Nov. 25, 2013 Vanguard

VANGUARD THE

VOL. 53, NO. 18

“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”

NOV. 25, 2013

Jags Win 36-14 SGA cuts

INSIDE

One down, two to go: Jags still have hope for bowl bid.

“We have hope. Every person needs hope in their life, and we have hope now.”

- Coach Joey Jones

► Life: Progress continues through end of fall.

See Campus, page 2

► JagLife: American Chemical Society welcomes all USA students.

See JagLife, page 11

See Sports, page 14 ALYSSA NEWTON | LOC EDITOR

USA art students sharpen skills while helping Mobile’s homeless

By SAM ANDREWS thevanguardeditor@gmail.com

► LOC: Rock climbing club reaches new heights.

See Left of Center, page 12

► Sports: Men’s basketball hosts three schools in CBE Classic.

C

ommunity members piled into a partially-incomplete administrative building in downtown Mobile at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22, to be greeted with the sounds of a live band and an even livelier atmosphere.

The first and most difficult challenge of the night, however, was choosing the perfect handmade bowl.

“The hardest part is picking out the bowl,” Lynn Miller, three-time Art Soup attendee, said.

In exchange for a $40 donation, patrons who attended the Art Soup event took home a bowl made by a local artist, dined on a choice of chef-inspired soups and entered into a raffle for other artisan collections.

All donations from the event benefit the homeless in Mobile.

Lyn Manz-Walters, former executive director of 15 Place, said the annual event’s purpose is to raise public awareness of the homeless.

“It also helps us support the ongoing work at 15 Place,” Manz-Walters said. She has worked with the Art Soup event since its start in 2010.

See Sports, page 16 find us on Facebook search “The Vanguard USA”

See Art Soup Page 4

Check out our digital edition thevanguardonline.com

“It’s like it was made just for me!”

-Sierra Williams

student funding

By STEPHANIE FEATHER sf1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

M

ultiple student organizations became ineligible for SGA funding this year after missing the mandatory 6-hour skill-building workshop called Student Organization Leadership Day. The student activities office scheduled the workshop, referred to as SOLD, for Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.

An email sent out to the advisors and leaders stated that each organization was required to send one representative to SOLD. Failure to attend this event would result in the organization no longer being registered with the office of student activities for the 2013-2014 academic year.

There have been questions about some organizations not receiving the email, leaving them uninformed about the mandatory attendance. USA’s Student Nurses’ Association is one that has voiced this concern with Dr. Krista Harrell, the staff lead for SOLD. The Office of Student Activities is aware of the matter.

Brigette Soderlind, assistant director of student activities, explained that there were several outlets used to provide information about the mandatory event.

“Multiple emails and reminders were sent to student organization presidents and advisors communicating the information,” Soderlind said, “as well as promotion of the event on Facebook and the student activities’ website.”

SNA President Chris Hornberger took responsibility for not updating the SGA email roster.

See SGA Cuts Page 3

SAM ANDREWS | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Sierra Williams picks out her handmade bowl at 15 Place’s Art Soup event on Nov. 22 In this Issue:

SOLD

Opinion, Page 5 Life, Page 7 Left of Center, Page 12 Sports, Page 14

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VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Progress continues through end of fall

By NOAH LOGAN

ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

I

t’s hard to walk anywhere on campus without the perpetual din of jackhammers and drills filling the air. While the noises can be irritating at times, they are a constant reminder that the University is working to make the infrastructure better on campus.

Spring semester of 2014 will look a lot different to students in aspects of academic and athletic infrastructure as well as student life enhancements, like the new student center.

NOAH LOGAN | STAFF REPORTER

Library construction site for new Starbucks, will be a “full fledged” Starbucks store, much bigger than the one in Shelby Hall.

According to USA Public Relations Director Bob Lowry, the updates are not just for appearances’ sake but will also save the University money in energy costs. He commented, “Our energy efficiency upgrades will save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.”

Here are some of the many construction updates that students can expect to see when they come back from the holiday break.

The most notable and anticipated addition will no doubt be the completion of the new student center. The student center was closed in 2010 for what was called a “complete renovation,” and phase two of the two-phase project is set to be complete in “the second quarter of 2014,” according to Lowry. The first phase was the food court and bookstore portion.

According to Dean of Students Dr. Michael Mitchell, complications have plagued the process the whole way. Initially, the center was set to open in the fall of 2012, but the beginning of the actual project was pushed back a year due to “problems in building commission,” according to Mitchell.

When the project finally began in June 2012, Mitchell estimated a completion date of fall 2013, which has since been pushed back to spring 2014.

The new student center will be two stories and will feature a 5,500-square foot ballroom on the second story. Other features include a Java City, SGA conference room and workspace, more conference and meeting rooms for all students use, and the offices of student services and academic affairs. A full layout of the new design can be

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On the athletic side, the softball stadium will also be receiving major renovations. These include a new indoor hitting facility that will be completed in January of 2014, new dugouts, new press boxes and new seating that will be installed during the extended road trip in the current season.

Lowry attributed the renovations as a result of the program’s recent success and the University’s desire to support the program. “We want to enhance the experience for our USA softball supporters who enjoy our terrific program,” Lowry said. “We also want to meet NCAA standards for facilities that wish to host NCAA Softball Tournament games as we anticipate our softball team’s continuing success.”

Starting Feb. 1, 2014, students will also be able to enjoy Starbucks coffee while studying in the main library. The coffee shop will be situated near the west entrance of the library in the now-vacated computer lab. Dean of Libraries Dr. Richard Wood spoke of the plans, saying the Starbucks will be a “full-fledged Starbucks,” unlike the one located in Shelby Hall. He added, “Students that ordinarily go off campus to study at Starbucks will hopefully come here instead.”

Plans were also announced in July to transform the Delta Deli on campus into a Subway, but this seems to have been put on hold. In a Facebook post, South Alabama Dining Services said, “we’ve found out construction was going to be more difficult than initially thought so we held

NOAH LOGAN | STAFF REPORTER

Mahmoud Alkahllut orders his Starbucks coffee at Shelby Hall. off so we wouldn’t have to close in the middle of the semester.”

The Mitchell Center has seen some additions and maintenance as well this year, and this will continue into next semester. The new “Challenge” sculpture was recently installed outside the Mitchell Center and has lights coming soon.

Work on replacing a damaged storm water drainage system will be completed in January 2014.

Lastly, a cooling tower upgrade to support campus air conditioning and be more energy efficient is under construction and will be completed in May 2014.

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VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

“University of South Alabama’s Student Voice”

Weather for Nov. 25 - Dec. 1

Editorial Editor in Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Left of Center JagLife Editor Web Editor Staff Reporter

Samantha Andrews

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Noah Logan

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VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Art Soup Continued from Page One.

SAM ANDREWS | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Tony Wright accompanies local band Bay Runners at the Art Soup event on Nov. 22.

SGA cuts Continued from Page One.

“I will be the first to admit,” Hornberger said, “I made a mistake by not knowing that my organization needed to update the SGA’s email roster.

Otherwise, I certainly would have.”

However, a mistake costing the entire organization to be ineligible to register for appropriations has had consequences.

“We use these funds to provide support to future nursing leaders by covering the cost of travel to and from a national convention,” Hornberger said. “We also use funds to support organizations such as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the 15 Place homeless shelter here in Mobile.”

There were also organizations that did receive the information but were unable to attend SOLD. Kimberly Davis, chapter advisor for USA’s Alpha Sigma Lambda Adult Student Honor Society, was unable to attend.

“Our organization is very small, and the membership is made up of adult students who have work and family responsibilities,” Davis said. “I am a full-time university employee, and I also have small children. I am sure there are many chapter advisors who have similar situations and do not enjoy giving up their Saturdays. I asked for a volunteer from our membership to attend, but no one could make it.”

The South Alabama Diamond Girls were unable to attend the meeting but also found it unnecessary to their organization.

“Our organization, to my knowledge, has never applied for appropriations because we fundraise all of our own money,” Monica Burruss, diamond girls member, said. “When I talked to our adviser about it, we both assumed missing SOLD would not be a problem.”

Soderlind recognized some groups did not at-

15 Place, which coordinates the event, provides many basic services to help the homeless all year-round.

“Your mission comes from your vision,” Manz-Walters said, “and our vision is that every homeless man, woman and child should have easy access to all the services that they need to end their homelessness.”

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2013 Point-inTime estimates on www.onecpd.info, Alabama has a homeless population of 4,689. In the same report, 511 of those individuals were veterans.

“It’s un-American to have homeless veterans,” Manz-Walters said passionately. “When someone puts on the uniform of this country and raises their hand to take the solemn oath that they’re willing to die to protect the freedoms that we take for granted, their reward should not be dumpster-diving behind Wendy’s and sleeping on a park bench.”

Artists from the University of South Alabama have been combating homelessness in their own way. tend SOLD because of prior obligations. Organizations that could not attend the Sept. 21 event were offered a makeup session. Student activities encouraged leaders to RSVP by the set deadline to arrange an alternative workshop.

SOLD was a success in the eyes of SGA and the Student Activities Committee. William Pearson, vice president of SGA, said that there were 188 students from 169 organizations who attended.

Pearson said that the committee wanted student leaders to get more involved. “It was an interesting meeting,” Pearson said, “and there was a lot of good feedback from those who attended.”

If the student leaders choose to complete the student organization renewal process for the 20142015 academic year, then they may be eligible for funding through SGA beginning in fall 2014.

In the meantime, there may be some things the organizations can do.

“Any student organization is welcome to host fundraising events throughout the year,” Soderlind said. “Student Activities is happy to assist in promotions of such events as well as helping students with fundraising ideas.”

The activities committee also wants to encourage open communications with students and student organizations.

“If any student organization leaders, members or advisors have suggestions for improving the support and services offered to USA’s student organizations,” Soderlind said, “I welcome them to contact me or stop by the office to discuss their opinions.”

The student activities department email account is activities@southalabama.edu. They are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthAlabamaStudentActivities and available by phone at 251- 460-7003. Soderlind said everyone is welcome to come by the student activities office located in the Academic Support Center.

“I would say that over the years, easily 75 to 80 percent of the bowls that are donated to this are from USA students, faculty and alumni,” Tony Wright, associate professor of ceramics, said.

Tony Wright, along with other faculty in the Visual Arts Department including Rene Culler, Megan Gulland and Rachel Wright, worked with their students for several months to create the original artwork for this year’s Art Soup event.

“When people are learning how to make pottery,” Tony Wright said, “we’re tapping into thousands of years of tradition. For a long time, a lot of the things that people ate and drank out of were made by human hands.

Now, they’re not so much. They’re made by machines. But our work should be, hopefully, something a little bit more because it’s got that human element.”

Tony Wright also hopes to promote appreciation for handcrafted works.

“I have a passion for making things that you can use on a daily basis,” Tony Wright. “I think it enhances your life. So if I can get folks here to take home a handmade bowl as opposed to a factory-made bowl and see what its special qualities are, I’m hoping to educate my community.”

This year’s Art Soup was held at the future

location of 15 Place. The organization plans to move into the new building from their current location on 15 Joachim St. in downtown Mobile on Jan. 1.

The building’s layout reflects the organization’s model of many experienced agencies working together for the same cause.

“We do not duplicate services,” Manz-Walters said. “Rather than pretend to do veteran’s services, we bring the VA (Veterans Affairs) in, and we set them up at a desk. We bring the employment office in, and we put them in the next one. … They know what they’re doing.”

She explains that services like AltaPointe Mental Health Systems and the University of South Alabama College of Nursing will have stations within 15 Place’s new location to better serve the homeless.

“They’re all on-site,” Manz-Walters said.

“So you don’t have homeless people wandering up and down trying to get help. They all know where to go.”

“We help a lot of people,” Michael McDonald, former assistant director of 15 Place, said. “We’re not here to make the homeless comfortable. We’re here to help them transcend out of homelessness.”

To find more information on 15 Place or see how you can help, visit www.15place.org or call 251-432-7227.

SAM ANDREWS | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Tony Wright (top) with his art students(left to right) Kara Wright, Michelle Loo, Jamie Tait and Reina Ito support the Art Soup event at the future location of 15 Place in downtown Mobile on Nov. 22.

VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Opinion

EDITORIAL BOARD

Samantha Andrews | Editor-in-Chief Kelly Ficarelli | Opinion Editor JT Crabtree | Sports Editor

KELLY FICARELLI, OPINION EDITOR kficarelli@gmail.com

5 Alyssa Newton | Left of Center Editor Emma Mitchell | Life Editor

Don’t break bad: Use breaks wisely Why I don’t recycle

By JOHN BLYTHE johnblythe@gmail.com

B

reaks happen. Some for good, some for bad. Breaking up with a significant other. Breaking away from a bad job. Breaking a personal record in the gym or a school record on the field. Having a holiday or summer break from school or work.

One of the problems with the way we tend to think, though, is that breaks are the perfect time for stopping progress. Now, of course, we’d never actually say that. But it’s oftentimes how we act. We begin to slouch in our daily routine. That diet is no longer all that important. You’re on break so why head to the gym to work so hard? Books are so last semester, so let’s just veg out to some “Keeping

Up with the Kardashians” or Grand Theft Auto.

Enjoy your break: take a breather, sleep in a little later, have an extra piece of pie, skip that workout, watch or play to your heart’s delight—but don’t stop. Don’t allow these things to make you dead in the water concerning the things that will actually matter after the break is over. Play the long game, man.

Pick up a new project that you now have some free time to work on. Begin learning a new skill that you’ve been curious about but haven’t had time to devote to just yet. Dust off the novel that you’ve had to keep putting off as textbooks ruled your life the last 18 weeks. Sure, skip a workout the day before Thanksgiving, but stay later during other visits since there is no class to rush off to. Indulge by watching all of the “Lord of the Rings” movies (extended editions, of course) back to back to back. But don’t create a new norm.

Breaks are breaks and should be enjoyed as such, but they must be put into a proper context. They are breaks from only a handful of things, not life

itself. The world keeps moving forward. Other people are getting ahead in life while you’re in a partial coma from trying a pint of all the Ben & Jerry’s flavor ever created. Someone else is a little smarter. They took just a few minutes of their break every day to do something meaningful. You, on the other hand, sat around drinking enough Mountain Dew to make mayor Rob Ford’s dependencies look tame.

Let’s make this simple. There is an economy of time. You only have so much. You can’t buy more, and you can’t get any back once it’s been spent.

Breaks are periods when fewer things are demanding your time. But there is no less expenditure of it. Every single second ends up being spent regardless.

So the question at hand is not IF you’ll spend that newly freed time, but HOW you will spend it. Like I said, enjoy it, but allot some of it to something that has a bit more return on investment than what most days spent exclusively in pajamas can promise you.

Take your break, but don’t break bad and end up being broken when normal life begins again.

By LYDIA CHRISTIAN quietartsytype@gmail.com

B

efore you all start immediately launching rocks in my direction, just hear me out. I have noticed that a lot of people say they care about the environment without actually following through. I’m sure buying ‘ecofriendly’ cups and a Prius earns some brownie points, but that isn’t not good enough.

Instead of really supporting our environment, we junk it up with even more plastic wrapping surrounding our cardboard ‘green’ pens. But we feel good about the purchase because at least it’s “supporting a good cause.”

One solid pat on the back later, and we go about our business, casually tossing the shredded remains of our fast food

meal in the closest disposal.

The reason that I find myself wasting so much packaging is simple–– convenience. Naturally, I blame the government and pretty much everyone else who is not me for this tragedy. I tell myself that it is basically impossible because there are no conveniently labelled recycling bins everywhere I go.

I also find it much easier to forget the eight cans in my garbage bag than to rinse them out and put them in a separate container. The best way to avoid any blame is to remind myself that it’s a very long drive to the recycling plant. Besides, empty containers waiting for recycling day is basically a red carpet for pests to move in.

The most comforting of all is the knowledge that I will be dead before I have to see what a wreck I left in my wake. Yes, it is the epitome of selfishness, but from what I’ve seen from my fellow garbage-mongering peers, it’s an accepted way to be. Maybe I would care more if the government mandated recycling, like they do in Japan and Germany. Until then, expect to see Cheetos bags, glass soda bottles and at least six plastic icing containers littering my own personal landfill––earth.

Enjoy Mobile this holiday season

By KAYLA TROSCLAIR kkmichelle5@gmail.com

W

ith the holidays right around the corner, many people are probably running around getting those last few dinner items they need and trying to figure out the perfect gift ideas.

How about taking a break at some point to enjoy the many holiday activities Mobile has to offer to you and

your friends and family? A majority of people won’t stop and take the time to look for all the events taking place, so I’m bringing some information to you.

The first activities I found, which I didn’t know about myself, take place at some of the museums downtown.

For example, the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion decorates for Christmas, so people can come and take the usual tour but with some added holiday spirit!

The more well-known Exploreum also has some fun events going on, like IMAX movies about the Arctic and Winter Camp, both of which are fun and educational for children. Visit their website for more information.

Tillman’s Corner holds an annual Christmas parade every year. This year it will be held on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. The parade route will begin and

end at Griggs Elementary school.

Before the parade, the Tillman’s Corner Chamber of Commerce will have “Breakfast with Santa,” in which people can come eat with Santa Claus before heading out to the parade. Admission for the breakfast will be $5 for adults ages 13 and older, $7 for children ages 5 through 12, and children 4 and under are free.

Downtown Mobile will also hold their annual Christmas parade this year on Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m. The parade will begin and end at the Civic Center. Before, during and after the parade, a holiday market will be held in Cathedral Square with activities for children.

Lastly, one of Mobile’s most talked-about attractions is the beautiful Bellingrath Gardens. Every year for the holidays, Bellingrath holds “Magic Christmas in Lights.” The entire gar-

KELLY FICARELLI | OPINION EDITOR

den is decorated with tons of Christmas lights for the public to come and enjoy the acres of scenery. I went for the first time last year and absolutely loved it. This is definitely something that the whole family will enjoy, and it’s perfect for all ages. I would recommend it to anyone, and I am planning to take a trip back this year! “Magic Christmas in Lights” will be open 5

p.m. to 9 p.m. starting Nov. 29. The attraction runs through Dec. 31.

Through all the cooking, shopping and gift-giving, find some time to come out and really appreciate the holidays for what they truly mean.

Don’t miss out on spending some time with the people you love at one of these amazing places this year. I know I wouldn’t miss it.

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VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Remember, “Do unto others...” Make realistic New Year’s resolutions

By KELLY FICARELLI kficarelli@gmail.com

T

he end of the semester is quickly approaching, along with several holidays known to involve family drama. With all this stress, it’s easy to turn into a Scrooge or simply go into hibernation, avoiding the public (maybe even some family and friends) at all costs.

One thing you can do to alleviate negative attitudes and urges is to help some-

one else. I’m not saying give money to that cousin who never pays you back.

You can help your loved ones, strangers or anyone you feel could use a hand. This doesn’t necessarily mean coming out of pocket either. Many relatives, friends and organizations need your time more than your money.

When you help others, it gives you a true feeling of servitude. Even when those you try to help don’t show appreciation, you can feel good about yourself knowing that you went out of your way to do something nice for someone who needed it.

If you have a little extra cash, consider buying holiday gifts for children you know who come from a low-income family. You may not like or respect the parents of these children, but you know

RYAN KELLER | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jamie Cunningham: Jonathan Robichaux: Prez Pineda, he is a great Drs. Costanza and Shulze Spanish 2 instructor! He is were my favorites this year funny, he likes to make jokes by far. They both made their about his family. He likes to classes incredibly fun to go keep the class involved in to every day. learning the material.

Emma Estelle Mitchell: Dr. Mockett and his physiology class!!!

Tyler Reed Bell: Adrienne Cooper! She has taken me and my classmates on adventures learning about trees in our BY490 class. She is really into her job and all about hands-on experience, as well as down to earth. I have never had more fun learning about plants.

Kalyn Andrews Sutherland: My favorite professors are Doug Marshall in Sociology and Frances Mujica in Geography. They are both incredibly engaging and like to joke around with the class.

Super entertaining people.

Honestly, i wish they were my friends and not just my professors! They have both gone above and beyond this semester.

the children are in need. Personally, I would help a child or animal in need before I would help most adults. Sad but true. The exception to this is our soldiers overseas. They are probably the most deserving adults for whom you could buy gifts and care packages, and they really need to feel appreciated at a time when they are missing their loved ones the most. Imagine how heartwarming it would be to receive an awesome care package from a stranger while serving in Iraq at this time of year.

There are many local charities, food banks, homeless shelters, animal shelters and other organizations, including an orphanage, which need financial assistance this time of year. Small donations add up to large contributions, so don’t think your $20 won’t go far. Also, this may be a great time to donate to the devastated people in the storm-battered Philippines.

Again, if you don’t have extra cash to donate or buy gifts, the next best thing is your time. Many homeless shelters, animal shelters, hospitals, food banks, churches and other organizations need extra volunteers this time of year. Don’t think of it as working for free. Think of it as giving back to your community and making a huge impact on others’ lives— because that’s exactly what it means to volunteer. A simple Google search will lead you to a vast array of opportunities in the Mobile area.

We all have busy lives, jobs, school, families who depend on us and highpriority obligations. For these things, we should extremely grateful. One way to show your gratitude is by helping someone in need. You never know the chain of events that could transpire after helping another person. ‘Tis the giving season, so think about all the people who won’t have a good holiday because of life circumstances. You never know, one day the shoe could be on your own foot.

JagPulse Who was your favorite professor this year and why?

Holley Lewis: Daniel Rogers’ HY102 class was awesome! His lectures are like him just telling a story. Wish I had time to take his History of Germany class!

Caitlyn Barton: Jenny Faile! Spanish 1.

By JESSICA THORNTON jdt1105@jagmail.southalabama.com

A

s 2013 comes to an end, we tend to reflect on all of our experiences throughout the year. The good, the bad, the ups and downs. And then we eventually think about our accomplishments (or lack thereof). Disappointed? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Obviously, most of us find it difficult to follow through with New Year’s resolutions. We begin to make excuses for ourselves. “I didn’t go to the gym every day because I didn’t have the time.” Or maybe we just flat out give up on our ridiculously made up notions we call ‘resolutions.’ Good news: there is always next year! So take advantage of it. Do it differently this time. Realize that you are only human and can only do so much.

For the 2014 New Year, be more realistic. Don’t set yourself up for failure because it is sure to make for another unhappy year. Instead of setting a goal to go to the gym every day, make it for, at the very least, once a week. This way when you go to the gym more than once a week you are happy with yourself for doing more than you planned as opposed to being upset with yourself for doing less than you planned. We are in college. Of course we don’t have the time to go to the gym every day. We hardly have time

to even eat or sleep.

If this is you, then there is hope!

Try to keep in mind that your goals do not have to be about forcing yourself to do things you feel guilty about not doing. They can be about other people.

For example, one of my resolutions for the New Year is to smile more throughout the day.

Sometimes I simply forget and think, “Oh, I could have smiled at the person I passed by on the way to class today. They could have been having a bad day, and I could have been a small help to change that.” It doesn’t even require vigorous labor. Make resolutions to make yourself a happier person by the end of the year, not be disappointed time and time again.

The New Year is supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to wipe the slate clean and create a new chapter in

“

For the 2014 New Year, be more realistic.

Don’t set yourself up for failure...

Jessica Thornton

”

your life. It is the perfect time for a change. Make your resolutions to better yourself, not pave the road to the same defeat as the previous years. Stay positive even on those days you know are going to be a little less successful or just a dud. By this time next year, you will have an entirely improved reassessment of your 2014 year and will be eager to create yet another set of resolutions.

Aldyn Miller: Amanda Persaud: Dr. Sarah Koon-Magnin Mark Foster and Clint for Criminal Justice. She King. They are great advice has worked with me for six givers. months on my directed studies project and been way Khaela Huey: nicer and more patient than Justin St. Clair is pretty I deserve! cool. He’s very chill and laid back personality-wise.

Lauren Godfrey: Dr. Foster. You can tell Gabrielle Rabon: he’s passionate about what Mr. Prescott for ACC37. he’s teaching and he knows Great teacher who cares, has his stuff. realistic expectations and somehow makes accounting Brent Griffin: fun.

Four words - good guy, David Wood (Med Micro).

Meg Lundberg: Carolyn Haines because Charlotte Stein: she’s an advocate for creative Libby Jones for Brit Lit! writing students.

jagLIFE

EMMA MITCHELL, JAGLIFE EDITOR eem1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu

7

VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Ransom Cafe welcomes all to annual “Thanksgiving for the Homesick”

Weekly Lowdown

Monday > Nov. 25 •

Women’s Basketball vs. Houston Baptist Mitchell Center, 7:05 p.m.

•

USA Brass Ensembles Fall Concert LPAC, 7:30 p.m. $5 students and faculty

By ALYSSA NEWTON

place to go to come (to Ransom Cafe) and feel at home and eat with us.”

Armbruster knows a few any students are going home to their families and things about family because loved ones this Thanksgiving, but Ransom is a family business. for those who don’t have that op- His wife Tara and their daughtion, Ransom Cafe has a little bit of ters, Abbey and Mary-Paige, are all involved with the cafe. home open for everyone.

Ransom Cafe, a nonprofit organi- Ransom was started in 2010 zation, will be holding meals at its when Matt felt a calling on six locations all across the Mobile his life that has evolved into Bay area. All locations will be open something bigger than he on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. could have imagined.

“I came from a restaurant to 2 p.m. This meal will include many Armbruster home cooked favorites such as ham, background,” turkey, dressing, sweet potato casse- said. “But the main thing is I wanted to use the gifts that I role, dessert and more.

Not only will the event taste like a have been given to help people little bit of home, it will look like and glorify God. I just seeked home, too. All the cafes will be deco- Him to see what I was to do, EMMA MITCHELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR rated to make every guest feel like and I came up with the idea of he or she is walking into a holiday a restaurant with a menu with The cafes offer ever-changing menu items throughout the year, home atmosphere. Customers will sit no prices and people could though the Thanksgiving Day menu will be traditional. down at a table and be waited on by a pay whatever they could pay.”

Ransom Cafe serves more staff of volunteer eager to make this than 36,000 people every year, but serving people is the ultimate bless- Armbruster said. “That they know Thanksgiving one to remember. someone cares. You never know Matt Armbruster, the founder because the cafe is donation-only, ing.”

A big part of the success of Ran- what you could mean to someone. and owner of Ransom Cafe, wel- the it could not support itself. Rancomes everyone to come enjoy the som has numerous donors, many of som is due to the volunteers that The only way to do that is to get to whom have never even stepped foot help to run them. On Thanksgiving, know them, and what better way to meal. more than 180 people will work in all get to know someone than sitting “We are here for everyone,” Arm- into a Ransom Cafe location.

“They just believe in what we six locations. Whether it be serving down and eating with them?” bruster said. “We call it ‘ThanksgivIf you can’t make it to Thankstables or sitting down to chat with ing for the Homesick’ because we do,” Armbruster said.

“We are here to open as many op- someone, Armbruster is always open giving lunch, college-aged students want people who don’t have a family, college kids who can’t go home, mili- portunities to serve people as we to more volunteers. No matter what are more than welcome to get intary and anyone who doesn’t have a can,” Armbruster said. “Because you do, who you are or what you volved with Ransom and touch lives believe, all are welcome to through food, service, compassion come and serve at Ransom. and simply sharing a meal with a “We will have dozens of stranger.

“They can volunteer,” Armdifferent churches and multiple states represented bruster said. “Emily (a junior at on Thanksgiving in volun- South) comes to help and then goes teers,” Armbruster said. “I to class. You could come for 30 mindon’t care what denomina- utes, come for lunch or just come for tion you are or even what a break in classes. Every minute is an belief system you are. Why impact on someone’s life.”

The Thanksgiving Lunch will be cut out other people because of what someone be- Thursday, Nov. 28 at all six locations. lieves? I feed anybody who The nearest ones to USA are The Hanger on Airport Boulevard across comes in those doors.”

To Armbruster and from Academy Sports and Christ those at Ransom Cafe, United Methodist Church on Grelot. serving is much more than For more information on Ransom clocking volunteer hours or Cafe or the other four locations you can visit their Facebook at http:// cooking food.

EMMA MITCHELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR “If you can just give www.facebook.com/ransomcafe or A volunteer preparing to serve lunch to weekday patrons at one them that one hope, that their website http://www.ransomone moment, it’s worth it,” cafe.com. of the six Ransom Cafe locations. akn1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu

M

Tuesday > Nov. 26 •

Last day of classes before Thanksgiving break!

Wednesday > Nov. 27 •

Thanksgiving break!

Thursday > Nov. 28 •

Thanksgiving break!

•

Ransom Cafe FREE Thanksgiving dinner!

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday > Nov. 29 •

Thanksgiving break!

Saturday > Nov. 30 •

Walking tour of Mobile - Fort Conde, 8:30 a.m., $5 students 251-460-6214

Monday > Dec. 2 •

Men’s Basketball vs.

Springhill - Mitchell Center, 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday > Dec. 3 •

Job application letter and resume workshop - HUMB room 206

•

Women’s Basketball vs. Springhill - Mitchell Center, 5:05 p.m.

Wednesday > Dec. 4 •

Free massages - Student Center, 11 a.m.

- 3 p.m.

•

Check your ride - USAPD, 1 - 4 p.m.

Want your event featured?

E-mail the name, date, time, price, place and a brief tagline (under 10 words) to eem1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu

8

VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

GIVE BACK

USA student organizations are getting involved in the community this holiday season.

Silver Wings Toys for Tots Drive Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 7 to 9 p.m.

Outside of Alpha Hall South Silver Wings is hosting a drop-off site to collect toys for Toys for Tots, a national program organized to collect and distribute new and unwrapped toys to less fortunate children on Christmas.

Contact Kaley Rector for details.

205-914-7515 knr1003@jagmail.southalabama.edu

PRSSA St. Mary’s Supply Drive Ends Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 Department of Communication Lobby Supply drive lasts from August to December in benefit of St. Mary’s Home. Items in high demand are pens, paper, school supplies, towels (all), toiletries, bath mats, shower curtains, cloth napkins, placemats, single sheet sets, pillows.

Contact Daniel Moran for details.

228-861-8286 kdm903@jagmail.southalabama.edu

Pinky Promise Supply Drive Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In front of USA Bookstore We will be collecting canned goods, nonperishable food items and toiletries to donate to AIDS Alabama South which provides services for families and individuals affected by HIV/ AIDS. Donations count for service hours.

Contact Amber James for details.

205-601-1740 amberjames1@bellsouth.net

Holiday Havoc Dec. 8, 2013 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Student Recreation Center Campus Recreation will bring inner city kids from surrounding areas and team them up with the college students in groups of four.

We run holiday themed relay games, arts and crafts, and they even get a visit from Santa.

To enter, there must be a team of four to five players and one toy valued at $20.

Contact Maygan Williams for details.

251-461-1627 mayganlwilliams@southalabama.edu

Teddy Bears for McDonald House Ends Dec. 12, 2013 Department of Communication Lobby Lambda Pi Eta will be collecting teddy bears of all sizes and prices for children in need. The only requirement is all bears MUST BE NEW.

Contact Timothy Borland for details. trb903@gmail.com

Local internet Bruce Willis movie to be cafe provides filmed in downtown Mobile gamer hot spot

By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net

By TIMOTHY BORLAND trb903@jagmail.southalabama.edu

F

ans of popular internet real time strategy game League of Legends can find refuge at Electronic Adrenaline Internet Cafe.

Located near campus on University Blvd. and Airport Boulevard behind Foosackley’s, the café is a great spot to go and unwind after a hard day of classes.

Internet usage on one of the café’s gaming computers cost $2 an hour. If a customer purchases $10 worth of time, they receive an extra hour for free. There is even a new $5 Friday promotion that allows people to bring in their own laptops and use the café’s Wi-Fi all night.

“Electronic Adrenaline is a great place for fans of League to meet and game with each other,” USA alum Chris Gholston said.

Serious gamers may find the computer towers in the main room to be more reliable than toting in a laptop from home. All of the cafe’s computers are hardwired to high-speed internet and contain Core 2 Duo processors, 4 GB RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 graphics processors. With 14 computers present, there are more than enough for intense five on five LOL tournaments.

Sixty playable games are installed on all the cafe’s computers including Guild Wars 2, Mortal Kombat and Saints Row 3. The independent business also offers food items, such as colas, water, sandwiches, corn dogs, chips, cheeseburgers and more. Comfortable leather couches give guests a comfortable area to relax, while blacklights and graffiti on the wall create ambiance.

Electronic Adrenaline hosts monthly lockins where guests game from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. for a mere $20. A screen is lowered on which television shows and movies are projected. In this day of technological isolation, sometimes it is fun to meet others with the same interests and build a community that does not exist only in the digital form.

Owner Tyler Cobb opened Electronic Adrenaline in 2010 and quickly found that his business was completely sustained through computer repairs and network troubleshooting.

In an effort to give back to the community and make efficient use of the space present in the front area of the building, the internet café was born.

“Independent business is where it’s at,” Cobb said. “I am able to provide new ideas that add value to the experience people receive.”

To find out more about Electronic Adrenaline call 251-380-0297 or check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/electronicadrenaline.

If you love Bruce Willis for his roles in famous action films such as “Red” and “Looper,” get ready to see him in action as he films “The Prince” in Mobile, Ala. Rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is also part of the cast.

According to the Internet Movie Database website, “The Prince” is about a retired Las Vegas crime boss who must return to the city to confront his former enemies when his daughter goes missing.

The premise of this movie has left many Mobilians scratching their heads because the Nicolas Cage movie “Tokarev,” filmed in Mobile this summer, has an eerily similar plot.

In “Tokarev,” the Russian mob kidnaps the daughter of a reformed criminal (played

by Cage) who rounds up his old crew to rescue her, according to IMDb. “I think it’s very strange that the movies are so similar,” said Matt Barnes, a sophomore business major. “I guess Mobile has some kind of attraction for mobster action movies.”

Nevertheless, the people of Mobile are excited to host another major action movie starring a big Hollywood actor. A few South Alabama students even auditioned for roles in the film.

Victoria Blackmon, a USA sophomore and drama major, and her cousin Jill Whitehead both auditioned for the role of Candace, a bartender in the movie.

“We’re all really nervous and excited because it’s a great experience to get to do auditions like this,” Blackmon said at auditions for “The Prince” on Nov. 18.

“It’s really cool that they are spending that money in Mobile because that will help our economy,” Whitehead said. “I’ve heard it’s because we are cheaper because of taxes.”

On why Mobile was chosen for “The Prince,” Mobile Film Office Director Eva Golson said the city was recommended by the producers of “Tokarev.”

“It’s wonderful for the city to have these recommendations to get our name out in the industry,” Golson said. “I know a lot of people are excited about the film and are looking forward to it.”

The filming of movies like “Tokarev” and “The Prince” in Mobile is the result of years of hard work, according to Golson. In 2009, after many years of what Golson described as “political difficulties,” the Alabama Legislature approved incentives that make the state more attractive to filmmakers.

“This is great for economic development for the Mobile area,” Golson added.

Filming is set to begin just after Thanksgiving and will wrap up in late December.

STUART SOX | STAFF REPORTER

USA student Victoria Blackmon (right) and her cousin Jill Whitehead practice their sides before auditioning for a part in “The Prince.”

9

VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Top universities offer free educational opportunities

By NOAH LOGAN

ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu

M

oney is an obstacle that keeps many hopeful students from attending college. Even the University of South Alabama, one of the least expensive institutions in Alabama, has an instate tuition rate up to $283 per credit hour and an out-of-state rate that can reach $566 per credit hour. But what if a student could receive an adequate education and skill set that job providers and other higher education institutions look for without paying a dime?

This is exactly what programs like edX and Coursera are attempting to do with what they call massively open online courses, or MOOCS. These platforms went mainstream in 2012 with Coursera drawing 5 million users and edX gathering around 1.1 million. Big-name schools have signed on to the idea. Top institutions such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University have joined with MOOC providers to offer online courses that are free to anyone who wants to access them.

The first course offered was a circuits class from MITx, but courses now cover the entire spectrum that one would expect to see at a public university. All courses resemble what we call blended classes at USA, with each institution providing online videos and other resources necessary for getting the proper education.

Classes generally last four to six weeks.

South student Brandon Bodie has had personal experience with MOOCS. “Signing up is easy,” he said. “There are three main MOOC providers: edX, Coursera and Udacity. For all three, you simply browse the list of courses, select which course you are interested in and click ‘Enroll’—that’s it! Your first time signing up, you have to register for the site. After that, an email and password are all you need to enroll.”

Bodie has audited several courses with focuses that range from mathematical thinking to a French-language course on John Calvin and the Protestant Reformation. He has also completed a course titled “7.00X Introduction to Biology – The Secret of Life” taught by Eric Lander, one of the principle leaders of the Human Genome Project.

Bodie expressed his satisfaction with MOOCS, saying, “I had an incredible experience taking 7.00X alongside 35,000 other people from around the world. Professor Lander took the concepts and principles of biology and really brought them to life.”

I know what you might be thinking: if it doesn’t show up on the transcript, then why even bother? However, as programs like this become more and more popular, companies and higher educational institutions are opening their eyes and allowing students to make these classes count.

Popular networking site LinkedIn recently started their Direct-to-Profile Certifications pilot program that allows people who complete online courses from edX and Coursera, among others, to directly link a certificate of completion in individual courses to their profile. This, along with a certificate of completion from the institution that administers the class, is making these classes more and more useful to students and non-students alike.

For those students who are here to gain as much knowledge as humanly possible, this is a perfect opportunity to do just that. The great part about these free classes is that, if you start it and find yourself too busy to remain dedicated to it halfway through, it does not harm your GPA and has no negative consequences.

When asked about what he would say to students considering these classes as an option, Bodie simply replied, “What do you have to lose? Absolutely join in!”

EMMA MITCHELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR

USA student, Brandon Bodie, working on the online video assignments for one of his current EdX classes.

10

VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Jaguar Productions has activities for all students

By MARY RODRIGUEZ mcr741993@hotmail.com

S

outh Alabama’s Jaguar Productions has hosted events for students each week this semester, according to Heather Sprinkle, the coordinator of University Programs.

Next semester Jaguar Productions plans to host just as many events for students.

Jaguar Productions, a campus organization dedicated to providing students with activities on campus, has been a part of South Alabama’s campus for more than 25 years. During the last few years, the organization has combined their committees and went from having 10 committees to eight. Jaguar Productions also has volunteer members who help set up, work, tear down and promote the events it hosts.

“We consistently have anywhere from 200-300 students sign up each year to be a part of the organization,” Sprinkle said. “This year, we have a core group of heavily involved members who not only come to the events but help with the process of putting on the event.”

Each fall, board members attend the regional conference of the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) to help Jag Productions decide who to have visit our campus.

They get to see different acts such

as comedians, musicians, lecturers, novelists and more.

“We also receive weekly emails from agents with information about what they offer,” Sprinkle said.

“Chairs will look through files to find successful events to see if it is something they’re interested in bringing back to campus.”

This semester, Jag Productions has hosted events such as the EMMA MITCHELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR annual ‘Welcome Home’ block South students of all years and majors came out to the JP laser tag party and ‘What’s event hosted Nov. 21 at the Student Recreation Center. on Wednesday’ (WOW), which It is important to Jaguar Produc- to class,” Sprinkle said. “Our events included Midweek Nooners and sessions by Career Services, Counseling tions to provide students with on- provide students with an opportuniand Testing and Student Activities. campus activities because they want ty to meet new people or build existThey also sponsored Skate Night, USA students to have a sense of ing friendships, have fun and learn laser tag, indoor movies, CoMeTrY, pride in the University and to get in- something new.”

In the spring 2013 semester, seRave from the Grave and massage volved on campus.

“We are hoping to engage a di- nior Ashley Fallo served as the music therapy. They co-sponsored Girls’ Night Out, Bro Code, Step Afrika, verse population and show them chair for Jaguar Productions. During there’s more to college besides going her time working for the organizaFag Bug and the Kickoff Cookout.

tion, she realized what a great opportunity she was given.

“I think it is important because it gives students an opportunity to help coordinate events they normally wouldn’t have,” Fallo said. “Like my major is education, and I probably wouldn’t have been given an opportunity with that, but working for Jaguar Productions helps give you that opportunity as well as provide the campus with entertaining events.”

Next semester Jaguar Productions has many events planned such as different comedians, a coffee house featuring live music and a spoken word artist, Spring Fling, Jag Jam, a presentation from Zack Hunter (featured in the novel “Half the Sky”), more Midweek Nooners, movies and a spring break trip to Disney World and Universal Studios.

The spring break trip will be held March 1, 2014 - March 5, 2014. The deadline for signing up and money is Jan. 17, 2014 at 6 p.m.

Other than hosting events on campus, Jaguar Productions also offers discounted tickets to Carmike Cinemas, Mobile Symphony, Mobile Ballet, Bayfest, Bellingrath Gardens and the Greater Gulf State Fair.

For information about events hosted by Jaguar Productions contact Heather Sprinkle at hsprinkle@ southalabama.edu or call 251-4607144.

Fall 2013 Final Exam Schedule Day Classes Monday, Wednesday & Friday (includes any MWF combination) Class Time Exam Time Exam Day 7:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 12 8:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Monday, December 9 9:05 a.m.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, December 11 10:10 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Monday, December 9 11:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 11 12:20 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Monday, December 9 1:25 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11 2:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Monday, December 9 3:35 p.m.

3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11 4:40 p.m.

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Monday, December 9 Tuesday & Thursday (includes any TR combination) 8:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, December 10 9:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Thursday, December 12 11:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 10 12:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 12 2:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 10 3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 12 Classes that do not appear in the above schedule may use 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.

Class Time 6:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

9:00 p.m.

Evening Classes Monday & Wednesday Exam Time Exam Day 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11 8:15 p.m. - 10:15 p.m.

Monday, December 9 8:15 p.m. - 10:15 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11

6:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

9:00 p.m.

Tuesday & Thursday 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 10 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 12 8:15 p.m. - 10:15 p.m.

Tuesday, December 10

Classes meeting one evening a week have final exams 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on the regular scheduled class evening during the final exam week except Wednesday night only classes may use 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2013.

Weekend classes will have final exams Friday-Sunday, December 6 - 8, 2013, at the regular class meeting time.

RELIEF FROM SEVERAL FINAL EXAMINATIONS PER DAY Students are entitled to relief from three or four final examinations on the same day. If the student makes a formal written request two or more weeks prior to the first day of final examinations, the student’s final examinations will be rescheduled normally on the following basis: Fall Semester - First exam may be rescheduled. *The request is made to the dean of the college in which the course is taught, and the rescheduling is done through that office. If more than one college is involved, the appropriate deans will coordinate the rescheduling.

11

VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

American Chemical Society welcomes all USA students

By EMMA MITCHELL eem1002@jagmail.southalabama.edu

T

he American Chemical Society is a national organization founded “to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people,� according to the mission statement on their website.

South’s branch of the society upholds this mission statement. “We want to introduce people to the real fun of chemistry,� said Andrew Pischek, a senior chemistry major and the president of ACS at South.

Pischek went on to say that though the majority of the organization is made up of chemistry majors, students of all majors are welcome to join.

ACS Treasurer Samantha Otzenberger stated, “It’s great to get involved with ACS because of the connections you can make with other students who have the same passions and goals as you do.�

ACS members participate in several service events throughout the year. “This year, we had the Chem Scouts which are Girl Scouts,� Pischek said. “(They) came here, and we had three experiments they were in.� He

went on to explain the goggle-selling fundraiser ACS hosted. The event raised $1074 by selling used and donated chemistry goggles to students for a discounted price. The money was presented to the Ronald McDonald House earlier this semester.

In addition to their community service projects, the organization’s members also contributed to campus beautification by taking care of the grounds around the chemistry building.

Members are required to pay the $10 dues, which cover the costs of events and a T-shirt. They must also attend at least a few of the meetings each semester and at least one event, according to Pischek.

The meetings are biweekly and are Tuesdays at 5 p.m. in room 107 of the chemistry building. According to Pischek, the meetings are brief but are used to discuss and sign up for upcoming events and service ideas.

Pischek said, “We usually try to have at least two or three student outings per semester.�

When asked about his favorite ACS events, member Kang Rui Lazar Xiang said, “I love the awesome experiments we do such as making ice cream from liquid nitrogen.�

EMMA MITCHELL | JAGLIFE EDITOR

Members and officers of the American Chemical Society presented a check to the Ronald McDonald house earlier this year.

The organization’s advisors, Dr. Matthew Reichert and Mrs. Diane Roe, make themselves available to all members as an additional benefit of being in the club. “We are very thankful to have very involved faculty in the chemistry de-

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ALYSSA NEWTON, LOC EDITOR akn1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

WE L VE OUR JAGS Messages to the Jaguar football team from the fans who love them

South Alabama’s rock climbing club travels as many as 6-7 hours to go climbing.

COURTESY OF ROCK CLIMBING CLUB

Rock climbing club reaches new heights

Club travels and connects with each other through mutual climbing passion

By ALYSSA NEWTON akn1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu

A

t South Alabama, we have multiple active clubs that many students may not know about, even if they are hanging right above your head.

After a few failed attempts, the South Alabama Rock Climbing club was started in the fall of 2012 with the help of Randy Hunter, the sports clubs and outdoor recreation coordinator for South Alabama.

Ever since their start, the rock climbing club has had more than 30 active members who not only use the wall in the South Alabama recreation center but also drives for hours to go on trips and do what they love most.

Jordan Searchfield, president of the rock climbing club and junior international business major, said that this club does much more than just climb rocks.

“It brings people together,” Searchfield said. “If you haven’t noticed, Mobile is pretty flat. The closest places we can go are 5-6 hours away. Climbers in Mobile are really hard to find, but we have a group that really enjoys climbing and so that’s what we do.”

Treasurer and biology graduate student Jared Elmore has been with the club since its beginning. He shared a little

more about what the members of the club get to take part in.

“We do a lot of climbing,” Elmore said jokingly when describing the club.

“But we do go on trips, meet every few weeks, and we use the rock wall after hours that is just reserved for the club.

With it, we teach lead climbing classes that are free for members and South students are able to pay for. We as a club take one trip per semester, and it provides a way for people who have the same interests come together.”

In the club’s short history, they have been to three noted climbing destinations: Sandrock, Ala., Foster Falls in Chattanooga, Tenn. and the Red River Gorge in Slate, Ky. The Red River Gorge is one the world’s top rock climbing destinations and the number one in the United States. It is a canyon system on the Red River in east-central Kentucky and is comprised of many cliffs that range from 50-200 feet tall.

“We’re basically just camping outside,” Elmore said about the laid back trips with the club. “We wake up, cook on camp stoves, go climb all day, come back, cook dinner on the camp stoves and then go to sleep.”

When asked about where the pas-

sion for climbing comes from, Elmore took a more reflective angle.

“It’s not that competitive of a sport,” Elmore said. “You’re pushing your own self to the limit and push your own goals rather than going against someone else.

It just fits my personality.”

Searchfield agreed. “It really is based on your personality,” he said. “We have to train just like anyone else does. We have to train constantly so that when we do drive hours to go climb somewhere, we are able to succeed and not be weak and useless.”

But even if you aren’t into climbing a 200-foot rock wall six hours away, many students don’t realize the resources available to them. Not only do members of the rock climbing club climb the walls themselves, they are always willing to help others experience a sport they love.

At the recreation center, you are provided with shoes, a harness and even a little advice, a cheerleader or a teacher if you are afraid of climbing a 25-foot rock wall. The best part: it’s free to students.

“Everyone that works at the rock wall is a part of the rock climbing club,” Searchfield said. “We have a great friendly staff that is willing to help you and teach you.”

Both Searchfield and Elmore started

climbing because of South Alabama’s rock wall provided in the recreation center where both of them now work and are certified instructors.

“If South had not built this rec center with a rock wall in it, being from the South, I probably would have never climbed a rock wall,” Elmore said.

Although Searchfield did have a little climbing experience, he credits USA for helping him learn more about the sport.

“Before, I didn’t really know what I was doing,” Searchfield said. “I was just kind of scrambling around on rocks. We have a great facility that could easily get a lot of people into it.”

The rock wall in the recreation center is open 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Sunday.

If you are interested in the club itself you can go to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/southalabamarockclimbingclub or you can just talk to one of the staff members in the rock climbing area during its open hours at the rec center.

All students are encouraged to face their fears, at least once, and put away their excuses and try out the rock wall.

Who knows, you may just have a fear turn into a passion.

“As a member of the Jaguar Marching Band, it has been a pleasure to watch this football program grow over the past few years. I think I speak for the whole band when I say we are proud of you guys for your hard work!

Even with the close losses y’all should be proud of your accomplishments this season.”

-Samuel Tanner “I just want to say I am so proud of everything they have accomplished this season. There have been some tough losses but there have also been some amazing wins. Just keep fighting all the way to the finish. #GoJags” - Christine Paschal “I’ve watched you since the beginning and could not be more proud. I’ve watched y’all hold your heads up after a loss and throw your hands to God after a win and you have a fighting spirit unmatched by most.

Continue believing in yourselves and reaching for the top.”

-Cassie Fambro “Keep fighting. Keep playing. Even if we can’t be in Atlanta with you guys Saturday, know that we are there in spirit. We are all proud to be a part of JagNation!”

-Nick Grondin “I graduated from South and my daughter is a senior and in the jaguar marching band. We have enjoyed going to the games since the beginning. We are proud to be JAGS fans! Congratulations and good luck on these last 2 games!

Thanks for all your hard work to make the program at South a success!”

- Shay Merritt

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VOL. 53, NO. 17/ NOV. 18, 2013

NCAA Football Challenge comes to South Alabama More than 80 USA students participated, but only one came out with the grand prize

By ALYSSA NEWTON akn1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu

P

laying video games for money sounds like a dream to a lot of college students, and for many that dream came true when the NCAA Football Challenge rolled into Mobile.

On Nov. 20, to many gamers’ excitement, an NCAA station was set up in front of the student center. Every year the popular game NCAA Football takes a college tour all across the United States, challenging college students to show them what they’re made of on the field—the virtual field, that is.

The most recent version of the game, NCAA 14, features South Alabama for the first time with Ladd-Peebles Stadium and even real sounds and cheers recorded during the 2012 football season.

In EA Sports NCAA Football 13 edition of the game, the Jags were not included although the team was playing a full FBS schedule with games against opponents such as NC State, Hawaii and Mississippi State.

But when the #FreeSouthAlabama campaign started blowing up all social networks and gaining attention from CBS Sports and Yahoo! Sports, EA Sports went above and beyond to make up for their blunder, and through it, South Alabama got more exposure.

But that was NCAA 13. This is NCAA 14.

More than 80 South Alabama students signed up to take the football chal-

lenge on 13 television screens for a period of more than four hours. Why would anyone stand and play video games that long? The student who ended up on top would win a pretty check of $1,000 and a chance to go on and win $5000 in December.

So one-by-one, games were played with two-minute quarters with whatever team the player decided to use. And oneby-one, one student would move up the bracket in hopes of being in the final two to play for the grand prize check.

Four hours and many sore thumbs and prides later, only two remained.

Kevin Jacobs, a sophomore looking to major in cardio respiratory, played as LSU and Myles Rogers, a freshman marketing business major, played with Oregon.

Before the game that would define what their bank accounts looked like that night, the players came together, shook hands and prepared to play on the biggest screen in the tent in front of friends, supporters and those who just wanted to know what was going on.

This time the guys would have threeminute quarters and just one game to decide who would walk away a grand richer.

After a scoreless first quarter and 11 plays for Jacobs’ first LSU drive, the Tigers scored first on the first play of the second quarter leading 7-0.

Rogers would drive Oregon for 11 plays in the second quarter in hopes of answering Jacobs’ seven points, but he

Cricket holds tourney

Cricket’s annual Thanksgiving weekend cricket tournament for faculty and students

By ALYSSA NEWTON akn1104@jagmail.southalabama.edu

S

outh Alabama’s cricket team will hold their annual CISO Fall Cricket Tournament during Thanksgiving weekend on South Alabama’s campus.

Nov. 28 – 29, four teams consisting of South Alabama students and faculty will be able to take part in the sport for a two-day sporting event.

This tournament has been a tradition for the South cricket team since late 1998. In its beginnings, the cricket team would actually play the sport in front of the Mitchell Center after it was completed. The cricket team has been in existence for more than 15 years at South Alabama.

There are more than 50 people signed up to take part in the event. The tournament will have two teams full of young and old cricket enthusiasts meet up on the intramural fields.

This tournament helps to benefit the cricket club in finding quality

players for their team through a fun event, and it helps the club team financially as well. The team charges an entry fee that helps support their existing needs as a team.

But the team has a little more help this year. The Grove apartments will be co-sponsoring the event.

They will be providing water to the participants over the course of the two-day contest.

All students and faculty are welcome to attend the event. It is open to the public, and all are encouraged to come and watch the sport, which existed before football and even baseball.

Since The Vanguard’s last coverage, South Alabama’s cricket team has participated in the Southwest Championship and reached the semifinals before losing to Texas Tech.

The cricket team’s next event at will be the American College Cricket Nationals held in March 2014 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

just couldn’t make it work and settled for a field goal instead. This would bring the score to 7-3 at the end of the first half.

The second half was where this championship game would get to be a really interesting.

Oregon received the ball first and drove down to the 4-yard-line in 10 plays of the first drive of the half. Rogers was confident and ready to add seven to the board and take the lead.

But Jacobs’ LSU had other plans.

In the end zone, a high toss was intercepted by an LSU player with 2:15 left to go in the third quarter. It only took Jacobs and his team three plays to drive down the field and score a touchdown, giving LSU an even bigger lead with 143.

With time just not on his side, Rogers attempted to drive the ball down the field in an effort to shrink the point spread.

But just like deja vu, LSU again intercepted the ball in the end zone, clutching Jacobs’ victory.

Never have you seen a man smile bigger than he did.

Jacobs received a huge check of $1000 for his NCAA skills, and when he wasn’t smiling, he couldn’t help but be excited.

When asked what he planned on doing with the prize money, Jacobs sounded like any other college kid.

“First I’m going to buy an Xbox I,” Jacobs said. “Then I’ll probably use it on some clothes and then spend the rest, or

ALYSSA NEWTON | LOC EDITOR

Kevin Jacobs won the NCAA Football Challege and the $1,000 check. maybe save it.”

Through all of the emotions Jacobs was going through, there was only one word he could share that described how he was feeling.

“I’m just shocked,” Jacobs said. “I just had a friend show me this after class, and I decided to play. Now I’m here.”

Jacobs will participate in an online game against the other 21 college win-

ners for a prize of $5,000 and the chance to fly out to Los Angeles and compete in the ‘National Championship.’

There is talk of NCAA 14 being the last of the EA Sports college football games due to conflicts with using players. Although there may not be another game, at least South Alabama made its mark on NCAA 14, and we can play as our Jags anytime we so choose.

WE L VE OUR JAGS “I’m an alum who grew up in Mobile watching Alabama football because USA didn’t have a team when I was there. Thanks to you Bama football has been relegated to 2nd place in my heart. Before the season I expected 2 wins and your effort and level of play has far exceeded my expectations. I’ve never been prouder to be a USA alum as I was walking out of Neyland Stadium this year. Thank you, especially to the Seniors, who came here when all we had to sell was a dream and through hard work and dedication have laid a strong foundation for the future, set a fine example for the talented underclassmen and established traditions that will endure for many years to come.”

- Charlie Robinson THANK YOU! - Barbara England “Finish strong! You can do it. We are proud of your efforts so far.”

- Bryan Blackwell

As a Jaguars fan, I could not be more proud of our team this year. South has competed with every team they’ve played. Our guys are giving 110% out there, and we as the fans need to as well!

We need to be the 12th man and cheer them on rain or shine, win or lose! Let’s pack Ladd-Peebles for our final home game on Dec 7 and cheer our Jags into bowl eligibility over Lafayette!

-Carlton Warnberg “I came to south the first year y’all started. I am part of the “First Generation Fans” of football. I came to South excited for football but more excited was I still for another team.

While here at USA, my heart has changed for who I support and who I cheer for. Now I give no thought to any other team when my South Alabama Jags take the field. I would like to thank you for your hard work and now finish off the year with 2 more victories!! Jag ‘Em Up!” - Sam Wicker

“Lets finish strong....let’s get these last two wins...especially for the senior class!”

- Rion Nabors

“The Jags have made my college experience one that I will never forget and will one day tell my kids about.

Thank you for always exampliying class. You are all role models by the way you keep your head ups and never stop fighting. I’ve had the time of my life getting to know this team and you have made me like family. No matter how this season turns out I hope that each of you continue to keep your spirits high and your sight on the future even higher because you have so much to be proud of. There’s nothing in the world I’d rather be than a Jag. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this experience and congratulations an awesome season that has definitely “Shocked the Nation.”

- Alyssa Newton LOC Editor

SPORTS

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JT CRABTREE, SPORTS EDITOR jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Follow us for news, updates and play-by-play tweets: @USAVGSports Ross Metheny @RMetheny15: Quarterback But Ms. teacher lady I don’t want to read about sustainability in higher education, I just want to know what’s about to happen to Katniss Rush Hendricks @_RusHen_: Tight end Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?

Logan Gunn @Logunn: Kicker JUST FOUND $20 IN MY PANTS POCKET THAT HAD BEEN IN MY CLOSET FOR A MONTH!!!

Too stoked. Struggle of a broke college kid.

Derek Westbrook @thedwestbrook25: Men’s Cross Country JAGS WIN JAGS WIN JAGS WIN!!!! #WeWantBama Lauren Allison @LaurenJAx: Forward Think the cafe knew I was having a mare today and put out the chicken nuggets and mash potato just for me.

Beauties.

Emily Messer @emily_messer20 Outfielder I will never be able to successfully watch sports and study Drew Dearman @Drewski72_: Offensive lineman The deeper I get into studying, the more snapchats I send.

@USAVGSports

Alex Page (82) and Enrique Williams (28) were the top two leading tacklers for the Jags.

PATRICK HERRING | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

USA Jaguars cage Warhawks, win 36-14 South Alabama keeps their bowl hopes alive picking up their second SBC win

By PATRICK HERRING pwh802@jagmail.southalabama.edu

S

outh Alabama needed three wins to become bowl eligible going into Saturday’s contest against Louisiana Monroe. When the clocks struck triple zero, the magic number was reduced to two.

After a 36-14 victory over the Warhawks (5-6, 3-3 SBC), the Jaguars (4-6, 2-3 SBC) need to win their final two contests against Georgia State and conference leader Louisiana Lafayette to reach 6-6 and become eligible for postseason play.

The defense put together their best performance of the season, racking up a school record 9 sacks against a potent offense led by preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year selection Kolton Browning.

Montavious Williams and Pat Moore paced the defense by both tying the school record with 2.5 sacks apiece.

Williams talked about the effort after the game.

“The coaches talked all week about Kolton Browning all week, how he scrambles around and just makes plays with his feet and his arm, so we put it on our backs to put pressure on him and we got a few sacks and it worked out for us,” Williams said.

Head coach Joey Jones was proud of the play of his defense.

“I’ve never seen them play quite like that,” Joey Jones said. “They had a look in their eyes before the game.

To beat a team like ULM, you’ve gotta get after the quarterback. Kolton Browning is an unbelievable player, and he just never felt comfortable.”

The game wasn’t all about defense, though. Ross Metheny and the offense made plenty of big plays of their own. Metheny accounted for 335 yards of total offense: 194 through the air on 15-of-26 passing,

128 on the ground (good for the third highest rushing total by a USA player against a D-1 opponent), and he even caught a pass to tack on 13 more yards. Not to mention he scored all four Jaguar touchdowns.

“When your number gets called, you’ve gotta execute at a high level and perform,” Metheny said. “Guys like Shavarez (Smith) and Jereme (Jones) make my job easy. Just doing what I was asked and thankfully it was enough to get the win.”

After Aleem Sunanon put the Jags up 6-0 with field goals from 43 and 45 yards out, the Warhawk offense finally got something going late in the first quarter. After being helped by a pass interference penalty that moved them deep into USA territory, the Warhawks finally drew blood.

Browning made a cut up the middle to score from 6 yards out to give ULM a 7-6 lead.

Not to be outdone, the Jaguar

offense responded quickly. After rushes from Jay Jones and Kendall Houston moved the offense to the Warhawk end of the field, Joey Jones called up a trick play. A double reverse put the ball in the hands of Jake Howton, who passed it to Metheny, who got the first down. On the next play, Metheny hit Shavarez Smith for a 29-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was bobbled, so the Jaguars took a 12-7 lead.

The teams then traded three-andouts before South Alabama got the ball rolling again. Metheny gained 18 yards on a keeper to move USA to the ULM 27-yard line. One defensive pass interference call and two rushes later, Metheny found Jereme Jones in the left corner of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown to give USA a 19-7 lead going into halftime. Jereme See Warhawks Page 15

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VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Warhawks Continued from Page 14.

Jones caught 4 passes for 41 yards and 1 touchdown on the day.

Louisiana Monroe scored their first and last points of the second half on their first drive of the third quarter when Browning hit a wideopen Rashon Ceaser for a 44-yard scoring toss to cut the Jaguar lead to 19-14.

Again the Jaguar offense would answer the score with a score of its own. Metheny completed his first three passes of the drive, including a 28-yarder to Bryant Lavender to get across midfield. Once the Jaguars got the ball down to the 2, Metheny completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to unlikely receiver Ryan Onkka, who hadn’t had a reception in the year until then. The score stretched the USA lead to 26-14.

The next Jaguar drive produced three more points when Sunanon booted a field goal from 34 yards out to move it to 29-14 USA. After that score by the offense, the defense tallied 5 sacks on the next three Warhawk possessions of the fourth quarter.

With little more than 3 minutes left, the Jaguar offense was looking to run some time off the clock when Metheny ran around the left edge. Instead of running clock, Metheny

found an opening and sprinted 63 yards down the sideline to put the icing on the win and put USA up by the final score of 36-14--the largest margin of victory for the Jags this season.

Metheny broke several school records on his way to one of the best performances of his career. His 63-yard run was the longest run in school history, and he also broke the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game, a mark set by CJ Bennett against Georgia State in 2010. Metheny also became the first player in school history to have more than 100 passing and rushing yards in a game.

Shavarez Smith led the receiving corps with 90 yards and a touchdown on just 3 receptions.

Lavender added 46 yards on 4 catches. Jereme Jones finished with 4 catches and 41 yards, extending his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 37 straight.

Jay Jones rushed for 62 yards, and Houston chipped in 30 more.

Defensively, Alex Page led the Jaguars with 10 total stops, including 2 tackles for a loss and 1 sack. Enrique Williams chipped in 9 tackles. Jerome McClain and Romelle Jones were the other USA defenders who got to the quarterback on the record-breaking night with 2 and 1 sacks respectively.

The Jaguars return to action next weekend when they travel to the Georgia Dome to play Georgia State (0-11, 0-6 SBC).

PATRICK HERRING | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ryan Onkka (44) celebrates after hauling in his first career reception and touchdown.

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VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Lady Jags drop home opener

By JT CRABTREE

jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

T

Ken Williams finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds against Southern Miss.

MATTHEW STRICKLAND | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jaguars host 3 schools in CBE Classic Southern Miss, Wright State and Houston Baptist come to the Mitchell Center

By JT CRABTREE

jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

A

fter losing to Texas on the road, a game in which the South Alabama men’s basketball team lost after leading by more than 10 points in the second half. The Jags found a similar result against Southern Miss on Nov. 22, losing 66-59 in the first game of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic.

The Jags fell victim to a 26-6 run by the Golden Eagles with 10 minutes remaining in the game, just after they had gone a 14-7 run of their own, giving them a 53-40 lead.

“I’m really pleased with the first 30 minutes,” head coach Matthew Graves said. “I thought we did get better tonight. I certainly don’t like to learn from losses, but I think we’re going to take a great deal from this loss.

Southern Miss is an excellent team.

Coach (Donnie) Tyndall does a great job. They just keep coming at you and keep coming at you. I think the last eight minutes, the difference was they

played each possession and stayed the course and showed great toughness.

We weren’t the same in those final eight minutes. Even though we didn’t come out on the right end, we did some really positive things tonight.”

Southern Miss improves their record to 4-0, while the Jags fall to 2-2 after dropping their first home contest in the last nine games.

During the final 10 minutes of the game, the Jags went 1-for-10 from the floor and committed seven turnovers.

“Nothing really changed,” Graves said about the last 10 minutes. “The analogy I use is that they stayed together like a fist and we were an open hand. We were five individuals.

At the eight minute media, I called them over and simply said Southern Miss is a very good team. They’re the type of team that we not only want to compete with but we want to beat. Good teams make runs, and the teams that are able to stay together and sustain those 4-0, 6-0 runs, those are the championship level teams.

Tonight, we didn’t show that.”

The Jags shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the first half but shot only 28.6 percent in the second half of the game. Southern Miss shot just 31.8 percent for the game but scored 23 points on 15 USA turnovers.

“That was probably the deciding factor,” Graves said. “We got sped up there in the second half and had a couple of turnovers consecutively where we drove in and tried to throw lob passes that just weren’t there. We just need to stay more disciplined, like we did in the first half, and stay off the baseline a couple of times.”

Senior Augustine Rubit led the Jags with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Senior Antoine Allen added 14 points and an assist. Freshman guards Aakim Saintil and Ken Williams each added 8 points and two assists apiece. Junior Mychal Ammons finished 0-for-6 from the floor, but was a perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line. Ammons also hauled in a team high 8 rebounds.

“I told the guys in the locker room, you can’t sit around and feel sorry for yourself,” said Graves. “You have a

team in 12 hours that is going to come in here and try to take another win from you at home. We have to refocus.

We have a challenge. I’m really anxious to see how we are going to respond.”

That team was Wright State. The Jags hosted the Raiders Nov. 23 after they defeated Houston Baptist the night before. The Jags almost had a repeat performance of losing a second half lead, but were able to hold off the Raiders and win 74-70 in the second game of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic.

The win moved the Jags’ record to 3-2 and dropped Wright State to 3-3.

“I was really pleased to see how we responded from a tough game last night,” Graves said. “The thing I told them last night is that Wright State doesn’t care that you lost a tough game. We knew the environment this morning would not be like last night.

I told them we have to create our own energy, enthusiasm and play with great effort. I thought we did that today. I think the first half we shot the ball See Basketball Page 18

he South Alabama women’s basketball team wasn’t able to hold off the guard play of Nicholls State’s Emani White and KK Babin, who combined to score 49 points as the Colonels defeated the Lady Jags in their home opener 68-60.

USA (0-3) is off to its worst start to a season since 1990.

“I thought we came out with a lot of energy, and we were ready to go,” head coach Terry Fowler said. “Nicholls State’s matchup zone was basically a switching man, and it gave us problems. We just turned the ball over too many times, especially in the first half.

I thought we had chances in the first half to have a lead and probably even expand on it. I didn’t think we were aggressive enough because we only shot one free throw in the first half. I thought we did a better job coming out in the second half. We cut our turnovers down. Defensively, we’re supposed to pressure the basketball, but we just didn’t. We gave them a chance to line up and shoot some open threes.

The ball had a chance to get in, but we just couldn’t finish it off. They did a great job of handling the basketball and running down the clock at the end.”

Meghan Dunn led the Lady Jags with 16 points, going 6-for-10 from the floor, including 3-for-5 from behind the arc. Rachel Cumbo finished with a career-high 12 points. Cumbo also added a team-high seven rebounds. Breanna Hall had nine points while Brittany Webb added six points and six assists.

Turnovers were once again what doomed the Lady Jags, as they committed 25 in the game, giving 25 points off those turnovers.

“In the second half, we attacked,” Fowler said. “I thought we put our head down a little more and said let’s beat it with the dribble instead of the pass. Everything that we thought we were going to have, we had. We had the space and the easy baskets on the interior. About the midpoint of the second half, we did See Lady Jags Page 18

VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

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VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

Antoine Allen (12) finished with 14 points against Southern Miss

Basketball Continued from Page 16.

extremely well, but the turnover bug kind of reared its ugly head there in the first half. We were shooting such a good percentage, it kind of masked some of our deficiencies.”

The Jags were once again led by Rubit, who picked up his second double-double of the season.

Rubit finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Rubit also broke the all-time school record for career

rebounds set by All-American Terry Catledge with 940 rebounds. Rubit also moved into third place in career rebounding in Sun Belt Conference history.

“We’re excited for him,” Graves said. “He’s earned that. We’re hoping that he puts a lot of distance between him and the second place in rebounds and continues to do that for us.”

“What we were really excited about with Aug (Rubit) is that he demanded the ball more,” Graves explained. “Last night, we had two problems after we watched the game on film. Our guards didn’t really look for him as much, but that was only half of the

MATTHEW STRICKLAND | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

problem. The other half is that Aug (Rubit) didn’t demand the ball. He just stood and allowed himself to be taken out of the game for a certain amount of possessions. Today, he didn’t do that. He called for the ball, he posted hard, he was very aggressive and we as a coaching staff, in particular me, made it an emphasis to go Aug (Rubit). I told our guards, you want to throw to him,(and) Aug (Rubit), you have to demand the ball. He did a great job responding tonight, and his free throws were terrific.”

Guards Ken Williams and Barrington Stevens III each added 13 points.

Lady Jags Continued from Page 16.

a better job of playing with our head up and then being aggressive at the same time.”

South Alabama shot 46 percent from the floor and 8-for-18 from behind the three-point line. The Lady Jags also shot 75 percent from the charity line.

The Lady Jags kept close at the half, down by only six points. The difference in the game was the three-point-shooting of the Colonels, who finished shooting 57 percent from three-point land. Babin finished with 23 points, including going 7-for-9 from three. White had a team-high 26 points while shooting 50 percent from behind the arc.

Nicholls State finished with only one more goal made in the game, but the inability to slow down Babin and White doomed the Lady Jags.

“I think fatigue played as much of a part of it as anything,” Fowler said. “We’re just not tough with the basketball right now. I thought that those last two possessions, even if we go down two at the half, we’re feeling good. But instead we go down six, and it’s their ball to start the half. I think fatigue had something to do with it. I’m not sure that Brittany Webb is 100 percent with her knee right now.

She tweaks it every now and then. So I thought the end of the first half was big. Not only did it shift the momentum, but our body language kind of changed a little bit. It changed the mood in the locker room, so that was crucial for us.”

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VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013

USA Volleyball season comes to end in Troy, Ala. South Alabama volleyball bows out of SBC Tournament in the first round against UTA

By JT CRABTREE

jtc804@jagmail.southalabama.edu

S

outh Alabama women’s volleyball team had their season end on Nov. 21 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Troy, Ala. The number five seeded Lady Jags lost in three straight sets to number four UT-Arlington (18-25, 23-25, 21-25).

“I applaud Texas-Arlington for their efforts today. I thought they were very focused and had a really well played match on their part,” head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said. “I’m very proud of our team and what we were able to accomplish this season. I believe we had many people that improved and grew as Division-I volleyball players. I and my staff look forward to working with them this spring and building tradition and a successful program here.”

South Alabama finished with a record of 14-15, the best mark for the program since the 1995 season.

The Lady Jags were led offensively by two all-conference freshmen, Jessica Lewis and Mechell Daniel. Lewis fell just short of recording her third double-double of the season, ending the match with 13 kills and nine digs.

Daniel finished with 12 kills, seven digs and three block assists. Abby Baker, also a freshman, added had 14 digs for USA. Daniel, also named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, ended the season with 423 kills, the most by a Jaguar freshman and the sixth most in a single season, passing former Lady Jag Joan Hass, who had 420 during the 1987 season.

UTA was led by Shelby Dickson, who had 10 kills and 12 digs. Ashley Bennett finished with nine kills, while Taylor Gross had eight kills and Charmaine Whitmore finished with seven.

The Mavericks made the difference at the net, ending the match with 18 block assists. UTA started the SBC Tournament leading the conference and ranked 11th in the country in blocks. Whitmore, who led the NCAA in blocks, had eight, while Gross added seven.

“We knew going into the match that it was going to be a challenge with them leading the conference in blocks and with Whitmore leading the nation in that same category,” Hendrichovsky said. “That’s their strength. We have other strengths, but we just weren’t able to play to those strengths tonight.”

MATTHEW STRICKLAND | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Mechell Daniel (15) returns the ball during the Jag’s game vs. the Trojans Oct. 2, 2013.

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VOL. 53, NO. 18 / NOV. 25, 2013