The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Jacks

  • An alumnus perspective on being Lumberjack football player

    An alumnus perspective on being Lumberjack football player

    Over the last few weeks, a lot of rumor, fear and misinformation have been circling about the possible loss of Lumberjack football next year. As a 40 year old alumnus and former football player, I felt it is important to share my perspective on what it meant to be a student athlete, and more importantly, a student athlete at Humboldt. I speak from my perspective, however I would imagine many other guys feel the same way. I think this is important for three main reasons.

    First, to let the administration know how much that Redwood surrounded stadium and campus means to all of the alumni. Secondly, to offer perspective to the student body and community who may not be football fans. Finally and most importantly, to publicly ask for answers from the administration that is making this decision.

    All alumni have different levels of involvement with the program. My personal involvement is of course as a fan, but also as a booster. I have always tried to support the program when I can and always will. I proudly share my alma mater in my living room with my 6 year old son just about every Saturday in the fall. So at 40 years of age, with kids, wife, a demanding career, why such a die-hard connection? The answer is simple; pride and connection. I am proud of where I went to school, I am proud to have worn Humboldt State on my chest for 21 Saturdays, I am proud of the work I put in with Drew to prepare myself, I am proud to share my university with my children. Most importantly, I am connected. I am connected to men who did the same thing as I. I am connected to these men for life. I am connected to men from Compton, Santa Rosa, San Diego, Hawthorne, Eureka, and Reno. I am connected to men from a myriad of backgrounds that I would have never known had it not been for football. I now realize this is what matters. Yes, winning games is important and feels great. As you get older, what will become more important are the relationships you have built. One thing is certain, as a student athlete you will build relationships with people from backgrounds you would otherwise never be connected to. As a professional in a highly-competitive field that has made a great impact on my life for the better, I have been outside of my comfort-zone. I am able to appreciate other world perspectives. I have shared in different peoples life experiences. I don’t want that valuable opportunity erased from campus.

    So with such positive experiences why is there talk of cutting football? We are being told budget. Well, according to the research study commissioned by the school, cutting football would not relieve the budget issues. Why are athletics not budgeted out of the general fund? We are being told enrollment is down. Why are there 1,500 applications not being looked at? By no means do I claim to be a CSU budget expert, none of us are. So why isn’t the administration having a public forum to discuss the possible loss of an obviously beloved part of the community? Are they looking at better ways to budget? Are we actively seeking out corporate sponsorships? Can athletics do a better job of reaching out to alumni? Why is attendance at football games being underreported? These are all great questions. Why are there no answers? I don’t have the answers, unfortunately those that do remain silent or give noncommittal statements. I would like something from the AD and President as to what the plan is. Is the plan to cut the program and they’re too cowardly to admit it now? Are they looking at ways to budget correctly? I don’t know, we don’t know, I am frightened they may not know.

    I am not a professional writer, I am not a seasoned College administrator, I am a former mediocre college athlete who loves his Green and Gold brothers, and loves his University. My goal in writing this is to try and let those understand the importance my college experience has played in my live. Learning how to compete, how to work, coping with failure, instilling empathy for different life experiences. All of these things have made me a better person. College is about academics but it is also about learning to be a better person. I ask you to evaluate the importance of football not on your love for the game but on your appreciation for the importance of connection. I ask that all my brothers, the community, boosters, students, stand up and speak and fight any attempt to erase this program. I ask the administration to communicate with us. Involve us in the process, let us help, we want to fight with you not against you.

    Respectfully,

    Jarrod Klein

    Class of 2000

    GO JACKS!!!!!

  • Not going down without a fight!

    I hope that this letter reaches all of my former Humboldt State teammates, former Jacks that have worn the Green and Gold and all of the Lumberjack supporters out there. I will be sending this letter on to Dr. Lisa Rossbacher along with the rest of the leaders on the HSU campus and in the CSU. Football won’t be cut from Humboldt State without a fight.

    This past week some awful news, news that many inside the Humboldt State Athletic Department and University have known about and anticipated for years, was released. Instead of the focus being on the Humboldt State football team going on the road and taking down the No. 8 team in the country, rival Azusa Pacific, it was on whether there will be a football program in two short months. The outcry and response from the news that I have seen through multiple news outlets will hopefully force the administration to pause and think again before they make this decision.

    First, to be clear, there is not a financial problem at Humboldt State, there is a leadership problem, starting at the top. Having known about the financial shortfall that was coming when the current President took the job, she has only let it grow and has lacked the decisive decision-making that is required of the position. HSU spent tens-of-thousands of dollars to bring in a consulting firm to help advise her in the process of finding solutions to the current financial problem which she COMPLETELY THREW OUT and ignored. She has also postponed making a decision several times which has continued to let the deficit grow.

    The President said a year ago that the “Humboldt State University strategic plan is focused on four key areas: supporting student success, providing a welcoming environment for our diverse community, ensuring that we have the resources needed to fulfill our educational mission, and expanding partnerships, both on- and off-campus.” In what ways will cutting the most successful program on campus be beneficial in serving your strategic plan?

    How is cutting athletic programs, specifically football, in line with your strategic plan for the University, which INCLUDES athletics. Getting rid of football is harming students and their pursuit of receiving a degree. It gets rid of the diversity that our University desperately needs that football provides and also will damage partnerships and relationships that have been cultivated over the past decades. There are countless donors and supporters that support the Athletic programs because of the impact sports has on student-athletes.

    Coming from a small town in North Bend, Washington, Humboldt State football helped build me into the man I am today. The relationships I made, the people I met, the lessons I learned are all 100 percent attributed to the Humboldt State football program. Coming from a high school that lacked diversity, I was thrown a major curve ball when I arrived in 2011 to a locker room that had players from every corner of the west coast. Oakland, Sacramento, Rocklin, San Diego, Poway, Compton, Los Angeles, you name it. I was able to meet, bond, connect, and work with individuals that I can now call my teammates and brothers FOR LIFE even though we all came from entirely different backgrounds. We all shared a common goal. No where else on campus does a group of students come together like they do in college athletics.

    A current report states that there are only 281 (3.41 percent) Black or African American students at Humboldt State University. How are you promoting diversity when a high number of these students are involved with college athletics? There is no question that this group is under-served and not represented properly at Humboldt State and in our community. How is cutting Humboldt State football and athletic teams helping with your strategic plan in promoting diversity when it does the complete opposite?

    Most importantly through this ugly situation, what about the kids? What about the coaches that may lose their jobs and their families? Announcing this decision in November will only allow students one month to find new homes before the start of the spring semester as they will no longer be able to pursue their goals and passion in college athletics at Humboldt State. You are in a position to SERVE our students. Announcing this decision in November may be what’s best for you and your colleagues, but don’t forget WHY you have a job and WHO’S best interest you should be considering. The fact that this news broke in the middle of another historical football season at HSU is beyond inappropriate and unprofessional.

    I have seen the number of “around 200-250 students” will transfer from the University if football is dropped. I believe that number is a low estimate as that is only the number of student-athletes that will be leaving. This does not include the other students at Humboldt that came because of football and the other athletic programs as they wanted to be a part of the special community too. With struggling enrollment that is showing no signs of improving, how is getting RID of more students going to help? The athletic teams continue to fill their rosters to the maximum number, what good is it to get rid of the schools best recruiters?

    What about Arcata and Humboldt County? Only five times a year do 7,000 and more people come together in the community and it is on Saturday nights in the Redwood Bowl. What will Homecoming weekend be like without football? What purpose will the weekend serve if it is not highlighted by a football game in the Redwood Bowl? The sense of community and togetherness that the football program and Humboldt athletics brings can not and should not be underestimated. It should also be noted the potential financial impact that HSU athletics and the football program has for the community, what about the local businesses?

    When you add the tens of thousands of dollars spent on the Strategic Edge Report, the hundreds of thousands of dollars missing from IRA fees of the “missing” students that were projected to be attending the University, and another $58,000 in the form of a cancelled Pepsi sponsorship, you have have over $250,000. Yes, with the major financial hole, the leaders on campus elected to not renew a sponsorship which had totaled $58,000.

    Seeing the overwhelming support for the program on social media has been special, but changes will have to come from within the University. Just this past spring, all of the Athletic programs were asked to raise money and as football raised over $100,000 which went directly toward athletic scholarships. Football raised their money and a portion of it even went to other teams.

    Before you think about cutting the football program, think about the long-lasting impact it will have on YOUR students, coaches, administrators, community members, local business owners and alumni. Cutting the football program will set the University back years and hundreds-of-thousands of more dollars. Taking the easy way out by simply cutting the “biggest” budget item is lazy, irresponsible and won’t be tolerated. The impact the HSU football program had on myself and so many others including your current student-athletes is irreplaceable and a better solution needs to be found.

    – Taylor Mitchell, Former HSU Football Player

  • Lumberjacks early-season struggles continue

    Lumberjacks early-season struggles continue

    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.

    Despite losing their eighth straight game to the Sonoma State Seawolves at Lumberjack Arena on Friday night 3-1, team morale remained high. Senior setter Jessi Lammers led the team with 28 assists and feels the team has remained focused during these rough times._MG_4419

    “We really depend on looking inward toward each other,” Lammers said. “We ignore the crowd and ignore the other side of the net and just look to the girls that play next to you.”

    The first set of the match was the most competitive, with each team going on big runs. The Jacks held the lead throughout but lost control of the set when the Seawolves tied it up at 24 and proceeded to score four of the next five points.

    HSU exhibited their true potential in the second set by going on four, five, and seven point runs, dominating the set and winning 25-13. Jacks senior middle blocker Janelle Ayala showed why she should be on the court as much as possible by making several smart plays in the team’s only set won.

    The Jacks starting lineup is not yet set in stone, but assistant coach Greg Railsback believes they are close to finding the right mix for team success.

    “Our last two games, we’ve been playing with more mental intensity and energy,” Railsback said. “We’ve been starting to play with a little more belief.”_MG_4326

    The road is a long one but the team and coaches have faith that they can still turn this season around. The team must cut down on costly mistakes and mental blunders. Jacks head coach Kelly Wood wants the team to have stronger finishes in their later sets.

    “We have this tendency to just drop off and play really inconsistently in the fourth set,” Wood said. “We had 14 errors between hitting and serving. We’re not gonna beat anybody making 14 errors.”

    The Jacks look to get back in the win column against San Francisco State Saturday, Sep. 23. First serve is at 7 p.m. at Lumberjack Arena. HSU students, faculty, and staff get in free with campus ID.

     

  • Future of Jacks ball in doubt

    Future of Jacks ball in doubt

    It’s Saturday night at the Redwood Bowl. The fog and mist comes over the trees, suddenly 7,000 screaming fans echo off the trees like owls in the night. Daunting to any opposing team, especially when the chainsaws roar as Humboldt State scores.

    In the midst of a historic season, this could all be gone as of Nov. 1, when Humboldt State administration will decide on the fate of HSU Football as they continue to handle the school’s intercollegiate athletics program and its financial deficit.

    “We’re not just looking for pledges for the first year, we also hope to get pledges for the next five years,” said Athletic Director Duncan Robbins. “We don’t want to just save football for a year, we want to plan for the future as well.”

    Robbins and the Office of Advancement are working together with alumni and community volunteers to raise the needed initial funds and future pledges by the November deadline. The suggested number being around $500,000 before the deadline.

    “We know what we need to raise to remove the red ink from our budget,” said Robbins, “so we have a definitive target from what we need from HSU’s campus and community members on saving the program.”

    The goal is to save the program with options of cutting or putting the team on a two year hiatus.

    As a program that has gained national recognition from the New York Times and Sports Illustrated, there’s a noticeable crazed fan base in this community. With that comes the emotion and outrage of potentially not having a football team at Humboldt State. Former players like Taylor Mitchell want President Rossbacher to know they won’t let the program go silently.

    “The program means everything to me, the opportunity to play out my dream of playing college football,” said Mitchell. “It’s the heart of the community.”

    There’s a sentiment from a few players on this year’s current team that Rossbacher and Robbins aren’t doing everything in their power to keep football at HSU.

    “Lisa Rossbacher and Duncan Robbins, if they wanted to fix it, they could,” said senior lineman Jarred Layel. “They’re trying to kill the program.”

    Head Coach Rob Smith’s not just coaching a group of football players, but a group of young men that are growing and developing everyday as Jacks, something that goes beyond the field.

    “Frustrated, disappointed, a touch of anger at the work these kids are putting in on a daily basis,” said Smith.

    Coach Smith believes there’s value in college sports, the value it brings to the community, to the students on campus. If it wasn’t for the school’s athletics program. Getting the community of Humboldt County onto the campus would be difficult.

    “There’s value to community, our players and our student body,” said Smith. “There’s entertainment value.”

    You go to the games, you see kids asking for players autographs. That’s when you know the impact has been made. This football program doesn’t belong the current AD, president or coach. It belongs to Humboldt County. It was here before them and the hope is it will be here when they are gone.

    “What other program on campus brings in 7,000 people from the community on to this campus,” said Smith. “This community appreciated us.”

    Going from playing and hosting a Division II playoff game in 2015 (the first time since 1968) to getting its program cut sounds like a cruel and unusual punishment. It’s a realization that all the success in the world can’t save the team from what looks like insurmountable debt.

    “The deficit isn’t of our doing,” said Smith. “It has to do with enrollment and what I believe is a flawed funding in the way athletics is funded at HSU.”

    There’s an understanding between athletic director Robbins, President Rossbacher and Head Coach Rob Smith that preserving what historically has been a rich tradition at HSU is a good thing for the community. HSU has lead the conference in attendance since coach Smith has been here.

    Players will also have the option of transferring to another school without facing an eligibility penalty because HSU dropped the program.

    “Our goal if the worse thing happens would be to place the players and coaches in the best situations possible.” said Robbins.

    Robbins and Smith both have reiterated that the coaching staff and athletic department would work to help players find new schools if they want to keep playing.

    “I think with a segment of the community that would be a huge loss,” said Robbins. “That’s why there’s so much passion to save the program.”

    The community’ support for the team, alumni and boosters have a tall task in front of them to keep football in Humboldt.

    “We’re have a specific plan for fundraising, we’re out making phone calls and kissing babies,” said Robbins.

  • Jacks Pass

    Jacks Pass

    By Keaundrey Clark

    No.1 HSU Softball Splits  first 2 games of 4 game Series with No.13 Chico State

     

    No.1 Humboldt State Softball returned home for a four game series against No.13 Chico State. Postponed earlier in the season due bad weather conditions. They played this game in McKinleyville. HSU split its first day doubleheader against No.13 Chico State Monday afternoon. Chico State took game one 2-0, while HSU bounced back claiming game two 10-4. The Wildcats have a two game lead in conference play over the Jcks.

    In the loss Madison Williams was very solid in the circle for the Jacks as she only allowed 4 hits while striking out ten batters on her way to her 15th complete game of the season.

    In Game two Kalyn Paque improved to 13-2 on the season, completing her 8th complete game of the year.

    The second back to back games of the doubleheader were cancelled because of rain.

    HSU finished the homestand  29-8 overall with a conference record of 17-7.  

    For both HSU, pitching has been a strong point this season. HSU leads the conference in strikeouts with 214 while allowing the second least amount of earned runs, giving up 67 in 35 games. The Jacks also rank third in the conference with a team ERA of 2.03

     

    Rowing Ranked No. 2 First West Region Poll

     

    Humboldt State Women’s Rowing debuted at No. 2 across the board in the first Division II West Regional ranking on Tuesday. HSU sits behind Western Washington who captured the number one across the board.

    The Lumberjacks are back in action at the Covered Bridge Regatta in Eugene, Ore. April 15.

     

    HSU Track and Field dominates Chico Distance Carnival and Twilight Invitational

     

    Humboldt State’s Track and Field team had strong showing at the Chico Distance Carnival and Twilight Invitational on both the men and women’s side Saturday.

    Ariel Oliver had a strong performance in shot put and discus. HSU dominated  shot put as Oliver placed first with a distance of 13.83m and teammates Lily Bankas and Marissa McCay came in second and third with throws of 12.28m and 12.16m.

    HSU also had four of the top six spots in the discus as Oliver placed first again. Eliana Campos finished second, Ashley Ross fifth and Lily Bankas sixth. Alyssabeth DeJerez, Marissa McKay, and Ellie Earle-Rouse all matched National provisional marks in the 200, long jump, and high jump respectively.

    On the men’s side Tiegan Eilers had a PR in the discus with a throw of 36.89m. Dustyn Salomon looked strong winning his heat in the 800m, while Daniel Tull placed 3rd in the Invitational Mile. Calvin Herman placed second in the 400m Hurdles, and Mario Kaluhiokalani ran a fast 110m hurdle race earning himself a spot in finals.

    Track and Field travels to Long Beach, Calif. 4/13-4/15 for its next meet.

     

  • Jacks Win Streak Snapped by Coyotes

    Jacks Win Streak Snapped by Coyotes

    By | Andre Hascall

    Back to back doubleheaders against Cal State San Bernardino snaps Humboldt Softball’s seven game winning streak. The team had to play in high temperatures in San Bernardino, a harsh difference from Arcata weather. Humboldt Softball is ranked at the top of the CCAA conference. Out of four games this weekend, Humboldt took home one victory. The Lumberjacks are now 14-4 in conference play.

    Senior pitcher Madison Williams, who is still currently leading the conference in batters struck out, added 12 strikeouts to her resume this past week. She now leads the CCAA in strikeouts with 100 in total, 27 more than the second highest.

    “We can be beat by anyone. For me it’s all about improvement, when you go 11-0… you feel like no one can beat you,” Williams said.

    The Jacks had been successful through their first 11 games of the season making them top ranked in the conference at the time.

    With the losses aside, Humboldt ended Sunday on a high note earning their only win of the weekend.

    Second baseman, Sydney Roberts, played a big role in the team’s win this weekend both at bat and on the field.

    “Every ball that came to me just got stopped,” Roberts said. “I feel like I did well. A hit went between Bre [Bejaran] and I, and I dove on it, got up on my knees and threw it to first.”

    Roberts was not the only player who played well in the game. As catcher, Breonna Bejaran hit two home runs in the last game of road trip. Those two home runs tied Bejaran for first in home runs in the CCAA  with nine on the season. She is also first in slugging percentage with .800, slugging percentage being the amount of bases gained by one person divided by the number of times that person is at bat.

    “I was just looking for a base run and it came to me,” Bejaran said.

    Before Bejaran’s second home run, there was a controversy with an interference call that the umpire overturned.

    “I knew the pitcher was coming for me and I had to swing,” Bejaran said.

    Photo by | Andre Hascall

    Even with the tough weekend considered, the Jacks must look forward as the championship tournament is no longer far off in the distance.

    Yesterday at the weekly sports conference at HSU the team’s head coach, Shelli Sarchett, spoke on her team’s recent shortcoming against CSU San Bernardino.

    “Half this team knows what it takes the get there, and we are not doing that. We are going to get refreshed and focused, obviously our focus is the national championship, but how are we going to get there, ride on what we’ve always done or strive to get better,” Sarchett said.

  • Jacks Pass

    Jacks Pass

    By Keaundrey Clark

    Jacks Pass

    Men’s Basketball

    Humboldt State men’s basketball team saw its three-game winning streak snapped this past weekend as they lost 88-67 to UC San Diego Saturday Night.

    Sophomore Nikhil Lizotte led the Jacks in scoring. He scored 19 points. Hitting four 3-pointers. Currently sitting in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, the Jacks would earn a spot in the conference playoffs if the season ended today. Home games against two of the CCAA’s top three programs await the Green and Gold. Sonoma State visits Lumberjack Arena Thursday, and HSU hosts San Francisco State for Senior Day Saturday. Fans are encouraged to wear black for Thursday’s Black Out Night promotion. Both games tip off at 7:30 p.m.

    Women’s Basketball

    Humboldt State women’s basketball fell to UC San Diego, 64-55 on Saturday in La Jolla. The Lumberjacks traded baskets with the Tritons early, and the teams were tied 15-15 at the end of the first quarter. San Diego closed the first half on a 10-2 run, and had a 31-24 lead at the break. The Tritons took advantage of their free-throw opportunities, and they converted 13-of-15 first half attempts

    Tyra Turner scored 12 of her team-high 15 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough for the Green and Gold. The Tritons led by 10 points through three quarters and by as many as 15 points with 5:11 left in regulation.

    The Tritons shot 39.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from outside the arc. Dalayna Sampton was San Diego’s top performer with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. She was 7-of-9 shooting and went 5-of-5 at the free-throw line.

    Three Jacks scored in double figures, and Catharine Rees and Kindall Murie chipped in 10 points apiece.  Turner dished out a team-best six assists.

    HSU closes out the regular season in Lumberjack Arena with the first of two home games coming against Sonoma State Thursday. Fans are encouraged to wear black for the Black Out Night promotion.

    Softball

    Humboldt State softball took the No. 1 spot in this week’s National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 released last week.

    The Lumberjacks are off to a 5-0 start after traveling to Las Vegas for the Desert Stinger Tournament. HSU holds the top spot for the first time since the 2014 Week 1 poll.

  • Jacks Pass

    Jacks Pass

    By Keaundrey Clark

    Men’s Basketball

    lMalik Morgan scored a season-high 22 points  as Humboldt State men’s basketball beat to Cal Poly Pomona, 71-60 Saturday in Lumberjack Arena.

    Morgan accounted for 11 of the his 22  points in the second half. Sophomore Nikhil Lizotte helped the Jacks following intermission. He scored 14 points in the final 20 minutes, including seven from the free throw line in the last minute. Redshirt Sophomore  Calvin Young II led the Jacks with eight rebounds. HSU travels to face Cal State San Bernardino on Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

    Women’s Basketball

    Humboldt State women’s basketball fell to Cal Poly Pomona, 68-44, Saturday in Lumberjack Arena.

    HSU struggled to find an answer for Pomona and trailed 21-3 after 10 minutes of action. Junior  Catherine Rees scored the Jacks only field goal of the 1st quarter. HSU fought back  in the second quarter, cutting the lead to  31-22, at the break. Freshman  Madeline Hatch led the Jacks with nine points at the half. Pomona went on an 11-0 run to start the second half. They took a commanding 32-point lead into the final period. Tyra Turner and Hatch led the Jacks with nine points apiece. Turner finished with six rebounds, three assists and five steals.The Jacks travel to face Cal State San Bernardino Friday at 5:30 p.m.

    Softball

    Humboldt State senior Tiffany Hollingsworth was named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II National Player of the Week Wednesday. In the Desert Stinger Tournament. She batted .438, slugged 1.063 and drove in nine runs earning Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. The senior helped HSU open the season with a 5-0 record with four consecutive multi-hit games and three straight games with a home run. She went 3-for-3 with a double and a home run in the Jacks 12-1 win over Western New Mexico. Hollingsworth hit a two-run homer in game two. She went 3-for-4 at the dish, drew a walk and drove in two RBI to go with her third home run of the season. During the preseason, Hollingsworth was named a member of the 2017 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player of the Year Watch List.

    Cross-Country

    The Humboldt State cross country program collected U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors. Megan Alfi, Kori Gilley and Annie Roberts represented the Green and Gold as individual all-academic selections. The individual All-Academic honor was awarded to student-athletes who compiled a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 and finished among the top 30 percent of eligible runners at his or her regional championships and/or the top half of the field at the NCAA Championships. The men’s and women’s teams captured All-Academic honors with 3.02 and 3.40 GPAs, respectively. Teams must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and must have scored at an NCAA Division II regional meet to qualify for All-Academic awards.