Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Dec. 13, 1996, edition 1 / Page 8
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8 Checking it twice ADAM LUCAS sports editor Parking places are hard to find at the mall, there's that incessant ringing of bells outside grocery stores, and full-fledged fistfights are breaking out over the latest Holiday Barbie. Ah yes, the holiday season. The joyful occasion prompted me to sit down and com pose my Christmas list for those in the Guilford sports community... Tharon Robinson: A mean streak. Guilford's main man could take over some games if he got the notion. Unfortunately, he's just too nice. Of course, it's hard to argue with him when he's still averaging 15 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. Dave Walters: At least one week with out me badgering him for stats and scores. As he well knows, this is the one item on the list that will never happen. The men's basketball team: Continu ity. Players have been shuttling in and out so quickly that it almost seems like some of them have bums from removing and replac ing their warm-up jackets. The women's basketball team: An easier schedule. Opening with Wisconsin- Eau Claire? What, was Stanford unavail able that day? Always claimed that you'd support Guilford athletics as soon as they "won some games"? Well, check out the women, because they've got a chance to go a long way. Guilford students: A clue. We sure are eager (supposedly) to get out and support others in the community, yet when our class mates on sports teams work their butts off, we shun them. Is going to one athletic con test in your four years here too much to ask? Try it, you might like it. Don McNemar: The willingness to fol low up on his pledge to increase the com mitment to Guilford athletics. We've proven that when we identify a problem (e.g. re tention) we can do something about it. Well, sports is a problem. Let's do something about it. An unnamed member of the Guilford powers-that-be: Some compassion for the coaching staffs. It's hard enough for them to do their jobs without being criticized them at every opportunity. Mike Ketchum: Relief from the ath letic director position. Dual titles don't work in sports. Ketchum isn't paid enough to be forced to worry about running his football team and overseeing the entire athletic de partment Keir Bickers taffe: For the editor that has everything, we'll go out and buy a more comfortable couch for the pub suite-for those times when there just isn't enough time to go home and sleep. The faithful readers of the Guilfordian sports section: Suggestions. What would make this a more enjoyable sports section ior you? We welcome all your comments. E-maii 'em to lucasja or actually taxe time to write them down and send them to Box 17361. The Guilfordian Sports at Guilford struggling Guilford has never exactly been an ath letic powerhouse. However, the recent downward trend in sports has prompted new pressures on the athletic department from members of the administration. In addition, new President Don McNemar has also made improving sports a higher priority. With volleyball, women's basketball, and men's and women's tennis the only consistent winners in the department, con cern is building that changes are in the future. The last overall winning record in Guilford sports was in 1989, when the combined athletic teams went 115-109- 1. In addition, the men's golf squad fin ished fifth in the NAIA Tournament that year. The 1995-96 athletic schedule ended with a disheartening 89-114-5 (.438) record. "I expect improvement all the time, and I don't think anyone in the depart ment is satisfied by the performance," provost Dan Poteet, who is reported to by the athletic department, said. "In an ideal year, every team would be at least .500, and some would be competing for con ference championships. And of course, some would go beyond the conference." Baseball coach Robert Fulton, whose 1993 baseball team was one of the last to participate in the NCAA Tournament and win a team ODAC championship, says "I think it helps to have some guidelines set. I am a bit intimidated [by the pres sure], though." The pressure is certainly not coming ODAC Titles 1992-1996 Men's basketball: 0 Women's tennis: 0 Women's basketball: 0 Men's lacrosse: 0 Men's soccer: 0 Women's lacrossse 0 Women's soccer: 0 Football: 0 Volleyball: 1 Baseball: 2 Men's tennis: 0 Note: Golf has competed in the NCAA tournament each year since 1992 "Space Jam" a Looney trip "And I suppose then you're gonna fly," James Jordan says to his young son Michael in the new movie, "Space Jam." In the film, the younger Jordan is re cruited by the Loony Tunes to play in a bas ketball game that will determine the fate of the Toons forever. This film is geared towards the basketball fan and also young children. Hie plot of the film seems quite simple. The evil Swackhammer, from the planet Moron Mountain, needs a new attraction sports DAN MILGROM staff writer DAN MORSE staff writer December 13,1996 from the student body, who are noticeably absent from most Guilford sports events. "The average Guilford student just doesn't care about sports," coach Ken Glardon said. Poteet added that, "The reality is suc cessful teams breed wider support. I'm certain that all players are happier when there's a cheering crowd." Jared Kennerson, starting defensive lineman for the gridiron Quakers, agreed. "When yooOu hear people yelling and screaming, it makes you play better because you know people are out there supporting you," he said. That support might be there if teams had stronger winning traditions. However, some members of the athletic department wonder how they are supposed to win when they are not ab 0. 0. .OO.le to sell recruits on qual ity facilities. "Our indoor fa cilities are an embarrassment for how much our school costs," said foot ball coach and interim athletic director Mike Ketchum, who added that arere were three major factors to re cruiting at a Di vision 111 school: facili- ties, academic reputation of the school, and a winning tra dition. Fulton, who was a member of one of three Guilford national champi onship teams when he played on the 1973 basket ball team, agrees. "The weight room works OK, but it hurts recruiting, even for baseball. Kids go other places when they see bet ter ones." Despite the pleading of to bring crowds to his theme park. In an attempt to get an act that is funny, new, and "loony," Swackhammer sends five aliens to Earth to capture and enslave the Toons. However, they are unaware of the witti ness of Bugs Bunny. Bugs convinces the Nerdlucks that a basketball game will de termine the fate of the Toons. Unfortu nately, the alien Nerdlucks have a trick up their sleeves, as they have stolen the talent of five NBA superstars. The answer for Bugs and Company comes in the form of a minor league base ball player named Michael Jordan. After they pull him through a golf hole into their Records in past 5 years Team W L T Football 18 30 0 Women's soccer 26 45 5 Men's soccer 17 60 6 Women's lacrosse 24 43 0 Men's lacrosse 20 50 0 Men's basketball 51 72 0 Women's basketball 81 49 0 Men's tennis 63 25 0 Women's tennis 71 19 0 Baseball 88 96 2 Volleyball 93 51 0 Jensen all coach two sports, putting time constraints on them. However, Forest Collier was brought on board this year as a paid assistant devoted completely to women's soccer. "Forest has been a huge asset in recruiting," Glardon said. Much attention is being paid to the cur rent era of academic change. However, if Guilford is to succeed in athletics, it appears that an era of athletic improve ments is also necessary. (Adam Lucas contributed to this re port) world, the Toons convince him to play on their team, the Toon Squad. The game is an interesting one that ends in an unexpected way. It also includes cam eos by comedian Bill Murray and former Boston Celtics superstar Larry Bird, as well as appearances by NBA players Larry Johnson, Shawn Bradley, Patrick Hwing, Muggsy Bogues, and Charles Barkley. If you can look past the blatant adver tising schemes by Jordan and his agent, David Falk, who helped finance the film, then the whole family should enjoy this movie. the coaches, Poteet is not convinced that problems with facilities tell the whole story. "I don't think facilities are the whole problem," he said. "Although, I will say that Ragan-Brown Fieldhouse needs significant renovation." Along with facilities, the coaching staff situation also needs retooling. "One of the most significant changes we've made is separating men's soccer coaching from men's lacrosse," Poteet said. "The fact of the matter is that recruiting is very time consuming for those two sports. The same thing could be said for women's soccer and women's lacrosse, which are currently coached by Ken Glardon." While changes are being made, Glardon, Chuck McCracken, and Jack
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