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Show II 11 fi 1 1 M -- Lk. Forget About Kidd: Spurs Will Roll Over Nets New Ad Campaign Asad Kudiya Chronicle Asst. Sports Editor staEmpty seats Uttered football dium during most games last season, which was no surprise considering the somewhat boring and unsuccessful brand of football the team brought to the public. But with the entry of new coach Urban Meyer and his new system, the buzz is back and the new football ad campaign, headed by the U marketing department, is built around the new coach. "We wanted to make Urban and his philosophy the focus," said Randy Hanskat, copy writer for the campaign. offense Instead of the used last season and seasons past, y Meyer is instilling a spread offense. "Everyone wants to see what Meyer is about and the offense will Rice-Eccl- Tye Smith the NBA Finals now us, the familiar, whining from the Eastern Conference can fans of the be heard around the country. These fans would have you believe that the New Jersey Nets have a good chance in the championship battle against the San Antonio Spurs. Most of us know how ludicrous it is to believe that a team from the East could beat a team from the West, but the argument goes something like this. Nets Fan: The Nets are the hottest team in the NBA, having won their last io playoff games. No Western Conference team has a winning streak even remotely close. streak is Realist: This made up of victories against weak teams from the East. Let's face it, the Jazz could go on a winning streak if they were playing teams like the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics. Most Eastern teams wouldn't stand a chance in hell of making the playoffs if they played in the West. More importantly, the Spurs have a much more impressive regular season resume than the Nets. The 6o games Spurs won a league-hig- h mostly against teams like the Mavericks, the Lakers, and the Timber-wolve- s, compared to the 49 regular season wins compiled by the Nets against the pathetic Eastern teams. Nets Fan: Jason Kidd is the best point guard in the NBA, and his leadership ability will be enough to carry the Nets to a championship. Realist Where were Jason Kidd's leadership abilities when Phoenix gladly traded him to the Nets? I don't mean to harp on the point, but Kidd wasn't a league MVP candidate until he started playing in the East. Not surprisingly, a player from the West can easily become a star when playing for a JV division. Kidd's biggest problem, however, is not his lack of skill, but rather the obvious lack of skill in his supporting cast. Relying on players like Richard Jefferson, Kerry Kittles and Jason Collins has to leave doubts in Kidd's mind before passing the ball. Nets Fan: What about Kenyon Martin? He has emerged as a vocal team leader for the Nets and his scoring has relieved some of the is a domipressure on Kidd. nant inside force and will cause problems for Tim Duncan. Realist: First of all, is the worst nickname in the history of the NBA. How would you like to be named after a second-rat- e retail superstore that recently filed for bankruptcy? Bad nickname aside, Martin will be defending league MVP Tim Duncan in the Finals, and his chances of slowing Duncan are slim to none. The West is full of strong, defensive power forwards like Rasheed Wal- - With so-call- ed io-ga- mid-gra- es run-orient- ed pass-heav- put people in the stands, but the defense is what wins championships," U safety Anthony White said. As of June 2, four U football TV ads, directed by Mike Lee of Fast Forward Productions, had been released in hopes of convincing the public to come to the stadium this season. The ads are focused not only on the offense, but on the defense as well "Even though most of the buzz is around the offense, we wanted to be Vew? fair because we know how important the defense is," Hanskat said. Meyer had a tough time doing the ads. "It was one of the hardest things I have done, but I love it and I'm going to do anything to help Ute football," Meyer said. Since his hiring, Meyer has made numerous attempts to get out and meet the public to convince them to come to the games. "I practically do something every day," Meyer said. "I have done things like riding on TRAX to talk to people, and I am going to talk to six or 60 people, it doesn't matter." Even the players notice the efforts he is making. "Coach is not all about a billboard, he is about getting out to the people in person and telling them about the team," White said. "The players are trying to do the same type of things." Hanskat knows that Meyer is a very devoted person and will do all he can for Utah football. "He is good to his word and an amazing and very dynamic person," Hanskat said. Last season's ads were based around players tackling people doing everyday things, such as gardening, and pulling them to the stadium. The ads weren't far from the truth, considering people taken to games by players were the only way seats would fill up. "We are not in the least bit hitting Ronny Mac, but Urban runs a really offense," Hanskat said. "The combination of his offense and Kyle on defense could be awesome." The marketing department is also high-power- ed Chris Bellamy Chronicle Sports Editor season may still be more than two months away, but a trio of Utah Utes will be getting Volleyball started a little bit early this summer. After leading the team to its second consecutive Mountain West i Tournament championship last season, senior Kim Turner and juniors Kelsie Kartchner and Lyndsey Henderson will be heading to Lake Placid, N.Y, in July to take part in the USA Volleyball A2 training program at the Olympic Training Center. Tryouts were held at the Final Four in New Orleans in late Decern- - w -- I t L 0 : " X1'""-- ' ; i " V j I y -- New y - coach Urban Meyer hopes a new brand of football will bring more fans. setting up tailgating parties before games at the Gallivan Center and The Gateway to get more people downtown Involved with the team. "We are trying to get downtown to adopt this team as our own," Hanskat said. "Downtown Alliance is hooking up with us and helping us get more But can the different brand of football, along with the marketing ploys, aid the hapless attendance numbers that have been put up over the past few years? "I know it can work because it is something I have seen happen first- - people involved." see FOOTBALL, page 10 ber, and the three Utes were among only 19 players across the nation selected to participate in the training program. The announcement marks 's the first time in U coach Beth tenure that any Utes have been selected for the team. The 2003 program will run from July 5 Lau-niere- 14-ye- ar through July 20. "It's a really big deal," Launiere said. "Toshi Yoshida, the national team coach, asked specifically for Kim to try out, and then we got word that they wanted to make sure Lyndsey and Kelsie were going to be there as well." The A2 team, which will be coached this year by USC assistant Paula Weishoff-HanolIllinois assistant Anne Kordes and Texas assistant Robby Pulliza, was created to give successful, promising young volleyball players the opportunity to train with some of the country's elite and gain national exposure. Many will eventually move on to the USA National team. "Every time a player of mine has gone into a situation like this, where they're playing with other players who are equal or above them, they come back flat-obetter volleyball because players, they have to play at a higher level for a three-wee- k duration of time for them to succeed," Launiere said. "Players adjust to that and find ways to succeed. I think they'll come back better volleyball players, and I think they'll also come back with more confidence." As three of the top returning players from last year's team, Turner, d, K-M- K-M- see SMITH, page JUNE 5, 2003 USA Volleyball Sends Three Utes to N.Y. de 12 ... , A Mew Image for Utah Football Selling Offense to Get Fans in Seats Chronicle Sports Columnist w II ut v y -- 1 U mim. Junior Kelsie Kartchner was one of three Utes named ltmr,T, ,nr imn. I to the A2 Team. 2003 USA Volleyball Women's A2 Team Antoala AntStrsoa, Jrn USC Brtwa. Fr, Kmo Burflnt, Soph, USC Jtnna Jut Colhasort , Fr, Florida K!col tots, Jr, USC Kelsii Kartc&ner. Jr, Utah Bra ladd, Fr, Arizona UrafsyUiris,Fr,BYU Angela McClnnls, KS, Fraser VBC Meretfrtl Ktfson. KS, Northern Lights VBC Tiffany Oliver, Soph, Morgan State Lyndsey Kcnderson, Jr., Utah KkheSe Rantadod, Soph, Tennessee Lauren Richards, Soph, BYU Kristin Richards. KS, Players VBC Anna Schrid, Jr., Nebraska Mary Lauren Smith, Jr., Missouri Kim Turner, Sr., Utah SUcyVensW.Fr, USC Sherrl WliiUms, Soph, Florida Kartchner and Henderson were obvious candidates for the A2 squad. All three could make strong candidates for the national team in the coming years. Turner was the Player of the Year in 2002 and is one of the preseason favorites to take home the hardware once again this falL As Utah's junior captain last season. Turner was awarded MWC Player of the WTeek honors on four separate occasions. Considered by many to be the league's top defensive player, she led the MWC with 1.64 blocks per game. On the offensive C see VOLLEYBALL, page 10 |