Posts Tagged ‘Football’

“We left with nothing, but we’ve still got each other.” –Justin Wilson

Justin Wilson, freshman kinesiology major, lost everything he owned when a wildfire engulfed his home in Luther, Okla. earlier this month. ESU, in conjunction with the Emporia branch of ESB Financial, set up a relief fund for Wilson and his family. Jordan Storrer/The Bulletin

For Justin Wilson, freshman kinesiology major, Emporia State represents more than just the average college experience.

On Aug. 4, Wilson and his family faced an adversity unlike any other. A wildfire on the family’s farm in Luther, Okla., engulfed the entire property. The Wilsons escaped with only the clothes on their backs.

After running from the fire, the family reached a farm pond, located approximately a quarter of a mile away, where they stayed until the flames were put out.

Currently, Wilson’s family resides at a hotel in Okla., but they lived at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Okla., for a few days. Justin’s father, John Wilson, is a retired military veteran of 22 years and was provided a temporary place to stay until the family obtained a more permanent home.

On top of the continued support from his friends and family back home, Wilson said his parents are still staying strong.

“We left with nothing, but we’ve still got each other,” Wilson said.

Garin Higgins, head football coach, said that the position Wilson is currently in is very unique, but football is helping him keep his mind occupied.

“I think he understands that he’s family here and he’s been using football to not think about the situation too much,” Higgins said.

ESU, in conjunction with the Emporia branch of ESB Financial, have provided support for Wilson and his family members during the past two and a half weeks. A fund has been set up to provide the Wilsons with adequate necessities to cope with their losses.

While there are several initiatives to help out the Wilson family, there is one person that is behind all the procedures and conversations with the NCAA.

Carmen Leeds, senior associate athletic director, has handled all of the measures needed for Wilson and his family to be taken care of.

“I had to get a waiver from the NCAA first before we could do anything to help Justin out,” Leeds said.

Leeds said the waiver process was one that was fairly quick and efficient. A verbal waiver was obtained and the physical copy of the waiver will be on record late this week.

Wilson said he and his family are grateful for everything that ESU has done to make him feel more welcome.

“They helped us out a lot. All the guys out here on the team and some of my friends have just made me comfortable,” Wilson said.

So far the fund set up for Wilson and his family has collected over $1,900.

The Wilsons did have insurance on their house and are slowly working on acquiring the necessities they once had.

 

Senior defensive back Josh Taylor practices with wide receivers/special teams coordinator Matt Martin Wednesday afternoon at practice. Taylor is returning to play after suffering a gunshot wound last spring. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

After the shooting of Joshua R. Taylor during the last spring break, Emporia State’s football team is looking to the future and not dwelling in the past.

“It is just a reminder to all of our student athletes to just be careful,” said Kent Weiser, athletic director. “I know coach (Garin) Higgins is very mindful and good at talking to the players and reminding them to make good decisions, but I don’t think it is something we need to dwell on.”

Higgins, head coach, and Weiser both agree the incident can be used as a learning experience but see no reason to implement any new policy changes.

“They are making sure we make the right decisions and stay out of trouble,” said junior physical education major and kicker Kyle Savner. “It is in the past, so we try not to keep coming back to it, but the coaches still stress good decision making and enforce the rules already in place.”

Taylor has fully recovered from his injuries and is set to play in the upcoming season. In an interview with Don Weast, assistant director of Media Relations, Taylor said he is excited to be back on the field with his teammates.

The new season has brought many new faces to the football team, with nearly 40 freshman and red shirts entering the rosters.

It is the biggest number we have had since I have been here,” Higgins said. “Part of it is recruiting. Our staff here does a great job. We have a young energetic staff that really goes out and beats bushes to find players, and maybe the other part is people are thinking we are going to do something here and want to be a part of it as well.”

Higgins said he is anxious for the upcoming season, and the team still has some work to do.

“We are getting better each and every day,” Higgins said. “Football is a simple game if you just boil it down to blocking and tackling, so we are just working on the fundamentals.”

Higgins said there might not be as much recruiting next year since they are not receiving additional funding, but he would still like to see about as many players added to the rosters.

The team opens their season against Fort Hays State on Aug. 30. Higgins said he expects a packed house.

 

Three players for Emporia State’s football team were involved in a shooting in the 500 block of Wiltshire Lane some time around 3 a.m. Saturday morning. A second altercation broke out at Newman Regional Health.

Joshua R. Taylor, 21, was shot once in the back of the shoulder as he drove an SUV with four other individuals away from the first fight. He was taken to Newman Regional Health and was later airlifted to a Wichita hospital. He has since been released.

Taylor is a safety for ESU’s football team. Also in the SUV were Jordan Sanders, 22-year-old linebacker, and Vincent Davis Jr., 24-year-old wide receiver. Gary Fortune, 20, was a mid-season transfer, and Broderick Turner, 24, is not a part of the team.

Police Chief Gary Smith says the five have all been identified as possible assault victims, but none have been charged in connection with either altercation.

The athletic department has not yet commented on whether there will be any disciplinary action taken as they are waiting for more details of the incident.

But Smith told KVOE today that this appears to be “a result of ongoing antagonistic behavior” between all involved instead of a random incident. According to KVOE, Smith said the investigation was slowed initially because some witnesses were allegedly threatened and that cooperation has been hard to come.

Smith also said that a one person apparently had a foot “run over,” and the victim refused treatment and left the scene. A bloody knife was also found. Investigators are working to identify who the alleged victim might have been, as they also left the scene.

Anyone with information regarding this incident may call the Emporia Police Department at 343-4200 or Crime Stoppers at 342-2273.

Kenzie Templeton

UCLA CHANCELLOR BLOCK COMES OUT STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT.

States News Service March 14, 2011 LOS ANGELES — The following information was released by the University of California Los Angeles: site california dream act

By Claudia Luther Chancellor Gene Block joined campus students today at a news conference in Bruin Plaza in support of the California DREAM Act, which would allow students who meet in-state tuition requirements to be eligible for certain financial aid programs administered by California’s public colleges and universities. Currently, undocumented students are not eligible for this financial aid.

Block has been a strong supporter of both the federal and state measures that would allow qualifying students to receive financial aid. Last fall, Block collaborated with the White House and the U.S. Department of Education to help make the case for the federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, better known as the DREAM Act, but the effort failed. In California, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in fall 2008 vetoed a similar measure. website california dream act

In January, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) reintroduced the California DREAM Act, which will receive its first hearing in Sacramento on Tuesday, March 15.

In voicing his support for Cedillo’s bills at the press conference, Block said that the campus probably has several hundred undocumented students, all of whom have faced unique obstacles in being admitted to and studying at one of the most competitive campuses in the nation.

“Many spend hours on the bus coming to and from campus,” Block said. “Because they can’t receive financial aid, they have to hold multiple jobs to pay for their expenses. Some rely on friends for places to sleep and food pantries for meals. This is very tough to do if you’re not allowed to get student aid.” The press conference was called by the Undergraduate Student Association to offer support on the eve of the hearings before the Assembly Committee on Higher Education. Cristopher Santos, the association’s external vice president, expressed his gratitude to Block for his leadership on the DREAM Act.

“As you all know, it hasn’t been an easy battle,” Santos said.

Block said he could not imagine a more deserving group of students. “They can reach their educational goals, they can contribute importantly to our society,” he said. “The DREAM Act legislation for California is overdue, way overdue. It has my strongest support. Let’s get moving.”

 

Football rolls over Southwest Baptist, 42-28

The Hornets traveled to Bolivar, Mo. this weekend to defeat the Southwest Baptist Bearcats, 42-28. The defense forced six turnovers and the offense racked up over 500 total yards of offense while dominating in every facet of the game. Their record now stands at 5-5 on the season.

Junior defensive back Derek Lohmann had a career high of three interceptions to go along with his eight tackles. Senior running back LeDarrian Page also had a career day as he racked up 201 rushing yards while finding the end zone three times.

Next up for the Hornets is the Northwest Missouri Bearcats. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in Maryville, Mo.

 
Junior tight end Adam Schiltz dives into end zone for a touchdown Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. The Hornets crushed the Bulldogs with a final score of 52-18. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

Junior tight end Adam Schiltz dives into end zone for a touchdown Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. The Hornets crushed the Bulldogs with a final score of 52-18. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

The football team hosted the Truman State Bulldogs on Senior Day last Saturday, as 25 seniors played their last winning game at Welch Stadium.

The offense gained 436 total yards while the defense forced six turnovers. All cylinders clicked as the Hornets beat Truman 52-18. This marks the second week in a row that the Hornets have scored over 50 points.

“We are starting to get some confidence offensively,” said Garin Higgins, head coach. “We are executing better in the red zone and on third downs.”

The offense jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter. Senior running back Adrian Abner scored twice in the first quarter on two separate nine yard touchdown runs. The defense then gained the first of their six turnovers as they forced a fumble and recovered on the 13 yard line. The offense later scored two plays as senior running back Dasor Horton plunged in from four yards out.

“The defense has been playing very big,” said Kevin Gaddis, defensive back. “From our linemen to our linebackers to our secondary… when we all play as one, I feel we can’t be beat.”

The Hornets did not miss a beat heading into the second quarter. The defense played strong as they were able to force two more turnovers. The passing attack found its stride as junior quarterback Tyler Eckenrode threw to junior tight end Adam Schlitz on a 13 yard touchdown pass. He also threw to junior wide receiver Shjuan Richardson on a 21yard touchdown strike.

At halftime, the Hornets lead 35-18.

“Our coaching staff does a great job with putting us in a position to make plays,” Eckenrode said. “We have been able to run and throw the ball very well these last two weeks.”

Both teams struggled against the wind in the third quarter, as neither team was able to complete a scoring drive. But the defense again stopped Truman on the two yard line to keep the Bulldogs out of the end zone and force a turnover on downs. At the end of the quarter, the score remained 35-18.

In the fourth quarter, three seniors scored the remaining 17 points as running backs Dasor Horton and LaDarrian Page had touchdown runs of six and five yards, and kicker Zak King had a 23 yard field goal. The Hornets stretched the lead to 52-18.

“I told them in the locker room after the game, let’s go win three in a row,” Higgins said. “Three in a row would be a winning streak.”

The Hornets record now stands at 4-5 on the season. Next the Hornets will travel to Bolivar, Mo., to face the Southwest Baptist Bearcats at 1:30 on Saturday.

Marcus Hix

 

ESU football beats Lincoln 52-23

The Hornets traveled to Jefferson City, Mo. to face the Lincoln Blue Tigers on Saturday. In a back and forth first half, the game remained close, 21-17, with the Hornets leading.

Adrian Abner scored the first points of the game with his first touchdown run of the season. Dasor Horton scored the second touchdown of the game with a 19-yard run.

The Hornets would pull away in the second half with LaDarrian Page getting in the end zone. Then Tyler Eckenrode hit Cameron Gee on a 63-yard touchdown bomb over the middle. The defense was once again stout.

In the end, the Hornets gained a total of 563 yards of total offense as they pulled away with a 52-23 victory. The Hornets record now stands at 3-5. The team will take on Truman at 2 p.m. this Friday at Welch Stadium.

Volleyball downs FHSU 3-1

The volleyball team traveled to Fort Hays State on Friday, ending up with a 3-1 record. The team had three players finish with double-doubles. The team also had 12 total blocks. They won the first two sets 25-23 and 25-18. The Tigers took the third set 25-17. The Hornets rebounded ending the match 25-16 in the fourth set.

Katie Deutschmann led the way with 23 assists and 16 digs. Paige Vanderpool had another impressive night with 16 kills and 12 digs. Morgan Buckner hit .407 for the match, ending with 11 kills.

The team will take on Northwest Missouri University at 7 p.m. Friday night in Maryville, Mo.

Good looks, pampering for men.(Merchandising; interest in male grooming industry trend)

Mass Market Retailers March 22, 2004 NEW YORK — The increasing feeling among men that good looks and good health go together is driving sales of electric razors, say experts on the category.

Men’s desire for a close shave that also treats their skin well is behind the phenomenon, say the experts, explaining that the macho appeal of a wet shave is waning as men increasingly appreciate the comfort of an electric shave.

“The razor wars are in full swing,” comments Steven George, director of marketing for Norelco Consumer Products Co., which has just launched the Cool Skin Shaving System. The system promises a shave that is as close as a blade’s but with less irritation.

“Cool Skin,” he adds, “is the latest chapter in the razor wars.” The introduction meshes with men’s heightened concern with how they look and feel, says George. Men have been freed to relate their overall well-being to their appearance in ways they never could before, he says. this web site facial hair styles

Such shows as “Queer Eye for The Straight Guy,” have exposed men’s vulnerability to not keeping up with fashions, he says.

Other evidence of the trend is the emergence of upscale barbershops and spa/boutiques for men in New York and Miami.

“That used to be the territory of women and now mainstream society is giving men permission to go there,” says George. go to web site facial hair styles

In that same vein men are increasingly purchasing skin care products for their distinctive needs. Skin care lines under the Nivea (Beiersdorf Inc.) and Neutrogena brand umbrellas are among those targeting men.

“Cool Skin plays very much into that,” George comments. “It’s about a close and comfortable shave, but it delivers an experience as well–a revitalization and rejuvenation of the skin.” The appeal of electric razors is borne out by sales data from ACNielsen. Volume of electric razors in food, drug and discount outlets excluding Wal-Mart Stores Inc. jumped 7.8% to $407 million in the year ended February 21, according to Nielsen. That is a dramatic turnaround from the prior year, when sales fell 2.3%.

Helping fuel the growth, says George, is the adventurousness of young athletes and hip-hop artists with facial hair styles.

“It’s very flexible,” he says of their experimentation. “You can have one look one day and then shave it off.” The tendency to rapidly change styles is reflected in sales of trimmers, which have grown tremendously over the past few years, George notes.

In recognition of that trend, Norelco is rolling out the AccuVac Beard & Moustache Trimmer, combining personalized trimming settings with the convenience of no cleanup.

 

football 1 RGB resizedSenior defensive line Kennedy Ezimako tackles the Missouri Western
quarterback for a safety on Oct. 15 at Welch Stadium. The Hornets lost
16-22 over homecoming weekend. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

 
Junior running back Derwin Hall dodges a tackle Saturday at Welch Stadium. The hornets came back from behind in the second half to win the game against the MSSU Lions 31-24. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

Junior running back Derwin Hall dodges a tackle Saturday at Welch Stadium. The hornets came back from behind in the second half to win the game against the MSSU Lions 31-24. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

Last Saturday at Welch Stadium, the Hornets came from behind to beat the Lions of Missouri Southern State 31-24.

The Hornets fell behind 0-17 before scoring 31 points in the second half to complete the comeback, adding a crucial win to the team’s overall record. The Hornets are now 2-4.

“Our kids made a great comeback,” said head coach Garin Higgins. “We got some opportunities and made some great plays there at the end of the game.”

In the first half, things did not go favorably for the Hornets. The offense struggled to make plays and did not put any points on the board. The Lions had several opportunities to put the game out of reach, but the defense responded well.

Junior defensive back Derek Lohmann came up with a huge interception in the end zone to prevent the Lions from having another scoring drive.

“We have been playing very strong,” said junior defensive back Kevin Gaddis. “From our defensive line, to our linebackers and our secondary… we know we have to play hard to go out there and win a ball game.”

In the third quarter, the offense finally showed signs of life. They were able to drive 71 yards in 11 plays to make the score 7-17. On the Lions’ next possession, once again the defense stepped up to the challenge, forcing a three and out and getting the ball back for the Hornets.

On the ensuing drive, the offense looked unstoppable. Junior quarterback Tyler Eckenrode went six of eight for 57 yards, culminating with a nine yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Shjuan Richardson.

“It’s fun when you’re throwing to guys like Shjuan Richardson, Benji Love and RayRay Davis,” said quarterback Tyler Eckenrode. “Our offensive line battled hard today.”

The Lions answered back with a touchdown of their own, pushing the lead to 10 points, 14-24. That would be the last time the Lions scored.

Eckenrode threw to Richardson for a 60 yard touchdown strike to pull the Hornets within three points, 21-24.

“I just wanted to make a play for our team,” Richardson said. “I had to step up when my number was called and make a play.”

With a 1:29 left in the game, the Hornets took over on their own 16 yard line. With an improbable 84 yard drive, the Hornets drove the length of the field.

Then Eckenrode hit wide receiver RayRay Davis on a touchdown pass, grabbing the lead 31-24 with nearly 30 seconds left in the game. The comeback was complete as the remaining seconds ticked off the board.

“We needed this win,” Eckenrode said. “We have been fighting all year and it was a good win.”

Marcus Hix

 
opporJunior quarterback Tyler Eckenrode dives into the end zone for a touchdown. Washburn defeated ESU 31-17 Saturday at Welch Stadium. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

Junior quarterback Tyler Eckenrode dives into the end zone for a touchdown. Washburn defeated ESU 31-17 Saturday at Welch Stadium. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin

On a bright and sunny day at Welch Stadium, the Hornets hosted Washburn in the annual Turnpike Tussle rivalry game. This marked the 108th time that the two teams squared off against one another.

In a hard fought “tussle” the Hornets came up short against the eighth ranked Washburn Ichabods, 17-31. The rivalry is now split 51-51-6.

“It’s a big rivalry,” said senior linebacker Matt Rosenhamer. “I have some buddies that play over there and it would have meant a lot to beat those guys.”

Midway through the first quarter Washburn broke the 0-0 tie with a field goal to take an early lead. Towards the end of the first quarter, junior defensive back Derek Lohmann intercepted a Washburn pass and ran it all the way back to the 15-yard line, seizing the early momentum from the Ichabods.

“It was a big play at the time,” Lohmann said. “It grabbed the momentum for us.”

The Hornets were able to take advantage of the short field on a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Eckenrode to wide receiver RayRay Davis, and grabbed the lead,

7-3, early in the second quarter. Later in the second quarter, the Hornets were able to sustain an eight-play drive that covered 85 yards. The drive culminated in a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tyler Eckenrode.

“Our coaches put us in good positions,” Eckenrode said. “In the first half we executed real well.”

The Hornets held the lead and headed into halftime with a 14-9 lead over the Ichabods. But the Hornets were unable to muster one touchdown scoring drive in the second half.

With the opening possession of the second half, the Ichabods drove 73 yards to take the lead 16-14. With their backs against the wall, senior linebacker Ben Carlson, was able to force a fumble with ESU recovering at the 27 yard line. The offense couldn’t take full advantage of the great field position the defense handed them and had to settle for a field goal. This was the last time that the Hornets scored.

Washburn scored two more touchdowns to win the game. It was a tough defeat on a day in which the Hornets forced four turnovers.

“I figured it would be a hard, tough-fought game and it was,” said head coach Garin Higgins. “Our kids played well… we just didn’t make the plays at the end of the game when we needed to.”

The next game on the schedule is against Missouri Southern at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Welch Stadium.

Marcus Hix

 
Students are served hamburgers at the Black Hole tailgating event preceding the football game Saturday afternoon. Black Hole was sponsored by E-Zone, ESU Ambassadors and KISS 103.1 FM. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

Students are served hamburgers at the Black Hole tailgating event preceding the football game Saturday afternoon. Black Hole was sponsored by E-Zone, ESU Ambassadors and KISS 103.1 FM. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

The Pedestrian Mall outside of Welch Stadium was filled with roughly 150 pre-game enthusiasts on Saturday as students attended the Black Hole football tailgating event.

Black Hole has been a tradition at ESU for the past five years. Students come together to talk, eat free food and get ESU gear and prizes before each home football game.

“I went to a school that didn’t have football,” said Ashley Abels, junior nursing major. “This is a great way for students to come together with school spirit, but the free food doesn’t hurt either.”

The event is sponsored by E-Zone, ESU ambassadors, Lyon County State Bank, Kiss 103.1 and several other vendors from Emporia.

“Each week we have different vendors (at Black Hole),” said Samantha Atwell, junior secondary education major and ESU ambassador. “We ask them to bring things for students to do or to have.”

On Saturday Freddy’s Frozen Custard handed out free ice cream cones and Genesis Health Club provided a prize wheel game.

“There are about 150 students that come to the Black Hole before the games, except on parent’s weekend,” Atwell said. “Then we usually get about 400 people.”

The event drew a crowd and some students thought that Saturday’s event was an improvement on previously held Black Hole events.

“I have come to this three times in the last two years,” said Amy Allen, sophomore elementary education major. “It has gotten so much better this year. Last year they kept running out of food early and people weren’t very happy with that, but they have fixed all that this year.”

Lyon County State Bank has sponsored the event since it began in 2007 and will continue to do so. They accept donations to help continue the Black Hole tailgating event.

The Black Hole opens at 11 a.m. before all home football games. The next game is at 1 p.m. this Saturday against Washburn.

Megan Nolan