The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Football

  • Too small for football but on the track to attack

    by Dezmond Remington

    The track is vicious and painful, and Aris Valerio was ready because he has dealt with vicious pain. He ran a half mile in less time than it takes to get out of bed, a minute and 49 seconds to secure a spot at the National Championships back in May of 2023; the only man sent from Cal Poly Humboldt to race in Pueblo, Colorado. The evening shadows were long on the track as the 800m final was due to start, and Valerio lined up in the pole position on the inside lane. 

    It was already a long shot to get there. One of the fastest Division II 800m runners in the nation couldn’t compete because of a family emergency, allowing Valerio to take the final qualifying spot after the prelim races. The next 110 seconds were going to hurt, even without the added stress of a fast prelim the day before and the knowledge that a victory was unlikely. Valerio felt dead tired and scared. But there was no room to think about any of that when the gun boomed and the race started. A journey that started with failure and random chance went a little further. 

    Valerio picked up distance running his freshman year of high school, only after his mom wouldn’t let him play football because he weighed about a hundred pounds. He had always been fast as a kid, so he figured he’d give it a shot after a neighbor told him exactly what cross country was. It wasn’t love at first sight. Valerio still isn’t sure why he stuck with it. Training is boring to him – racing is what makes it worth it. 

    “I just love the anxiety of the races,” Valerio said. “I think it’s fun. It makes it more exciting because that’s what everyone’s feeling. Makes you show that you’re just more locked in than everyone else when you win. I think that’s exciting.”

    His legs churn, eating up ground at a pace of over 18 miles an hour. The first 200 meters are gone in less than 26 seconds, and he’s still at the back of the seething pack. The screams of the crowd are loud, but it’s lost in the rhythm of pounding feet and gasping breath. His mind is blank. It always is at moments like these.

    Valerio’s first brush with greatness came his senior year at Murrieta High School in 2019, when he ran 1:53 in the 800m and ended up being ranked in the top 20 high schoolers in the nation that year. He didn’t even really understand that it was a big deal right when he crossed the finish line. Someone had beaten him. 

    It was a huge margin of improvement from even a month before that, over six seconds in an event that separates a talented collegian from the world’s best. He spent a year training at California Baptist University before transferring to Humboldt in 2020. One of his high school teammates had gone to Humboldt and recommended him to head distance coach Jamey Harris, who gladly accepted him on the strengths of his past races. 

    Valerio’s career has had its ebbs and flows in his time in Humboldt. He’s one of the fastest 800 runners to ever compete for Humboldt, but he’s also suffered from hamstring injuries that left him unable to train and compete for far longer than he would’ve liked. Harris doesn’t regret recruiting him. 

    “With any injury, anybody’s going to have a setback in their enthusiasm, and he was not immune to that,” Harris said. “But whenever he would have a little bit of a setback, he would climb out of it. He’s persistent in that way…on race day, he always brings everything he’s got. I never doubt that we’re going to get a full effort…he may not always be at 100% confidence, but we always know we’re going to get 100% effort.”

    It’s hot, and the guy in front crushed the first half of the race in 50 seconds. Valerio is a few seconds back. Shoes thin as ballet slippers slam on hard rubber, the metal spikes grabbing the track. Reverberation swims up his legs. It hurts, but he’s had worse.

    It wasn’t easy getting to Nationals. Setbacks weren’t solely those of muscle, bone and sinew. Some came from the brain. 

    For a while, a bout with depression during the track season made Valerio consider not racing at Nationals at all, but after running 1:50.3 at the conference meet he reconsidered. He is open about his struggles with mental health. He said his depression comes from the death of his little brother, who passed away when he was in high school. Running, and the team surrounding him, has been one of the things that helped him get through it.

    “I’ll go through spurts of being super unmotivated,” Valerio said. “And it’s super hard to catch myself and get back on my feet. [Coach] Jamey [Harris] and [the team] know all that. They’ve been super supportive about it.”

    Valerio is a lot more than just an athlete to Harris.

    “He’s a complicated beast,” Harris said. “It could be easy to see his consistent success on the track and think that things have come easy for him, but they definitely haven’t. He’s had a lot of difficulties that he’s had to work through and challenges that he’s had to overcome. I think that’s probably the greater accomplishment than being an All American and All-Conference a couple of times and being the second fastest 800m runner in school history. What’s more impressive is what he’s gone through and what he’s overcome to get there.” 

    600 meters have come and gone, and the time has come for a last, desperate drive to the finish. There is no more sun in these last moments, the light blocked by the stadium seating full of screaming spectators. Way ahead, the front runner is run down like a deer in the dying moments of the race. Valerio is still in the back, driving for a First Team All-American spot. A thousand miles away, people watch.

    Valerio’s role on the team goes far beyond simple competition and point scoring. One of his closest teammates and a roommate during the track season when Valerio went to nationals, Sebastian Vaisset-Fauvel considers Valerio a crucial part of the team, although not necessarily always beloved.

    “He’s just really down to the point,” Vaisset-Fauvel said. “He’ll tell you what’s up. He’ll tell you the truth, and sometimes people can’t take the truth… I think that’s what helps him stay true to himself.”

    Although Valerio does sometimes take the abrasive role, Vaisset-Fauvel stresses that that’s not nearly the entirety of Valerio. 

    “Aris can seem like an intimidating guy, but once you get to know him, he’s like a little baby,” Vaisset-Fauvel said. “He’s like my little child, even though I call him my dad sometimes. He’s a really good guy. Really good athlete. 1:49? That fits him, you know? That just fits him.”

    Despite the incredible accomplishments on the track, Harris and Vaisset-Fauvel make it clear that Valerio is a human just like everyone else on the team, and that makes his appeal to his teammates that much more potent. 

    “This is a regular guy,” Harris said. “I’ve seen this guy spill milk. This is a fallible human that I’ve ran with, that is running really fast, and that makes those accomplishments seem more attainable to me.”

    Valerio crosses the finish line, his hands going to his knees as he bends over the track. Last place, but still Second Team All-American. Next year will be better, he thought later. Next season will be the last, the best. It wasn’t just for him.

    “I’m trying to go to Nationals to represent our team, our school in the middle of nowhere,” Valerio said. “‘Who is this Humboldt guy? This is crazy.’ I think you should want to run for everyone, not just yourself. You’re not going to get that far, only running for yourself.”

  • SJSU football team back on HSU campus

    SJSU football team back on HSU campus

    As of the 29 of July, the San Jose State University football team has arrived at HSU. Last year the SJSU football team came to the HSU campus to practice and use the Redwood Bowl fields in late September. They plan on staying till the 8 of August for practice. All staff, players, and coaches have been vaccinated before their arrival and are following the COVID-19 protocol.

    Cooper Jones, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics & Recreational Sports, and SJSU are grateful to be able to return to HSU.

    “Since the official start of football practice for San Jose State University coincides with the university hosting the Women’s Tennis Association’s Mubadala Silicon Valley tournament on many of the same campus facilities, the Spartans are thankful an agreement was reached again with Humboldt State University to use its facilities as guests through Sunday, August 8.” Cooper Jones, executive director of intercollegiate athletics & recreational sports said.

    Since the SJSU team is staying between the dates of the 29-8 it is before students arrive on campus for the fall semester. An email was sent out on July 27 from Humboldt State University about welcoming back SJSU to the HSU campus. Students differ in opinions about the SJSU football team returning to the HSU campus.

    Gerardo Hernandez, an HSU freshman, heard about the SJSU football team on the HSU campus through some friends. Hernandez’s main concern is the value of other HSU students and what they are allowed to do on campus.

    “As a student, I’m worried that the administration will continue to cater to other universities athletic programs than cater to HSU students because since the start of the pandemic they’ve been denied a lot of access to on-campus resources, classes, facilities, and what happened with SJSU football team getting majority of that I would’ve been upset as a student,” Hernandez said.

    Keynan Quigley, a senior at HSU is the treasurer of the bike team club on campus. Since the pandemic hit, Quigley has not been able to practice with his fellow teammates while SJSU was allowed to practice on HSU fields in 2020.

    “It wasn’t really that it affected us, it was just unfair that they allowed another school to practice and live together when our team wasn’t even allowed to go on a bike ride together even if we wore masks,” Quigley said.

    According to Lawrence Fan, San Jose State University Associate Athletics Director for Football Communications & Special Projects last time SJSU was on campus was successful and will continue to follow COVID-19 protocol.

    “Last year’s experience was very positive for the San Jose State University football program and was the foundation for the Spartans’ Mountain West championship season. Like 2020, the team will live and practice on campus and maintain a “bubble” between the team, the campus, and the local community,” Lawrence Fan San Jose State University associate athletics director for football communications & special projects said.

    Although it looked positive for the SJSU football team, a feeling of unfairness to some HSU students was not uncommon but not all students.

    Tucker Caraway, a junior at HSU is understanding of the situation and doesn’t see any foreseeable problems, and is understanding of their situation.

    “I think it’s fine, mainly because they are also a state school and we are all in the same boat,” Caraway said,” Caraway said. “If HSU needed to do something on another campus I would imagine that it would be accepted.”

    Overall SJSU and HSU are communicating back and forth about keeping them and the public safe and communicating with Humboldt county as a whole.

    “HSU and SJSU are making sure to limit the risk to all members of our community and prior to the team’s arrival, we consulted with Humboldt County Public Health to ensure they had no major concerns,” Cooper Jones, executive director of intercollegiate athletics & recreational sports said.

    “All of the SJSU team, staff, and coaches have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and they’ll continue to follow campus protocols on masking and distancing. The SJSU team is also highly motivated to stay healthy and safe to ensure completion of their upcoming season.”

  • Spartans arrive at HSU despite campus concerns

    Spartans arrive at HSU despite campus concerns

    ***Editor’s note: SJSU football program was tested in congruence with Mountain West conference guidelines***

    The Spartans have arrived and this time they’re not carrying spears or shields. Instead the San Jose State football team stepped onto the Humboldt State campus on Oct. 2 with bags full of clothes, televisions, gaming consoles and plenty of padding. As 141 players, coaches and trainers streamed out of the six buses into a school that hasn’t seen college football since 2018. 

    Humboldt State students received an email on Sept. 30 that the San Jose State football team would be arriving within the week. Initial reports suggested that the Spartan football program would be at HSU for one week per the Spartan Daily student newspaper from SJSU. The duration of their stay is not confirmed and could be longer. 

    According to the Humboldt State Athletics Department, the length of the Spartan football team’s stay at HSU depends on the regulations set forth by Santa Clara County where SJSU is located. 

    “It’s uncertain at this point as it depends on the needs of SJSU and how quickly they may be able to return to their campus to practice and play games,” the HSU Athletics Department said in an email. “They are working with Santa Clara County Health to get approval for that as soon as possible.”

    SJSU Head Coach Brent Brennan said in a press conference on Oct. 5 that the arrangement between San Jose State and HSU came quickly with the need to start full contact practices soon. 

    “I think it probably came together in about a week, maybe a little less than that,” Brennan said. “President Jackson here and their Athletic Director Jane Teixeira and our Athletic Director Marie Tuite, our CFO Charlie Faas, Dr. Papazian, it was just a mad dash that way.”

    As of Oct. 5, Santa Clara County has announced that they are moving into the third tier of COVID-19 classification after seeing an decrease in new cases each day. While there is still no official time set for the Spartan football team to be on the HSU campus, this development could mean that the team may return to San Jose sooner rather than later. 

    “It was a slap to the face on rec sports. Because we really didn’t know what the hell was going on. We thought it was Athletics. We were like ‘Athletics, what the heck?’ and then Humboldt County was like ‘Yo, what the heck?’ But it wasn’t really Athletics’ fault.” 

    Martin Gordillo

    While the team is on campus, they will be responsible for testing their athletes and personnel using their own testing resources. In an email sent out on Oct. 1, Humboldt State told students that will be tested once per week. This runs contrary to Mountain West conference protocol who state on their website that athletes will be tested three times each week. It is unclear whether this testing will apply to the preseason training that the Spartans are currently participating in. 

    While the Spartans are on campus, Humboldt State’s own NCAA teams will still have access to facilities during their scheduled times in order to continue their preparation for hopeful upcoming seasons.

    “HSU sport programs are still using Redwood Bowl during their regularly scheduled and reserved time periods,” HSU Athletics said in an email.

    Even as the San Jose State team was arriving on campus HSU students and athletes alike were confused and upset that more context had not been provided for the team’s arrival. One of the loudest voices that could be heard across social media was that of the club sports on campus that have been unable to hold practices since COVID-19 shut down the majority of sports. President of HSU Club Baseball Martin Gordillo was upset that the communication between the administration and recreational sports teams was not more clear. 

    “It was a slap to the face on rec sports,” Gordillo said. “Because we really didn’t know what the hell was going on. We thought it was Athletics. We were like ‘Athletics, what the heck?’ and then Humboldt County was like ‘Yo, what the heck?’ But it wasn’t really Athletics’ fault.” 

    According to Gordillo, there was a miscommunication between Athletics and recreational sports which was clarified in a meeting with several of the club sports and the Athletics Department.  

    “In reality it wasn’t Athletics,” Gordillo said. “It was mainly more towards the Chancellor’s Office who made that decision on whether or not to allow athletics to continue to practice but not rec sports.”

    Gordillo stressed that while he feels that communication can be improved between rec sports and athletics, there is a disconnect with how the Chancellor’s Office views rec sports in comparison to NCAA athletics. 

    “I believe the Chancellor’s Office has made it seem like they really don’t care about rec sports that much,” Gordillo said. “They don’t see us and [NCAA] Athletics as equal. Not Athletics in general. Athletics wants to work with us. They really want to have our voices heard.” 

  • When in-person sports can’t be a reality, fantasy delievers

    When in-person sports can’t be a reality, fantasy delievers

    The Lumberjack guide to fantasy football

    2020 has been a year of disruption felt throughout the globe let alone Humboldt State campus. Like most industries in America, live sports has been subjected to repercussions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    With most states banning the gatherings of large amounts of people, sports organizations such as the NBA and MLB have attempted to salvage the remaining portions of their seasons in order to keep fans entertained and revenue coming in. As the fall has drawn closer many have worried the pandemic would stifle the incoming football season. Though the arenas in which these teams rival for the next few months may be empty, the fans at home are champing at the bits for the action their hearts long for.

    Despite the current pandemic stifling most ways fans enjoy football season, one thing remains as popular as ever: Fantasy Football.

    Though it might be daunting from an outsider looking in, fantasy football is a pretty easy game to get into for fans of all ages.The first step of the game for any prospective fantasy football franchise owner is finding a league.This can be accomplished by joining or starting a league with a group of friends, coworkers or family members, if not joining a league online.

    For the novice beginner with no previous experience we suggest joining a league with people you know first. Each league ranges in size from eight to sixteen team owners.The league fee also ranges from group to group, often varying from twenty to a few hundred dollars per individual participating in the season.This pool of money is then distributed to the team that come in first place.

    Fantasy football is a game that can be learned as the season progresses but the gist is that the better your players perform during the regular NFL season, the better they will perform each week against other teams in your league. The players’ stats from each week are added up and the team with the most points is the winner.It is important to start your franchise off with a solid roster. As draft day approaches here’s a few tips and tricks that will help you curate a team that will hopefully perform well throughout your season.

    Select players that you project will continue to perform well from last season.

    Be weary of players that have the same by weeks during the season because this will dramatically affect your teams chances of winning during such weeks.

    Steer clear of players that are prone to injuries, suspensions or any lackluster performance from previous seasons.

    At the end of the day what you learn throughout the season will be as a result of trial and error. Have fun with it, learn from your mistakes and don’t be afraid to take a chance on certain opportunities that may arise during the season.

  • Allan Jones Opens Forums for HSU Athletic Director

    Allan Jones Opens Forums for HSU Athletic Director

    First candidate for HSU’s next athletic director makes his case for the job

    Allan Jones is one of three candidates in the running for Humboldt State University’s next athletic director. While speaking to open forum attendees, Jones said investing in the community and working with the community members are some of the keys to making a successful athletics program.

    “We’re going to be heavily involved in this community asking for support,” Jones said. “But in order to do that we need to be invested as well. Not just our student athletes, but our coaches, our administrators, our staff.”

    Jones, originally from a small community in Conyers, Georgia, pointed to his additional work in the Waco, Texas area as an example of what he would hope to bring to HSU.

    “There’s a reason why I’m on the Rotary Club of Waco,” Jones said. “Why I’m on the little league board for baseball and softball in Waco and why I’m on the Museum Association Board of Waco, and it’s because I need people to know that when I’m out in the community asking for their support, that there’s a return on that investment.”

    “I want to bring those best-in-class practices and successes we’ve seen and measure those to scale here with Lumberjack athletics.”

    Allan Jones

    Jones comes to the table with 20 years of experience in college athletics, most recently working with the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco as the president and CEO. Jones has also held positions at Arizona State University, University of North Texas, University of Louisville, University of Maryland and Georgia Institute of Technology.

    Coming to HSU having held positions at several major universities, Jones was confident that his experience there and at smaller schools would help him improve the programs at HSU.

    “I want to bring those best-in-class practices and successes we’ve seen and measure those to scale here with Lumberjack athletics,” Jones said. “So I think those experiences at the bigger schools and bigger institutions mesh with having been at places that were smaller, that were rural as well my background having grown up in the second smallest county in the state of Georgia.”

    “Let’s figure out, is there a Band-Aid approach that gets us through this next three to four months? And then let’s have the best softball complex between San Francisco and Portland.”

    Allan Jones

    On the subject of HSU football, which was cut under the previous administration, Jones was open to having the conversation of a return in the future, but he stressed being able to support athletes as a whole.

    “I’m comfortable having a conversation down the road about football,” Jones said. “But what it needs to be is a very open, honest, transparent discussion as someone who’s actually brought a sport to a full time NCAA status, understanding not just the scholarship cost, but recruiting, travel budget—all the other things that go in.”

    In regard to existing programs on campus, one big facilities issue that Jones sees at HSU is the condition of the softball field, which often becomes unusable when it rains. He said the softball field would be at the top of his list of things to address if he is hired.

    “As I understand, left field has got an issue four feet down that it won’t drain,” Jones said. “Well, why would we put $1 million into that when we’re going to have to go back four years later and build a brand new stadium? Let’s be strategic. Let’s figure out, is there a Band-Aid approach that gets us through this next three to four months? And then let’s have the best softball complex between San Francisco and Portland.”

    Open forums for athletic director candidates continue on Monday at 4:15 p.m. and on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. in the Great Hall above College Creek Marketplace.

  • Betting on the Super Bowl Doesn’t Always Pay Off

    Betting on the Super Bowl Doesn’t Always Pay Off

    Clarifying the legality of betting on the Super Bowl

    When you think of Super Bowl betting, you might think of a couple friends harmlessly betting $50 on their hometown team. But Super Bowl betting is illegal in California.

    In 2015, the Association of Government Accountants estimated that people illegally wagered around $145 billion on sports betting. The AGA seeks to increase government accountability and transparency, according to its site.

    Clearly, even if it’s invisible to most, a lot of money is being illegally transferred through sports betting.

    Under California Penal Code 330, California state law says that gambling is illegal, with the exception of Native American reservation casinos, card clubs, charitable gambling, horse wagering and the California State Lottery.

    On Sunday, Feb. 2, the San Francisco 49ers will play the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2020 Super Bowl. Whether you’re watching the game or just going to a party to eat barbecue, you probably at least know someone that’s going to be watching, and more than likely, know someone placing a bet on the outcome of the game.

    In California it’s illegal to bet on the Super Bowl or sports of any kind, but people bet on the game anyway. In the 1990s the prohibition on sports betting began and all sports betting became illegal nationwide.

    Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 1992, which banned governmental entities from legalizing sports wagering.

    Yet in a 2018 United States Supreme Court case, Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Court overturned PASPA due to its conflict with the Tenth Amendment.

    “Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each State is free to act on its own,” Justice Samuel Alito said.

    Online betting is a popular form of wagering on the Super Bowl, but when you go to place a bet, you have to confirm your state of occupancy—thereby restricting Californians.

    Under California Penal Code 330, California state law says that gambling is illegal, with the exception of Native American reservation casinos, card clubs, charitable gambling, horse wagering and the California State Lottery.

    “Every person who plays or bets at or against any of those prohibited games, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by a fine not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment,” the code says.

    So if you plan on betting on this upcoming game, know what you’re getting yourself into.

  • A Baseball Team Would be a Home Run

    A Baseball Team Would be a Home Run

    Why HSU should bring back baseball in the post-football era

    It has been over a year since the Humboldt State University football team played their final game ever, leaving local sports fans wondering how we are going to fill the void the HSU football team left in its wake.

    Now that I’ve had some time to get used to a fall semester without the green and gold jerseys at the Redwood Bowl, it’s begun to feel more normal for HSU to be a school without a football team.

    I know that bringing back the football team, at least in the near future, is an idea that seems like a pipe dream. Once you cut a program that was as much of a financial strain as the football team was, it is really hard to justify bringing such a program back. I think we need to explore alternatives of bringing back other, less expensive sports to HSU, and I know exactly what sport it should be.

    Humboldt State needs to revive its baseball program, and I know that HSU baseball would be very well supported by the community.

    For one, sports fans in Arcata and the rest of Humboldt County love baseball. There is no bigger example of this than the support that Arcata’s summer collegiate baseball team, the Humboldt Crabs, receives every summer from June until early August.

    “From a baseball perspective, an HSU baseball team would be a huge benefit to both the athletes that would play here and the Humboldt Crabs organization.”

    Liam Warner

    Experiencing a Crabs game is one of the purest forms of Arcata that you will ever experience. From the world-famous Crab Grass Band to the unique heckling coming from the fans, thousands of people pack the Arcata Ballpark every summer to watch the Crabs play. Unfortunately, this is when most of the student population is home for the summer.

    Another reason why an HSU baseball team would be easy to start is because finding a facility to play at won’t be a problem. The Arcata Ballpark, which is located right next to Arcata City Hall, is considered to be one of the best ballparks on the summer baseball circuit. For a Division II baseball school, I’m sure we would have one of the best baseball facilities on the West Coast.

    Having an HSU baseball team that plays at the Arcata Ballpark would also give fans a lot more opportunities to watch baseball in downtown Arcata. Typically, college baseball season runs from February into late April. The Humboldt Crabs season starts in late May or early June, meaning that we would have six months of baseball with a gap in May between the seasons.

    I’m sure extending the season of high-level baseball in Arcata would provide a boost to the economy downtown, as it would allow the opportunity for more people to watch quality baseball at the ballpark.

    From a baseball perspective, an HSU baseball team would be a huge benefit to both the athletes that would play here and the Humboldt Crabs organization. The Crabs draw quite a few of their homegrown players from the College of the Redwoods baseball team, so an HSU baseball team would naturally become a feeder of players to play on the Crabs during the summer.

    HSU Jacks players would have the opportunity to continue their season on a well-established summer baseball club, and the Crabs would have a local pool of baseball players they could pick from.

    Ultimately, it’s up to HSU athletics to make the decision to bring back a sport. But I think all of the factors are there to make an HSU baseball team a successful part of the community.

  • A Local’s Perspective on HSU Football

    A Local’s Perspective on HSU Football

    HSU football brought two communities together and now we’re at a loss

    In July of 2018, with most of the student population home for the summer, former Humboldt State President Lisa Rossbacher and former Athletic Director Duncan Robins made the announcement that the HSU football team would be cut following the conclusion of the 2018 season.

    The efforts of many community members to raise money for the football program earlier in the year were seemingly for nothing. Many community members, including myself, were outraged about the decision to cut the football team, but some applauded the move, saying that a football program was unnecessary and a drain on academics. Either side you may be on, it was a polarizing move for the university to make.

    I am part of the small percentage of HSU students that grew up in Humboldt County. In fact, I grew up right here in Arcata about a mile away from the HSU campus. I am as local as a local student can get. I spent a good portion of my life going to HSU football games and it became a significant source of pride that my small town had a Division II college football team. When I started attending HSU, this was not just my school’s football team, this was my hometown team as well.

    When I transferred to HSU from College of the Redwoods, the first thing that caught me off guard about HSU was how separate it seemed from the rest of Arcata. Even though I was going to school in my hometown, HSU felt like a world of its own, far from the Arcata I grew up in. I felt that my identity as a native of Arcata and a student at HSU were two separate worlds, even though in a geographic sense I was in the same place.

    HSU football games were one of the only times that these two worlds felt one and the same. The games became some of the only times where I saw both students and local community members in the same place, at the same time, rooting for the same team. People from Arcata and Los Angeles alike, all rooting for the Jacks.

    It wasn’t just about the football team itself, but it was how football brought the entire community together. Getting rid of the football team felt like severing one of the last ties between the campus community and the local community.

    The only good news I can gather from this is that the Redwood Bowl is actually seeing more football this season than when the HSU football team was active. My alma mater, College of the Redwoods will be playing their football games at the Redwood Bowl starting on October 5, and both Arcata High and McKinleyville High are playing their football games on campus as well.

    I hope that someday HSU football will be brought back, but in the meantime, all of the other HSU athletes that are still here deserve our full support. Go Jacks!

  • Superdome swindle

    Superdome swindle

    Referees shaping the NFL is ruining its future

    The most blatant missed penalty in NFL Playoff history occurred in the NFC Championship game (the game before the Super Bowl) with one minute and 46 seconds left. It occurred on third and ten at the five-yard line, when as Drew Brees threw a pass down the sideline to Tommy-Lee Lewis, Nickell Robey-Coleman hit Lewis straight in the face before the ball got to him.

    In the NFL officiating rulebook this play was a penalty for helmet to helmet and also a penalty for pass interference. This penalty would have given the ball to New Orleans inside the five-yard line while the Rams had one timeout remaining, the Saints would have run out the clock and kicked the game-winning field goal with little time remaining.

    Neither penalty was called as 75,000 people in the Superdome in New Orleans all saw the same thing, while four referees who live in Southern California did not. This penalty was so obvious, but a hit to the face of Tom Brady in the AFC Championship in Kansas City, which did not seem like it was even the call to make was called, which led to the Patriots making the Super Bowl. Senior Vice President of Officiating Al Riveron talked to the head coach of the Saints minutes after the game ended and explained to Payton that his crew missed the call and potentially cost the Saints the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl.

    “The reason they didn’t call that penalty was because they wanted to build the fan base in Los Angeles, and make more money,” John Park said. “Flying from Los Angeles instead of from New Orleans would make them more money.”

    Even the player Nickell Robey-Coleman that committed the act admitted and said, “Yes, I got there too early. I was beat, and I was trying to save the touchdown.”

    There were a lot of penalties throughout the game but only one ended the game and decided it. The worst missed call on the Saints was the missed face mask on Goff that would have given the Rams the ball at the 1-yard line and the Rams a lead of 24-20.

    The penalty on the next drive was the missed one that Robey-Coleman committed that wasn’t called. This could have set up the Saints for the game-winning touchdown to take a 27-24 lead with under 30 seconds remaining and no timeouts for the Rams.

    If the integrity of the game can’t be upheld then do us fans still want to watch a game that is not executed to the best ability, with implications from outside forces (refs) deciding the outcome of the game? Not just Saints fans, but all football fans should be upset with a call (or no call) that decides who’s going to the Super Bowl.

  • OPINION: 90 years and a slap in the face

    OPINION: 90 years and a slap in the face

    The Azusa Pacific field goal that beat the Lumberjacks on Nov. 3 sailed through the uprights. At this moment it dawned on me that this was the final play of HSU football. The empty feeling in my gut is all too familiar.

    Born and raised in San Diego, I could never tell local Jacks fans how to feel or how they should feel. However, after over 30 years of cheering for the San Diego Chargers, I have a pretty good idea.

    Year after year, heartache after heartache, I remained loyal to the Chargers. When they went 1-15 after using the second pick in the draft on University of Washington Cougars quarterback Ryan Leaf (the biggest flop in professional sports history), I stuck with it. When management fired head coach Marty Schottenheimer after going 14-2, I stayed true to my team. Get rid of L.T? Why not? There was no quit in me.

    Then, Chargers owner Dean Spanos made the decision to move the Chargers to Los Angeles in Jan. 2017 because he felt it couldn’t compete with the rest of the league financially at his old stadium in San Diego. Loyalty was never on the menu for ownership and I no longer have a team.

    The same can be said for HSU administration. People are pointing the finger at HSU president Lisa Rossbacher and rightfully so. This is the second football program to be eliminated under Rossbacher’s watch.

    Many locals will be getting their wish. Rossbacher’s announced retirement begins at the end of the Spring 2019 semester. One must wonder if future university presidencies are in her future and which team will be on the chopping block next.

    After playing the blame game, the reality of the loss begins to set in. For me, it was the fact that my home team that I had literally bled for was going to leave my city for our rival city to the North. Watching them be successful in Los Angeles this season has been hard to watch to say the least.

    There’s no more cheering for Lumberjacks football even if you wanted to. The game against Azusa was the last game to ever be played at the Redwood Bowl. That is the reality.

    Never again will locals be able to come down early on a Saturday to tailgate before a big game. There won’t be any more Lumberjacks moving on to the NFL, like Jacks All-American offensive lineman Alex Cappa in this year’s draft. At least not in the near future.

    The people with the most to lose in this situation are the players. Many of whom moved up to Humboldt County away from their comfort zones just to play the game of football. For some, HSU was the only offer received. For others this university was their choice.

    Even though HSU won’t fully admit to having a diversity problem, many students would agree that there is one. Losing Jacks football will have a negative effect on the diversity that HSU tries so much to promote.

    90 years of Jacks football apparently means nothing to HSU administration.

    The program is over and the lights at the Redwood Bowl are off. It’s a slap in the face and the feeling will never go away.

  • EDITORIAL: Football program cut will create ripple effect

    EDITORIAL: Football program cut will create ripple effect

    Loss of football program also means loss of diversity, opportunity

    Lumberjacks football has been a staple of Humboldt for over 90 years. But this season will be the last for the foreseeable future and this community is losing more than just a team.

    Football brings more to the table than just sports. Student-athletes chose this school to pursue their education and to chase their dream of playing college football.

    Terminating Jacks football will be the conclusion of a program that has been a part of Humboldt since 1924, not long after HSU’s founding. The program has seen some standout stars and big-time players along the way. Lumberjacks 2017 All-American offensive lineman Alex Cappa was selected 94th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this year’s NFL draft.

    HSU says they do their due diligence to remain somewhat ethnically balanced while bringing in students from all over California. This practice is misleading as the university’s surrounding areas have many racial undertones. The football team is one part of the school that was true to HSU’s message of inclusivity.

    Where there were once young men of all races working diligently towards the same goal, there will no longer be. The locker room that once brought men together will be empty.

    HSU will honor scholarships for eligible players through the 2018-19 academic year, and coaches and staff will also help players contact other programs. At the end of the season, players will get a full release, which means they could choose to play at another institution.

    President Lisa Rossbacher called it an unfortunate but necessary step in addressing the University’s structural deficit and protecting the school’s core academic mission. In her “mission” she has neglected a big part of what is supposed to make this university great.

    The closing statement of our mission states: “We help individuals prepare to be responsible members of diverse societies.”

    Less than four percent of HSU’s student population is African American and less than two percent of faculty are African American. Where is the diversity? Where is the care for the individual student?

    HSU has experienced lower enrollment over the last two years. Fall enrollment has dropped by more than 400 students. This dip has had a measurable impact on the budget and the loss of football will expectedly lead to an additional decline in enrollment, which in turn will bring less people of color.

    While getting rid of the football program could possibly be the right decision fiscally, the loss will be felt by many. People may not have ever met, had it not been for the football team. Familiar faces will change into strangers faces. What once brought a sense of camaraderie to this campus will now no longer exist.

    HSU hopes that contributors and boosters will continue to support HSU athletics but the $200,000 or more increase in contributions last year was for football. Loss of the football program will have a long-term ripple effect. Where and what gets hit the hardest remains to be seen.

  • Football gets the boot

    Football gets the boot

    Early this afternoon, Humboldt State University announced that after this 2018 season the football program will be cut.

    “This [decision] is due to ongoing financial challenges within athletics and at the university as a whole,” Humboldt State University President Lisa Rossbacher said. “We cannot allow the budget deficit in athletics to continue or to deepen further.”

    This April, Rossbacher announced the two-year budget plan in reducing costs by at least $9 million and many hoped that the football program would not be a part of this cut. However, according to the HSU Athletic Department, the net cost of about $1 million annually became too expensive for the University to support and subsidize indefinitely.

    “It is the only realistic path for us to take,” Rossbacher said.

    Redshirt Sophomore Kyle Martorella called home as soon as he received the news. He said he was very surprised and upset after hearing the program would be cut.

    “I can really only see myself playing at Humboldt so it sucks,” Martorella said. “I thought we were guaranteed another five years and that was what the money was raised for.”

    Since December 2017, HSU boosters, alumni and community members put forth their utmost effort in reaching a goal of $500,000 that would have ensured another solid year of football at the Redwood Bowl. During that time Rossbacher announced if $500,000 was collected by January of each year, for the next five years, the University would match it with another $500,000 to keep the program.

    Although SaveHSUAthletics confirmed nearly $511,000 in pledges last fall, only $329,000 in cash donations were collected in June, according to Rossbacher.

    However, SaveHSUAthletics Co-Founder and HSU alum Jim Redd shared that in fact, a total of $410,000 was collected.

    “I know that a payment of $80,000 was scheduled to come in, and received on July 15th,” said Redd.

    The total amount of donations that were collected will be used for this last football season at HSU and all of the scholarships awarded will be honored to eligible players through the 2018-2019 academic year.

    “We are going to be very supportive of the current players and coaches this year,” Redd said. “The support is going to drop way off for HSU athletics as a whole.”

    Although several boosters donate to other HSU athletic programs as well, Redd and his fellow boosters believe cutting the program was all a part of Athletic Director Duncan Robins’ plan and because of that, many supporters no longer want to give money to HSU athletics at all.

    “There are a lot of donors upset and wanting their money back,” said Redd. “I just feel like Robins was hired to get rid of the program. It took him seven months longer than he would have liked but he succeeded.”

    HSU’s athletic department said it plans on providing as much support as needed for current players, whether they choose to complete their academic years at HSU or to transfer to another school and continue playing football.

    HSU junior and 2018 captain Isaiah Hall said he plans on “riding out” with a strong team for this last HSU football season and hopes to ensure his team that this decision should not interrupt what they have accomplished for the success of this season so far.

    “I always had a feeling that this was bound to happen,” Hall said. “When [Rossbacher] was on the podium talking about keeping the program, her words felt untruthful.”

    After this season, Hall is eligible to play two more collegiate years of football and after speaking with his family he plans to have a successful season and transfer to play at another university come spring.

    As for new recruits, Chris Quirarte from Buhach Colony High School and Braden Gordon from Independence High School, new beginnings have already come to an end. Both of the newly announced Jacks from Southern California said they were not sure what to think about the news and immediately contacted family for support.

    “I am stuck on whether I want to redshirt or play this year,” Quirarte said. “The decision changes my outlook on the season a little but I am not trying to pull the trigger on my decision too early.”

    Last year, HSU athletics held a deficit of about $750,000 in which the university covered; and three years ago that deficit was at $250,000. The rate of cost increases in the athletics department at HSU has been roughly double of the university costs in whole.

    Rossbacher said she still plans on maintaining a Division II athletics program at HSU and in order to remain eligible for NCAA Division II competition, the University is required to have 10 sports. According to the HSU Athletic Department To remain in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, HSU’s primary conference, the 10 sports are required to be chosen from a specified list, and football is not included on that list.

    After this 2018 football season, HSU will sponsor 11 sports: men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track & field, crew, softball and volleyball.

    “At this point we just have to come together as a team,” Martorella said. “We still have 10 games like any other season and we can still win a ring like any other season.”

  • New coaches, same support system

    New coaches, same support system

    Failure is not an option for coach Mason Mitchell. He plans on pushing the football program in the right direction with the continuous support of the community and the Humboldt State University student body.

    “It is more than just being able to put something on your resume,” Mitchell said. “I am here to help push this program in the right direction, and help continue its success.”

    Mitchell was hired as the defensive line coach on March 22 by interim head coach Damaro Wheeler. He was previously at American River College in Sacramento, where he helped more than 45 defensive linemen move onto the four-year level within a five year time period.

    As of the 2018 spring semester, the Lumberjacks have hired three new coaches and six others have volunteered to help coach throughout spring ball, and possibly the fall season.

    These volunteer coaches have been out on the field at 6 a.m. several times a week to help conduct spring practices. They have also been in the football offices daily to help with logistics for the success of the program.

    The work that they have already put in has shadowed the commitment from the community in fall of 2017 in keeping the program alive and successful.

    Lucas Govan has volunteered with the Lumberjacks since fall 2017, and is an HSU alum.

    “The comradery that comes with [HSU Football] is special,” Govan said. “There is no place really like it.”

    As a former Jacks player, he mentions how neither the players nor coaches would be where they are, and as successful as they are, if it weren’t for the support from the community and student body.

    The Lumberjacks hold a very reliable stance with their community, alumni and student body, given that they have helped sell out the Redwood Bowl and raised $500,000 during a time of need.

    “I was a lead in trying to raise the money,” HSU alum and booster Jim Redd said, “but there were about 250 donors that came up with the $500,000.”

    It is the 250 donors who made it possible for these young men to get back in the Redwood Bowl this spring, as well as allowing the new coaches to step in and pick things right back up in preparation for a successful fall 2018 season.

    After a successful inter-squad spring game, The Lumberjacks will take a quick summer vacation before they begin to prepare for their first season game in Wichita Falls, Texas against Midwestern State University on Sep. 1.

    “We want everyone to continue to come out and support us,” Mitchell said, “But with that, we want them all to understand how important their support is for us.”

  • Defense dominates the spring

    Defense dominates the spring

    The Lumberjacks and their fans took over the Redwood Bowl April 21 for their annual intersquad Green & Gold Scrimmage. Defense suited up in their green home jerseys while offense suited up in their away white jerseys.

    “I thought [defense] was successful,” coach Wheeler said. “They were fundamentally sound, which caused all of the turnovers.”

    Defense finished the scrimmage with a total of four interceptions and one fumble recovery. They only let offense score two touchdowns and won the scrimmage 35-14.

    “I knew the ball was in my hands,” defensive back Alonzo Davis said. “Once I got tackled, I got up hyped and knew this was my game.”

    Davis had the first interception of the scrimmage and as a Lumberjack. Davis is a freshman and will be joining the Jacks for his first official collegiate season in fall 2018.

    Defensive back Herman Ochoa picked up another interception, along with linebacker Demetrick Watts who walked away with two interceptions and the most stops on defense.

    “The whole game I just knew that wherever the ball was was where I had to be,” Watts said.

    Watts is a redshirt sophomore who is looking forward to the fall season and watching all of their hard work in the weight room and during practice pay off.

    Although offense struggled to finish in the end zone, running backs Jonathan Branch and Tyree Marzetta helped put some points on the board.

    “Offense is coming along,” coach Wheeler said. “They had a few big plays and I thought it was a competitive game on both sides.”

    The stands of the Redwood Bowl held enough fans on Saturday to create an encouraging and supportive atmosphere for the Jacks. They get a little vacation before things kick off for their first season game at Midwestern State on Sept. 1.

    “Our energy was good,” coach Wheeler said, “and these [young men] had fun, but most importantly, we came out healthy.”

    This slideshow requires JavaScript.

    Photos by Garrett Goodnight.
  • Patriots dynasty a ticking time bomb

    Patriots dynasty a ticking time bomb

    The New England Patriots have established a dynasty unlike any other team in the National Football League over the past 20 years.

    However, all great things must come to and end.

    For the Patriots, the end means kicking down the door.

    We have all seen the numbers: five Super Bowl wins, seven Super Bowl appearances, 12 American Football Conference titles and 15 divisional titles.

    Dominance like this in professional football is unheard of. The Patriots got extremely lucky back in 2001 when Drew Bledsoe’s injury made way for an unknown quarterback from the University of Michigan to step onto the field.

    The NFL was changed forever.

    Tom Brady’s legacy as the best quarterback in football history cannot be mentioned without saying the name Bill Belichick, a strategic genius who always knows the perfect counter to an opponent’s game plan. Bellchick is the peanut butter to Brady’s jelly.

    Brady and Belichick hoarded wins, championships and individual honors together, including Most Valuable Player awards for Brady and Coach of the Year honors for Belichick. If you look closely, though, the Patriots’ recent loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII marks the beginning of the end of the dynasty for a number of reasons.

    Brady is getting old. According to an opinion written in the Boston Globe, quarterbacks usually peak in their 20’s. If this is correct, that was 20 years ago for Tom Brady. So the likelihood of injuries becoming a factor increases exponentially with each passing week.

    Brady has already suffered a major knee injury in 2008 to go along with the normal trauma suffered in the NFL. Seventeen years is a long time to get hit by giant humans trained in the art of sacking quarterbacks. Father Time is still undefeated, no matter how many life-changing TB12 shakes Brady drinks.

    Secondly, it seems that the equilibrium established inside the Patriots organization has been thrown out of whack. An infamously private team, the Patriots have only let two scandals distract them from putting the NFL in a sleeper-hold: Deflategate and Spygate.

    As reported by Seth Wickersham, Belichick and Brady have been in a silent power struggle for who will be the man taking the credit for their unprecedented triumphs.

    The cracks in the relationship show mostly when looking at the Jimmy Garoppolo trade. Brady went over Belichick’s head directly to owner Robert Kraft about trading his successor.

    This means that Belichick didn’t want to let go of Garoppolo and Brady was threatened by this. Kraft choosing to side with Brady shows that the tug of war between the two titans has ended in another victory for number 12. Coach Belichick doesn’t get to share this one.

    Belichick will run to the green pastures of retirement as soon as Brady stops leading the Patriots to big games in the post-season. Marking the end to a true dynasty, one unlikely to be repeated in our lifetime.

  • HSU scrambles for new head coach

    HSU scrambles for new head coach

    Humboldt State University football is in shambles once again as interim head coach Cory White stepped down. White has accepted a tight end coaching position at the University of San Diego, leaving HSU players confused and hurt.

    “It’s always a shocking feeling, but I won’t guilt trip him,” player Isaiah Hall said. “The man has to do what he has to do.”

    White, a Humboldt alumnus, served as the HSU offensive line coach during the 2016 and 2017 seasons before being promoted as the interim head coach.

    Prior to joining HSU’s coaching staff, White was the director of football operations at New Mexico State University from Aug. 2015 to July 2016.

    Division I in National Collegiate Athletic Association football in University of San Diego has gotten a hold of White yet again. He served as the Toreros offensive line coach during the 2013 season, and the tight ends coach during the previous 2012 season.

    “I think people first became aware of this when Football Scoop announced White was offered and accepted the tight ends job at (University) of San Diego,” strength and conditioning coach Drew Petersen said.

    Petersen started the strength and conditioning program at Humboldt State in 1991 and has always been a notable leader to the football players. He continues to push them to be the best they can be, both on and off the field.

    “I always tell [the players] they have to enjoy the process and keep working,” Petersen said. “We have to block out the external noise.”

    White was named the interim head coach of the football program on Jan. 29 and planned to implement a 30-60-90 day plan for the program from that day forward. White’s colleagues worked right beside him ready to build and produce a stable program for the Jacks.

    “He was establishing his way of being head coach and building a new foundation here,” player Ereon Nash said. “Now that he is leaving, I don’t really know what to expect next.”

    Jim Redd is a 1969 alum and booster in the community who helped save HSU football in the winter. Redd would like to see this program and its players prosper as best as possible.

    “[Former football head] coach Smith put Humboldt State football on the map,” Redd said. “This is a desirable place to be. The search committee should move forward and hire a head coach as soon as possible. They need to give that head coach as much support as they can.”

    With spring football on the way, HSU players have a lot of speculation about what is to come. They continue to wake up at 6 a.m. three to six days a week and perform to the best of their ability on the field and in the weight room.

    “The biggest thing is about the boys, not us,” coach Wheeler said. “We need to continue to build in the weight room and as a team.”

    Community members, players and alumni alike are looking forward to hearing about the next step with Humboldt State’s football program.

    “There is going to be adversity no matter what program you are at,” coach Wheeler said. “They’ve got to learn to just put their head down and grind.”

    White informed the boosters and interim athletic director Duncan Robbins of his plans to leave last week, but was not available for comments.

  • Jacks ball appoints coach White as interim coach

    Jacks ball appoints coach White as interim coach

    A new leader has been chosen to usher the Lumberjacks football team into the 2018 season.

    Jacks offensive line coach Cory White has officially been given the title of Humboldt State’s interim head football coach, as announced at a press conference on Jan. 29.

    Coach White was a student athlete at HSU about 17 years ago and never did he think he would find his way back in the program on the other side of the table.

    “I am an alum,” White said. “I am a Jack. I was once too sitting in those meeting rooms, listening to the head coach, competing on the field and really never thought I would be in these shoes today.”

    Coach White has 14 years of experience coaching college football. He has coached at every level including Division II, Division III and junior college. Before coming to HSU in the fall of 2016, coach White was the director of football operations at Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in New Mexico State for a year.

    Along with coach White, interim athletic director Duncan Robins is greatly contributing to the work being done in keeping the normalcy of the football program for current student athletes.

    “Not only do we have a strong coaching staff,” Robins said, “but everyone is comfortable with Cory leading them, so this interim position was a natural one to offer to Cory and he has accepted.”

    Robins is specifically hired by collegiate athletic programs to improve their organization. He was hired at HSU during June of last year and his first task was to figure out what the budgets looked like.

    After several months of Robins and HSU President Lisa Rossbacher trying to figure out whether or not the football program could be saved, it was announced the program would be back for another year with the help of outstanding boosters.

    “We have a recruiting effort going on,” Robins said. “We have spring season being planned, we have a 10-game fall season waiting for us and our student athletes have some normalcy to their daily routines.”

    Both White and Robins expressed their thanks for previous head football coach Rob Smith for all of the hard work and recognition he has brought to the football program.

    Smith announced his resignation in a press conference a few weeks ago. Jan. 30 would have marked Smith’s 10th year as Jacks head football coach.

    “There is a reason why coach Smith was here for 10 years,” White said. “This is a place of longevity.”

    Senior linebacker Connor Cox has played for the Jacks since his first year in 2015. He is an Arcata native and attended Arcata High School just before coming to HSU.

    “Nothing has really changed for us,” Cox said. “We are up every morning, like all prior years, doing the same workouts and putting in the same effort.”

    With a strong football program still in route for the fall 2018 season, coach White plans on working to make this whole endeavor worth it.

    “Humboldt football is here to stay,” White said.

  • Winning ways

    Winning ways

    ‘Tis the season for fantasy football playoffs and for those that made their league playoffs, congratulations! If you didn’t, then you’re already on the right track to next season’s playoffs by reading my column.

    As this is my first fantasy football column I should let you know that I’ve been in the game for 18 years and winning is my top priority every season. We will dive into all the positions and examine the match-ups that will help you in your playoff run this year.

    Remember, don’t get cute. I am not endorsing these players to be started over guys that have been your bread and butter all season long. Think and choose wisely.

    Winning Quarterbacks

    Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs: Smith exploded on Sunday, throwing for over 350 yards with four touchdown tosses. He scrambled for 70 yards to show off his legs. The Chiefs quarterback gets another blow up match up against the Raiders who have given up the fifth most points to opposing passers.

    Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers: Rivers had a huge day against the Browns that could have been even bigger as the Chargers failed to convert five red zone trips into touchdowns. Rivers has now completed 76.3 percent of his passes for 781 yards and four touchdowns over the past two weeks and now hosts a Washington defense that is in the middle of the pack but expect Rivers to take advantage and have another fine day, making him a strong QB1 option this week.

    Winning Running Backs

    Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis, Patriots: The New England backfield has been a mess over the years but it seems to have finally taken form as a two headed machine. Lewis and Burkhead have both averaged double-digit touches since the week nine byes and travel to play the Miami Dolphins whose defense has given up the seventh most points to opposing running backs this season.

    Mike Davis, Seattle Seahawks: There is finally a workhorse in Seattle and he’s available in a lot of leagues. Davis took it to the No. 1 run defense on Sunday night, finishing for over 100 yards from scrimmage on 4.0 yards per carry against the Eagles. Eddie Lacy, J.D McKissic and Thomas Rawls saw only one carry each while Davis took control of the backfield with 16 rushes and four targets. Davis has the potential to win a lot of people fantasy trophies this year. Pick him up.

    Winning Wide Receivers

    Marquise Goodwin, San Francisco 49ers: With Jimmy Garoppolo finally under center for the red and gold, the offense looked much more efficient, holding the ball for over 19 minutes more than the Bears in Week 13. Goodwin converted all eight of his targets for 99 yards and the Niners face two of the leagues worst pass defenses in the Texans and the Titans for the next two weeks. Consider Goodwin for the WR3 discussion.

    Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns: This superstar made his return from a two year hiatus this Sunday against the Chargers and turned 11 targets into four catches for 85 yards. The only other receiver to get more yards than Gordon against the Chargers was Odell Beckham Jr. in week five. Gordon gets favorable match ups for the fantasy playoffs against Green Bay and the Baltimore Ravens, who just lost their best corner for the year. If you are looking for wide receiver help, look no further than Gordon as a WR3 option.

    Winning Tight Ends

    Hunter Henry, San Diego Chargers: The Antonio Gates era is at its end and Hunter Henry is reaping the rewards. The Chargers have finally realized how important a part of the offense Henry is and it is showing in the stats. Henry now has 12 receptions for 157 yards and a score over the last two weeks and now gets another favorable match up against a Redskins D that has given up the fourth most points to opposing tight ends this season. Get Henry in your lineups this weekend as a strong TE1.

    Cameron Brate, Tamp Bay Buccaneers: Brate is back on the streaming radar as his favorite QB Jameis Winston is back under center. Winston constantly looks Brate’s way in the red zone and it showed Sunday when Brate caught a TD from 28 yards out and then later at 11 yards out. If you don’t have a top five tight end, Brate deserves your consideration to help you to a fantasy football title.

     

  • Jacks ball safe for now

    Jacks ball safe for now

    By｜Keaundrey Clark & Skye Kimya

    Through trials and tribulations, Humboldt State football will be playing another year in the Redwood Bowl, as was announced by President Lisa Rossbacher and Interim Athletic Director Duncan Robbins on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

    In front of HSU students, athletes, boosters, administration and coaches, it was announced that the team will return after months of doubt by Rossbacher.

    “Through a lot of work by the boosters and the community,” said Rossbacher. “Alumni generating pledges for support make this possible for next year. “

    President Rossbacher said she was impressed by the passionate group of boosters who led a recent fund drive. This convinced her they could bring in the resources needed to help continue the football program.

    Six months of doubt have been put to bed for now, as boosters led by Jim Redd and Ceva Courtemanche worked endlessly to provide a solution to HSU Athletics financial woes. Redd and SaveHSUAthletics were able to confirm that almost $511 thousand in pledges and donations for 2017-18 has been reached.

    “Not all of this is local community, there are previous athletes from all over the United States that have donated,” said Redd. “People that have just heard about our cause that have donated. It just speaks volumes, that athletics and the student athletes are very important to this community.”

    The future of Jacks football, which is the University’s most expensive athletics program, had been in question due to financial challenges.

    The Athletics Department, Office of Advancement and the boosters struggled to maintain a balanced and working relationship to find a solution to the department’s financial woes. In terms of balancing the budget, the University is working to address an ongoing structural deficit that has been on Rossbacher’s plate for a few years now.

    With an additional $395 thousand for year two, $375 thousand for year three, $355 thousand for year four and $335 thousand for the fifth year, the community of Humboldt showed how much HSU football means to them.

    “We never gave up,”said Redd. “We kept fighting until the very end and the community support is absolutely unbelievable.”

    Several players walked away from the Redwood Bowl Plaza this afternoon with plenty of appreciation for their community and Rossbacher.

    “It feels great, it feels like I got a lot of relief off of my shoulders. Now I can get ready and focus for next season,” said returning player Jamere Austin.

    Plenty of players have been worried about where they would have headed next, but they are looking forward to continuing in their first step foward after today’s decision – Spring Ball.

    “President Rossbacher made the right decision,” said returning player Joey Sweeney. “Next year should be a really good year.”

    Head Coach Rob Smith held a meeting with players, urging them to notify their families that the team will be back. He understands that because of the uncertainty surrounding the program some players won’t return. But he hopes players will stay and be a Jack for life.

    “Most coaches and most players had kind of checked out, they saw the writing on the wall, anticipated the program not being here next year and were preparing for life after this,” said Smith. “Now we all kind of need to get together and figure out how to move forward.”

    One of HSU’s best defenders, junior linebacker Curtis Williams, is excited for the prospects of a great season next year.

    “It feels great,” said Williams. “Knowing we have another season is a great feeling.”

    Humboldt State has been playing football for decades. The prospect of losing the team is something the players, coaches, school and community couldn’t face. Head Coach Rob Smith has his work cut out for him next season.

    “Coaches will come and go, Presidents will come and go, but this team belongs to Humboldt State,” said Smith

     

  • Best of Humboldt sports this weekend

    Best of Humboldt sports this weekend

    By | Keaundrey Clark

    Football

    No. 16-ranked Humboldt State was unable to overcome a 28-point deficit as it fell to No. 7 Central Washington 42-28 Saturday in Redwood Bowl.

    The Lumberjacks finish the season with a 8-2 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

    “Let’s give credit to Central Washington, they are the best team in the GNAC – that’s clear,” said Head Coach Rob Smith. “Today they were much better than we were, much better prepared and much better coached.”

    Senior running back Ja’Quan Gardner got the Jacks on the board before halftime with a run that found the end zone from three yards out with 14 seconds on the clock. Gardner was stiffled by the Central Washington defensed, he finished the game with 11 carries for 22 yards and a touchdown.

    HSU fought back in the second half. Davaeon Johnson picked off Central Washington QB Reilly Hennessey on the first drive of the half, he returned the pick 77 yards for a touchdown. Next possession a double pass with senior Chase Krivashei caught the Wildcats off guard. A 37 yards to a wide open Jamere Austin brought the game within 14 points.

    “Our kids weren’t going to roll over,” said Smith. “I told them at halftime we have two choices, respond or roll over, and we responded in that third quarter.”

    JacksBall got one more score with its senior led duo of Webber and Gardner. A 19-yard touchdown pass from Webber to Gardner brought the score to 42-28. Webber threw for 300-yards.

    “We are 8-2 and that is a very successful season,” said Smith. “These 24 seniors that end their career today – what a special group they are.”

    The Jacks honored their 24 seniors during pregame ceremonies, and 5,467 fans were on hand for the regular season finale.

    Women’s Basketball

    Humboldt State women’s basketball ended the West Region Crossover Classic play at 0-2 with a 54-50 loss to Western Washington Saturday afternoon.

    Jovanah Arrington led the Jacks with 13 points off the bench. Sophomore Tyla Turner like Arrington had double digit points with 11 and a team-high six rebounds and three assists.

    HSU returns to Lumberjack Arena Wednesday to play Notre Dame de Namur in a non – conference game, tipoff is at 7 p.m.

    Saturday they play on ESPN3 facing archrival Chico State.

    Men’s Basketball

    Humboldt State’s men’s basketball team will host its 2017-18 home opener Monday night against Pacific Union at 6 p.m. at Lumberjack Arena.

    The Jacks won its first game of the year, a 90-81 win over Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) this past weekend, the team dropped it’s two next games in the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic, falling to Saint Leo 66-65 and Upper Iowa 60-55.

    Tyras Rattler Jr. led the Jacks with 22 points against Palm Beach Atlantic. He scored 14 points against Saint Leo.. Colin Caslick scored 11 points to lead the Jacks versus Upper Iowa.

    “The most positive thing about our basketball team right now is our depth,” said the coach. “We played every guy in every game and everybody had a contribution. Outside of Tyras, we don’t have one particular player who’s scoring a lot of points. It’s spread-out and we’re sharing the ball well.”

    Cross Country

    Junior Tatiana Gillick has earned an at-large bid to represent Humboldt State at the 2017 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships.

    This will be Gillick’s first NCAA DII Cross Country Championships appearance.

    The championship will be at the Angel’s Mound in Evansville, Ind., on Sat., Nov. 18. She finished in eighth place at regionals, and she completed the 6k race with a time of 21:30.0.

    Gillick helped the Jacks to a ninth place finish at regionals in Monmouth, Ore, two weekends ago and was awarded All-Region honors for her performance.

    Volleyball

    On senior night where the jacks honored their six seniors prior to the game,

    Humboldt State volleyball lost to Cal Poly Pomona in straight sets Saturday night in Lumberjack Arena.

    The loss moves the Green and Gold to 3-21 overall and 2-16 in conference play to end the 2017 campaign.

    Freshman Lauren Reid led the Jacks with seven kills. Redshirt Freshman Kayla Costello had a season-high 14 assists. Junior Sarah Shively finished with a team-high 15 digs and two aces.

  • Jacks top Western Oregon

    By | Keaundrey Clark

    Football was alive and well Saturday night as the Humboldt State Lumberjacks defeated Western Oregon 42-32.

    It was the arm of Senior Quarterback Robert Webber and the legs of all-American running back that helped lead the jacks to victory as they both scores three touchdowns on the night.

    This win tied the all-time series 5-5. The Jacks are winners of 5 out of the last 6.

    The Jacks are now 6-1 and will go to British Columbia as they face Simon Fraser next Saturday.

  • Don’t lose your head

    Don’t lose your head

    By | Bryan Donoghue

    A concussion doesn’t entirely mean hitting your head hard. Concussions happen often, and there are a multitude of adverse side effects from a concussion that can disable a person biologically. In cases where a concussion needs to be thoroughly examined and diagnosed, the North Coast Concussion Program (NCCP) at Humboldt State University is there.

    LN_consussion
    Graphic by Lora Neshovska

    A statement from the program’s homepage says that the NCCP treats thousands of Humboldt and Del Norte residents every year. This not only includes local community members and Humboldt State residents, it extends to 11 regional high schools, as well as youth and adult sport leagues.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that a concussion is a, “type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works.”

    It continues to state that although concussions are not usually life threatening, their effects can be serious. Those effects are what the NCCP primarily study, and based of the needs of different concussed patients, the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) is willing to accommodate each student individually.

    “We do work well together,” said Kevin O’Brien, the director of Student Access Services.

    O’Brien explains that students are usually first seen at the health center at Humboldt State and then referred to the North Coast Concussion Program. Based off the assessment report, O’Brien and the SDRC evaluate the impact of the concussion of the student’s academic work and authorize specific accommodations based on the results.

    “It’s going to vary according to the severity of the concussion, the impact of that on a student, whether it causes them headaches, visual disturbance, it depends on the issues that arise from the concussion and the length of time,” O’Brien said.

    O’ Brien says generally with a concussion, the basics to help yourself are to reduce reading, bright lighting, and to increase the amount of rest you get.

    “Basically you are trying to rest the brain so it can heal itself,” O’ Brien said. “So reduce cognitive activity, studying, reading, bright lights, all of those things.”

    If you do have a concussion, it’s imperative to work with the SDRC advisors and your professors to construct a regimen. They collaborate to help build you back up and get you into regular study habits again.

    “They are going to need an accommodation maybe as simple as us conferring with their faculty,” O’Brien said. “Working with the faculty on what the expectations might be, and how long this is going to take, and how can we best ensure that the student can make up work missed.”

    Humboldt State recently hosted a guest from the University of Pittsburgh Medcial Center on Thursday, Sept. 28. Dr. Anthony Kontos spoke about research pertaining to psychological, neurocognitive, and neuro-motor aspects related to concussions. Most importantly, he advocates safety, as well as concussion prevention and treatment.

    “There’s risk in all activities, And then if somebody has something, they got to do something about it. It can’t just be, ‘okay, you have a concussion,’” Kontos said.

    Kontos says to seek whatever care and follow up, because that’s how we prevent the effects of an injury from becoming worse.

    “We do know that if you’re an adolescent and you get hit, there’s a likelihood that your developing brain is more at risk than, say, a really young kid or an adult,” Kontos said.

    According to Kontos, you shouldn’t let that affect your participation in sports. Mainly, you have to learn to play sports correctly and how to participate safely.

    “That’s really the key here, doing sports as safe as possible and allowing kids to be active,” Kontos said.

  • Jacks Sports

    Jacks Sports

    By | Keaundrey Clark

    _MG_4057.JPG

    Football

    After a season that saw Humboldt State Football go 6-5, the Jacks have rebounded and are sitting in second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and 4-1 overall. Even with a recent loss to Central Washington, the Jacks boast the conference’s best offense averaging close to 47 points per game and over 500-yards a game.

    In the backfield All-American, running back Ja’Quan Murphy is having another strong season with 664-yards and seven touchdowns. His 132-yards a game is top 10 in Division Two.

    Quarterback Robert Webber leads the conference in passing with 17 touchdowns and 70 percent completion percentage.

    It’s been a season of greatness for the Jacks. Players like sophomore Davaeon Johnson have a night to remember with a three interception game versus Chadron State. He took one back for a touchdown. Johnson’s three interceptions tied a Great Northwest Athletic Conference single-game record. Wide receiver John Todd had a 225-yard performance against Western Oregon. He has a 90-yard catch and run which is the second longest play in school history.

    LSMensSoccer1.jpg

    Men’s Soccer

    After starting 6-1 and scoring at a torrant pace, the Jacks have gone on a four game losing streak.

    Leading this team in points is Junior, Francisco Caldron. He has 4 goals on the year. Junior Christopher Cherms has done well in the net with 46 saves

    Women’s Soccer

    Humboldt State women’s soccer has bounced back from last season where they won four games total. Sitting at 6-5-1 and 2-4-1 in conference, the Jacks have been led by Junior Alex Jenkins who has six goals on the year. Sophomore, Katelin Talbert has done a great job in the net with 51 saves so far this year.

    This week the Jacks host UC San Diego at 12:30 p.m. on Friday and Cal State San Marcos at 11:30 a.m.

    Cross Country

    The Humboldt State men’s and women’s cross country teams have been dominating so far this year.

    The men’s team finishing in second place in the Humboldt State Invitational. A trip to San Francisco for the Gator Invite saw the Jacks get a top five finish. In Salem, Oregon for the Charles Bowles/Willamette Invite the Jacks got a 10th place finish. Down south in San Diego the Jacks got a fourth place finish at the Triton Classic.

    The women’s team is one of the best in the west coast. They started the season with a first place win in the Humboldt State Invitational. A trip to San Francisco for the Gator Invite saw the Jacks get a second place finish. In Salem, Oregon for the Charles Bowles/Willamette Invite the Jacks got a first place victory. Down South in San Diego the Jacks got a fourth place finish at the Triton Classic.

    The Jacks have been led by Annie Roberts. She was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association’s Runner of the Week earlier in the season.

    They have received national attention for its success this season. The Lumberjacks are currently ranked seventh in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association West Region Rankings and are receiving votes in the national poll.

    Volleyball

    When a team is on a losing streak, team cohesion and chemistry can be lost. The Lumberjacks volleyball squad is not one of those teams.

    Sophomore, outside hitter, Lauren Reid has been incredible for the Jacks. With 175 kills, that lands her in the top 10 in the conference. She averages almost three kills per set. Senior Alex Lolland has 155 kills second on the team for the Jacks.

    Senior middle blocker Janelle Ayala is top 10 in the conference in blocks with 55.