Inside the Huddle

John Toppa
Sophomore, Acounting
Brian Cleaver
Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering
Geoff Maddern
Junior, Building Construction

Patty McJazzfingers
Ribbon Dancer Extraordinaire

Question 1: How would you describe the facial expressions of Gator fans Saturday night?

Utter disbelief. They got what they deserved by overlooking Auburn. There is no overlooking LSU. It looked like it was somewhere between disappointment and disgust. The best part about Gator fans is when they sit in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 30 minutes after the game with their heads in their hands crying. It is glorious. Shock and disgust - like the look on my countrymen's faces when I took silver at last year's Ribbon Dancing World Cup.

Question 2: What are your thoughts on the environment in Jacksonville for FSU/Alabama this weekend?

It was crazy. I hope they do it every year. I work at Applebees and Alabama fans tipped great. Tips were much better on Friday, though. It was something very good for the city because it brings in more people and business. It wasn't as wild as Florida-Georgia. The environment was wild, but I'm not sure Jacksonville has seen that many mullets since the 1982 Bon Jovi concert. I felt awash in a sea of dirty hillbillies who know nothing about culture or civility. Isn't Tallahassee part of Alabama anyway?

Question 3: Brett Favre broke the NFL career TD pass record Sunday. Where do you think he ranks among all-time great quarterbacks?

I think he's definitely the most durable of all-time, and when you play that many games for those many years, you're going to put up numbers. He is going to be in the Hall of Fame without a doubt. A couple of Super Bowl victories and a few MVP awards put him right there near the top. His career puts him somewhere in between Colts great Johny Unitas and Charger great Ryan Leaf. I don't know, I'm a ribbon dancer for crying out loud.

Question 4: Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy recently launched into a tirade against a reporter for criticizing a collegiate athlete. Which UNF coach would be most likely to have a similar meltdown?

Dusty Rhodes. My high school coach Tom Dooley was a protege of Rhodes and really respected him. He felt Rhodes would always stand up for and defend his players. Probably Matt Kilcullen if we have a season anything like last year. Women's volleyball coach Kevin Campbell after postgame criticism that her players' athletic pants are too short. Myself - if anyone ever criticized one of my student dancers, I would perform a back handspring into a karate chop until they bled from the eyes.

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Football's granddaddy hits a little harder

By Ryan Clarke
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Osprey TV

Ryan Clarke holds the ball tight during a rugby passing drill.

Editor's note: Ryan Clarke, a contributing writer for the Spinnaker, is trying out for various UNF fall sports teams. His columns will recap his tryout experiences.

As a football purist, I enjoy reading histories and perusing the exploits of the likes of Pugg Lund, Phil "Too Tiny" Tommer and Davey "Devil" Jones. These names are over a century old, from a time when the quarterback was just another guy in the backfield, the forward pass was still a gleam in Knute Rockne's eye, and Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno were not even born yet.

But before I could properly appreciate the legends of the game, I needed to look back at where this game came from. As I marched onto the intramural field Sept. 27, I took a peek back in time, and engaged with 30-some-odd men in a re-enactment of the grandfather of football, rugby.

I had done no sort of preparation, which, if you know me, is very unusual. I cleated up and jumped right in to a circle of rugby-ites tossing a slightly oversized football around. This was everyone's way of saying, "Hey, welcome to hell."

And hell it was. Running a warm-up lap in rugby is more than just running. The ball gets passed around as well. It may seem easy to catch and toss, but for me, running and catching is like typing and jumping - it just doesn't seem to work out. After that, this wide-eyed reporter proceeded to the "four-square drill."

For you country music fans out there, sorry - this was no dance. Rather, you form four lines each standing opposite one line and adjacent to another. It started out rather simply. I picked up the ball, ran five yards to the other end and pitched it to another player. Minutes later, the drill changed and we both ran and exchanged the ball in the middle of the square.

It was a marriage of contact and precision that I ate up every minute. Knocking shoulders with men bigger than me seemed, at the outset, like something that I, who enjoy sports like racquetball, tennis, golf and shuffleboard, would not enjoy.

Boy, was I wrong. I ran right into the fray, brushing off the contact like a running back breaking through the line of scrimmage on his way to a touchdown. Soon, the drill changed again and instead of exchanging the ball in the middle and running to the other side, we kept the ball in the middle and ran by it, tapping it just to keep it airborne.

This was all fun, and I recommend that if you feel particularly stressed one day, get some of your friends together and try this.

I took a brief respite to do a few minutes of TV (they taped this so you're going to get to see me try out in living color sometime soon) and then took a minute to watch a "ring around the roses"- type drill, where all the men formed two circles, one inside the other, and ran in opposite directions pitching the ball among each other.

Sure enough, many of them were using the same pitching technique that Darrel Royal taught his Texas Longhorns back in the 1960s. It was like I had walked into a scene from the movie "Field of Dreams."

"Is this heaven?" I asked one of the players. "No," he said, "This is rugby."

The final drill I participated in was one with no name. Simply put, it was the same drill that pee-wee and high school football coaches everywhere run on a daily basis _to teach their players how to run and defend the option.

There is the ball handler (who we'll call the quarterback) with the pitch man (the running back) trailing off behind him and flanked to his left. Running toward the pair is a lone defender, whose job it is to stop the forward progression of the play.

Somehow, the ball and the player carrying it has to hit the ground, hard. I lined up on defense. I fired down the field. Get the quarterback: That's all I had to do.

Anticipating the pitch, I stepped to his inside, ready to engage the trailing runner if he acquired the ball. Finally, the split second decision came and went. I went after the ball carrier, knowing that if I just ran to the pitch man, he wouldn't pitch it at all.

I got low, as any good defender would, and raised up my shoulders, making solid contact and grinding my bones in such a loud and painful way that I don't think I'll ever be rid of it. It was a bear-hug of a tackle and I was forced to break off, as he had pitched it to his teammate, who had already broken the run outside and away from me.

My little run at greatness had ended. Then I saw another drill that looked vaguely like an old-fashioned Oklahoma drill.

Two players drove against each other, the ball handler falling down after several seconds and giving the ball to his former tackler, and so on.

It's so basic that you wonder why we all don't play football. All you have to do is just get lower than the other guy if you want to win. But this isn't a video game. Blips on the screen just don't run into each other and fall down. For a tackle to work, getting to the player is just step one. After that, you'd better hang on and be ready to churn your legs faster than a whipping machine.

Even though you know the other guy is going to fall down, you still want to press him and do what you can to inflict as much pain as humanly possible.

Don't try to go for the knockout shot up high. Break the player's engine down low. I ran this a few times, enjoying every minute of the padless full-contact mayhem and wishing that I had found this place a little sooner.

It was quite something, running with these players for 45 minutes last week. While rugby is slowly emerging into the public psyche, it is not yet an NCAA-sponsored sport. Make no mistake about rugby - it is a sport of true athletes.

Contact Ryan Clarke at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Midgame rallies not enough for volleyball

By John Weidner
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rebecca Daly

Junior middle blocker Bary Rasmussen tips the ball over the net against KSU Sept. 29.

University of North Florida volleyball played two Atlantic Sun conference matches Sept. 29 and 30, but was unable to take a victory.

In the first game of their match against the Kennesaw State University the Owls took an early 6-3 lead, but the Ospreys turned things around on a 7-4 run that was set off by senior setter Claire Yonutas's kill.

The Ospreys were in command of the lead for most of the game, but were defeated by a late-game charge by the Owls.

The Ospreys kept the lead until the Owls went on a 6-1 run while down 27-24 to pull away with the win.

Game two of the match reversed the roles of game one, with KSU leading most of the game and fighting off a late surge by UNF for the win.

Although the Ospreys had an early 3-0 lead, they trailed most of the game until a late 5-1 run sparked by two aces from freshman middle blocker Kaley Read tied the game at 26.

However, the Owls quickly regained a two-point lead and put the game away.

The final game was neck-and-neck early on, but the Owls were able to obtain a 16-13 lead on a 6-3 run and kept the Ospreys at least three points back for the rest of the game.

The game featured an immense amount of physical play by both teams. Freshman setter Madeline Belvin of the Ospreys sacrificed her body and dove into the scorers' table to keep the ball in play.

The Ospreys kept it close in all of their games against Kennesaw State, losing 30-28, 30-28, and 30-23.

Senior outside hitter Maegan Weisert led the UNF with team highs of nine kills and eleven digs in her first full match this season after recovering from a shoulder injury.

The Ospreys were hurt by 14 service errors and tallied only four aces, three of which were recorded by freshman middle blocker Kaley Read.

The second match of the double-header featured the Ospreys fighting the Bears of Mercer University. The Ospreys took a 3-2 lead early in the first game, but the Bears responded with a 7-4 run to take a 10-6 lead and kept a comfortable distance from the Ospreys for the rest of the game.

After an early ball-handling error by Mercer's Kelly Jansen, the Ospreys had a 2-1 lead. The Bears quickly took control of the game leading by as much as seven points in their win over the Ospreys.

The Ospreys went on a 5-0 run early in game three, but Mercer quickly responded with a 9-2 run of their own. Twice UNF pulled within one later in the game, but each time Mercer quickly came back and put away the game.

Seniors Claire Yonutas and Maegen Weisert both had double-doubles for UNF against Mercer, with Weisert tallying 11 kills and 11 digs, and Yonutas notching 12 kills and 14 digs. Madeline Belvin was a force at the net the whole match with 29 assists.

Contact John Weidner at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Men's soccer nets back-to-back shutouts

By Lori Bero
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rebecca Daly

Hollyoak clears the ball from the backfield in UNF's win Sept. 30 against Gardner-Webb University.

Come rain or shine, the University of North Florida men's soccer team (3-4-0, 2-0-0 A-Sun) proved victorious with a 1-0 win against the University of South Carolina Upstate Sept. 28 and a 1-0 win against Gardner-Webb University Sept. 30.

The two matches opened Atlantic Sun Conference play for UNF, and are the first consecutive shutouts recorded by UNF since 2002.

In the match against USC Upstate, redshirt freshman forward Akil DeFreitas scored the game-winning goal for UNF in the second half with a pass from junior midfielder/forward Shareef Rajkumar.

"In the second half, we played very strong," said UNF head coach Ray Bunch. "I was pleased with our performance."

Freshman goalkeeper Andrew Calise recorded three saves in the game.

"The first part of the second half, our team really responded and showed a lot of energy," Bunch said. "That was the difference. It was good to get a win and to finally play at home."

The game was the home opener for UNF.

"This was the same type of game we have played all year," Bunch said. "We were lucky not to be down a goal at halftime, because USC Upstate played very well."

UNF has faced USC Upstate 10 times previous and has improved to a 2-8-1 all-time record against the Spartans.

Despite the rain and wind plaguing the second match of the weekend against GWU, UNF blew through with a win.

"We had a chance to wrap the game up early in the second half, but we misfired on some really good chances," Bunch said. "We put undue pressure on ourselves by not doing that."

Freshman forward Adam O'Neill scored the game's only goal in the first half against GWU with an assist from DeFreitas.

"I give Gardner-Webb a lot of credit for fighting back and giving themselves a chance," Bunch said.

The team sometimes leaves the game in question until the end, he said.

"We just have to start putting teams away and be more clinical at the end of the games," Bunch said. "We kept a clean slate for the second consecutive game, though, so I have to be happy with that."

"I was pleased with the way we played today," sophomore team captain and defender Matthew Hollyoak said. "It was nice to play in the wind."

In the net, Calise had six saves, five in the first half. This is Calise's third shutout of the season.

The Ospreys' next match is against Mercer University Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Contact Lori Bero at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Sutton and Tileston with the assist

Jen Quinn

Planning and effort goes into organizing Division I athletic teams. Coaches train, players compete and trainers nurse injuries, but what about all the rest? Student assistants often help out athletic teams and lighten the load otherwise put on coaches and athletes. The volleyball assistant Greg Sutton and the women's basketball assistant Stephanie Tileston commit time and effort to their teams. They responded to several questions about what life as an athletic assistant is all about.

1. Why did you decide to help out your team?

GS: I got an offer from coach Kevin Campbell to come down to University of North Florida and be a student coach/manager of the women's volleyball team. I've been playing volleyball since ninth grade and I love playing the sport. I enjoy the competition and intensity that comes with playing volleyball. ST: I decided to help out because I was no longer playing basketball. I previously played at Santa Fe Community College and decided not to continue playing. So my previous coach at SFCC called the coach and asked if there was a position available. Long story short: I decided to come to Jacksonville to become a part of the program.

2. What are your responsibilities?

GS: My responsibilities range from doing statistics to washing the uniforms. In practice, I play with the girls and try to raise the level that they play at. I also initiate the drills and give the girls advice to improve their game. For the games, I'm responsible for the camera and equipment. I also help out during warm-ups. During the game I do statistics of our team and the opponent. Off the court, I'm more of a "big brother" figure to the girls who they can talk to about what's going on with them. ST: This is all very new to me, because I am used to being the player and now I am not. It's very different, but so far I haven't quite learned all my responsibilities. I just try to help them out any way I can, like helping them with getting stuff sent out to the recruits.

3. Are you interested in coaching your sport when you finish school?

GS: Before coming to UNF and coaching, I never even thought of it as an option. Now with experience, I wouldn't mind coaching after college. I know a lot of high school coaches back home in Pennsylvania, so it could be an option. ST: Yes, this is another reason I decided to become a student manager. This experience will hopefully teach me a lot about what it takes to be a coach.

4. Do you travel with the team? If so, what do you like about it?

GS: I do get to travel with the team. I think the best part about traveling with the team is the places we get to go and play. My first time in Florida was visiting UNF back in July and my second time was the first day of preseason. It's a lot of fun traveling, because most of the places we go I have never been to. ST: I was told I would be, but like I said, this is all very new to me.

5. What is your favorite part of assisting?

GS: So far my favorite part was seeing the girls' faces after coming back and beating Florida Atlantic University 5-2. They were so excited about their first win and how much all the hard work finally paid off. Other then that, I enjoy seeing the girls learn and become better with their game. ST: I am not sure what I would consider my favorite part because this is new to me, but I guess so far I enjoy just being a part of the program.

6. Do you feel like you're part of the team?

GS: I feel like I'm just as much a part of the team as any of the girls on the team. I get so many responsibilities, it makes me feel like part of the team. ST: To a certain extent, I do. Maybe not like it was when I played, but I feel I will play an important role for the team.

7. How much of your time does it demand?

GS: Assisting is basically a full-time job for me. I spend just as much, if not more, time in the gym or traveling with the team as I spend in class. We usually have three hours of practice a day. Sometimes I'm there longer working in the office. ST: So far it hasn't been too demanding, but I am sure when we get more into the season I will have more responsibilities that will demand more time.

Contact Kaelena Incinelli at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

John Toppa Sophomore, Acounting	Brian Cleaver Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering	Geoff Maddern Junior, Building Construction	Patty McJazzfingers Ribbon Dancer Extraordinaire
Question 1: How would you describe the facial expressions of Gator fans Saturday night?
Utter disbelief. They got what they deserved by overlooking Auburn. There is no overlooking LSU.	It looked like it was somewhere between disappointment and disgust.	The best part about Gator fans is when they sit in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 30 minutes after the game with their heads in their hands crying. It is glorious.	Shock and disgust - like the look on my countrymen's faces when I took silver at last year's Ribbon Dancing World Cup.
Question 2: What are your thoughts on the environment in Jacksonville for FSU/Alabama this weekend?
It was crazy. I hope they do it every year. I work at Applebees and Alabama fans tipped great. Tips were much better on Friday, though.	It was something very good for the city because it brings in more people and business. It wasn't as wild as Florida-Georgia.	The environment was wild, but I'm not sure Jacksonville has seen that many mullets since the 1982 Bon Jovi concert.	I felt awash in a sea of dirty hillbillies who know nothing about culture or civility. Isn't Tallahassee part of Alabama anyway?
Question 3: Brett Favre broke the NFL career TD pass record Sunday. Where do you think he ranks among all-time great quarterbacks?
I think he's definitely the most durable of all-time, and when you play that many games for those many years, you're going to put up numbers.	He is going to be in the Hall of Fame without a doubt. A couple of Super Bowl victories and a few MVP awards put him right there near the top.	His career puts him somewhere in between Colts great Johny Unitas and Charger great Ryan Leaf.	I don't know, I'm a ribbon dancer for crying out loud.
Question 4: Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy recently launched into a tirade against a reporter for criticizing a collegiate athlete. Which UNF coach would be most likely to have a similar meltdown?
Dusty Rhodes. My high school coach Tom Dooley was a protege of Rhodes and really respected him. He felt Rhodes would always stand up for and defend his players.	Probably Matt Kilcullen if we have a season anything like last year.	Women's volleyball coach Kevin Campbell after postgame criticism that her players' athletic pants are too short.	Myself - if anyone ever criticized one of my student dancers, I would perform a back handspring into a karate chop until they bled from the eyes.

1. Why did you decide to help out your team?
GS: I got an offer from coach Kevin Campbell to come down to University of North Florida and be a student coach/manager of the women's volleyball team. I've been playing volleyball since ninth grade and I love playing the sport. I enjoy the competition and intensity that comes with playing volleyball.	ST: I decided to help out because I was no longer playing basketball. I previously played at Santa Fe Community College and decided not to continue playing. So my previous coach at SFCC called the coach and asked if there was a position available. Long story short: I decided to come to Jacksonville to become a part of the program.
2. What are your responsibilities?
GS: My responsibilities range from doing statistics to washing the uniforms. In practice, I play with the girls and try to raise the level that they play at. I also initiate the drills and give the girls advice to improve their game. For the games, I'm responsible for the camera and equipment. I also help out during warm-ups. During the game I do statistics of our team and the opponent. Off the court, I'm more of a "big brother" figure to the girls who they can talk to about what's going on with them.	ST: This is all very new to me, because I am used to being the player and now I am not. It's very different, but so far I haven't quite learned all my responsibilities. I just try to help them out any way I can, like helping them with getting stuff sent out to the recruits.
3. Are you interested in coaching your sport when you finish school?
GS: Before coming to UNF and coaching, I never even thought of it as an option. Now with experience, I wouldn't mind coaching after college. I know a lot of high school coaches back home in Pennsylvania, so it could be an option.	ST: Yes, this is another reason I decided to become a student manager. This experience will hopefully teach me a lot about what it takes to be a coach.
4. Do you travel with the team? If so, what do you like about it?
GS: I do get to travel with the team. I think the best part about traveling with the team is the places we get to go and play. My first time in Florida was visiting UNF back in July and my second time was the first day of preseason. It's a lot of fun traveling, because most of the places we go I have never been to.	ST: I was told I would be, but like I said, this is all very new to me.
5. What is your favorite part of assisting?
GS: So far my favorite part was seeing the girls' faces after coming back and beating Florida Atlantic University 5-2. They were so excited about their first win and how much all the hard work finally paid off. Other then that, I enjoy seeing the girls learn and become better with their game.	ST: I am not sure what I would consider my favorite part because this is new to me, but I guess so far I enjoy just being a part of the program.
6. Do you feel like you're part of the team?
GS: I feel like I'm just as much a part of the team as any of the girls on the team. I get so many responsibilities, it makes me feel like part of the team.	ST: To a certain extent, I do. Maybe not like it was when I played, but I feel I will play an important role for the team.
7. How much of your time does it demand?
GS: Assisting is basically a full-time job for me. I spend just as much, if not more, time in the gym or traveling with the team as I spend in class. We usually have three hours of practice a day. Sometimes I'm there longer working in the office.	ST: So far it hasn't been too demanding, but I am sure when we get more into the season I will have more responsibilities that will demand more time.