Out o
Broncos begin to feel the
pressures of perfection
For the past month, I’ve tried to
avoid the issue. For weeks, I’ve
put it off. For days I’ve gone back
and forth in whether or not I should
actually do it. And even now I am
getting a funny feeling in my
stomach as I am in the process of
playing games with history. I am
officially, not by choice but by
necessity, “jinxing” the
Denver Broncos in their bid
for only the second
undefeated season in NFL
history. And now, in my
world of superstitions, I can
only cross my fingers and
hope that the Broncos can
trounce all over those evil
spirits and write their names
in the NFL record books.
At 13-0, the Broncos are
considered the biggest story in
the NFL this season. With
each week that passes they
continue to meet each
challenge their opponents have
thrown at them. But the road to
perfection is steadily getting more
and more difficult.
This past weekend appeared to
have the makings for an upset.
Entering Mile High Stadium were
the 5-7 Kansas City Chiefs. Now
this might not sound like a
challenge for the Broncos, but
considering the bad blood between
the division rivals, some doubt
must have popped into the heads
of Denver fans around the nation.
Adding to the fire between the
two teams was their ugly game on
Monday night two weeks ago. The
Broncos, behind the arm of backup
Bubby Brister, decisively won the
game 30-7. But on the final drive
of the game, the Chief’s defense
was called for five personal fouls.
Three by their defensive leader in
sacks Derrick Thomas. Alter
Broncos’ tight end Shannon Sharpe
took out the legs of a Kansas City
defensive lineman, Thomas took
offense and on three occasions
yanked Sharpe around by the
facemask.
Naturally much hype followed
which highlighted the match-up
this past weekend. The stage was
set for an upset with revenge on the
minds of the Chiefs. The
confidence of Kansas City proved
to be more than the Broncos have
had to deal with all year. Quickly,
they jumped on the Broncos taking
an early 14-0 lead, which began to
put much doubt as to whether or
not Denver could continue their bid
for perfection in ’9B.
Throughout the game, the
Broncos looked more and more
vulnerable as they entered the
fourth quarter trailing for the first
time all season. Jason Elam who
The Behrend
I would like to thank the Behrend community for your generous donations.
Because of your support, we were able to help many families in the Erie area
that needed some assistance. It was a lot of hard work, but it was so incredibly
worth it. We were also able to give many clothes and toys to local shelters for Hey Babydo n i
women.
I would like to send a special thank you to the following:
Police and Safety, thanks for the muscles.
Mr. Jack Burke, thank you for making room for the clothing. Misc. for making
the signs. Mrs.' Anne-Marie Welsh. Mrs. Loretta Brandon. Our Maintenance
Department. Eric Rodrigues. Dawn Holzer. LisaFuhrman
And last but not least, the sisters of Alpha Sigma Alpha. You all pulled together
in a wonderful way. Thank you for all of your time, support, and being true to
your word. I still can’t believe how much stuff you sorted! We did a great
thing and the best part is that it was a team effort. What would I have done
without you?
Sandi Smith
Police and Safety
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Bounds JASON SNYDER
tied the NFL record for the longest field
goal earlier this season, missed his first
kick of the year after going 47 for 47
previously. Chief kicker Pete
Stoyanovich, on the other hand, gave KC
a 31-21 lead with only 6:48 remaining
in the game. Unlike every other
Broncos’ opponent, the Chiefs weren’t
giving in.
You can't blame the Chiefs for what
happened next. It was just John Elway
and the Broncos at their best. Two
touchdown passes in the closing
minutes, including one to Sharpe who
was covered tightly all game by the KC
defense, gave Denver the win and kept
perfection intact.
In the Broncos’ goal to win the Super
Bowl, the win gave them a first round
bye and home-field advantage
throughout the playoffs. The home-field
advantage should prove important with
the Broncos riding a 23 game winning
streak at Mile High.
In terms of where the Broncos rank in
history, the win was the 18th straight
which ties them with four other teams
for the most consecutive wins including
the playoffs. But even more important
is the company that the ’9B Broncos join
with their 13-0 record. Only two other
teams have started their season at 13-0,
the 1934 Chicago Bears and the 1972
Dolphins.
You don’t hear much about the 1934
Bears because of their 30-14 loss to the
New York Giants in the NFL
Championship. But in the same way, if
the Broncos were to lose, they would
also be forgotten over time. In order to
be remembered forever, Denver must go
undefeated. To me, that sounds
disappointing and unfair because of the
domination and excitement that the
Broncos have brought to the league this
season. It doesn’t seem fair that a team
that could go 18-1 would be lorgotten,
while a team that went 17-0 will always
be remembered. Sure the Broncos will
show up in football trivia for many years,
but they might never have the distinction
of being only the second team to go
undefeated throughout the season.
What if the Broncos would go 17-0
then lose their 18th game? Does that
mean that the ’72 Dolphins still deserve
more credit even though the Broncos
Classifieds
already matched that record? I don’t
think so. Of course I can’t punish the
’72 Dolphins because they played less
games at that time, but I also can’t
compare a team that only played 17
games with a team that would have
to play 19 in order to win the Super
Bowl.
But before I write a one in the loss
column of the
Broncos, we need to
look at the road that
lies ahead. Not
meaning to overlook
the New York Giants
this weekend (but I
will anyway), the big
day for the Broncos
comes on Monday,
December 21 against
the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins would
like nothing more than
to save their
franchise’s distinction
of being the only undefeated team in
history. For the Dolphins, it would
be a fairy tale come true. For myself
and most of the other fans in the NFL,
it would be considered a great feat for
a team that is only trying to be
remembered for a historic season.
If the Broncos escape that game still
undefeated, then a win against the
Seattle Seahawks the following week
would give Denver an undefeated
regular season. With the AFC playoff
race looking like it is, the next Denver
opponent is unknown. But the
Broncos will have a week’s rest and
home-field advantage as they enter
their first game of the playoffs, which
could spell disaster for their opponent.
As the weeks pass by, the Denver
Broncos are riding a cloud a “mile
high.” The only danger in that, is that
just one loss would result in an even
harder fall. The price of perfection in
this day and age is much more costly
than ever before. The media attention
andleveryone’s eyds dobkirig' at the
Broncos’ wild ride is enough pressure,
but adding in the pressure of their own
personal goal of the Super Bowl could
be too overwhelming. But with the
NFL riding the back of the Broncos,
a loss would hurt the league as a
whole. But continued success and the
ultimate dream of perfection for the
Broncos would be a perfect way to
bring to a close this remarkable 1998
year in sports and kick off 1999 in
historic fashion.
Snyder is the sports editor for the
Beacon. Out of Bounds appears
weekly on this page.
Just wanted to say HI, and tell
ya that I love you!! And thanks
for a GREAT weekend.
Sports
Know Your Lions...
#l4 Carrie Nestor
Junior guard Carrie Nestor has helped jump-start the Behrend Lions to a successful start to
their 1998-99 season with her strong all-around play at the point guard position. With the
Lady Lions off to a 3-2 start, Nestor has already proven herself as both a leader and a talented
athlete on the basketball court. ; ' t . • .„ ••,
as a starter, Nestor once again has the
Conference Championship. In her oif w 1998 season,
she his compiled 59 points amounting to 11.8 ppg. But Nestor’s ability doesn’t'stop in the
scoring column. She is fourth on the team in rebounding, averaging 5.8 rebounds per game
and leads the team in assists with 27 for 5.4 apg.
For her career, she is fourth all-time in both assists and steals for the Behrend Lions with
249 assists and 163 steals. She also leads the women with 13 steals in ’9B.
Already this season, Nestor has been named and AMCC Athlete of the Week and has been
named to the ECAC Weekly Honor Roll.
# 3 Jason Paloskey
Position: Point guard
Height:
Class:
Jason Paloskey is a 4-year starter here at Penn State Behrend. He currently leads the team
with an average of 15.4 points per game. He is shooting 56% (28/50) from the field, including
an outstanding 57% (.17/30) from three-point range. Paloskey has made great strides on and
off the court since his arrival at Behrend.
“Jason is an outstanding offensive player, and has been since his freshman year. He really
has developed as more of a complete player and as a student athlete,” Coach Dave Niland
said of Paloskey. “He has gone from being a typical freshman to someone who will go on
and be pretty successful when he leaves here.
“I’m pretty proud of him. He’s had a terrific career here, and I know he’d like to end it in ,
even better fashion,” Niland continued. “He’ll be considered on of the best to play thatispot
here, and his numbers reflect that.” He’s closing in on 1,000 points (he has 964 to rankl2th
all-time), his shooting percentage, and three-point shots (126 ranks him third).
“It’s a good story. I’d like all our freshmen to look at what he has accomplished, not only
on the court, but also academically. In the big picture he has developed as a total person, and
I think basketball has helped him.”
Housing and Food Service
Athlete of the Week
Class:
Position
Date:
Carrie Nestor, a junior guard, has been named the Housing and Food Service Athlete of the Week. Nestor
helped lead the Behrend Lions to a 2-1 week and earn third-place at the Penn State Behrend Winter Classic.
On Wednesday, December 2, Nestor scored 18 points and added five rebounds in Behrend’s 71-57 win over
Washington and Jefferson College. She recorded 10 points, six rebounds and four steals in the Behrend Lions
61-54 loss to Grove City. In the consolation game of the Winter Classic, Nestor led the team to a 67-63 victory
by scoring 20 points and adding eight rebounds and five assists against Albright College.
On the year, Nestor is averaging 11.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 5.2 apg. She also has 13 steals and is shooting 58%
from the floor. In her career, Nestor ranks fourth in assists with 268 and fourth in steals with 169. She is also
in the top twenty for free throw attempts, free throws made and free throw percentage (3rd).
Intramurals
5 vs. 5 Basketball
M yy Registration Deadline
-Sign ups are in fall semester December 11
-play begins spring semester
Spring semester Intramural schedules are available in the IM office.
5’10”
Senior
Carrie Nestor
Women’s Basketball
Junior
Guard
December 7 - December 14
Intramural
Roundup
December 10, 1998 - The Behrend College Beacon - page
Position: Point guard
5’5”
Height:
Junior
Class:
By Jason Snyder
By Matt Buser