Rivalries and Dynasties

This monday I had the privilege of experiencing something many college basketball fans hope to but never get the chance to participate in. I was part of the masses that rushed the court as my team beat the number 1 ranked team in the nation, this team also happened to be our biggest rival. This made me reflect back to one year earlier, at that time I was at a very different school but was once again part of the faithful who flooded the hardwood as once again the number one was dethroned.

It was by sheer dumb luck that I happened to be present at both these games but the victiries were not by dumb luck. The team in question was the ever powerful Kansas University Men’s Basketball team. Last year they were overcome by Oklahoma State University, this by Kansas State University. anyone who follows my blog know that I formerly was a student-athlete at OSU and am now a student-athlete at KSU but all small details aside.

KU always a power in men’s basketball was the favorite in both games, however with the phenomenon we call sports they were defeated. The workings of a rivalry are pretty well-known, often bred from a closeness in vicinity and a fierceness of competition.  KU and KSU are no different, KSU has always been the underdog fighting against the odds. However regardless of the outcome of the year before the desire to triumph over one’s rival is as equally potent. However when one’s fire to succeed weather over a rival or general season game is increased when the opponent is a dynasty.

 This leads me to my newest pondering, what does it really take to become a dynasty? We all know the names, for football it may be Texas, USC & Notre Dame, for basketball teams such as UCLA, UCONN or KU. These teams may not always be at the top of the rankings every single year, but they have a storied history and are usually performing well above average.

The most exciting part of sports is the ability for upsets such as this to occur. Weather a rivalry game, the upset of favorite or a intense tournament game the draw of sports is its ability to keep you on the edge of your seat until the fans flood onto the court to celebrate the victory as though they had made the game winning shot themselves.

peace,love&sports

Tags: basketball, college athletics, college basketball, college sports, dynasty, February 14th, KState upsets KU, KSU, KSU vs. KU, KU, rivalry, sports

Game Changer

Kyle Brotzman missing a kick versus Nevada, Cam Newton throwing the first pass that would upset the rolling tide, or Brad Smith’s 45 yard touchdown run against Nebraska. All of these moments changed the game and altered the expected outcome. We’ll never know what might have happened had they not, but one thing is for sure monumental shifts are the bread and butter of college athletes.

But sometimes those game changes are not decided by the players on the field, they are a player being ruled ineligible, a coach suffering a heart attack or a call by an official. Some of these moments can be explained away as youthful indiscretions or the like, others only as acts of God, and some cannot be explained. We can only shake our heads and hope something like that will never happen again.

Enter the play in question, Syracuse up by 8, Kansas State drives the ball down the field, Coffman throws to senior Adrian Hilburn who sprints 30 yards down the field for a Wildcat touchdown. As he crosses the goal line Hilburn drops his arms to his sides, raises his right and salutes the Wildcat faithful, military style. Seconds after Hilburn drops his arm back to his side the back judge said ‘Bad choice, buddy,’” Hilburn said. “I was like, ‘Really? For that?’. With that the call of excessive celebration was made and the entire game came to a screeching halt. Even the Syracuse fans were silent, trying to decipher what had just happened. The game went on, the Wildcats attempting the 2 point conversion from the 18 yard line and Coffman’s pass sailed just a foot shy of David Garrett”s hands, thus ending the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl and crushing the Wildcats bowl dreams.

The NCAA rulebook classifies excessive celebration as “no player shall celebrate in a manner that call attention to himself.” If the NCAA were the police they would be left a loophole a mile wide to arrest anyone and everyone they wanted with wording such as this. If in the real world our laws and rules are clear-cut why should the athletics world be any different? In everyday life when someone is believed to have broken the law their transgressions are brought before a judge or court who ensures that there was in fact a wrongdoing. And if it is determined that the individual in question has done nothing wrong, the officer who wrongly singled them out is reprimanded. However in college athletics when a bad call is made there are no consequences for the official in question. I spent an entire evening searching and was not even able to find the name of the official in question from the KSU Syracuse game. Accountability is not real high on the list of priorities for the NCAA in cases such as the penalties of the Ohio State players, or Cam Newton.

Punishment and congruence of the NCAA and it’s rules are shady at best. As a college athlete I am greatly appreciative of the opportunities this honor gives me. However as I watch these cases unfold I think sadly of the track that college athletics is on. What’s next tripping players to help prolong games like in the Buffalo Wild Wings commercials, or college athletes that stop receiving rings and trophies for their wins and instead demand large checks. I am sorely disappointed with the state of athletics, I hope for the sake of my own career and those hoping to follow behind that the NCAA will see that student athletes are more than pawns in their scheme for tv time ratings, and big money contracts.

peace.love&sports

Tags: athlete, athletics, bad call, Big 10, Big 10 Officials, bowl game, Change, college athletics, college sports, conference championship, conference realignment, espn, fall, football, kstate, kstate football, KState V. Syracuse, KSU, ncaa, ncaa tournament, officials, sideline reporting, sports, wildcats

Game or Glory

When I started my blog I never realized just how difficult it would be to find the words to write. Expressing my opinion has never been a problem for me, my entire life I have been very open about my beliefs, ask any of my friends or family. But as I wrote I found myself worried about stepping on toes and creating waves.
But that is changing like most everything I do I have decided to jump off the cliff headfirst into the water with the rocks and sharks. I am going to tackle an issue few like to talk about, especially those who are athletes. But I’m not afraid of a challenge. So get ready to get wet.

If college athletes were allowed to bet, I would wager that the number of athletes who play purely for the love of the game is shrinking. With headlines such as Reggie Bush, Cam Newton and the NFL lockouts we see countless athletes using their sport as a platform to get ahead. Don’t get me wrong I’m all for using one’s resources to get ahead, but when the rules are stretched and the lines of morality smuged it’s time to decide what to do. Do we keep plowing along, ignoring the paths or right and wrong, or do we stop, take a step back and decide, why am I really doing this?

 Remember back to the first time you played, weather you were two, twelve or twenty that absolute feeling fo harmony when you  realized this was what you loved to do. For many players that feeling keeps them going, and drives their will to compete. Many players experience burnout, the politics and strain that the game places on their life overpowers their love for it and they quit or begin playing with less heart. For others their drive shifts, it morphs from a passion for playing to a lust for the cheers, the girls, the money, or the wins.

Everyone has their own cryptonite, however the fact remains the same as you climb the ladder of athletics the reasons for playing the game change.

I would love to do a little experiment, take the athletes playing at the college level today and take away their scholarships, their win records, and their pro dreams.  Better yet what if you went to the next step up, the pro level. How many do you think there would be left?  My guess is they would drop like flies.

Many people might be reading thinking, what right does she have to judge, she is a college athlete. But that very thing happened to me, after injuries and other personal issues I lost my scholarship, and I was faced with a choice. Go to the life of an average college student, or fight for the sport I love. I chose to leave my friends, and life I had created in my first two years of college, to start over, all for the chance to play. I wasn’t offered a scholarship and there is no pro league for my sport. I made this shift for the game I love. For me the win is the connection I experience I have when I am riding, doing what  love to do.

This post is not meant to bash college or professional athletics, or the look down upon those who are paid to play their sport. Instead I hope to encorage you to look within. Harness that little boy or girl that first fell in love with the game. Finding one’s true passion will help increase your potential and remind you why you do what you do. The best players are the players with heart, those that live and breathe the game they play. I hope that one day we won’t have to question the motives of the players, we will instead be able to watch them play and know where their heart lies.

peace,love&sports

Paige

Tags: BCS, Bowl games, College athlete, college athletics, college sports, football, football players, game, glory, motives, ncaa, NCAA Athlete, NFL Cam Newton, NFL Lockouts, Reggie Bush

Fall: bonfires, apple cider, leaves & FOOTBALL!

With two months since my last post I have alot to talk about. As many of you know I have just begun my sophomore season in the ring and junior in the classroom, with this milestone brought a new team, school, home, and life. I adore Kansas State, my teammates and the entire Wildcat family. With all of this has brought me a wealth of new opportunities and blessings, I am now a member of Zeta Tau Alpha just like my idol Erin Andrews, and also I am now a member of the sports information staff at Kansas State.

With this new job I am delving even furthur into my desired future career as a sideline reporter. I’ve been learning alot from how important play by plays and stats are to radio crews, to wearing heels is no fun when you’re on your feet an entire four hour game is painful. But all of this aside the most important lesson I’ve learned is to love the game. Touchdowns to touchbacks the intracies and intensity make football America’s sport.

But opinions aside from interviewing my first player, to working in an NFL press box. I hope to do the sport and my Wildcats proud as I work to become just like my Zeta sister Erin Andrews. I hope to update in a few days with a deeper look at my view of the world of college football. Until then

Peace,Love&Sports

Paige

Tags: athlete, athletics, Change, college academics, college athletics, college sports, conference championship, conference realignment, erin andrews, espn, fall, football, kstate, kstate football, KSU, march madness, ncaa, ncaa tournament, sideline reporting, sports, wildcats, zeta, zeta tau alpha

Football’s Big Dance

Who would have thought that college football would be getting so much airtime in June, but that’s just what happen when they had their own version of the big dance. Colorado left for the PAC 10, Nebraska bolted for the Big 10 and Utah peaced out for the Pac 10 as well. Well the waters have calmed, at least for now on the conference realignment front. I think it warrants looking at what exactly this has in store, not for future victories but for the athletes.

With conference realignment the largest and almost singularly driving factor is money, who’s tv contract will rake in the biggest bucks to which ones have a better bowl bid. But with all this talk of Benjamin’s and Franklin’s, the athletic director’s and commissioners are forgetting about the Joshs, Davids and Jennifers of their teams, that’s right the players. The kids who actually make that tv time worth something, and win those bowl games.

Now before I get too ahead of myself I’ll stop, don’t get me wrong I am not resistant to change, and these moves can bring some exciting new matchups across the board for all college sports; but we have to keep in mind why we even have these teams the college athletics, the athletes. I have not significantly studied all the effects this will have, so this is more just a broad overview.

For any college athlete playing your sport comes with rewards and sacrifices, professors and parents often argue the largest sacrifice is travel time, or all the time spent away and at home when they are playing and preparing, not in the classroom. For a school like Nebraska trips to Washington and Oregon will be significantly longer than down to Kansas or even Texas this in turn will take away more learning time.

Also affected are the athletic programs themselves, with thousands being spent in putting up and buying new conference regalia and paying withdrawl penalties, the funds will surely be extracted from other areas.

Often the ones who are the hardest hit in a situation such as this will be the smaller sports, sports like gymnastics (yep that’s a NCAA sport) rifle sports (that’s a real one too), rowing, equestrian, and bowling will all suffer. These sports will likely either suffer cuts in funding to make up the deficits of change, or they will be forced to travel farther and have less in conference games.

Though the waves have settled for now, I forsee there are still more changes to come, it will take a few years but we will see what happens to the athletes in the process. Lets just hope that the people in power remember the reason that they even have a job is because of these kids and their talents.

That’s all for now

Peace,Love&Sports

Paige

Tags: athlete, athletics, Buffaloes, Change, college academics, college athletics, college sports, conference championship, conference realignment, Cornhuskers, CU, march madness, ncaa, ncaa tournament, NU, sports, Utah, utes

Livin’ in Laker Country

Well for being an off time for sports there sure is a lot going on, bear with me I have a lot of  issues I want to tackle but don’t worry I’ll do it over several posts. As everyone knows I am a Cali girl at heart, born and bred to the bone. I love the golden state and though I don’t usually take a bias I will admit I am a gold and purple girl.

That being said I’m gonna start with today’s headline, yep for the 16th time the Los Angeles Lakers have claimed an NBA Finals Championship.  Of course it wasn’t an easy victory, they fought and scratched their way to the top, but once again did it. Retaliating from the all too embarrassing 2008 Lakers Celtics match up that had a very different outcome.

When interviewed during the post game awards ceremony a reporter asked Coach Phil Jackson, if he would be returning for a third victory, after all he does his best work in threes. Jackson very graciously admitted he needed to “catch his breath” and would make the decision next week.

But when is enough, enough? Jackson just secured his 11th championship, over twice as many as his star players Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher. And while reporters are egging Jackson to return to complete another of his triple threat victories; you have to wonder when does a coach say ‘well I’ve had a good run I think I’ll hang up my hat and let the young guns take over.’  Even the legendary John Wooden stopped at 10 NCAA victories. But then the professional arena is a whole different ball game.

You would think at 64 years old that he might want to retire and take up gardening or something. But then again that seems a little mundane for the master of mind games. Well I am just here to offer some insight, I by no means have a crystal ball that can predict the future. So I guess we will just have to sit back and wait out the waves, just like the conference shuffling of earlier this month. But I do have to wonder, how many more victories can LA stand, with two officers injured in last night’s raucous celebration. Only time will tell.

Peace,Love&Sports

Paige

(Photo by Nathaniel S Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Tags: 2010 NBA Championship, athlete, athletics, basketball, Boston Celtics, Celtics, Champion, Change, Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, Lakers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Championship, NBA Finals, Phil Jackson, sports

I see London I see…. California?

Just thought I would do a play off the children’s rhyme, bear with me I’m not crazy. With summer brings new opportunities, for myself in the form of a internship at my local newspaper. My first real assignment was to cover a sporting event, not a real shock. But not just any sporting event, a international sporting event. Yep I was headed to the big times.

Ever heard of the Tour de France? Ok, not quite that big, instead the Tour of California, the worlds’ 5th largest bike race. Competitors from all over the world were in attendance ready to tackle some of California’s hardest hills. While my indoctrination into sports has been fairly recent, within the last 2 years, I have been to a multitude of events in those past 2 years.

But the Tour of California was my first ever bike race. Being from California I was under the impression that all bike riders were granola eating hippies, who just take up the road. However, while interviewing the crowd I saw a different side, people who enjoy a sport, not because it’s ninety minutes of flash bang, but because it is a true test of the human body, and how far one can push themselves.

Before the race I though of bike racing as boring and passe.After watching I see the connection it has to athletics as a whole. Being an athlete in an obscure sport I’m used to people not taking a sport seriously and being uninterested because it was “boring.”  Now, though I see that bike racing, just like equestrian is a sport that desires respect and admiration.

Despite the controversy surrounding yet another Lance Armstrong steroid allegation, there was a great excitement & passion for the sport. I’ll even admit, my professional demeanor was somewhat lost to cheering when dozens of professional, world renown athletes went flying inches from my post.

So the next time you see a cycling race, equestrian show, or other obscure sport on TV, don’t just change the channel stop and watch it. You never know you might find your new favorite sport, or at least have more appreciation for someone else’s passion.

Peace,Love&Sports

Paige

To read the actual article I wrote

http://www.vvdailypress.com/sports/wrightwood-19383-rolling-through.html

Courtesy of Raniel Diaz

Tags: athlete, athletics, bike, California, Change, cycling, internship, Lance Armstrong, sports, Tour de France, Tour of California

Making the Grade

Just as with previous posts this is a tad belated, bear with me as we rewind about two weeks.  Two weeks ago was that time, the least favorite of all college students, finals week. This is a period when partying time  becomes all night cram sessions, coffee and caffeinated energy drinks replace alcohol, and bonding with books replace time with friends.

Every college student wants to make good grades and be successful at finals, repeatedly on campus you hear GPA is everything. However what about the athletes, “dumb jocks” ones who are believed to have no talent on campus other than their athletic abilities.

Well as most who follow college athletics know, those who play a sport must also be enrolled as a full time student at the university for which they play, thus the term student-athlete. This means that in addition to completing their sport requirements: practice, workouts, weight training, competition, team meetings, watching film, well you get the idea. They must attend classes, complete assignments, take tests, attend required study hours, and the like. This schedule is as you can imagine is very grueling.

Often a concern that arises in the world of college athletics, is what must suffer? Will athletic ability or academic success take prefernce? There is no doubt that accomidations must be made for an individual to be a student-athlete, however there are numerous examples of both academic and athletic success.

Every year after grades are posted and students have returned home, GPA’s are calculated.  Students who hope they have ”made the grade” look for that letter to come in the mail, saying they have made the honor roll. One little piece of paper can be so uplifting to students, tangible proof that all thier hard work is recognized, not just later in the form  of a high paying  job, but in the here and now.  

For student athletes grades mean many more things, those who do not complete the NCAA required progress towards a degree, or fall below the designated GPA are considered academically ineligable. This can result in a variety of consequences, having to take summer classes, sitting out of practice, missing out on post-season play, to even being asked to leave their team.

As one can imagine, this creates pressure on a student-athlete to succeed, after all the moto of many college students is Cs make degrees,  for many coaches just doesn’t cut it. However there is another, brighter side to this story. Students who recieve a qualifying GPA are placed on their respective confrence’s commisioner’s academic honor roll. Those who are especially gifted have the opputunity to make the Academic All-American team. This is comprised of athletes who excell both on the field and in the classroom.

There are a variety of other awards that are avalible for exemplerary student athletes such as the William V. Campbell Trophy. For a student-athlete academic success means much more than getting a plaque, trohpy, or having your name on some list. It is a chance to break through sterotypes ad prove they are more than just dumb jocks.

Student-athletes hope to prove they are in fact students first and athletes second. While clearly there are exceptions to every rule, those attempting to break the sterotypes can hopefully change at least some mindsets. So the next time you are inclined to bad mouth your classmate for being a dumb basketball player, or chastize your favorite college team for missing the big game beacause of ineligable players; remember that they are student-athletes. well until next time!

Peace,Love&Sports

Paige

Tags: athlete, athletics, college acdemics, college athletics, college sports, female athlete, ncaa, seniors, sports

Change Is In The Air

Once again my greatest apologies for my lack of attention to writing. This has been an extremely chaotic & groundbreaking time for myself, with my newest post I would like to take a look back to the NFL draft a few weeks ago & the topic of change.   

 Summer is a time for changes in sports.  High schoolers move in hopes of receiving more attention from college coaches, college students transfer to get more playing time, or enter their respective sports drafts. It is quite apparent that change is in the air.  Athletes transfer for a variety of motives, coaching changes, to receive more playing time, be closer to family & a variety of other personal reasons.  Change is an integral part of our day-to-day society, it allows for a fresh new outlooks, and different ways to approach things.  

Watching the NFL Draft is always a wonderfully thrilling experience, it was especially exciting for myself as I watched two friends & fellow student-athletes, Russell Okung & Dez Bryant, dreams come true.  As both were signed as first round draft picks to NFL teams. As an athlete countless years of toil often boils down to the one moment, when your dreams either come true, or end forever.  Though it is one of the most nerve-wracking things an athlete does, making a change is often one of the most important.  

Often these dreams can be shot down for several reasons, youthful indiscretions, injuries, differences of opinion with coaches & several other factors often prevent an athlete from realizing their full potential. However, when athletes rise above their difficulties it is truly moving. Dez Bryant, former OSU Cowboy & future Dallas Cowboy is no exception. He clearly made a great error at the begining of this year. But despite this he weathered the media storm, continued to train & was drafted first round to arguably one of the biggest sports franchises ever. Clearly, perseverance & the ability to embrace change has made him a very hot commodity in the football industry today.   

Russell Okung, also a former OSU Cowboy & newest member of the Seattle Sehawks is another example of change. His story however is less tumultuous, as he is the poster child for an ideal student athlete.  Diligent both on & off the field, soft-spoken & humble, Russell has undoubtedly earned the honor bestowed upon him. Russell chose the more traditional route, completing his entire college career before making the great leap & choosing to enter the NFL Draft. 

The NFL draft had another personal implication for myself, after extensive prayer, research & time I myself chose to make the great plunge & transfer. For several personal & athletic reasons I decided I needed a change. So during the NFL draft I myself chose to make that change & signed with Kansas State University. I will not go into the hairy details but suffice it to say this move is the path that God has clearly laid out for me, & I am honored that  Coach Lisabeth has allowed me this opportunity.  

With this experience I have realized the importance of two things, one embracing change & secondly doing this despite fear. Though I am fighting against the odds, a Junior transferring from a DI school to one of its Big 12 rivals. But I have chosen to take the criticism, my fear & anxiety, & I have transferred them into motivation to make this change possible.  

Well I don’t want to make this blog all about myself cause frankly, I’m not that interesting.  For all those thinking about making a change, whether it is signing to the NFL, taking a promotion, or heck, getting that drastic haircut, I’ll leave you with a quote from singer Rosanne Cash, ” The key to change is to let go of fear.”    

Until next time  

PeaceLove&Sports  

"Go Wildcats!"

Tags: athlete, athletics, Change, college athletics, college sports, Dallas Cowboys, Dez Bryant, female athlete, Kansas State, ncaa, OSU, Russell Okung, Seattle Seahawks, Sigining, sports

The Madness of March

Well turns out I’m having a harder time keeping up with this blogging thing than a originally anticipated. My sincerest apologies.

Well it’s here, March Madness is upon us. It’s the time when everyone from the nerdy computer guy to the President becomes a basketball fan; making their own brackets and calling out predictions. Families are divided as competition ensues.

But with all of this, no pun intended madness, I urge you, as you’re shouting at the tv in overtime because you want Robertson Morris to upset Villnova or Baylor to hold their own.

Remember, it is fun to win the family or office pool, but those numbers you’re shouting at for messing up your brackets are only a bunch of kids.

As a friend of several of my own school’s players I have seen how much this means to them. A chance to prove themselves as everyone is watching on the national stage. But with that chance comes alot of pressure a twenty year old student athlete myself, it’s intense enough when not only do you have your coach, teammates, family and friends wanting you to win.

But add the pressure of hundreds to thousands of people you’ve never even met demanding a victory; its a wonder they don’t literally break under the pressure.

So when it comes down to it try not to be too harsh or upset that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish fall a little short, because let’s face it how many of us can say that at eighteen to twenty three years old we qualified for a National Championship competition.

Hope you all have fun watching the games I’ll hopfully have more to report soon.

Peace,Love&Sports
Paige

Tags: athlete, athletics, basketball, college athletics, college sports, conference championship, final four, march madness, ncaa, ncaa tournament, seniors, sports