ASU football ranked high in preseason polls

James Nix Sports Beat

The polls are in, and Appalachian State University is ranked near the top.

According to preseason polls published in Sports Illustrated, the Mountaineer football team is ranked fifth in the NCAA Division I-AA along with other Southern Conference members Furman University (ranked third) and Georgia Southern University (ranked first).

A more recent media poll, published by the Sports Network, lists ASU as sixth in the nation.

"It's nice to be ranked high," said head football coach Jerry Moore. "It's good to get the students hyped up to kick off the season."

Moore, however, said he does not pay too much attention to the preseason hype and keeps in mind his team's goals for another successful season.

Preseason polls for the Southern Conference puts ASU third in both the media poll and the coaches' poll. Two-time defending national champion Georgia Southern University (GSU) holds a secure firstt place ranking in all preseason polls.

"[The polls] are good locker room talk," said Moore. "Like the other polls, it's something to get excited about."

Along with the high rankings, 10 Mountaineers have been named to the preseason All-SoCon team.

The six Mountaineers named to the first team include junior guard Joe Patrick and senior running back Jimmy Watkins on offense.

For the defense, junior lineman Josh Jefferies, junior linebacker Justin Seaverns, senior defensive back Du'Shon Martin, and junior punter Nathan McKinney were all named to the team.

Senior guard Larry Brock, senior center Tyler Elkins, junior place kicker Erik Rockhold, and senior defensive back Remi Awolowo were all named to the second All-SoCon team.

In the midst of the preseason hype presented by the polls, the ASU football team has begun practicing for the fall season. Freshmen and transfer students got their first taste of Mountaineer football two weeks ago. Full team practice began on Aug. 7.

This past weekend, the team held its first scrimmage. The scrimmage, originally scheduled for Saturday was delayed by lightning after only 30 plays. The remainder of the scrimmage was pushed back to Sunday.

Moore had hoped for better conditions for the team's first scrimmage but was satisfied with the result anyway.

"I was pleased with the scrimmage," said Moore. "We were able to get a good look at plays and players."

The way the scrimmage was crafted, it would seem that the ASU defense dominated.

According to Moore, however, the scrimmage was scripted to keep ball movement low.

Men's soccer expectation set high after loss to Furman

Andy Morris Sports Beat

The Appalachian State University men's soccer team is expecting to rebound to the top after missing out on the conference title with a 4-1 loss to Furman University in the Southern Conference Tournament championship game last year.

"We want to win the Southern Conference and that's a pretty realistic goal for us," said Senior Jordy Broder.

Appalachian placed second in the conference with a 6-2 conference mark and a 13-7 overall record. The team was ranked eighth in the southern region.

With such impressive accolades, the Mountaineers are looking to move forward.

Leading the way up will be new head coach Dave Golan, a former assistant and recruiting coordinator at the University of South Carolina.

"I see a potential to make this program a consistent top-25 team," he said. "The resources are here to develop great student athletes."

Appalachian has a strong foundation of players, with four returning seniors and a host of young players who have game experience. Eleven new players join the program as well.

"We have a lot more depth this year," said sophomore Mark Thornton. "The freshmen are fitting in good, and there's a lot more confidence on this year's team."

"We're deep to the last guy," said Broder. "Anyone on this team can make an impact."

Golan opened his reign last week with intense practices three times a day and tough physical conditioning.

"If anyone beats us, it won't be because they're more fit than we are," said sophomore Bobby Maloney.

But the Mountaineers must be at the top of their game this season as they face three teams that were ranked in the top-25 national rankings last year.

Appalachian opens the season on Sept. 3 in Chapel Hill against the University of North Carolina, a team that finished in the fifth spot last season. Furman, ranked No. 22 last year, comes to Boone on Oct. 6. The Mountaineers travel to Duke University, ranked No. 13 last year, on Oct. 31. But even Southern Conference rivals College of Charleston and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro are expected to have strong squads. "It's going to be up to us to play 110 percent and not let down," Golan said. "It's not going to be easy. We have to show up everyday."

The Mountaineers will be expecting Broder to make a big impact this season. He was named Southern Conference Player of the Year and first team All-Southern Conference last season. Broder had 16 goals and seven assists as he led the Mountaineers in goals, assists, points and shots.

"I want to improve on last year's performance," he said. "Accolades are nice, but it all comes down to winning games. If we do well as a team, I believe that my personal goals will take care of themselves."

Appalachian travels to Charleston Southern for an exhibition match on Aug. 25. The Mountaineers' first home game will be Sept. 9 against Lipscomb University at Kidd-Brewer Stadium at 2 p.m.

Fancher recruits former ASU standout to fill coaching vacancy

Chris Boyce Sports Beat

Former Mountaineer basketball star John Braswell is returning to the Appalachian State University men's basketball as an assistant coach after four years of professional basketball in Spain.

Braswell, who replaces University of Tennessee-bound Matt McMahon, accumulated numerous achievements from 1993-1997, including two Southern Conference (SoCon) all-tournament team awards in 1996 and 1997 as well as being named all-SoCon in 1997.

Other accolades Braswell racked up in his Appalachian career include being one of only four Mountaineers ever to drain eight three-point baskets in one game as well as being one of only 21 players in school history to score 1000 points.

Upon graduation in 1997, the 6-foot-1-inch former guard began a professional basketball career in Almerica, Spain from 1997 to 2001. He played for El Ejido Club Baloncestro and concluded his career with Badojoz de Circulo in Badojoz, Spain.

It is Braswell's experiences in Spain as well as his close ties to the Mountaineer basketball program that will be his biggest assets going into this upcoming 2001-2002 basketball season, said the former Page High School standout from Greensboro.

"It really taught me a lot," said Braswell about his pro career in Europe. "I loved basketball, and I wanted to play basketball, but I didn't really think about all the other things that really went with going overseas to play. When I got there I kind of ran into a brick wall, but I stuck it out and that's one of the things that I'm really proud of."

Among the things that made up Braswell's brick wall were the differences culturally between North Carolina and Spain as well as the biggest obstacle, the language barrier.

Another advantage for Braswell is his age. At 26 years old, he feels he can still relate to his players as well as show them things on the court.

McMahon's departure created a perfect opportunity to get Braswell into coaching and reunite him with coach Houston Fancher.

"That was one of the things that weighed in favor of me taking the job," said Braswell. "Getting a chance to work with both coach Fancher and coach Hall was something I took into consideration and I think was one of the things that helped me make the decision."

Referred to fondly as "Junior" by his former coach, Fancher knew Braswell was at the top of his list as soon as he heard of his interest in the job.

"Right away I thought about who were some former players that would be good for this spot. I love having former players come back and start their coaching career back where they played. I couldn't think of a better person than John because as a player for us, he was a coach on the floor anyway," said Fancher.

Fancher said Braswell's skills and experiences would be huge in developing young players on the roster this season.

"Junior really had good court savy. Now he's got his skills so developed that he can really help those kids develop fundamental skills," he said. "He was really good coming off of screens and being prepared to shoot the ball. His footwork was always great and I think he can help teach these things to some of our younger guys."

Braswell is just happy to have an opportunity to start his coaching career at his alma mater.

"I looked at this as probably the best opportunity for me to get into coaching at this level that I would have. I wanted to play maybe two or three more years but I thought after I finished playing, I would have this opportunity to get into coaching at this level right now," said Braswell. "I decided that at this point in my life, this was probably the right decision for me and the right place to be."

Club sports can get you off the couch

Jared Kavlock

There is a whole world of athletic and outdoor activities at Appalachian State University beyond varsity sports. No, I'm not talking about outdoor keg parties, drunken walking, or hill climbing , although these are all popular college activities, especially in Boone.

Instead, I am referring to the many opportunities Appalachian State provides its students to leave the university with something more than beer guts and a vague and hazy recollection of education.

Between intramural sports, club sports and outdoor programs, there is something for almost anyone with the intestinal fortitude to get off the couch, or the barstool, or wherever your rear is resting and expanding. I'll bet most of you didn't even know there is an indoor pool available for your aquatic pleasure.

The intramural sports program has a wide variety of sporting endeavors for students to participate in, free of charge and just for fun!

You all remember fun, don't you? Back when you were an innocent little kid, running around and getting dirty. Come on, you know you miss it.

That one morning every week when you're not hung over, and you think, "I should get some exercise," until someone calls you up to tell you about tonight's party. You go anyway, even though you've partied every night this week, and your belly is getting bigger by the day as your tolerance skyrockets.

Why not take one or two days out of the party-hardy schedule to release some energy doing something besides pumping the keg dry. You can still party five or six other nights a weekÑ it's not that big of a sacrifice, is it?

Club Expo, held Monday, was a place you could have gotten a head start.

"We gave out lots of entry forms at Club Expo," said Eddie Simmons, assistant director of University Recreation.

For those who missed Club Expo, entry forms are available in the University Recreation office, located in room 207 of Broome-Kirk Gymnasium.

Fall intramural sports whose entry deadlines are approaching include: tennis on Aug. 21; flag football on Aug. 28; soccer on Sept. 4; horseshoes on Sept. 4; track meet on Sept. 11; weekend softball on Sept. 18; golf on Sept. 18 and volleyball on Sept. 25.

"We should see a lot of responses the day of the deadline, but we'll also get a lot the day before," Simmons said.

So now is the time to get on the ball, no pun intended.

I am going to sign up for soccer, myself. Hopefully at least two or three of you will join me.