Who needs a starting lineup when you’ve got a roster of 32?
That’s just what the American University Men’s Soccer Team has a roster of 32. The largest roster in the school’s history. Since the start of the season the team has started 19 of its 32 players.
“We keep telling everyone at least on our team and we mean it that this is the deepest team we have had in a long time. We have had 12 or 13 very good players before and then it falls off, but now we got 18-19 guys where its tough to pick a starting lineup,” said head coach Todd West.
So when junior captain Karsten Smith comes down with strep throat (or mono shhhh don’t tell Todd). It’s A-OK for the AU Eagles.
In today’s 4-1 blowout over crosstown rival, Karsten Smith was unable to play and Nicky Kapus stepped up big-time for the Eagles on the back line. Kapus had a total of 4 headers clearing the ball during Hoya cornerkicks.
If Smith’s mono-spot test comes back positive it won’t necessarily be a negative for the Eagles.
“Karsten sat out for strep throat today and Nicky stepped in as a center back and hadn’t played there all year and did very well. So yeah I give a testament to the depth and some guys stepping up. Jack Scott got his first college goal today, mike Roberts got his first playing time ever but yeah I think we got a lot of depth this year and I think it helped us out today,” said West.
Coach West, notorious for early morning practices the day after bad games was so impressed with today’s performance that “he told the team they could go out tonight even though it’s a weeknight, said sophomore Jamie Davin.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Visit from Rick and Kevin
On Tuesday September 30th Rick Maese and Kevin Van Valkenburg of the Baltimore Sun met with an American University Sportswriting class.
The pair matching (both wearing jeans and white with blue & green striped button downs) looked more like a boy band reunion than successful journalists.
They spoke frankly with students about journalism, new media, relationships, sports and of course Michael Phelps.
The interview came without sugarcoating, censors and certainly without supervision. But the pair provided first hand advice and anecdotes to aid a group of doe-eyed students in their pursuit of a sports journalism career.
Kevin began his sports journalism career on the field as a football player for the University of Montana. During his college career he "fell in love with the way words were shaped," which translated to a career in writing. After applying for countless internships his senior year, Kevin was hired by the Baltimore Sun and has been there ever since.
Unlike Kevin, Rick's career began in the newsroom. In his youth Rick called into sports radio shows in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the age of 14 he was able to convince (pester enough) the station manager to let him have a radio show and later that year he convinced (further pestered) the editor of the Albuquerque Tribune to let him write.
So what did this pair of young journalists advise a group of aspiring writers?
We were offered traditional advice of "keep a blog," "write for your school paper,"do internships," blah, blah, blah.
"If I were in your shoes...first of all...i would avoid long distance relationships," said Rick
We have long heard that the demands of journalism make relationships hard and journalists tend to date other journalists (Kevin's wife and Rick's girlfriend..... both journalists)
Despite telling us to be skeptical not cynical both Rick and Kevin spoke slouched in their chairs, rolled their eyes, swearing and sputtering about impossible deadlines and pain-in-the-ass handlers (i.e. Michael Phelp's entourage).
They advised us to be bold. Get in people's faces. Make a statement. Do whatever it takes to get your foot in the door.
Hello door....here is my foot.
"Newspapers may be dinosaurs or may be dying off but journalism will live on forever," said Kevin.
The pair matching (both wearing jeans and white with blue & green striped button downs) looked more like a boy band reunion than successful journalists.
They spoke frankly with students about journalism, new media, relationships, sports and of course Michael Phelps.
The interview came without sugarcoating, censors and certainly without supervision. But the pair provided first hand advice and anecdotes to aid a group of doe-eyed students in their pursuit of a sports journalism career.
Kevin began his sports journalism career on the field as a football player for the University of Montana. During his college career he "fell in love with the way words were shaped," which translated to a career in writing. After applying for countless internships his senior year, Kevin was hired by the Baltimore Sun and has been there ever since.
Unlike Kevin, Rick's career began in the newsroom. In his youth Rick called into sports radio shows in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the age of 14 he was able to convince (pester enough) the station manager to let him have a radio show and later that year he convinced (further pestered) the editor of the Albuquerque Tribune to let him write.
So what did this pair of young journalists advise a group of aspiring writers?
We were offered traditional advice of "keep a blog," "write for your school paper,"do internships," blah, blah, blah.
"If I were in your shoes...first of all...i would avoid long distance relationships," said Rick
We have long heard that the demands of journalism make relationships hard and journalists tend to date other journalists (Kevin's wife and Rick's girlfriend..... both journalists)
Despite telling us to be skeptical not cynical both Rick and Kevin spoke slouched in their chairs, rolled their eyes, swearing and sputtering about impossible deadlines and pain-in-the-ass handlers (i.e. Michael Phelp's entourage).
They advised us to be bold. Get in people's faces. Make a statement. Do whatever it takes to get your foot in the door.
Hello door....here is my foot.
"Newspapers may be dinosaurs or may be dying off but journalism will live on forever," said Kevin.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Seating Chart for Athletes.
Why DO all the athletes sit together in the cafeteria?
You've seen it...in TDR...all the athletes sit together.
Entering TDR on your first tables to the right you can find the Men's Basketball team, Women's basketball team and the Volleyball team. Let's call this Giantland. Giantland is plagued by lots of plates and glasses of powerade...after all giants eat more than we do.
In the front section on the left in TDR all the way at the back table one can find the wrestling team. Unlike Giantland, this calorie conscious section has very little on their plates.
Moving to the first set of tables in the back section of TDR on finds the rest of the athletes.
The third row is occupied by the field hockey and lacrosse teams...afterall who really knows the difference and which athlete plays which sport.
The fourth row on the right is occupied by the track team they are usually the first to arrive and the last to leave TDR...in fact it was once said by former track star Steve Hallinan "We have at least one member of our team stationed in TDR at all times...to hold down the fort," while he may have been kidding...it sure seems that way.
The fourth and fifth rows on the left are occupied by the largest team on campus, the Swimming & Diving team. Their hair is always wet, they are always together and they are always hungry.
The fifth row on the right is occupied by the men's and women's soccer teams (the second most incestuous teams on campus).
But why? Why do all the athletes sit together in the cafeteria?
"Our schedules are so busy and what little free time we have we ALL have," said Alger Fredericks, a senior on the men's soccer team.
And should another group of people interfere with this long standing seating arrangement, it throws the cosmos out of balance.
"I remember one time when a group of non-athletes were sitting in our section and we had to move to the field hockey seats, all my girls were confused and then field hockey showed up and had to move to the track area which was fine as only the women's team was there, but then the men's team showed up...let's just say is was a mess," said Jessie Cole, a senior on the women's soccer team. A disaster of epic athletic proportions indeed.
-Observant Eagle
You've seen it...in TDR...all the athletes sit together.
Entering TDR on your first tables to the right you can find the Men's Basketball team, Women's basketball team and the Volleyball team. Let's call this Giantland. Giantland is plagued by lots of plates and glasses of powerade...after all giants eat more than we do.
In the front section on the left in TDR all the way at the back table one can find the wrestling team. Unlike Giantland, this calorie conscious section has very little on their plates.
Moving to the first set of tables in the back section of TDR on finds the rest of the athletes.
The third row is occupied by the field hockey and lacrosse teams...afterall who really knows the difference and which athlete plays which sport.
The fourth row on the right is occupied by the track team they are usually the first to arrive and the last to leave TDR...in fact it was once said by former track star Steve Hallinan "We have at least one member of our team stationed in TDR at all times...to hold down the fort," while he may have been kidding...it sure seems that way.
The fourth and fifth rows on the left are occupied by the largest team on campus, the Swimming & Diving team. Their hair is always wet, they are always together and they are always hungry.
The fifth row on the right is occupied by the men's and women's soccer teams (the second most incestuous teams on campus).
But why? Why do all the athletes sit together in the cafeteria?
"Our schedules are so busy and what little free time we have we ALL have," said Alger Fredericks, a senior on the men's soccer team.
And should another group of people interfere with this long standing seating arrangement, it throws the cosmos out of balance.
"I remember one time when a group of non-athletes were sitting in our section and we had to move to the field hockey seats, all my girls were confused and then field hockey showed up and had to move to the track area which was fine as only the women's team was there, but then the men's team showed up...let's just say is was a mess," said Jessie Cole, a senior on the women's soccer team. A disaster of epic athletic proportions indeed.
-Observant Eagle
Monday, September 1, 2008
Height matters?!
The American University Women's Soccer (AUWS) notched their first win of the season over UMBC (1-0).
This was the Eagle's second game in the D.C. Invitational and the only goal of the game was scored by sophomore Marissa Crollett.
This was Crollett's first career goal, a header, assisted by Lindsey Miller who crossed the ball into the box from the far post.
Headers are fairly common in the sport of soccer, not something to write home about. Furthermore, it's common knowledge that height is an advantage in soccer when it comes to winning balls in the air (headers).
However, Crollett is only 5'1" and was being marked by two UMBC players at least 5 inches taller than herself.
"You scored on a header," the Observant Eagle asked. "Yes!!" exclaimed Crollett, "Why is everyone surprised?"
Well Marissa you managed to connect your noggin with the ball while being surrounded by giants.
I tip my hat (downward) to you.
This was the Eagle's second game in the D.C. Invitational and the only goal of the game was scored by sophomore Marissa Crollett.
This was Crollett's first career goal, a header, assisted by Lindsey Miller who crossed the ball into the box from the far post.
Headers are fairly common in the sport of soccer, not something to write home about. Furthermore, it's common knowledge that height is an advantage in soccer when it comes to winning balls in the air (headers).
However, Crollett is only 5'1" and was being marked by two UMBC players at least 5 inches taller than herself.
"You scored on a header," the Observant Eagle asked. "Yes!!" exclaimed Crollett, "Why is everyone surprised?"
Well Marissa you managed to connect your noggin with the ball while being surrounded by giants.
I tip my hat (downward) to you.
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