Spinnaker [Distributed: Wednesday, October 11, 2006]

For another consecutive year, the University of North Florida hosted the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic's training camp for a week, culminating with a open intra-squad scrimmage game Saturday night. And as always, the team brought out the magic on the UNF court.

"It's always great to be back in Jacksonville and see the great fans," Orlando Magic General Manager and Jacksonville native Otis Smith said.

The scrimmage lasted just over an hour in front of nearly 1,500 fans at the UNF Arena. The two teams played four quarters, 10 minutes each and there were many bright spots for Magic fans.

One of the magical moments came in the match up of Dwight Howard against Darko Milicic, as they battled throughout the scrimmage swatting each other's shots and impressing all who watched. Howard led all scorers with 24 points, including six of seven from the free throw line.

With only 12 guys playing in the scrimmage, substitutions were limited and many of the guys were visibly fatigued by the fourth quarter.

During the week, the teamed warmed up with two daily practices. Sessions usually consisted of contact drills and controlled scrimmages in the morning, with a lighter practice session at night.

Talk during the week focused on what Magic forwards Milicic and Trevor Ariza, along with guard Carlos Arroyo, can do during an entire season with new opportunities, such as the addition of teammates JJ Redick and James Augustine, who were both drafted in the June draft. The rookies both hope to have a promising season in the Magic uniform.

"I'm looking forward to getting out there and playing," said Redick.

Other factors for the team include changes to the NBA and various injuries from the training week in Jacksonville.

Jump Ball
The NBA changed its game balls for the first time in 35 years, and for the most part the players don't like them. The previous balls, produced by Spalding, were made of leather and were used as game balls for all NBA games.

The new balls are a micro fiber composition, which many players complain makes it hard to grip when the ball is sweaty and wet. Magic Head Coach Brian Hill is skeptical as well.

"None of the guys like it, they say it's sticky," he said. "It should be interesting to see how this new rule affects things during the season."

When Worlds Collide
At the final morning session, teammates Jameer Nelson and Howard collided, leaving both men bloodied and unable to return to practice. Nelson did not participate in the scrimmage either.

Dwight Howard held the ball, getting ready to set a screen for teammate Travis Diener and as Diener came around the screen, the two went head to head.

"Jameer got the worst of it," Hill said.

Magic Men Hurt
The Magic brought 17 guys to the camp and left the UNF Arena with only 12 players participating in the scrimmage.

Redick participated only in the first two days of training and was held out of the scrimmage after tearing soft tissue in his left foot. Arroyo, along with center Tony Battie and forward Hedo Turkoglu, was held out of the scrimmage or of training camp at some point during the week.

Athlete not just a runner, but a singer at heart

Osprey runner's singing career expands at Jaguars game

Not only can the University of North Florida's junior Kelly Marshall compete in collegiate-level cross country and track, she can also compete in the singing industry. Marshall displayed her talent Oct. 8, singing the national anthem for the Jacksonville Jaguars game against the New York Jets.

Marshall, who runs for both the cross country and track teams, has been singing since the age of three. Over the summer, Marshall recorded a demo and sent it to Alltel stadium, then was contacted through Facebook with an opportunity to sing. An English and political science major, Marshall still has high hopes to someday be a singer.

"I do want to be a singer," said Marshall. "I want to sing either pop or country."

Marshall had to fit in singing at the stadium under a tight schedule. Instead of preparing, resting her voice, and even rehearsing in an empty stadium on a Saturday afternoon, Marshall was running a cross country meet at the Florida State University Invitational. Marshall finished in 37th place out of 86 runners with a time of 20:23.10.

"I lost a shoe during the last mile of the race," said Marshall.

Although conditions were ideal for a football game with fan attendance of more than 66,000 people, the delays in reverberations through the enormous stadium sound system caused a two-second delay of what Marshall could hear of herself.

To make things even more interesting, the Jaguars also had military jets fly overhead just as Marshall finished the last note.

"I actually think getting ready for a meet is more nerve-wracking than singing in a large stadium," said Marshall. "The only thing I was concerned about was the two-second delay."

Marshall did not get the chance to meet any of the players despite being very close to the team on the sidelines. However, she did meet head Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio's wife before her debut.

"This lady came up to me and asked, 'Are you singing the national anthem?' and I was like, 'yeah'," said Marshall. "Then she was like, 'I'm Jack Del Rio's wife. It's nice to meet you.'"

Marshall arrived at the stadium early to rehearse and still had time to have fun, running around on the NFL scenario games outside in the parking lot.

In the Osprey Spotlight: Volleyball player, Meagan Weisert

Maegan Weisert, who sports the No. 12 jersey on the University of North Florida volleyball team, knows all too well that one of the hardest parts of being an athlete is dealing with the reality of injuries.

Suffering from a hairline fracture during warm-ups for the team's 2005 season opener at Troy University, Weisert was awarded a medical redshirt and could not participate for most of the season. Though disappointed in missing the season, the junior was able to use the time as a learning opportunity and is excited to have an extra year of volleyball at North Florida.

Head Coach Bryan Bunn is excited to have her return as well.

"It will be great to have Maegan's athleticism and ball control back on the court after a medical redshirt last year," he said.

Weisert has been a major asset to the Ospreys in the past, leading the team with 1,162 total attempts in the 2004 season, after starting in all 36 matches and playing 126 games.

She was also able to travel to Europe with the UNF team last summer, participating in an experience that she will never forget.

"The trip was an amazing experience," she said. "It really gave the team a chance to bond as we traveled together through Germany, Austria, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. The girls on the team are the best part of playing volleyball for UNF. I've made a lot of really good friendships that I know will last."

Back in Jacksonville, the public relations major is focusing on time management, which, according to her, is one of the most important skills to have as a student-athlete.

"Getting used to juggling school and volleyball was difficult," Weisert said. "But it's something you eventually get used to."

By setting her personal standards high, both on and off the court, the Osprey has been able to succeed.

Teamwork is her top priority in the game, contributing to the team from her outside hitter position, a position she has claimed since the seventh grade.

Maegan's future plans are not set in stone, though she plans to use her next year the fullest at UNF.

Afterwards, she plans to get an internship in public relations and try to keep volleyball in her life.

Golf sinks top-ten finish

The University of North Florida's golf team took ninth place at the Windon Memorial Classic Oct. 9.

Sophomore Jeff Dennis led the Ospreys, finishing tied for fifth place, shooting an even-par 71 during the final round.

The classic proved to be a team effort as well, with freshman Gavin Cambre staying beside Dennis throughout the first two rounds.

Cambre slipped to a tie for 33rd after shooting an 82 during the final round.

"Gavin has played well for this being his first collegiate event," head golf coach Scott Schroeder said. "Jeff has been solid, which we've come to expect from him."

The team placed ahead the University of New Mexico , the University of Northern Colorado and Western Illinois University.

The Ospreys finish their fall schedule Oct. 23-24 when they travel to Nashville, Tenn. for the Mason Rudolph Collegiate.

Soccer back on track, wins two over conference foes

The women's soccer team advanced their 9-3 record after scoring in overtime

The University of North Florida women's soccer team rebounded with two wins over the weekend against Gardner-Webb and Campbell Universities.

The Ospreys had come off of a tough away weekend when they lost to both Kennesaw State University and East Tennessee State University before facing Gardner-Webb and Campbell at home.

"We needed to make sure that we were playing our style of soccer," said senior defender Lisa Taylor.

The Ospreys scored a goal with 22 seconds left in overtime to pull away with the win against Gardner-Webb. Freshman forward Katelin Swift netted her sixth goal of the season and the first Osprey goal of the game off of a deflection from Gardner-Webb's goalie.

The Gardner-Webb Bulldogs answered back with a goal of their own tying the game and sending it into overtime.

Senior defender Lauren Winn put the game away, however, with a goal in sudden-death overtime.

"You could tell we picked it up in overtime," said Taylor. "We needed to calm down, pick up the intensity and be more physical in attacking the goal."

The Ospreys then followed their win with another win over Campbell University 3-2.

Sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Gowan showed great field vision by assisting in all three goals. Taylor scored her second goal of the season within the first half of the game while Swift and freshman forward Caitlin Kovacs each scored a goal.

The Ospreys will face another weekend away when they visit Nashville, Tenn. to play against both Lipscomb and Belmont Universities Oct. 12 and 14.

From the Cheap Seats

Two weeks ago, Tony Stewart literally coasted to victory at the Kansas International Speedway. Running out of gas on the final lap, Stewart still managed to win the race.

And 1,100 miles away, in Landover, Md., the Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a similar fate, only not with a happy ending like Stewart's crew had in victory lane.

This team was "gassed," in desperate need of their bye-week pit stop. With two of their best players out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the resurgent New York Jets, it appeared that things weren't going to get any easier.

Though after Sunday's performance, it appears my estimates were off.

The New York Jets arrived safely at Alltel Stadium and won the coin toss. Owner Woody Johnson can circle those two events as the lone bright spots, as the Jaguars proceeded to run them through an NFL-style torture rack, avenging the previous week's heart-wrenching loss.

The defense allowed the Jets only 177 yards, after giving up over 400 the previous week. It forced Chad Pennington into three interceptions, and held the Jets backfield to 132 yards, 101 of which came from former Seminole Leon Washington (maybe Bobby should talk to the NCAA about re-instating the shifty rookie).

But aside from the domination, the win and the revenge, this game proved one thing: They're not done yet.

The Colts still hold a two game lead in the division, after two narrow escapes, and are in a stretch that shows that the Mighty Horseshoes, while possessing arguably the greatest passing attack in the history of professional football, are, in fact, beatable.

It was an "us against the world" mentality all week in the locker room, all about getting back to "Jaguar Football," and while the offense has now produced over 30 points in two straight contests, one might say the Jaguars have turned a corner. But don't tell Byron Leftwich, he thinks it's too early to say.

Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. But one thing's for sure: The rest of the NFL should be served notice. The Jaguars are still a force to be reckoned with, and with two weeks to rest up and get healthy, 41-0 might just become this team's new calling card.

Call me crazy, but what I saw Sunday was an extraordinary performance by a superior group of men. The same group of men who were thought to be an unordinary group of young, injured and beat-down boys. A first-round knock-out, a sumo match featuring Fat Bastard and Pee Wee Herman, there is simply no way to accurately describe the character and will that the Jaguars showed Sunday afternoon.

Truly, they are not done yet.

Print Edition

SPORTS

Orlando brings the 'Magic'

Athlete not just a runner, but a singer at heart

Osprey runner's singing career expands at Jaguars game

In the Osprey Spotlight: Volleyball player, Meagan Weisert

Golf sinks top-ten finish

Soccer back on track, wins two over conference foes

The women's soccer team advanced their 9-3 record after scoring in overtime

From the Cheap Seats

Sports in Brief

Pep rally to bring late night swoop for students and athletes

Volleyball set to rumble

Flight Schedule

Osprey Scoreboard

River City Rumble