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As the search begins, questions and
reactions abound
By Jason Stuebe
When
it was reported last week that the decision was made to begin
the search for a new athletic director, not many facts were
available. A week later, it still appears as though the water
is murky.
Reasons for the
search are not widely known, but Vice Chancellor for Student
Affairs Chris Miller, who made the decision to form the search
committee, has stated that current Athletic Director Nick Adams
will not be returning after December 31st of this
year. Miller would not divulge the reasoning behind his
decision, citing personnel reasons.
The
Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, which will be overseeing
the search, has also kept tight lipped as they closed their
meeting last Wednesday to the public in order to discuss the
matter.
IAC Chairman
Professor Marcel Yoder declined comment as the committee still
has several decisions to make.
As far as
technical questions about the search are concerned, one
overriding issue is the length of the search. Documents
obtained by The Journal indicate that the committee has a
“targeted” timeline from November 15th, which is the
deadline for candidate applications, to December 17th
which is when the committee is supposedly scheduled to offer the
job to the most successful candidate; however, the document does
point out that those dates are “subject to change.”
The targeted
timeline, as submitted to the Office of Access and Equal
Opportunity, conflicts with opinion of Vice Chancellor Miller.
“Finding a new athletic director in a month’s time will never
happen,” Miller stated, “I anticipate this to be a true
nationwide search…having an athletic director for the start of
the next semester is unlikely.”
Without an
athletic director there will be a need for an acting or interim
director, though Miller indicated that no decision has been made
on who that may be or when that decision may be made.
As the search gets
underway, reality has begun to sink in among athletes and
students alike that change is in the air, though the events
leading up to this moment have also led to mixed feelings.
“As a student
athlete, I’m disturbed by what has gone on between the Athletic
Department and the vice chancellor’s office,” said senior
softball player Sarah Boothman, “I think all of us [athletes]
just want to get back to representing our school and being
competitive without having to defend ourselves from the politics
of this mess.”
Senior volleyball
player Carrie Bauer expounded on those sentiments. “The next
athletic director should help bridge the gap between the vice
chancellor, the administration, the Athletic Department, and the
entire campus,” said Bauer, “I also want someone who will
continue to expand the program as Nick Adams has done.”
Adams has
distanced himself from the events of the last several weeks.
“Quite frankly I’m not that comfortable with what has gone on,”
said Adams, “but I really can’t comment due to the nature of the
situation.”
Regardless what
the outcome may be, with target dates conflicting and/or up in
the air - it is unknown when the light at the end of this tunnel
will appear.
Stars outlast St. Francis in
record setting marathon match
By Mark Brockett
The UIS women’s volleyball team
played as much volleyball as it took to defeat non-conference
opponent University of St. Francis last Thursday night. With
their aggressive defense and relentless attack, the Stars were
able to pull out a five game victory 24-30, 30-26, 38-36, 24-30,
and 16-14 respectively.
The astounding tally of the third
game turned out to be the highest scoring match in the history
of women’s volleyball here, both as UIS and in the old SSU days.
The win certainly had a positive
effect on the Stars if you were to ask head coach Joe Fisher.
“It’s amazing,” said Fisher. “They are a pretty good ball club.
They were nationally ranked last year and come from a tough
region up near Chicago,” said Fisher, “so to win here against a
team that came in over .500 is unbelievable.”
The Stars came in with a game
plan that included an aggressive defensive scheme and an offense
that was well timed and consistent, according to Fisher.
While St. Francis dominated the
net early with its blocking game, they had 24.5 blocks to the
Prairie Stars 5, although the Stars were still finding ways to
put the ball on the floor.
Outside hitter Danielle Crossen
led the way for the Stars with 22 kills in the match. Lauren
Sanders, another outside hitter who ended up with 18 kills of
her own, came through in clutch situations late in game five to
propel the Stars to the apparent upset victory.
Sanders, a freshman, attributed
the win to the team never giving up and constantly having a body
around the ball. “We’re gelling at the right time and it helps
build confidence within the team,” Sanders said.
Fisher believes that a win like
this will keep the wheels in motion for the late season run. “A
tough win like this late in the year will hopefully keep our
ball club in the thick of things,” Fisher said.
The team improved its overall
record to 13-17 and remains 6-4 in the American Midwest
Conference heading into last Friday’s match-up against Harris
Stowe and Monday’s match against nationally ranked Columbia.
The Stars return home tonight for
an exhibition match against Illinois Central College and resume
conference play on Saturday against William Woods University.
Tonight’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. while Saturday’s first
serve is set for 3 p.m.
Know your athletes...err,
candidates
By Jason Stuebe
I’ve been awfully political with
these columns as of late and this week should be no different,
though it will be a bit more light hearted. As most of you know
(let’s face it some of you just don’t care), there’s this little
thing called a presidential election coming up next Tuesday.
Every four years, we are bombarded with slogans and attack ads,
polling numbers and debates – but what about the sporting habits
of the candidates?
One time presidential hopeful
and former NBA stud Bill Bradley once said that America should
choose its presidents on foul shots. This year’s Democratic
candidate Sen. John Kerry thinks it should be decided on the
ice, and President George W. Bush just hopes it isn’t decided on
quality leadership…of a baseball organization, that is.
Both of this year’s candidates
are not only politically savvy, but they’re also athletically
gifted.
Kerry was a three-sport athlete
at Yale, playing lacrosse, hockey and soccer, where he once had
a hat trick during an all important game against Haw-vad. At
the age of 60, he is still an active jock as he windsurfs,
bikes, and continues to play hockey with the likes of Bobby Orr
for charity.
Dubya is no slouch, either.
Coming into office after the Big Mac presidency of the beloved
William Jefferson Clinton, Bush is often known to sneak out on
the ranch in Texas to do some serious mountain biking (it must
be serious because he falls down…a lot) and wood splitting.
Bush is also an avid runner. Even though he has suffered a torn
meniscus, he can still pull out an eight-minute mile. Oh yeah,
and then there’s golf as we all know, after he was infamously
portrayed in Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11”.
On the campaign trail, both
candidates have been seen tossing around a football and baseball
with staffers and family, though I must concede that Sen. Kerry
should just stick to the ball and glove – he’s not a very good
catch with the pigskin.
So what’s this all mean? Well,
that’s for you the voters decide. I’m not suggesting that you
pick your president based on his athletic abilities and
interests, but given the closeness of this year’s election you
never know how some people are going to make their decision!
So when you go into that voting
both on November 2nd or maybe right now as you fill
out your absentee ballot consider this – mountain biking or wind
surfing, running or hockey.
On a completely different note,
it’s time for this Sports Editor to have a heaping helping of
crow; my Braves choked in the playoffs again and LaRussa has yet
to screw up, as in years past. Yes sir, its time for me to eat
some humble pie. I’ll have mine a la mode. Go BoSox, and as
always go Stars!
Prairie Stars of
the Week
By Jason Stuebe
UIS volleyball coach Joe Fisher
has a few aces in the hole when it comes to his outside
hitters. Freshman Lauren Sanders and senior Sarah Stratton have
been on a tear in the last few weeks, nailing over 40 percent of
the Stars’ kills.
Going back to October 13th
when the wheels seemed to start falling off the injury-plagued
Stars’ wagon, the duo have risen to the occasion by helping the
team get past the rough spots.
Sanders, the hard hitter
recruited from Effingham High School has tallied up 66 kills
while Stratton, who led the team in K-I-double L’s last season,
has chipped in 38 heading in to Monday night’s game against
Columbia.
Aside from the attack, both
girls have performed well defensively, with Sanders wracking up
54 digs while Stratton saved 50 of her own – 20 of which came
against Harris Stowe last Friday night. Stratton has also been
leading the team in service aces with 14.
Stratton and Sanders’
performance couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Stars
have been reeling from injuries. Danielle Crossen, Gretchen
Conlin, and Maria Ray, who are all vital to the Prairie Star
offense, have all sustained some injury and lost playing time
because of it.
“Lauren and Sarah have both
stepped it up and performed really well for us in the past two
weeks,” said Fisher. “Lauren has adjusted well from high school
to college, she has stayed aggressive and smart and Sarah’s
offense has picked up in the last two weeks.”
We don’t do this often, but
considering what the women have been playing through, we’re
going to break the rules and serve up two Prairie Star of the
Week honors; kudos to Sarah and Lauren! Oh yeah, and just in
case you are keeping track of the coaches, Fisher has increased
his lead of featured athletes to 5-2 over soccer coach Joe Eck.
Snapshots
Men’s Soccer
UIS vs. Harris Stowe (St. Louis)
While it wasn’t as big of a
victory than in years past, the Stars demolished the Hornets of
Harris Stowe last Thursday night 4-1.
The Stars were led by junior
David Hartwick, who had two goals and one assist on the night.
The remainder of the Stars’ goals were scored by Todd Pierce and
Korey Baker.
UIS vs. Hannibal LaGrange
(Hannibal, Mo.)
The Stars closed out their
conference season with a 1-1 tie against Hannibal LaGrange last
Saturday. Hannibal LaGrange struck first, but UIS answered
later in the second half with a goal of their own by Korey
Baker, off the feed from Bojan Milicevec.
The Stars are now 8-5-1 overall
and 5-1-1 in American Midwest Conference play.
The Stars return home for the
final regular season match against Madonna University tomorrow
night, October 28th, 2004. Be sure to adjust your
clocks, as the game will begin at 6 p.m.
Women’s
Volleyball
UIS vs. Harris Stowe (St. Louis)
The Stars traveled to Harris
Stowe last Friday night and continued their twice-annual bashing
of the Hornets with another 3-0 win going 30-11, 30-20, and
30-24. The Stars’ Crossen, Sanders, and Roach led the team with
12, 11, and 10 kills respectively. UIS senior Megan Leonard
also padded her stats with 35 assists as the Stars improved
their record to 14-7 overall and 7-4 in the conference.
Auto
Racing
The sports staff at the Journal
extends its condolences to NASCAR racing’s Hendrick Motorsports
operation, after a tragic plane crash led to the death of ten
employee/family members traveling to last weekend’s race in
Martinsville, Va.
Among those listed as deceased
by the Nation Transportation and Safety Board include team owner
Rick Hendrick’s son Ricky Hendrick, brother John Hendrick, and
the head engine builder Randy Dorton.
CAMPUS
RECREATIONAL SPORTS BRIEFS
INTRAMURAL
SPORTS
That’s
How We Treat Em’ had an unfortunate weekend in Intramural
Flag Football, losing to Cumberland United 27-20, and then
again losing to The Replacements 49-20. Cumberland United leads
flag football with 2 wins. Games resume next Saturday, October
30th at 10a.m.
IM 6x6 Soccer
will play the best two out of three games to determine the
tournament winner. Games are scheduled for this Saturday,
October 30 at 1:30pm and Sunday, October 31 at 3:30pm at the Rec
Park Softball Outfield between the Tornadoes and Soccer Z’em.
IM
Badminton Singles League
play begins Monday, November 1 in the UIS Gym. League play will
be scheduled according to players and facility availability.
The tournament will conclude before Thanksgiving Break. If
entries warrant, there will be a Men’s and Women’s Division;
otherwise play will be mixed. All participants must be at least
18 years old or a UIS student. UIS students and Rec Center
Members with a valid i-card play for free. UIS Community Non-Rec
Center Members must pay $10 per division. Submit an entry form
in the CRS Office before 11pm on Wednesday, October 27.
IM
4x4 Co-Rec Volleyball Tournament
will be played
on Saturday, November 6 beginning at 1:00 pm in the UIS Gym.
Play will be mixed team. Teams consist of a minimum of 4 (two
women and two men) and a maximum of 6 players with no more than
two Non-Rec Center Members per roster. Only one present or last
year’s intercollegiate volleyball player is allowed per roster.
All participants must be at least 18 years old or a UIS
Student. UIS students and Rec Center Members with a valid i-card
play for free. UIS Community Non-Rec Center Members/Non-UIS
must pay $10. Non-UIS must sign a waiver form. Submit a team
entry form in the CRS Office before 11pm on Wednesday, November
3.
The IM
Basketball Shooting Contests will be held on Sunday,
November 14 at 4pm in the UIS Gym. There will be a men’s and
women’s division. Deadline to enter the contest is Wednesday,
November 10 at 11pm in the CRS Office. UIS students and Rec
Center Members with a valid i-card play for free.
FITNESS
& INSTRUCTIONAL
Toning
& Conditioning
classes are currently being held through November 19 in the UIS
Gym on Mondays and Fridays from 12:10-12:50pm. Amy Giles is
teaching the class.
Fencing
Lessons
are once again
being taught by Dr. Larry Livingston on Wednesdays in the UIS
Gym from 12:10-12:50pm.
SPORT
CLUBS
The
Men’s Club Volleyball team is practicing Mondays and
Thursdays from 7-9pm and Fridays from 5-7pm in the UIS Gym. Any
male UIS student interested in competing extramurally with other
college or USVBA men’s club volleyball teams is welcome to
join. Male students may be undergraduate or graduate; full time
or part time. If interested contact Club President Jim Brower
at
jbrow16s@uis.edu.
The Frisbee
Enthusiasts Club will practice this Thursday from 5:30-7pm
and Sunday from 3-5pm at the Sport Club Rec Field east of
Kiwanis Stadium. The club participates in Ultimate Frisbee as
well as Frolf (Frisbee Disc Golf). If interested contact Club
President Colin Cook at
ccook04s@uis.edu.
HOW CAN I LEARN ABOUT CAMPUS REC SPORTS NEWS?
(1) Send an
Email to RecSports@uis.edu
to be included in the 2004-2005 Campus Rec Sports News List to
receive personal up-to-date information about future events and
activities. (2) Click on “Public Folders>All Public
Folders>UIS>Announcements>Campus” on your UIS e-mail account and
read the e-mail announcements sent out by UIS Campus Rec
Sports. (3) Check out the website at
www.uis.edu/recsports/. (4) Contact the Campus Recreational
Sports (CRS) Office located in the Fitness Center (SLB 118) or
call 206-6658.
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