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Show s p o its Sports editor: Andrew Aragon Phone: 626-7983 McGhee hopes football career isn't over sprts cri By Jarrod M. Hiatt asst. sports editor- The Signpost Taurus McGhce's Weber State University football career may have come to an end, but he's hoping he's not done catching the pigskin.McGhee, a senior sociology major at WSU, has spent four productive seasons as a member of the football team and is in the middle of his second season with the track team. As wide receiver for WSU the past four seasons, McGhee came into his own this year as he turned in his best season as a 'Cat. Mcghee caught 61 passes for 1,072 yards and scored five touchdowns. He averaged over 17 yards per catch and 96.6 yards per game. "I like him; he's a really talented athlete," said WSU head football coach Jerry Graybeal. "At Eastern Washington, we would always would try to implement plans to contain him because we couldn't stop him." Football may be McGhee's main sport, but track has also been good to him, even though he's out of action right now with an injury. After last year's football season, McGhee joined the track team to prepare him for his senior season and it worked. His stats were enhanced in every category from his junior to his senior football season. "I think the reason I improved every year is experience," McGhee said. "It was all about playing and improving." McGhee feels his level of play has come along so well, he's waiting for an invitation to a National Football League camp. As McGhee tries to get his foot in the door in the NFL through free agency, he feels he would've had a legitimate shot at being taken in the NFL draft if former WSU head football coach Dave Arslanian had Losing season plants positive seeds for future By M. Patrick Feeney senior sports reporter-The Signpost When a sports club dons a record like 4-20, it's pretty much guaranteed the team is miserable and the club president is unhappy. Not true of the Weber State University softball club and club president Natalie Nelson. "The progress from last year to this year is amazing," she said. Nelson, a senior English major, serves as president and team captain. Because the team is a club and not a scholarship sport, her role as club president takes up a significant measure of time. Her roles include organizing fund-raisers, notifying the team of schedule changes and deciding what uniforms to wear for each game. "We've done a lot offund-raising," Nelson said. "Without it, I don't think we'd exist." Fund-raising is a big part of be- "At Eastern Washington, we would always would try to implement plans to contain him because we couldn't stop him." Jerry Graybeal WSU head football coach done more to promote him with the NFL scouts. "He just didn't represent me," McGhee said. "He did a really great job of promoting Cam Quayle, and that's really good for Cam. He got drafted. But he just could've said 'I've got this McGhee guy too; maybe you should take a look at him."' Despite Arslanian's lack of support for McGhee, he said he feels he still has a decent shot in the NFL. "I'm just going to go out there and show them what I've got," McGhee said. Now that McGhee's eligibility has expired, he feels WSU's football team is headed in a positive direction, and the new coaching staff is the key to its future success.McGhee said he believes Graybeal brings a completely different style to WSU football, and the players have already reaped the benefits of his presence and Arslanian's absence. "It's hard to be positive when you're losing, but it's even harder not to be." Natalie Nelson ing a university club. Fortunately for Nelson and the team, they have some big sponsors donating time and essentials: Coca-Cola, Big D Construction, Great Salt Lake Minerals Corporation and others. The team also ran a concessions stand at Lindquist Field for the Ogdcn Raptors last summer. "A lot of our bonding happened running concessions for the Raptors," she said. That time spent together since last summer has instilled a camra-dcry among the women. "We have as much talent as i r '. Taurus McGhee runs toward the sideline in a home win last season. McGhee hopes to catch on with an NFL team, despite not getting any help from former WSU coach Dave Arslanian. "It's really nice to go up to the football offices and see a lot of players there," McGhee said. "There's always a lot of activity going on. In the past it seemed like no one went up there." McGhee feels the future of WSU football is bright, and that his former teammates will be able to other teams," Nelson said. "But we have a couple weak areas." Those "weak areas" are difficult to fill for the second-year program. Recruiting is basically local; every player comes from the Northern Utah area. "We only have two players that have half-tuition waivers," Nelson said. "We can't get the kind of talent that other schools can." WSU's season ended last week on a positive note. The softball club swept Navy and Air Force to win a national tournament and improve its record to 10-20. Last year was the club's inau i i Hfe- ...... carry the load during their upcoming season. "I really hope they do well," McGhee said. "It'll be nice to see what happens next year." The future for McGhee is yet to be determined. However, if McGhee lands a spot on an NFL team, it, too, will be bright. gural season, and the team went winless the entire season. Team morale began deteriorating. "Last year we got used to losing," Nelson said. "It's hard to be positive when you're losing, but it's even harder not to be." Losing continued to be the result.. .until earlier this year. WSU beat Ricks College 9-1 on Sept. 27 and got its first win over another collegiate team. "We didn't just beat them; we kicked their butts," Nelson said. "You would have thought we had won the World Series." That win broke the complacency that comes with constant losing and planted the seeds of a winning attitude in the team. "One person on the team can't make everyone want to win," Nelson said. But one win can. And every win feeds those seedling desires to become champions. WSU hires assistant coach Weber State University head women's basketball coach Carla Taylor recently named Carolyn M. DcHoff as an assistant coach. DeHoff replaces Chris Haines, who resigned in late March to accept a position as assistant athletic director at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix. DeHoff comes to WSU from the University of Wyoming, where she was an assistant for seven years. She was responsible for coordinating the recruitment of student athletes, assisting in the preparation of practice, game management, strength and conditioning and scouting of opponents. Before her stint at Wyoming, DeHoff played basketball at Arizona State University. She was a three-year starter at off-guard small forward. She graduated in 1991 with a degree in exercise science and physical education. Volleyball adds three players WSU volleyball coach Al Givens announced the signing of Shannon Downey of Beaverton, Ore., to a letter of intent to play volleyball at WSU in the fall. Downey is a 6-0 middle-blocker out of Beaverton High School. She earned three letters in volleyball and four in basketball. Downey has played on the Nike Northwest Juniors Club Team, which is one of the top clubs in the Pacific Northwest area. "She's a good fit for our program, and I am pleased she has decided to join our team. I am confident she will make a positive contribution," Givens said. Also joining the 1998 volleyball squad are two walk-on players: Jada Ross from Lemoore, Calif.,-and Raquel Johnson from Salt Lake City. Ross sat out last season after playing her sophomore season at Ricks College. She played her freshman season at West Hills College in Coalinga, Calif., where she was named her team's MVP. Johnson is a junior transfer from Salt Lake Community College, where she was anhonorable-mention All-Conferenceselection. |