When the average sports fan is asked about track and field, images of Michael Johnson and Marion Jones running the 100 and 200-meter dash probably come to mind.
Pole vaulters don’t necessarily enjoy the same attention as a famous sprinter, but may in fact be the best all-around athletes in track and field. University of Miami pole vaulter Jabari Ennis is a perfect example of an all-around athlete who has the capability to excel in any field event.
The senior from Kingston, Jamaica has fully recovered from a potentially crippling knee injury and plans to gain plenty of national attention for himself this season as he tries to finish strong in both the Big East and NCAA championships.
“Rehab was real hard and put things in perspective for me,” Ennis said. “I had to learn how to walk again and go through tough lifting sessions. Seeing other people go through it in the past helped inspire me to fully recover.”
Before his injury, Ennis was UM’s top ranked vaulter during both the 2001 indoor and outdoor seasons and placed sixth at the Big East Outdoor Championships. Ennis plans on building on his past success to continue improving this season.
“My goal is to win both the Big East and NCAA’s,” Ennis said. “This year’s team can do a lot of damage in both the pole vault and sprints.”
Ennis opened up the 2003 season with a first place finish at the Florida Intercollegiates in Gainesville on Jan. 18. His vault of 5.05 meters qualified for the Big East Championships in May.
Ennis points to the Oklahoma Invitational as a meet where he has done well in the past and plans to beat his personal best there.
“The track is wonderful in Oklahoma,” Ennis said. “I hope to break personal records there and jump 17 feet for the first time.”
Ennis also brings back great memories every time he makes the trip to Norman and considers those meets his favorite.
“I would have to say the Oklahoma meets have been the highlight of my career so far,” Ennis said. “I do very well there and I enjoy the trips with my friends.”
What most people don’t realize about pole vaulting, according to Ennis, is that one must be talented in all areas of track and field in order to have success.
“If someone asked me to describe pole vaulting, I would tell them that to do well you must beat all of the sprinters, throw farther than the throwers and jump higher than anyone else,” Ennis said. “It is all about technique and you have to work out your whole body because balance is critical.”
Ennis is only six inches away from qualifying for the 2004 Olympics and will earn a degree in Computer Engineering this May. He hopes to accomplish his ultimate goal of representing Jamaica.
“It has always been my goal to compete in the Olympics,” Ennis said. “My next personal record should qualify and hopefully you will see me in 2004.”

-You can reach Eric Kalis at elk777bc@hotmail.com

Over his past nine years at the University of Miami, head coach Jim Morris has become synonymous with honor, pride and winning.
Since 1994, Morris has coached in 576 games for the Hurricanes, going 427-148-1 over that span for a .742 winning percentage. His teams have gone to the College World Series seven times in his career at Miami.
With the 2003 season beginning Wednesday night against FIU, Morris could face his toughest task to date at UM. After coming off his worst season as the ‘Canes head coach, Morris faces the daunting task of putting together another successful ball club, despite the fact that graduation and the major league baseball draft continue to devastate his team each year.
“Since coming to Miami I have learned to deal with losing very talented players year after year,” Morris said.
Morris has never failed to make the College World Series two seasons in a row. If the veteran coach wants to keep his streak alive, the Hurricanes will have to rebound from last year’s disappointing season.
“There are no rebuilding years at Miami,” Morris said.
The reality of another berth in the College World Series seemed unlikely for Miami in the offseason. During that time, the program was questioned in regard’s to the NCAA’s investigation against the team’s recruiting policies. Morris is confident that the off the field events will not hinder the results on the field.
“Whatever happens is going to happen and we are going to ride with it,” Morris said. “Most importantly we have to think about this year, and whatever happened in the past, it certainly was not intentional.
“This is a new year and we have a season to play. I don’t feel this will be a distraction to our team.”
Morris was also unhappy with Miami’s standing in the pre season rankings. Most polls had the ‘Canes ranked in the mid-teens, and one didn’t even include UM in the top 25.
“After ending up three outs away from the College World Series, to see us not ranked at all the following season is incredible,” Morris said. “Personally, I take offense to that and I think our kids do as well.
“Hopefully we can use that as motivation to get us going this season. We are still Miami and this program has a history of being in the mix every year.”
But two big questions remain: Does this team have what it takes to compete, and who will be the guys to get this club back to Omaha?
“As it was last year, there are a lot of question marks in the lineup,” Morris said. “A key difference between this year’s team and last year’s is that we were able to acquire some very good junior college players. These guys have two years experience and know what it takes to win.
“Tom Shannon and Adam Ricks are both from very good programs in California. Florida and California have the best baseball in the country, the weather is great, and these guys get a chance to play a lot of games a year vs. some very tough competition.”
Morris has dealt with the odds before and is ready to coach through them again.
“I can assure you our lineup on Wednesday will not be the lineup that we end the season with,” Morris said. “We are going to switch things around and mix things up until we find what works best.”

-You can reach Ryan Ellis at msgnyc@yahoo.com

Do you want to have a chance to compete for wonderful prizes at halftime of one of the Hurricane basketball games at the new Convocation Center? If so, here is your chance in the 2-Ball Competition! All you have to do is get a partner and sign up at the Outdoor Courts of the Wellness Center next Monday through Thursday during Intramural basketball games. The finalists in the Men’s and Women’s divisions will be invited to compete against each other during a game. For more information, contact Jason Carroll at 305-284-8518 or jcarroll@miami.edu.

Soccer Playoffs:
Triple Alt. 165 – 1 (PK)
One Touchables – 0

Reggae Ruffians – 3
Latin American FC – 0

UMSM Women – 3
PT Playas – 0

Goalden Girls – 1
The Empresses – 0 (Forfeit)

Lambda Chi Alpha – 1 (PK)
Alpha Sigma Phi – 0

Zeta Beta Tau – 2 (PK)
Sigma Phi Epsilon – 1

Kirk Tracy Memorial FC – 2 (PK)
Dutch Soccer – 1

Chess Club – 3
Soccer for Dummies – 0

Delta Gamma – 1
Sigma Delta Tau – 0 (Forfeit)

Kirk Tracy Memorial FC – 2
Triple Alt 165 – 1

Reggae Ruffians – 1 (PK)
Chess Club – 0

Basketball:
12 Angry Men – 38
Up in Smoke – 17

Griswalds – 31 (OT)
Drive By – 30

UBS Girls – 24
!Robbed! – 8
Wahine – 30
Big Daddy Abraham – 13

Team Cubano – 67
Famous Guys – 21

Shooting Stars – 46
Pimps & Gigolos – 35

Miami Hurrigangstars – 40
SBA – 18

Team Highlight – 37
Down with Brown – 34

Pi Kappa Alpha – 67
Alpha Sigma Phi – 54

Alpha Epsilon Pi – 50
Lambda Chi Alpha – 28

Sigma Chi – 48
Sigma Alpha Epsilon – 1

Zeta Beta Tau – 46
Sigma Alpha Mu – 29

Relentless – 42
Walsh 7 – 30

Surs Flow – 41
Got It Locked – 29

Punishers – 31
Rythym Method – 30

Sons of – 61
RT9ers – 28

Club Med – 33
Gunners – 22

Macro-orchidism -49
Complete – 48

Night Riders – 44
The Squad – 36

Donkey Punch – 39
Above the Rim – 36

Co Fuzzy Furze – 44
Below the Rim – 32

2L Scrubs – 54
The Boodroskis – 28

Wagon Mound 3 – 40
No Fear – 31

Knights – 46
Chokers – 26

Diaper Dandies – 32
Cleveland Steam – 11

Get Money – 63
Ruff Ryders – 53
Midwest Connex – 37
All-Stars – 32

Penthouse All-Stars – 46
Penthouse All-Stars 2 – 38

Booty Jackers – 47
Party House Ponce -29

Team Racquetball:
Stoper – 2
Cell Block 6 – 1

Blue Balls – 3
Mark2 – 0

Pi Kappa Alpha – 2
Sigma Alpha Epsilon – 1

Lambda Chi Alpha – 3
Phi Delta Theta – 0

Convocation Center drought comes to an end
By
Hurricane Sports Writer
After losing their first two games in the brand new Convocation Center, the Lady ‘Canes basketball team got a tough victory, beating Virginia Tech 67-66 in overtime Tuesday night. Despite hitting just one of 13 three-point shots, missing 16 of their 26 free throws, getting out-rebounded 55-43, and shooting a paltry 25 percent from the field in the first half, the ‘Canes managed enough defense to come out victorious.
The Hokies only scored 18 points in the first half and didn’t lead until the 11:13 mark of the second half. Although V-Tech shot 25 percent in the first half, they found a way to beat the ‘Canes defense and score 36 points in the second half.
Riding on the shoulders of their 6-2 junior center Shaquana Wilkins, who led the ‘Canes with 19 points, the ‘Canes extended their largest lead of the game to nine points with only 3:11 left to play in regulation. From that point on the ‘Canes would only score one more time as they let the Hokies chip away at their lead and eventually tie the game.
Head Coach Ferne Labati, who fell over as she jumped in frustration on the sideline, said, “Shaq [Wilkins] came through really big for us, especially in the second half. She’s a very stable person who you know you can depend on because she’s very personable.”
Freshman phenom Tamara James and Yolanda McCormick both missed the front end of one-and-one free throw attempts with less than two minutes to go, giving the Hokies confidence and the chance to come back. Virginia Tech freshman Carrie Mason, who scored a game-high 24 points, hit two foul shots with just over a minute to go, pulling the Hokies within three points.
On the Hokies next possession, Mason calmly came down the court and nailed a three pointer to tie the game at 54 points with 25 seconds to go. The ‘Canes had one more shot at winning the game when the Hokies fouled James as she drove to the basket. Miami’s free-throw woes continued as James missed her free-throw attempt. Virginia Tech got the rebound but failed to get off a shot before time expired.
Halfway through the overtime period, James hit two free throws to put Miami in the lead for good. The Hokies did however come very close to making another comeback.
After building a five point lead with a little over two minutes remaining, the ‘Canes allowed the Hokies to pull within one point. Again the Hokies resorted to fouling the ‘Canes. James missed two foul shots that could have extended Miami’s lead, but the ‘Canes defense came through as Meghan Saake blocked the next Hokie shot. The Hokies fouled Saake and she too missed both of her foul shots.
With only five seconds remaining the Hokies made a mad dash down the floor to attempt a last second shot but Chanivia Broussard stole the ball to end the game. Broussard, who led Miami in points her first two seasons made her first start against Virginia Tech.
The ‘Canes host Villanova tomorrow night at the Convocation Center.

You can reach Nate Johnson at NPJ44@aol.com.

Outspoken personality has made Sapp a winner in NFL
For the first 20 years of their existence, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had been considered the laughing stock of the NFL.
In 1995, during the tail end of their drought, the ‘Bucs selected University of Miami defensive tackle Warren Sapp in the first-round, in what was considered a risky move. Tampa Bay personnel, however, saw Sapp as a building block for a future Super Bowl team.
Eight years later, Sapp and the Buccaneers finally put an end to decades of frustration, as Tampa Bay defeated the Oakland Raiders 48-21 Sunday in the Super Bowl. The former Hurricane, a longtime vocal leader in the Tampa Bay locker room, forced a fumble, and helped spearhead the Tampa Bay defense that caused all sorts of problems for Rich Gannon and the Raiders’ offense.
“We emerged from the ridicule and heartbreak put upon this organization, to evolving into a playoff team that no one thought could take the next step,” Sapp said. “We took that next step, and now we are world champions, and that is something nobody can ever take away.”
Known for his outspokenness, Sapp originally wanted to be a lawyer growing up, using his ability to talk his way out of anything to his advantage. Sapp did not even begin to play football until his sophomore year in high school. However, those few years were enough to alter Sapp’s career plans.
“Getting to know people like yourself, meeting hall of fame players of the game you really admire, gives you that good fuzzy feeling all over,” Sapp said. “It’s really a game of relationships and building friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Sapp enrolled at the University of Miami and quickly became a prominent player on the team. Originally, the 30-year old arrived in Miami as a tight end, before head coach Dennis Erickson moved him to defensive tackle. In three years with the Hurricanes, Sapp recorded 19.5 sacks and 176 tackles, while forcing and recovering four fumbles.
Those numbers solidified Sapp as one of the nation’s best defensive players, and also opened the door to some recognition as well. Sapp became UM’s first Lombardi Award winner in 1994 as the nation’s best interior lineman, and was announced an All-American his junior season. Sapp also took home the Bronko Nagurski Award as college football’s top defensive player.
After joining the ‘Bucs organization in 1995, Sapp picked the number 99, sharing it with one of the players he looked up to most, Jerome Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles, a player whom Sapp often drew comparisons to. One of Sapp’s fondest memories was the day Brown came to visit.
“It was a dream come true,” Sapp said. “When I answered my door, I stumbled back for a moment taking in the sight of the great Jerome Brown coming to visit little old me at Miami.”
This season, Sapp earned a spot in the Pro Bowl for the sixth consecutive year, a feat only matched by Mike Alstott, Derrick Brooks, and Lee Roy Selmon in the history of the Tampa Bay organization. He has also been named to the All-Pro team by the Associated Press each of the past four seasons. Now, Sapp has his ultimate piece of hardware: a Super Bowl ring. “I think this championship validates us all as a defense, because for the last six or seven years we’ve been the staple that you must measure up to. ‘Can you play defense like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?'” Sapp said. “The Purple People Eaters and the Fearsome Foursome are not talked about in the same light as they do the Steal Curtain. They were champions, and championships are the key factors that define you in this league.”
Sapp finished second on the team with 5.5 sacks, and led Tampa defensive linemen with 78 tackles. Although Sapp’s sack totals haven’t been as high over the past couple years, the former ‘Cane still has found a way to break through opposing offensive lines on a regular basis. This season, Sapp had two multi-sack games against Cincinnati and Cleveland and also reached a milestone of different sorts, starting his 100th career game in the season opener against New Orleans.
While Sapp has great respect for his teammates, no one has earned the defensive tackle’s stamp of approval more then head coach John Gruden.
“He has to be our messiah,” Sapp said. “We gave up four draft picks, four million dollars, and the team even considered giving up me. He’s got to be the man to take us where we need to go, and here we are.”
In addition to winning the first Super Bowl in franchise history, the ‘Bucs defense has been called one of the greatest in NFL history. Sapp expects his team to stay on top for more than just one year.
“Not many people can say they came into a ball club, stayed on the same team for their whole career and ended on top of the list,” Sapp stated. “If I’m on my game, we’re awfully hard to beat.”

-You can reach Dana Strokovsky at Hoopg1rl6@aol.com.

After a disappointing loss to Syracuse on Sunday, the University of Miami men’s basketball team desperately needed a win to stay in the hunt for the Big East title.
Thanks to the timely scoring of Darius Rice and the rebounding and defense of freshman Gary Hamilton, the ‘Canes escaped the Convocation Center with a 60-57 win over Providence College Wednesday night. Rice led all scorers with 26 points, including 21 in the second half, and iced the game with 9.9 seconds to go by hitting two free throws.
Romuald Augustin led the Friars with 15 points, and Ryan Gomes contributed 12 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.
Meanwhile, Hamilton made his presence felt through hard-nosed defense against the Providence big men, pulling down 12 rebounds.
“Gary played huge for us today, especially for a freshman,” coach Perry Clark said. “He gave us key rebounds and handled their big men very well.”
Hamilton had some incentive to have a big game against the Friars, as the 6’10” center was ready to commit to Providence last year before a fallout occurred between himself and the school.
“I was almost committed there but they ended up backing down,” Hamilton said. “I was motivated to have a big game against them.”
The first half of the game seemed like a horror show for both Miami and Providence. The two teams combined for 21 turnovers (UM 10, PC 11), and each squad had trouble shooting from the field, as the ‘Canes shot 33 percent and the Friars shot 35 percent.
“I think we worked them too hard the past couple of days and they came out sluggish because of it,” Clark said. “We didn’t expect their zone defense early on, and we weren’t sharp at all.”
The second half opened with better shooting and fewer turnovers by both squads. The ‘Canes tied the score for the first time (39-39) on a Robert Hite dunk with 13:05 left in the game.
Miami then captured the lead (47-46) when Rice broke out of his first half slump, hitting three-pointers on consecutive possessions. The junior was able to overcome his slow start and improve his shot selection in the second half.
“Early on I wasn’t getting too many touches,” Rice said. “I was more active in the second half and my teammates were setting better screens for me.”
An Eric Wilkins steal and dunk with 1:35 left gave the ‘Canes a 57-55 lead. Following an Armondo Surratt turnover, James Jones came up with a clutch steal, leading to a Surratt free throw to make it a 58-55 game with 37 seconds left.
After Gomes converted on a lay-up, the Friars were back within one point (58-57) with 13.5 seconds left. But Rice came through with the two free throws, making the score 60-57 in UM’s favor. A Donnie McGrath 3-point heave at the buzzer came up short, and the Hurricanes escaped with the win.
“This was a victory we needed,” Clark said. “With the way we have improved defensively, I would give us a chance against anyone in the league. But we all know how tough the Big East is. No one in this league is an easy out.”

-You can reach Eric Kalis at elk777bc@hotmail.com.