Men and Women's Cross Country Sun Belt Conference race is scheduled on Halloween AGAIN!

Doesn't look like the FAU Cross Country teams will be dressing up for this Halloween once again. For the third year in a row, the Sun Belt scheduled the Cross Country Conference Championship race on Halloween weekend.

Even though I wasn't on the trip this year due to having knee surgery in July, it still makes me so mad because all my running friends were out of town at the race.

I wish the Sun Belt understood that college students and student-athletes really look forward to Halloween, dressing up, and celebrating this holiday with friends.

The cross country teams are runners everyday of the year, they don't want to dress up as a runner on Halloween too.

Hopefully next year the race won't fall on Halloween weekend again because it will be my senior year--and I want to go all out for my last collegiate Halloween!

Trunk-or-Treat: The Halloween football tailgate

The Florida Atlantic University football team is asking fans to come out to their Halloween game for a "Trunk-or-Treat" tailgate.

This could be a lot of fun, but I'm sure most students are:

• at the local Halloween store trying to find their costume,
• taking a nap all day to prepare for their upcoming night,
• working,
• out of town visting friends at other universities,
• or worried that they will get caught tailgating by police for drinking under age.

Halloween is already a risk for all young people because

1. 1. it is clear that everyone will be partying,
2. 2.(not that it isn't fun going to football games) but if people do go I'm sure they would rather be somewhat intoxicated,
3. 3. police officers and undercover cops are always at the games trying to catch underage drinking,
4. and those who are underage most likely won't want to get caught on Halloween because they would miss all the night partying after the game.

Also, with the FAU football team's losing stats, I doubt many "trunk-or-treaters" will be interested to attend anyway.

Sorry boys, but I think everyone already figures "witch" team will win, and "trunk-or-treaters" probably won't help your chances.

We Have First Pick!- Athletes have class registration before the rest of student body

Lucky athletes!

While most of the student body is up at midnight on November 10 waiting for class registration to open, Florida Atlantic athletes will be snug in our beds knowing we already registered for the classes we need.

Most students think this is unfair, but there is no other way around it. Athletes must register before anyone else because we have specific practice times.

I think this is one of the best things about being a Florida Atlantic athlete--especially because of all the budget cuts and few classes to choose from.

Every major has required classes each student must take, in a particular order of course. However, there is only like one (maybe two) classes offered each semester.

For example, out of the nine main classes in the Multimedia Journalism major I have already completed eight, and I'm only a junior! Other students in the major are frustrated by this because they are waiting to take these classes in order to graduate.

While it might be stressful for other students, I don't make the rules about class registration.

I'm just thankful that we can register early, I can get into the classes I need with the schedule I want, and I can graduate on time without any issues.

"Mandatory" Sportsmanship Survey- The importance of sportsmanship in athletics

The Florida Atlantic athletic department sent out e-mails to every coach and athlete to complete the Sun Belt Conference Sportsmanship Survey.

The e-mail stated that if every athlete on every team did not complete the survey, then the team would not be allowed to compete in the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

I think that's a little extreme. I mean I do understand, and agree, that sportsmanship is extremely important in athletics of all levels (but still, come on.)

The survey was very beneficial because it offered a lot of information about sportsmanship and the correct ways to react in particular stressful game situations.

However, I'm sorry to say but if an athlete is that competitive, then they probably aren't going to be thinking about a little survey when they are upset in a game.

Do you think these athletes were thinking about a sportsmanship survey making these descisions?

When you're an athlete, there are times where you might make bad decisions such as:

• hitting another player,
• yelling at a referee,
• using foul language,
• talking back to a coach,
• or anything disrespect in the presence of a game, practice, etc.

But athletes don't act inappropriate and disrespect on purpose, it's out of frustration from competitiveness in the game and with other players. We just want to win.

I hope these surveys work to remind athletes because sportsmanship is important. But until then, athletes just need to practice self-control in real-life situations.

And trust me... it's harder than you think!

Bring on the Cold?- Dealing with Florida's inconsistent weather patterns

One day it's 98 degrees. The next day it's 58 degrees.

I can't stand Florida's weather sometimes.

Yes, I might be one of the few athletes that is complaining about our recent cold front, but that's because I had to do a swim workout this morning!

If I was at football or softball practice, or even out for a jog, then I'm positive that I would have enjoyed the drop in temperature.

Even though it wasn't even that cold this week, it took the cross country team about 30 minutes to jump in the pool to do a swim workout. I know, pretty ridiculous.

So, how do the swimmers handle the freezing water in January or February when it's like 30 degrees outside?

... Especially wearing those itsy bitsy swim suits! They must be nuts.

During the winter, most athletes can add on extra layers to stay warm without it effecting their performance. The new technologies of under armor clothing are amazing because they provide warmth with such little fabric.

But, swimmers usually don't have that luxury because any kind of additional layers can slow them down.

I have a lot of respect for swimmers, not only because they have to compete in freezing water during the winter, but their sport is extremely challenging.

I might go watch a swim meet this winter, but luckily I'll have some hot chocolate and heavy layers!

We'll Take Your Dirty Laundry- Free laundry service for athletics

Whether an athlete lives in the dorms or their own house/apartment, laundry gets expense.

So let's think about this:

• Athletes get about three or four practice uniforms at the beginning of each year.
• Practice is about four hours a day no matter what sport you play.
• Weights are twice, maybe three times a week (I'm sure even more for football athletes)
• Practice is at least six days a week.

So within about two or three days, all your practice clothes are already sweaty, nasty, and gross because it's always so blazing hot outside.

That's like doing three loads of laundry a week! What a waste, right? Because you would only be washing about eight pieces of clothing every load.

Well, the Oxley Athletic Center is here to save the day once again.

Every Florida Atlantic student-athlete has their own locker in the athletic center where you can put as much athletic uniforms/practice gear that can fit (it's supposed to only be athletic clothes, but hey! we're in college--we take advantage of free stuff).

You may be wondering, "How do they keep everyone stuff separate? That must be a mess!" Ah ha, easier than you think!

In each locker there is a "laundry loop." You slide the laundry loop through each piece of clothing hole and everything stays snapped together while in the washer and dryer.

Most athletes say ... the more that can fit on the loop, the less laundry they have to do at home.

Close Call!-FAU Baseball barely walks away with a win against high school Canadian Team

Congrats to Florida Atlantic University's baseball team for winning against the Ontario Blue Jays on Oct. 21.

That is, the high school prospect team--not the minor or major league team.

The final scrimmage score was 4-0.

So I would think that win should be expected. If the FAU baseball team can't beat a bunch of kids, then that's pretty bad!

However, there's more to this game. FAU baseball might have "stolen" this win because they were using aluminum bats, while the youngsters used wood bats.

It doesn't take a sports expert to know that wood bats are way harder to hit off and take a lot more power to move the ball.

If someone asks about the game, Florida Atlantic baseball should just walk away happy with the win (and not describe the details!)

How Do They Have Money for That!? -The potential building of the FAU football stadium (& more!)

All of these budget cuts across Florida Atlantic University. Some majors are being completely eliminated. Others with very few classes to choose from.

And we're planning on building a brand new "mini-FAU city???"

The Innovation Village is going to include new dorms, stores, restaurants, and of course, a stadium for our "award-winning" football team.

However, I understand this might help our school by gaining interest for a larger student body, and eventually bringing in more money to FAU.

But they need to focus on one thing first. Our football team.

Even if you have a huge stadium, the main thing that will attract student body the most is successful athletics.

So maybe FAU should focus on spending money toward better football players, coaches, and equipment, and then worry about where they are playing.

Then again, to contradict my opinion, if there is an on-campus stadium, that alone may attract better football players.

Hopefully we're right after this multi-million dollar decision!

20 Sports, One Team- Support FAU athletics

The FAU athletic department just handed out hundreds of free t-shirts to student-athletes.

The shirts are being used as an advertisement to get more Florida Atlantic fans out to home games.

The shirt lists all of the 20 sports here at FAU. Every sport has their own date for fans to come and cheer the team to victory.

(To find the home schedules for any sport at FAU, check out the FAU athletic site.)

I hope these shirts are successful. FAU sports have always had a low fan support which may be a critical reason for our unsuccessful teams this season.

In order for a team to stay motivated and play their best, we need support from our fans.

Do you think the University of Florida Gators football team would be successful if the Swamp was empty every game?

Athletes at Florida Atlantic University, just like Gator athletes, count on fans to attend home games and events to cheer them to victory.

As you can see from the ancient FAU Owsley mascot above, FAU has obviously come a long way in academics and athletics over the years. And yes, we aren't even close to the top!

But we need your fan support to become a university with great, successful athletics. So jump off the Gators bandwagon, and support the school you actually attend.

Let's hoot our way to victory! Go Owls!

FAU's 3.0 GPA Recognition Halftime Event For Student-Athletes

Last Saturday, Oct. 3, was the 3.0 GPA Recognition Event for all Florida Atlantic student-athletes.

The athletic department plans this event every year. This year, the event was during halftime of the FAU football game against the Wyoming Cowboys.

But I don't think this event is really necessary or enjoyable for ... anyone.

Yes, I do agree that we need to be recognized for playing a sport and making good grades, but I have found some issues over the years with this event:

1. Not many people even attend the football games.


2. During halftime, the stands are almost 100% empty.


3. The people that are in the stands probably can't hear or care about what's going on.


4. Most athletes don't even want to attend the mandatory event.

Actually, even though the event is mandatory, only about half of the athletes showed up on Saturday--out of about 175 student-athletes that received a 3.0 GPA last spring.

Last year, they were actually pulling random athletes to go on the field for the event because barely anyone showed up! Uh, hello!

The athletic department should realize that this isn't high school. No one really pays attention to these kind of events at a university.

Also, after talking with the students that attended the game, they would rather watch a halftime show anyway.

To make everyone happy, the FAU athletic department should just give student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA something like a Nike book bag or food gift cards, and leave halftime entertainment up to the band and cheerleaders.

If they did, I bet more athletes would get a 3.0 GPA this spring, and more people would stay around during halftime.

Is FAU EVER Going to Win a Football Game?- The FAU football team struggles 0-4

Four games down, and we look pathetic.

How can Florida Atlantic University not win a football game?

(You can depress yourself more in detail with the 2009 FAU football season's statistics, if you dare.)

I understand that the first few games we were missing our top wide receiver Cortez Gent--due to a suspension from problems with law enforcement. But he played the last game, and we still couldn't pull through.

I'm also aware of the football player's endless responsibilities at Florida Atlantic University:

• Team meetings
• Watch film
• Training room rehab
• Weight lifting
• Scrimmages
• Running drills
• Team dinners
• Study Hall
• Daily practice
• And much more!

But that's what I'm trying to point out. After all of that hard work, time, and effort, shouldn't they win more games (or at least ONE game)?

I think these guys are only missing one thing- heart.

Maybe if they put a little heart into this season, they can turn their record around before it's too late.

Change of Heart: Florida Atlantic University men's tennis team has soccer practice?

A couple guys on Florida Atlantic University men's tennis team decided to join the FAU intramural soccer team this season.

But that didn't go well with the FAU men's tennis head coach, Brandon Stokes.

(Obviously, the guys didn't know or mean to cause problems with the FAU tennis team, they were just joining the intramural team for fun.)

However, Coach Stokes was so angry about the guys joining the intramural soccer team because he felt the team should focus 100% of their "athletic" attention to FAU tennis.

Throughout the next week of practice, Coach Stokes decided to change things up a little:

• Coach Stokes went to the FAU men's soccer head coach, Kos Doney.


• Coach Doney gave Coach Stokes a full week of soccer practices, workouts, and drills.


• Then, Coach Stokes explained to his tennis team that since they all love playing soccer so much, they would have soccer practice for the next few days.

But after those intense soccer practices, the FAU tennis team had enough soccer to hold them over until at least next season!

Who knows? Maybe Coach Stokes actually made the right decision and now the men will be ready to focus more on tennis practice, and come out with a Sun Belt Conference championship.

I'm confident in them, as long as they don't "step out of line" again.

FAU Men's Cross Country Runs Into Trouble

Last Friday night, Sept. 25, didn't go well for the FAU men's cross country team.

To start the weekend off, there was a huge 21st birthday bash for one of the guys on the cross country team.

According to one of the teammates, who asked not to be named for underage drinking reasons, said that the party had "lots of pretty girls, enough alcohol for an army, and extremely loud music."

I'm assuming that music faded immediately when four Boca Raton police officers showed up to the party.

Then, one of runners mentioned to the officers that they were part of the Florida Atlantic University men's cross country team.

That didn't turn out the way he planned.

Next thing they knew, three more officers arrived. But this time, it was Florida Atlantic University police.

The cops took every one's name and went straight to--you guessed it--Alex Smolka, the head coach of the FAU men's cross country team.

Coach Smolka was not happy at all.

He sent a text at 7 a.m. on Saturday to both the women's and men's cross country teams about partying, underage drinking, and getting into trouble with the university police, and he held a meeting next practice explaining the potential consequences if this happened again.

But next time, I'm sure everyone will just make a run for it!

RelationSHITS! The troubles of two athletes dating

I no longer consider them relationships.

All they consist of are a relation between two people and bullshit. So now I think that "relation-shits" is a more appropriate word.

But anyway, aren't relationships, I mean relation-SHITS, hard enough? Especially in college.

Even worse, how can you date another FAU athlete and expect to cope if there's a break-up?

The worst things about dating another athlete at Florida Atlantic University are:

• You will see your ex constantly around the Oxley Athletic Center at mandatory meetings, training room, workouts, study hall, or athletic advisor offices.


• Everyone in the athletic department is a mini-family, so everyone will know all the details.


• It's awkward whenever you go to your ex's sporting events, or any FAU games at all.


• Athletes always hang out with each other at parties, dinners, and much more.


• People (mostly athletes) start taking sides after the break-up.


• Other athletes will hesitate to date you because they don't want to cause conflicts with your ex.

These issues make it seem more like a break-down rather than a break-up when you date another athlete at FAU.