2 ■ august 2002
ncssm I the stentorian
The Role of Athletics at Science and Math
Will Turner
I f you came to this institu
tion because of sports, you
came for the wrong rea
son. Upon arriving to Science
and Math, most of you poten
tial junior athletes probably
noticed the second rate facili
ties we have such as the gym
nasium, weight room and the
baseball/softball/soccer field.
What you may also have
noticed are the facilities we do
not have, such as tennis courts
and a track.
Amenities, however, are
not the defining point of an
athletics program. The fans,
coaches, athletic department,
Ms. Eileen Witt and Mr.
Bryan Gonyeau, and the ath
letes themselves make the pro
gram what it is.
The 3A private school
conference that we belong to
also enhances the overall qual
ity of our program because of
the level of competition it pro
vides. While not all of the
Science and Math teams are
competitive in the conference,
a surprising number do con-
Eileen Witt, Head of Physical
Activies and Wellness
tend well both within the con
ference and in state tourna
ments.
In addition to high level
competition, the fans at
Science and Math are by no
means as typical nor are they
as abundant as you would
probably find at your previous
high school. A number of stu
dents could not care less about
our sports program, and some
even complain that portions of
the Student Fee go to athletics.
The fans that do show up,
however, tend to be far more
spirited than typical high
school fans.
Basketball, our premiere
spectator sport, often has
diehard fans painted blue and,
needless to say, they find vari
ous ways to distract members
of opposing teams. Not a sin
gle guys' game was ever com
pleted without the 'BUTT
SWEAT' chant being yelled at
some poor kid who had active
glands on his posterior.
Point being, the fan base
may not be huge, but they are
effective.
Another great aspect of
the program is the coaching
staff. The coaches are, given
their resources, amazing. Ms.
Witt does an excellent job
finding people for the posi
tions. Also, no one coaches
more than one sport, which
means coaches are more
devoted and more focused
with their athletes.
The coaches also recog
nize the heavy demands
placed on the students. They
tend to understand when an
athlete has to miss practice for
academic endeavors. They do
not, however, lower their
expectations because of
scholastic demands.
Even with the-exceptional
coaching staff, the athletes
themselves are the most criti
cal aspect of our success.
Very few students participate
in a sport just to put it on their
transcript. The demands for
that are too high and most
won't risk compromising their
grades.
Kids here participate in
their respective sports because
they love to play, which is
really what high school athlet
ics should be.
This does not mean that
higher opportunities don't
exist, because if the talent is
there, the college will find the
kid. Science and Math has
had its fair share of athletic
scholarship recipients, and
coming to NCSSM will prob
ably not impend on any athlet
ic scholarships one would
have received at his or her old
high school anyway.
One thing NCSSM can
provide is opportunity in cer
tain sports where there is no
cut such as Cross Country and
Swimming. Students do not
have to worry about making
the team in these sports.
because if they are willing to
put in the work, they have a
spot.
The bottom line: sports at
Science and Math are a great
thing, whether you participate
or not. If you are thinking
about trying out for a sport,
but worry about balancing it
with academics, keep in mind
that most coaches would
rather see you try and find out
you can't do it, than to never
come out at all.
ACC College Football Preview
John Zhang
I t's that time again! For
NCSSM students, school
is just beginning, new
friends are made, stress levels
are up, work is abundant,
sleep is not, and the excite
ment for the arrival of college
football is rising for those
spirited fans. College football
is an important culture in
North Carolina, and the ACC
season is ready to start. Here’s
a preview of the ACC, in the
order of each team’s expected
final ranking.
1. Florida State Seminoles:
Last year's fall leads to
this year's rise. Every offen
sive starter returns with the
exceptions at WR and FB.
The WR position is still
loaded with speed and talent,
powerful RB Greg Jones is
looking to tear apart defenses,
five senior offensive linemen
led by T Brett Williams anchor
the offense, and QB Chris Rix
could contend for the
Heisman. The offense should
be the best in the nation.
Defense is where the
Seminoles may have trouble,
especially in the secondary.
Only 1 starter returns on a sec
ondary that could be shaky.
If the 'Noles defense
develops, and the offense
lives to expectation, FSU
could be National Champs
once again.
2. Clemson Tigers:
Woodrow Dantzler is
gone, but heralded QB Willie
Simmons who threw 8 TDS
two years ago replaces
Dantzler. Underrated RB's
Keith Kelly and Bernard
Rambert could have a coming
out season, and the WR corp.
looks to be one of the best in
the conference. A young O-
line must improve.
Last year, the defense was
horrendous, especially the
DB's. New defensive coordi
nator John Lovett wilt have 9
returning starters to work
with, so an improvement
seems likely.
Many have the Tigers
going down and Tommy
Bowden on the hot seat, but
look for a nice year from
Clemson.
3. Wake Forest Demon
Deacons:
Surprise, surprise! The
Deacs could be the surprise
team this year and could shock
many as Maryland did last
year.
Underrated coach Jim
Grobe led the perennial door
mat to a 6-5 record last year,
and will return 16 starters.
They kept every game close
last year losing to Georgia
Tech, Clemson, NC State, and
Maryland by an average of
about 5 points a game, and
beating Carolina.
Wake returns top 1000 yd
RB Terrence Williams, start
ing QB James MacPherson,
and a solid secondary led by
comers Eric King and Marcus
McGruder. May sound
strange, but the Deacs could
have a great year.
WWW. seminoles. com
QB Chris Rix and WR Craphonso
Thorpe lead FSU’s passing
attack.
4. Maryland Terrapins:
The Terps had a wonder
ful season last year and return
two of the best players in the
ACC in RB Bruce Perry and
LB E.J. Henderson.
Ralph Friedgen is an out
standing offensive minded-
coach. The offense looks
good everywhere except the
QB position.
The defense is average,
but the linebacking corp.
looks good, especially with
centerpiece Henderson.
If QB Scott O'Brien
develops, then the Terps look
to be in the upper echelon, if
not they will be in the middle
of the pack in the ACC.
5. NC State Wolfpack:
A great passing game
should be featured in the
offense with QB Phillip
Rivers and returning WR
Bryan Peterson. The ques
tions for the Pack are 0-line
and RB.
The defense will be led
by S Terrence Holt, but
nobody else stands out. It
should be a stagnant year for
Chuck Amato's Wol^ack.
6. Virginia Cavaliers:
The Cavaliers look solid
but not spectacular on both
sides of the ball. They have a
great coach in A1 Groh and an
incoming recruiting class
among the best in the nation.
With a good returning
number of starters including
Matt Schaub, Alvin Pearman,
Billy McCullen and leading
linebacker Angelo Crowell,
the Cavs seem to be bowl
bound and a year away from
the top of the ACC
7. North Carolina Tarheels:
Carolina surprised every
one last year with a dominat
ing defense. The defense is
very questionable with key
departures and only 3 return
ing starters, and the offense
looks mediocre. QB Darian
Durant is above average at
best. A down year for the
Heels seems likely.
8. Georgia Tech Yellow
Jackets:
A lot of scandal empted
over the offseason, with
George O'Leary's resume lies
and the hiring of new coach
Chan Gailey.
The Jackets will lose the
sting on offense with the
departures of several top skill
position players. The hope
for the Jackets will be on
defense as budding stars
Recardo Winbush and Greg
Gathers lead the team.
If things pan out, they
could become the Tar Heels of
last year. Otherwise, they will
be in the cellar.
9. Duke Blue Devils:
0-11 two years in a row.
Duke is horrible and disas
trous. Enough said.