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Page 12 SePtember 15, 2010SportS

The STudenT newSpaper of SCSu hTTp://SnewS.SouThernCT.edu/ “all The SnewS ThaT’S fiT To prinT”

A Mets of an organization

As if we could ever forget

WedneSday Sept. 15

thurSday Sept. 16

Fri-day Sept.

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Saturday Sept. 18

SundaySept. 19

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Sept. 20

tueSdaySept. 21

Football

Jon MorenoSportS Writer

My Mets are 10 games back, Johan Santana is done for the year with surgery on his shoulder and the Phillies have once again gained first place in the NL East.

The Mets have thrown in the white flag and I’m shocked. Honestly, football could not have come at a bet-ter time.

My fellow Mets fans know how I feel. Jerry Manuel has out welcomed his stay in Queens and Omar Minaya needs to learn how to put together a full sentence before he decides what moves he is going to make come this offseason.

And when I say “moves,” I mean the things he’s going to take with him to his next job when the Mets let him go.

In all seriousness, he is probably going to stay put with a smaller role. It’ll probably work out a bit like the Isaiah Thomas situation with the Knicks… just without the lawsuit.

OK, so I’m being harsh. Cry me a river. Last time I checked, the Mets are from New York. They aren’t the Seattle Mets. Fans like me expect management to put out a winning team, not a crippled one.

I’m 20 years old and I’ve been around for five Yankee World Championships. I’ve been around for zero Mets World Championships.

Now, that’s nowhere near being a Cubs fan but we’re on the East coast where the Red Sox, Giants, Yankees and those damn Phil-lies have won it all in recent history.

Jets’ fans are waiting too but at least head coach Rex Ryan is confident in his team. Yes, he makes bold statements but the fans and the media must admit they love it.

It’s pathetic, it’s sickening and it’s a calamity to see the Mets I’ve grown up loving and rooting for has come to this.

The 2006 season feels like it was decades ago. However, that 12-6 curveball from Adam Wainwright to Carlos Beltran to the end the NLCS still plays over and over through my head.

I remember Yadier Molina jumping up in joy as he caught the third strike, Tony LaRussa hugging his staff and the whole Cardinals team celebrating in excitement on our own field.

That’s the memory Mets fans my age have instilled in our minds. We weren’t around for the ’86 season. We didn’t watch them

start brawls and show so much swagger and confidence that oppos-ing teams hated playing against them.

We were around for the ’99 season when Kenny Rogers walked Andruw Jones with the bases loaded to end the Mets’ playoff run.

Or how about 2000 when the Yankees beat the Mets in five games to win the Subway Series?

How about the ’07 collapse? I can go for days. The 2010-11 offseason better see drastic changes. There better

be a new manager, new players and a new attitude or else. Eh, who am I kidding? I’ll be a Mets fan no matter what. We

can’t help it.

* -Men’s ** -Women’s

Jeff NowakSportS editor

When Justin Tuck wandered out of the New York Giants tunnel wearing a fire helmet with the Giants logo on it, I’m not going to lie, I laughed a little.

Honestly, at first, and I don’t think I’m the only person who didn’t catch on right away, I really had no idea what it was all about.

It wasn’t until Tony Siragusa brought up the fact that it was Sept. 12 that it clicked for me.

This was a unique, albeit rather goofy looking, display of re-membrance for the firefighters who gave their lives on that infamous day in New York, and it made me think about how clearly I can remember that day.

It also made me think how more than any monument that could be erected, any article that could be printed, or any moment of silence that can be witnessed, a single act of solidarity on national television can affect the nation.

Now, I’m not saying that these professional athletes are going to cure cancer, end world hunger, or even achieve all that much in the long run, but what I am saying is that they can convey a message.

Now it takes a very large-scale event to illicit some sort of re-sponse from players and teams as far as attire changes go.

There have always been events that cause certain teams to dis-play initials on their jerseys for periods of time.

A few that come to mind are Nick Adenhart, an Angels pitcher who died in a car accident last year, or Sean Taylor, a safety for the Washington Redskins who was shot to death in 2007.

These two circumstances, while tragic, did not quite have the clout to have an affect on the leagues, or the country on the whole. But when the 9/11 attacks happened, games were cancelled, speech-es were made at games, hats were made honoring heroes of the event, and countless fundraisers were supported by teams. Rudy Giuliani even made a speech at a Yankees game to address the events.

This is what I remember most from that terrible period of American history. George Bush sending our country’s troops on a ridiculous wild goose chase that still hasn’t ended is a blur to me, but the events encompassing the teams that I followed and worshipped as a child are clear as day.

I don’t think I am the only person to feel this way, and everyone has his or her own coping mechanisms.

Part of the reason I believe this had such a profound effect on me, and others as well if I’m not mistaken, is that professional athletes are given almost a super-human status in our country.

Now I am older I realize these athletes are actually people, granted, exceptionally athletic and wealthy people, but people all the same.

I don’t need professional athletes to help me come to terms with some kind of traumatic event anymore, but kids still need their heroes.

Preseason all-american pick more concerned with overall team successMatt BorelliSpecial to Southern neWS

John Weichman has one goal and one expectation for the up-coming football season, to win a national championship.

Weichman said he feels the 2010 Southern Connecticut State University Owls have it all this year.

“Kevin [Lynch] is phenom-enal,” said Weichman of the Owls’ new starting quarterback. “He is technically sound and makes all of our jobs easier on the field, he is a natural leader.”

Weichman, however, is who all eyes will be watching after being named a preseason All-American team for the first time.

“It is a great honor, but my goals remain team-oriented,” said Weichman. “There are about five to six others on this team who de-served the honor as well.”

Weichman said he also wants to leave a mark on his teammates.

“The team has a lot of young talent and there is a big difference from high school football to the college game,” said Weichman.

“You practice repetition in high school, but on the big stage, it is fundamentals and being technically

sound. By the end of preseason, each player knows their assignment and is expected to execute the job.”

The 5’8” senior tailback said he also looks to improve those who will follow in his role like fellow tailback Rashaad Slowley.

“When I was in my first few years Jarom Freeman (former Owls tailback) helped me a lot with my game and practice and how seri-ous things were on the team,” said Weichman. “I want to help leave that mark on Slowley so he can continue the tradition of great tail-backs at Southern.”

Head football coach Rich Ca-vanaugh said he thinks very highly of Weichman as a student and as an athlete.

“[Weichman] has been a major contributor to our football program since he arrived here as a freshman,” said Cavanaugh. “I would say he is probably one of the most complete football players I’ve ever coached.”

Weichman, originally from Buxton, ME, gained notoriety with the program after his sophomore year, when starting tailback Jarom Freeman went down in the third week of the 2008 season.

Filling in, Weichman managed to rush for 1,047 yards, 13 touch-downs, was named Northeast-10

offensive player of the week twice, and was also named offensive player of the year in the conference.

“He does an outstanding job running the ball,” said Cavanaugh,

“but he does an outstanding job blocking in our pass protection, and he’s also made a lot of contri-butions on the special teams.”

Teammates have also looked at Weichman as a mentor. Sopho-more defensive back Steven Teague said “leadership” is the main thing he has seen from Weichman during his tenure with the team.

Weichman, a marketing major

at Southern, had a great junior season rushing for 494 yards on 89 attempts, getting in the end zone five times. Weichman fin-ished third on the team in all of those categories.

Weichman led the team in rushing with 75 yards on 10 carries in the Owls season opening loss to Indiana University of Pennsylvania earlier this month.

“I think if anybody wants to be an All-American,” said Cavanaugh,

“you have to go out and perform at an extremely high level every week during the season.”

Hear that Rex roarDanielle VollonoSpecial to Southern neWS

As Labor Day is long gone and students have all moved back into their dorms, there is only one thing on my mind: the NFL. With week one gone by, anxiety, euphoria, and downright frustration is already starting to set in for the die-hard fans.

Let me begin with Rex Ryan, the head coach of the New York Jets, who believes that his team has already won this year’s Super Bowl. In order for the Jets to back up their boast for winning the NFL’s ultimate game, they needed to sign their best player, Darrelle Revis.

Since Aug. 1, Revis had been a no-show at Jets training camp. His holdout finally ended after signing a four-year ($46 million) deal. Another concern that comes to mind is who is going to take on a leadership role for the team.

A couple days after releasing vet-eran fullback Tony Richardson, some-body in the Jets organization came to their senses and re-signed him for the season.

There are still some question marks with the leadership of this team. Veteran players such as Laveranues Coles, Alan Faneca and Thomas Jones are now absent from the locker room, so aside from Richardson, who will step

up and lead for the New York Jets? There are some newcomers with

plenty of NFL experience, such as LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Cromartie, but both were let go by the San Diego Chargers.

With the first game being watched on primetime Monday Night Football, Rex Ryan and the New York Jets will have an opportunity to show the world why they are the most talked about team in football.

Earlier this week and leading up to the primetime matchup, Ray Lewis and Ryan exchanged barbs while being careful with their choice of words.

Lewis said he is thrilled Revis is back with the Jets. Said at least the Ra-vens wouldn’t have to listen to the Jets after the game.

“I’m just glad he is signed, so there are no excuses. Don’t come and say, ‘Oh, we didn’t have Revis.’ Have every-body you need to have. Stack your deck and let’s play football.”

Ryan responded by saying “If you need to put it in your locker room, then go for it.”

If you ask Rex Ryan, I am sure he will tell you after the dust settles in New Meadowlands standium the Jets will be one game closer to where he expected to be and that is in Dallas for this year’s Super Bowl. I think Ray Lewis may have something to say about that.

photo courtesy | soutHeRNctowls.coM

Senior tailback John Weichman has been given a preseason honor.