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Show r /port/ MONDAY»AUGUST 29-2005 vance Going back in time Sept. 3 is gonna be interesting. And not just because college football season opens up around the country, but because college football season and all its unknowns opens up here. Excited but skeptical BYU fans will no doubt fl ock to Lavell Edwards Stadium for the Cougar's home opener against nationally ranked Boston College. The question is, will they come the week after that against Eastern Illinois; and will they be there, say for example, October 29 when Air Force makes the trip to Provo? The answer comes back to Sept. 3. Can they upset the #22 ranked Golden Eagles and re-stir the respectability pot? In the past are Gary Crowton and an unheard of 3-straight losing seasons. New chief Bronco Mendenhall could make it four, but that's doubtful. What people will be waiting to see, however, is if the no-nonsense Mendenhall can over-time rebuild the program into a consistent decade of dominance. Does dominance mean nothing short of a top-5 ranking every year? No. Dominance means winning out the Mountain West every year; which will in-turn result in the Y being amongst college football's 25 best. He may not tell you this, but the goal in Mendenhall's mind is to bring back the 80s. The 80s were great for a slew of reasons: "The Goonies," Flock of Seagulls, and a killer economy to name a few. But for folks in Happy Valley, it was Lavell Edwards and all his high-powered offenses that were sweeter than anything else. So how do you bring back the past and incorporate it into the present? They may not be as sharp and trendy, but Bronco's first move See RANT-B6 B8 Volleyballs new look After losing most of his key players to graduation, coach Sam Atoa is hoping his recruits step it up Morgan Vance Sports Editor Chad Clark/NetXNews With a lot of new faces this year, coach Sam Atoa will be looking for junior Brooke Adams to shine as his middle blocker. The UVSC women's volleyball team only lost two players from last year's squad, but Alina Wallauer and Deise Borghetti weren't just any two players. They were the heart and soul of the team. "I'm a little nervous about not having them here," said junior setter Lacee Koelliker, who got so used to watching them successfully swing away from the outside corners in 2004. "Losing those two are huge," said Head Coach Sam Atoa on the same note. "They carried us, and I don't know how long it will take to fill the void." The Brazilian natives did a little bit of everything last year. Borghetti led the Wolverines with 403 total kills (an average of over 15 a match), not to mention recording 8 double-doubles over the course of the season. She set a school record against Texas-Pan American on October 16 with 30 kills, and was later awarded a First Team All-Independent, as well as the Wolverine Female Athlete of the Year. Wallauer wasn't far behind. She finished up with double figure kills in 14 of 24 matches played, and had double figure digs in 18 of those matches. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Independent Second Team. "I'm going to miss my Brazilians, but we have to make stuff happen with what we have," said Koelliker in response to the future. Joining the junior setter in green and gold for 2005 is Jessica Endres, back for her sophomore season after leading the team in blocks as a freshman. The former Division I Independent "Newcomer of the Year" will anchor the front line. "This year I want to be an important player like I was last year, but hopefully come out and be more of a leader, apart from just kills and blocks," Endres said. Junior Stephanie McFarland also returns with experience to make up the middle core. Red-shirt freshman Carlyn Cadmus and JC transfer Brook Adams (Dixie St.) will also assist at the middle blocker position. On defense return Maegan Hoyt and Chelsea O'Neal. Hoyt (like Borghetti) set a UVSC record, notching 33 total digs in a match against Northern Colorado. See VOLLEYBALL -B4 Coach Wagar making no excuses Phillip Morgan Sports Writer Change is one of those things that can either lift a team, or drop it to the bottom of the barrel. For the UVSC women's soccer program, the sudden resignation of former head coach Gabe Smart came just two weeks before the team's opening exhibition contest v. Mesa State. "I told the team that we either can use this as an excuse not to have a successful season, to settle for mediocrity and not to obtain our goals; or, we can use this as a rallying point," deck said newly named interim coach Justin Wagar. "Adversity happens, and we just need to move forward from this. We can still find success and achieve our goals." Speaking of goals, preventing them is also very important to Wagar. Afte"f finishing last season at 6-9-3, the new man in charge is placing a big emphasis on defense and finishing out the last ten minutes of ball games. "I have focused on defense my whole career," he said. "Last year See WAGAR. B4 Chad Clark/NetXNews Interim head coach Justin Wagar has put his focus on the defense. Volleyball v/. Volleyball v/. Women*/ Rugby p.m @ 12 p.m. 7 p.m. SC206 SUMMERWOOD CONDOS OREM'S PREMIER SINGLE STUDENT HOUSING • 4 Private Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths Per Unit • Washer and Dryer in EVERY Unit • Hot Tub • Fitness Center and Sport Court • Free Cable • Internet Access • Great Social Environment • Just Across the StreetfromUVSC 720 South 1200 West Orem Call Now to Reserve Your Spot! (801) 644-2552 www.summerwoodcondos.coin Sports Desk (801) 863-8603 Visit us online at www.netxnews.net Send story ideas to smiggs86@hotmail.com I |