Sonoma State’s roller hockey team has lived in obscurity since it started up three years ago, written off as just one of more than eighteen sports clubs that the school has to offer. This year they demand recognition however, and have played their best hockey to date—finishing second in the Northern Division of the Western Collegiate Hockey League with a record of 8-7-1. After a slow start to the season, the team caught fire recently and has won seven of their last 10 games—earning a playoff spot in next week’s Regional Championship in Corona, CA. This will be the club’s first playoff appearance, and the players hope that their success will help shine a spotlight on a sport that isn’t as mainstream as they’d like. “There are some major differences between roller hockey and ice hockey,”said team president Dan Freeman. “For starters, there are four skaters instead of five, and no icing or offside penalties. The games are much quicker than ice hockey, and you end up getting scores like 8-3, 2-9, 10-4, etc.” Another major difference between ice and roller hockey is the physical aspect. “You can’t go out of your way to hit someone,” said

Freeman. “But the games are still extremely physical. We got into a fight this season vs. Arizona State. Their goalie hit one of our players and it turned into a four-on-four scrap.”

“Our team has great chemistry, and we are all friends outside of

hockey,” said Freeman. “We have had a great season, and hope-fully we can keep that success

alive in the playoffs.”

Being on the team is a commitment that the players don’t take lightly. With weekly practices and long road-trips, the team is only successful because of the group’s dedication. “We routinely take six hour drives to get to tournaments,” said team treasurer Ryan Bordley. "It’s a good time to bond, but it can be a hardship on funds.” Since the hockey team is a club, players have dues to pay each semester, covering costs like jerseys, hotel rooms, gas, and paying for rink time. Some of this burden is relieved by the two coaches of the team, who are both volunteering their time. John Carey, a reserve police officer, and Richard Bordley, a firefighter, both have children playing on the

Coach Carey poses with Sonoma State's "A" Teamteam, and choose to dedicate their free time to helping the squad. “I’ve been coaching for about 10 years, but mostly ice hockey,” said John Carey. “The team asked me to coach them two years ago, to helpkeep it organized, and I said sure.” One of the major problems that the team faced was practice space—seeingas there are no roller surfaces to practice on in the area, the squad was forced to skate on an outdoor concrete surface in Santa Rosa. “We switched where we practice this year and I think that has made a huge difference,” said Carey. “Now the kids play in an adult league in Alameda, which gives them a chance to skate on Sport-Court—the samematerial our league games are played on.” The difference is indeed noticeable as Sonoma, who finished ‘07-’08 in dead last, now has a chance to advance in the Western Conference Division II playoffs. Next Friday the entire squad will travel seven hours to Corona to face USC and Cal State Berkley in the first round. If they win these games they need to win another two matches to be crowned

champs and receive a spot in the national tournament hosted out of Pennsylvania. “The talent level of our team has increased ten-fold, and I really think we have a chance,” said Freeman. “To think that this team was just seven guys at first. Now we have eighteen players—including four whowere selected to the all-star squad.” “We beat Berkley before, but USC will be a tougher challenge,” said coach Carey. “I think we can do it though because the team works so well together, and we are really starting to play solid hockey.” No matter what the outcome of the tournament is, there is no doubt the season has been a huge success for the roller hockey club. With only two players graduating this year, the sport has a very promising future at SSU. “Our team has great chemistry, and we are all friends outside of hockey,” said Freeman. “We have had a great season, and hopefully we can keep that success alive in the playoffs.”

Freeman. “But the games are

Arizona State. Their goalie hit one of our players and it turned into a four-on-four

Being on the team is a

weekly practices and long road-trips, the team is only

“We routinely take six hour

Bordley. "It’s a good time to bond, but it can be a hardship

Since the hockey team is

pay each semester, covering

time. Some of this burden is relieved by the two coaches

volunteering their time. John Carey, a reserve police officer, and Richard Bordley, a firefighter, both have children playing on the

Sonoma Sonoma

State Sonoma

State Sonoma Hockey Hockey State

Hockey State

Rolls to Hockey Rolls to Hockey WCHL Rolls to WCHL Rolls to PlayoffsWCHL

PlayoffsWCHL

By Mitch Reber

Sonoma State athletics first began in 1964 with the formation of the first school-sanctioned sport—men’s basketball. In their first season, the Cossacks (SSU’s previous mascot, before changing to the Seawolf in 2002) lost every single game—going 0-11 and finishing in dead last. Since that time, the sports department at SSU has grown tremendously, and a lot has changed. To date, Sonoma has earned three national championships titles for women’s soccer (1990), men’s soccer (2002), and in men’s golf (2009), as well as 32 total conference titles, and six California Collegiate Athletic Assosiation (CCAA) championship wins. SSU currently boosts 13 teams who primarily compete in the Division II category of the CCAA (water polo and men’s tennis being the exceptions), and the Seawolf hall of fame has inducted 61 players and four teams since it’s beginning in 1998. The basketball team’s 0-11 start may have kicked off sports at Sonoma State, but 45 years later it is easily forgotten amongst the accomplishments of current and former athletes. Looking back in SSU sports history there are a number

of fantastic athletes who donned the Seawolf (or Cossack) jersey. Many great players have walked the Sonoma campus over the years—but who was the greatest? Although sports success has come and gone at SSU, the accomplishments of the athletes who played them has been imortalized. Here is a list of some of the

greatest competitors to ever play for Sonoma State.

10) Chris Difani: Between 1995-1998 Difani set SSU records for the most kills (1,429)— recording an average of 3.68 kills per game. In 1997 she received NCAC player of the year honors, as well as being nominated to the All-West Region team as she led SSU to an 11-1 record.

Impressive Stat: On SSU’s top ten list for career digs, games played, and hitting percentage.

9) Randy Dedini: Considered to be one of the best goaltenders in SSU history, Dedini played from 1992-1993. Second only to Dave Kaufman in career saves and shutouts, Dedini accomplished a lot in his two years at SSU—including his13-shutout season in 1993 that earned him a Second Team All-American nomination.

Dedini went on to play Major League Soccer with the Kansas City Wiz and the Colorado Rapids for a few years after he graduated.

Impressive Stat: 21 career shutouts and a record low goals-against average of 0.75

8) Amy Apodaca: From 1996-999 Amy Adodaca was the undisputed queen of the women’s soccer team at Sonoma State. She received All-American honors every year she played, was CCAA player of the year in 1998, and was nominated to First

Team All-Conference and First Team All-West Region each of the three years she played. In 1998, she led Sonoma State to a CCAA tournament victory, and then to the NCAA Division II championship game. Impressive Stat: Only SSU team sport player to win three consecutive All-American nominations.

7) Vince Inglima: The two-year career of Vince Inglima (2004-2006) is highly celebrated with almost every award imaginable. As a guard, Inglima lead SSU to their first conference championship in 2005-2006, earning SSU Male Athlete of the Year, CCAA Player of of the Year, and CCAA Male Athlete of the Year honors along the way. He was also named the Most Valuable Player, All-CCAA first team, First Team All-Star, Division II All-American, All-District West Region, and Academic All-District during his career at SSU.

This 6’5’’, 205 lb. guard played in Australia for a few years after graduating, and now works as an assistant coach on the SSU men’s basketball team. Impressive Stat: SSU’s all-time leader in free throw percentage (.825).

6) Andrew Bailey: This two-time West Regional Player of the Year and CCAA Player of the Year (2006, 2007) is one of the most decorated players in Sonoma State soccer history. His career started in 2004 when, as a freshman, he led the Sewolves in

The Top Ten

Athletes in Top Ten

Athletes in Top Ten

Sonoma State

History

The Best of the Best: (left to right) Amy Apodaca, Chris Difani, Christopher Ziemer, Derek Bell, Jann Thorpe, John

Volpi, Erni Jensen (seated)

several seasons before returning to SSU where he is now an assistant coach on the baseball team.

Impressive Stat: In 2000, Bell had a .382 average, and hit his school-record 23 home runs, earning him a spot in the national home-run contest at the College World Series.

1) Larry Allen: Many recognize this man from his days on the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, but Allen began his football career here at Sonoma State. Playing as a defensive lineman for two years, Allen gave up only one sack during that time, and was the leader of a team that established 10 school scoring records. This 6’3’’, 325 lb. goliath was an All-American selection in each of his two years at SSU, and was drafted by Dallas in 1994. Allen remains the only player from SSU to go to the NFL, where he played for 13 seasons—earning 11 Pro Bowl selections, eight All-Pro selections, and was eventually named to the NFL’s 1990 All-Decade Team.

Impressive Stat: Allen could bench-press a staggering 700 lbs and squat 900 lbs in his prime, making him the hands-down strongest athlete to ever play for SSU.

scoring (13 goal)—including eight goals in the Seawolves’ final seven games. In 2007, Bailey’s 18 goals and 42 points led the CCAA, and he set school records for most goals scored by a junior. In 2008, Bailey was part of a team that won the CCAA championship, and included such standout players as Ross Middlemiss, Eric Lafon, Brooke Johnson, and Nathan Medina. Although plagued with injuries in 2005 and 2008, Bailey remains one of best soccer players in SSU history.

Impressive Stat: Sonoma Men’s Soccer all-time leading scorer.

5) Nestor Bernabe: Not only was Bernabe an MVP each of the four years he played for SSU’s men’s tennis team (1999-2003), but he remains the only men’s tennis player in school history to win All-American honors. Bernabe holds the school record for singles victories (75), and overall victories (140). He was ranked as high as No. 4 in the United States at doubles and No. 10 at singles during his career at SSU.

Impressive Stat: Bernabe’s career record of 142-49

4) Jarin Todd: This SSU junior has dominated CCAA golf since his arrival in 2006, when he promptly won All-CCAA honors his freshmen year. In 2007, Todd received the Jack Nicklaus award for NCAA Division II Player of the Year, the CCAA player of the year award,

and was named First Team All-American, All-West Region, and All-CCAA. In 2008, he repeated—winning both the Jack Nickalus award, as well as being named NCAA Division II Player of the Year and shooting an average of 70.39 a round. He also won SSU Male Athlete of the Year honors after finishing in the top

three during the NCAA Division II Championship. He currently holds the school record for the lowest round of golf (62).

Impressive Stat: Todd is one of two players to ever win the Nickalus award two years in a row. The other player? Phil Mickelson.

3) Jann Thorpe: The most dominant women’s basketball player in SSU history, Thorpe’s number is retired, and can be seen in the Seawolf gym. She holds the women’s record in scoring (1,575 career

points), rebounds (1,172), steals (167), field goal percentage (.511), and double-doubles (54). She earned conference Player of the Year awards in three consecutive seasons, and was named an All-American during her four-year stretch (1995-1999).

Impressive Stat: In Thorpe’s final season with the

Seawolfs they put up a 23-5 record and finished second in the NCAA tournament.

2) Derek Bell: This talented baseball player holds the Sonoma State record for single season home runs (23), hits (228), doubles (48), RBI (176), runs scored (161), and walks (105). His career at SSU spanned 1998-2002, in which time he earned the West Region Player of the Year award, CCAA Player of the Year, and First Team All-American honors. The San Francisco Giants drafted Bell in 2000, and he played

8) Antonio Alfonseca is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He last pitched in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, in 2007.Alfonseca makes this list because of his lopsided

protruding because of his lopsided

protruding because of his lopsided

gut, as the well the fact that he has SIX FINGERS ON EACH HAND AND SIX TOES ON EACH FOOT.

5) Gordon Hayward—There’s always that player in the NCAA tournament who you would never guess has basketball skills. Hayward was the one who caught my eye this year, as he looks more like someone who should be

There are two kinds of freak athletes—those who are freakishly good, and those who are good despite being freakish.

People are always surprised when someone who doesn’t look like a stereotypical jock is a good athlete.

Call it the “Susan Boyle” effect.

I decided to compile a list of current professional athletes that succeed in professional sports despite their apparent lack of physical aptitude.Here are the top ten current "freak" athletes in professional sports.

competition last year, earning himself a six-figure UFC contract.

account for his excess weight because his cardio is not that bad for a heavyweight, and he is a legitimate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.

3) Shaun White is not that weird looking for a snowboarder, but most people are amazed to see a little ginger kid doing the things he does on a snowboard.

7) Sebastian Janokawski At 6’2’’, 250 lbs, Janokawski is seemingly fat and out of shape. He is the placekicker for the Oakland Raiders however, and has a leg like a cannon—as evidenced by his career-long 61-yard field goal. He also holds the franchise scoring title for the Raiders, as well as holding the NFL record for longest field goal in OT (57 yards in 2008).

That's right...this guy fights in the UFC, and when he wins a fight he sticks his gut out and rubs it like a drunken redneck.

Nobody can

9) Jaime Moyer is a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies who makes this list because of his age—a whopping 47 years. He is currently the oldest member of MLB, and he looks more like a grandpa than an MLB pitcher. He has been in the league for a whopping 24 years, compil-ing a record of 258-195.

Nicknamed “The Flying Tomato,” White is the best snowboarder in the world, despite the world, despite his unusual appearance.

2) Roy Nelson is another “freak” of professional sports. Nicknamed “Big Country,” Nelson sports a gut that you would expect see on a professional Pabst drinker, not a professional athlete, but nonetheless, he won The Ultimate Fighter

1) Tim Lincecum is one such athlete. His nickname is even “The Freak.” He looks like a stoner, to be honest, and even before his marijuana troubles over the summer a lot of people speculated whether he was “high all the time”. His hair is long and mangy, he is small in stature—runtish even—yet he is the reigning two-time NL Cy Young winner, and his stuff is ridiculously good.

working at the local In-N-Out than an elite college athlete carrying his team to the NCAA championship game

6) Joakim Noah may look like an ogre from Lord of the Rings, but he is averaging 17.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, and 3 apg in the NBA playoffs this year for the Chicago Bulls. He was also part of the Florida Gators team that won the NCAA tournament in 2006 and 2007. Not bad for a person of his freakish stature.

(and damn near almost (and damn near almost winning it with that last shot).

4)Pablo Sandoval—I’m not saying he doesn’t look like an athlete (or I’d have to include Prince Fielder on this list),

Nicknamed El Pulpo (The Octopus), Alfonseca has a condition known as Polydactyly, which makes it even more impressive that he reached the major

league level of baseball.

Top 12 Current "Freak" Athletes

but you could never tell but you could never tell from looking at him that the Giants third baseman has some wheels on him. Nick-named "Kung Fu Panda", Sandoval can hit, run and field with the best of them.

seemingly fat and out of shape.

impressive that he reached the major

10) John Daly—even with his recent weight loss, Daly requires a double take. Known for his ridiculous behavior on the golf course, Daly’s flashy outfits and drunken escapades have overshadowed the fact that his lifetime average driving distance is 309 yards.

(he claims he used to drink a fifth of Jack Daniels every day), but Daly will remain on this list until the day he retires.

The SSU men’s lacrosse The SSU men’s lacrosse team suffered a heartbreaking team suffered a heartbreaking loss on Sunday, falling at home to No. 2 Cal State Berkley 11-to No. 2 Cal State Berkley 11-10 after battling through six overtimes. SSU is now 0-3 in their division, 0-5 overall, while their division, 0-5 overall, while Cal State Berkley improves to 2-Cal State Berkley improves to 2-0 in division, 5-2 overall. The first quarter belonged The first quarter belonged to SSU, as the Seawolves crisp to SSU, as the Seawolves crisp passing and effective offense passing and effective offense put them up early. A Berkley put them up early. A Berkley penalty led to the first goal of the penalty led to the first goal of the penalty led to the first goal of the game, when SSU’s Max Larkin drove to the net, dropped it off to teammate Kevin Labelle, then to teammate Kevin Labelle, then to teammate Kevin Labelle, then quickly got it back and shot it in, quickly got it back and shot it in, putting SSU up 1-0.putting SSU up 1-0. The Bears answered back The Bears answered back immediately with a goal of their own, as Cal State’s their own, as Cal State’s Daniel Cohen charged into Daniel Cohen charged into SSU territory and scored an unassisted goal on the very next unassisted goal on the very next series. Cohen also picked up the next Cohen also picked up the next Cohen also picked up the next goal for Berkley, tying the score, goal for Berkley, tying the score, but SSU would get a goal from but SSU would get a goal from Max Larkin and another one Max Larkin and another one from Mike Sylvester to finish the from Mike Sylvester to finish the quarter leading 3-2. “We knew their plays, and we “We knew their plays, and we “We knew their plays, and we jumped on them, but they kept jumped on them, but they kept scoring in transition,” said SSU head coach Dominic Gomez. head coach Dominic Gomez. “I knew we needed to focus on cleaning up our turnovers and picking up more groundballs, as picking up more groundballs, as well as finishing our shots.”well as finishing our shots.” Cal tied it up early in the Cal tied it up early in the second quarter when Daniel Cohen capitalized on an SSU penalty, taking it to the outside penalty, taking it to the outside right and feeding it in the right and feeding it in the middle to Luke Langon for the middle to Luke Langon for the goal. SSU picked up the next two SSU picked up the next two scores off goals from Ryan

Larkin and another from Mike Sylvester, who put SSU up 5-3 with a great unassisted effort. Cal would answer back though, Cal would answer back though, scoring three consecutive goals scoring three consecutive goals to go up 6-5.

The two teams battled back and forth for the rest of the quarter, trading goals, and the half ended with a 7-7 tie. “The first half was intense all around. Both teams played top notch,” said SSU’s Kevin Labelle. “We expected a hard-fought game, and we were prepared.” The beginning of the third period was sloppy for SSU, with several dropped passes and unforced turnovers. Cal was able to capitalize, and went up 10-7 off goals from Daniel Cohen (his fourth), Sam Daniel Cohen (his fourth), Sam Tobias, and Connor Thomas. SSU fired back with a spectacular goal from Mike Sylvester, who rifled a shot past the goalie, got hit by a defenseman, and somersaulted

backwards as he picked up his third goal of the day. The momentum seemed to shift at this point, and SSU was able to cut the lead to 9-10 with another goal in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was relatively uneventful until Max Larkin came up with a huge goal for SSU, tying the game 10-10 with his third goal of the day, and forcing overtime. One overtime after another passed without any team scoring as both sides struggled to end the game. Finally in the sixth overtime Cal Freshman Jon Chee beat SSU goaltender Michael Clothier and put the ball in the back of the net, as the SSU team looked on in dismay. “The six overtimes were the deciding factor of this game,” said Gomez. “It was kind of a toss up at that point—pretty much a flip of the coin. Both teams played hard, and I think we played well enough to win. We haven’t started out to the record that we want, but this team has the biggest heat of any SSU team I’ve coached, and we are gaining experience.”

SSU Lacrose Falls in Sixth OT Against OT Against BerkleyOT Against

BerkleyOT Against

He recently had weight-loss surgery and has dialed down the drinking

"The six OTs were the deciding factor of this game,” said Gomez.

“It was kind of a toss up at that point—pretty much a fl ip of the

coin. Both teams played hard, and I think we played well enough to

win. We haven’t started out to the record that we want, but this team has the biggest heat of any SSU team I’ve coached, and we are

gaining experience.”

11) David Eckstein looks more like a jockey than a MLB second baseman. At 5’7’’, he is nicknamed “Spark-plug”, and has won a World Series in both the American and National Leagues.

12) Randy CoutureCouture is another UFC fighter who breaks the mold—not because of his weight, but because he is 46 yearsold! Randy was a three-time DI All-American wrestler incollege, thenbecame analternate for the U.S. Olympicwrestling team before discovering MMA at age 35. Since then, he has gone 18-10 and is in the UFC Hall of Fame.

“The future looks bright,” said Dunn.

“We have a nucleus of student athletes coming

back that understand the system that we are running, and they have bought into it—that’s what has made them champions. They will

teach the new kids com-ing in what it is like to practice and play like

champions.

SSU Volleyball Team Wins

SSU Volleyball Team Wins

SSU Volleyball

DII Club Championship

The SSU men’s volleyball team put Sonoma State on the map on April 3rd by winning the rd by winning the rd

Division II National Collegiate Club Volleyball Championship in Louisville, KY, despite having a lowly 12th seeding. The three-day tournament, in which 48 teams compete, saw SSU win eight of nine matches they played, ending in a showdown with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at 6pm on day 3. After playing four matches in the same day, SSU looked winded going in the championship series against Wisconsin-La Crosse, and dropped the first game in the best-of-three series 25-15. “We had a lot more people watching on TV then we realized. There were TV cameras and mikes everywhere, and we got a little caught up in the ambience,” said head coach Mark Dunn. They decided to take a gamble and substitute in two freshmen players, which paid off big time. SSU looked like a new team in the final two games, and captured the title with a 25-21, 15-8 performance. “By the time we got to the championship, we were focused on winning,” said team captain Scott Fontana. “Blocking and defense were what won us the championship.” Fontana was named the MVP of the tournament, and two other Seawolves—Matthias Buhlis and David Zvlonek—were honored to first team and second team honors, respectively.

With a 27-17 overall record, and the championship title under their belts, SSU ends the season on a high note, but success didn’t always come easily for this team. Last season they won only eight games, which prompted them to make a change and bring in Dunn, who has 25 years of experience as a coach, and is an SSU alumnus. “The whole program was starting to go in disarray.They wanted someone who had some coaching experience and who could bring the team back together and make a commitment to them, and I felt I could do that.” “I think it all clicked together the Tuesday practice before Nationals...that’s when the team came together as one,” said Dunn. “When I left that practice I told my assistant coach ‘I think we’re going to do something special.’” Although a Division II School, SSU competes in a Division I league of nine

other clubs—including Berkley, Fresno State, and Davis. They playd each team twice, and finished this

dues are around $600,” said Fontana. “We also pay for our own plane tickets and other transportation, with some help from alumni and local businesses.” “Every player has to pay their way just to play, which makes it more gratifying when we win,” said Coach Dunn. “The exposure we received was very big for the school, so we’re hoping that they understand how successful this program can be and how it can bring attention to the school.” SSU has four graduating seniors, including Fontana, but they remain very optimistic about the seasons to come. “The future looks bright,” said Dunn. “We have a nucleus of student athletes coming back that understand the system that we are running, and they have bought into it—that’s what has made them champions. They will teach the new kids coming in what it is like to practice and play like champions.."

season with a 9-7 record in their division, good for fifth place. Any team will tell you, it’s the post-season that matters most, however, and the club is now hoping that the school takes notice of their recent successes and lends a financial hand. “We pay dues, but we don’t get much help from the school, only around $500 bucks, while

Sonoma State Celebrates Their Division II Championship Victory

Recruiting talented athletes is a chore that every college

approaches differently. The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) is the governing body of college sports, and it is their job to create and enforce the rules, which regulate the recruiting of athletes.

Breaking the rules of the NCAA can cost a coach their job, and tarnish the reputation of a school, but it happens every year without fail. Convincing top-ranked recruits to play for them is like tug-of-war contest between colleges, and its up to the NCAA to keep the playing field even.

Since it’s creation in 1906, regulating the recruitment process has always been a top priority for the NCAA. The original rules governing college athletics prohibited recruitment altogether, even outlawing athletic scholarships. Colleges were supposed to form their sports teams by holding try-outs open to their student body, similar to high schools.

Coaches at the time had little respect for the rules of the NCAA however, and bribing high schoolers with cash, apartments, and jobs was a common practice that went largely unpunished for decades.

Though prior attempts had been made, it wasn’t until 1951 that the NCAA was able to institute and enforce the set of recruitment guidelines that are still in use. The main purpose of these rules was, and still is, to limit contact between recruiters and athletes, and outlaw all incentives offered to athletes other than scholarships.

The details of these rules differ slightly between the three divisions of NCAA competition and also between sports, but the underlying ideals are similar. The restrictions are heavier on freshmen and sophomores in high school, giving more leeway for juniors and seniors to visit and talk with coaches.

The biggest restrictions in the NCAA guidelines are put on the amount of contact between recruiters and athletes. Phone calls, face-to-face interactions, and campus visits are limited to set amounts outlined in the rulebook, and any contact initiated by the college must occur within a set length of time. The “contact period” during the recruitment process refers to the time that schools are allowed to actively communicate with prospects, followed by the “dead period” or period where no contact or evaluation is allowed to occur.

Secondly, limits are pleaded upon any incentives a school provides its perspective athletes. Obviously schools are not allowed to give recruits cash or any other amenity, but they are also barred from providing any lodging/food/or transportation for visiting recruits that is above average quality. Schools are allowed to pay for the players basic needs while on an ‘official visit’ which are 48 hour college visitations (of which an athlete can partake in five times), but any other visits must be financed by the athlete’s family.

Although colleges accepted these guidelines willingly in 1951, there have been cases every year of coaches bending and breaking the rules in their clamor to recruit star players. Giving illegal incentives still occurs, but the vast majority of coaches aren’t willing to risk their jobs or their integrity by bribing players. Finding creative loophole in the rules however, is fair game.

Prior to 2008 for example, text messaging was not limited or regulated unlike the one phone call a week coaches are allowed to send recruits. Top high school athletes have been bombarded for years with daily texts from coaches, who knew that this form of communication had not yet been accounted for in the rulebook. This medium was finally banned in a long-overdue 2008 rule revision.

Texting is not the only new technology that has been used by coaches to contact recruits however. Video messaging, instant messaging, social websites have all been used to recruit. USC’s former head football coach Pete Carroll, considered by many to be one of the best recruiters in the game, had a Facebook page, and even ran a twitter in order to communicate with his recruits.

Even as recent as five years ago, colleges were spending huge sums of money to give recruits ‘A-list’ treatment when they came to visit. Before the 2004 NCAA rule revision, colleges were allowed to fly recruits in via private jets, put them up in five star hotels, and buy them expensive meals during campus visitations.

CONTINUED...

College Recruiting Practices Need

College Recruiting Practices Need

College Recruiting

Updating

Although colleges can no pamper recruits with the same kind of Although colleges can no pamper recruits with the same kind of Although colleges can no pamper recruits with the same kind of Although colleges can no pamper recruits with the same kind of treatment, the amount of money spent on recruiting keeps increasing. In treatment, the amount of money spent on recruiting keeps increasing. In 2007 alone, the 65 top competitive schools in the US spent a combined 2007 alone, the 65 top competitive schools in the US spent a combined 61 million dollars on the recruitment of athletes, giving them a huge 61 million dollars on the recruitment of athletes, giving them a huge advantage over smaller school. The undermining of the communication advantage over smaller school. The undermining of the communication and incentive guidelines is due in part to the reaction-response of the and incentive guidelines is due in part to the reaction-response of the NCAA. Instead of addressing each new problem as it arises, perhaps a NCAA. Instead of addressing each new problem as it arises, perhaps a better solution would be creating a set of universal rules. better solution would be creating a set of universal rules. A clearly defined set of guidelines that applies to every division A clearly defined set of guidelines that applies to every division of the NCAA, and every sport could solve the problems that have arisen. of the NCAA, and every sport could solve the problems that have arisen. Leave no room for interpretation or improvisation because constantly Leave no room for interpretation or improvisation because constantly revising the guidelines is only making the rulebook heavier.revising the guidelines is only making the rulebook heavier.

NHL Western Conference Championship: Five Threats

Chicago Poses To SJ

After destroying the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 in their last series, the San Jose Sharks have advanced to the Western Conference the San Jose Sharks have advanced to the Western Conference Championships for the first time since 2004, and will face the Chicago Championships for the first time since 2004, and will face the Chicago Blackhawks in a best of seven series with the winner moving on to the Blackhawks in a best of seven series with the winner moving on to the the Stanley Cup finals.the Stanley Cup finals.

The Blackhawks are an interesting matchup for the Sharks, having The Blackhawks are an interesting matchup for the Sharks, having finished with the third best record in the NHL, just one point behind SJ. finished with the third best record in the NHL, just one point behind SJ. True, they beat the Sharks three times in the regular season, but that was True, they beat the Sharks three times in the regular season, but that was then and this is now...so let’s take a minute to examine what it is going to then and this is now...so let’s take a minute to examine what it is going to take to win this series.take to win this series.

1) 1) Scoring Depth

Chicago have six players who scored over 20 goals in the regular season, Chicago have six players who scored over 20 goals in the regular season, including current postseason point leader Jonathan Toews.including current postseason point leader Jonathan Toews.

Toews--20 points (6 goals, 14 assists)Toews--20 points (6 goals, 14 assists)Patrick Kane--15 points (7 goals, 8 assists)Patrick Kane--15 points (7 goals, 8 assists)Patrick Sharp--14 points (5 goals, 9 assists )Patrick Sharp--14 points (5 goals, 9 assists )Marian Hossa--10 points (2 goals, 8 assists)Marian Hossa--10 points (2 goals, 8 assists)Dustin Byfuglien--4 goalsDustin Byfuglien--4 goalsDave Bolland--3 goals, 4 assistsDave Bolland--3 goals, 4 assists

How SJ can neutralize:How SJ can neutralize:-Nabby: An elite goaltender when he is on his game, and he will need to -Nabby: An elite goaltender when he is on his game, and he will need to be.be.-Punish their forwards: We are the bigger, stronger team. Unleash -Punish their forwards: We are the bigger, stronger team. Unleash Douglas Murray.Douglas Murray.-Matchups: At least one of the Sharks' lines is going to give them trouble. -Matchups: At least one of the Sharks' lines is going to give them trouble. Find out which one early (probably the second line, like always)Find out which one early (probably the second line, like always)

2) 2) Ability to Score Quickly

Chicago has a young, fast team that can score in the blink of the eye, Chicago has a young, fast team that can score in the blink of the eye, as evidenced by Troy Brouwer and Kris Verstegg’s goals that occurred as evidenced by Troy Brouwer and Kris Verstegg’s goals that occurred just 36 seconds apart in the second period of their last game—a series-just 36 seconds apart in the second period of their last game—a series-clinching victory against the Vancouver Canucks. Dave Bolland added clinching victory against the Vancouver Canucks. Dave Bolland added

another goal in the second with just 45 seconds left in the period, and another goal in the second with just 45 seconds left in the period, and then Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien scored 35 seconds apart in the third.

This team puts up big numbers quickly, and if we learned anything from the Vancouver series it’s that if they catch you napping they will make you pay.

How SJ can neutralize:-Score quickly themselves, and take it to the Hawks. Chicago isn’t the only team that can put the puck in the net...the Sharks scored three times in 79 seconds against Detroit in Game 1.-No mistakes in defensive zone- Puck control in the neutral zone: limiting their transition offense will cut down on their opportunities

3) Defense

The Hawks have a solid blue line, with top-notch defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, who both played for Team Canada, as well as Niklas Hjalmarsson, and former Shark Brian Campbell.

Antti Niemi guards the net for Chicago, and as had his share of ups-and-downs during the playoffs, but looked decent in the lasts few games, with a .906 Save Percentage and a 2.68 GAA. He will be severely tested in this series though, and his play could make or break Chicago’s chances of winning.

How SJ can neutralize:-hit hard and often in their zone, wear them out-crowd the neutral zone and steal passes-throw lots of pucks on net, get rebounds-win faceoffs in their zone

4) Transition/Turnover Scoring

One of the most dangerous aspects of the Blackhawks’ game is their transition offense and fast break. They are very good at capitalizing on mistakes and odd-man rushes. Who can forget the three humiliating short-handed goals that Chicago scored against SJ on Nov. 25? Hopefully the same mistakes will not be repeated in the upcoming games.

How SJ can neutralize:-Crisp breakouts-Don’t let them get into a rhythm on their breakout-Get back on D-Watch the line changes

5) Momentum Coming Into The Series

Chicago won all three games in Vancouver during their last series by a score of 17-7, despite the Canucks having the best home record in the NHL during the regular season. They are coming off a great Game 6, and definitely have a head of steam coming into this series, looking to win the Western Conference Championship that eluded them last year.

How SJ can neutralize:-Confidence from great Red Wings series-HP Pavilion crowd-Frustrate them early-Exploit rest advantage