Inside the Huddle

Ace Stryker
Copt Editor
Ross Brooks
Features Editor
Matt Coleman
Editor in Chief
Kaelena Incinelli
Sports Editor

Question 1: What are your thoughts on the University of Georgia's student athletes charging the field in celebration after Georgia's first touchdown?

The field wasn't the only thing the Bulldogs ran over that night in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. I say more power to 'em - they deserved it. That a sacred center in college football has now been desecrated. They will never get the smell of chewing tobacco and tractor oil off that field. It's amazing that the least classy moment of Florida-Georgia happened on the field. I think when you're confusing the first touchdown for the end of the game, you should maybe cut back on alcohol intake.

Question 2: The NCAA has disallowed official refererences to the Georgia-Florida game as the "World's Largest Cocktail Party". What should the game be called now?

"The City's Saddest Party Because It Just Reminds Us the Only Reason to Visit Jacksonville is for a Competition Between Two teams From Other Cities". Has a nice ring to it. "New and improved! World's Largest Cocktail Party, now with a dash of murder!" "$10 drafts followed by some football game." If we're trying to cut back on drinking by renaming the game, it should be called GBAD (Gators and Bulldogs Against Drunkenness).

Question 3: What athlete or sports figure would you most likely be for Halloween?

Well, I think I have a black-and-white striped shirt at home. So maybe Michael Vick. I would be John Madden so people would pay me to talk for hours about nothing. Pacman Jones. A yellow Pacman outfit complete with prison-issue uniform and shank. Waka Waka, now give me my cigarettes, bitch. Well, it would have to be someone I resemble, so probably Anna Kournikova.

Question 4: The NBA season tips off this week. What are your expectations for this season?

I suspect that maybe I'll care this year - but prospects are dim. Three to six players will be arrested for charges ranging from minor possession to murder, a referee will admit to cheating, and Lebron will be crowned king. Spurs win in four, Rasheed Wallace throws a temper tantrum and the league loses ratings. Sounds a lot like last season. I expect at least seven NBA scandals to make national news and Kobe Bryant to apologize to Vanessa with a $5-million ring.

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Losses bring team to .500 in A-Sun standings

By John Weidner
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rebecca Daly

Midfielder Kady Dearing controlled the ball through pressure against Lipscomb Oct. 26.

In two home games, the University of North Florida women's soccer team had trouble finishing at the net and dropped to 6-11-1 and 5-5 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

In the first game of the doubleheader, UNF fell in a close 2-1 game to Lipscomb Oct. 26.

The Ospreys took the lead early in the first half with a goal from junior midfielder Elizabeth Gowan. The goal, which was Gowan's sixth of the season, came off a pass through Lipscomb defense by freshman defender Tiffany Wiggen.

Lipscomb tied up the game with a goal at the end of the first half by Halie Proffitt.

"The last-minute goals have been something that have been hurting us all season, which we just have to keep on working to prevent," said head coach Linda Hamilton.

The Ospreys were hurt once again by a late goal when Proffitt scored her second goal of the game in the 84th minute to give Lipscomb the win.

Although the Ospreys lost, UNF had an 18-4 shot advantage over Lipscomb as well as a 9-2 shot on goal advantage.

Hamilton admitted the loss would be a hard one to take.

"We played with really good ball possession and changed the point of attack well, but I guess it just shows that the best team doesn't always win," she said.

The Ospreys lost the second game 2-0 to the Belmont Bruins Oct. 28.

The Ospreys once again had a shot-on-goal advantage but were unable to get the win.

The Bruins were scoreless in the first half, but Erica Carter beat the Osprey defense and led them to a win with two second-half goals.

Overall, Hamilton thought her team played a good game.

"We played well," she said. "We just had a few defensive lapses, which the other team took advantage of."

Oct. 28 was also Senior Day for UNF. The Ospreys will see three seniors, midfielder Jessica Jowers, defender Lisa Potoka and forward Lisa Taylor, graduate this year.

The Ospreys will play their season finale against Flagler College at home Nov. 7.

Contact Renee Robarge at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Ospreys finish season with high ranks

By Lori Bero
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A third-place finish for the women and a seventh-place finish for the men in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship concluded the 2007 cross country season for the University of North Florida Oct. 27 in Nashville, Tenn.

Senior Amanda Davey led the women in the 5-K race and took fourth place with an 18-minute-33-second time. She earned a second A-Sun All-Conference honor.

"We wanted the women's team to come out aggressive," said head coach Mark VanAlstyne. "Given our plan, I am very happy with our performance. We did not want to run conservative since we had a great opportunity to challenge for the top spots."

Next in for UNF was senior Kelly Marshall, who finished in 11th place with a time of 19:19. Marshall was just seconds shy of earning her first A-Sun All-Conference honor.

Sophomore Hillary Adams finished in 13th place for the Ospreys with a time of 19:25.

Sophomore Sammy Palmer finished in 19th place for the men's team in the 8-K with a time of 26:42.

"I am very pleased with how the men's team performed," VanAlstyne said.

Belmont University took first place for both the women's and men's races in the A-Sun Championship.

Although this concludes the fall 2007 cross country season, many of the men and women will continue running for the upcoming track season.

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Athletes practice sport of trick-or-treating

Ruth Aviles & Robert K. Pietrzyk

Many children ask their parents if they can be athletes for Halloween, but what do athletes dream about being?

Four University of North Florida athletes shared some of their favorite stories from Halloween as a child and even more recent memories.

Tucker Pryor, baseball
Tucker has had many fun Halloween experiences so it is hard for him to pick his favorite, he said. When he was younger, he would carry a big pillowcase and get candy from his neighbors. He was most excited when he looked inside and saw a 100 Grand bar, he said.

One year he went around neighborhoods with his friends and did a rap to the "Men in Black" song when he rang the door bell.

His favorite costume was Zorro, he said. He dressed up in a black cape with a black hat and mask.

This year Tucker plans on going out with friends to celebrate Halloween, but doesn't know what to wear yet.

Tom Hammonds, men's basketball
When Tom was in middle school, he went trick-or-treating with some of his teammates and dressed up as Dennis Rodman. He dyed his hair and wore a Chicago Bulls uniform. He and his friends rollerbladed around the neighborhood to collect their candy.

His favorite costume was when he wore his father's basketball uniform and went as his dad. His dad played in the NBA.

This year, Tom is going to be busy with basketball, but hopes to go to his aunt's house to have some fun and eat some Reese's afterward.

Kristin Lazowick, women's soccer
Kristin's favorite Halloween memory was from middle school. She went to her cousin's house to carve pumpkins. They would then go trick-or-treating and come back to the house to hang out and trade and eat candy. Her best costume was one her mother made of a mouse eating through a block of cheese, she said.

This year for Halloween, Kristin is planning on beating Jacksonville University in her soccer game, then going to a teammate's house to dress up and have fun, she said.

Ina Durcakova, women's tennis
Ina was first introduced to Halloween in English classes in the Czech Republic.

Two years ago, she had her first American Halloween experience. She went to a party in Kentucky dressed as a surfer. It was really cold, so being in a bathing suit wasn't the best, she said. She said it was funny to see everyone dressed up.

Ina hopes to go out with friends on Halloween, but doesn't want to be tired for class and practice the next day, she said.

Contact Brett Morgan at sports@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Ace Stryker Copt Editor	Ross Brooks Features Editor	Matt Coleman Editor in Chief	Kaelena Incinelli Sports Editor
Question 1: What are your thoughts on the University of Georgia's student athletes charging the field in celebration after Georgia's first touchdown?
The field wasn't the only thing the Bulldogs ran over that night in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. I say more power to 'em - they deserved it.	That a sacred center in college football has now been desecrated. They will never get the smell of chewing tobacco and tractor oil off that field.	It's amazing that the least classy moment of Florida-Georgia happened on the field.	I think when you're confusing the first touchdown for the end of the game, you should maybe cut back on alcohol intake.
Question 2: The NCAA has disallowed official refererences to the Georgia-Florida game as the "World's Largest Cocktail Party". What should the game be called now?
"The City's Saddest Party Because It Just Reminds Us the Only Reason to Visit Jacksonville is for a Competition Between Two teams From Other Cities". Has a nice ring to it.	"New and improved! World's Largest Cocktail Party, now with a dash of murder!"	"$10 drafts followed by some football game."	If we're trying to cut back on drinking by renaming the game, it should be called GBAD (Gators and Bulldogs Against Drunkenness).
Question 3: What athlete or sports figure would you most likely be for Halloween?
Well, I think I have a black-and-white striped shirt at home. So maybe Michael Vick.	I would be John Madden so people would pay me to talk for hours about nothing.	Pacman Jones. A yellow Pacman outfit complete with prison-issue uniform and shank. Waka Waka, now give me my cigarettes, bitch.	Well, it would have to be someone I resemble, so probably Anna Kournikova.
Question 4: The NBA season tips off this week. What are your expectations for this season?
I suspect that maybe I'll care this year - but prospects are dim.	Three to six players will be arrested for charges ranging from minor possession to murder, a referee will admit to cheating, and Lebron will be crowned king.	Spurs win in four, Rasheed Wallace throws a temper tantrum and the league loses ratings. Sounds a lot like last season.	I expect at least seven NBA scandals to make national news and Kobe Bryant to apologize to Vanessa with a $5-million ring.