12 I TUESDAY, Nov. 30, 2010
Icers face turning point
By Anthony Barton
0 N paper, the Penn State
Icers look like a top
ACHA Di,
vision I club
What if I told
you they have
skilled veteran
forwards, young,
aggressive
defensemen and
solid depth at
goaltender?
MY OPINION
What if I also told
you the leers are
now 11-4 on the season, outscor
ing their opponents by 44 goals,
and they score 5.6 goals a game,
while allowing a measly 2.6? You
would probably feel pretty confi
dent about the direction of the
team.
Johnson,
By Barry Wllner
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK The NFL
fined Houston's Andre Johnson
and Tennessee's Cortland
Finnegan
525,000 each
Monday
their fight in
Sunday's game,
but is not suspending them
The Texans' star wide receiv
er and Titans cornerback
slugged it out in the fourth quar
ter of the Texans' 20-0 victory.
Finnegan set off the brawl by
jabbing at Johnson's neck and
face mask at the line of scrim
mage. Johnson ripped off
Finnegan's helmet and landed
at least two punches to
Finnegan's head and neck. The
two spun each other, and
Finnegan tore off Johnson's hel
met before players and referees
intervened.
Struggling Miami Heat delighting many basketball fans
By Tim Reynolds
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MIAMI When it comes to the
Miami Heat, it almost seems like
there's no choice between loving
. em or hatiwern.
Most hate `em.
Booing, sure, that's a given.
Happens in every arena in the
league, even sometimes their
own. Hawkers of "Beat The Heat"
Tshirts in Orlando were busy
when Miami visited there last
week. In Philadelphia, Dwyane
Wade got jeered more loudly than
ever. getting no love in the city
where it's allegedly brotherly.
And the only time Leßron
.James draws applause on the
road is when something goes
wrong.
Which, to the delight of many in
the NBA, is happening far more
often than anyone expected.
I want them to lose all their
games." Dallas owner Mark
Cuban said.
Hey, they're coming closer to
that than many ever imagined.
A team that expected magnifi-
Football
From Page 8
a young team, one that featured only 11
seniors
Brown said the coaches and players
knew how good they were, but several
breaks and mistakes here and there meant
results going 'the opponents' way.
For as much as the Lions possessed
potential, they didn't tap into all of it and
fell short against signature teams. But
that's not to say Penn State didn't crunch
down and play better in spurts against top
tier opponents later in the season.
Penn State led Ohio State at halftime
before the Buckeyes scored 35 unan
swered points in the final two quarters. In
a reversed role, the Lions came back
against Michigan State two weeks later
and outscored the Spartans by 12 points in
the fourth quarter.
The Lions haven't been able to put
Men's soccer
From Page 8
see that, but he's a phenomenal coach.
Very knowledgeable, really loves his play
ers and we reciprocate that feeling."
Fbrgue and the rest of the team's under
classmen will have the chance to take the
team even further in the postseason in the
coming years.
Ultimately, they are hoping to reach
their goal of bringing a national champi
onship to Happy Valley.
But the team's five seniors will move on
from their Penn State careers after the
end to the season.
Having helped the team improve from a
losing record in 2007 to a Sweet 16 appear
ance this season, the seniors are satisfied
with the legacy they're leaving behind.
"I'm very proud of the season that we
had," redshirt senior Andy Parr said. "I
think that we could've gone a little further,
Then with what seems to be
such a positive start to the sea
son, why is there so much con
cern? Why are team leaders like
assistant captain Tim O'Brien
saying the team is struggling to
find their identity?
The answer is simple. The
stats don't tell the whole story.
The Icers have faced numerous
cupcake opponents including
West Chester, Drexel and most
recently Towson that have inflat
ed these numbers leading casual
fans to believe the team is on the
right track
Alas, here are some stats that
don't lie: Against ranked oppo
nents, the Icers stand a mediocre
4-4. They have scored 23 goals
while surrendering 26.
In the ESCHL, a league the
Jeers have historically dominated,
Finnegan fined $25,000, no suspensions
Johnson apologized after the
game, and Finnegan has not
spoken about the incident.
"I would like to apologize to
the organization, our owner, and
my teammates," Johnson said.
"What happened out there
today was not me. I just lost my
cool and I wish that I could take
back what happened, but I can't.
It's over and done with now"
This is the second time they
scuffled. Last season, Johnson
was fined $7,500 for taking
Finnegan to the ground by the
face mask
The Texans (5-6) play at
Philadelphia on Thursday, and
were concerned that their Pro
Bowl receiver may be suspend
ed. Johnson was expected to be
available to comment after an
evening practice.
The Titans (5-6) host
Jacksonville on Sunday.
Finnegan was fined for per
sonal fouls in three consecutive
cence is getting mediocrity
instead - a 9-8 record entering
Monday's game against
Washington. The Heat began the
day in sixth place in the Eastern
Conference, a half-game ahead of
the New York Knicks. the Heat
had that record in the West, they'd
be barely hanging on to the final
playoff spot.
And this week, James goes back
to Cleveland for the first time as a
visiting player. For as harshly as
the Heat have been received until
now, Thursday's trip to a city
scorned by its longtime hero
might prove downright venomous.
"If you lose, no one's going to be
happy, nor should they be," Heat
coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Well, actually, plenty of people
are happy about it - the rest of the
NBA, for starters.
From the moment that James
made his decision on July 8 to play
for Miami, the Heat knew this was
coming. They knew they would
carry the biggest bulls-eye in the
NBA, even though the Los
Angeles Lakers are the defending
champions and the Boston Celtics
together a full four quarters all season,
which is a dilemma that keeps popping up
in interviews with players. Progression on
the field is an aside to improvement in
demeanor, a downtrodden area for the
team after the Illinois loss.
Redshirt sophomore defensive end Pete
Massaro said the Lions . 7 5 record is a
good mark considering how Penn State's
morale took a dip after the Illinois game.
The team used the bye week as a way to
regroup.
With all that happened this season,
Massaro said the team's character has
improved for the bowl game and going into
next season. Redshirt junior linebacker
Nate Stupar said winning comes down to
malting or missing plays. Inexperience is
no longer an excuse.
"We're not young anymore." Stupar said.
"We're old guys who to - low what's going
on."
To e-mail reporter bjmsl46@psu.edu
but we're definitely pleased with getting to
that Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005.
and that's something that the group of sen
iors are proud of, that we were able to
bring the program back after a couple los
ing seasons.-
With two straight NCAA tournament
appearances, the Lions have set the exam
ple for future players and recruits.
Casais and the Lions are sure the prece
dent set by this year's squad will have a
lasting effect on the program in years to
come.
think we've created an expectation
with our team that hasn't been there for
awhile," Casais said.
"Now we're expected to make the tour
nament, we're expected to do great things
and hopefully the next generations that
come through are going to look at where
the program is at and try to make things
better and go even further-
To e-mail reporter: massB6o@psu.edu
1' S
~,,,_ , ~. L.
they are currently fourth at 2-2.
They trail No. 4 Delaware, No. 8
Rhode Island and No. 20 Robert
Morris (Pa.). They dominated the
league's historical doormat West
Chester, and were swept by
Rhode Island. In two games
against the Rams, the Icers man
aged just one goal by junior cap
tain Marek Polidor.
They are currently ranked No.
11 in the ACHA national rankings,
the first time the Icers have been
outside the top 10 in more than a
decade.
The reasons for the drop off
range from injuries and inconsis
tent goalie play, to the inability to
play a full 60 minutes.
But there is hope.
The Jeers are getting healthier.
Forwards Nick Seravalli and
Dominic Morrone are recovered
games earlier this season and
was warned by the league after
the third incident to watch his
behavior after the whistle.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher, co
chairman of the NFLs competi
tion committee, spoke with
league officials earlier Monday.
Fisher said in his opinion
Finnegan didn't throw a punch,
but did get .Johnson's face
mask.
I have very strong opinions
about the fact I think he should
not be suspended, - Fisher said
of Finnegan.
.As far as what the league
decides to do. that's a league
decision."
"It's an unfortunate thing that
happens. You've got two very
talented. good football players
competing, and it's just very
unfortunate. It's not good for
our game and I'm just disap
pointed that type of thing hap
pens on the playing field.-
are the reigning kings of the
Eastern Conference.
- As an opposing player, you're
going to have those boos, no mat
ter what, - James said. "I had
those boos when I was a Cleveland
Cavalier and I'm having them
again as a Heat.-
Taking hits from across the
league. that's one thing.
Taking hits from one another.
that's the latest issue.
James bumped Spoelstra dur
ing a time-out in Dallas on
Saturday night, a shoulder-to
shoulder bump that may have
been unintentional. may have
been out of frustration, may have
been intended to send a message.
James reached back instantly,
almost as if malting an apolo&y,
but no matter - by the time that
quarter was over, the play was
already on You Tube and the
Twitterverse was buzzing that the
two-time NBA MVP just hit his
coach.
A perfect case of overspecula
tion on this team... Spoelstra said.
Yes. but to that fire. the Heat
added plenty of fuel.
in 2010
and have played in recent weeks.
While somewhat effective, the
more time they have to acclimate
themselves with their linemates
and get back into hockey shape,
the better chance the team has of
reaching its potential. On top of
that, sophomore forward George
Saad, who scored five goals in the
Icers' first five games, should be
back from injury soon.
This brings the Icers to this
weekend's matchup against
Delaware. The Blue Hens don't
have a regulation loss on the sea
son at 16-0-1, and went 1-0-1
against the same Rhode Island
team that swept the Icers a few
weeks ago.
What the series brings is two
home games against the No. 4
team in the ACHA on Penn
State's home ice. If there was a
Andre Johnson (80) and Cortland Finnegan (31) are separated after a fight
Sunday. Both players were ejected from the game and later fined.
Spoelstra said he will not
change his coaching style - "I'm
going to demand, push, prod. A lot
of times players don't know what
is needed for a team to break
through," he said - and, at least
publicly none of the Heat players
have demanded change.
But tensions are unquestion
ably high.
On Monday, Wade - who has had
a close relationship with Spoelstra
- said he wouldn't refer to him as
"my guy" but rather - our coach."
- When you go through stretch
es where you're not playing up to
your capability, there's always
something wrong," Wade said.
Wade said he didn't see the
James-Spoelstra interaction dur
ing that time-out, which came dur
ing a horrific start to the second
half by Miami.
There's been no shortage of
bumps in the road, though, for the
Heat this season.
Dealing with it when visiting 28
different clubs will likely be much
easier than dealing with what
awaits in Cleveland on Thursday
The Cavaliers and the NBA are
Loss
From Page 8
D'Errico said the loss was tough
because the Lions lost three deuce games
in a row. By allowing the Gophers to fend
off a match point in the third set and gain
some momentum, she said the Minnesota
crowd of 4.268 became a factor.
Penn State won't have to worry about
any opposing crowds. As the No. 4 overall
seed in the tournament, the Lions can host
each match at Rec Hall until the Final
Four in Kansas City Mo.
Though the Lions ended their regular
season with a loss, D'Errico said they want
to enter the tournament with the right
mindset. Senior middle hitter Arielle
Wilson said the Minnesota match rein
forced the idea that Penn State has to
focus on controlling what it can control.
The Lions have a week of practice to
recover from the lengthy match that last
Men's
basketball
From Page 8
"This game is the most important game
of the year because it's the next one," sen
ior co-captain D.J. Jackson said. "We can't
look past anybody"
The Lions do, though, recognize the sig
nificance of the game. Sophomore guard
Tim Frazier said a strong game could be a
statement that Penn State is "legit."
The Lions have a 5-1 record so far
through non-conference play, but none of
the wins have come against teams from a
true power conference like the ACC. The
five wins are against teams with a com
bined 15-11 record. The lone loss comes
from Penn State's first real test of the sea
son, a road game against Mississippi.
"If you don't get up for games like
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN
season
time to make a statement, this is
Two wins or even a split should
not only put Penn State back in
the top 10, but would give the
Icers the confidence to know they
can contend with the other elite
ACHA teams.
Getting swept, however, would
leave the team struggling for
answers and at jeopardy of miss
ing the playoffs.
Looking impressive on paper
won't win the Icers anything, and
if they want to be considered con
tenders, this weekend's series
against the Blue Hens is where it
starts.
Anthony Barton is a senior majoring in
journalism and is a Collegian Icers
reporter. His e-mail address is:
acbsls2@psu.edu.
taking extra security measures,
the Heat are involved in some of
those decisions, and James - who
said he was leaving in a critically
acclaimed hourlong special on tel
evision from Greenwich, Ct. -
acknowledged last week that it
might not be the best idea for fam
ily and friends to attend the game.
"If James had made the
announcement of his decision in
Cleveland and explained his rea
sons for leaving, fans still wouldn't
have liked it, but they would have
accepted it better," said Dr. Jack
Ramsay, the former Heat broad
caster who will call Thursday's
game in Cleveland for ESPN
Radio.
Hating the Heat could take on a
whole new meaning.
- Well deal with that when we
get there: . Spoelstra said. "Right
now, we have enough to think
AP Sports Writers Teresa M. Walker
and Associated Press Writer Adrian
Saint. in Memphis. along with AP
Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in
Dallas. contributed to this report.
"Losing this game wasn't a
good thing, but it was a
learning experience."
ed nearly two and a half hours.
Senior Fatima Balza said the loss was
not only tough physically, but mentally as
well.
Though she and the Lions hate to lose
any match, Balza said it was good the loss
occurred when it did.
-I think it was good for us it happened
[Saturday] so we learn from it," Balza said.
"Because from now on, if we lose any
other match we're out, and the season is
over. So losing this game wasn't a good
thing, but it was a learning experience."
To e-mail reporter: rrnlsl3B@psu.edu
[Maryland], you shouldn't be playing this
game," senior co-captain Talor Battle said.
Wednesday's game also has some
added significance for some Lions includ
ing Maryland natives Cammeron
Woodyard and Johnathan Graham, and
also freshman guard Taran Buie.
When Buie went through the recruiting
process, he dwindled his choices down to a
top 5. On that short list was Maryland.
Though he chose the Lions, Buie said he
became close with the Terrapins' coaching
staff and some of their players. But in the
days leading up to Wednesday's game
between the two teams, Buie hasn't gotten
in touch with any of them.
"Not leading up to the game," Buie said.
"It's kind of a friendship you don't really
lose, because they spent a lot of time
recruiting me. But they're doing their own
thing, I'm at Penn State. And we both know
it's a big game."
To e-mail reporter: exkso49@psu.edu
Fatima Balza