Life & Art Senior Writer
President of Society of Professional Journalists (UM chapter)
This is how it may have happened. A young Abercrombie & Fitch aspiring model stands in his Gap boxers in the tiny kitchen of a scarcely-furnished New Orleans apartment. Feeling a little Jeffrey Dahmer-like, he takes all the stuffed animals in his room and sends several of them through a meat grinder.
Other state fair awards fall victim to being saut
Life & Art Editor
This is a follow-up article to the November 21 L&A Quality Smack column entitled, “The Miami Hurricane Needs to Declare Independence.” That column re-appears in this edition for your convenience. – Ed.
“HEY. WAIT. I’VE GOT A NEW COMPLAINT.”
It is a sealed deal. Is the dicey fate of The Miami Hurricane sealed along with it? We shall read. The reelection (as in re-reelection) votes were cast on Wednesday morning: Brian Poliakoff is still out. Leigha Taber is in again as editor-in-chief as of next semester. What results from this decision is not as important in the long run as to how this “new” decision was made – for a refresher on this topic, refer to the issue before last (November 21). Let’s move on.
In case this is the last hurrah for Life & Art, I am going to take one last opportunity to explain why the section is presented as is – again, this was a major factor in Mr. Poliakoff’s dismissal and re-dismissal. If this proves not to be our final “cheers,” let it be known that the section will never again directly regurgitate itself into the news and opinion content within it.
Essentially a student publication, our targeted reader is the UM student, who typically ranges in age from 18-23 – meaning children, most parents, and much of the faculty falls outside of it. Life & Art serves as an outlet for culture – that’s all that was in the instruction manual that does not exist when it changed from Accent in 2002. As the section’s editors, Omar Sommereyns and I decide each week exactly what is culturally significant enough to be included in the three to six pages we are allotted per issue.
One of the major criticisms of Life & Art is that it does not cover enough on-campus events, or as oft-noted by members of UM’s Student Government it does not reflect the interests of the average UM student: our answer to the former criticism?
We feel that reviewing previously released movies being shown at the Bill Cosford Cinema like Bad Boys 2 (please note: we occasionally review select foreign films playing there) and focusing on activities at the Rathskellar should not necessarily supercede the plethora of colorful, provoking and progressive events and ideas occurring just outside the gates of campus; especially when we can cover a Hilton sisters party at Opium, interview Ghostface Killah at The Source Awards, and review the latest exhibit at the Dorsch – I mean, c’mon.
Exploring Miami affords The Miami Hurricane a bit of hip gusto to separate us from let’s say, the “Detours” section of The Alligator at UF. Need a sample article to compare? “Facts You Never Knew About the First Thanksgiving.” How about a sample first sentence? “Has anyone noticed that all of our holidays are bullshit…?”
Sweet. So, that is what the students of UM want to ingest? Doubtful. Is that what the six out of ten Board members who chose not to reelect Mr. Poliakoff want? Well, subtract that naughty curse word, make this section a little afterthought on their “To Check Up On” list, throw some limp student and faculty quotes in there and that same article could probably run times infinity for all they care, right next to a pixilated JPEG of a turkey lifted off Google.
Fact is, no matter what The Hurricane’s “entertainment” section has been called in the past [six to ten years] (Re: Come look at our office archives) it has rarely focused on “campus living.” Just two years ago it was all bland “Top 10” lists for Top 10 albums, reviews of endless Dave Matthews’ CDs and rather lame first-person narratives like “How to Get to Key West: Part Eight.” Imagine Entertainment Weekly written by hack ghostwriters, except, instead of featuring a great, young band like The Rapture or The Stills five months after we did, they simply never got around to it. Instead of representing a college located in a fast-paced, tropical city, this paper’s section of culture read like a broadsheet of blah stuck in TV-land.
Again, this might be fine if UM was a small community college in Iowa, but feature journalists move to cities like Miami and New York to study and work because they want (and by moving) need to be on top of the latest trends, art et cetera. If members on the Board of Publications, certain journalism professors, students who are perfectly fine l-i-v-i-n-g in a one-mile radius, and clueless PR dummies do not agree or are experiencing a spinning-head sensation, again, do not hate the players, hate the game.
Which leads me into the latter complaint psst psst’d to us coming from Student Government, or specifically the one Board member belonging to SG who substituted for News editor Jorge Arauz (after he gave up his Board position and rightfully admitted a conflict of interest) on reelection day. Why Student Government should have any say (since the paper reports on this organization) in the editorial positions here is, once again, beyond us.
But, alright SG: Who exactly is the average UM student? Do you have a secret survey that proves students here have a problem with Life & Art? My guess is, similar to many regular newspapers’ readerships, the average UM student does not read The Miami Hurricane, but after considering the flow of online hits, the total student feedback we have received and a general observation of the pick-up rate on campus, readership seems to have increased dramatically this semester.
Furthermore, all of “these” complaints about Life & Art are never sent via Letter to the Editor or to our email accounts, which are usually listed in each issue. Regarding Justin Diamond’s recent letters to the Opinion section (see this issue and last), Life & Art has a film critic, Shawn Wines, who has reviewed over 50 films during his two semesters with the section. We also cover concerts, except, instead of simply reviewing them, we aspire to do a photo shoot with the talent, interview them before sound-check and then shoot photos of their performance – something The Miami Herald, New Times, and Street rarely if ever take the time to arrange – and to that they will most likely say “budget restraints” – our ass.
Mr. Diamond is correct in one observation however: writing about the publication we work for is cheap and comes off as severely egotistical. And man, I really wish I didn’t have to write this stuff personally, it’s just that, see the journalism professors at UM have not made an effort in the past to point out the grave foundation this publication rests upon i.e. the Board of Publications, and thus the consequences of such incompetence have finally boiled over into our newsroom, resulting in a senior staff being ripped apart, typos, failure of communication and the general feeling that this paper is about to wisp away into nothingness, or worse, make such an embarrassment of this university’s reputation for journalism until our degrees are worth zilch.
This is why Life & Art is speaking out. This is what we are taught in the journalism classes we occasionally attend with petty hangovers. Doing so (speaking out via our section) makes us sick to our stomachs, but this is essentially the last and final resort. After three years at this paper, we are so busy playing constant bouts of ethical catch-up with a bunch of elders that we are able to think about nothing but.
The truth will set us free: First, the line between Public Relations and Journalism must be astoundingly clear in The Hurricane office, in classes in the School of Com, and in the heads of News editors – they are totally separate professions that interact by necessity. A college newspaper cannot report objectively on campus organizations and administration when members belonging to each decide the most important position at this newspaper, or as is also the case, own the publication and/or are student employees on the newspaper staff (Jorge Arauz).
The solution: More journalism professors need to be on the UM Board of Publications. Student Government should not have a vote in the election for editor-in-chief, nor should editors at the newspaper be directly involved in SG. Under normal circumstances, an editor-in-chief should obtain his/her position without contention for a two-semester term as this guarantees a smooth and fair transition/benefit of the doubt. Any and all candidates for editor-in-chief should be pursuing a major in journalism at the time of candidacy. And at all times, a managing editor should be on the staff.
Lastly, within the next decade, The Miami Hurricane needs to declare independence.
With only one major newspaper in this city, there is room for a college paper, even at a private university, to cover stories on and off campus. Moreover, when journalism students are offered further opportunities to play against the big boys and girls, the quality of applicants will improve and interest, among local and national readers, advertisers and applicants will increase. The School of Communication, which, as with the entire university, is making leaps and bounds under President Shalala, will then establish a reputation of even greater integrity.
Remember, taste is and will always be a matter of opinion; and since many of L&A’s staff members are developing defined cultural tastes for-a-living, its editors included, and considering that few members on the Board of Publications or the normals in Student Government seem to know a damn thing about journalism, newspapers or severe ethical conflicts – ones as obvious as crazed-monkeys-with-Ebola – calling for evidence to justify “all of these” wishes to “revamp” our section like a Hotmail account is not so much to ask.
“HERE WE ARE NOW, ENTERTAIN US.”
In other news, Paris Hilton’s cell # is 310.990.7444. Servus, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And for the nerds, Tony Hawk’s is 760.481.8088.
“HE’S THE ONE WHO LIKES ALL OUR PRETTY SONGS. AND HE LIKES TO SING ALONG. BUT HE KNOWS NOT WHAT IT MEANS.”
That local faux alternative-weekly, STREET, is chomping on our style – lifting from a bunch of broke, stressed, hung-over college journalists during finals. Their latest cover, entitled, “Art Chomp,” uses the same Pac Man theme as seen in the 10-07-03 issue we mailed them (article: “All We Do is Stack Loot. Run Around and Chomp Fruit.”), and the subhead, “STREET Takes a Bite Out of Basel,” (they would too) is a little too similar to our 11-07-03 cover feature’s subhead, “L&A Takes Another Bite Out of the Big Apple.” STREET should go ahead and change their nameplate to CUBICLE, bloody wankstas.
“WHERE DID YOU SLEEP LAST NIGHT?”
We love how Churchill’s Pub, 5501 NE 2nd Ave., has the raddest shows with less-than-zero promotion – punker than the S. Pistols, whom if memory servus, owner Dave Daniels said sucked live. NYC’s Japanther (not Panthers but equally as panther-cool) is playing on December 9 and (!) 10. Hol-eee shit, the first show is free. The next night, they’re playing with, get this, AC Cobra, Panda Bite and the Bikes (!!!) – no dude, that’s just punctuation. That show is $3. We’ll see you and your double there.
In other Churchill’s Pub news, you probably heard that the place was robbed at gun-point recently (the third time’s an anti-charm), but manager Mike Toms reassures us over the tele that everything’s cool – Miami PD’s [finally] on it like blaxploitation badasses (re: letting the patrons be). Sir Toms adds a big “Cheers” in caps to boot.
Hunter Stephenson can be reached at Huntlaed@hotmail.com.
(This is a Life & Art Quality Smack Overdose prescribed by Hunter Stephenson, L&A Editor 2002-?)
TO THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS OF UM AND THE PUBLICATIONS OF RECORD IN MIAMI, FLORIDA
Wow. The old men on the UM Board of Publications really screwed up. You practically fire our Editor-in-Chief Brian Poliakoff, one of the few UM students in the School of Communication who have been in-and-occasionally-out of The Miami Hurricane office over the last four years because you do not like Life & Art?! And then you leave us with three issues left! Hah, hilarious. As L&A’s Jonathan Twiggar, a great man, says, “Servus.”
That’s cheers in German, which I find ironic right now in light of our current situation.
This is the end, as Jim Morrison says. We’re blasting that song in the office tonight all-night, racing off Ritazza coffee from the UM C-store (thanks “Campus Living”). After working here as a feature writer-to-Accent Editor-to-Life & Art Editor, I find it horribly awry who exactly makes up our Board of Publications. All of the students studying journalism here, all of the parents slaving to pay their aspiring journalists’ tuition here, need to know how much incompetence surrounds The Miami Hurricane.
See, this is a private institution; therefore, the university owns the student newspaper, unlike many respectable collegiate publications at traditionally public institutions. These people [try to] put the fear inside of you until the paper simply becomes a PR piece for their own agenda (see this last semester’s entire News section).
Thus, we have a News editor who also works for Student Government – can you say “conflict of interest?” Thus, we have an axed (only after Photo Editor David Eppolito spoke out and L&A followed) supposedly factual and un-biased column entitled “Greek Gossip” that was taken off a PR Web site for Greek life.
Thus, we now have a newly elected editor-in-chief for next semester, Leigha Taber, the current assistant News editor who is not majoring in Journalism. No, she’s majoring in Psychology and has a Public Relations inclination. “That’s bullshit.” I agree, Sven. Pass me another Amstel Light and turn up the Doors.
While I wasn’t present at the election, where Taber was chosen over the incumbent Poliakoff on Wednesday, here is who was (all have a vote, unless otherwise noted):
Sigman Splichal, Director of Journalism/Photography at UM and The Miami Hurricane Senior Advisor
Norman Parsons, Director of Wellness and Recreation (he does not get a vote, unless there is a tie)
Jorge Arauz, Hurricane News Editor and Student Government representative for the Board – again, make note of the conflict here (that’s like Sadowski being a Hurricane fact checker) and add many exclamation points. While the rest of the Hurricane staff can merely write recommendation letters endorsing a candidate (which were barely read at said meeting), he has a place and a vote on the Board of Pubs. Rumor is, he has been intimately involved in the past with his assistant editor, Leigha Taber.
Randy Stano, Knight Chair of Advertising and Public Relations and Ibis senior advisor (did not show up at the election, therefore, no vote)
Ambar Hernandez, President of Society of Professional Journalists (also a writer for Life & Art) (UM student)
Robert DuBord, Student Publications Financial Advisor, Associate Director of Residence Halls, WVUM 90.5 FM Financial Advisor (a busy man, perhaps too busy)
Omar Giritli, The Miami Hurricane Business Manager (UM student)
Ronald Newman, Associate Professor of the English Department (we are asking ourselves why he has a position determining the future of The Miami Hurricane, when he has absolutely nothing to do with it – yet he has a vote deciding our editor-in-chief)
Brian Poliakoff, Editor-in-Chief of The Miami Hurricane (obviously: no vote) (UM student)
Kristian Rodriguez, Editor-of-Chief of Ibis (UM student)
William Sandler, Dean of Students (one of the men responsible for the ongoing investigation of our newspapers being stolen from campus) (again, why a Dean has a vote is beyond us, as it creates possible conflict in what the Hurricane can publish regarding campus)
Donn Tilson, Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations (wait, associate professor of what?)
Now, connect the dots here (the final vote was 5-4), and guess who voted for Mr. Poliakoff (and not-so-indirectly, Life & Art) and who voted against. Whether you like Life & Art and (no need for an “or”) the person writing this, understand that there are people on the Board deciding the future of this student publication who have large outside interests.
Name another reputable publication where a good number of the people on the toppity top are straight out of a match of Guess Who? by Milton Bradley? That is almost like Bill Keller being elected executive editor by a publisher, a doctor, a lawyer, an Enron exec and…an English professor.
Enjoy the future of UM journalism. And if you’re a freshman, here is some drunken advice from a senior editor: If this paper does not become independent, do not work for it. And, to the staff already working here, word is, pay cuts are underway because, somehow, paying writers $8 an article and editors $280 bi-weekly has left this paper $40,000 in debt.
“Well, I’m sure I’d feel much worse if I weren’t under such heavy sedation.” – David St. Hubbins.
TO DEAN SINGLETON
Yeah, so after our memorable meeting, after you stated, “I do not care about The Hurricane,” and opened up a folder of my L&A Quality Smack columns and sighed, and after giving me two semesters of strict disciplinary probation for, “B.16 Distributing or Posting Printed Materials,” aka 5,000 Life & Art “Mustachio Bashio” glossy flyers, I go to my CVC class for once in Wolfson, where some girl is reading “Campus Living” like a sales-ad for The Limited.
After class, I walk back to the over-crowded parking lot, only to discover a flyer (above) on my driver’s side window (I couldn’t even make this up, hah). What is it for you do not ask? Well, the UM Men’s Soccer Club and L&A faves, Alpha Sigma Phi are selling a sexy calendar. Except on the back of said flyer, it says, “This advertisement is neither the responsibility of nor endorsed by the University of Miami.”
So, Dean Singleton, are you going to give the president of each organization the same punishment you issued me? I didn’t ask for this flyer. I don’t want a calendar. I’ll call you in four days and publish your answer. But if there is no reply, isn’t that a contradiction? And by the way, Life & Art and former Editor-in-Chief Jordan Rodack would like to give a big piss-off and good riddance to AEPi. This is the end?
TO PARIS HILTON
Life & Art was going to review your sex tape, but then another one popped up, reportedly starring a Playmate and Simon Rex, who ex-ex-L&A staff writer Rachel Cusick “interviewed” at Opium a month ago. Anyhow, the first tape is bomb, especially when your celly rings and when you’re watching – I’m guessing BET late night – bobbing for apple. And, how diesel is that 90210-dating dude? Pounds.
Hunter Stephenson can be reached at Huntlaed@hotmail.com.
MIAMI-It was a glorious final home game for the seniors as the Hurricanes awoke from their month-long slumber to blow out Rutgers 34-10.
For the first time in four games, the ‘Canes (9-2, 5-1) created points with their offense, defense, and special teams, and had little trouble getting into the end zone. The win puts the Hurricanes in a position to capture the Big East crown if they defeat Pittsburgh this Saturday. Rutgers falls to 4-7 with a 1-5 record in the conference with the loss.
Miami took advantage of turnovers created by the defense and a blocked punt to score four touchdowns in the third quarter, which essentially broke the game open.
“I was encouraged today,” Head Coach Larry Coker said. “We were much more efficient on offense. We had a goal for the week which was to create turnovers and protect the football and not turn it over and we did a much better job of that today. It gave us an opportunity to win the football game.”
Junior quarterback Brock Berlin got the start for the ‘Canes, completing six of 14 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Derrick Crudup replaced Berlin for a drive in the second quarter and took over permanently in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand. Crudup finished going one for three for seven yards.
Coker was encouraged by the fact that neither of his quarterbacks made mistakes, allowing the defense and special teams to put the Hurricanes in a position to win.
“I thought Brock had a nice day,” Coker said. “I thought he was, all in all, very efficient…There were some errors that both committed, but we will see in the film.”
Former walk-on Javon Nanton led the defense with three and a half sacks, and sophomore tight end Kevin Everett caught a pair of touchdown passes.
The first half was reminiscent of the Hurricanes’ previous three games, as neither team could move the ball down the field consistently. The ‘Canes’ opening drive resulted in a Jon Peattie 25-yard field goal to give Miami a 3-0 lead.
The offenses stalled, trading punts for the next four drives, until Antrel Rolle stepped in front of Ryan Hart’s pass, picking it off and returning it to the Miami 48-yard line. The ‘Canes were able to drive down the field for another Peattie field goal to make the score 6-0 in favor of the Hurricanes.
Rutgers had an opportunity to cut Miami’s lead in half, but Ryan Sands missed a 46-yard field goal attempt and the Hurricanes retained possession. Sands did cash in on a 30-yarder at the end of the half, making the score at the break 6-3.
Looking for a spark at the beginning of the third quarter, Darrell McClover blocked Joe Radigan’s punt, which was recovered by Marcus Maxey at the Rutgers 18 yard line.
It only took Berlin two plays to cash in on the favorable field position, as he found Everett for a 17-yard touchdown, making the score 13-3.
The Hurricanes got the ball back quickly, and the offense only needed two plays again, as senior Jarrett Payton scored an 18-yard touchdown to give the ‘Canes a commanding 20-3 lead.
Payton finished with 82 yards on 13 carries, and was overcome with emotion after the game.
“I said that I was going to do whatever it takes until we get this thing right,” Payton said. “I don’t want to go out like this on my last day at the Orange Bowl. I don’t want to go out with a 6-3 win.”
On the ensuing drive, Hart’s pass was intercepted by Sean Taylor, who dazzled the crowd with a 44-yard touchdown return, and the rout was on.
The Hurricanes finished off the third quarter blitzkrieg with another Everett touchdown catch, which was set up by a 44-yard Ryan Moore reception. Rutgers managed to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the furious third quarter rally by the ‘Canes was too much for the Scarlet Knights, and Miami held on for the 34-10 win.
After the victory, the Hurricanes were thrilled with the performance of each unit and the fact that the seniors were able to enjoy an easy win in their final Orange Bowl appearance.
“Man, these guys [the seniors] have done a lot for this school, a lot for this university,” Crudup said. “You can’t put into words what these guys do. They mean the world to me. They’re my brothers.”
The third quarter performance by the Hurricanes could give them back the confidence they had earlier in the season just in time for this week’s game in Pittsburgh.
“We just want to finish out on a positive note,” Coker said. “We know we have a tough game against Pittsburgh coming up after Thanksgiving. We have a lot of work we need to do.”
Offense
The offensive unit was not spectacular, but they played mistake-free football and even scored three touchdowns in the red zone. That is the type of effort that could earn the Hurricanes a Big East title.
Grade: B+
Quarterbacks
Brock Berlin threw two touchdown passes and no interceptions, a ratio that everyone will be satisfied with. However, Berlin only threw for 86 yards and missed a wide-open Kellen Winslow on several occasions.
Grade: B-
Running Backs
Jarrett Payton enjoyed a gratifying final home game, as the senior gained 82 yards on 13 carries and had a nice 18-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Tyrone Moss had a quiet 56 yards and Jason Geathers gained 52 yards in garbage time.
Grade: B
Wide Receivers
It was nice to see Kevin Everett score a pair of touchdowns. Some people wondered if the sophomore would ever recover from the dropped touchdown pass against Virginia Tech. Winslow only caught two passes, which isn’t necessarily his fault, and top wide out Ryan Moore had his number called just once.
Grade: C+
Offensive Line
The o-line opened up holes for the running backs when they needed to be opened, gave Berlin plenty of time to throw the ball, and Rutgers only had two sacks, with both coming in the fourth quarter when the game was a blowout.
Grade: B+
Defense
The defense gave the crowd many thrills, as the unit racked up six sacks and three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Rutgers could not score on the defense until late in the fourth quarter.
Grade: A
Defensive Line
Who is Javon Nanton? That is what many fans were asking when they kept hearing his name called throughout the game. The former walk-on had a career high three and a half sacks, and pressured Ryan Hart on several other occasions.
Grade: A
Linebackers
Jon Vilma was all over the place in his final game at the Orange Bowl, stuffing Rutgers’ tailbacks behind the line of scrimmage and not allowing many big runs. The only knock on the linebackers was that they were the only defensive unit to fail to create a turnover.
Grade: B
Secondary
It was nice to see the nation’s top safety, Sean Taylor, make an interception and run it back for a score. Antrel Rolle joined the fun with a pick in the first half. If the secondary performs like this against Pittsburgh, the Panthers will be in for a long night.
Grade: A
Special Teams
Jon Peattie hit both of his field goal attempts, the Hurricanes blocked two punts, and Brian Monroe punted pretty well. With the special teams’ mishaps of weeks past, ‘Canes fans will gladly take this effort.
Grade: A
-compiled by Eric Kalis
The University of Miami honored 21 seniors before its 34-10 victory over Rutgers Saturday. The senior class ran out of the smoke to midfield prior to their last ever game at the Orange Bowl.
Senior captain Jonathan Vilma went out in great fashion, finishing the game with a team-high 16 tackles, including one sack. Vilma understood that the team must focus on next week’s contest at Pittsburgh, however, he still took a step back to look at all he and the Hurricanes have accomplished in his four years at Miami.
“I just feel very numb right now,” Vilma said in the locker room after the game. “We have come so far throughout the four years I’ve been a ‘Cane. The feeling is great, but we still must overcome the feeling and focus on beating Pittsburgh next week to sure up a BCS berth.”
Jarrett Payton, also a senior, ran through the smoke prior to the game holding up his father Walther Payton’s Chicago Bears jersey, and gave it to his mother Connie. Payton also left the Orange Bowl with a good performance, rushing for 82 yards on 13 carries and scoring one touchdown. Payton showed his appreciation for UM fans, as he waived to the crowed pumping his chest on the way to the locker room after the game.
“That’s the most fun we’ve had in a long time,” Payton said of the convincing win. “It’s a great way to go out.”
Other notable seniors who will surely be missed include D.J. Williams, Vernon Carey, Carlos Joseph, Jason Geathers, Kevin Beard, Maurice Sikes, Alfonso Marshall, Chris Harvey, Darrell McClover, Joe McGrath, Jarrell Weaver, Larry Anderson and Jim Sikora.
“We wanted the seniors to go out with a win,” Head Coach Larry Coker said. “This class has been through a lot – the Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl. They deserve all the best.”
Will They Stay or Go?
There is much speculation on whether or not junior stars Kellen Winslow and Sean Taylor will leave college early to enter the NFL Draft.
Winslow hinted that there is a strong possibility that he could have played in his last career game at the Orange Bowl.
“It might be my last game, it might not,” Winslow said after the game. “Most of my friends are leaving.”
Reserve tight end Kevin Everett scored two touchdowns against Rutgers mainly due to double team coverage on Winslow.
“He’s a ‘Cane and he’ll carry the torch once I’m gone,” Winslow said of Everett.
Taylor responded without comment after the game as to whether or not he played his last game at Miami.
If it was Taylor’s last game, he went out on top. Taylor recorded his team leading seventh interception of the season and returned it 44 yards for his third interception return for a touchdown in 2003.
Nanton Steps Up for ‘canes
UM defensive end Javon Nanton had a career day against Rutgers Saturday. Nanton, a former walk-on who was granted a full scholarship this fall, recorded three and a half sacks on the afternoon. The 6-3, 230-pound sophomore made the third start of his career, and perhaps overshadowed the seniors with his stellar play.
“I was just trying to take the seniors out with a good game,” Nanton said. “It was also the last game at the Orange Bowl for me this year, so I wanted to go out with a bang.”
Bumps and Bruises
The victory on senior day did not come without injuries for Miami.
After the game, Coker reported that junior center Joel Rodriguez left the game with a broken left fibula in the fourth quarter.
Senior strong safety Maurice Sikes indicated that he probably broke his right hand, but assured fans that he will play next week at Pittsburgh.
Special teams whiz Jarrell Weaver also left the game with a broken left foot.
Miscellaneous
After kicking field goals of 25 and 41 yards, freshman kicker Jon Peattie is now third on UM’s single-season list with 19 field goals on the season…Miami blocked two punts against Rutgers, giving them four punt blocks on the season…The ‘Canes intercepted a season-high three passes…Miami improved to 11-0 against Rutgers all-time…Kevin Everett’s three touchdowns this season are two more than starter Kellen Winslow.
You can reach Brian Poliakoff at b.poliakoff@umiami.edu.
In a successful weekend, the ‘Canes (2-0) showed that they’re ready for bigger and better things this season. They defeated Louisiana-Monroe (0-2) 78-60 on Sunday and Lubbock Christian (2-2) 86-66 on Friday at the Convocation Center to open the 2003-2004 campaign.
The pair of victories brought Miami to its 21st and 22nd straight home wins against non-conference opponents.
Freshman guard Guillermo Diaz posted 23 points in Friday’s game, while senior forward Darius Rice had 20 points and 12 rebounds, the most rebounds of his career thus far. It was the 11th consecutive home opener victory for the ‘Canes. Sophomore guard Robert Hite and senior forward William Frisby each had 10 points in the win against Lubbock Christian.
In the first-ever meeting of the schools, Miami shot 42.6 percent from the field against Louisiana-Monroe and converted 89.5 percent from the line (including a perfect second half). Rice had 15 points, seven rebounds, and one block to lead the ‘Canes. Frisby added 12 points and seven rebounds. Armondo Surratt had the game-high six assists.
“Right now I’m just playing hard, getting back in basketball shape, and we’re getting wins,” Rice said. “Our main strength is speed. We knew they [Louisiana-Monroe] were going to give us chances to steal. They put it out there and we got it.”
In the first half, the Indians had two fouls in the first 30 seconds of play. A Robert Hite dunk put the ‘Canes ahead 5-0 as Louisiana continued to foul. UM started playing sloppy basketball but was able to focus and increase their lead to 10 points with 15:00 remaining. Junior guard Brandon Okpalobi made a steal and passed to Rice on a fast break, leading to a dunk, giving the Hurricanes a 22-9 lead with just over 10 minutes left to play in the half. A Karron Clarke dunk and a Gary Hamilton buzzer-beater gave the ‘Canes a 45-31 halftime advantage. Rice led the Hurricanes with 10 points and five rebounds, while Surratt had the lone three-pointer of the half.
Second half play kept the ‘Canes defense on its feet, while the offense struggled through a dry spell for the first two and a half minutes. Frisby was able to pull the first shot off. An Eric Wilkins basket off a Surratt assist appeared to awaken the crowd, giving Miami a 51-37 lead with 13:39 remaining. Freshman guard Anthony Harris put on the finishing touches with a three to end it.
“We were able to dictate the tempo,” said Head Coach Perry Clark. “Offensively we struggled a little bit, but today has been a much better defensive effort than Friday night.”
Frisby made an effort to put to rest any misconceptions about the way Hurricane basketball is played.
“We do have a post presence,” he said. “I wanted to show everybody that we can score in the paint…we have an all-around game.”
Play continues for the ‘Canes today against Rhode Island at the Las Vegas Tournament. They are scheduled to play Bradley tomorrow in Las Vegas as well.
“I think when we get out there we just have to keep our poise,” Clark said. “And if we do that, we’ll be successful.”
Melissa Teich can be reached at melissateich@hotmail.com.
Last year, the Hurricanes had high expectations for forward Will Frisby. However, a foot injury kept Frisby on the sideline for the entire season and the ‘Canes limped to an 11-17 record.
Frisby has returned this season and is still working on getting back in rhythm. However, just having the 6-8, 240-pounder out there gives the Hurricanes toughness and a defensive and rebounding presence that the team lacked last season.
“I think he’s very important and he was one of the pieces we missed last year,” Head Coach Perry Clark said. “He has versatility to go inside and outside and he is a great rebounder and defensive presence. I really think he is a good player.”
Frisby, a transfer from Fresno City College, is the type of player that will always hustle and dive on the floor for loose balls. He has a knack for the ball and always seems to be in the position to make a play.
“I am Mr. Hustle, I dive on the floor for the ball, I’m all over the place,” Frisby said. “I have that mentality that wherever the ball is, that I am going to go get it.”
If you looked at Frisby’s numbers from two seasons ago in terms of points and rebounds per 40 minutes, he led the team with 10.1 rebounds and 10.9 points. He has never played more than 14 minutes in a game because of his injury-riddled career, however. He is trying to put all of his ailments behind him and move ahead to the future. He has lofty goals for this season.
“I want to average a double-double; 15 and 10 is OK, 20 and 15 is even better,” Frisby said.
Frisby’s team goals don’t get any easier. He is one of many players that believe this year’s team has the talent to contend in the Big East Conference.
“My goal is to beat UConn, win the Big East Championship, and to go to the NCAA Tournament,” Frisby said.
As a player, Frisby tries to model his game after his favorite NBA superstar, Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I love Kevin Garnett,” Frisby said. “The man has every dimension to the game possible; he can play defense, rebound, and is an offensive threat inside and out. That’s how I want to play.”
When an athlete gets injured, they are faced with a dose of reality and often become harder workers as a result. For Frisby, his injury helped him grow as a player and a person.
“I think the injuries forced him to grow a lot,” Clark said. “We thought we were going to get him back, and it just never happened. It was very frustrating for him, but he is more disciplined as a result.”
Frisby believes that he can be more than just a defensive specialist and a rebounder for the ‘Canes. He wants to become a scoring option on offense as well.
“If the ball gets to me in the post, I can score the basket. Miami is used to having an outside game but if the guards have the trust in me to give me the ball in the post, then we will be a better team,” Frisby said.
His teammates motivate him to work harder as well. Frisby cited teammate Darius Rice as someone who inspires him to be a better player and makes him want to work harder and win. However, Frisby’s main inspiration comes from his mother.
“Everything I do now I do for my mother, she’s my hero,” Frisby said. “I love her to death and I wouldn’t be the man that I am today without her.”
When his UM career is over, Frisby would love to make the jump into the professional basketball ranks. If he keeps working hard, he may be able to accomplish his goal of playing in the next level. He has the confidence in himself and the work ethic to achieve his goal.
“My father made me come up with this saying, so I always say ‘where there is a Will, there’s a way,’ and I am that Will,” Frisby said.
Darren Grossman can be reached at DRG215@aol.com
Women’s hoops
The University of Miami women’s basketball team opened the 2003-04 season with a 93-54 victory over Morehead State Saturday afternoon in the Morehead Tourism Commission Tip-Off Classic in Morehead, KY.
Senior Chanivia Broussard and sophomore Tamara James scored 15 points apiece to lead the Hurricane offense.
Junior Yalonda McCormick scored 11 points, dished out five assists and picked up five steals in 25 minutes of action.
Freshman Imani Dhahabu scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench for UM.
The Hurricanes opened the game on a 10-2 run and continued to add to their lead shooting 57.1 percent from the field in the first half.
Miami led 55-24 at the half.
The Hurricanes continued to dominate the Lady Eagles leading by as many as 49 points in the second half.
Miami shot 49.3 percent in the game, compared to 32.2 percent for Morehead.
The Hurricanes forced 26 MSU turnovers
Women’s Tennis
The University of Miami women’s tennis team signed Juliette Mavroleon and Caren Seenauth, two of Florida’s top five players, to national letters-of-intent for the 2004-05 season.
Mavroleon, a Miami native and a standout from Dr. Michael M. Krop High School advanced to the semifinals of the Florida Open this summer.
Seenauth advanced to the Round of 16 at the USTA Supernational Clay Courts.
“My goal is to build our program around the huge talent that’s in the state of Florida,” said head coach Paige Yaroshuk. “This talented recruiting class is a step in that direction and I am extremely excited to have them push our team to the next level.”
The players teamed up to advance to the quarterfinals of the Florida Open
During President Bush’s visit to London he gave a wonderful speech where he touched on many important issues in today’s political scene. These issues include: Iraq, the global war on terrorism, the United Nations, the Middle East as a whole, and the ties and common values between the U.S. and Britain. It was a magnificent speech filled with insightful points and thoughtful expressions.
One attribute I admire about President Bush is his courage. President Bush knows that much of the world disagrees with his foreign policy, but he still understands that he must do what is right. He knows that we cannot live in a world where oppressive dictators answer to no one. The President mentioned in his speech that it’s not enough to meet the dangers of the world with resolutions; we must meet those dangers with resolve. If the American people are to live in a safer world, there must be courageous men like our President that are willing to stomp out evil. And that duty [to defend Americans] sometimes requires the violent restraint of violent men. In some cases, the measured use of force is all that protects us from the chaotic world ruled by force.
During President Bush’s speech, he spoke of the importance of spreading democracy. He even directly stated that if the greater Middle East joins the democratic revolution that has reached much of the world, the lives of millions in that region will be bettered, and a trend of conflict and fear will be ended at its source. I believe that this statement is extremely perceptive. If our goal is to one day achieve world peace, then our ticket to that world is democracy. The Middle East is where we must begin. We must end a cycle of dictatorship and radicalism that brings millions of people to misery. Wouldn’t the world be a better place with a democratic Middle East? Wouldn’t the citizens of the Middle East have a better life if they were free? Wouldn’t you feel safer living in that world?
There are those that argue that it is not our place to promote this democracy. They believe we should not impose our ideals on another society. To those skeptics: Freedom and democracy are not American virtues! Every person has an inherent right to be free. Free from tyranny and oppression. Free from brutal dictators that can kill and destroy with no consequences. As President Bush said, we cannot turn a blind eye to oppression just because the oppression is not in our backyard. No longer should we think tyranny is benign because it is temporarily convenient. Tyranny is never benign to its victims, and our great democracies [U.S. and U.K.] should oppose tyranny wherever it is found.
David Abroms can be contacted at DAbroms710@aol.com.
Almost two years ago, the U.S. government deemed it necessary to found a prison in Guant
Last week saw the rather violent protests over the FTAA summit. I agree that the Free Trade Area of the Americas does indeed have the potential for disastrous consequences not only here but abroad as well, possibly allowing for the overexploitation of foreign labor and resources among many other things. But as it stands, that’s all it is, potential. What the FTAA will entail is as of yet undecided and unknown, and while there is indeed a chance it could be disastrous, there is also a chance it may prove to actually be something beneficial, giving a much needed uplift to the economy both here and abroad.
It is a closed meeting, but every single point there is to be made about the potential dangers of the treaty has already been made. I’m well aware that corporate interests do have a lot of influence over these proceedings, but I don’t believe in this us versus them mentality that keeps painting corporations as monolithic juggernauts bend on global domination. At the end of the day, regardless of how much pressure and maneuvering there may be on behalf of the corporations, it takes at least two sides to sign an agreement, and I tend to give credit to the representatives of South American nations. I don’t believe anyone will sign an agreement that will rape their land and destroy their people, no matter how much power we attribute to the corporations. We’re dealing with agreements that have to be approved by entire nations. In fact, it is because of the amount of dissent currently seen all over South America (which, ironically enough, I don’t see much U.S. press coverage of) that I doubt the FTAA will get passed to begin with.
My disagreement with the protests stems from the fact that protesting is a very powerful tool, but like most large tools, they serve very simple functions. All a protest conveys is a great sense of disapproval and to raise public awareness. Yet the FTAA protesters are not anti-FTAA, they are instead trying to convey a more complex message regarding the various points they want representatives to keep in mind while drafting the agreement. They are using protests in lieu of open hearings as a constant reminder to officials of their points.
If the FTAA existed and even a fraction of the problems the protesters fear was a reality, then yes, by all means I would encourage the protests and the need for change. But as it stands, all they are doing is raising pre-emptive hell, and while they may have valid points, they are lost in blare of protest.
Endre Enyedy can be contacted at endre_enyedy@yahoo.com.
