SPORTS Technique • Friday, September 10, 2004 • 33

more than a track meet, but there We wanted to talk to other coun- got on the apron, and you see these Howard: We got so much stuff from page 34 were more than I saw for a football tries, and you know, the countries names on paper, and it’s not really that I actually had to mail some back Howard game, anything. That stadium was that did speak the same language, we a big deal. that’s not here yet. You’re very happy crowded, and I couldn’t believe it. got really close with Australia, and But I looked around at the ladies to get all the stuff, but at the same it is very hard to stay there. There were cameras everywhere, Great Britain, it was great. I was jumping against, I look up to time, you can’t bring any of the stuff I feel like my competition’s on a nothing like I’d ever seen before. ‘Nique: Since track was later all them. They’re all taller than me, you brought with you home. I mean, whole different level now. I’m not ‘Nique: What about the Olym- in the Olympics, did you get to and, I looked at one lady and said, you only get two bags on the plane, really, I’m not too worried. I’m going pic village? What were your im- go out and do much in the city or ‘wow, that’s the lady on the video and I had two large duffel bags with into the season very confident. pressions of such a unique spot in see many other events? Or were that I learned high jump from in wheels, and they gave us three more ‘Nique: On to the Olympics. the world? you too busy prepping for your high school.’ when we got there. What was the first thing that Howard: I don’t know how to events to see much else? A lot of the women I learned ‘Nique: To fill up with stuff? went through your head when describe it. It’s like you can go to Howard: Yeah, basically, you — actually learned — my technique Howard: No, they were full! you realized you were going to one block and hear people speaking want to stay focused until your event from watching videos of them, and Three bags full of stuff. You have go to Athens? one language, go to another block is over, so really I think a lot of us now I’m competing with them! lots of stuff to give away to people Howard: The first thing that came and they’re speaking a completely didn’t get to go out and experience That was the most amazing part of from different countries; I actually to my head was ‘Wow, I actually did different language. But at the same the other events because you want the Games. had to give away all my regular it.’ I mean, you set a goal, and halfway time, all the people are trying to to keep that focus until your event clothes to make room for the Team through the year, I changed what I bond with one another, and we can’t is over. USA stuff. was saying from ‘I might make the Also, you have to sign up for ‘Nique: Did every athlete that team’ or, ‘if God’s willing, I’ll go’ to tickets to go to the other events, so “...I looked at one came to the Olympics get that ‘yes I’m going’ and my confidence it’s basically luck of the draw as to lady and said, ‘Wow, much, or is that because you were changed. And so when I did it, it was “That stadium was who gets tickets to what. a U.S. athlete? like, ‘oh my gosh, I actually did it!’ crowded, and I ‘Nique: So then after your that’s the lady on Howard: It was mostly USA track My second thought was that I events were over did you get to the video that I and field stuff, and the USOC. We don’t have any goals anymore. My couldn’t believe it. see much of Athens? had different things, like the track goal was to go to the Olympics so There were cameras Howard: Yes, I took a lot of learned high jump team was sponsored by Nike and I really had to re-assess things and pictures, the ruins, the Parthenon, from in high school.’ the actual Olympics sponsored by make a new goal. everywhere, nothing I got to see that. And the shopping. Adidas. ‘Nique: What’s your goal like I’d ever seen I spent so many euros! A lot of the women ‘Nique: So you had to be sure now? ‘Nique: Give me your favorite I learned...my not to wear your Adidas pants Howard: My goal now is to make before.” moment from the games. Overall, with your Nike shirt? the world championships. you’re there for how long? technique from.... ” Howard: (laughs) There were ‘Nique: Was your safety at really speak. Howard: Well, I was actually actually different times to wear the Games, because of terrorist The whole time I was over there, there two weeks before the games ‘Nique: I wanted to ask you too different things. threats at the games, something I forgot the political problems of even started. I went to London about these officiating troubles ‘Nique: One last thing. I know you talked about with coaches the world, everything that goes on and Germany for meets before the in some of the sports during the you said your goal for this year and family? in the world, and it’s not a big deal. Games. Games. Were you glad that you is the world championships.Is Howard: Basically, my family is Everyone’s just having fun, all your ‘Nique: How’d you do? were in a sport that didn’t have a 2008 something you’re aiming very strong in faith, and I just had to worries are gone and it’s amazing. Howard: The first one I didn’t do judge holding up a scorecard at for as well? sit down and think, if God brought ‘Nique: So you really did try that well because of the time differ- the end of your jumps? Howard: Oh definitely. But I’m me to this point, then he’s going to to mingle? Was that something ence. I ended up getting fourth place. Howard: I really didn’t hear a lot doing the same thing I did last time; take me through. I had no worries you were encouraged to do or was The seven-hour time change, a lot about that until, you know, it wasn’t just take it one step at a time. because of that. it something that you took upon of jet lag. The second meet I went something that was talked about in For the last four years, it was, ‘Nique: Describe that first mo- yourself, to try and mingle as much to I got second place. the village, so we really didn’t hear a ‘now I have to try and get a track ment walking into the Olympic as you could? ‘Nique: So once you were actu- lot about that until we got back. scholarship,’ ‘let me try to win na- Stadium. Howard: That’s just something ally in Athens, what one thing will It wasn’t really a worry that was tionals,’ taking it one step at a time. Howard: I could not believe there that everybody wanted to do. You you always remember from these on my mind. And I’m looking to maximize these were so many people! I was like, ‘this could tell other countries wanted Olympics? ‘Nique: What kind of stuff did next four years by taking it one step is a track meet?’ I know, it’s a lot to talk to us. Howard: I remember when I first you get as an Olympian? at a time. 34 • Friday, September 10, 2004 • Technique SPORTS ramblin’ By Andy Holt with Chaunte Howardjunior track and field Chaunte Howard, a junior track ing, you don’t get back until the backstop? I’d always race the boys and field star, has enjoyed tremen- evening; maybe 7 o’clock at night, and beat them. dous success over the past two years and that’s including classes, study I’ve always been pretty athletic. I at Tech. hall, practice, weights. By the time noticed that early; it started [about] A native of Templeton, California you get home you’re too tired to do third grade. They started making us Howard is use to making large leaps anything else except sleep and lay do mile time trials once a month, for success. around. once a week, something like that. As a freshman, she was the ACC ‘Nique: Do you keep up with In middle school, I just took it Indoor and Outdoor champion in all the other Tech sports? a little further—‘I can jump over the high jump, and was named an Howard: Oh yeah. that stick!’— and just challenging All-American.Last year, she won ‘Nique: What do you think myself—‘Wow, I really CAN jump the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor over the stick!’ championships, and she followed ‘Nique: It seems like at the tri- her tremendous success by finishing als you really stepped it up. You second in the United States Olympic “Well, actually, you cleared 6’4” there, didn’t you? Trials and competing in Athens. She know in elementary Was qualifying a big surprise to finished a respectable 28th overall you, or did you know you had it in the Olympics. school how they in you when you started? This week she sat down with the make you run a Howard: Well, it wasn’t a big Technique to talk about her success, surprise, because earlier in the year I her hobbies and Athens. lap around the jumped 6’4” 3/4, and I jumped 6’6” backstop? I’d always in Utah. But I was so nervous. ‘Nique: What do you do in The trials were more nerve- your free time, what do you do race the boys and wracking for me than the actual for fun? beat them!” Olympics. To jump 6’4”, it was one Howard: Well, my friends on the of my best marks but it wasn’t the track team, they like to go swim- best, because I was so nervous. I was ming a lot, spend a lot of time in the about the football team’s chances very happy, and the 2nd place, that CRC and I love to shop (laughter). this year? made me very happy. Basically, on the weekends, I go to Howard: Actually, I have seen ‘Nique: Since you did so well the mall on Saturday; on Sunday I some of the football players work- last season, are you nervous? Are go to church. ing out in the weight room, and you ready to go as a defending ‘Nique: Is that how the track they seem to be very excited, seem champion? Are those expecta- schedule works? I’ve never talked to be more of a unit, which is very tions a weight on you or are they to a track athlete before, so what’s important. motivation? your schedule like on a typical ‘Nique: So how did you get into Howard: Actually, they motivate day? all this? Did someone inspire you me. It makes it a little harder, because Howard: Well, we’re pretty to get into track, or did you just you know that everybody’s training By Christopher Gooley / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS free right now because we’re not in discover you were good at it? — ‘I want to beat Chaunte’ — you Chaunte Howard makes a flying leap in track and field competition season, but during the season we’re Howard: Well, actually, you know, it’s easier to get to the top, but this year with her first performance in the Olympics. This year busy during the entire day. know in elementary school how Howard will defend her NCAA high jump championship. You leave the house in the morn- they make you run a lap around the See Howard, page 33 SPORTS Technique • Friday, September 10, 2004 • 35

BEYOND THE WHITE AND GOLD Schools should not sacrifice academics for athletics

By Michael Clarke have said is ‘for all athletes, it is really championship. You just have to go Considering that Tech lost 10 ing Construction. The GPA for Senior Staff Writer tough to get into Notre Dame.” out there and turn over more rocks football players to academic in- student-athletes during the Spring In the past, schools such as and ask more questions to find out eligibility for the 2003 campaign, 2004 semester was 2.89. I’m not Tech constantly faces the issue of Tech and Notre Dame have been where these guys are. You have to our student-athletes are excelling insinuating that the student-athletes balancing academic standards and able to maintain superior academic find them; they aren’t just going to in the classroom. This feeling shows are smarter, but they definitely do being able to compete on the football standards and a high level of com- fall in your lap.” through in all of Tech’s programs. have better time management skills field. Stanford, Notre Dame and petitiveness on the football field, In order for Tech to be able to stay Despite the basketball team’s success than the average student at Tech. Northwestern are just a few schools but in the last 10 years the football competitive in the years to come, the on the court, Paul Hewitt could not “Everyone is convinced they’re that are also trying to find their own powerhouses have fallen to the administration and Athletic Associa- successfully recruit Randolph Morris making it to the NFL and they don’t answers to this question. wayside as parity has taken hold of tion are going to have to adjust to because he believed that Tech would concentrate on being a student,” Tim At the end of March last year, the game. This parity is partly due the way recruiting is handled. Not be too challenging. Brown said. “I’ve asked kids why Paul Hornung, an alumnus of Notre to the increased national exposure only will they have to work harder Although this is the most recent don’t they consider Notre Dame, Dame and 1956 Heismann Trophy by teams such as Louisiana Tech, at recruiting, but they also will have and they say it’s too tough. The kids winner, sparked a heated debate on to start to look at Junior College these days are just looking for the this very subject with his comments athletes. These athletes may not easy way.” in a radio interview. “We can’t stay as have had the academics to get into “We try to do a “If Notre Dame doesn’t win Hornung said in the interview, Tech straight out of high school, games because they don’t lower in reference to the recent lack of strict as we are as but they have worked their way into great job with their standards, I can live with football success at Notre Dame, far as the academic that position. academics here that,” Brown said. “But to lower “We can’t stay as strict as we are “Since I went to Georgia Tech, your standards just to win football as far as the academic structure structure is we also struggle with a limited cur- because that is one games is a wrong decision.” is concerned because we’ve got to concerned because riculum and very high academic of our strengths. [It Tech should not and cannot get the black athletes. We must get standards for student-athletes. Some- afford to sacrifice the academic the black athletes if we’re going to we have got to get times it seems like those are too is] one of the things prestige of the Institute to becom- compete.” black athletes.” restrictive, and it means that you that we try to do...” ing nothing more than a football Hornung retracted his comments aren’t going to be able to recruit in factory. Is the cost of winning worth the next day because he claimed that Paul Hornung some areas where the school systems Chan Gailey lowering ourselves to the academic he meant all athletes instead of just aren’t as strong. I don’t know what levels of the University of Georgia black athletes. Notre Dame alumnus the answer is except to improve our Tech head coach and Florida State? It is possible for As I watched various telecasts this educational systems. It is something Tech to maintain a level of competi- weekend, I noticed that Hornung’s Nevada and others that wouldn’t that all the top academic institutions example that comes to mind, Tech tiveness in the classroom and in the comments were brought up in four have seen a television audience have to deal with right now,” said faces this in recruiting on an annual various sporting environments that separate games. outside of their local areas. Bill Curry. basis in every sport. the student-athletes compete in, but Taking the racial issues out of the “We try to do a great job with Not only do these athletes have In the process Tech has also the coaches and administration will equation, Hornung does make a solid academics here because that is one to make it into Tech, but also they avoided having academic scandals be forced to make changes in the way point. Although it is harder for some of our strengths. One of the things must succeed in the classroom. At in the classroom as to the reason for that they recruit athletes. schools to recruit because of their that we try to do a very good job the end of spring semester, 30 of the grades. Tech also doesn’t have In the future Tech will compete admissions requirements, there is a of here is to show the academics,” Tech’s football players were among anything in the curriculum like Jim whether we lower our academic reason that they are called student- said Chan Gailey. “There are not as 152 student-athletes who made the Harrick Jr.’s Coaching Principles and standards or not, so although lower- athletes and not just athletes. The many [recruits] out there that we can Dean’s List for the semester. In the Strategies of Basketball course like ing our academic standards would same reason applies to why ‘student’ recruit the same as Florida, Georgia fall semester of last year, 33 football our counterparts at the University be better for competing in the short comes first in the equation. and Auburn because we have more players and 163 total student-athletes of Georgia. term, the long-term goal has to adapt In an interview on the Dan Pat- stringent academic requirements, made the Dean’s List. This total Starting wide receiver Nate Curry to the new environment around us rick Show the next day, Hornung but there are enough guys that can represents roughly 45 percent of the graduated with a year of eligibility without sacrificing our academic said, “I was wrong. What I should do the academic work and win a student-athlete population. remaining after majoring in Build- prestige in the process. Make your predictions in the Football Forecast! See Angry? how you do opinions@ techniuqe.gatech. against the edu Technique sports editor!

www.nique.net/footballforecast 36 • Friday, September 10, 2004 • Technique SPORTS Volleyball loses two in Wisconsin challenge exciting moments of last season, team that we can be. We still have a in which Tech came back from a few kinks to work out, but the execu- 0-2 deficit in front of a packed out tion was far better and the passion O’Keefe gymnasium. Now, Tech was there,” Shymansky said. would have the chance to get its This year’s volleyball team has season back on track against a tough struggled with replacing graduated Badger squad. veterans and finding that rhythm The Jackets were outhit once more, that is all too crucial to their play .227 to .264. This time they traded as a team. blows with the “Tough, it home team, split- is definitely ting the first four “We still have a few different from matches 22-30, last year,” said 30-26, 22-30, and kinks to work out, Aston about 30-19 —setting but the execution this year’s play. the stage for yet “It’s all about another five-game was far better and finding our match against the passion was chemistry as Wisconsin. a team.” But the home there.” The volley- team would also ball team does pull out this Bond Shymansky not always be- match, as the Bad- Volleyball head coach gin its seasons gers took game with so many five, 18-20. As games far away devastating as a 0-4 start can be, from home field, as they have done By Christopher Gooley / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS there were plenty of bright spots to this year. The Jackets now begin their season at 0-4 after playing in both the NACWAA Classic and the Badger which the Jackets can turn. “I don’t think it has been holding Challenge. Tech’s last loss, against Wisconsin, was a heartbreaker in five sets. Lindsay Laband turned in an- us back,” Aston said. “It was really all other stellar performance after taking about finding the chemistry of our By John Scaduto two games, 27-30 and 26-30. This 72 digs, led by Marisa Aston and over as starting setter, posting 69 team. We are a different team from Contributing Writer turned out to be an insurmountable Jennifer Randall with 17 and 14, assists —another career high. All- last year and finding that chemistry deficit, and after taking the third respectively. But the early hole and American Lynette Moster put away this year with the people that have The early season woes continued game 30-27, Tech fell in the fourth an effective Purdue offense kept the several of those assists, setting the left, has just taken us longer.” this past weekend for Georgia Tech game, 28-30. Tech squad at bay for the match. pace for the match with 26 kills, and volleyball. After a rough invitational The Boilermakers topped Tech “I give Purdue a lot of credit to- Badger Challenge though Tech relinquished a .264 hit First Round in Colorado left the team 0-2 to in hitting percentage, .271 to .260 night. They came out from the start percentage, the defense stayed tough Purdue def. Tech 30-20 , 30-24 , 30-18 open the season, the ladies traveled — a statistic that has plagued the of the match and really executed their with 82 team digs and six blocks Missouri def. Wisconsin 30-19 , 25-30 , to Madison, Wisconsin for another Jackets in previous matches. Yet, it offense… We showed some positive from Lauren Sauer alone. 37-35 , 30-13 invitational that would double Tech’s was an overall improvement, and the things at times tonight; now we just Optimism is the backbone of Third Place Game loss count. offense appears to be settling down have to put them all together,” said this tough Tech squad, and no one Wisconsin def. Tech 30-26 , 28-30, Tech opened up the Badger Chal- under new setter Lindsay Laband, head coach Bond Shymansky represents that more than the head 30-26 , 30-28 lenge Friday night against unranked who tossed up 59 assists, posting yet The second match of the weekend coach. Championship Game Purdue. The well-traveled Jackets another career high. was against No. 23 Wisconsin. This “For the first time this season, we Purdue def. Missouri 17-30 , 33-31 , came out flat and dropped the first The defense also stepped up with was a rematch of one of the most finally looked like the Georgia Tech 25-30 , 30-24 , 15-09

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alright. We should have done a lot from page 40 better,” said Gerris Wilkinson. Opener After allowing a touchdown in “Rookie they end up getting turnovers and the third quarter, the defense found not winning the football game,” itself needing a stop to seal the vic- of the Gailey said. tory on a fourth down and one play Year” faces P.J. Daniels flourished as Tech for the Bulldogs early in the fourth in the ran the ball early and often. Daniels quarter. LAUREN SAUER eclipsed the 100-yard plateau by “Defensively, I don’t think we re- reeling off a 46-yard touchdown run ally worried. I think we had a sense Senior with 9:22 remaining in the second of urgency on that fourth down, since quarter. He finished the game with they’d just scored on the previous Volleyball 169 yards on 25 carries. series. We knew we had to pick it Sauer was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2001. She was “I told him that he had to do better up and get them off the field,” said only the second Tech player to win this honor, with the other being than last year, because everybody’s cornerback Reuben Houston. Kele Eveland the year before. expecting more out of him.” said The defense responded, with At many times, the outside hitter from Huntsville has been unstop- quarterback Reggie Ball. Gerris Wilkinson coming up with pable, including a match against NC State in 2002 where she hit an With Chris Woods out due to the tackle, stopping Drew Guess, incredible .944, the second-best single game statistical performance injury, Rashaun Grant saw a good the Samford fullback, just short of in NCAA history. amount of action, and responded a first down. Last year, Sauer was named to the NCAA East all-region team well. He fin- A bright spot after averaging 4.0 kills per game and hitting. She also earned MVP ished the con- on the defen- honors at the Georgia Tech Invitational for her outstanding play. test with 75 “I told [P.J.] that sive side was the yards on 17 he had to do better play of Adamm carries, run- Oliver, filling in REGGIE BALL n i n g h a r d than last year, for starter Travis Sophomore until the final because everybody’s Parker at defensive whistle. end. Oliver was Football “We decid- expecting more out extremely active, Ball was the ACC Rookie of the Year last season, leading the Yel- ed to give that of him.” and he forced and low Jackets to a 7-6 record as their starting quarterback. He was also other guy a recovered a fumble named Second-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News chance. He did for the Jackets. Reggie Ball for his impressive play. pretty good, “Adamm Oli- Ball set Tech freshman records by throwing for 1,996 yards and too,” Gailey Tech quarterback ver was around completing 181 passes. He was also the team’s second leading rusher said regarding the ball a lot. He with 383 yards from scrimmage. Grant’s per- didn’t allow the Ball started off his sophomore campaign with an impressive game formance. [quarterback] to get outside. I saw against Samford, throwing for 201 yards and two touchdowns, lead- With the Jackets accumulating some things he did tonight very ing the Jackets to a 28-7 victory. 268 yards on the ground, Samford well,” Gailey said. defenders inched closer, giving Reg- Overall, the defense did a nice gie Ball a chance to throw the ball. job of keeping Samford from strik- KELLY ANDERSON He finished the game an efficient 14 ing quickly with any big plays. for 21, throwing for 201 yards. With a pair of starters out, the unit Sophomore “If they play a bunch of people did a nice job of avoiding coverage Tennis up at the line of scrimmage as this breakdowns, but they were nowhere team did, then you try and throw the near flawless. Anderson became the first Tech women’s tennis player in history ball down the field and they tried to “We just have to learn from our to be named ACC Rookie of the Year, winning the award for the put eight or nine in the box to stop mistakes. We did a good job com- 2003 season. Her brother, Roger, is the only male player to ever earn the running game, so it gives you municating out there on the field, but the honor. more of those kind of throws,” said we have to improve on basic things She led the team with 14 dual match wins on the season, and An- Gailey. like tackling and derson started off the year an impressive 13-1 in singles matches. Freshman adjusting to the Anderson also plays on Tech’s top doubles team, parterning with Calvin John- “I don’t think that offense. We have Jaime Wong. The pair finished the year ranked 28th in the nation, son was the tar- to use this to build and had an impressive victory over the 10th ranked pair of Hillary get for several we showed anything for next week,” Adams and Kelly McCain from Duke. of the down- to much on offense Wilkinson said. field attempts, The special hauling in two or defense. It was a teams unit helped catches for 45 pretty vanilla game.” the Jackets win yards. The tall, the field position athletic receiv- battle most of er just missed Rueben Houston the day. Fresh- another two Tech cornerback man Kyle Belcher long passes, boomed all five of one of which would have resulted his kickoffs to the in a Tech score. end zone, keeping Samford pinned The defensive side of the ball had deep in its own territory.Punter Ben a far different look from the end Arndt also kicked well, punting four of last year with several new faces times for 159 yards. playing key roles. Tackling was at a “I don’t think we showed any- premium against a Samford offense thing too much on offense or defense. that threw a flurry of short passes It was a pretty vanilla game,” said against the Jackets. Houston. The Bulldogs were led by quar- Samford - Georgia Tech, stats terback Ray Nelson who completed Samford 0 0 7 0̶ 7 29 of 44 passes for 169 yards on the Georgia Tech 7 14 0 7̶28 First Quarter day and star wide receiver Efrem Tech- Curry 14 pass from Ball (Bell Hill. Hill caught 11 passes for 83 Kick), 10:35 yards for the afternoon. Second Quarter Tech- Daniels 25 pass from Ball (Bell “We knew they were going to Kick), 14:23 pass the ball and we knew he was Tech- Daniels 46 run (Bell Kick), 9:25 going to catch the ball. We chose Third Quarter Sam- Hill 6 pass from Nelson to contain everybody and not let (Hughston Kick), 4:12 them get yards after the catch,” said Fourth Quarter linebacker Chris Reis. Tech- Daniels 1 run (Bell Kick), 9:56 Reis led the team with ten tackles Individual Statistics in his first start as part of a revamped RUSHING̶Samford, Nelson 9-29, linebacking corps alongside Gerris Guess 3-14, Hyde 4-minus 1. Georgia Tech, Daniels 25-169, Grant 17-75, Carter 2-22, Wilkinson. Ball 1-2. “Today really helped me out a lot. PASSING̶ Samford, Nelson 29-44-0- I felt like I could move well, it was 169. Georgia Tech, Ball 14-21-1-201, Carter 0-1-0-0. a great adjustment and I was happy RECEIVING̶ Samford, Hill 11-83, with it,” Reis said about his first start Buchannon 9-44, Young 2-12, Guess 2-1, at the position. Hassel 1-26, Moore 1-6, Brennard 1-3, Nelson 1-minus 3, Williams 1-minus 3. “I’d put it at C- or B+. We know Georgia Tech, Thomas 3-54, Curry 3-40, where we are and we know what Daniels 3-24, Johnson 2-45, Dixon 2-33, we have to work on. I think we did Grant 1-5. 38 • Friday, September 10, 2004 • Technique SPORTS

match against Ohio State Sunday at against Ohio State. We are looking weekend if they continue to gel as a as they host their own Georgia Tech from page 40 2 p.m. This contest will be broadcast forward to our home opener this team and play near their potential. Invitational. Home on Fox Sports Net South. weekend and working hard toward Ohio State, a perennial challenger The ladies will face-off against The Golden Eagles’ team is also Ohio State is currently 4-0 and our first victory,” said Coach Bond in the Big Ten, looks to be the most Miami at 7:00 p.m. on Friday – fol- extremely experienced, featuring won the Temple Volleyball Classic Shymansky. difficult challenge of the weekend. lowed by matches against Tennessee five seniors and returning nine let- last weekend. Buckeyes Stacey Gor- A trip back home might be just “To get out and play like we played Tech and Ohio State on Saturday ter-winners. don and Marisa Main were named what the doctor ordered for this on Saturday, we are going to have and Sunday. Senior Laura Sidorowicz is a to the All-Tournament team. Yellow Jackets squad to find that momentum with us... I don’t think “We have a lot of games ahead of preseason All-Ohio Valley Con- Gordon has a particularly impres- elusive first win. The teams in the we have ever had a problem playing us, and it is really all about the end ference candidate, averaging 4.42 sive resume. The outside hitter is a Invitational are good, but they are anywhere; we just need to start play- of the season... going to the NCAA kills per game last year, and senior three-time All-American performer, not quite on the level of the tough ing,” said Laband, “I wasn’t upset at tournament and the ACC tourna- outside hitter Anne Morrow earned owns a Big Ten Player of the Year competition Tech has faced so far the way we played... sometimes [that ment,” said senior Marisa Aston, All-Tournament honors at the Flyer award, and has also been named Ohio this year. is] the way it goes.” “This weekend will definitely be a Invitational this season. The Jackets State Female Athlete of the Year. The Jackets should be able to This weekend the Jackets will have rejuvenating weekend for us... we’re wrap up the Invitational with a huge “We really want to jam the gym win all three of their matches this a chance to turn it around at home, really excited to play at home.” email [email protected] email Send a letter to the editor! the to letter a Send SPORTS Technique • Friday, September 10, 2004 • 39 CLEMSON (1-0) VS. GEORGIA TECH (1-0) By Edward Tamsberg

Clemson comes into the game ranked 16th The Jackets open up their ACC slate against in the nation and atop the ACC in standings. Four Key Questions the Tigers after a win against division I-AA Preseason picks have them finishing in top spots champions Samford. The offense is headed by all-around. Last year the Tigers came to Bobby sophomore quarterback Reggie Ball, and senior Dodd stadium and pummeled the Jackets, • Will Tech’s offensive line hold up to the pressure of the Clemson running Back P.J. Daniels, who came together after Tech’s big upset against Auburn, and a All- American defense? for a combined 370 yards against the Bulldogs. close loss to FSU. This year Jason Whitehurst The Tigers return their honorable mention All-American Leroy Hill The defense is led by a reformed linebacker leads Clemson on what many fans hope to be to linebacker this season and with him seven other starters from last year, corps. composed of Gerris Wilkinson and one of their best seasons yet, and with Tommy including stand-out cornerback Justin Miller and senior linebacker Eric former safety Chris Reis. The Jackets have a Bowden still head coach it is sure that the Tigers Sampson. Clemson’s defensive line is relatively new and this explains their wealth of new players who are looking to make will not be caught lying down. weakness to Wake Forest’s running game, but this will be Tech’s offensive their mark in the school’s lore. line’s first sink-or-swim game. Last week the offensive line meshed very well against Samford’s defense, but with Hill on the other side of the ball, “We were a lot Tech can expect to see the bar raised. “Coaches are never better as a team • How will Tech perform against an offense that has consistently happy and I fall into performed well against them? the category of a offensively and Junior Charlie Whitehurst leads the Clemson offense against a shaky, at defensively with best, Tech defense. With All-ACC Tackle Eric Henderson still questionable coach. We made for the game this weekend and linebackers Gerris Wilkinson and Chris progress but we assignments, or Reis still new to their positions, Tech’s defensive performance is up in the the lack of missed air. Tech has traditionally done very well against the run, being ranked have a ways to go. I assignements.” 12th defense in the nation last year against the run, but if there is one thing think they did pretty sure, then it is that Whitehurst will not be afraid to throw it long. well...” Tommy Bowden • Is Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden a factor to be concerned Clemson head coach after about? Chan Gailey viewing Wake tape form The Tigers are lead by one of the more infamous names in college Tech head coach on team the Wake Forest game football, Bowden. Since Tommy Bowden took charge of the Clemson progress football program, the Clemson vs. Tech rivalry has been a high scoring one with an average score of 36-28.4 in Clemson’s favor. Clemson has a 3-2 lead in those five games, having won the last three games and outscored Tech 180-142. Last year after a close loss to FSU, a team coached by the elder Bowden, Tech dropped the game to Clemson 39-3. Under the new team divisions set by the ACC expansion, Clemson and Tech will play each other every year as cross divisional rivals. • How much of an advantage does Death Valley give the Tigers? Death Valley was built in 1942, and ever since has been notorious for being loud enough to sound out the voices of all those on the field. Clemson fans are also known for early morning drinking, followed by an hour of rolling down their “hill” in orange colored overalls. This would make even the most primitive of mammals cranky. This weekend’s game against Clemson has already sold out with Clemson Memorial stadium boasting a capacity of 81,473. Spread: Clemson by 10

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ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET REVENGE OF THE NERDS VI SPORTS Tech College Republicans recount their Every year DragonCon hosts the largest attendance at the national party convention meeting of nerds, dorks and trekkies this Technique • Friday, September 10, 2004 in New York. Page 15 side of the Atlantic. Page 23 Jackets run past Bulldogs in opener by Kyle Thomason Assistant Sports Editor numbers the Reggie Ball zipped a pass intended for Nate Curry into heavy traffic. The ball was tipped, and it fluttered in 1849 the air for a few seconds before fall- The largest crowd ever to watch a ing into the hands of Tech fullback Tech volleyball game. This happened Jimmy Dixon, who ended up with on Nov. 16, 1999 against Georgia. a 14-yard gain on the play. The Jackets play their first home vol- Even a bit of luck was on Tech’s leyball match of the year tonight at 7 side in a game whose outcome had p.m. in O’Keefe Gymnasium. been determined as soon as it was put on the schedule. Tech, missing several key players, battled its way to a 28-7 win on Saturday afternoon in front of the masses at Bobby Dodd 6 Stadium. The date in October that Paul The Jackets won the game without Hewitt will participate in the inau- the services of All-ACC defensive end gural Basketball Coaches Forum Eric Henderson and backup run- Luncheon at the University of ning back Chris Woods, who were South Alabama. He is among four both nursing injuries. Wide receiver successful young coaches selected Damarius Bilbo and defensive end to participate in the forum, which Travis Parker each served one game will be moderated by ESPN’s Rece suspensions. Davis. “These were both suspensions from last spring that were academi- cally oriented. Minor [things], but they needed to be addressed, and the By Jamie Howell / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS players understood that. I was very Rashaun Grant moves through the Bulldogs defensive line as the Jackets muscled past Samford last Sat- 23 upfront with them at the time, and urday. Grant is a red-shirt freshman who, despite coming in at the end of the game, came out firing. Number of former Tech players they’ve known this since April,” said in the National Football League as Head Coach Chan Gailey. we played,” Gailey said. “No, I did not feel like it was response, a vertical passing game of Sept. 1, 2004. Two of this elite The team looked tremendous in The Jackets often played to the a dominating effort. I thought we emerged with Reggie Ball attempting group, Keith Brooking and Dez flashes, jumping out to a 21-0 half- level of their opponent last season, played good and hard, but we didn’t to get the ball downfield. White, are both playing for the time lead, but there were moments as evidenced by their up and down dominate. I think at times we did, “Yeah, I thought we could run hometown Atlanta Falcons. when the intensity level appeared campaign that included a victory but it was too sporadic. I don’t know the football. I’ve been on the other to drop. over Auburn, a near-victory against if you will dominate all the time,” side of games like that where you’re “I think it was bits and pieces. It Florida State, and a loss to Duke. Gailey said. somewhat outmanned and seen was nothing overall that was bad and Looking to prevent this from be- On the offensive side of the ball, people mess it up by doing double- nothing overall that was great. Some coming a recurring event, Gailey Tech looked to establish the run. reverse passes and funky plays and 10 areas were good and some areas need was looking to see a high-level per- When Samford defenders moved Number of true freshmen that some work, and I think that is how formance against Samford. closer to the line of scrimmage in See Opener, page 37 played for Tech in its season opening victory against Samford. One of the 10, wide receiver Calvin Johnson is football Volleyball looks for victories a starter. forecast Kyle Thomason Each week during the football Assistant Sports Editor 3 season, the Technique will pick a list The place in which Georgia State’s of college matchups to be played that After spending the first two cross country team finished in their weekend. The person who submits weekends of the season far away from first meet. Tech opens its season in the list with the most correctly Tech in Colorado and Wisconsin, an event hosted by the Panthers, projected winners receives a prize. the Jackets volleyball team will have the Georgia State Invitational, In the event of a tie, the winner is their first home games of the year tomorrow. determined by the person who most this weekend, hosting the Georgia accurately predicts the score of Tech’s Tech Invitational. game. To submit your picks, go to Predicted to win the ACC, the www.nique.net/footballforecast. team has gotten off to a relatively This week’s games are: slow start, losing its first four matches 2 against rigid competition. Even with The rank of Tech baseball player the defeats, the team seems to be Tyler Greene according to Baseball • Tech vs. Clemson coming together. America in its Top 30 Prospects of • FSU vs. Miami (tonight) “[Last] Saturday was really the the Cape Cod League. The magazine • Duke vs. Conneticut first game we felt we really meshed also ranked Jason Neighborgall the • Western Michigan vs. as a team,” said senior libero Marisa No. 2 prospect in the Coastal Plain Virginia Tech Aston, talking about the team’s close League. loss to Wisconsin. • North Carolina vs. “Saturday night was just ‘oh, Virginia we’re so close’,” said setter Lindsay • Temple vs. Maryland Laband. The players are looking • Wake Forest vs. East forward to getting a chance to play Carolina in the friendly confines of O’Keefe on Gymnasium in the Invitational this By Christopher Gooley / STUDENT PUBLICATIONS • Georgia vs. South The loss of former veteran players to graduation has forced the vol- Carolina weekend, feeling the atmosphere will deck give them a boost. leyball team to adjust their “chemistry” from last year. • Michigan vs. Notre Event Date “We need to play for the people Football on ABC 9/11 @ 8p.m. Dame that support us; they will bring a lot third in career assists at the school the young season. Volleyball vs. Xavier 9/10 • Penn. State vs. Boston of energy to the team, and give us a The Musketeers lost only one and leads the experienced Musketeer College lot of momentum,” said Aston. player from last year’s squad, which squad. Volleyball vs. Tennessee Tech 9/11 Volleyball vs. Ohio State 9/12 Sports Editor’s record: 10-0 The first opportunity for the home extended Xavier’s streak of making On Saturday, the Jackets will fans to see the Jackets is tonight at 7 the Atlantic 10 Tournament to six take on Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. Last week’s winner: p.m. against the Xavier Musketeers. years. For complete schedules, check out Matt Young Xavier currently has a 1-3 record on Senior setter Molly Martin is See Home, page 38 www.ramblinwreck.com.