in the OVC standings going into the CSU Wendy’s Invitational Oct. 5 and 6 in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.