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(01/26/10 6:26pm)
Moments before being introduced onto the Kendall Hall main stage, New York Times best-selling author and film producer Tucker Max turned to the nearby College Union Board (CUB) officials and said, “If you smell that … yeah, that was me.”
Yes, Max more or less farted in the faces of the organization paying him $25,000 to speak to a sold out auditorium. This instance of Max’s trademark vulgarity and obscenity was not an exact microcosm of the performance to come, as Max delved into his experiences as a writer and how he came to sell more than 1,000,000 copies of “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell.” As anticipated, however, a few fresh stories coupled with his general leases on life were more than off-color.
The more popular of his new stories, set to appear in his new book, “Assholes Finish First,” detailed Max’s encounter with a diabetic New York City model who, after giving him fellatio in Granmercy Park, was discovered to be “trying to use my come to regulate her blood sugar!”
Max also told a story of a night in Mexico, detailing his failed attempt to individually out-drink each of a group of six mid-western sorority girls.
Although known for his wild college tales, Max discussed his life choices not as being humorous and disgusting, but as a part of an underlying message relevant to the college student population.
“Underneath the specifics of the stories, the book is about living the life that you want to live, not the life others push onto you,” he said. “It’s about being the person you want to be, not the person other people want you to be, and it’s about enjoying the time you have.”
Max then took the audience through how the book came to fruition. He discussed how he enjoyed writing as a child, how he wrote a controversial column while attending the University of Chicago, how he hated Duke University Law School and spent his time creating a Web site that would eventually contain much of his book’s content.
He also described how reading “Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk changed his life, and how it is impossible to fully understand until “you have worked at a job you fucking hate, after school and you have nothing on the horizon.”
For all of his bashing of law school and the corporate world, the College was not immune to Max’s sharp tongue.
Early in his talk, Max addressed the controversy surrounding his presence to speak at the College.
“I heard there was a little controversy about me coming to campus,” Max said. “I heard that you guys voted twice for me to come here? And my biggest competition was ‘Ace of fucking Cakes’?”
Max went on to say, “I don’t understand why everyone thinks I hate women. Everything I do is to impress women. If I didn’t care whether or not women liked me, I wouldn’t leave my fucking house. I’d just play video games, watch sports and jack off.”
Max also began the night by discussing New Jersey’s newest obsession and regrettable drunken tattoo, “The Jersey Shore.”
“Did people not know that Jersey is full of fucking guidos?” Max asked to a roar of applause.
Following his talk, students from the audience participated in a question-and-answer session, asking questions regarding Max’s sex life among many other topics.
When asked if he had any sexually transmitted diseases, Max credited condoms to a clean bill of health, as he had been screened and deemed uninfected recently. Max also noted that to his knowledge he has no illegitimate children, but did “pay for a lot of abortions.”
The College’s controversy over him speaking came up again during this period, and when asked what he thought about being portrayed as promoting a “culture of rape,” Max said, “You are not going to force me to answer for a crime I have never been accused of …what protestors do is control the discussion of male and female relations. Fuck those people.”
Before Max’s performance, several protestors gathered in front of Kendall, holding handmade signs opposing Max’s views. Dave Chapman, a freshman history major, held a sign reading, “’Fat girls are not real people.’ Way to promote anorexia.”
“He’s just no good,” Chapman said. “I think his sense of humor is sick and it is just unfathomable how he objectifies women and makes light of serious, serious issues that for decades we have tried to overcome and conquer that he just treats as nothing.”
According to CUB director Raquel Fleig, Max’s performance was a success despite the surrounding controversy.
“Overall, we were extremely pleased with the event. The show sold out completely in less than two days, and it seemed that all of those in attendance were big fans of Tucker Max or at least had a genuine interest on what he had to say,” Fleig said. “We appreciated that everyone was respectful while he was speaking and the night ran smoothly from start to finish. Tucker’s lecture was mostly focused on his career and offered a few of his racier stories from his upcoming book, which the crowd seemed to respond well to.”
Underneath all of his cursing and other vulgarities, Max’s message was that, simply, people should be able to do what they want, not what they are told to do.
“I sat in the same seats, drank the same beer, fucked the same girls and passed out in the same fields as you guys … No one around says go follow your dreams or the path less traveled. My life does not exist for me to work at a shitty job I hate.”
He may have a point.
(01/26/10 5:16pm)
Huddled around their laptop and centered on vocalist Forrest Klein, Hellogoodbye took part in an unusual pre-show ritual, continuing to shout a particular phrase over and over at their webcam.
“Show us your dick!” they yelled jokingly at unsuspecting users of the chatroulette.com Web site, as the power-poppers linked up with poor soul after poor soul who was instructed to disrobe for the band. Needless to say, Hellogoodbye’s kooky demeanor was both hilarious and disconcerting as a first impression, but it quickly became clear that it was all in good fun, much like the band’s spunky music.
The band would later discuss this pastime, as well as its affinity for “The Jersey Shore,” on the Kendall Hall main stage in between upbeat tunes and ukulele/mandolin-based ballads.
Modeling themselves after Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, the members explained that their new names, determined and administered backstage, would be “The Scenario,” “The Context,” “The Reason,” “The Consequence,” and “The Christian,” to the laughter of the audience.
In spite of its onstage antics, the band’s hour-long set brought the Kendall crowd through a combination of Hellogoodbye staples such as “Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn,” “Oh, It is Love,” and “Touchdown Turnaround,” as well as a handful of new tracks set to appear on a new album, which is expected to drop sometime in the summer, according to Klein and keyboardist Joe Marra.
In addition to new music, Hellogoodbye recently covered and recorded several tracks including songs by The Beatles, as well as “early ’90s emo and mid-’80s punk” tunes, downloadable for free at hellogoodbye.net/covers.
“We are currently in a legal battle with our record company so in the meantime we were recording some covers since we couldn’t put out our own music,” Klein said.
Much like every band that plays Kendall Hall, the band commented on the awkward presence of the auditorium seating and its lack of availability for movement.
“It’s like the Oscars!” Klein remarked during the set.
Marra also commented on the venue before the show.
“The difference with the college shows from other shows is that there will be like, 500 people like normal, but they’re in a room that hold like 20,000, like a basketball court, and there’s seating too. But (Kendall Hall) is like, average sized for us,” Marra said.
Hellogoodbye closed its set with what is likely its most popular track, “Here (In Your Arms),” to the roar of a crowd singing along to the catchy melody.
“I know this story is getting written after the show, so I’m just saying this now,” Klein said before the show. “I hope it went well and everybody liked it.”
Hellogoodbye will begin a nationwide tour, including stops in Sayreville and Atlantic City, with New Found Glory and Saves the Day beginning Jan. 29.
New Jersey native and former The Early November vocalist Ace Enders opened for Hellogoodbye with a far more mellow approach. Grouped with his current project, I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business, Enders was joined on stage by a keyboardist and light-tapping drummer who were not entirely necessary during Enders’ minimalist set. Enders’ vocals were undoubtedly powerful and clear, but the drawn-out style of his songs did not exactly fit with the upbeat flow of the night and students were visibly restless by the end of his set.
Former College Rathskeller performers Jet Lag Gemini opened the night with an under-appreciated, upbeat set. Just as with the Ace Enders performance, students stayed in their seats, texting and whispering to friends while the JLG guitarist hopped up on boxes placed at the front of the stage for each song’s textbook and somewhat forced solo.
(01/19/10 3:15pm)
The Lions’ unscathed season hit a snag on Saturday, Jan. 16, as the No. 7- nationally ranked College lost it’s first dual meet of the year, falling to No. 4 Ithaca College, 25-11. The Lions’ only loss came in the championship meet of the Budd Whitetail Duals, hosted by Lycoming College. The Lions had won 19 consecutive meets prior to their loss to Ithaca.
The Lions fell behind early to the Bombers, dropping their first four bouts by decision. The College bounced back in the mid-weight classes, taking three of four bouts as graduate student Dan DiColo at 157 pounds, freshman Michael Kiley at 165 pounds and junior Mike Denver at 184 pounds were victorious. Two losses in the 197-pound and 285-pound weight classes sealed the Lions’ fate, as they now stand at 14-1.
A strong performance by the College in the tournament semifinals was a highlight, as they defeated No. 15-ranked SUNY-Cortland, 18-15 earlier in the day. Four consecutive wins by DiColo and Denver, as well as freshman Brian Broderick at 174 pounds and sophomore Kyle Packer at 149 pounds earned the Lions their chance at a tournament victory.
On Friday, the College won easily in its first three tournament matches, first shutting out Muskigum College, 48-0, and Rochester College of Technology, 50-0, as well as a 33-4 rout of Olivet College.
The College will look to bounce back tonight, Jan. 20, as it travels to Centenary College for a 7 p.m. start.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(01/19/10 2:39pm)
Growing up less than 30 minutes from the renowned and now, somewhat infamous Jersey Shore, the sun-soaked memories of my childhood summers recap days of beach and boardwalk.
I recall early morning boogie boarding sessions with my dad at Seaside Heights on waves that, in retrospect, were pretty awful most of the time. I remember smashing Heineken bottles with worn baseballs and flipping frogs onto misshapen lily pads for a precious inflatable baseball bat or sweatshop-sewn stuffed animal.
On the Casino Pier, I remember praying for life as that suspicious mini rollercoaster crept out beyond the pier and over the ocean.
I recall being wholeheartedly convinced that the Wild Mouse ride would either snap my neck or finally roll off the edge of its narrow track. My reward for surviving what I thought were inevitable deathtraps? Usually a Kohrs vanilla-orange soft serve swirl or a cheeseburger.
The water was dirty, the food was greasy and I loved it. I loved, and still love, what I remember of my Jersey youth. What I do not remember, and therefore do not love, are the guid-tastic adventures of the gang from MTV’s “Jersey Shore.”
These over-gelled, over-tanned, fist pumping, self-serving sociopaths have stamped the Jersey Shore that I, and many others, know and love with a stigma of parody. They are an embarrassment and disgrace to our little neck of the beach.
This is what everyone probably wanted to hear, right? That MTV has ruined the Jersey Shore for all of us? Get over yourselves. All that this ridiculous program has done is bring a pretty hilarious reality into the spotlight.
I before spoke of my wholesome childhood memories. My observations as an adolescent and adult are a bit different. For those of you who are not typical shore goers, let me tell you that when the sun goes down and Lucky Leo’s lights up, the Snooki’s and Mike “the situation” Sorrentino’s flock by the hundreds to Seaside, dancing at Karma and Bamboo, roaming the boardwalk and even fighting in Beachcomber Bar and Grill. MTV’s version of this “Joisey” nightlife is not so farfetched – not in the least.
In 2006, when Italy won the World Cup for soccer, retailers drooled as “Viva Italia” shirts blanketed boardwalks up and down the Shore, and “guidos” ate it up. Anyone who has visited either the Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant or enormous Wildwood (watch the tramcar please) boardwalks knows that you cannot take more than a few steps without seeing a pizza or Italian sausage stand both in front and behind.
The bottom line is that for all of its family-oriented entertainment, i.e. Jenkinson’s aquarium in Point Pleasant, the Jersey Shore has become a melting pot of New York and New Jersey Italian stallions whose hair products, if dropped on the wooden planks and ignited, would burn the boardwalk from end to end in a matter of seconds. It is what it is whether it’s filmed or not, and whether we like it or not. Give it up fellow Shore kids, the suck fest is here to stay.
(12/01/09 3:42pm)
After several dual meet wins early this season, the Lions flexed their muscles at the Oneonta State Invitational last Saturday.
The College finished first overall in the 12-school tournament, scoring 152 team points, while four individual grapplers were winners in their respective weight classes.
Individual winners for the Lions included sophomore Jim Somma at 141 pounds, freshman Brian Broderick at 174 pounds and juniors Mike Denver and Adam Koziol at 184 and 197 pounds respectively.
“We wrestled really well, we are coming along and keep getting better each time,” head coach David Icenhower said. “Overall it was a very good weekend and we are continuing to progress.”
Koziol credited his training with his success.
“I think the kids I wrestle with at practice every day and coaches really helped,” he said.
The Lions finished far in front as a team, scoring 152 points with Oneonta State finishing a distant second with 110 overall points.
Also on Saturday was the East Stroudsburg Open, hosted by East Stroudsburg University. Two College wrestlers, senior Tyler Branham and graduate student Dan DiColo, competed in this tournament featuring more than 70 grapplers. Branham was victorious in seven matches to come out on top at 149 pounds.
“Branham wrestled great,” Icenhower said. “Out of the seven guys he wrestled, five were Division I. Danny (DiColo) wrestled well too.”
DiColo went 2-2 on the day in the 157-pound weight class.
The Lions were riding high into the invitational, taking down two foes at home earlier in the week. The Lions bested Hunter College 37-7 on Nov. 18 and overtook New York University 31-6 on Nov. 19 to improve their record to 3-0.
Against Hunter, the Lions won their final six individual bouts to gain victory over the Hawks. Branham began the streak with a 10-2 major decision at 149 pounds. The Lions followed suit with victories by DiColo, senior Al Wonesh, juniors Justin Bonitatis, Mike Denver, Koziol and sophomore Ben Ostner.
The Lions returned to Packer Hall the next day to put on another dominant performance versus the Violets of New York University. The College rattled off another six-win streak in the mid weight classes to grab its third victory this season. Joining the win streak was Broderick who won by technical fall 21-5 at 174 pounds.
“What you look for is to get a little better each time you go out, and the team is starting to get into better shape and believe in their conditioning and taking little steps,” Icenhower said.
The Lions will be put to the test on Saturday at the York (PA) University Invitational, a meet including many difficult foes.
“This weekend is going to be tough because there are three Top-15 teams we will be going up against,” Icenhower said.
(11/17/09 8:47pm)
In disappointingly similar fashion to 2008, the Lions ended their season with a decisive loss to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Rowan University, falling hard to the Profs 0-39 on the road last Saturday.
The Lions’ fourth consecutive loss set them with a final record of 4-6, leaving them tied with The College at Brockport for sixth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
“The positive we take away is we kept battling even after all we have been through,” head coach Eric Hamilton said. “10 NJAC teams is a battle of survival and attrition and early on we were able to hang in there. As the season went along, competition became stiffer and our depth dwindled. What we took away was the need to develop mental toughness during the offseason so it carries over into 2010.”
Although the Lions may have developed mental toughness, they were no match for the physical Profs who gained 541 yards on offense, improving their record to 7-3.
Senior quarterback Frank Wilczynski led the charge against the Lions, gaining 140 rushing yards and three touchdowns, in addition to 238 yards passing with two more trips to the end zone.
In his second start of the season, sophomore quarterback James Donoghue did not fare as well, as he completed only three passes on 13 attempts and was sacked four times.
Hamilton was impressed by the Profs’ ability to keep the Lions in check.
“Rowan’s defense was very good as was Montclair and Kean,” he said. “The NJAC is a tough physical league and numbers and depth are keys to success.”
The Lions did not have depth either in their final contest of the season as senior quarterback Chris James, as well as leading rushers sophomore Justin Doniloski and Chase Misuira were sidelined with injuries.
“Missing those three didn’t help, but I’m not sure how much of a difference since they were not the only ones, Hamilton said. We would have liked to play (Rowan) earlier in the year.”
The Profs were in mid-season form against the Lions, as the allowed only 52 total yards on offense including a pathetic -14-yard rushing performance.
“Rowan controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage,” Hamilton said. “They were more physical and had depth. We couldn’t run the ball or give our quarterback a chance to throw on offense and couldn’t contain their quarterback. (Rowan) had a couple big plays that hurt including a blocked punt.”
Although the Lions finished the season on a sour note, the team still has many highlights to reflect on, including breaking the all-time single-game and season scoring records previously held in 1921 and 1989, respectively. James also broke the College’s all-time passing yardage, completion and attempt totals to finish his campaign as a Lion.
(11/10/09 6:10pm)
It was priceless.
Young fans climbed on tops of phone booths. Adults hung from construction scaffoldings in an attempt to view the street. The crowds were enormous, as all knew they would be, and many became agitated with the fact that once they were part of the crowd, they remained that way without exit. Expletives were shouted in thick accents as onlookers were thrust into each other trying to make room. Countless grew weary, but as soon as the roar of the crowd on the adjacent side street closer to the parade began to grow, everyone silenced their complaints and raised cameras and camcorders in anticipation, cheering and trying to distinguish which player was atop the passing float.
At Friday’s New York Yankees’ ticker-tape parade, a sea of navy and white flooded the streets perpendicular to Broadway, all inching forward for the chance to see their champions, and to further identify with the players dressed in street clothes who brought so much joy to so many in attendance.
At that moment, when Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter or any Yankee passed, waving and smiling, and as confetti fell from buildings, filling the New York sky, there was never a better moment to be a sports fan.
When that surreal feeling hits and life seems like cinema, a fan can stop, look around and realize that yes, this is actually happening. All of those nights of anguish, praying for a two-out hit or a double play are worth every wrinkle. Those red eyes caused by 15-inning marathons and SportsCenter highlights are worth the sleepless nights. That spackled hole in the wall created by the 2004 American League Championship Series was worth the trip to the hardware store.
The ticker-tape parade is the pinnacle of all sports fandom.
Never are more jubilant fans together in one place for one common reason – to celebrate a World Championship. Does “World” mean superiority over all other teams on this planet? No, it generally refers to America, but no matter the sport, fans will proudly claim their teams are the greatest in the land, and that feeling of winning is like no other. That feeling of being on top, living vicariously through a group of people that were fans once as well is unexplainable. When fans associate storming the field at Yankee Stadium with a little league championship trophy they once raised above their head, and remembering how that felt is almost awe-inspiring.
After the floats passed, Broadway opened and fans flocked to nearby City Hall Park, where a massive screen allowed them to view the preceding City Hall ceremonies. Once they were no longer packed on side streets, fans spread out and began to take pictures to commemorate the day. Families and friends squeezed into shots capturing the event, while other crowds formed, tossing the fallen confetti back into the cool air, creating paper fireworks. Thousands high-fived and chanted pro-Yankees and anti-Phillies slogans. It was a day for the fans.
Perhaps what makes a ticker-tape parade so special is that, like seeing any phenomenon, fans never know when it’s going to happen again, so they take the day off, pull their children out of school, cope with the crowds and cherish the day for what it is – a potential once-in-a-lifetime moment that will never be replicated.
So many critics moan over the lofty dollar amounts professional athletes, namely Yankees players, bring in annually, but when the team that took millions and millions of dollars to build brings millions together for a positive purpose, the numbers fade into memory. Fans do not remember 2009 for a team’s budget, but for when they became a part of a World Series victory. They remember the final pitch, and they remember walking the city streets, knowing they were a part of something bigger than them, a team of millions, all wishing for the success of a few.
When those few succeeded, everybody won.
(11/10/09 6:04pm)
Although the College fell short in its attempt to salvage a winning season, falling 34-37 to Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, a broken record and a strong rookie performance softened the blow.
In his first start at quarterback, junior James Donoghue helped the Lions eclipse their single-season scoring record previously set in 1989. The record of 295 points was overtaken in the second quarter when Donoghue dropped a 22-yard pass into senior wide receiver Colin Weber’s hands in the end zone, giving the Lions a 27-20 lead.
Donoghue finished the game with 194 passing yards, completing 22 of 28 passes for three touchdowns as a substitute for injured senior quarterback Chris James.
“Donoghue did a good job filling in for James,” head coach Eric Hamilton said. “He understands and was prepared when the opportunity came. He came off the bench versus Cortland in adverse conditions last week and then started and played well this week. However, no one is more disappointed than he is about not getting the ‘W.’”
The freshman’s only blemish was his lone interception on the Lions’ final drive, an errant pass intended for senior wide receiver Mark Gardner that the Colonials picked off, sealing the victory.
Donoghue cannot be blamed for the loss though, as an inconsistent Lions defense was the cause of the high scoring total from the 1-7 Colonials. In the first half, the College surrendered three passing touchdowns of 40 yards or more, including a 44-yard desperation pass into the end zone, which brought Western Connecticut within one point of the Lions to end the half.
“It was a game of two halves,” Hamilton said. “We gave up too many big plays in first half, especially when they put one second back on the clock and completed the ‘Hail Mary pass’ on last play. That broke our back and should have never happened. Our offense answered every big play in the first half. However, we were outscored 11-7 in second half because we weren’t able to convert when we had our chances on both sides of the ball.”
The Lions were able to answer the Colonials’ big plays with their patchwork running game, led by senior quarterback converted to running back/wide receiver Bill Picatagi and junior running back Michael Yetka. Both were filling in for injured runners sophomore Justin Doniloski and senior Chase Misuira.
“Picatagi has truly been our jack of all trades and is our wildcat guy — quarterback, receiver and running back,” Hamilton said. “He is leaving his mark in his last couple of games here at (the College). Yetka has been a consistent player for us his whole career — not flashy but consistent. Not the biggest back but certainly has the heart. Hopefully (Kevin) Brown will start to pick it up here at the end of the season.”
Picatagi finished the game with 15 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns, while Yetka finished with 117 yards on 20 carries.
The Lions will finish their season on the road at rival Rowan University Saturday at 1 p.m.
Editor's Note: This article was updated on Nov. 10, 2009 at 10:17 p.m. to correct an error in quarterback James Donoghue's name and class status. We regret the error.
(11/10/09 5:51pm)
As junior heavyweight Ed Broderick tussled with his opponent, the Packer Hall crowd beamed with anticipation, understanding that College history was only seconds away.
Broderick gained position early, and when the referee’s hand slammed the mat, signifying Broderick’s pin, the College’s first match of the season had ended, two major accomplishments were achieved, and the celebration was just beginning.
The Lions’ 53-0 victory over Norwich University on Saturday was not only the 600th dual-meet win for the College’s wrestling program, but the 500th victory for head coach David Icenhower in his 34-year tenure at the school. The College is only the 28th program to achieve such a feat, and Icenhower becomes a member of an elite club of only four coaches in Division I, II or III with 500 or more career victories.
Following the match, Icenhower was presented with two large signs, one for the program’s achievement and one for his own. Icenhower received the signs, and turned to the Packer Hall crowd full of former Lion wrestlers cheering and waving blue and gold pieces of paper with Icenhower’s face printed on them. The coach held the sign over his head to the applause of generations of College grapplers, and finally, the milestones that had remained on the team’s minds since last season were reached.
“It’s good to finally get it over with,” Icenhower said. “I look forward to going over and spending some time with a lot of these guys, we have over 100 alumni back, it’s awesome.”
The Lions’ current wrestlers were humbled by the experience.
“Being part of this historic match is such an honor because there have been so many great wrestlers and coaches to come through this program,” junior John Barnett said. “I am just very fortunate that I was able to be a part of this accomplishment that began over 30 years ago. ‘Ice’ is an incredible individual that has done so much for this school, and I was very honored to have the chance to be out on that mat and help him reach this great milestone.”
Wrestling at 141 pounds, Barnett defeated his opponent 3-1 in what was a very strong overall performance by the Lions against the weaker Cadets. The College pinned five Norwich opponents, including impressive contests by Broderick and his brother, freshman Brian Broderick, as each pinned their opponents within the first three minutes of their bouts.
“It was great to win in dominant fashion for the first win of the year,” Barnett said. “Of course Norwich wasn’t really any good, but we definitely made a statement as a team that it is going to be hard to beat us this year.”
First-year graduate student and tri-captain Dan DiColo expressed his excitement to come back for his final year of
eligibility.
“It feels good, any time to come and wrestle for ‘Ice’ for another year, it’s really good and he’s a great coach as you can see with the 500 wins, it’s awesome,” DiColo said.
Junior tri-captain Justin Bonitatis added, “Coach ‘Ice’ is an amazing coach who truly cares about us as wrestlers and people, I am very happy for him to accomplish what he has. It takes a tremendous amount of hard work and Ice earned and deserves everything he’s accomplished.”
Following the presentation of the signs, Icenhower requested all alumni come down to the floor for a group photo holding the banner commemorating the 600th win. A reception for alumni was held afterward in the Brower Student Center.
“It really felt great to wrestle in front of all the alumni who competed in that very same place years ago,” Bonitatis said. “It’s a honor to wrestle in front of them and show them that (the College), although the name is different, is still putting together teams that want to win national titles.”
Barnett added, “Meeting the alumni that used to wrestle at (the College) was very special to me. My high school coach wrestled for Ice and he introduced me to a lot of the guys he used to wrestle with along with many other guys that were All-Americans during their careers. It’s a great experience to get to shake hands with guys that are legends at this school.”
Instead of reflecting on his accomplishments, Icenhower chose to enjoy the moment.
“I think I’ll appreciate it later. The fun is having everyone back and having them see each other and doing things.”
Junior Adam Koziol added, “A lot of those guys still come around the practice room every once and a while ... they all still have a lot of pride in the program and I think they would be proud of how we’re carrying on the team after they’ve gone.”
Once the nostalgia dies down, Icenhower and the No. 12-ranked Lions will look ahead to the Fall Brawl hosted by Ursinus College, scheduled to kick off at 9 a.m. on Nov. 14.
(10/27/09 4:35pm)
Close, but no cigar.
The College’s hopes of stealing a victory away from New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rivals Montclair State University fell just right of the goal post, as a 28-yard field goal by senior Marc Zucconi sailed wide right with less than one minute remaining to secure the Red Hawks’ 16-13 victory Saturday.
An impressive Lions defensive effort rusted in the rain, as a soaked Lions Stadium played host to the College’s annual Homecoming Game. Hundreds of alumni and students packed the bleachers, ultimately moaning to the tune of two field goals and one PAT being blocked, in addition to the missed potential game-winner.
“The PAT was blocked because of a blocking assignment. The field goal was blocked because a kid jumped up 15 feet behind the line of scrimmage — the kid made a great play, what are you going to do?” head coach Eric Hamilton said.
Two muffed punt returns by sophomore defensive back Scotty Mathurin were also lowlights of a likely weather-affected special teams unit, but the College’s defensive efforts did not go unnoticed, holding Montclair State to 169 total yards, as well as 32 yards rushing on 29 attempts.
“The attitude coming in this week for Montclair was totally different with our defensive coordinator — he said, ‘if it’s not working let’s fix it and try something different,’ so we went balls out, brought the house on every play, we just switched everything up,” senior defensive end and tri-captain Craig Meyer said. “We blitzed hard and … defensively everyone played great today, I’m very proud, everyone had big plays and we gelled on defense, it’s unfortunate it took until now to do it.”
Senior defensive back and tri-captain Ryan Flannery added, “Pretty much all year we have been relying on the offense to bail us out, but our guys up front really came up to play. Their game plan was to come out and run the ball and we pretty much stopped that today.”
Although the Lions fell short in the end, the contest was not lost at the hands of the Red Hawk’s rushing defense, ranked No. 4 in Division III. Montclair State had averaged 54 rushing yards allowed this season, but the College pushed ahead for 126 yards on the ground, the most by any opponent in this year.
More impressive was the fact that both sophomore running back Justin Doniloski and senior running back Chase Misuira missed time with injuries in the second half. Freshman running back Kevin Brown stepped up when the Lions’ two leading rushers went down, rushing for 32 yards and the touchdown that brought the College within a field goal early in the fourth quarter.
“That was pretty gutsy effort by a group of guys that, we didn’t have everybody out there,” Hamilton said. “Guys stepped up and played real hard. They played well but we played hard and if we don’t turn the ball over, then maybe it’s a different story. Our defense came to play, our offense had just enough and we were inches (away).”
Senior quarterback Chris James added, “It was a heck of a team effort — I’ll go to battle with these guys any day of the week. I don’t care if we’re 21, 50, flag football, whatever. We got heart and we got pride. It just sucks that we couldn’t come out on top.”
The College fell to 4-3, and with three NJAC losses the Lions are likely out of conference championship contention. Montclair State improved to 6-1, remaining tied with Kean University for the NJAC lead.
Although a win wasn’t in the cards, Hamilton was content with the Homecoming crowd.
“We were waiting all year for our students to come out, it was great,” Hamilton said. “Maybe that’s why our guys responded, I don’t know. I thought that as the game went on, we got better. It was one of those games where it would have been neat to see overtime. I’m not happy we lost, there is no such thing as a moral victory.”
“When we get a crowd like this with all the older guys here watching us play really lifts our emotions and we play better,” Flannery added.
The Lions will try to rebound on the road at SUNY-Cortland at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
(10/20/09 2:26pm)
After being stomped on by an elusive Pioneer, the Lions added another chapter to a season that, so far, has been a tale of feast or famine.
At home the College is 4-0, devouring opponents for an average of 55 points per game with an average differential of more than 23 points.
Away from Lions Stadium, as they were Saturday in their 28-43 loss to William Paterson University, the Lions are now 0-2.
Much like their 7-28 loss to Kean University, the Lions’ defense was unable to withhold its opposing rushing attack, as 220-pound sophomore running back Marcus McKinney burned the Lions for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries.
“(McKinney) was a really big back, probably the biggest we have faced all year,” senior wide receiver Cameron Richardson said. “We are an undersized defense and we are opportunistic, but we got overpowered as we were not used to tackling such a big back.”
“We couldn’t respond to the physical pounding and our guys wore down, especially at the second level,” head coach Eric Hamilton added. “A lead with a power ground game is tough to beat.”
McKinney’s dominance was on display early in the fourth quarter when the back gained 94 yards on 12 carries, leading the Pioneers from their own six-yard line to the end zone for his fourth touchdown.
Although McKinney torched the Lions late, the College led 28-14 into the third quarter on the strength of two connections between senior quarterback Chris James and senior wide receiver Mark Gardner. James hit Gardner early in the first quarter for a 57-yard strike to break the scoreless tie, and again in the third quarter for four yards to give the Lions a two-score cushion before surrendering the lead.
“On both sides of the ball, our execution deteriorated,” Hamilton said. “After we scored to take the lead, the wheels fell off starting with poor kick coverage and special teams play that let them back in the game. Momentum was tough to get back and we were physically handled on both lines of scrimmage.”
“Their defense was very aggressive and excited because it was their homecoming,” Richardson added. “They definitely scouted us well and were able to take away the bigger plays we had been having and were able to stop our rhythm.”
The Lions’ defense also played a large role in the early goings, grabbing an interception and forcing two fumbles which led to three College touchdowns on offense.
The College will look for its fifth home win at 2 p.m. on Saturday as the Lions take on the Red Hawks of Montclair State University for its annual Homecoming Game.
“We expect a lot out of Montclair,” Richardson said. “They’re probably going to be a lot like Willie P with bigger, more athletic players than us. They always play aggressive and it’s always a good game. We really have to pay attention to little things this week because we know they are looking to kick our ass.”
Hamilton added, “With so many of our former players coming back and the fact that it is not only a very good Montclair team, it is a long standing rivalry that I hope our guys get caught up in by the end of the week. There’s no better way to shake off a disappointing loss that and exciting upset win.”
(10/12/09 12:16am)
Following its first loss of the season, the College rebounded in a big way, stamping out The College at Brockport 48-34 at home on Saturday.
After surrendering a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Lions were led down the stretch by senior quarterback Chris James, whose performance wrote not only a win in the stat books but a spot in the record books as he became the College’s all-time passing leader.
James hit junior running back Justin Doniloski for a 41-yard score to break the 34-34 tie with 3:24 remaining, and then following a College interception by freshman linebacker Greg Burns, James found senior wide receiver Colin Weber for a 29-yard touchdown, the final score of the contest. Weber finished the game with six receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
James currently leads the New Jersey Athletic Conference in passing yards with 1337 on the season.
The College now stands at 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the NJAC.
(10/06/09 4:11pm)
It was fun while it lasted.
The College’s three-week honeymoon of prolific scoring with little disagreement ended this past Friday courtesy of Kean University, namely senior running back Jared Chunn.
Chunn, torched the Lions’ defense for 210 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 22 carries in the Cougars’ 28-7 victory. The 2008 New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year broke off a 62-yard dash in the second quarter to break the scoreless tie, and later sealed the Cougars’ victory in the third quarter with a 36-yard scamper to make the score 21-7.
“Considering he had 109 (yards) at the half with 62 on a run that he got up off the ground to score on, the majority of his yards came in the fourth when we were behind trying to play catch up,” head coach Eric Hamilton said. “He was able to turn the corner twice and he is a good back.”
“Chunn is a very explosive back and he was the focal point of their offensive game plan that night,” senior wide receiver Cameron Richardson added. “He's a smaller back but he's very quick and shifty so it's hard to tackle him, especially in space. Kean's offensive line opened up some holes for him and he was able to use his abilities and capitalize on the opportunities.”
The Cougars killed the Lions with their running game, moving the ball for 307 yards on the ground to the Lions’ 58.
The Lions’ Division III –leading offense uncharacteristically sputtered on Friday, producing only a five-yard score from senior quarterback Chris James to senior wide receiver Colin Weber in the second quarter as they fell to 3-1 and 2-1 in the NJAC.
“Kean’s defensive line played very well, allowing them to play coverage,” Hamilton said. “They are a talented team but we unfortunately did not play as well as we would have liked. We uncharacteristically turned the ball over twice at critical times in their half of the field and they capitalized on both.”
The Lions’ two turnovers included a fourth-down fumble on Kean’s one-yard line, which led to Chunn’s long run, and a James interception at the Lions’ 30-yard line, which led to another Cougar score, both in the first half. Kean improved to 3-1 overall and 3-0 in the NJAC with the win.
“Kean had a great defense and played well Friday night but for the most part we stopped ourselves all game,” Richardson said. “We had several opportunities to put points on the board but we missed some key 4th down conversions and had a few turnovers. It's tough for our offense to go from 50-plus points a game to only putting up seven, but we realize that we made some mistakes and we're going to use this as a great learning tool.”
Following the loss, the College must now prepare for the week ahead as it hosts The College at Brockport (2-2) at noon on Saturday.
“A game like this is always tough to deal with but I think it gives us a new perspective,” Richardson said. “When you're undefeated, it's easy to get a little full of yourself and read too much into your own hype. We got knocked off our high horse Friday night and we're taking it as a slap back to reality. As an offense, we have a new attitude and we're going to work very hard this to prove that we're still an explosive offense.”
“If we keep improving with six games to go, a lot can happen,” Hamilton said. “The key for us is to play as a team. It doesn’t matter how many we score as long as they score one less. It doesn’t matter how many they score as long as we score one more. We just need to keep it close and we can’t turn the ball over.
(10/06/09 3:10pm)
In this week’s issue of The Signal, we wrote an article about the College’s ongoing construction. Basically, the College is never going to stop building things, so we forward-thinking individuals at The Signal have decided that if the school is borrowing money from the state for all of this construction, the College should stop building academic buildings and break ground on things that we, the student population, will most definitely enjoy.
Frivolous Science Research Center
Why spend hours examining organisms in a lab when students can waste time developing trivial items, such as a fully-functional light saber, squirrel robots to chase away real squirrels when they won’t leave our nuts alone, and of course, more Segways. Instead of searching the stars for a distant planet, hit up the frivolous observatory and discover which alternate universe The Perspective’s editors call home.
New Housing
Due to the clear need for the housing of certain groups, a living space should be built above the Brower Student Center. One section of the structure will house the countless number of deans at this school … wait … they just added another one? Like we were saying, these deans, especially the Dean of Directors of Communication Art Supplies, Puppies, Rainbows, Chevy Chase and Power Ranger Action Figures, are popping up everywhere and need a place to live. PRISM will also earn space, just in case another born-again Christian storms the stud. Oh, and by the way, the deans and PRISM will park in Lot 6. Sorry, commuters.
Food and Drink
Who says lunch at Eickhoff can’t be fun? Get rid of those apple, orange and grape juice dispensers and bring on the jungle juice. Students will be able to, as Eddie Murphy says, “party all the time” with an unlimited flow of that favorite drink that makes its way into Cop Shop each week. This change will bring more community-oriented interaction between Campus Police and students, a la the security audit.
The Signal
Last but not least, our Signal newsroom will need a few renovations so we can keep up with all of these developments. We don’t want much, maybe just a window or an asbestos test in this dungeon of a basement.
Finally, to cut costs and to avoid further criticism of our layout, The Signal will be changing its color scheme from black and white to white
(09/29/09 7:04pm)
As opponents stall and stammer, blue and gold blurs fly past their defenders, and the Lions push one step closer toward crafting a season worthy of remembrance. The team has a slew of battles left on its New Jersey Athletic (NJAC) schedule, but so far for the College, starting strong would be an understatement.
The Lions’ offense broke its second school record in two weeks following its 67-34 massacre of Morrisville State College on Saturday at home, setting a new standard for single-game scoring. The offensive onslaught eclipsed the College’s previous record of 64 points set in 1921 against Cathedral College.
The Lions (3-0) tallied a staggering 172 total points in their three-game home stand, a statistic that will likely garner them the top spot on the NCAA Division III scoring leader board.
Head coach Eric Hamilton attributed the Lions’ early success to the on-field experience.
“Offensively our skill position starters are seniors,” he said. “The offensive line has been together as well and they have transitioned into this season. We have a team that understands this and they pick each other up. Offense and defense have complimented each other and special teams are the wild card.”
“What we are doing really goes back to our team chemistry,” quarterback Chris James added. “The offensive line has been doing a fantastic job, and how well the offense line does is ultimately how the offense does.”
The College provided James with plenty of time in the pocket against the Mustangs, as he connected with receivers for 323 yards and four touchdowns, as well as one rushing touchdown. James was clearly comfortable, completing all but four of his 23 pass attempts.
Three of the senior’s touchdowns came in the first half, each reaching their targets more than 25 yards. James credits not himself, but the College’s rushing attack for his performance.
“The difference this year is our running game,” he said. “Our average (gains) are way up and now we have that to compliment the passing game.”
The Lions’ ran the ball well on Saturday, as sophomore running back Justin Doniloski and senior running back Chase Misiura combined for 135 yards and three touchdowns.
“Our running game has been very effective with Chase, Mike (Yetka) and I rotating in and out during series,” Doniloski said. “We all have different running styles and I think that keeps the defense off-guard.”
The offense was again without senior wide receiver and 2008 second team All-NJAC member Cameron Richardson, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain.
The Lions also capitalized on defense and special teams against the Mustangs, as a blocked punt return and fumble recovery led to two more scores for the College.
Although the players are excited about their record-breaking win, they are more concerned with future foes.
“Putting up 67 points in a win for us is nice, but we’re just trying to take one game at a time right now,” Doniloski said. “We’re not worrying about who we’re playing two weeks down the road, we’re just trying to focus on the team we’re playing that week and working hard into winning the game.”
The Lions will travel to Kean University this Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff, a huge test according to Hamilton and James.
“Point production will be tougher versus tougher competition, we will see this Friday at Kean,” Hamilton said. “I don’t know what to expect playing away, other than a tough NJAC against a good team. It certainly would help to have a following, but either way we will give it our best shot. There is lots of season left in what has become a wide open NJAC race.”
“This is the make or break game of the year for us,” James added. “The home stand’s stats were special and nice, but this is the real test for us.”
(09/22/09 4:58pm)
Long live the spread offense.
The Lions’ latest strategy of destruction through division paid heavy dividends on Friday, as the team pulverized Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham 58-28, setting a new yardage record in the process.
The 2-0 Lions gained a school record 708 total yards, attacking for a balanced 369 yards through the air and 339 yards on the ground at home.
“The game plan was to spread the field and take advantage of the matchups in the secondary,” head coach Eric Hamilton said. “We wanted to put the pressure on from the get-go.”
The College flew out of the gate versus FDU, exploding for 27 points in the first quarter, highlighted by three touchdown grabs of 40 yards or more between senior quarterback Chris James and senior wide receivers Mark Gardner and Colin Weber.
“With our rushing in the first game, FDU knew that we could run so they tightened up the box and had man on man with our wide receivers, and then it’s just one on one, so Colin and Mark really stepped up,” James said.
“It was an overall effort by the entire offense that allowed Chris and I to connect down field,” Weber added. “The offensive line was blocking well, and with the threat of our running game, it’s tough for a defense to account for all the wide receivers down field.”
Weber finished with a game-high six receptions for 199 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Leading 27-0 after the first quarter, the College took to the ground, using superior passing to open up the run game. The Lions scored three times running the ball in the second quarter, led by sophomore running back Justin Doniloski’s second score of the game, a 90 yard dash past Devil defenders.
“We opened up with our passing game and that definitely opened up the running lanes for me, Mike (Yetka), Chase (Misuira) and Kevin (Brown),” Doniloski said. “The line opened up the holes and we collectively ran hard as a group and executed the game plan.”
The Lions entered the half leading 48-7, two points shy of the school record for points in that span set against Ramapo College in 1980.
“It’s always great when your offense can get rolling from the start the way that we did,” senior wide receiver Cameron Richardson said.
“When we score on long plays and on consecutive drives like that, it kind of sends a message to the other team like ‘hey these guys came to play’ and I think they might have been feeling the pressure as we continued to score throughout the first half.”
Richardson, a team captain, was sidelined for the game with a high ankle sprain suffered in last week’s 47-31 victory over Buffalo State College.
The Lions coasted through the second half for the big win, which James attributes to his protectors up front.
“The biggest part of our victory and our 708 yards was the offensive line up front, because without them it doesn’t matter,” he said. “It all starts with them.”
Although the Lions have pounded their first two opponents, who combined for only four victories last season, the team must look ahead to some more difficult opponents.
“Now we play eight straight tough, physical New Jersey Athletic Conference games,” Hamilton said. “The next couple of weeks will be a tough test. The last two weeks were just a prep for what is coming. We have to concentrate on who we are playing and play a complete game.”
The Lions will finish a three-game home stand at noon on Saturday as the team hosts the Mustangs of Morrisville State College.
“I’m excited to see what we will be like for the rest of the season. This is a big game because 2-0 doesn’t mean anything if you are 2-1 next week,” James said.
(09/15/09 3:18pm)
Upon arriving on the College’s campus this semester, residents of the Pennington Road College Houses assumed that much like normal human beings in a democratic society, we would be able to park in our paved driveways adjacent to their houses. “Thank God I don’t have to deal with parking lots anymore,” we undoubtedly thought.
We were wrong.
Not only are the approximately 50 juniors and seniors living in these nine houses denied the right to access our unoccupied driveways for the off chance that a safety or service vehicle needs to use the space, we are now being denied their initial compensation of a reserved spot in nearby Lot 5.
Recently, students in the Pennington houses received an e-mail that the reserved spaces in Lot 5 are only meant to be used temporarily and now we must fend for themselves in Lot 6.
Wait … so we are paying a residential parking fee of $282 to park in the commuter lot as Lot 5 will now be used for Lot 6 overflow? That is correct.
It is understandable that College House residents pay the fee, just as Phelps and Hausdoerffer Hall residents do to park in the deck overlooking the football field. The difference is that the apartment residents have not been relocated and relocated again without much explanation.
Houses 1920 and 1924 on Pennington Road for example share a small, abandoned parking lot, which could easily fit several cars, is accessible from Pennington Road, and would still leave plenty of room for service and emergency vehicles if the situation arose. But the College glances over logic in this situation, covering the houses with the College House policy blanket and turning a blind eye to the frustrations of students.
It is greatly appreciated that the Student Government Association has addressed parking problems on campus, and are trying to make things easier for the students as a whole, but for now College House residents are getting the short end of the stick.
Last year, these unlucky souls were stuck listening to the construction of the new apartments and now we are suffering again, as apartment residential parking has eventually led to their designated parking spots extending farther and farther away from home.
Campus life is supposed to get easier as we progress through the years, not more difficult.
(09/15/09 2:57pm)
The Big Apple sure does have a soft spot for that Derek Jeter kid.
If the New York Yankees shortstop broke his team’s all-time hits record on any other day in New York, it would grab the top of every headline in town, but not on this day. This day was Sept. 11, a day when America shined its spotlight down on the city that never sleeps, remembering the tragedy that struck not long ago.
Jeter has always known how to steal the show, but the Sept. 11 anniversary was definitely more important to new Yorkers … right?
Not to the New York Daily News, who ran a broadsheet-style Jeter front page the following day, as well as a two-page Yankee spread ahead of the Sept. 11 section.
Could it be? Does this mean that New York City is beginning to care less about Sept. 11? No, of course not, but it does mean that its residents care quite a bit about their Yankee captain.
Jeter in a sense is New York City — on its billboards, in its commercials and blanketing its newsstands — but how does this superstar stack up to the other beloved Yankee greats? Who do fans love more from generation to generation?
We are talking about current, air breathing fans as a whole, from the six-year old with the big head to the senile grandfather who swears he sold Babe Ruth a Popsicle in 1935. This is a judgment of Yankee fans as a whole as I see it.
The easiest way to handle such a difficult task is to match Jeter up with each Yankee whose number has been retired and set out to pasture behind the Yankee Stadium walls. Excluding pitchers, we begin on our journey back in time with Donnie Baseball, Don Mattingly (23). Mattingly was loved by fans and the Yankees organization during the ’80s and ’90s, but was never able to grasp the championships that Jeter has been a part of, therefore cementing his winning legacy. More loved? Jeter.
Next up is the straw that stirred the drink, Reggie Jackson (44). Jackson brought championships to the organization in 1977-1978, but was not on the team for enough time to build that long-lasting player-fan relationship. More loved? Jeter.
Staying in the 1970s, lets discuss Thurman Munson (15). The man was the leader and captain of Yankees teams full of talent, a bulldog at home plate and a stand-up family man before his untimely demise. Not touching this one, sorry. More loved? Munson.
As we move to the 1960s, we find two more fine catchers, Yogi Berra (8) and Elston Howard (32). Let’s face it, Howard was loved, but from what I have researched, not like Jeter is now. More loved? Jeter. But on the contrary, Berra has a record 12 World Series rings with the Yankees, and damn it, do fans love those “Yogi-isms.” More loved? Berra.
Also earning his pinstripes in the ’60s was Roger Maris (9). Yes, he broke Babe Ruth’s homerun record with 61 in ’61, we all know the story. And although some still consider him to hold that record, he is not revered as other Yankee greats are. More loved? Jeter.
Traveling back to the 1950s, this discussion becomes increasingly harder. We will keep Joe DiMaggio (5) in the 1940s for now and deal with Billy Martin (1), Phil Rizzuto (10) and Mickey Mantle (7). First up is the ferocious Martin. He was enthusiastic, and clutch in all of those World Series wins, although often overshadowed by bigger names. Martin’s managing career created a legacy of its own, but he is not in that same category. More loved? Jeter. Rizzuto and Mantle are different stories. Rizzuto spent so much of his life devoted to the Yanks, whether it was playing shortstop or broadcasting games, and will always be remembered for his famous line, “Holy Cow!” More loved? Rizzuto.
Now with Mantle, there is no comparison. “The Mick” was fast, strong, played through pain, bought rounds and rounds of beers, and was absolutely adored.
The boy from Oklahoma did it all, and is the most beloved Yankee of the past 60 years. More loved? Mantle.
Again with DiMaggio, there’s no conversation. His statistics and hit streak speak for themselves, and who knows what he would have done if he didn’t spend a chunk of his prime fighting in World War II. More loved? DiMaggio.
At this point, the conversation of who is more loved may seem to be weighing toward the side of the older players, but keep in mind, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Jeter has not had any time away from the game to gain the love of fans old enough to remember players from past ages. Moving on
The final three who stormed the Bronx ball field in the 1920s and 1930s include Bill Dickey (8), Babe Ruth (3) and the man who Jeter’s name will be linked to forever, Lou Gehrig (4).
Don’t get me wrong, Dickey may have been the best catcher the Yankees ever had, but his name doesn’t resonate like others on the city streets these days. More loved? Jeter.
The Babe was, and will always be the most well-known and easily recognizable Yankee. They had the guy wearing a crown for God’s sake. More loved? Ruth.
Finally, as it did last week, the tally comes down to Jeter and Gehrig. Obviously Gehrig gets the nod, but although he is the more beloved Yankee, I doubt he could dream up a more suitable player to take his place atop the Yankees’ all-time hits list than Jeter. Like Gehrig, Jeter has always hustled, played through injuries, fought off pitches, taken pitches in the hands and elbows and won his spot in the hearts of the fans in the toughest sports city in the world. Both have always been Yankees, and just as Gehrig will always have his corner of the pinstriped spotlight, Jeter is making his a little brighter, one hit at a time.
(09/09/09 12:03am)
Whether you live on campus or commute from near or far, by now you are probably aware of the debacle — I mean situation — involving the various parking lots around campus.
If you were too lazy to read the front page news article in this week’s issue, this is the basic gist of the problem: The new apartments have relocated hundreds of juniors and seniors to fight for parking in Lot 6, and because their cars occupy Lot 6 the majority of the day as they scurry from class to class, commuters are left searching for the few spots leftover from the residential parking. Lot 4 parking has been cut down due to the construction of the new Art and IMM building as most know, and these hundreds of commuting students scrambling to get to class on time are now being forced to plan a new schedule to account for the sometimes 30 minutes it takes to find parking at peak class times.
This is a serious problem, and now that tickets have begun to fly onto windshields for lack of valid decal to students parking in lots other than 4 and 6, it’s only going to worsen as people pack into their designated lots, fearful of a fine.
In addition, College house students living on Pennington Road are required to park in Lot 5 instead of their driveways, taking up valuable spaces which could be used for more overflow traffic from the commuter lots.
The obvious question is, “What are College officials going to do to alleviate this problem?” The answer is pretty obvious too. Make more parking available. But where? There is no easy solution as no lots are empty enough to relieve the amount of overflow parking. And let’s think about this: How much fun is it going to be when the tours, open houses, accepted student days, and any other special events roll around where visitors usually park in Lot 6.
No, I do not have a solution for any of this, but the College will hopefully think of something because this is turning into a problem that is beginning to affect students’ academics as they struggle for a spot.
(09/08/09 11:17pm)
Days before the College stepped onto their home turf to take on Buffalo State College, senior quarterback Chris James described his offenses’ scoring potential as “scary.” Following the Lions’ 47-31 Bengal beat down on Saturday, no one is questioning James’ frightening claim.
The Lions walked the walk in their season opener, burning the Bengals for two touchdowns of 40 yards or more, as well as an 82-yard kickoff return touchdown by sophomore Scott Mathurin.
“The right plays were called at the right time and we just executed them perfectly,” junior wide receiver Mattan Hoffman said. “We had a great week of practice and it showed with the great success of each play.”
The Lions came out strong on their first drive, when sophomore running back Justin Doniloski took off for a 46-yard touchdown within the first two minutes of play. Following Mathurin’s return and a goal line TD by junior running back Michael Yetka, the Lions led 21-10 after the first quarter.
“Everyone came to play and everyone was excited,” senior wide receiver Cameron Richardson said. “We had a good scrimmage and practice the week before, and were able to correct things from watching the tape. We were able to play calm, cool and disciplined football.”
The College continued to pound Buffalo State on the ground, rushing for 312 total yards distributed between James, Doniloski, Yetka and senior back Chase Misiura.
Yetka led the Lions on Saturday with 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yard burst to the endzone in the second quarter.
“The plan is usually to go in balanced, keep the defense guessing and not run too much, but we saw that running the ball was being effective so we just kept going with that until it stopped,” Richardson said.
“It was just an overall offensive effort, running backs ran hard and hit the holes with authority while the offensive line provided those massive gaps,” Hoffman added. “Everyone carried out their job and performed it just as done in practice.”
The College’s defense, although lenient in the first half allowing 24 points, shut down its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foes in the second half, allowing only one fourth quarter touchdown and forcing a safety.
“It seemed like (the defense) got those first half jitters out and were able to play more calm and relaxed football,” Richardson said.
James and the Lions’ passing attack were not much of a factor in the victory, accounting for a scarce 109 yards.
The College will have a while to soak in their first victory, as they do not take on Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham until Sept. 18. The Devils edged out the Lions 42-41 in their season opener last year.
“The coaches do a good job of keeping us motivated on long layoffs like this with high intensity practices,” Richardson said.