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8 The Southfield Jay / December 2006 And And that’s that’s wh why wh they they pla play pla y the the game game By Emanuel Johnson Sports Editor Any conventional wisdom would have told you that the UCLA Bruins football team could not defeat their powerhouse rivals, the number two ranked USC Trojans. For the entire week after USC defeated Notre Dame to better their chances at a trip to Glendale, Ariz., to compete for the BCS Championship, people around the country assumed that they would get that opportunity. No one expected anything less than a blowout as the 10-1 USC Trojans prepared to engage the unranked 6-5 UCLA Bruins. On Dec. 2, conventional wisdom wasn’t wise at all. The Bruins defeated their in-state rivals 13-9 in one of the greatest and most shocking upsets in college football history. It was their first victory over USC since 1998. “I was shocked,” said senior Michael “Mudd” Harris, who constantly keeps up with college football happenings. “USC practiced for Ohio State instead of UCLA, but UCLA got the upset. That’s what happens when you overlook your opponent. They get the better of you. They end up winning.” And that’s just what it was, a UCLA win, rather than a USC defeat. The Bruins did it with passionate play and a passionate coach in Karl Dorrell, who, rather than hold his team back, jumped right in the middle of the crowd during the taunting that took place in the third quarter of the game. Which brings us to the moral of our little story: the power of the heart. The nation prematurely chalked the game up as just another win for USC because they were looking at it from an angle of rational reasoning without introducing the human element into the process. That is, they counted out the heart and passion of the players of UCLA. In any sport when a team or individual plays to win and refuses to accept anything less, rational reasoning and conventional wisdom mean nothing. The only thing that matters is the person’s will to succeed. Spor Sports Spor ts Spor Sports Spor ts t tteams t eams cut cut due due to o lac lack lac k of of par participation par ticipation Photos of wall plaques by Emanuel Johnson Game over: Hockey and soccer peaked in 1984 at Southfield High when the above-pictured athletes - Ken Chaput (left) and Erik Enyedy (right) - made the All- State roster in their respective sports. These sports were eventually cut due to lack of participation. Swimming is still offered but also lacks participants. By Emanuel Johnson Sports Editor Every year Southfield High students push three major sports into the limelight: football, basketball and track. The attention attracted by these powerhouse sports takes away valuable appeal to many of the smaller athletic programs in the school. In the past few decades, several sports have been cut from the school’s athletic program due to lack of participation or interest. Some major cuts include hockey and soccer. Swimming is likely the next sport to go because few participate. Southfield High hosted a hockey team up until 1991, when it was cut. The program was restored under joint participation with Southfield-Lathrup in 1992 before being cut again in 2001. The team never enjoyed much success, often going entire seasons without a single victory. “The city of Southfield doesn’t really push hockey like it does football and basketball,” said former Southfield High hockey coach Robert Smith. “There weren’t many kids that came out…I’d be lucky to get 13, and most of them didn’t even know how to skate. It makes it hard. We would lose games by 25 points when 4 is considered a blowout.” The school’s boys’ soccer program was also run under a joint participation with Southfield-Lathrup. It was cut in 2002. Southfield-Lathrup cut its own individual program this year. The soccer team had more success than the hockey team, but it still wasn’t strong enough to remain a part of the school. “We were an OK team,” said Social Studies teacher Jamie Glinz, who played for the soccer team until 2000. “We usually ended up with a losing record, but we tried to be competitive in every game.” The girls’ soccer team lasted until last year when its final season featured a team comprised purely of Southfield-Lathrup students; not one Southfield High student participated. The program was dropped due to a Michigan athletic rule forbidding two schools with a combined total of 3,500 or more students from combining teams. Southfield High is home to 1,422 students without Southfield-Lathrup and Southfield Regional Academic Campus (S-RAC). The boys’ and girls’ swimming teams also felt the effect of this new rule this year when both teams were unable to combine with Southfield-Lathrup, rendering each program unable to compete this season because it did not have enough team members. According to Athletic Director Tom Eschmann, Southfield High also hosted a gymnastics team (cut in 1981) and a ski team (cut in 1980). “Lack of participation was not the only issue,” said Eschmann. “It seems like it also had a lot to do with the administration of the time. If they didn’t like the program, it usually got cut.” Sports that the school has never offered include lacrosse, figure skating, boxing and bowling. Bowling is gaining popularity as a varsity sport at other schools, however. “I’d definitely join if we had a bowling team,” said senior Shawn Daniel, who bowls a 207 average. “I know plenty of people who would be right there with me, too.” “There are plenty of opportunities,” said Eschmann. “The problem is that I can’t find enough interested students to run them… If enough students showed interest, then maybe I can do something to help them.” Sports Briefs V-Ball -Ball of off of f t tto t o r rrough r ough s sstar s ar art ar The girls’ volleyball team started the season with two consecutive shutout losses to Pontiac Northern and Hazel Park. Despite the defeats, the team maintains a positive outlook on the rest of the season. “We decided as a team that Hazel Park would be our last home de- Ashley Jackson Young oung wres wrestler wres tler tlers tler s place place Two sophomores placed in Ferndale Invitational wrestling tournament on Dec. 2. Sophomore Marvin Jenkins took fourth place in the 152- pound weight class and Robert Drayton- Wiley took fourth place in the 171pound weight class. “We have a lot of newcomers,” said sophomore wrestler M i k e Chappell. The team has Mike Chappell feat,” said senior Ashley Jackson. The team’s next home game will be Jan. 4, against Southfield-Lathrup. -Emanuel Johnson 30 members, but they lost the leadership of former wrestlers junior Aaron Whaley and senior Bernard Banks. Despite these setbacks the team is still optimistic about the future. -Sahsha Daniel Swim Swim t tteam t eam needs needs bodies bodies The Varsity Boys’ Swim team kicked off the 2006 season without their Southfield-Lathrup partners swimming by their side. The team fell victim to the new high school rule banning schools with 3,500 or more total students from combining teams. As a result, Southfield High has too few participants to swim in competitive meets. A team needs at least eight swimmers to compete, but this year’s team only has four. -Tomeka Kolleh
Triple riple Threat Threat: Threat Photo By Emanuel Johnson Return to sender: Senior Nicole Moore prepares to return the ball during a volleyball game. 11/28, 11/29, 11/30 6-8 pm 12/27, 12/28, 12/29 5-7 pm Call for additional dates Location & Times: 17029 W. 13 Mile Rd. Southfield (248) 358-3155 ___ 12/4-12/19 6-8 pm ___ 12/18-1/4 7-9 pm ___ 1/8-1/25 6-8 pm Call for details or for additional dates Spor Sports Spor ts Senior excels in athletic endeavors By Sahsha Daniel Staff Writer There’s no such thing as an off-season for senior athlete Nicole Green. The three-sport athlete is always in training, whether it’s for varsity basketball, track or volleyball. Green was exposed to the world of sports at an early age. “With me being raised by my father and living with my brother, I knew nothing else,” said Green. “I have always been around sports. Being really girly was unacceptable in my house.” Green eventually fell in love with track. She started running at 7 years old in the Crim Race in Flint, Mich. The Crim is a 10mile race along the streets of the city for the purpose of raising money for the mentally disabled. Shortly after Green moved to Southfield in 2000, her father passed away. While on vacation in the Bahamas, he went out for a swim and ended up at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. This tragic loss led Green to submerse herself into her athletic aspirations. “My dad died, so I needed something that I could release my anger into,” said Green. She began learning the fundamentals by practicing every day until the street lights went out. She would take on anybody who dared challenge her. “Nicole is very competitive,” said long time friend senior Tiffany Johnson. “She doesn’t like to lose, and the few times that she does lose force her to work harder to win the next time.” Green, standing 5’4’’ and weighing 130 pounds of pure, solid muscle, began her high school ath- “My dad died, so I needed something that I could release my anger into.” ~ Nicole Green The Southfield Jay / December 2006 9 letic career with basketball and track. It wasn’t until her varsity basketball coach Ernie Taber saw her potential that she ventured into her third varsity sport, volleyball, in her junior year. “Coach Taber said I had potential because I’m left-handed and athletic. He said that I would be a huge asset because I brought speed and a new attacking position,” said Green. Green finished this year’s girls’ basketball season as the only All- League athlete on the team. She also won honors from her team as the Most Valuable Offensive Player with 210 total points in the season. Green shyly received these awards at the team’s banquet at Hoop City Grill earlier this month. Though her father could not be present to see his daughter receive the awards, her teammates and family members applauded her accomplishments. With the basketball season now over, Green has focused her attention on becoming a leader on the girls’ varsity volleyball team, where most of the younger girls look up to her spirit, drive and remarkable skill. Sophomore Melissa Smith is one of the younger players who looks up to her. “She is very athletic and very aggressive,” said Smith. “I wish I could be half as aggressive and confident as she is on the court.” Green says that she hopes to attend Howard University on a basketball scholarship, but currently there are no offers on the table. “She is really good,” said junior Roshaunda Buchanan, one of Green’s volleyball teammates. “You can tell that she really loves what she does. I really think that she is going to go all the way.” Coach’s Corner An An inside inside c cchat c hat with with Gar Gary Gar y T TTeasle T easle easley easle By Tomeka Kolleh Staff Writer Gary Teasley coaches the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team. Last season the team finished with an overall record of 11-9. Here’s what Teasley had to say about the team: Q: What are you doing to put the team over the edge? A: My goal is to not to lose one player. Our boys are exposed to a variety of things in life - some good, some bad - which can affect their actions on and off the court. When I say losing a player, I mean losing them to death, drugs, teen pregnancy and ineligibity. I want to keep everybody on my team from start to end. On the court we are extremely focused on being committed to the game. We practice two hours for six days a week. We attempt to be 100 percent mental and physical when we’re on the court. If we are focused at practice, then we will be completely focused at game time. Q: Who do you look to for senior leadership? A: Dominique Barnes is one of the most mentally tough student athletes in Oakland County. He’s human, just like the rest of us, but he is focused on the court. I believe that he would agree that athletics has had a major impact in his life. Not only is he starting guard, he is also the quarterback for the football team, and that shows that he can be dominant in not one, but two sports. I believe we would both agree that he has learned from the challenges presented in his life and is committed to finishing strong, not only on the court, but in the classroom as well. Q: Do you think this team has more talent than last year? A: I believe that this team has more potential then last year. ..this year’s team is more familiar with the teachings and philosophy of my coaching. I believe that a team has to sacrifice individual needs to reap the benefit of being one on the court. I believe that this year’s team will excite the parents and students of our school in ways never done before.
Page 1 and 2: Volume 54, No. 3 The News Briefs Or
Page 3 and 4: News The Southfield Jay / December
Page 5 and 6: Q Q & & A A with with Southf Southf
Page 7: Photo by Rae Larkins Snake eyes: Ju
Page 11 and 12: What’s What’s hot hot and and w

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