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Show 1 PACE EDITOR 7 Darren Vaughan, Thursday, January 13, 2005 586-199- Rule against celebrations unnecessary If you watched the wild card playoff football games this past weekend, then you witnessed the upsets, follies and some serious celebration. I would like to touch upon the latter. The NFL put a new rule into effect during the past couple of seasons banning excessive celebration. This rule originally started in an attempt to eliminate the infamous gesture of a player running his thumb along his neck like he is slitting someones throat. Some people may argue that this was an unacceptable gesture. Maybe it was good for the league to implement this rule to stop behavior that could be interpreted as threatening to someone. However, the league has taken it to the extreme. The league has hindered people, such as Terrell Owens, from enjoying a little celebration in the end zone after scoring a touchdown. In my opinion, if you are going to stop one celebration, then you should stop all celebrations. This is, by far, one of the worst rules ever implemented in professional sports. Athletes are being paid millions of dollars to play the game. If they cant handle a little celebration in the end zone, it is their own fault. These athletes are not getting paid all sorts of money to worry about how someone acts. They are getting paid to play. If players are worried about getting their feelings hurt, they need to go back to high school football, where they know they wont be subject to that kind of environment. I understand that the league has implemented this rule to tone down in order to celebration ensure the safety of the fans. But I am sorry to say that a numerous amount of fans go to games just to watch stuff like that. You cannot tell me that a fan really hates to watch Terrell Owens dance with Daunte some Culpepper get his roll on or members of the Green Bay Packers celebrate with the famous Lambeau leap. To prove my point, I will mention a certain instance in last weeks game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Packers. After Randy Moss, the Vikings star receiver, scored a touchdown, he turned his rear to the crowd and pretended to pull his pants down and moon the crowd. Granted, this wasnt the greatest celebration and it was ever created, but it was still clever harmless. Even though I cannot stand the antics and ethics of Moss, I would like to back him up. Many people may not understand the rivalry between the Vikings and the Packers. Ever since these two teams were established in the NFL, their two meetings during each season are among the biggest rivalries in the game. Millions of people all around the nation tune into this game to show love for their team and hatred for the other. a After Moss caught his touchdown pass touchdown that arguably could have been the his gestures turning point of the game harmlessly told the crowd, Hey Packer fans, you might have beat us earlier this season, but we are beating you in the most important time, the playoffs. I dont understand why the league had such a fit over his actions. According to ESPN.com, Moss is most likely looking at a fine of $5,000 because it is his first offense under the guidelines of excessive celebration. This will be the first fine that Moss will pay since previously paying a fine of $25,000 for squirting an official with a water bottle in 1999. There was another instance earlier in the season under the excessive celebration guidelines that came against Denver quarterback Jake Plummer. Plummer flipped off his own fans in Denver after listening to fans talk about him. In my eyes the league was correct to fine him the $5,000. But I also believe that disgracing fans like that, especially your own fans, is a far worse crime than having a little fun in the end zone. So, all in all, I have said and will continue to say that we, the fans, need to speak up and have a voice in the NFL. We need to send the message that we do not want this awful rule. It is amazing how much power that fans actually have. Frankly, we are the ones that pay for the facilities and we are the ones that help pay the athletes salaries. Without us, and our constant support, the league would be in a world of hurt. pom-pom- (5. By STEPHANIE WARD swardsuujournal.corti The SUU gymnastics with a competitive attitude and strong returning competitors. SUU coach Scott Bauman said the team is the strongest it has ever been and anticipates a great season. This is one of the strongest teams we have ever fielded, he said. Our bars are We have exceptional. really good depth. We have never, ever had that luxury. Senior Jessiann Andrus said the team has been practicing since last fall and were able to work on their weaknesses in the We have improved on the little things, she said. Improving on little things makes a difference in scores. Bauman said the team is very and the staff knowledgeable has done a great job helping the gymnasts one on one. This is the strongest vault team we have ever had, he said. (The gymnasts) know what they are doing. They are so much fun to coach. The staff has done an amazing job. The assistant coaches are Jeff Hunt, specializing on the bars. n. e Senior guard Julia Allender shoots a layup during warmups for beat Oral the Nov. 13 exhibition game against Utah Showcase. The 3 Roberts Thursday night. They play their first home game of 2005 Saturday night against Chicago State. pre-gam- 49-4- Shut down See DEBUT, Page 8 By DARREN VAUGHAN and sprinter Brad Kinross, as well as throwers Greg Watson and dvaughansuujoumal.com Troy Gent. The SUU indoor track teams Houle said the mens team should will open their season Saturday be fun to watch this season. at the Snake River Open, hosted Were stronger than weve by Idaho State University in Houle said. This ever been, Pocatello. is the strongest mens team ever The are coming off of a assembled at SUU. sweep of the mens and womens Were shooting for the top two titles in 2004, and will rook to in conference, he added. I think when that achievement they repeat we can compete for the title. play host to the Houle said Taylor could contend in Conference championships for the conference title in the pole Feb. Flagstaff, Ariz., beginning vault, as well. 28. SUUs opening meet at Idaho The womens team is led by meet, senior distance runner Amy State is a meaning that there will Gochnour, along with be no recorded winner. junior Kelly Schoney Houle said the key and sophomores Marie to the first meet will Muscato and Brittany be to gain experience Watters. SUU coach Eric Houle in preparation for the said the womens team conference meet. should be strong again I tell my athletes INDOOR this season, despite the every year, Dont plan fact that senior Alisha TRACK AND FIELD on looking awesome at Bezanson is redshirting this meet, Houle said. and will not compete. Our goal here is to Were shooting for a get some races under our belt just finish at conference, Houle said. because were going to look our Were not going in as strong as very best at the end of the season, we were last year, but weve got not right now. a lot of young people. If they can SUU will hoH the conference step up, we can contend for that meet at the Walkup Skydome on title again. the campus of Northein Arizona (Watters) has a chance to University, where the elevation be extremely awesome for us, may be a disadvantage for the could he added. (Muscato) oDer schools in the conference. in nationally potentially qualify Hode said he is looking forward the pole vault. to any advantage the Jess Cross star country might gain from the altitude. leads the mens Baumgartner Were loviug that, Houle said. team, along with fellow distance It doesnt mear that weve got runners Brad Parker and Aared anything in the bag, but definitely Sampson. Other athletes to watch include B.J. Taylor its working to our advantage. nt Women earn first league win By JONATHAN DEAN went remaining, but the line to seal the game. from the jdeansuujournal.com Hutton led the team in scoring with 11 Senior Sarah Hutton led the way with 11 Kristin Pierce added 10 points, points. their first Mid-Co- n points to give the nine of which coming from outside the victory of the season, defeating Oral perimeter. Janis Beal recorded a game-hig- h 3 Roberts Tuesday night in Tulsa, five assists and tacked on another six Okla. three rebounds and three steals. points, The win on Tuesday was the first Mid-Co- n preseason player of the year win over the Golden Eagles in Elisha Turek led all scorers with their last five meetings. The game 18 points, including 13 in the also ended the Birds three-gam- e second half to keep ORU close, streak and their improved losing while Claudia Louis notched a in record to 8 overall, and double-doubl- e off the bench with Mid-Co- n play. 14 10 points with a game-hig- h The Birds came out strong in rebounds helping ORU to win the the first half, capitalizing on the rebounding battle, Golden Eagles poor shooting and WOMENS On Saturday, the will 16 turnovers. The quickly BASKETBALL back for their home travel first gained a commanding lead, and Mid-Co- n game on the home pushed it to 24-- 9 with 4:44 left to court. They will play the Chicago play in the first half. State Cougars. However, ORU mounted a comeback, In its last seasons first meeting with the scoreless through holding the came out victorious Cougars, the the remainder of the half and scoring with their largest win of the season, 9 points to cut the lead to In that game, Sarah Hutton picked up 16 going into the break. Four minutes into the second half, the points and six rebounds, while Janis Beal recorded 1 with nine coming from beyond Golden Eagles came within one point and the arc. had five chances to take the lead away from the Birds, but could not convert a basket. Despite defeating Chicago State at home, could not get it done on the the SUU went on to score points road and the Cougars emerged victorious, and then pushed their lead to nine points, with five minutes left to play. ORU managed another run, scoring Saturdays game will be in the Centrum Arena and tip off is scheduled for 5:15 points The Golden Eagles with 1:35 run brought the score to 44-4- 1 p m. free-thro- w 49-4- 5-- 50-4- 2. 80-5- 24-1- 1 nine-straig- ht Birds look to earn first non-scori- . top-thr- pole-vault- er 68-6- Fox Sports to televise tonights game win against Chicago St. Mid-Co- n By DARREN VAUGHAN 65-6- Caleb Phillips, on the vault, and Marlene Barth, on the floor and beam. Senior Molly Bauer said the team has an excellent lineup and great group chemistry. We have enough of a lineup and have four other girls to step up if someone gets hurt, she gaid. We also have good team chemistry. We have always had good team chemistry. A lot of other teams notice that. Bauer, who is a team captain, said the team also has strength in the natural leadership of the team captains. We have a few natural said. she leaders, All three seniors are captains. We all handle it fairly well. SeniorCarly Geronimo said the team has gymnasts and a more experienced team. All of the older competitors are back, she said. We have had four people for at least three years. We were always a young team. Although SUU is an older team, Bauman said they will have fre'.hman Tehani Keeno competing in one event. She is incredible on the a and uneven bars very he said. good beam worker, Track teams start new season at ISU 41-3- dvaughansuujournal.com The SUU mens basketball team will play host to the Chicago State Cougars tonight in a conference match-u- p that will be televised on Fox Sports Net. The beat the Cougars in 2003 in their last appearance at home on FSN, claiming a 4 narrow victory in front of a crowd of team is preparing for the 2005 season s, Jonathan Dean is a sports writer for the He can be reached at University Journal. jdean suujournal.com. 2 3,261. However, in their last FSN appearance, SUU lost at Valparaiso 9 on January 24, 2004. The Birds come into with tonights match-u- p a 2 record in Mid-Co- n play and a 6 record Tim overall. Senior 76-6- 0-- MENS BASKETBALL 7-- Gainey averages 14.1 points per game to lead the T Bird offense, while seniors Jason Baker and DeAngHo Newsom each average 10 points per game. Newsom leads the team in rebounding, grabbing 6.4 boards per contest, as well as picking off 34 steals to lead the Mid-CoPoint guaids Steve Barnes pd Curtis Lincoln have combined to dish out 88 assists this Upcoming Events Mens Basketball vs. Chicago State Tonight, 8 p.m., Centrum Arena Gymnastics at BYU Friday, 7:35 p.m., Marriott Center, Provo Womens Basketball vs. Chicago State Saturday, 5:15 p.m., Gkitrurh Arena Mens Basketball vs. IUPUI Saturday, 7:35 p.m., Centrum Arena n. See MEN, Page 8 Indoor Track at Idaho St7Snake River Open Saturday, Holt Arena, Pocatello, Idaho |