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Show Monday, September 22, 2008 6 SPORTS % THE SIGNPOST Student first, athlete second WSU athletes strive for academic and athletic success By Bryce Scanlon correspondent I The Signpost SOURU THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WSU's Thyrell Lewis sacks Hornet quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson in the first half of Saturday's game. The Wildcat defense made big stops at crucial moments, sealing a Wildcat victory. Big Sky breakthrough Wildcats make big plays on offense, defense to win conference opener 32-27 By Matt Gerrish asst. sports editor I The Signpost The Weber State University Football Team couldn't have asked for a better start to the Big Sky Conference season. The Wildcats won 32-27 in their conference opener against California State University, Sacramento on Saturday. It was a game of opportunities for the Wildcats. Sac State opened the game driving into WSU territory, but gambled on a fourth down try, in which the Wildcats defense forced the Hornets to turn the ball over on downs. Quarterback Cameron Higgins and the offense then took over and marched down the field for a 70-yard touchdown drive that ended when Higgins hooked up with wide receiver Bryant Eteuati for a 19-yard touchdown strike. However, Sac State responded with a bang when quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a 67-yard touchdown bomb to receiver Tony Washington, tying the game up 7-7. But once again the Wildcats took advantage of another opportunity. After the WSU offense turned in a quick three and out, the Hornets were flagged for a penalty that gave the Wildcats a first down. From there, Higgins orchestrated another long drive, and capped it off with a four-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, both offenses saw potential long drives stymied by penalties and big plays by the defense. After giving up a long 48-yard field goal, the Wildcats hit the locker room with a 14-10 halftime lead. In the second half, Higgins continued his stellar play. He lead an 80-yard drive to open the third quarter, hitting receiver Cody Nakamura for an eightyard touchdown; Nakamura's fourth in only two games. After another long drive was cut short by the Wildcat WSU 32 defense, Sacramento St. 27 the Hornets Higgins throws for 4 managed touchdowns, and runs for another another in win. field goal, putting the score at 20-13. However, on the ensuing kickoff Eteuati returned See Breakthrough page 7 Jamie Martin still headlines Wildcats in the NFL Six Wildcats nabbed in the past 10 drafts; three linemen in last two By Matt Gerrish asst. sports editor I The Signpost On April 27, Weber State University watched yet another football alumnus get drafted into the National Football League. The Baltimore Ravens drafted offensive tackle David Hale in . the fourth round with the 133rd overall pick on the second day of the much-anticipated draft. ; In the past 10 years, six '• Wildcats have been drafted into ; the NFL. These players include i anothertightend,CamQuayle,in , 1998 who also went to Baltimore. ;The San Francisco 49ers and • the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted defensive backs Anthony Parker : and Scott Shields respectively ; in 1999. In 2006, the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys • drafted offensive linemen, and : twin brothers, Paul and Pat I McQuistan respectively. ; Quayle and Parker both saw " limited action in their short NFL : careers, and Shields grabbed ; four interceptions in a solid ; rookie season with Pittsburgh, before falling down the depth : chart the following year, and • eventually out of the league. The ; pro careers of the McQuistan 1 brothers are still young, and Hate's is just beginning. The most successful WSU football player to ever play at the highest level was not even drafted. Quarterback Jamie Martin starred at WSU from 1989 to 1992. "He had the mark of a true champion," said WSU Athletic Director Jerry Graybeal, "and was one of the guys that did what he needed from a cerebral approach and studied his offense better than most guys in the conference, and that enabled him to have longevity throughout his career." After a freshman year in which he saw little playing time, Martin had a stellar sophomore season in which he passed for 3,700 yards and 23 touchdowns and led the NCAA Division IAA in passing and total offense. After grabbing First Team AllBig Sky Conference honors for that season, Martin went on to have one of the best collegiate seasons any quarterback ever had up to that point. In 1991, Martin passed for 4,125 yards and 35 touchdowns, again leading the NCAA Division IAA in passing and total offense, See Martin page 7 SOURCE: McCbtchyTrihurw Former WSU quarterback Jamie Martin hands the ball off to St. Louis Rams teamate Steven Jackson in a game against the New Orleans Saints in October of 2005. Martin starred for the Wildcats from 1989 to 1992. He still holds many WSU and Big-Sky Conference passing records today. With jam-packed schedules full of studying, practicing, competing and maybe having a social life, it can be tough for student athletes to juggle it all. The key, according to the Weber State University athletic department, is to realize that being a student athlete means being a student first and an athlete second, and not just one or the other. jD Folsom, a senior and captain on the Weber State University Footbal! Team has an especially time-consuming schedule. Folsom is not only a student athlete but is also a husband to Micah Folsom, who is a member of the WSU Women's Volleyball Team. JD has to balance his school load with his football load and also his duties as a husband. Being a student athlete doesn't give him much time for a social life. "Instead of going out, I go home and hang out with my wife," JD said. "We study together and just enjoy each others company." Calvin Mutcher, a sophomore tight end on the WSU Football Team said being a student athlete takes a lot out of you. "I used to have a lot more free time," Mutcher said. "Now, being a student athlete, I am a lot more stressed, and I am physically and mentally worn out after a long day of school, football and studying." Lindsey Spencer is a scholarship athlete on the track team, but she also works part time for extra spending money, putting yet another item on her already busy schedule. "Working one or two days a week helps a lot," she said. "I have money for gas and extra money to buy stuff." JD noted that success on the football field it starts in the classroom. If a player doesn't have good grades, that player can't practice, and if that player can't practice, that player can't play. Academic requirements start well before game day though. The student athlete must be academically eligible early in the recruiting process by passing either the ACT or SAT with a satisfactory score. After passing the SAT or ACT, they must be cleared through the NCAA clearing house. After being cleared academically, the student athlete must pass a physical to make sure he or she is physically sound to compete. After the student is cleared academically and physically, then comes more physical preparation. Most all collegiate sports train year-long. For football and volleyball they have winter conditioning, spring ball and drills, summer training, the much dreaded two a days and then the season. Becoming a student athlete and passing the ACT, getting accepted to college and all the training is one thing, but staying eligible is another. Student athletes must retain a certain GPA, as well as pass a certain amount of credits each year, as well as keep, up their PTD (Progress Toward Degree). Bryce Scanlon is a correspondent at The Signpost and also a member of the WSU Football Team, giving an indepth look on athletic issues this semester. # Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. |