Spinnaker [Distributed: Wednesday, January 31, 2007]

The University of North Florida women's basketball team participated in a nationwide effort to bring breast cancer awareness to college campuses Jan. 27, through the Hoops for Hope campaign.

Hoops for Hope was organized to support the many NCAA basketball coaches that have been battling breast cancer throughout the season. Each university was asked to promote cancer awareness at one game during the past week.

The Ospreys geared up in blue and gray to host Stetson University, while coaches and fans dressed in pink for the game.

Proud Osprey spirit was evident as the team defeated Stetson, 75-61, balanced with a wave of pink spirit for the awareness cause.

Head coach Mary Tappmeyer was happy to join in the effort.

"Everyone has had someone they know who was affected by breast cancer," she said. "I think that awareness is great."

For Tappmeyer, it was a former player at the University of Missouri-Rolla, Trish Marsh, who brought the event close to home.

Kay Yow, the head coach at North Carolina State University, also received support from the campaign. Yow, who took a leave of absence to fight her own battle, returned to the sidelines during the campaign week for a victorious game against the University of Virginia.

Off the court, the collegiate and Jacksonville alumni members of the Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity handed out informational pamphlets to those at the game.

"Being educated will hopefully save the life of someone who came," said Kimberly Waterhouse, a Zeta Tau Alpha alumna from UNF.

"We [Zeta Tau Alpha] are very tied in to the cancer awareness cause," Waterhouse said. "It is something that we've made a commitment to."

The sorority's commitment lies in its national philanthropy: the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Through this, members participate in events similar to Hoops for Hope, including Laugh for the Cure and Drive for the Cure.

Girls are introduced to this major aspect of ZTA in the very beginning of recruitment, said Danielle Hecker, service chair for the UNF chapter.

At the Hoops for Hope event, Hecker, Waterhouse, and other members of ZTA informed the fans of the cause, while the Ospreys defeated the Hatters on the court.

The Ospreys led the Hatters throughout the entire game, including a 16 point lead during the second half.

Senior guard Tamara Hubbard and sophomore guard Jennifer Bowen led the team, with Hubbard scoring a career-high 19 points and Bowen posting 21 points. Bowen hit three of four shots behind the 3-point line.

The game marked the team's highest score of the season. It was also the second conference win of the week, bringing the Ospreys Atlantic Sun Conference record to 4-5.

The Ospreys hit the road for a three game series during the coming week, facing Campbell University Feb. 1, Gardner-Webb University Feb. 3, and the University of Virginia Feb. 6.

Ruling allows competition

She is going to Conference.

The University of North Florida swimmer, whose senior career was in the hands of the NCAA, received news Jan. 25 that her six-year petition was granted.

Monique Salles-Cunha submitted an 80-page documentation to the NCAA in the spring of 2006, explaining she was unable to swim during her freshman year on a collegiate roster.

The documentation showed her eligibility for a sixth-year petition, which would allow Salles-Cunha to compete for one final year with the team.

Eight months later the NCAA agreed.

"I was shocked!" she said. "I didn't think we'd get an answer, and if we did I thought it would be no. That's really how it has been over and over the past eight months."

With two weeks left before the end of the season, Salles-Cunha participated in her first meet with the team, mere hours after she received the news.

Leading the team in the 100-meter breaststroke, Salles-Cunha finished in first place against Gardner-Webb University and Georgia Southern University, with a time of 1 minute, 7 seconds.

"I was thrilled for her because she didn't give up," said Michelle Bonner, director of compliance at UNF who handled the case. "If she had quit two months ago out of frustration, it just wouldn't be the same. Instead she kept practicing and already got great results."

Team loses to Campbell in final minutes

Grimball's team-leading 15 points not enough for Ospreys' first A-Sun win

The University of North Florida men's basketball team traveled to North Carolina to play two games against Atlantic Sun Conference opponents.

The Ospreys traveled to Buies Creek, N.C. to play against the Campbell University Fighting Camels Jan. 25.

The Ospreys led the game by as much as 11 points in the second half before the Fighting Camels came back to win the game 54-49.

Junior center James Grimball posted double-digits by leading the team with 15 points. Grimball later got into foul trouble including a technical foul with 4 minutes and 51 seconds remaining.

The foul was called after an opposing Campbell player fouled Grimball. The Fighting Camel player later taunted Grimball as he was walking away and the officials called a double technical foul, one for each player.

The technical foul disqualified Grimball from the duration of the game, with it being his fifth foul of the game.

Sophomore guard Aaron Caruthers made two technical foul free throws to tie the game but the Camels took over, outscoring the Ospreys 7-2.

Ball control continued to be an issue for the Ospreys who gave up 22 turnovers and made only eight free throws out of 16 attempts.

Despite the issues, the Ospreys started both halves with scoring runs, including a 7-0 lead in the first half.

The Ospreys led the game 42-32 with 11:02 left to play before the Fighting Camels led scoring runs of their own, bringing the scoring deficit closer to 42-40 with 7:41 left on the clock.

A 3-point shot gave the Fighting Camels the lead, though the Ospreys had two additional chances to tie the game in the final minute.

North Florida then traveled to Boiling Springs, N.C. to play against Gardner-Webb University Jan. 27.

The Ospreys shot 34.1 percent compared to the Runnin' Bulldogs' 42.1 percent, losing the game 72-46. The Ospreys also gave up 15 turnovers compared to the Runnin' Bulldogs' nine.

The game marked UNF's 27th consecutive away-game loss and left the Ospreys winless in the conference.

Gardner-Webb's bench out-scored UNF 33-1, including three reserve Runnin' Bulldogs who scored in double-digits.

Grimball led the team with 17 points, followed by junior point guard Chris Timberlake who added 13 points.

The Ospreys will face seven more conference opponents to end the season, in hopes of earning their first conference win.

North Florida travels across town Feb. 3 to face Jacksonville University. The Rumble game begins at 7 p.m.

NCAA lacks support for grad student-athletes

Staff Opinion

The National Collegiate Athletic Association recently overturned rule 2005-54, also known as the "graduate-transfer" rule.

Rule 2005-54 was created for student athletes who graduated before they finished their athletic eligibility. The year-old rule allowed newly accepted graduate students to immediately compete without having to wait for an additional year of clearance.

This means the NCAA created a rule to help the student athletes, allowing them to play without having to sit out a season at their graduate schools. After creating the rule, the NCAA wants to take it back.

During the 2005-06 academic year, 25 athletes took advantage of the graduate-transfer rule.

Some notable examples would be University of Florida standout junior cornerback Ryan Smith, who originally played football for Urban Meyer at the University of Utah. Smith later followed Meyer, transferred to UF and played in the Bowl Championship Series game against The Ohio State University.

Another example is senior guard Kevin Kruger who originally played basketball for Arizona State University. Kruger graduated with his degree and now plays for his father, Lon Kruger, at the University of Nevada at Los Vegas.

What I cannot understand is why the NCAA is suddenly back-pedaling over something they created.

Talk to any graduate student and you'll find that they work on a tighter schedule compared to their under-graduate years.

Many graduate students balance school with a graduate teaching position, a job with little pay and minimal benefits.

Yet graduate student-athletes successfully manage to fit in a full practice schedule and traveling to away games.

If a graduate student-athlete can make all of this work, he or she should be allowed to play and not be punished.

Since the rule is no longer in existence, punishment will be all the students receive because they are forced to wait another year to play.

The NCAA is asking students to wait until they get into even harder classes to start playing.

This rule was created for the true student-athlete, one who is willing to continue into graduate school, put in the long hours of studying, and still have time to play the sport he or she loves.

The NCAA decided to over-turn the rule after surveying 326 Division I compliance coordinators of which 301 responded. Eighty-four schools responded saying they had a total of 112 incoming graduate student-athletes competing in the 2006-07 academic year.

The fear among the members of the NCAA is that this rule would be abused, that student-athletes will transfer just for the sake of transferring and not to pursue any type of academic career. The graduate-transfer rule allowed student-athletes to begin playing again immediately, while pursuing a graduate degree.

Now I understand the previous four-year institution may be upset it invested so much time and money into this athlete, but get over it.

The athletes committed to play for undergraduate scholarships, they've done everything the schools have asked them to do, and now some of these schools are getting upset about one year of graduate school.

Let's be realistic.

The majority of student-athletes attend school to both earn a degree and play. They know their chances of moving into the professional rankings are highly competitive.

With the overturned ruling passed in December, once again, the NCAA forgot who they were supposed to be supporting - the student-athlete.

Senior captain leads team to fourth consecutive win

Fitting in around campus

Ways to keep your body toned between classes

The University of North Florida provides numerous ways for students and staff to get fit and stay in shape without ever having to leave campus - or swipe a credit card.

There are more than 15 possibilities to choose from that will help students lose the extra pounds from the holidays, including the Dottie Dorion Fitness Center, group fitness classes, the Aquatic center and various intramural leagues.

Besides the convenient location of each, membership is also free for UNF students. With a simple swipe of their university ID cards, students get the green light to live a healthy life.

There is power in numbers
For students who are inspired by those around them, the group fitness classes may be the solution to their fitness woes.

"We offer an energetic and fun solution to staying healthy," said senior advertising major Kathy Foote, a group instructor.

The classes also provide the accountability needed with a fitness routine.

"The weekly scheduling offers motivation to come," Foote said.

The 12 distinct classes are offered in the arena various times throughout the week. Students can choose from classes that focus on core muscles to classes that use dance techniques to burn calories.

For those that think they'll make a fool of themselves because they don't know what to do, the new Yo Intro class offers a little sample of everything for beginners.

"Students don't need to think that they are going to be pushed to hard. They don't need to be scared," Foote said. "The Yo Intro class is a good introduction to everything we do in group fitness."

Get fit and win
The Intramural leagues offered to students are one way to exercise while having fun competitively.

This semester, students can compete in 4-on-4 football, basketball and softball. There are also one-day events that allow a little less commitment but still help to get the heart rate up. The events planned for the spring are tennis, a home run derby, slip n' slide kickball and innertube water-polo.

Along with water-polo, there are ways to exercise on campus using the Aquatic Center's Olympic sized pool.

From swimming laps and water aerobics, to diving off the 1-meter boards, the Aquatic Center is a great place to get in shape, especially if you had a previous injury, said sophomore Dede Schuran, an instructor at the center.

A helpful environment
At the Dottie Dorion Fitness Center, students will find more 121 exercise stations to target specific areas. First-time guests can take advantage of the gym orientation, which allows them to get a feel for the equipment and to know what to expect.

"Students should expect a fun, safe environment," said Gregory Lineburg, a personal trainer on staff at the center. "The staff is very helpful and provides an energized experience every time."

The advantage to the campus fitness center is that there is always someone close to the same age to meet, Lineburg said.

For those who cannot find the motivation to heading to the gym, hiring a personal trainer is always an option at the center. Though the personal trainers come with a fee, the effects may be worth it for those who need the extra support.

"With a personal trainer, you get to go through a work out that is individual to you," Lineburg said. "It is especially good if you want to learn the proper form or just need the motivation."

Print Edition

SPORTS

Team thinks pink, defeats Stetson

Ruling allows competition

Team loses to Campbell in final minutes

Grimball's team-leading 15 points not enough for Ospreys' first A-Sun win

NCAA lacks support for grad student-athletes

Staff Opinion

Senior captain leads team to fourth consecutive win

Fitting in around campus

Ways to keep your body toned between classes

Sports in Brief

Athletes shine in the classroom

Flight Schedule

Osprey Scoreboard