Spinnaker [Distributed: Wednesday, September 13, 2006]

The standard list of things on a college student's plate include tests, papers, lectures, hanging out with the neighbors or roommates and going out.

Sounds like any typical day for a college student, but for first year students, it can be overwhelming. For some freshman athletes, the transition can be downright stressful. With some teams having two-a-day practices, physical injuries, team meetings and spending countless hours riding a bus for away competitions, that could take the entire weekend.

The evolution from high school sports to Division I collegiate athletics can affect either an athlete's performance on the field or his or her performance as a student in the classroom.

There are several factors and differences that can be noted to first year students. Whether they are moving from a small town to a big city or vice versa, students often experience culture shock through their growing pains. Then there's the added stress of a full-time academic load. Some class grades are based on student attendance and participation - a major time conflict if a student athlete cannot attend due to competitions.

"When I first got here, I didn't have time to be homesick," said freshman soccer forward Caitlin Kovacs. "I actually missed the first two weeks of the season 'cause I was sick."

Kovacs is the lone soccer player who is not originally from the Florida. Hailing from Avon, Ind., Kovacs is one of 10 freshmen on the women's soccer team.

The majority of collegiate student athletes are recruited during their senior year in high school with the promise of athletic scholarships, starting positions and playing time. A very select number of student athletes manage to break into the playing field as a walk-on, but the challenges of competing for playing time and lack of scholarships can sometimes create even more stress. Walk-on athletes can sometimes feel left out or that their effort and hard work goes unnoticed.

"My teammates have been really supportive in making sure I'm not slacking off and making sure I don't feel too overwhelmed," said freshman volleyball walk-on Katie MacLeod. MacLeod is one of only two freshmen on the volleyball team, and as a walk-on, there are both benefits and drawbacks.

"I train with the team, I suit up for home games, but I don't travel with them for away games," MacLeod said. "It works out because I don't have to worry about being gone for an entire weekend and then having to worry about school the following Monday."

Although student athletes do have an off-season, that doesn't mean that it's any type of a vacation. Collegiate student athletes have to maintain and possibly even enhance their athletic physique throughout the academic year. In order to stay in shape, coaches and trainers often increase weight sessions and cross training.

Some of the common problems that many first year students face also include being away from home for the first time. For some student athletes, that also includes being away from their own country. The ability to go home to visit family on holidays or special occasions is difficult to fit into any academic schedule, but twice as difficult to coincide with both school and a sports season. The ability to communicate to family and friends from home can be tedious. Major time zone changes can make it even more difficult.

International student athletes have an array of challenges they must face: changes in culture, language, time zones and climate. Then there is also the differing perceptions and strategies that American athletes have towards any specific sport. What may be seen as a sign of disapproval from fans in one country may actually be seen as something positive in another, such as whistling or specific words used in a taunt or jeer. The most noticeable factor would be the difference in student and fan support.

"I'm still getting used to the home crowd here," Kovacs said. "I'm used to playing with a packed crowd of fans. I'm not used to playing for a small crowd."

The all-American sport of football

From the Cheap Seats

As I sit here in the silent hallowed halls of University of North Florida, early Sunday morning, I'm a bit pissed off.

Penn State/Notre Dame, Ohio State/Texas, Arizona/LSU, Georgia/South Carolina. All games that were billed as big-time show downs that would set the tone for the upcoming season.

Why do the experts always get it wrong?

That's next week, when every top-25 team will be faced with a challenge stiff enough to make Davy Jones tremble in his boots (ex: Texas, Ohio State, they've already passed, or depending on who you are, failed their tests).

Notre Dame blew the socks off of the Nittany Lions and Ohio State flat out dominated the defending national champion Longhorns. LSU finally showed that they can kick the crap out of ANY Pac 10 team, and yes, we saw Mark Richt show that Georgia should still be considered one of the favorites in the SEC East after shutting out South Carolina.

Overall, an over-hyped, overblown Saturday, that has me already looking ahead to the football feast that awaits next weekend.

In the great game's defense, there were some key match-ups that exposed some pretenders, and raised questions about others. Those are listed herein:

Why did I buy the hype? Clemson couldn't pull off the win in double OT over Boston College, and once again, it seems that Tommy Bowden is playing so-so with an above-average team.

But let's give credit to the Golden Eagles, who after giving up 490 total yards, dug in and made what would prove to be a decisive block in the first possession of the second overtime, setting up L.V. Whitworth to pound in a six yard run, and then a Ryan Ohliger extra point that gave BC its second overtime win over the Tigers in as many years. This puts the race in the ACC Coastal Division in a new light, especially after the dismal performance by the Seminoles...(but we'll get to that later).

Okay, I'm confused. Which Tennessee is it? The one that dominated a good Cal team last week, or the one that was three yards away from falling to a BAD Air Force team.

We'll have a chance to find out next weekend when the Vols play host to the Gators, in a game that will serve as an elimination game in the SEC East. A week after rushing for a combined 219 yards against the Bears, UT could only muster 79 yards against the Fighting Falcons. Two turnovers didn't help the cause either. Was this a blip or a harbinger of things to come?

The Fun and Gun might need another year before the Gamecocks can take hold in the Eastern division of the SEC. As much as Spurrier loves to pass, the development of a running game might not be such a bad idea. Twenty-two rushes=35 yards! Are you kidding me? Dropping the rock three times to the other team didn't help matters, and the Ole' Ball Coach's visor hit the ground one too many times. But the 18-0 "beat down"(not sure that qualifies as a beat down, but SC was pretty bad) shows that UGA is still strong, and what appeared to be a reloading year might just be turning into a strong open.

After a 2-0 start, the 'Dogs get UAB and Colorado, before traveling to Ole' Miss, a possible 5-0 start. Mark Richt's team just needs to do enough to win, not dominate, and a return trip to the SEC Championship game is within reach.

For the game that has South Bend back in order, the four alarm fire that went off last week in Atlanta was replaced by 397 total yards, and three touchdown tosses for Heisman coverboy Brady Quinn. Not bad considering Penn State has one of spottiest defenses in the country, not to mention the best linebacker is Paul Posluszny.

If Quinn keeps this up...wait! Before I go on with the national championship thesis, let's not forget that the big game against Michigan is next Saturday (told you it was going to be a good weekend). After that, I'll have a better idea about how fast this Irish defense really is, especially after having to deal with the always-elusive Steve Breaston.

OK, the game that has me pissed beyond belief, but not really, because I don't see how the experts didn't see this coming. Texas' defense was handcuffed for all of Saturday's game, and proved to be ineffective against the best wide receiver tandem in the country (see: Tedd Ginn Jr. And Anthony Gonzalez). And then there's Troy Smith ringing up 269 yards through the air and dropping a pair of touchdowns, Ginn and Gonzo might just be enough to lift his Heisman candidacy into the A-list category. By the way, that defense limited an offense to its lowest point total in 21 games.

All told, this 24-7 victory was a dominating effort by the Buckeyes, which shows why they're my, along with many others, no.1. For the 'Horns, it shows that Colt "45" McCoy isn't ready to win championships, but in a couple of years, he might be ready to go the distance.

Sports radio show hits the air

"You're listening to the WOSP sports radio talk show, this is Ryan Clarke."

Clarke, a freshman at the University of North Florida, launched a sports radio talk show on the UNF airwaves.

The show, which airs on the WOSP Web site, premiered Sept. 4 boasting news of college football and upcoming games to look out for. Clarke plans to continue the football banter until basketball season begins.

"We live in a football town," said Clarke. "People love football, so we're going to talk both college and professional football."

Special guests to hit the air with Clarke include former Jacksonville Jaguar offensive lineman Tony Boselli and Jaguars.com senior editor Dick Ketcham.

NBC affiliate Dan Hickman will also join Clarke on the air as the semester continues.

"I am excited to have this opportunity," said Clarke. "To meet people that I've watched on television is unbelievable, especially the chance to stand right beside after the game."

As basketball season draws closer for North Florida, Clarke plans to turn the show's attention to the university athletes with on-air interviews and discussions on the Ospreys' performances. The athletic media relations team has been very supportive of the endeavor.

"North Florida has never had anything like this," said Clarke. "I think it is going to be great for the university, both students and athletes."

For now Clarke plans to run the show solo, tackling the interviews and discussions on his own. However, with the start of a new season the show may be in need of an infield reporter. Clarke advises any one interested to keep their ears posted to the show.

The UNF sports radio show airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4-5 p.m. WOSP streams live on the Internet 24 hours a day.

In the Osprey Spotlight

Bryan Bunn

For the past six seasons, the University of North Florida volleyball team has been directed by one experienced coach: head coach Bryan Bunn.

Now entering his seventh season with the Ospreys, Bunn has high expectations for the team, as well as numerous challenges he is ready to overcome.

Coaching eight years at Texas Lutheran University, followed by two years at Steven F. Austin University, Bunn's experience has helped lead North Florida into the top pick for the Atlantic Sun pre-season poll.

Two weeks into the season, the Ospreys are ahead 4-3, after leading the UNF Labor Day Classic Sept. 1 and 2.

"I expect the girls to be very successful in conference play," Bunn said. "How we played at the Labor Day Classic- the intensity, and teamwork- is what I expect the rest of the season."

To ensure top results, Bunn enacted seven team goals for the 2006 season. Sitting at number one on the list is to be conference champions, as well as to out hustle, out-talk, and out-work any team they play. Other goals include developing a lifestyle that reflects a pursuit of champions, beating Jacksonville twice and winning at least two matches in every tournament. Bunn also seeks to keep the team grade point aver.age above 3.3.

The ambitious coach has known his future since his sophomore year in high school. Active in basketball, Bunn thought he would lead on the basketball sidelines. However, after playing volleyball at the University of Texas, his dream quickly shifted.

"I love the interaction with the team," Bunn said. "This is what I've always wanted to do."

Though he has an undeniable love for the game and job, Bunn also acknowledges the challenges that come his way. Amidst the overload of NCAA paperwork, Bunn must also "manage fourteen personalities," while finding time to recruit new players to the team.

"Finding the right kind of athlete to fit in is a challenge," Bunn said. "I spend both fall and spring recruiting, generally looking at 80-100 different athletes a year."

For the 2006 season, Bunn was able to recruit two new players to the team.

Outside of the pressures of coaching, Bunn tours on a beach volleyball team, as well as relaxing and working around the house.

Bunn will head back out to the court with North Florida Sept. 15 as they head to South Carolina for the Coastal Carolina Tournament. Coach Bunn and the Ospreys will face up against Coastal Carolina Sept. 15, and Xavier and East Tennessee University Sept. 16.

A promising bench for Ospreys

With only two starters returning this season, the University of North Florida men's basketball team has some holes to fill. "We basically have a whole new team this year," Head Coach Matt Kilcullen said.

One recent addition to the team is former East Carolina University guard Tom Hammonds.

Once recruited by Bobby Cremins at Georgia Tech University, Hammonds was a 2005 Conference USA all-freshman team selection with the Pirates his freshman year. The 6-foot-4-inch, 200-pound sophomore will most likely play as a swingman for the Ospreys.

"I feel really good about this team." Hammonds said. "It's a really good fit for me."

Despite his talent, Hammonds will have to ride the bench this season due to the NCAA transfer rules. Hammond, along with transfer Stan Januska of Moorhead State, will add tremendously to the team when eligible. They have already started challenging the other players in practice.

"Hammonds and Januska will be vital assets to our program this year as we begin year two in our transition to Division I," Kilcullen said.

The men's basketball team will begin the season on the road, participating in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic in Queens, NY. Then they return home to play in one of UNF's biggest games of the year against defending national champion University of Florida. The game will be in Gainesville Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.

Hammonds is excited to watch the challenges of the season.

"I think we will do fine this season," he said. "They are going to have to step up, and I know they will."

Coach Kilcullen said this year's opponent lineup will be the most challenging in school history. The Ospreys will also be playing Florida Atlantic University Nov. 22, Binghamton University Dec. 18 and Florida A&M University Dec. 20. Students can check out the new team at the Ospreys' open practice Oct. 13 during UNF's Late Night Swoop, a pep rally on campus to kick off the basketball season. This event is free and open to the public.

Print Edition

SPORTS

First year pressure

The transition to college level athletics

The all-American sport of football

From the Cheap Seats

Sports radio show hits the air

In the Osprey Spotlight

Bryan Bunn

A promising bench for Ospreys

Sports in Brief

Swift honored as Atlantic Sun conference player of the week

Flight Schedule

Osprey Scoreboard