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Show Sports FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30 2011 Kearl to step down Notations has led WSU to four conference titles. In his first season in 2000, he led the `Cats to a Big Sky title and advanced to the NCAA West Region Championships. He was named Big Sky Coach of the Year in 2001. The following year, the Wildcats repeated as Big Sky champions and Kearl was once again honored as Coach By Nathan Davis of the Year. sports editor I The Signpost After the Big Sky discontinued men's golf, Kearl was a driving force behind The Weber State University men's the formation of the America Sky Congolf head coach, Dave Kearl, has an- ference, a golf-only league that features nounced he will step down as head teams from across the nation. Kearl's coach of the Wildcats' golf team, effec- squad won the inaugural America Sky tive Jan. 1, 2012, to pursue other oppor- Conference title in 2007 at Valley View tunities. Kearl has been the head coach Golf Course in Layton. In 2011, the Wildcats once again captured the conof the Wildcats since 2000. Kearl said that leaving the golf team ference title at Troon North. SOURCE: WEBERSTATEAPORTS.COM WSU Director of Athletics Jerry Bovee is bittersweet, and he is said that Kearl has done a a golf professional at several courses confident that the team will lot to help the golf program in the area, including Bountiful Ridge, continue to succeed and "I am grow, and will be missed by Valley View and Oakridge Country grow. Club. the athletic department. "It is with mixed feelings especially He will continue to coach the Wild"Dave has done a fanthat I pursue this differtastic job as our men's golf cats the remainder of the fall 2011 seaent path," Kearl said, "but proud of coach at Weber State," Bo- son. WSU Director of Golf and Head with the quality of the guys the quality vee said. "He has been vital Women's Golf Coach Jeff Smith will on the team, the conferin helping our team con- oversee day-to-day operations of men's ence formation complete, of student tinue to play in a confer- and women's golf. and the steady influence of Bovee said that he will take this opence and his athletes have Coach (Jeff) Smith, I feel the athletes that excelled on the course and portunity to re-evaluate the golf proWildcats will have continhave played in the classroom. We wish gram and devise a plan that will help ued success." him the best in the future." the team continue to grow. Kearl said that he is glad for Weber "As with any change, it's a good time Under Kearl's direction, for the time he has spent at to evaluate the structure of the proWSU has had two athletes WSU, but is looking to ex- State. . ." gram and determine how to continue win conference medalist plore other opportunities in to build success for the future," Bovee honors and has had 12 Allgolf. said. "I thank Weber State for - Dave Kearl Conference selections. Also Kearl said that he feels the team will under his guidance, the the opportunity the last 11 continue to be a strong player in colleMen's golf coach Wildcats have had eight Acyears have brought me," ademic All-Americans and giate golf and will keep growing. Kearl said. "I am especially "I feel strongly about the nucleus of numerous team GPA and proud of the quality of stuthis year's young team and know they Academic All-Conference dent athletes that have played for Weber will be successful going forward." State over the years. They are the rea- honors. Kearl has been a member of the PGA Comment on this story at son for the success we have achieved." of America since 1982 and worked as wsusignpost. corn. As head coach of the Wildcats, Kearl WSU Golf Coach Dave Kearl will leave team to pursue other options Nathan Davis • The Signpost columnist If you're a soccer fan and like Manchester United, I will judge you I realized something yesterday. When it comes to sports, I can be a bit of a judgmental snob, and I'm ok with this. I overheard two people on campus talking about soccer. At first I got excited that people were discussing one of my favorite sports, but my excitement quickly faded when I gleaned from the conversation that they were Manchester United fans. If you don't know much about soccer, Manchester United is about equal to the New York Yankees having a baby with the Los Angeles Lakers. I don't have a problem with every person who likes wildly successful teams that use mass amounts of money to buy the best players in the world. For example, if you were born/lived for an extended period of time in that city, congratulations. You're lucky. Or, if you became a fan of a team or a specific player at a very young age, I can accept you being a fan of that team. Like my former co-worker at The Signpost, Eric Jensen. His favorite baseball team is the Yankees, and his favorite football team is the Green Bay Packers, but I'm ok with this, because he picked those teams when he was young and stuck with them. The reason I'm ok with his situation is See Notations page 8 WSU takes on defending champs Wildcats prepare to face Eastern Washington University on Saturday said the team is looking only forward to its next opponent. asst. sports editor I The Signpost "I think our past wins are going to build momentum," BookWeber State University's foot- er said. "We aren't looking back ball team is going to take on de- at last week. It's on to Eastern fending Football Championship Washington now." Series national champions EastAlso due to last week's game, ern Washington University on Defensive Captain Nick Webb Saturday at EWU. This will be the moved into the record books first time WSU has ever played on and tied the team-high six tackEWU's red turf at Roos Field. les, with four of them completely "We are playing the defending unassisted. With the four unasnational champions," said Kamaal sisted tackles, Webb moved into Ahmad, director of football opera- the school's top 10 list. tions. "It's not going to be a walk in WSU leads the Big Sky in five the park. If we play our game, we categories. The Wildcats are first can beat anybody in the league and 14th we play at any time." "It's not going in the nation in scorWSU improved ing offense. They avits Big Sky Confer- to be a walk erage 35.75 points per ence record to 2-0 game. They are also when it defeated the in the park. If first in the conference Northern Colorado we play our and 11th in the nation University Bears in total offense, putlast Saturday. After game, we can ting up 447.25 yards his performance beat anybody per game. They lead on Saturday, Mike the league in passing Hoke earned Co- we play at efficiency at 158.40 Offensive Player of yards. WSU also leads the Week in the Big any time." the conference with Sky. He completed five total intercep20 of 25 passes for - Kamaal tions. 280 yards with five EWU enters SatAhmad touchdowns and no football coach urday's game with an interceptions. In the 0-4 overall record and conference, Hoke 0-2 in Big Sky Conferhas set the record ence play. They rank for 11 touchdown passes and no eighth in the conference in scorinterceptions in a four-game span. ing offense and fifth in scoring "These last two games we had defense. EWU is third in passing have given us a lot of confidence," offense. The Eagles returned 16 said JC Oram, offensive captain. starters and 50 lettermen from "We just have to keep that up and last year's championship team. not look this team over. If we just "The only thing that their go out there and stay focused, we reputation means is it emphawill be fine." sizes that we have to play four WSU running back Josh Booker quarters," Booker said. "We have said that the past is not what the to play a full game against them. team is focused on. Instead, he They are a lot better than what By Corie Holmes PHOTO BY CORIE HOLMES I THE SIGNPOST Weber State University's Jordan Clemene runs toward the end zone during a game against Utah State University. The Wildcats will take on Eastern Washington University on Saturday in Cheney, Wash. their record shows." EWU holds a 15-14 lead over the Wildcats going into their 30th meeting. The Wildcats have won three of the last four games at Roos Field. Ahmad said that in order to be strong against EWU, WSU needs to tighten up its basics. "Fundamentals and doing the things that we do well is what we have to do," Ahmad said. "It's a lot of just polishing what we do best and making sure that we show up." Oram said that WSU's offense is still working on its hurry-up offense and the team really wants to establish a strong running game early on in the game. "Our main objective is to run the ball this game," Oram said. "We want to get their defense tired with our hurry-up offense." Comment on this story at wsusignpost. corn. |