MTSU
SIDELINES
Tis the season March Madness Edition
3// 05// 2014 E D I T O R I A L LY INDEPENDENT
NA SPECIAL EDITION
S T N E T N CO
3 NEWS 6 A&E 10 SPORTS 15 Opinions S T A F F
Emily West >> Editor-in-chief Claire Osburn >> Assistant A&E Editor
Amanda Gambill >> Managing editor Noel Heath >> Assistant A&E and Features Editor
Sam Brown >> Issue Coordinator and Sports Editor
John Coulston >> Assistant A&E Editor
Connor Grott >> Assistant Sports Editor
Quint Qualls >> News Editor Robert Allen >> Opinions Editor
Daniel Jansouzian >> Assistant News Editor Laurel O’Neill >> Designer
Taylor Davis >> Assistant News Editor Cat Murphy >> Photo Editor
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Bailey Robbins >> Features Editor Maranda Faris >> Copy Editor Leon Alligood >> Adviser
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Cover designed by Emily West. Photos by Greg French and Brett Turner. All other athletic photos are courtesy of that university. John Bragg Mass Communication Building Center for Innovation in Media 1301 East Main Street P.O. Box 8, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 37132 Editorial: 615-904-7648 mtsusidelines.com Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @mtsusidelines. Tune in Friday to Sidelines FM on 88.3 from 6-8 p.m.
NEWS
Fair pay for players controversy looms over March Madness By Quint Qualls // News Editor With March Madness approaching, one of the most divisive issues currently facing the NCAA is whether to grant wages to college athletes who generate millions of dollars in revenue for their institutions. MTSU generated gross revenue of approximately $19.3 million from athletic events in 2012, according to data by USA Today. Proceeds came from ticket sales, student fees, donations and sales of branded novelties, sponsorships and ads.
“Players with degrees will spend the majority of their lives making up for the value that the NCAA took from them during four years as a college athlete,” Huma said in a news release. “Many won’t come close to making up for the difference. In addition, close to half of football and men’s basketball players do not graduate and, therefore, have a much less likelihood of ever making up for the loss.”
Chris Massaro, MTSU Athletics director, said that to turn college athletes into employees would be a step in the wrong direction.
still a really great thing that happens — a free education and a head start and to be able to leave college debt free.”
“I don’t want to lose the educational focus of the scholarship,” Massaro said. “I think the value of the scholarship is hugely significant. If we stray from our educational mission, then I think we endanger that piece of it. The scholarship is
To contact the news editor, email Quint Qualls at news@ mtsusidelines.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sidelines_news and @mtsusidelines.
Total expenses included salaries for coaching and athletic staff, scholarships and facilities costs. Of the total $26.45 million in expenses, 72 percent was subsidized, according to the USA Today records inquiry. Many aruge that college athletes are treated unfairly, including Ramogi Huma, president of the National College Players Association, who said in a news release that college athletes have a fair market value of hundreds of thousands of dollars which they are not fully compensated for. Graphs and concept by Asher Peruscini. Source: usatoday.com/sports/college/school/finances
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NEWS MTSU sports free of ‘hooliganism’ by all accounts By Taylor Davis // Assistant News Editor Spectator violence has not been an issue at MTSU sporting events, in sharp contrast to many other college ballgames across the United States, according to athletic officials. Aggressive behavior is not unusual for athletic games, but when tensions rise, fan aggression can amplify. Although MTSU sporting events are filled with excited crowds, the events in the stands haven’t taken a violent turn, according to Mark Owens, associate athletic director of communications. “Obviously we all are concerned about the possibility of spectator-to-spectator aggression and also spectator-to-player aggression,” said Chris Massaro, MTSU athletic director. MTSU officials teach their players to keep a level head during games and to try to steer clear of violence. “It is a difficult line to walk between robust enthusiasm and over-the-top escalation that can happen. We work very hard to educate our players not to listen or react to the opposition heckles on the road,” Massaro said. Fan violence has lead to riots and even death in professional sporting events around the world. Large crowds increase the likelihood of violence due to limited mobility and unwanted contact between fans of rival teams. A study conducted by the University of Colorado at Denver Economics Department revealed that a sharp increase in assaults, vandalism, arrests for disorderly conduct and alcohol-related offenses on game days occurred. The crime data was compiled from 26 cities with college sport teams over six years.
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Sophomore recording industry major Aaron Grisham is the man behind bluemau5, the latest addition to Blue Zoo’s growing core. Photo by John Coulston.
The six most common forms of spectator aggression are verbal taunts, obscene gesturing, projectile throwing, rushing the field to gain entry, property destruction, and physical violence according to the U.S. Department of Justice. To contact the news editor, email Quint Qualls at news@mtsusidelines.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sidelines_news and @ mtsusidelines.
NEWS CRIME BRIEFS TRAFFIC Greenland Drive Lot B Feb. 27, 11:11 a.m. A complainant reported her vehicle was damaged while parked on campus. HARASSMENT Corlew Hall Feb. 26, 7:53 p.m. A complainant reported that she was the victim of assault, stalking and ongoing harassment DRUGS Deere Hall Feb. 26, 12:12 a.m. Authorities responded to a report of an odor of marijuana. Upon arrival, officers detected the odor of marijuana and found a leafy green substance believed to be marijuana inside the room and bathroom.
TRAFFIC Womack Lane Apartments Lot Feb. 25, 11:45 p.m. Authorities arrested Jasmin Jones, 19, for violation of light law and driving without a license. TRAFFIC Scarlett Commons Parking Lot Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m. Authorities arrested Shelby Pratt, 22, for driving on a suspended license. ALARM Womack Lane Apartment H Feb. 24, 10:25 p.m. Authorities responded to smoke coming from an apartment. Oil left on the stove was found to be the cause of the fire. ASSAULT Greek Row International House Feb. 24, 4:39 p.m. Authorities arrested Steven A. Collins, 19, and April N. Eggleston, 18, for domestic assault.
TRAFFIC Fourth Avenue Feb. 23, 4:39 a.m. Authorities arrested Eugene J. Bustos, 26, for driving on a revoked license, public intoxication and assault. ALCOHOL Rutherford Boulevard Feb. 23, 2:35 a.m. Authorities arrested Michael B. Watson, 19, for driving under the influence and a third offense of driving on a suspended license. ALCOHOL Ewing Boulevard Feb. 22, 1:55 a.m. Authorities arrested and charged Mitchell S. Duncan, 19, with driving under the influence and underage consumption.
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A&E
Top 10 basketball movies By Jackson Jones // Movie critic
March is finally here, and for sports fans that means one thing — March Madness. In honor of this smorgasbord ofroundball games, it seems fitting to discuss what the best basketball films are to get us pumped up for the games. These movis are listed in the form of a coutdown.
10. He Got Game
Spike Lee directed this cult hit, starring Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth, a prison inmate convicted for killing his wife. He is also the father of the top-ranked basketball prospect in the country, Jesus Shuttlesworth, played by NBA star Ray Allen. The state’s governor releases Jake on parole for a week for him to persuade Jesus to play for the governor’s alma mater in exchange for a heavily reduced prison sentence. Hard to believe people like Kobe Bryant were in talks to play Jesus. This is an amazing movie that is worth noting.
9. Love & Basketball
Starring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan, this romantic drama is about two basketball players who want to pursue a professional career before falling for each other. Some have even called this the best basketball movie ever made, as it won several awards at the Black Reel Awards in 2000.
8. White Men Can't Jump
Before we knew Woody Harrelson as the star of “True Detective” and Wesley Snipes in “Blade,” they were both in this buddy comedy about two people with different backgrounds who play street ball. When Snipes’ character needs a replacement player for an injured teammate, he picks Harrelson’s character, who is shockingly good. This film is more than a basketball movie, as it covers hard topics like race and friendship.
7. The 6th Man
Even with the poor reception from the box office and critics upon its release, “The 6th Man” remains a classic to most sports movie fans today. Marlon Wayans and Kadeem Hardison have great chemistry in this tale about a player who dies, but whose ghost helps a team win their NCAA tournament.
6. Teen Wolf
No, I’m not talking about the show on MTV. I’m talking about the ‘80s film starring Michael J. Fox. After his success in “Back to the Future,” Fox followed it up with this fan favorite about an unpopular kid turned werewolf. The bulk of the film has Fox in werewolf form as star player of his high school basketball team, winning game after game. This film remains a favorite simply because for its humor.
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A&E 5. Like Mike
A forgotten classic from 2002, this film stars Bow Wow as Calvin, an orphan who discovers a pair of shoes at a thrift store marked with the initials MJ. He believes they are Michael Jordan’s. When an accident happens, Calvin acquires NBA level talent, taking him on the basketball ride of his life. This film is extremely underrated and well deserving of the number 5 spot.
4. Hoosiers
This film, starring Gene Hackman and Dennis Hooper, is about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. It is loosely based on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 state championship. Some people call this film one of the best sports films ever made. It even got Hooper an Oscar nomination for his role. And who can forget the amazing speech from Hackman.
3. Coach Carter
Samuel L. Jackson. That’s really all I can say about this film. It is based on a true story of Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter portrayed by Jackson, who made headlines in 1999 for benching his undefeated team due to poor academic results. This film remains a favorite in the eyes of people who appreciate the importance of good grades.
2. Semi-Pro
Some will disagree with this choice, but Will Ferrell’s role of Jackie Moon is iconic in the comedy world as the owner and player for the Tropics. Along with Woody Harrelson and many others, this film is great because of Ferrell’s delivery and antics. Even with the poor reception, Ferrell fans loved this movie and put it right beside his films, like “Anchorman.” So, in the words of Ferrell: “Let’s get Tropical.”
1. Space Jam
“Here’s your chance, do your dance at the Space Jam, all right.” Don’t deny it, you know you love this movie. Michael Jordan and Looney Tunes — it sounds ridiculous, but this film is known by almost everyone, even people who aren’t sports fans. This is the best basketball movie ever made, hands down. So good, in fact, that Miami Heat superstar LeBron James is rumored to play Jordan’s role in the sequel.
Photo courtesy of Facebook.
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A&E
A new way to pre-game it: playlist edition
By Claire Osburn // A&E Editor As the MTSU Lady Raiders prepare to participate in March Madness, here are some tunes that get them pumped up before a big game:
10. Caya Williams — “Real and True” by Future ft. Miley Cyrus This romantic, slow R&B jam will keep you mellow and relaxed before taking to the court.
1. KeKe Stewart — “I Heard” by Gucci Mane ft. Rich Homie Quan The hard, steady beats of Gucci Mane are sure to get your mind right before playing an important game.
11. Cheyenne Parker — “Teach Me How to Dougie” by Cali Swag District This popular, catchy track even comes with its own dance, guaranteed to get you game-ready.
2. Shanice Cason — “Flawless***” by Beyoncé Queen B is the perfect femme fatale to make you feel invincible before going head to head with the competition.
12. Janiece Johnson — “Happy” by Pharrell Pharrell’s sweet voice, jazzy beats and upbeat lyrics make for a dance-invoking, mood-elevating tune perfect for getting you in the right state of mind pre-game.
3. Ebony Rowe — “23” by Mike WILL Made-It ft. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J This Michael Jordan inspired track not only features hip-hop heavyweights, but also catchy lyrics and a danceable beat—all the ingredients for a winner. 4. Olivia Jones — “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus This slow burning tune about love lost still manages to spout meaningful lyrics, a beautiful melody and a sing along chorus sure to make you a “wrecking ball” on the court. 5. Tianna Porter — “Ready” by B.o.B. ft. Future This hard-hitting rap track is impossible not to get psyched with. “Ready” is right. 6. Shy Copney —“No Guns Allowed” by Snoop Lion ft. Drake, Cori B. This reggae, hip-hop infused tune not only delivers a powerful message about peace but also manages to maintain a groovy beat. 7. Laken Leonard — “Ladies and Gentlemen” by Saliva This hard rock song is sure to scream you into success both on and off the court. 8. China Dow —“Money Baby” by K Camp ft. Kwony Cash This high-energy hip-hop track and its techno beat makes you want get up and move — perfect for pre-game psyching up. 9. Ty Petty — “Walk Thru” by Rich Homie Quan ft. Problem. This R&B, rap hybrid’s steady beat will get your head bobbing, and get you ready to walk onto the court and play to win.
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13. Lauren March—“I Know” by Yo Gotti ft. Rich Homie Quan This slow rap/R&B song provides steady beats and the perfect anthem of “I know” for game winning confidence. 14. Caroline Warden — “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry ft. Juicy J The queen of danceable stunners strikes gold again with this pop/ rap track impossible of producing anything but a take-on-theworld attitude. 15. MacKenize Sells — “Space Jam” by Quad City DJs Everyone’s favorite basketball movie also happens to come with one of the best theme songs. Its high energy beat, sing-along-able lyrics and Michael Jordan juju make for the perfect song to get pumped to before a big game. 16. Janay Brinkley — “Focused” by Wale ft. Kid Cudi The title of this track says it all. Its message, solid beats and Cudi assist ensure the perfect mood and drive to take on opponents. Head Coach Rick Insell’s before game playlist opts for a more southern vibe. With tracks like “The Dance” and “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, “Good Directions” by Billy Currington and “Troubador” and “The Cowboy Rides Away” by George Strait, it gets him in the right mind to coach these women to victory. To contact the A&E editor, email Claire Osburn at ae@mtsusidelines.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @ Sidelines_AE and Instagram @sidelines_ae Photo by Ethan Robbins // Contributing photographer.
SPORTS
AGE DOESN’T DEFINE TALENT By Meagan White // Staff writer
The sound of rubber soles squeaking against hardwood and the labored breathing of tired teammates are familiar to freshman Olivia Jones, who has played basketball since she was 5-years-old. Though this is her first year at the university, Jones is starting as the small guard for the Lady Raiders, a Division I team.
university, but ultimately she opted for basketball.
“It means a lot,” Jones said about her position on the team. “It shows that I’m working hard enough to gain my coach’s trust and my teammates’ trust; they are trusting me to go out there and defend girls who are more experienced than me.”
The basketball court isn’t the only place Jones plays a strong defense. Majoring in pre-law, she aspires to be a defense attorney. On the court and as a student athlete, she’s about another kind of defense.
“Nothing really compares,” she said, laughing. “I just love it.”
Defending two courts
Despite the setback in experience, Jones has displayed a great deal of drive and composure, while proving to coaches, teammates and fans that she is more than just a recent high school graduate. “I just go out there and try to be relaxed,” she said. “I have to go out there and play like I’m not a freshman.”
“Keep going” Growing up, Jones had two coaches that mentored her and taught her the ways of the court. “My dad and my grandpa used to be my coaches,” Jones said softly. “When both of them passed away, I always said I would keep going.” And, she hasn’t gone back on her word. After losing her father and grandfather within two years of her life, she proceeded to push forward stronger than ever. “One of my favorite memories playing is when I was a freshman on our high school team that wasn’t very good, but we all pulled together and won the state championship,” Jones said. Jones’ team is very supportive of her, guiding her to success. “They know I’m going to make mistakes, but I’m going to learn from them,” Jones said. “They don’t want you to make mistakes, but at the end of the day, they know I’m still a freshman, and it’s going to happen.” Jones and her teammates spend a great deal of time together. As long as it isn’t a game day, the Lady Raiders can be found practicing on most afternoons. “We don’t always get along,” Jones admits. “But we always try to keep going.” Jones was offered scholarships to run track and play volleyball at the SIDELINES | March 5, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com 9
SPORTS Lady Raiders’ 2013-2014 season is one for the record books By Trenton Duffer and Sam Brown // Staff writer and Sports Editor The MTSU women’s basketball team has had many memorable seasons in its long history. However, since Coach Rick Insell took the helm nine seasons ago, the Lady Raiders have been playing with a fire that only a few teams have been able to put out. The 2013-2014 season was no different. In their first year in the newly reformatted Conference USA, the Lady Raiders looked to make an impression on a sting of opponents they hadn’t seen before. After starting the season 1-3 in a tough four-game stretch including games against No.4 Tennessee and No.7 Kentucky, the Raiders looked like a team that might struggle to get their season going in the right direction. However, those three early losses lit a fire in the team.
The Raiders’ season continues throughout March Madness, as they are almost guaranteed a spot in the national tournament. With the Women’s Final Four being held in Nashville this year, the streaking Raider’s basketball team could be a dark horse to play deep into the tournament. To contact the sports editor, email Sam Brown at sports@mtsusidelines. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sidelines_sport and @mtsusidelines.
They now sit at 24-4 overall holding a 13-1 conference record after stringing together a 17 game-winning streak before they collected their first loss in more than two months when they dropped a 68-56 decision against in-conference foe Southern Miss. Now, with a victory in their next game against UAB on March 1 at Murphy Center, MT will clinch their sixth straight conference title while having left quite an impression on C-USA. All records are made to be broken, and the Raiders broke a good number of their own records this year. In a victory over Miami (FL) early in the season, Rick Insell joined men’s coach Kermit Davis as the only coaches in Middle Tennessee basketball history to win 200 games in their careers. Coach Insell’s team also enjoyed some top-25 moments, ranking as high as 21st in the nation and currently sitting in 23rd. Senior forward Ebony Rowe finishes her senior season and career at Middle Tennessee as one of the most outstanding players in MT basketball history. Rowe has rewritten much of Middle Tennessee’s sports’ history books. Entering the season, she was the only women’s basketball player to score 1,000 points and snag 1,000 rebounds in a career. She added on to that record throughout the season. She also has the program record for double-doubles. However, arguably her most impressive record was when she broke the all-time scoring record set by Kim Webb 27 years ago. After scoring six easy points on layups, Rowe was fouled and sank both of her two free throw attempts to make the record hers’ in the teams’ victory over Old Dominion on Jan. 25. As if those records weren’t enough, Rowe was rewarded with her second Ed Temple award. This award is given to a man and woman who had an outstanding achievement in sports, becoming only the fourth Blue Raider to garner that honor.
Ebony Rowe has been on the leading seniors this seaon along with Keke Stewart
and Shanice Cason. They have won the first C-USA title. Photo by Gregory French. 10 SIDELINES | March 5, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com
SPORTS
Sidelines Spotlight:
Shawn Jones, the Quiet Leader
Senior Shawn Jones looking to end Blue Raider career on good note By Connor Grott // Assistant Sports Editor As the Blue Raiders enter the final stretch of their conference schedule, Shawn Jones is looking to lead the Blue Raiders to a repeat of last season’s success but with a different ending in post season play. With more than 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 100 blocks in his career, Jones has put together an impressive stat line. But with Jones’ career in a Blue Raider uniform coming to a close, the senior forward is looking to lead the Blue Raiders to a conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance. Last year the team got to the NCAA tournament, but fell in the first round to St. Mary’s. “With all of the returners coming back from last season, we knew that leaving that locker room in Dayton, Ohio after the loss to St. Mary’s … that we wanted to get that back,” Jones said.
Shawn Jones has been averaging almost 15 points per game. He has also been averaging almost nine rebounds per game. Photo by Brett Turner.
Coming into this season following the tournament loss, Jones was listed on the C-USA Preseason Players to Watch List, and has certainly proven to live up to that designation. Jones is averaging 14.5 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game, both career-highs. The senior forward currently ranks 17th in the country and second in C-USA in field goal percentage, with Jones converting 58 percent of his attempted shots. With the Blue Raiders losing multiple seniors from the previous season Jones the returning juniors from a year ago knew they had a void to fill. “We had to step up and be leaders because most of us aren’t really talkers,” Jones explained. “I like to lead by action, but knowing that we lost those people, the ones who were doing most of the talking, we had to step up in those leadership roles.” MT has had highs and lows behind the new senior leadership this season. The Blue Raiders suffered a hard loss in overtime against Maine on Dec. 29 and saw their 33-game regular-season winning streak in the Murphy Center come to a halt after a loss against Belmont. At the same time, MT (21-8, 11-3 C-USA) remains in prime position in the conference title race. “It all starts in practice,” Jones said. “After those devastating losses, it
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SPORTS Sidelines Spotlight:
Kerry Hammonds II continues family legacy Hammonds II looks to reach new heights in final season By Connor Grott // Assistant Sports Editor Kerry Hammonds Sr., father to current MTSU basketball standout Kerry Hammonds II, began his illustrious basketball career in 1984 setting the stage for one of the greatest sport legacies in Blue Raider history. With the 1989 season in the books, the senior Hammonds compiled 1,616 points in his career, good for third most in MT history, while finishing second all-time in rebounding. Hammonds Sr. was also a member of the last team to produce a victory in the NCAA tournament, defeating Florida State 97-83 in the 1989 season. Fast forward to Feb. 5, 2011, a contest against the South Alabama Jaguars in Hammonds Jr.’s freshman season in a Blue Raider uniform. Twenty-eight points later, still a career-high for the MT senior, Kerry Hammonds II had arrived, setting the school record for most points by a freshman in a game. Now in his senior season as a Blue Raider, the younger Hammonds has continued a legacy that was started by his father 30 years ago. “I think it’s the best family legacy in the history of Middle Tennessee basketball,” said Kermit Davis, MT head coach. “Big Kerry Hammonds is, in my opinion, the best player to ever play here. When you look at how much [Kerry Sr.] and his son have won at this school, it is amazing. I think it’s the number one basketball family in the history of our school.” Hammonds II certainly had high expectations to live up to coming to MTSU and with the career that his father had long ago. Even with those expectations, Hammonds II has thrived for the Blue Raiders, averaging career-highs with 12.4 points
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and 3.6 rebounds in his final year. “When I was getting recruited, my dad told me don’t worry about what he did, just worry about what you’re going to do and how you’re going to impact the program,” Hammonds II said. “But when I look at the legacy and the Hammonds name, it’s associated with winning.” That has proven to be the case for Hammonds II when it comes to the winning legacy he will leave after this season. The current MTSU athlete is now a part of the winningest senior class in program history, compiling 92 victories in his four seasons as a member of the Blue Raiders. “He’s got us the 92 wins,” Davis said. “What I love about Kerry Hammonds [II] is, he had a lot of opportunities to go play at different places, and he chose to stay home. Some kids in our area have chosen not to, and he did, and all he’s done is impact winning.” Hammonds joins other seniors Shawn Jones, Zane Gibson, Neiko Hunter, Tweety Knight, Torin Walker and Tavarres Jefferson in that 92-win class. “It means a lot to me; we’re always going to be a part of history here,” Hammonds II said. “Coming in, we knew how many wins we needed to get. We knew we had to get 20 wins to be at the top and that was our goal. We wanted to leave our mark on MTSU and we left it.” Hammonds II was a standout player from Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, playing under head coach Ben Dotson. He was a Mr. Basketball finalist as a junior after averaging 19.7 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per contest.
“It mean’s a Lot to me; we’re always going to be a part of history here.” –Kerry Hamonds II
SPORTS Hammonds was being recruited by many Southeastern Conference schools following his junior campaign, before suffering an injury his senior season. With his injury, schools such as Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi State, who were heavily interested in Hammonds, turned the other way. One school in particular remained loyal to Hammonds. “MTSU started to recruit me when I was in 8th or 9th grade and stuck with me throughout all of my high school career, even when I got hurt my senior year and all those SEC schools backed off a little bit,” Hammonds II said. “MTSU stood there by my side, and I saw that loyalty, and it was like family here.” Once Hammonds had made his decision to commit to Middle Tennessee, the legacy of the Hammonds family in Blue Raider basketball continued. “I got a lot of support from the community and it meant a lot.” Apart from being a member of the winningest class in program history, Hammonds II has been instrumental in getting Middle Tennessee into postseason play the past two seasons. The Blue Raiders earned a spot in the NIT Tournament in the 2011-12 season, defeating Marshall and rival Tennessee, but would eventually lose to Minnesota in the quarterfinals.
In the 2012-13 season, Hammonds would garner more playing time, helping set a school record with 28 wins in their final year in the Sun Belt conference. With MT’s strong season, the Blue Raiders would earn their first NCAA appearance since 1989, the year Kerry Hammonds Sr. took the Blue Raiders to the big dance. Middle Tennessee would, in the end, fall short against the St. Mary’s Gaels, losing in the First Four of the tournament. “Once you get a taste of the NCAA tournament, you definitely want to make it back,” Hammonds II said. “The returners [from last season], we put it on ourselves to get back there before we left.” Now, with Kerry, Hunter and Jones in the senior leadership roles, Kerry Hammonds II and the Blue Raiders are in firm contention in the C-USA title race and are searching for another bid in the NCAA tournament to establish their own legacies. “None of us are really vocal leaders,” Hammonds II said. “We just try to bring energy every day to practice, show the newer guys how things are done, and what we need to do to get back to the NCAA tournament.” To contact the sports editor, email Sam Brown at sports@mtsusidelines.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sidelines_sport and @mtsusidelines.
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SPORTS Blue Raiders conquer Conference-USA By Jordan Mayton // Staff writer In its first year in the conference, the Blue Raiders men’s basketball team has put together an incredibly productive first season in Conference USA basketball. Holding an 11-3 conference record, the Blue Raiders are currently tied for first in the conference with Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss and Tulsa. Led by seniors Kerry Hammonds, Neiko Hunter, Shawn Jones and Tweety Knight, the squad has put together a 21-8 record. MT started the season on a four-game win streak before losing to the now No. 1 ranked Florida Gators in Gainesville. The Gator’s inside game proved to be too much for the Blue Raiders, but they did not stay down for long, grabbing two big wins against Murray State and South Alabama. Then sitting at 6-1, the Blue Raiders dropped their first home game of the season to their in-state rivals the Belmont Bruins. This was the beginning of a streaky stretch of games before MT started conference play, going 4-3 during the next seven, with losing efforts against Ole Miss, Cincinnati and Maine. The Blue Raiders exploded out of the gates for their conference schedule, having gone 11-3 so far, while losing only to Louisiana Tech, Tulsa and UTEP. The month of February was particularly good for MT as they went 7-1, before dropping the last game of the month to Louisiana Tech in Ruston. This team has relied heavily on its upperclassmen. The four starting seniors have combined for an average of 47 of the team’s 72 points per game. Both Kerry Hammonds, Neiko Hunter and Tweety Knight have all been putting up career-highs in points, but the unquestioned leader of this team has been forward Shawn Jones. The senior out of Hialeah, Fla., is putting up career-highs across the board. He is currently averaging the 10th most points in the conference (14.5) with the sixth best shooting percentage (58 percent) Looking forward, the Blue Raiders will try to close out the season on a pair of wins. They currently sit on a 22-8 record after defeating the Rice Owls Senior Day last Saturday. The Raiders will play their final game of the regular season next Thursday when they will travel to Birmingham to take on the Blazers of UAB. Should they close out their season with a win against Rice, and hold on to their current 66th RPI ranking, the Blue Raiders will more than likely impress the selection committee enough to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. 14 SIDELINES | March 5, 2014 | www.mtsusidelines.com
Shawn Jones has been one of the leading scorers for the men’s team this season. Photo by Brett Turner.
Student athletes deserve fair wage By Robert Allen // Opinions Editor
As Selection Sunday fast approaches and bracketologists bounce back on the scene, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is poised to once again rake in top ratings and make millions of dollars for colleges across the country. With all that money and hype sloshing around, many are still asking the question: Should student athletes be paid? This isn’t a small issue by any means. We’re talking about a collegiate sports industry that generated $6 billion in direct revenue for their schools and another $5 billion in merchandising and advertising sales, according to an article in the Economist, “Fair or foul?: Unpaid student athletes are at the heart of a multi-billion-dollar industry.” Students deserve to be paid for their efforts. It is not fair that the student athletes aren’t actually compensated for the industry they’ve created through their hard work. Instead, NCAA executives, athletic directors and coaches reap the rewards, taking huge salaries while students struggle to make ends meet. Nearly 85 percent of college student-athletes on scholarships live below the poverty line, according to a 2011 report, “The Price of Poverty in Big Time College Sport,” by the National College Players Association and Drexel University Department of Sport Management. However many argue that the perks of full-ride athletic scholarships function as pay and should eliminate the students’ struggle to make ends meet.
opinions To more fairly distribute the earnings from college athletic programs, players should be entitled to a base wage with bonuses structured in for performance. They don’t have to be paid millions like professional athletes, but they should at least be offered a fair wage. This is no different than the contracts structured for the coaches at these schools. As March Madness rolls around, this issue is incredibly important because millions are being made, but it’s not by the people who you would expect: the people actually playing the game. We, as students, need to draw attention to this issue and refuse to let it continue. I wouldn’t want to put full-time effort into something for a year and receive no direct compensation for that work. And student athletes shouldn’t have to either. The NCAA’s behavior and legislation are monopolistic and outright manipulative of students who are willing to do anything to make it into a pro career. Work demands pay, no matter what environment you’re in. Whether you’re in an office or a packed stadium, we should all be entitled to a fair wage. Want to write an opinion? Contact the opinions editor, Robert Allen, at opinions@mtsusidelines.com.
These scholarships often include free tuition and board, meal plans and allowances for books and other miscellaneous expenses. In addition, most Division I schools offer student-athletes access to tutoring, training and other additional services to ease educational conflicts between athletic programs and classes. Athletes also receive free travel, entrance to advanced fitness facilities and access to professional trainers and therapists, according to a Forbes article entitled “Pay College Athletes? They’re Already Paid Up To $125,000 Per Year.” To critics of student athlete pay, these additional benefits and scholarship programs amount to more than enough compensation. That seems odd to me, considering the head football coaches at the 44 NCAA BCS schools received a hefty $2.1 million in average salaries, according to a US News article, “The Case for Paying College Athletes.” College basketball coach salaries are similarly high. Players are paid $0 in salaries. Adding to the insult, the NCAA sold broadcast rights to the men’s basketball tournament in 2011 for nearly $770 million per season, of which players won’t see a penny. The disparity here is obvious. Student athletes are generating millions of dollars for their schools yet greed and self-interest among NCAA executives, directors and coaches prevents any change from coming about.
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Shawn Jones continued from pg. 11 was just a new week of practice, and we just kept pushing it and using the freshmen and transfers to get over those bumps.” Even with the success that Jones has had on the hardwood, it was not always a guarantee that he would play basketball. Jones started playing basketball at 8, but it wasn’t always a clear cut basketball would be his favorite. “I tried to go the football route but my mom didn’t like all the contact, so I just stuck with basketball throughout the rest of my life,” Jones said. Instead of bringing down touchdowns, Jones has blossomed into one of the better big men to come through Middle Tennessee, becom-
ing the 31st Blue Raider to join the 1,000-point club and just the 16th player in MT history to compile 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. In his home state against FIU on Feb. 8, Jones registered his 1,000th point on a dunk. “What made it really special was that I did it in front of my friends and family. And also, I got it doing the first thing I like to do which is dunking.” From a reserve role in the beginning of his Blue Raider career, Jones has become a cornerstone piece of MT’s program and is a part of the winningest senior class in Blue Raider history with 92 wins. “I’ll miss the fans that were rooting for me these four years, but the biggest thing I’ll miss is my teammates. I look at them as brothers, and it’ll be tough.”
Jones continued from pg. 9 “We’re always gone on the road [for basketball games],” Jones said. “I always have to catch up with my professors and get work from them, so that’s kind of tough. Having that much homework and trying to play at the same time is one of the hardest things.” However, Jones seems to enjoy a challenge because her school and basketball career complement each other. “I’m going to be a defense attorney, and you have to work hard,” Jones said. “Basketball is not easy either. But you have to keep pushing. Keep pushing even though it’s not easy. It would mean a lot [to make it to Nashville], I can only imagine playing. I would be very excited. I always wanted to play the best teams in the nation.”