Scott Soltis and Zoe Rose, sports editors
Super Bowl contenders and pretenders
The NFL season is winding down and no one
team seems to be leading the pack in any way. The
NFC does seem to have the more dominant teams
as the league nears the end of its regular season,
but no one is sure who will step up and win the
Super Bowl. I, for one, am rather clueless about it.
Let me preface this article by saying that I am
very biased to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It does not
matter who the quarterback is or if the defense is
second worse in the league at
stopping opponents on third down.
I am still going to pull for them
and think they have a shot at
winning the Super Bowl.
With that out of the way I would
first like to look at the AFC. The
division leaders include
Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, San
Diego and Miami. Miami's
division is pretty tight as are the
teams from the West. Still there
was no team showing that it can
dominate
Early on it looked like New
England. Oakland, and San
Diero were unstoppable. In the
middle of the season Pittsburgh
and the New York Jets looked
invincible. Since then, all of
these teams have shown their
Weaknesses.
If I had to pick teams from the
AFC to make the playoffs, I would say Miami,
Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Denver, New England and
the Jets. I highly doubt that all my picks will stand
My honest pick for the Super Bowl at this
moment in time is Miami. They have more playoff
expel ience than San Diego and will have an edge
toward the end 411 the season.
However, from an unbiased as possible view, if
Thinmy Maddox can click again as starter for
Pittsburgh stalling this Sunday versus Houston, the
Steelers have quite a chance to make a cold home
field their biggest advantage. Still. no team is
shining to say the least.
bet's luck at the NIT' now and then break it down
further
The teams need your support!
This weekend (Saturday, December /1 the men's and women's
basketball team will take on AMCC RIVAL Pitt-Bradford at 6:00
p.m. [women] and 8:00 linen].
We are looking for the support of the student body to help
cheer on the Behrend Lions Basketball Teams.
All students in attendance will redeye a Penn State Athletic
Decal for their windows.
The first 50 individuals to each game will receive a foam hand
paw.
Drawing will be held throughout the game for FREE
certificates to Roadhouse and Ws Last Laugh.
Francisco, Green Bay, and well, who cares about
the other division. The Giants look like they might
he making a late season surge toward the Eagles
again this year. I like Philadelphia but something
tells me that without Donovan McNabb they are
only half the team they could have been.
The teams that look playoff bound are Tampa Bay,
Green Bay, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New
Orleans, and Atlanta.
Don't be surprised if
Philly misses the
playoffs, though. Of
course, like my picks for
the AFC, I highly doubt
I will be correct.
San Francisco has been
the most dominant team
of the year but no one
seems to be talking about
them. I suppose all the
publicity that Terrell
Owens got for pulling a
Sharpie out of his sock to
sign his touchdown
reception against Seattle
was enough for the
Niners all year. They do
have a legitimate chance
of winning the Super
Smith
Douglas
looking superior, but
everyone knows their troubles with cold weather
in the playoffs and New Orleans showed the
Buccaneers defense does have weaknesses. Once
again those that were dominant early have shown
signs of demise as Carolina. New Orleans, and
Arizona have all fallen off in recent weeks.
With all of this in perspective, my pick from the
NH' is Green Bay. They have a myriad of
problems with injuries and undisciplined wide
receivers, but anyone can he good with Brett Favre
at the helm.
So I have probably offended some people now,
but the confidence I have in my picks is low, simply
because of the confusion the NFL has given to us
all year. The Patriots and Rams both faltered along
the way so far and the Rams look to not even be
• -•- -....•
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paRTs
Friday, December 6, 2002
Tampa Bay was
13IEIE
Can the Steelers led by quarterback Tommy "crazy legs" Maddox make it all the way to t
big dance this year?
making the playoffs
The Steelers and Bears' defenses have shown
huge holes in their secondary. Fantasy leaders
include Randy McMichael, Donald Driver, Priest
Homes, and Garrison Hearst. The new alignment
of the teams has thrown off the competition level.
Some teams look like Super Bowl teams one
week, and like the Bengals the next. My preseason
favorite of Tennessee has shown a team that can
explode or do absolutely nothing. They are sitting
pretty well and can make a run for the playoffs,
but their consistency has been lacking. Many teams
fall into this category.
The Chargers lead their division but were
defeated by 27 points two weeks ago and have no
offense when LaDainian Tomlinson is not
producing.
The Eagles have shown signs of a downfall and
I am not a believer in A.J. Feely, Tee Martin, or
Koy Detmer. The Saints fall into this category,
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
half. The Saints kept the lead through the rest
of the game, and it ended with a score of 71-
53.
The next day, Dec. 1, Behrend faced Averett
University as a consolation game. In their best
win of the season, the Lions defeated Averett
with 95-53.
Leading 39-25 after the first half, Behrend
was able to hold on, boosting their record to 2-
Senior Amanda Mauser felt the game against
Averett was a milestone in the Lions 2002
season, and gave the team some
encouragement. "I think we are finally realizing
wow much potential we have together," she
said.
"Things are definitely going to be improving
next week."
She felt that the way they played on
December I reflected how they want things to
be the rest of the season. "Everyone contributed
and we played well as a team."
Head Coach Roz Fornari agreed with Mauser,
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too, as Ducce McAllister needs to he healthy for
them to survive. The Falcons are too young. The
Colts do not have a good enough defense. The
Saints are too generous with the ball. The Giants
do not have enough fire power. I could keep going.
Still, in my eyes, there are only five teams capable
of winning the Super Bowl despite the tight playoff
records.
Those teams are the Dolphins, Steelers, Packers,
Buccaneers, and 49ers. You can hiss at me all you
want. I think the playoffs will shape pretty soon.
The Buccaneers and Steelers play each other at the
end of the year, so that could he a key game in the
way the season plays out.
Once again I could he wrong. but I am going to
stick to my guns on this. I know opinions differ
but everyone shall see in January. Who knows?
Maybe I will change my mind in a few weeks. No,
I will defend my choices.
FROM PAGE 1B
and also added that the team played well because
the team's strengths stayed with them
throughout the entire game.
"We have a very talented team, one that is
more talented than I've had in a long time," said
Coach Fornari. "We have a lot of fun and we've
definitely had some very good moments."
On Wednesday, I3ehrend lost to William and
Jefferson, 70-41.
Fornari also mentioned that they are a very
balanced team, and that is one of their strong
points
"They arc a young group, but together we can
work to help develop the strengths they have."
The Lion's next game is Saturday when they
host Pitt-Bradford, for their first conference
match-up. Forari feels they are heading into
conference competition on a good note, and are
looking forward to facing the skillful team.
"We will he well prepared, and it's a big game.
We are very excited to see how things go."
The Behrend Beacon
Behrend coach
earns local honors
Penn State Behrend's head men's and
women's water polo coach Josh Heynes has
been recognized as an Erie legend. The Fan,
AM 1330 will be conducting a hall of fame
show on Wednesdays.
On Wednesday, November 27, from 5:00-
6:00 p.m. at Andy's restaurant, jim
Lecorchick interviewed and reminisced about
the accomplishment of Heynes when he was
an all-state performer at McDowell High
School.
Later that evening, the Erie Alumni Water
Polo Association held its alumni event at Penn
State Behrend in the !linker Center pool from
6:30 9:00 p.m.
Page 4B