VANGUARD
THE
“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”
AUG. 26, 2013
VOL. 53, NO. 5
Students, faculty study abroad By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net
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KAYLA BARRETT | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Cyclist sustains injury from collision with car By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net
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student cyclist was hit by a female driver in a gold sedan that was pulling out of the Humanities parking lot, Friday, Aug. 23. The accident took place at approximately 9:15 a.m. according to Officer Turk of USAPD. Paramedics and USAPD arrived on scene shortly after. The cyclist sustained minor to moderate head injuries, according to
Chief Zeke Aull of USAPD. The officers on the scene of the accident told Aull that the victim was able to walk to the ambulance before being transported to a hospital for treatment. “If she would have been paying more attention I think she would have seen the cyclist… but that’s my opinion by noticing that the bicycle was right in front of the car,” said See Motorist injures cyclist Page 3
number of students and faculty members at the University of South Alabama studied or worked abroad this summer. Dr. Patricia Mark of the communication department was awarded a sabbatical from the university for the purpose of doing research in the field of advertising. According to Dr. Mark, a sabbatical is a break from teaching that allows professors to do research that will improve their methods in the classroom. Mark spent most of April, May and June in Paris shadowing the presidents of two Parisian ad agencies, XL/Agence and Textuel La Mine. These agencies work for international clients such as Nokia, Heineken and Weight Watchers among others. Mark, who is fluent in French, feels that her experience in France is vital because she will be able to take the realworld agency experience she gained to advertising students at USA. To further her research, Mark plans to write a book on consumer engagement with the president of XL/Agence, Catherine Michaud. While she wasn’t working with the ad
MARYSE MOUGIN | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
While researching in France, Dr. Patricia Mark and her daughter, Sheridan, visited the beaches of Normandy, where Mark’s father fought during World War II on D-Day. agencies, Mark saw other interesting attractions that Europe had to offer. Along with her husband, who visited briefly, Mark and her 12-year-old daughter Sheridan, who accompanied her on the trip, went to the Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco, the French Open in Paris and
the beaches of Normandy. Mark was especially grateful to have been able to visit Normandy because her father fought on Omaha beach on DDay in World War II. “I was actually able See USA study abroad program Page 3
USA medical center boasts first use of new imaging technology By EMMA MITCHELL eem1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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EMMA MITCHELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR
Dr. Reynaldo Rodriguez (left) and Dr. Jack Di Palma (right) demonstrate USA’s new esophageal imaging technology. find us on Facebook search “The Vanguard USA”
SA Digestive Health Center is the first in the world to purchase and use the latest imaging system since the technology’s FDA approval earlier this year. The USA Digestive Health Center prides itself on being a national front runner in the field of gastroenterology, which is the study of the digestive tract and associated diseases. However, their most recent addition truly sets the Center apart. NvisionVLC™ Imaging System, a product of Nine Point Medical, is a state-of-the-art medical device designed for early detection of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer. Approximately 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn or acid re-
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flux at least once a month, according to WebMD. Heartburn is caused when the naturally occurring acids in the stomach get into the bottom of the esophagus. Over time, with repeated exposure to the stomach’s acids, the cells lining the bottom of the esophagus begin to evolve in order to suit the more acidic environment. Barrett’s esophagus is characterized by the change or mutation of the cells that line the walls of the esophagus. Mutated esophageal cells pose potential risks for future mutation-like changes that can eventually lead to cancerous tissue growths. The area most commonly associated with this is the region where the esophagus meets the stomach. The NvisionVLC™ Imaging System uses a constantly rotating laser to scan into the walls of the esophagus, producing 200 live, cross-section views per cen-
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timeter. According to Dr. Reynaldo Rodriguez, associate professor of internal medicine and doctor of gastroenterology at USA, these cross-section pictures assist doctors in finding diseased and damaged areas of mucosal tissue. They also aid in eliminating the former, less conventional methods of detection that limited doctors to the naked-eye observation of the endoscope camera. Gastroenterologist Dr. Jack Di Palma said, “I like to think of this technology simply. This is kind of like a microscope within an endoscope. Where the endoscope lets you look at the findings, this [technology] lets you look underneath.” In a prior interview, Di Palma stated, “The Digestive Health Center at [USA] has always been on the cutting edge of medicine. This technology keeps us there.”
Life, Page 5 Left of Center, Page 7 Sports, Page 8 Opinion, Page 10
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VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013
Weather for Aug. 26 - Sept. 1 “University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”
Editorial Editor in Chief Copy Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Left of Center JagLife Editor Web Editor Senior Reporter Staff Reporter
Samantha Andrews
Meg Lundberg Kelly Ficarelli JT Crabtree Alyssa Newton Emma Mitchell Matthew Strickland
Stuart Sox Noah Logan
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USAPD Police Blotter 8/17/2013 11:35 8/20/2013 13:52 Recovered Property Assault third degree College of Business parking lot Instructional Laboratory Building (ILB) A backpack was thrown out of a vehicle The victim was struck in the face several before the driver left campus. The bag times by a white male subject known to was reported stolen from LAAD Stadium him. earlier that day. The bag was returned to the owner. 8/20/2013 14:29 Theft of property third degree 8/18/2013 11:34 USA bookstore Theft of property third degree Motorola Atrix was taken. Laundry room of 310 Greek Row Theft of 2 towels, 3 gym shorts, boxers, 8/20/2013 16:18 socks, and T-shirts, totaling $60, was Criminal mischief third degree reported. University Police Department Vandalism to a bicycle seat was reported by 8/18/2013 16:12 the listed victim. New residence hall Misrepresenting information or furnishing 8/21/2013 21:16 false information Possession of marijuana second degree Family members and others were Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity concerned with the whereabouts and Two white, 18-year-old males were possible welfare of a student who could not arrested at the location for possession be located. of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. 8/19/2013 12:50 Theft of property third degree Call USAPD at Administration building 460-6312 Student returned to her car and discovered If you SEE something, that her license plate was missing.
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Mission The Vanguard, the student-run newspaper of the University of South Alabama, serves its readership by reporting the news involving the campus community and surrounding areas. The Vanguard strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.
Send letters and guest columns to: The Vanguard University of South Alabama P.O. Drawer U-1057 Mobile, Ala., 36688. Or thevanguardeditor@gmail.com Letters and guest columns must be received by 7 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication. Submissions should be typed and must include the writer’s name, year, school and telephone number. All submissions become the property of The Vanguard. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters will be limited to 300 words. Letters and guest columns are the opinion of the writer. The Staff Editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editor in Chief, Copy Editor, Senior Reporter and Opinion Editor. All members of the Editorial Board have the same weight. The Vanguard has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, e-mail thevanguardeditor@gmail.com. The Vanguard is published Mondays during the academic year, except for exam periods and vacations, and is published twice each summer. The Vanguard is supported in part by an allocation from student activity fees and operates in the Student Media Department of the Division of Student Affairs. Issues are available at most University buildings and select off-campus locations. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $1 each. Freelance writers will receive payment at the discretion of the section editor and will be notified.
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VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013
Motorist injures cyclist Continued from Page One.
senior and broadcast major Kayla Barrett, who was near the scene of the accident just as it happened. Chief Aull attributed this accident and the other vehicle accidents in the past week to street congestion between classes and the usual density of the first week of school
crowd. “My concern is that drivers are in too big of a hurry to get to class and one day the cyclist or even a pedestrian might not be so lucky to escape with just bleeding,” Barrett added. “I commute to class myself, but I always let the cyclists and pedestrians cross before me because they have the right of way.”
USA study abroad program Continued from Page One.
to retrace his steps,” Mark said. Mark added that the sabbatical did exactly what it was supposed to do for her personally and professionally. “I feel refreshed,” Mark commented. “It changed my perspective, it changed my attitude.” While Mark was working in France, other members of the South Alabama family were studying abroad there as well. Kristi Williams, a senior and double major in public relations and French, as well as five other USA students spent eight weeks living with a host family and studying in Dijon, France. Williams received the highly competitive Caldwell Scholarship, foreign language departmental scholarships and the Benjamin Franklin Travel Grant for a total of $5,500 in aid for her trip to France. The Benjamin Franklin Travel Grant was awarded to her from the French government. Williams and the other USA students took four classes for a total of 12 credit hours. “These classes were very difficult and language intensive with lots of reading and writing,” Williams said. “In some classes you would be kicked out if you didn’t speak French.” In her free time, Williams traveled to Paris, Leon, Nice and smaller towns in the south of France near the Mediterranean Sea. Studying abroad is vital experience for any student according to Williams. “Any international experience is great. It helps you learn to adapt to new environments, which will be very useful,” Williams said. Just south of France, more USA students were studying abroad in Spain. Professor Roberto Robles, a Spanish professor at USA and native of Spain, took 10 students to Cuenca, Spain for six weeks. Robles and the students left on June 15 and returned on July 27. “It’s an easy city to discover. It’s not too big, not too small… it’s very lively,” Robles said of the city of Cuenca, which is approximately two hours southeast of Spain’s capital, Madrid. The students took three classes at the University of Castilla de la Mancha in Cuenca for a total of nine credit hours. The classes were focused on engaging the students in Spanish conversations about today’s issues in the U.S. and Spain. Amy Archer, a senior and education major at South Alabama, stayed with a host family in Cuenca. Archer commented, “I’m glad I decided to live with a host family instead of a residence hall
because living with a Spanish family really forced me to speak Spanish all the time.” Archer and the other students who studied in Cuenca this summer took weekend “excursions” to attractive destinations in Spain like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Toledo. Archer recommends studying abroad in a smaller city like Cuenca because the people in larger cities like Madrid and Barcelona aren’t very patient with people who aren’t Spanish. “The people in Cuenca are much more hospitable,” Archer said. Studying abroad is vital to students academically, professionally and personally according to Robles. “Language is not only the skills of being able to talk and listen. It’s also being able to understand another culture. That’s a very incredible learning experience,” Robles said. “You also get to learn more about yourself… being by yourself in another place in the world is like being on another planet. As a whole it’s an extremely important experience for any student,” Robles added. For more information on study abroad grants, requirements and scholarships, visit the foreign language department homepage on the university’s website.
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VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013
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jagLIFE
EMMA MITCHELL, JAGLIFE EDITOR eem1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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Jaguar Marching Band reveals Broadway theme By NOAH LOGAN
ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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he largest marching band in the history of South Alabama will unveil their Broadway-themed halftime show this Thursday at the first football game. The band is under new direction this year with Will Peterson, formerly assistant director, as the Director of Athletic Bands. When asked about his first year as director, Peterson responded positively, acknowledging his prior experience has assisted him greatly. “It’s nice because I already had a year under my belt as assistant director so I got to go in and the kids got to know me and I got to know the system better. It was a very successful band camp.” The Broadway theme has generated excitement throughout campus, and Peterson is sure the show will live up to expectations. “I think it’s going to be exciting. We want to make sure we give the fans a lot of different quick hits of different types of music. I think you’re going to hear a ton of different tunes that you’ll know whether you are young or old.” In addition to putting together quality halftime shows, Peterson and the JMB are proud of the pregame traditions that have helped make Jaguar football an exciting game day experience for all fans. “People always look
and see the pregame show which stays consistent because it’s part of building the tradition and getting everyone pumped up for the games.” Peterson continued, “We’re going to keep working to build on that. I think you’ll see things this year that will enhance the game day experience and bring all the fans to feel like they are really a part of the experience. … I think Coach Jones and the football staff have been working really hard and we want to do our best to make sure that we are part of making Jaguar football and Jaguar athletics great and showing off the best that USA has to offer.” While practice for putting the pregame and halftime shows together takes up a majority of the time, the JMB devotes just as much time serving the university in other ways. One method of doing this is with “minibands” comprised of members of the JMB going out to local businesses and performing outside. “We want students to know about what’s around Mobile and specifically what’s around campus” said Peterson. “It helps those local businesses if we get more patronage going on and we also want to give back to these businesses that are working and supporting South.” Performances this year included Satori coffee house and The Brick Pit. “These kids are taking a lot
SAM ANDREWS | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
From left to right, Ryan Boehme, Stephen Norris, Randall Massey, Jaman Peacock and John Zahasky practice for this season’s show. of their personal time and using it to serve the University. It’s nice that we get a scholarship, but they always go above and beyond the call of duty when asked.” Another aspect the JMB staff is very proud of is the variety of students
that participate. When asked about breaking the mold of a stereotypical band student portrayed by Hollywood, Peterson enthusiastically explained how this stereotype just isn’t true. “One thing that’s great about the band is everybody is sitting up there
asking ‘Are these all music majors that are in the band?’ But actually less than a quarter of the band members are music majors. The rest are from majors all across the campus. … really these kids are just like everybody else on campus.”
Best Dressed: First Week Fashion
Halee Jenkins Radiology - Sophomore
Curry Beeker Accounting & Spanish - Sophomore
Hannah Albano Secondary Education - Senior
Nyerrika Byrd English - Junior
PHOTOS BY DANIEL MORAN | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
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VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013
Beer Fest draws a crowd By TIMOTHY BORLAND trb903@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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or the past 16 years, Beer Fest has welcomed the fall season in the bay city. This year’s Beer Fest on Aug. 24 was no different. What’s the big fuss? Over 33 different bars participate to bring patrons at least 99 different beers. For spirit connoisseurs, this hoppy event is a major destination. Last weekend a number of self-declared experts descended upon Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile to sample the local businesses wares. For $25 a guest may try all 99 beers, albeit in 4-ounce samples. Not every bar offers the entire list of featured beers, so in order to experience every flavor, people downtown hopped from one participating bar to the next. “Mobilians love their home grown establishments and this helps educate others about what a wonderful, fun place downtown Mobile is,” Joanie Stiff, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Mobile, said. The ticketing process is a little more advanced than one might expect for an event based around exotic brews. Drinkers are required to obtain a temporary membership card that must be registered online with the ABC. Afterwards, ticket holders pick up their wristband and official Beer Fest tasting mug from the venue they purchased their ticket. Designated drivers can receive a temporary membership card at the NCS
tent in Cathedral Square so they may accompany their friends. The event originally began as a way for businesses downtown to spur business during a period that is historically proven to be a slow time of year for customers. With the start of both classes and football season, many local citizens become too distracted to frequent downtown destinations. As a result, Beer Fest has become an important way for independent business downtown to stay profitable, with ample crowds helping the city by purchasing food and beverages downtown. The Beer Fest admission price covers matters like advertising, mugs, wristbands and printing. Several cab companies are on hand near Dauphin St so no one has to drive home after the event. Many downtown hotels even offer special rates to encourage guests not to drink and drive. “We are always tweaking our events to make them better each time for our citizens and we debrief as a team on what can be fine tuned to do so…the NCS Department brings so much talent to the table, we are able to make this and other events work very well,” Stiff says. Beer Fest 2013 proved to be another successful weekend of commerce for downtown businesses. Several in attendance voiced their opinions with loud cheers of approval. Thanks to proper planning by city organizers, Mobilians can look forward to the event each fall for many years to come.
LEFT OF CENTER
ALYSSA NEWTON, LOC EDITOR akn1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013
PHOTOS BY ASHTON HOWE-ALEY | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Hands-on-sports series: quidditch edition Quidditch isn’t just a game for wizards; it’s a full-contact sport for USA muggles, too. By ALYSSA NEWTON akn1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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here’s a phrase that goes, “Don’t knock it until you try it.” That phrase is exactly what inspired this series. Beginning this week, the LOC section will feature different sports at South Alabama, giving readers a completely new, indepth look at sports many may have heard of but most have never seen or experienced. And yes, that means the LOC editor is playing every single one. Where did we start? Quidditch. How do you play quidditch? Jennifer Tran, captain of the quidditch team, has been on the team since 2011. She shared with us all you have to know about playing quidditch as a muggle. In quidditch, there are four positions: keepers, chasers, beaters and seekers. Chasers are the offense. They try to score by throwing a quaffle, usually a soccer ball or volleyball, in one of three hoops that are 10 points per score. Beaters are the defense. Beaters attempt to hit players with bludgers, or dodgeballs. Once a player is hit by a bludger, she has to stop what she is doing, dismount her broom and run to touch her goal before returning to the game. Keepers are a lot like goalies in the game of soccer. Keepers guard the goal posts at each end and try to block any attempts that chasers make to score. If a keeper stays close to the hoops, he cannot be hit by bludgers, much like a soccer goalie is safe within the goalie’s box. Seekers try to catch the snitch. The
snitch is a person dressed in all yellow with a flag or sock hanging from their pants. The seeker’s job is to chase down the snitch and rip the flag off, just like in flag football. The snitch is worth 30 points, so if the seeker succeeds, the game stops. As a player, not only do you have to be aware of how to score, avoid bludgers and hope your seeker catches the snitch, you also have to be aware of the other players because they are allowed to tackle you. With all of these conditions, quidditch has adopted aspects of rugby, flag football, soccer and many more sports and has combined them into a game straight out of a beloved children’s series. After the rules and positions were explained, it was time to try it out for ourselves. Playing the game. This past week, staff reporter Noah Logan joined me for the very first “Hands-onsports” series’ feature sport. Quidditch practice starts at 7 p.m. on the intramural practice field. After meeting the team of about twelve people, we were given a short introduction and rule layout before being thrown onto the field for an exercise called “dragon tails.” For this exercise, we took bandanas and hung them from our pants like you would see during a game of flag football and just as a snitch would. We all the circled up and took five paces before being told the object of the game was to grab your opponents’ flags and be the last one standing. Being surrounded by about ten people who are spontaneously let loose to chase you is pretty intimidating. Although I lasted until the top
three, Noah ended up coming out on top for the exercise. Then came the real drills. All of the team members partnered up and held a “broom,” in this case a PVC pipe, between their legs. They were instructed to run down the field passing the quaffle ball to each other and then score a goal. This is easier said than done. While running down the field, not only do you have to keep control of your broom, communicate with your partner and catch the ball, there are keepers and beaters at the goals. In a real game, you have to worry about talking, but luckily this was just a drill and the only actions allowed were pegging with bludger balls and blocking score attempts. Noah and I were a pretty solid team passing down the field, but when it came to the beaters, we were toast. When you get to the goals, other players are running at you, either trying to tackle you or pelt you with a ball. Unfortunately, I was pelted every single time. After playing for about three hours, I honestly didn’t even want to be standing anymore. Never would I have thought that a game straight out of “Harry Potter” novels would be so physically demanding, and these were only practice drills without tackling. The experience. Robin Coleman, a sophomore quidditch player, shared her story about her experience from last year’s Quidditch World Cup to demonstrate just how dangerous this sport can really be.
“I was illegally attacked from behind,” said Coleman. “I ended up with a dislocated rib and still had to play for five minutes before being subbed out and spending five hours in the hospital.” Dislocated rib, torn shoulders, and other injuries are not uncommon in Quidditch. Jennifer Tran explained why in one simple word. “Competitiveness,” said Tran. “We’ve had a lot more injuries than we had in the past because we have been tackling more.” Aside from the occasional injuries many South Alabama students have enjoyed their time playing quidditch. Stephanie Lance, sophomore English major, has been keeping up with the sport since it became popular but just started playing with South Alabama’s team. “I haven’t had the chance to play until now,” said Lance. “It’s been an amazing experience. It’s a real sport, it’s full contact. It’s not just Harry Potter nerds, it’s all kinds of people that have come together and found a sport to connect with.” Noah Logan, who came along with LOC to experience quidditch for the first time, after a long three-hour practice full of drills and exercises, was surprised by what he experienced. “It was fun, but it was a lot more intense than you think it might be,” said Logan. “What sticks out about it is you have integrated aspects of different sports that everyone enjoys. You have rugby, soccer and football aspects in the game. So unlike other sports where you have to focus on one skill, you can be good at anything and be able to contribute in some way.” When asked if he would play
again, Logan commented without hesitation, “Yeah, I’ll be out here Friday.” The Conclusion. At South, there are so many different sports other than just football, baseball and basketball. Although those are all great sports and deserve recognition for their teamwork and effort, so should teams like South’s quidditch team. Before I played on Wednesday, I had already made the assumption that I would be done and gone in an hour. It is a sport out of a book about a wizard with a lightning scar. How hard could it possibly be? I was completely wrong. Captain Tran put it best, “Before you put it down, you have got to give it a try.” In quidditch, everyone plays. So if you are interested in becoming a part of the quidditch team, the team practices on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Their practices are flexible, allowing players to come when they are able. You can also like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usaquidditch. Here you can find all practices, tournaments and the date of the World Cup tournament. Want to be featured? These features are for the teams that don’t get the recognition that matches the hard work they put into their sport. If you have a sport suggestion you would like to see featured, email me. My email is in my byline. Comments and critiques are always welcome. You can soon find more pictures and video on The Vanguard’s website, www.thevanguardonline.com.
SPORTS
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JT CRABTREE, SPORTS EDITOR jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013
USA launches new rewards program Jag Swag smartphone app allows students to earn points for attending athletic events By PATRICK HERRING pwh802@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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or years, the Athletic Marketing Department at South Alabama has been working on a program to reward students for attending athletic events. The old method of having a table set up for people to sign in to the events was outdated, so the department came up with the idea for the Jag Swag Student Rewards Program app. The free app, which is available for download on Apple, Droid and Windows phones, brings the rewards program into the digital age and offers a more interactive fan experience. It uses the GPS on your phone to check you in at various venues throughout campus and at Ladd-Peebles Stadium during home sporting events. The rewards program works on a points scale, so for every check-in, you will receive points. For checking in 20 minutes before the start of a men’s basketball or football game, you receive one point. Once the game starts, you receive another point. For every other athletic event on campus, you receive
two points for arriving no later than ten minutes after the game begins. “We want to remind students that this is a geolocation app,” Assistant Director of Athletic Marketing Lloyd Meyers said. “So you can’t just come to the game, sign in and leave. It will check you out once you leave the designated area and you will not receive those points.” This is meant to help keep attendance steady throughout the games and to reward fans who stay the whole time. With Jag Swag being a rewards app, there are, of course, prizes to be attained for certain point totals. Simply by downloading the app and signing up, students get a free pair of USA sunglasses or a USA keychain. The first prize, unlocked after six points, is a
JT CRABTREE|SPORTS EDITOR
USA T-shirt. Once a prize is unlocked, the app will let you know what your next point goal is and what the prize will be when you reach it. Other rewards include a long-sleeve T-shirt, a Nike USA polo and a Nike USA jacket.
To pick up your prize, simply walk up to the promotions tent at the next sporting event and show them the app on your phone. The first three students to reach 72 points will receive a free set of four tires. Everyone else who reaches the 72-point plateau will be entered into a grand prize drawing, to be held at the end of the school year, for an iPad and a $500 book scholarship. Points roll over from the fall to spring semester. Prizes aren’t the only reason to get the Jag Swag app, however. There’s a feature called FanCam which allows you to upload a photo of yourself at a USA sporting event and have it shown on the video board during a game. It also has a leaderboard that shows how many points your peers have accumulated. The app launched on the first day of classes this semester. Last Friday evening’s soccer game was the first opportunity to get points, but don’t fret if you missed it. The football team plays Southern Utah Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles stadium.
Head coach says team is “more mature” By JAYSON CURRY jayson-curry@hotmail.com
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he start of the 2013 season will be a season of change for the South Alabama football program. When the Jags step on the turf at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Thursday, they will begin the season that the program has been building towards. It will be the first full season as an FBS football member and a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The biggest change USA Head Football Coach Joey Jones sees in his team is the upgrade in maturity. “The whole feeling about our team is just different, there is a lot of maturity,” Jones said. “We have more seniors than we have ever had. This year, we have 28 where in years past we have had five, so that makes a big difference.” After losing key seniors from last year’s team, Jones and his staff have been pleased with the next round of leaders who have stepped up. “We have a really good senior class, and most of them are on the defensive side of the ball. The guys I have seen step up on defense are En-
rique Williams. Last year we had Jake Johnson as our bell cow, and I think Enrique is ready to step up and be that this year,” Jones explained. “He has a great attitude, and I think he is ready to play.” On offense last season, the Jags struggled to get comfortable with Offensive Coordinator Robert Matthews’ spread system, but with another year in the offense, improvements are obvious. “It’s night and day. I do think we are better now,” Jones explained. “We have made a commitment to running the football more, and in years past we have struggled to do that. I think last year they were learning it and this season they know it.” The comfort with the offense has also led to Ross Metheny being named as starter. However, it has been made clear that dual-threat Brandon Bridge will also play this season. “Offensively Ross Metheny has done a great job. He is a natural born leader and he understands what people think and what it takes to motivate players,” Jones said. “Last year, I felt like we had two guys that I don’t think were ready to
play. We were looking for one, but we had two that weren’t ready to take it, and I can honestly say this year we have two guys that are ready,” Jones explained. “Ross has stepped his game up tremendously, and Brandon Bridge has stepped his game up tremendously. They are both going to play. We feel like we need to get those guys on the field to win. That’s our plan right now, and we will see how things evolve as the season goes.” Jones believes the opportunity to play in a bowl game and being named conference champion has forced his team to focus more. This focus has led to much of the maturity that has Jones and his staff so excited. “It means something to these guys in our first year as a full time division-1 team that they have the opportunity to go to a bowl game and win a conference championship, and they are taking a grasp of that and really leading the way,” Jones added. The maturity level should lead to more wins this season for the Jags, wins that Jones believes will come down to the last drive of the game. As for the week one opponent for South, Jones doesn’t want his players
falling asleep just because Southern Utah isn’t a household name for most. “Southern Utah is a very physical football team, and they are in a conference that the national champions come out of their conference every year. And people who don’t know about football hear Southern Utah and might not know who they are, but they are a very good football team,” Jones said. “They play very good football out there, and this is a game we better be ready for.”
Want us to follow you? Tweet us @USAVGSports Blair Johnson @BlairBear_2: Outfielder They have Minion flash drives at Office Max...I want one Bryant Lavender @O_yea_ ThatKid8: Wide Receiver They trippin with this jagtran....why doesn’t the A/C work? Dejon Funderburk @_ KingFunderburk: Wide Receiver This pizza & wing Finna be LOVE Drew Dearman @Heavistotle: Offensive lineman I haven’t passed the bar exam, but I can foresee some legal action from the employees of The Shed. Can’t hold back the money they’ve earned Ross Metheny @RMetheny15: Quarterback “Back to school. Back to school, to prove to Dad that I’m not a fool” Jereme Jones @That_Man11: Wide Receiver My Monday and Wednesday classes are yoga and wii fit #winning Derek Westbrook @ thedwesbrook25: Steeplechaser You practically have to park at ILB if you want to eat at the caf Shavarez Smith @Shavarez: Wide Receiver I love my college. #JagNation
@USAVGSports ALYSSA NEWTON|LOC EDITOR
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VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013
2013 USA Football Predictions: Week 9-12 By SAMUEL BROWN sjb1102@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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eek 9: @ Texas State A year ago, Texas State’s season couldn’t have started any better with an upset win over in-state Houston 30-13. It went downhill from there, as the Bobcats went 3-8 the rest of the season. The Bobcats still do not know who their quarterback will be, with the battle between senior Tyler Arndt and freshman Jordan Moore. Arndt has the experience with eight career starts, while Moore has the raw talent that the Bobcat coaching staff has been looking for. Both quarterbacks can throw the ball better than Shaun Rutherford, but they do not possess similar running ability. Similar to a few other Sun Belt programs, the Texas State defense has two all-conference players who have transferred over from other BCS programs. D.J. Yendrey, a former all-conference defensive tackle transfer from TCU, and linebacker Michael Orakpo, a transfer from Colorado State and the brother of Washington Redskins’ linebacker Brian Orakpo. Orakpo possesses the talent and athletic ability to be an all-conference linebacker. The biggest question mark on defense comes in the secondary. Safety Xavier Daniels is transitioning into the cornerback position, trying to replace Darryl Morris. The Bobcats’ secondary really struggled against quicker receivers last season. With the talented wide receiver core that the Jaguars possess, I believe South Alabama
strolls into San Marcos and has a great game throwing the football. Prediction: South Alabama 24 Texas State 21 Week 10: vs. Arkansas State The first five games meant for a disappointing start to the season for Arkansas State in 2012 as they went 2-3, but after the disappointing loss in the conference opener against Western Kentucky, the Red Wolves didn’t look back. They won every game the rest of the season, including a win over a ranked Kent State team in the GoDaddy.com bowl. The Red Wolves have arguably the best defensive line in the conference with talented skill position players all over the field. They return running back David Oku and wide receiver JD McKissic, who both accounted for over 1,000 yards of offense. Quarterback Adam Kennedy, a transfer from Utah State, is expected to be the starter this season. I believe he is a great fit for Arkansas State, and he may even produce better numbers than Ryan Aplin. I already mentioned Arkansas State as having the best defensive line in the Sun Belt, but if this team does have any concern, it’s the back seven of the defense. They have to replace two allconference linebackers, but they do bring back outside linebacker Qushan Lee, who is one of the best linebackers in the conference. In the secondary, the Red Wolves are set to start two converted running backs, Frankie Jackson and Rocky Hayes. This is a bit of a concern due to lack of
ALYSSA NEWTON | LOC EDITOR
Ross Methany prepares to lead the Jags as a starting quarterback in 2013. experience, but it does add athleticism to a secondary that looked to lack depth. At this point of the season, I believe this will be South Alabama’s toughest game yet, behind only the Tennessee game. I think it will be hard for the Jaguars’ defense to keep up with the Red Wolves’ speed
and athleticism. This will be a game that South Alabama let’s get away from them in the second half, losing by two touchdowns or more. Prediction: Arkansas State 38 South Alabama 24 Week 12: @ Navy
Once again, Navy had another successful season finishing 8-5, sweeping Air Force and Army, winning the Commander-in-Chief ’s Trophy. Navy returns 13 starters in 2013, none more important than quarterback Keenan Reynolds. The Midshipmen do lose top rusher Gee Gee Greene, but that will not be a problem as they return plenty of talent at the position. The offensive line returns three starters, headlined by center Tanner Fleming. Look for Noah Copeland, Demond Brown, Trey Miller and Darius Staten to get the bulk of the carries in 2013. The Midshipmen defense returns seven starters from last season. The four starters that they lost were their top four tacklers: Matt Warrick, Tra’ves Bush, Keegan Wetzel and Brye French. The secondary should be a strength for the Midshipmen as they have to replace only Tra’ves Bush but bring back everyone else. South Alabama has faced only one triple option offense in team history. That didn’t turn out too well as the Jaguars were defeated by Cal Poly 41-10. Navy gives almost everyone they play fits, and I expect this to be the case once again. The Jaguars will have to travel to Annapolis against a quite unfamiliar offense. I expect Navy to win by at least a touchdown. Prediction: Navy 31 South Alabama 20 Samuel Brown’s predictions will continue next week with ULM, Georgia State and ULL.
U S A A L L I E D H E A LT H & N U R S I N G
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Opinion
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KELLY FICARELLI, OPINION EDITOR kficarelli@gmail.com VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013
Daycare at USA would make Learn from experiences great addition to our society
By KELLY FICARELLI kficarelli@gmail.com
A
lthough the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services shows that teenage pregnancies are on the decline, as of 2011, there were still 31.3 births to teen mothers per 1,000 births per year in the United States. This average is down considerably from teen pregnancies in 1991, when there were over 61 births per 1,000 per year. The fact remains, though, that teen pregnancy is still a major issue and has major consequences on society. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, states that only half of teen moms receive a high school diploma by age 22, versus about 90 percent of women who do not give birth during adolescence. They say that teen moms have lower school achievement, so it would be a safe assumption to say that, most of the time, these
women do not enter college either. And so begins (or continues) the cycle of poverty and single-parent families. As the CDC states, “The children of teenage mothers are more likely to have lower school achievement and drop out of high school, have more health problems, be incarcerated at some time during adolescence, give birth as a teenager, and face unemployment as a young adult.” Adding to this cycle, the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 62 percent of mothers in their early 20s are unmarried, leaving it up to single women to provide for their children. To help give these young women hope for a brighter future and break the cycle of poverty in our community, I believe South should institute a child daycare center on campus. Knowing college graduation is possible will encourage young women to finish high school and prepare for a life of independence. This child care center would not be funded by tuition or take money away from the college in any way. It could be federally funded by the same program that provides Alabama Head Start and Early Head Start. The cost of the daycare could also be supplemented by the parent if the program was incomebased. If single and teen mothers knew
they had a safe place for their children to go, and it was close to where they were going to school, I believe they would be more likely to get an education and contribute to society rather than living in poverty or being on welfare, food stamps, Medicaid and other social programs, as so many are forced to do to take care of their children by themselves. Parents could check on their children throughout the day between classes, too, allowing them to spend more time together than if the child were at a daycare outside of the college campus setting. Several universities across the country have very successful on-campus learning centers for children, such as Boston University, Tennessee State University, the University of California-San Francisco, Northern Illinois University, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the University of Iowa, just to name a few. South can and should do its part to empower single mothers and mold them and their children into productive members of society by opening an on-site child care center. We have the resources and the chance to be a huge part of the solution to Alabama’s poverty, crime and education problems. Let us change our society. Let us grow South, and grow a strong, selfsupporting community.
JagPulse
What’s the best movie you watched or book you read this summer? -responses from facebook.com/TheVanguardUSA Sandra Huynh: “Despicable Me 2...No shame.” Taylor Brown: “Finally got around to reading The Hunger Games trilogy. Great books.” Penelope Brewster: “Spring Breakers.” Nick Cook: “Clue is the best movie I watched over the summer.”
Joshua Goff: “I finally saw Cloud Atlas. It was pretty rad. I may have to find the book.” Harrison Hunt Hud Hudson: “Best movie: STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS” Sarah Alisa Hyde: “I read Gone Girl this summer. Great book.” Lauren Walston: “Tess of The d’Urbervilles.”
Sabrina Dunnam: “The movie This is the End.” Lauren Wheeler “Argo” and “Iron Man 3” Kyle Clark: “Where the conflict really lies: science, religion, and naturalism” Ellis Hicks: “Pacific Rim was the most fun I had in a movie in a long time.”
By JOHN BLYTHE johnblythe@gmail.com
S
ometimes, professors are bad. I mean, really bad. It happens. It should also be noted that, as students, we aren’t always rainbows and sunshine for professors. Even so, as with many areas of life, a bell curve can help give shape to the experience most of us have had in our collegiate careers. Another caveat: for every bad professor you encounter, there are ten times as many good ones, and thank God for them. On the complete flip side of the curve, too, there lie some absolute gems whom you never forget. So what are some of the signs that you’re on the left slope of the curve? Annoyance. If a professor is annoyed with questions or general interaction, you may have found yourself in for a rough semester. Impatience. At the risk of being too simplistic, teaching is basically about bringing people who are behind on something up to speed on it. If a professor doesn’t have much tolerance for someone not yet getting it, they should stick with their research and books, not students who need to be taught. Humiliation. One of the more extreme examples that you’ve landed yourself a real winner is when they humiliate students. It doesn’t have to be intentional, either. If their reaction to a student
results in (keyword) unnecessary embarrassment, then it’s probably time to talk to a chair or dean. On the other side of the coin, there should be a few things to consider before crying wolf on one of these issues. Toughen up. Sometimes students are still babies. This is college, so it’s time to put on your big kid pants and learn that you’re not a unique snowflake. No more pampering or hand-holding. You’re an adult and should be able to handle being treated like one. Shut up. Don’t cry over spilled milk, especially if it spilled because of a dumb answer, poor study habits or, heaven forbid, because you’re bad at the subject matter. Your teachers are here to teach you, not to stroke your ego. Step up. In real life, there are real-life jerks. You’ll have them as employers, coworkers, public workers, in-laws and anything else. So even if you have a terrible professor (who very well may need to be reported), at least let them teach you how to handle people in your life who are less than likable and far from cuddly. Curve balls aren’t a good enough reason not to step up to the plate. Einstein once quipped, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” If they’re reading this, the best professors on campus are saying “Amen!” I hope you find some of those men and women amongst us. I’ve had the joy of learning from two of them over my four years here. But what if you’re stuck with a bad one? Having a bad professor can be a terrible experience, but another quote worth considering is “Experience is the best teacher.” Make sure you don’t forego the lesson in front of you just because you don’t like the packaging.
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VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013
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VOL. 53, NO. 5 / AUG. 26, 2013