Spinnaker [Distributed: Wednesday, October 4, 2006]

The University of North Florida athletics program is in its second year of a five-year transition into Division I athletics.

With the change from Division II to Division I, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, has even more rules, regulations, and guidelines that the Ospreys must abide by.

The NCAA has been established since 1906 with the original intent of reforming the dangers of collegiate football.

Originally named the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States, the IAAUS was comprised of only 62 members and dealt mainly with the serious injuries, abuses and even deaths that arose from college football. A lot has changed in the past 100 years with the growing number of academic institutions, womens athletics and the increasing number of student athletes.

"The main thing we have to do is make sure that the coaches and athletes follow NCAA rules," said Director of Compliance Michelle Bronner. "We especially have to be aware of academic and practice requirements."

According to Bronner, when UNF was a Division II school, eligibility requirements and recruiting guidelines were simple and easier to understand. However, now that UNF is a Division I school, the rules have become stricter, and freshman eligibility can be based on both high school grade point averages and standardized test scores such as the SATs.

For example, if a student were to have a high GPA but mediocre SAT scores, the student would still be eligible to participate in a collegiate athletics program.

Athletic teams constantly train throughout the academic year, even if the sport is not in season. When a sport is not in season, those who participate in the sport are limited to a maximum eight hours per week on weight training, conditioning and two of the eight hours can be used on skill sessions. When the season starts, athletes can practice and train up to 20 hours per week.

Student athletes are allowed five years to complete four years of eligibility that begins as soon as the student starts a full-time semester. An athlete can use four of those years in one sport and the fifth year can be spent in another sport. The most common use of the extra year eligibility is when an athlete red-shirts a season, either due to injury or to gain another year of experience working with the team. These eligibility requirements are a stark contrast to the Division II requirements that were based on semesters.

The NCAA emphasizes sports that generate revenue, such as football and basketball. Since UNF does not have a football team, the NCAA will closely monitor the progress of the Osprey basketball programs.

"We're always trying to find new ways to entice students to come to the games," said Associate Athletic Director Kathy Klein. "We also sometimes invite local corporations to come to games and to bring their employees. It's important for us to make sure that UNF can build a tradition that's based on fans here in the local area."

The NCAA prohibits students from gambling, receiving corporate endorsements, gifts or money from booster clubs and alumni. Student athletes are still entitled to their basic rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of privacy. The NCAA, and university athletic programs, are also looking very closely at student athlete behavior and representation off the field, which has become increasingly difficult to monitor due to sites such as Facebook and Myspace.

"We had a student athlete advisory committee and ITS (Information Technology Services) come down to speak to the athletes," said Klein. "They soon realized how easy it was for strangers to see their pages, pictures, blogs. We made them realize that if there was something on their pages that they were embarrassed if their parents, girlfriends, boyfriends or ministers would find out about, then they should change their pages."

The United States is one of few countries that has strict guidelines and regulations for collegiate athletics. In order for students from other countries to come to the US to play, not only do they have to go through the NCAA clearinghouse, but they must also take the SATs.

"One of the reasons why I came to the US is because of the scholarships," said Freshman Osprey midfielder Matthew Hollyoak. Hollyoak originally played professional soccer in England. "I had to wait until after my season was over in England before I could even talk to any of the college recruiters because I was still on my contract."

Cross country running into the top 10

The University of North Florida men's and women's cross country teams both placed within the top 10 teams over the weekend.

A total of four men and seven women finished in the top 100. Freshman runner Fredrick Johansson was the first Osprey to cross the finish line for the men at a time of 25:03.66 finishing in 27th place.

Freshman runner Fredrick Johansson finished in 37th place with a time of 25:03.66 and Junior runner Nathan Holden finished 44th with a time of 25:20.61.

Senior runner Sarah Coghlan posted a personal best of 17:14.52 finishing in eighth place, only two runners shy of overtaking nationally ranked University of Iowa.

Coghlan was closely followed by teammate and junior Amanda Davey, who finished in 11th place with a time of 17:22.31.

Both Coghlan and Davey have been consistently competitive by not only placing well at meets, but also breaking personal records.

"The conditions were great for a race," Coach Mark VanAlstyne said. "We've been having trouble with weather for the past several meets and everything worked out great for us. The course was fast and the conditions were good."

Overall, the men's team finished 10th out of 21 teams while the women finished in eighth place out of 24 teams.

Both Coghlan and Davey will sit out for the Florida State Invitational to prepare and rest before the conference meet.

Until then, the Ospreys will be heading to Tallahassee Oct. 7 for the Florida State Invitational and will then follow up with a trip to Greenville, S.C. for the Furman Invitational Oct. 14.

The cross country teams will be looking to prepare their runners for strong showings in both meets before the Atlantic Sun Championship which is slated for Oct. 28 in Boiling Springs, N.C.

"We haven't really worked on speed lately," Coghlan said. "I think that's probably what we're going to be working on until then."

Men's 8K

27 - Fredrick Johansson, 25:03.66
44 - Nathan Holden, 25:20.61
74 - Goran Kosic, 25:27.27
101 - Bryan Gering, 26:46.75

Average time for Osprey men: 25:41.74.

Women's 5K

8 - Sarah Coghlan, 17:14.52
11 - Amanda Davey, 17:22.31
59 - Amber Smith, 18:32.76
67 - Kayley DeLorm, 18:41.47
85 - Golden Creavy, 18:59.86
86 - Hillary Adams, 19:00.11
92 - Kelly Marshall, 19:06.81

Average time for Osprey women: 18:08.87.

In the Osprey Spotlight: Golfer, Jeff Dennis

Any successful golfer knows the key to playing a good game is keeping your mind out of it. One bad thought and the ball, and game, turns the wrong direction.

For sophomore golfer Jeff Dennis, a lead component for the University of North Florida golf team, keeping positive thoughts throughout his game should not come as a challenge. He could think of the time he set the course record at the season opener or the time he won the State Amateur Tournament. Whatever his plan may be, Dennis has shot straight to the green during his two years as an Osprey.

A native from Parkland, FL, Dennis began swinging clubs at age 11, leaving his former games of baseball and soccer behind.

Playing on the competitive field by age 13, this Osprey has plenty of experience under his wings. Dennis, however, plans to soar even higher.

"I still want to win my first collegiate tournament," Dennis said. "I am hoping this will be the season."

During his first year at North Florida, Dennis achieved the highlight of his career thus far: receiving the Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year honor.

"It was exciting to see that all my hard work paid off during the year," he said.

The Osprey also took second-team all-conference honors, while recording eight top-20 finishes, including two top-10 finishes during conference play. The first top finish started his college career at the Coca-Cola Tournament.

During the summer, when most students took a break, Dennis hit the green and took the State Amateur title, shooting 69, 85, 70 and 73.

This season, Dennis has led the Ospreys to a second-place finish at the season opener, recording the course record-65 in the final round of play.

He also finished tied for second among professionals and amateurs at the Gate Invitational Aug. 15.

During the final round of the Shoal Creek Collegiate Championship Oct. 2, Dennis shot an even-par 72, to take his second top-10 finish of the season, finishing in seventh.

"I like the sport of golf because it's your own game," Dennis said. "You have control over everything you do. What you do is what you get."

Dennis' game is set to help achieve his goal for the team, taking the regional tournament. The University of North Florida team missed the opportunity by five shots in the 2005-2006 season.

"This is a frustrating game," Dennis said. "You have to stay level-headed and not allow your temper to get in the way."

The team has many new faces, with a large freshmen group entering but there are leaders on the other end to direct the team through the season.

"I think that many of the players see me as a leader," Dennis said. "They probably think that 'Jeff will stick it out' during tournaments, but there are also many seniors who are the vocal leaders."

As far as the future, Dennis will not let the bar down.

"I'd like to play professional golf," he said. "If not, I may try out for The Real World on MTV. I just don't want to be sitting around in an office."

This is evident with what he does during his free time. When he is not with the team Dennis enjoys Jacksonville with many trips to the beach and playing in various recreational sports.

From the Cheap Seats

Please don't get me wrong, I love this country and am proud to be an American. But after watching the embarrassing performance in the Ryder Cup this year, it is painfully obvious that we have a serious ego issue as a country. When it comes to sports, Americans simply are not as good as we think we are. No matter what sport, any international competition begins and ends the same way... all hype for a championship leading to disappointment. Basketball, golf, baseball, soccer, tennis, hockey, bobsled, you name it. Even in the Olympics, we only do well in some sports because we throw more money and resources into our training than anyone else. On top of that, some of our best athletes cheat with steroids or human growth hormones out of desperation and greed.

We are becoming the world's great semifinalist. We can't close the deal anymore, and it's as if America has lost its killer instinct. Our failures have nothing to do with lack of fundamentals, or jet lag, or biased referees, or poor coaching or any other lame excuse of the day.

The main reason we lose at everything is far simpler than that. We have no heart. Apparently our best athletes could care less about representing our country or even performing as a team. When there's not a paycheck as a prize, there is no effort. There is no pressure felt in a crucial turning point of competition; and if there is, there is no answering the bell.

And when we encounter an opponent that does play as a team or shows some heart, we lose by a large margin, regardless of their talent level.

Chemistry is built over time, and the United States will have a hard time catching up here. The next Ryder Cup captain shouldn't wait to start team bonding. How about an informal get-together of potential United States Ryder Cuppers at each tour stop for the next two years? It could just be a post-practice-round happy hour for American players on tour. Bonds could be formed and given time to grow while a kindred spirit develops. I know we love it when competitors are the worst of enemies, but this should be more like a family feuding but coming together when it matters. Comparisons can be drawn to our political parties coming together when it counts... unthinkable, right?

Truthfully, the only sports we can still win are football and NASCAR, and only because we won't let international teams in our leagues. It's time to admit that the rest of the world has pulled ahead and just accept that as fact. It's obvious that other countries get the big picture as far as international competition; ours just gets the big egos. Most likely this is a direct result of having the most entertainment options in the world. This is why so many people in other countries have such spite for us as a people.

We feel the need for America to win everything like we're the master race or the chosen people. Many times reality is simply ignored due to arrogance. As Tiger Woods said, "If you can't change momentum, it fuels the other side." When we can start to recognize that there is a need for a major philosophical change, that is when improvement will occur.

The opinions offered here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the university or its Athletics Dept.

Print Edition

SPORTS

The red tape of the NCAA

Cross country running into the top 10

In the Osprey Spotlight: Golfer, Jeff Dennis

From the Cheap Seats

Sports in Brief

Sports Media Relations seeking to fill assistant position

Orlando Magic basketball brings exhibition to arena

Volleyball player begins monthly online chat

Flight Schedule

Osprey Scoreboard

Intramurals