the
Signal
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11.13.14 Volume 123 Issue 9
Ouachita Baptist University
IN THIS ISSUE:
Worth It Rex Horne speaks on the value of a Ouachita Education, p.2
Tiger Spirit The life of a tiger is only as good as its purple blood, p.3
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#BOTR: Tiger pride in full motion By CHELSEA WHEPLEY News Bureau
“Freak Show” American Horror Story midseason analysis, p.4
Coach Knight Sitting down with Head Coach Todd Knight, p.5
Black plastic tarps cover all the Ouachita signs around campus to protect them from being defaced. Students gather blankets, snacks and entertainment preparing to camp out in the middle of campus and guard the tiger statue all night. For Ouachita students, this can only mean one thing. It’s Battle of Ravine week in Arkadelphia, Ark., and anticipation is mounting over the oldest college football rivalry in NCAA Division II. A tradition that began in 1895, the 88th football game between Ouachita and Henderson State University will be played this Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m.
across the street from Ouachita at Henderson’s Carpenter-Haygood Stadium. The undefeated Ouachita Tigers, who already have clinched a share of the Great American Conference championship, are seeking to go 10-0 and earn sole possession of the GAC title against the 9-1 HSU Reddies. “School spirit is an essential part of any institution’s culture, and Battle of the Ravine is vitally important on that front,” said Dr. Kevin Motl, faculty sponsor of Tiger Nation, Ouachita’s student spirit organization. “No other opponent gets the students and the broader Tiger Nation community fired up for Ouachita like Battle of the Ravine. We turn out in force to support our
student-athletes, who give so much of themselves to represent the university, and that’s a good thing for the well-being of any institution.” “Battle of the Ravine Week is significant because it is a great Ouachita tradition,” said Student Senate President Josh Rubin, a senior biology major from Dallas, Texas. “It brings the campus together by guarding the tiger all week then supporting and cheering on our football team against Henderson.” “It’s cool to see how our campuses and the Arkadelphia community rally around to cheer on the football players from both teams,” said Sophomore Class President
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Ouachita Jazz Band to perform concert on Monday, Nov. 24 By RACHEL GADDIS News Bureau
S News 1 n S BOTR 3 n S Opinions 7 n S Sports 8 n
Noah Hutchinson z the Signal
Ouachita’s fall Jazz Band concert will be held Monday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. The performance is free to the public and will also be webcast from www.obu.edu/band. The concert will present a wide variety of jazz styles including swing, Latin, funk and New Orleans street beat. Music selections will draw attention to various composers and feature improvised solos by student musicians. Carli Sasser, a senior music education major from Hamburg, Ark., will accompany the band as a vocal soloist in selections “‘S Wonderful” by George and Ira Gershwin and “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Buble. Conducting the concert will be Dr. Craig Hamilton, Ouachita’s Lena Goodwin Trimble professor of music, director of bands and coordinator of instrumental studies. Noting that jazz is “America’s art form,” Hamilton said he expects the audience to find the evening of music entertaining. “Jazz is a style of music that touches every form of music in the 21st century, from church music to popular mu-
sic to classical music,” Hamilton said. “An educated musician and listener should be familiar with jazz music and jazz styles to understand the nuances in these other forms.” In addition to “’S Wonderful” and “Just Haven’t Met You Yet,” the Jazz Band’s selections include: Sammy Nestico’s arrangement of “Jumpin’ at the Woodside” by Count Basie; Dave Wope’s arrangement of “Star Eyes” by Gene DePaul; Mike Tomaro’s arrangement of “Caravan” by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills and Juan Tizol; “Late Arrival” by Jeff Jarvis; “Grease Wheezer” by Vince Norman; Joe Jackson’s arrangement of “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’” by George and Ira Gershwin; “Just Chattin’” by Lars Halle; “Loop 360” by Rick Lawn; “Emergency Stopping Only” by Craig Skeffington; Roger Holmes’ arrangement of “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To” by Cole Porter; and “Cheep Tricks” by Kris Berg. Student musicians performing in the fall 2014 Jazz Band concert are: Saxophone – Allison King, a senior music major from Fort Worth, Texas; Brent Nessler, a senior music performance major from Rowlett, Texas; Nathan Bateman, a freshman music performance major see BAND z 2
“The Mikado” to open, bring laughter to stage By CHELSEA WHELPLEY News Bureau
Ouachita’s Division of Music/Opera Theatre will present Sir Arthur Sullivan’s opera “The Mikado” on Nov. 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. as well as a matinee performance on Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $12 each and may be purchased at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. “People will laugh,” said Dr. Glenda Secrest, OBU professor of music, who serves as stage director for the show. “This is a really good opportunity for someone who has
never seen an opera to come and experience the genre and realize it can be lots of fun.” A quirky love story set in the town of Titipu, Japan, The Mikado is a two-act opera centered on themes of forbidden love and deception. NankiPoo, the Mikado’s son, fled from his father’s palace to escape an arranged marriage to an elderly lady of the court and has become a wandering musician. Nanki-Poo falls in love with Yum-Yum, but he cannot marry her because KoKo, her guardian, has decided to marry her himself. “This is one of the most ensee MIKADO z 2
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this weekzCALENDAR BOTR BONFIRE PEP RALLY will be tonight from 7-8 p.m. Meet at the tiger and follow the men of Rho Sigma down to the bonfire. For more information contact: David Sharp at sharpd@obu.edu. REFUGE is tonight at 9 p.m. at Second Baptist Church. For more information, contact: James Taylor at taylorja@obu.edu. BOTR FOOTBALL GAME kicks off at 3 p.m. at Carpenter Haygood Stadium on HSU’s campus. Tailgating events will begin at 11 at Cliff Harris Stadium. For more information contact: Todd Knight at knighttf@obu.edu.
GIRL’S RUSH INFO MEETING will be held on Monday night at 7 p.m. in Walker Conference Center rooms BC. For more information contact: Hillary Hill at hillh@obu.edu. VERITAS women’s discipleship will be Monday night at 9 p.m. in Berry Chapel. For more information, contact: Kendall Calvert at calvertk@obu.edu. ETA ALPHA OMEGA WHOSE LINE will begin Tuesday night at 6 p.m. in the Tiger Den. Watch the club members put on their own version of the popular show Whose Line Is It Anyway? For more information contact: Logan Kuhn at kuh51366@obu.edu.
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tertaining operas that Ouachita has put on in a while,” said Todd McNeel, who plays the Mikado. “I sit in rehearsal and watch the show when I’m not on stage and I am in constant laughter. We student-performers work really hard to put on a great production for our peers.” “We’re just so proud of the students, their accomplishments and how they bring their vision within our vision,” Secrest said. “You have to make this creation together to make it successful. They’ve built the kingdom of Titipu in their minds.” “As a freshman, I never would have even dreamed of having a title role in the opera my senior year,” added McNeel. “The day I signed up to be in the opera chorus my freshman year, my life changed. Now I can’t even imagine being anything else other than an opera singer. I’ve really found my voice and I am happy to have had great professors and a voice teacher to help me develop into the singer I am today.” “When we look at what opera we will do, we have to consider if it is something that will be appealing to the public and something that our current student population can manage artistically,” said Dr. Jon Secrest, who serves as producer and music director of The Mikado and chair of OBU’s department of applied music. “One of our primary goals is always going to be to make opera more accessible to the general public so that we can dispel some of the stereotypes and myths that exist with opera and prove to people that they can have fun when they attend – even in a highly evolved artistic form like this.” The opera will be fully produced with sets, lighting, costumes and orchestral accompaniment. This will be the final year that Dr. Jon Secrest and Dr. Glenda Secrest serve as co-
Amber Easterly, a business administration/marketing major from Bryant, Ark. “It’s pretty awesome to have a rival right across the street and to just have fun with the week.” “The victor in any given BOTR competition, of course, enjoys bragging rights over the other school until the next contest,” added Motl. “That’s why it’s particularly intense in football—it’s an entire year before one team or the other has an opportunity for revenge. “On another important front, the hoopla surrounding Battle of the Ravine brings incalculable value in terms of campus visibility,” he noted. “Because of this storied rivalry, potential students and/or donors all over the country may hear about Ouachita and take an interest in what we do here. As everyone knows, Ouachita is a tremendous place to grow
BAND
z Continued from Page 1 from Perryville, Ark.; Chelsea Villanueva, a senior music performance major from Rogers, Ark.; and Elizabeth Baker, a senior music performance major from Grapevine, Texas. Trumpet – Blake Turner, a freshman music major from Fort Worth, Texas; Alexandra Lawson, a sophomore accounting major from Texarkana, Texas; Kelly Cortez, a senior biology and Spanish major from Frisco, Texas; and Elizabeth Lawson, a senior music education major from Texarkana, Texas. Trombone – Jason Potts, a sophomore music education major from Springdale, Ark.; Dalton King, a sophomore
Mary Rothwell photo
Todd McNeel
directors for the opera. The Secrests will continue to teach voice lessons and in the classroom, but they are handing over responsibility of the opera production to Ouachita voice instructor David Stanley. In 2000, Stanley had a leading role in Ouachita’s original production of “The Mikado” – the first opera performed in Jones Performing Arts Center. “Here you have a student that came through the program and now he’s come back and is teaching for OBU, making a full circle,” said Dr. Glenda Secrest. “We wanted someone who is passionate and capable of taking over the opera program.” “This year’s production is much more elaborate and involved than the original production,” said David Stanley, who serves as the conductor and assistant music director. “The sets will be bigger and better. There will be more performers on stage with more intricate staging and choreography.” Also involved in the production are Joey Licklider, JPAC manager, who serves as technical director for the show, and Kacy Earnest, a freshman theatre arts major from El Dorado, Ark., who serves as stage manager. Tickets are $12 each and may be purchased at the Jones Performing Arts Center Box Office weekdays from 1-5 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. Students with a valid OBU ID may receive one free ticket. For more information, call the box office at (870) 2455555 during business hours. n music education major from Greenwood, Ark.; and Kaden Sosebee, a junior Christian studies major from Fort Smith, Ark. Rhythm – Weston Wills, a sophomore music education major from Norphlet, Ark.; Winston Gentry, a freshman mass communications major from Houston, Texas; Drew Ervin, a senior music and computer science major from Springdale, Ark.; Justin Massey, a junior music education major from Weatherford, Texas; and Chris Hogan, a senior music education major from Bartlesville, Okla. For more information about any of the Ouachita bands, visit www.obu.edu/band or contact Dr. Craig Hamilton at hamiltonc@obu.edu or (870) 245-5137. n
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Things to do if you see a Reddie on campus Hide. Tell them the KX carbash car is for a drive-in movie. “Have a seat!” Call the Ghostbusters. Ask if they’ve used all of their chapel skips. “So Harding...”
and learn, and we want the world to know how special OBU is.” Social clubs and organizations have hosted a variety of events throughout the week open to all Ouachita students. Each class took turns during the week guarding the tiger statue and the Men of Rho Sigma have set up camp in the middle of campus guarding Ouachita’s tarp-covered pride and joy around the clock. Tonight, students can meet at the Tiger at 7 p.m. for a torch walk and bonfire pep rally, hosted by the Men of Rho Sigma. In addition to the campus events, KATV will air a Battle of the Ravine pep rally live from Henderson’s CarpenterHaygood Field tomorrow from 5:30 to 7 a.m. Ouachita also will host a tailgate party and lunch serving hamburgers, bratwursts and hot dogs on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cliff Harris Stadium prior to the 3
p.m. football kickoff at HSU. Tickets to the game may be purchased in the OBU Business Services office in 140 Cone Bottoms Hall, today and tomorrow, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at Cliff Charris Stadium Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Current Ouachita students may receive free admission once at Henderson’s stadium by presenting a valid OBU ID. “When you look back upon your college career, whether five or 50 years down the road, you’ll remember less about the details of your course content and more about the relationships you built and the experiences you had while a member of the Ouachita community,” Motl said. “A life well-lived is one that seeks out those shared experiences and revels in the accompanying memories and stories. Battle of the Ravine will give you stories to tell and memories to share for the rest of your life.” n
Dr. Horne speaks about OBU at Arkansas Baptist Convention By TRENNIS HENDERSON News Bureau
Emphasizing that Ouachita is educating 1,500 students, “who are difference makers now and will be in the years to come,” President Rex Horne told messengers to the 2014 Arkansas Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Texarkana that “Christian faith infuses all that we do” at Ouachita. Citing one specific example, he noted that “there’s no Southern Baptist college or university that has sent more missionaries through the International Mission Board to the mission field than Ouachita Baptist University.” Introducing two Ouachita seniors who are difference makers on campus and beyond, Dr. Horne invited Gracie Lundstrum and Jayson Harris to share about service and ministry projects in which they are involved. Lundstrum, a mass communications and speech communication major from Springdale, Ark., serves as president of the Ouachita Student Foundation, a campus service organization celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Highlighting OSF’s motto of “Students Helping Students,” Lundstrum said members serve as ambassadors for the university, including raising money for student scholarships through Ouachita’s annual Tiger Tunes talent competition. Noting that the scholarship funds often make the difference in students continuing their education at Ouachita, she said the scholarships are provided each year “through
God’s work and His mercy and grace and through the work of countless hands that make Tiger Tunes possible.” “It has been a humbling experience to be part of OSF,” Lundstrum added. “It has been a rewarding experience to see the lives of those around me changed.” Bryan McKinney, dean of Ouachita’s Hickingbotham School of Business, shared briefly about Ouachita’s involvement with Enactus. He said the global service organization “brings undergraduate business students together to help them create entrepreneurial business opportunities to elevate the lives of people in need across the world.” Enactus projects provide “a great way for our students to combine their interest in business and international missions,” he said, adding that recent Enactus projects at Ouachita include helping establish a pregnancy resource center in southwest Arkansas, helping children at the Arkadelphia Boys and Girls Club create college savings accounts through fundraising projects and partnering with a local restaurant to pack 102,000 mobile food packs to provide meals that will feed 277 children in Nicaragua for a year. McKinney introduced Jayson Harris, a business administration/finance major from Maumelle, Ark., who is serving this year as general manager of Dr. Jack’s Coffee. “Dr. Jack’s story began with a couple of student trips to Honduras back in 2012 and 2013,” Harris explained. Ouachita established the coffee company with a portion of the profits going to help fund an orphanage in Honduras.
The effort “has been a tremendous project involving the collaboration of students and administrators on campus,” Harris noted. In addition to the partnership with the orphanage in Honduras, Harris announced that Dr. Jack’s also is partnering with the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home by providing coffee for Arkansas Baptist churches to sell and serve. “For every cup of Dr. Jack’s coffee that is sold and served in an Arkansas Baptist church, we’ll donate a third of those profits to be used by the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes,” Harris said. “As a student at Ouachita, I’m grateful for the support the Arkansas Baptist State Convention has provided OBU,” he added. “It only makes sense that we would enter into this partnership. We hope and pray that great benefits from this will follow for the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes.” Concluding Ouachita’s report, Dr. Horne expressed appreciation to Arkansas Baptists “for your support, for your prayers, for the students you send our way.” Citing the decreasing number of evangelical colleges and universities throughout the nation, President Horne said, “We need you perhaps as never before.” Acknowledging “the assault upon Christians around this world and in our own nation,” he added, “You need us as never before as we continue to challenge young men and young women to go to the mission field, as we encourage them in every walk of life to make a difference for Christ, to serve their neighbor and to serve the nations.” n
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Photo by Dr. Wesley Kluck
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The 2014 Battle of the Ravine By DIXON LAND Sports Editor
@dixoncland
D
eep inside, the blood of a Tiger runs purple. It’s a fact that can’t be disputed by any biologist, veterinarian or zoologist. Deep in the heart of Arkadelphia, that fact is known moreso than anywhere else on the earth. And where the blood is purple, it’s thicker than molasses. But don’t mistake the thickness of its blood for the quickness of its strike. It roams the football field, searching for prey to devour. On Saturday, it’s sure to find a matching opponent. On a cold Thursday afternoon in the fall of 1895, both the Tigers of Ouachita Baptist College and the Reds of Arkansas Methodist College (as it was formerly known) dug in deep to burn off the calories of their early morning Thanksgiving feasts. They would take the field on that fateful afternoon and initiate one of the oldest and most unique rivalries in all of college football. Fast-forward 118 years to the 2013 Battle of the Ravine. Undefeated Henderson State, who had already clinched a playoff berth, visited A.U. Williams Field to play the underdog Ouachita Tigers. Before a crowd of 9,630 fans from both schools finding seats wherever they could, even on the grass berms in the end zones, the Ouachita Tigers found themselves down 31-21 as the fourth quarter began. But the Tigers were not dismayed behind a rushing attack that would hit three rushing touchdowns on the day. Benson Jordan, former quarterback for the Tigers, also threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns. The Tigers scored off a pass to Ka’Vontae Pope from Benson Jordan. After a threeand-out from the Reddies, Etauj Allen took
What students are saying... “Our whole student body comes together. The players feel that. It’s a passion and attitude that comes out this week. It is not just them on the field anymore, but it is the whole student body there supporting them.” -Lauren Hutchinson, sophomore “The Battle of the Ravine is my favorite week at the school. The whole student body comes together to support our Tigers. All of the pagentry, the student support and the high stakes every year, make it unlike any other football scene in the country.” -Ali Kinsey, sophomore “When I first got to campus as a freshman, I learned about the importance of this week. Now, as a senior, and as someone who has led a lot of the weekly activities, I know the importance of this week and how much it means to everyone from both schools.” -Dylan Haney, senior
a punt all the way back for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 35-31 lead. Henderson St. scored again and the Tigers tied with a field goal from Matthew Ehasz as time expired to push the game to overtime. In the third overtime, Jordan threw an interception on fourth down to end the game. After a game time of over four hours, all 9,630 fans were still glued to their seats.
“Deep inside, the blood of a Tiger runs purple.” -Dixon Land
The game, which has been labeled by many as the “Greatest Battle of the Ravine Ever,” will live infamously in the Ouachita fans’ hearts that attended. For Henderson St. fans, victory was hard-fought and won impressively. For everyone else, a sweet taste of the rivalry was left on their tongues — a taste that is craved from all involved in the annual rivalry. For many alumni, the rivalry is remembered from the pranks that were pulled. From usual tales of egging and glitter, to unusal tales invovling presidential candidates and movie stars. One story includes the Ouachita homecoming queen being kidnapped by Henderson St. cheerleaders. They held her kidnapped in a Hot Springs lakehouse, where she wasn’t able to make any phone calls. Ike Sharp, a particularly keen friend of hers, began searching. He was rumored to have had
a shotgun hidden in his overalls. Luckily for everyone involved, she was returned in time for the game, but the story was cemented. On a much less serious note, a group of Henderson St. students spraypainted marshmellows and commandeered a plane from another student. They then proceeded to drop them all over the campus of Ouachita. This year, the Battle of the Ravine is sure to live up to the tradition that it has already established for itself. The stakes are set for an even bigger game than last year. With a win, Ouachita can clinch a Great American Conference win. With a loss, Henderson would force both schools and Harding University into a three-way tie. No matter what the circumstances, the Tigers will certainly face a tough team, emboddying the Reddie Spirit on Saturday—A team, determined to take away the perfect season. In the heart of every Tiger lies passion. It’s what drives them to be who they are. The Tiger spirit is alive and well — it is what makes Ouachita so unique. No doubt will that show on Saturday afternoon at Carpenter-Haygood stadium. The Tigers, who will play the Henderson St. Reddies at 3 p.m., will bring thousands of fans with them, ready to cheer on the Tigers as they do battle. And while the temperatures will be frigid, the fans will be there in full support. No matter the weather or the obstacle, nothing stops a Tiger from its passion. Nothing stops it from doing as it pleases. That’s the spirit of a Tiger. Within the blood of a Tiger runs purple. It’s a fact that can’t be disputed by any biologist, veterinarian, or zoologist. It roams football fields nationwide, searching for prey to devour. It has found its prey on a field just across the street. Come Saturday, devour its prey, the Tigers shall. n
BATTLE OF THE RAVINE SCORES SINCE 1990 Date October 27, 1990 November 2, 1991 October 31, 1992 September 7, 1996 September 6, 1997 September 5, 1998 September 4, 1999 September 2, 2000 September 1, 2001 November 2, 2002 November 1, 2003 November 4, 2006 November 1, 2007 November 6, 2008 November 7, 2009 October 30, 2010 November 12, 2011 November 10, 2012 November 16, 2013 November 13, 2014
Winner Henderson State Henderson State Henderson State Henderson State Henderson State Henderson State Ouachita Baptist Henderson State Ouachita Baptist Ouachita Baptist Ouachita Baptist Henderson State Henderson State Ouachita Baptist Ouachita Baptist Henderson State Henderson State Henderson State Henderson State ?
Score 34 20 21 7 35 23 21 17 36 23 24 3 14 34 16 9 13 41 14 28 17 35 48 28 18 0 36 43 28 35 35 26 41 36 42 7 60 52(3OT)
Series OBU 33–30–6 OBU 33–31–6 OBU 33–32–6 Tied 33–33–6 HSU 34–33–6 HSU 35–33–6 HSU 35–34–6 HSU 36–34–6 HSU 36–35–6 Tied 36–36–6 OBU 37–36–6 Tied 37–37–6 HSU 38–37–6 Tied 38–38–6 OBU 39–38–6 Tied 39–39–6 HSU 40–39–6 HSU 41–39–6 HSU 42–39–6
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Battle of the Ravine 2014 QUARTERBACK BREAKDOWN:
GAME NOTES:
RECORD BREAKER
Etauj Allen has set the single-seaosn record for punt return yards. The record was broken against Southern Arkansas University. Allen now has 395 yards on 19 returns this season. He has also returned three punts for touchdowns with the longest of those coming on an 82-yard return. He is averaging 20.79 yards per return.
DUAL ATTACK
#15 Kevin Rogers #2 Kiehl Frazier 255/381, 33 TDs, 9 Int. 3,289 yards passing 13 yards rushing on 26 carries
117/197, 15 TDs, 4 Int. 1,579 yards passing 574 yards rushing for 3 TD’s
HSU Head Coach Scott Maxfield RECORD: 60-36 (9 years) 9th season as head coach 2013 AFCA Super Region 3 Coach of the Year 2012 & 2013 Great American Conference Coach of the Year 2012 & 2013 Liberty Mutual AFCA/National Coach of the Year Finalist 2010 Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year
OBU Head Coach Todd Knight RECORD: 104-114 16th season as head coach Longest tenured coach in GAC 1998 GSC & 2011 GAC Coach of the Year 2011 Great American Conference Champs 115 All-Conference Selections 38 All-GAC Selections since 2011 18 All-American Selections
Don’t forget to vote for Spencer Knight for the captain of the AFCA/Allstate Good Works team. Spencer is a senior on the football team and is known for his hard work and commitment to the team and to all of his endeavors.
Kiehl Frazier has improved at quarterback since the start of the season where he was still coming into a new offensive system. In nine games played, Frazier has a 147.78 passing efficiency and has completed 117 of 197 passes attempted this season. He has thrown for 15 touchdowns and 1579 yards. He is also averaging 175 yards passing per game. Along with his passing, Frazier also brings a double-threat to the offense because of his ability to run. This season, Frazier has rushed for 642 yards and three touchdowns. He has an average of 5.9 yards per carry and averages 63.78 yards per game.
PERFECT RECORD
At 9-0, the Tigers have never been undefeated after nine games. In 1914, the Tigers won eight straight, before tying to Henderson St., finishing 8-0-1 on the season. Ouachita won nine games in 1942, where they finished 9-1, they had a 9-3 record in 1948 and finished 9-2 in 1975. No Ouachita team has ever won 10 games in a single season.
RECORD BREAKER Stephen Kehner only needs two touchdowns to tie the GAC single-season record of 15 touchdowns. By scoring six touchdowns, Kehner would tie the Ouachita single-season record of 19, set by William Miller in 1978.
SERIES LEAD
Henderson State leads the series all-time at 42-39-6. The last meeting, Henderson State won the game, after three overtimes of action, with a final score of 60-52. Henderson has won the last three games, with scores coming within eight points in both of those contests.
NCAA Division II Rankings Super Region Three
1. Minnesota State-Mankato (9-0) 2. Ouachita Baptist (8-0) 3. Minnesota Duluth (9-0) 4. Pittsburg State (8-1) 5. Northwest Missouri State (8-1) 6. Harding (8-1) 7. Sioux Falls (9-1) 8. Azusa Pacific (9-1) 9. Henderson St. (8-1) 10. Central Okla. (8-2)
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OUACHITA FS
SS
<10 <20 <30 <40
#18 Wesley Brady So. 5-9 180
WR
OLB
#6 Josh Davis R So. 5’11” 215
#42 Dijon Benton R Sr. 6’2” 240
#93 Randall Howard R Fr. 6’2” 240
DE
#94 Henry Davis R Fr. 6’2” 270
LT
LG
Sr. 5’11” 245
C
RT
RG
#71 Michael Russell #69 Brent Calhoun #76 Aaron Sprinkle #74 Michael Rogers #57 Javin Prunty Jr. 6’4” 295 Sr. 6’0” 285 RS Sr. 6’3” 285 RS Sr. 6’2” 280 Jr. 6’2” 280 Arkadelphia, Ark. Little Rock, Ark. White Hall, Ark. Des Arc, Ark. Jonesboro, Ark.
WR
#1 Ka’Vontae Pope So. 5’10” 185 Blytheville, Ark.
#2 Kiehl Frazier Sr. 6’3” 218 West Fork, Ark.
#5 Jalen Jones Sr. 5’10” 180 Conway, Ark.
RB
#22 Steven Kehner Sr. 5’8” 195 Glen Rose, Ark.
#25 Spencer Knight Sr. 5’10” 215 Arkadelphia, Ark.
50 40> 30> 20> 10>
2014 Battle of the Ravine HSU v. OBU
OBU OFFENSE VS. HSU DEFENSE
FS
SS
#30 Zack Mitchell Sr. 6’0” 185 Villonia, Ark.
OLB
#35 Gerald Warner Sr. 5’10” 205 Killeen, Ark.
DE
#17 Ricardy Joseph Jr. 6’2” 205 Fort Myers, Fla.
ILB
#18 Mike Williamson Jr. 6’0” 223 Hollywood, Fla.
DT
#56 Dave Fair Sr. 6’3” 240 Walcott, Ark.
#47 Dion Young RS Sr. 6’2” 280 White Hall, Ark.
LG
LT
#24 Etauj Allen Sr. 5’9” 185 San Antonio, Ark.
#9 Rotimi Oladejo Jr. Jr. 6’3” 220 Sacramento, Cal.
#99 Andrew Gendi So. 5’11” 285 Houston, Texas
C
C
OLB
DT
DE
#40 Kyle Lamothe So. 6’2” 230 New Iberia, La.
RG
RT
#51 Marc Gonzlez #62 John Guerra #53 Cory Stitle #58 Lawrence Willis #70 John Michael McGee Sr. 6’3” 285 Sr. 6’’4” 300 Fr. 6’2” 270 So. 6’1” 330 So. 6’4” 280
#8 Darius Davis R Sr. 5’11” 212
WR
WR
#81 Dustin Holland Sr. 5’9” 190
#4 Joseph Snapp Jr. 6’2” 195
QB
#11 Kevin Rogers GR 6’3” 215
RB
#24 Rodney Bryson RS Fr. 5’10” 170
WR
#11 Evian Hill RS Jr. 6’2” 188 Little Rock, Ark.
WR
QB
FB
C
#26 Chris King #50 Glennon Bobo Sr. 5’10” 180
NT
DE
#14 Jeremy Small Sr. 5’9” 185 Center, Ark.
WR
#37 Lawson Schulz R Jr. 6’0” 225
#27 Blake Lopez Jr. 5’11” 200
#8 Drew White Sr. 6’ 3” 205 Van Buren, Ark.
C
ILB
<10 <20 <30 <40 50
C
ILB
OLB
40> 30> 20> 10>
#3 Gary Vines So. 5’11” 190
#25 Christian Love R Jr. 6’0” 180
WR
#17 Mark Czaus R Jr. 5’11” 191
OBU DEFENSE VS. HSU OFFENSE
HENDERSON
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LINE UP – Ouachita and Henderson go head to head during the Battle of Ravine of 1974. The Tigers won five games in the decade.
BATTLE OF THE RAVINE: through the years
WHAT A CATCH — Senior Drew White goes up to make a catch in last year’s Battle of the Ravine Game. White, was a key player in last year’s game.
IN STRIDE – Drew White catches one of many passes in last year’s Battle of the Ravine. The pass, which White caught, would result in a touchdown for White and the Tigers. The Tigers would score many point on offense, racking up 52 total before the game was over.
Ouachita Baptist vs. Henderson State
SCRAMBLING – This picture, which was taken in 2003, features a Ouachita team that would defeat Henderson St. 35-17 to give Ouachita a series lead 37-36. The teams would not play for two years following this game.
INAGURAL GROUP – Dr. Jack Conger takes a photo with members of the 1895 Ouachita Baptist College football team, the first team to play in a Battle of the Ravine game, Thanksgiving Day, 1895. The Tigers beat the Reds (now Reddies), 8-0.
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opinions
Thursday, November 13, 2014
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Hey, Reddies, can’t we just get along? By EMILY TERRY Editor-in-Chief @emilymterry
“W
ith pride.” This phrase was one that evoked the sappiest of emotions from my fellow Legacy members and myself as a wee little high school marching band sophomore. I know I just lost some of you with the words “marching band,” but bear with me. I have a point. As members of the Legacy of Bryant, we had a creed and a “question/ answer call and response” (that’s what the internet calls it – I looked it up). It went a little something like this... “Who are we?” ... “The Legacy!” “Surpassing!” ... “Excellence!” “Conquering!” ... “Limits!” “With!” ... “Pride!” “With!” ... “Pride!” “With!” ... “Pride!” It sounds stupid, but as a group of weird band nerds who spent an obscene amount of time together cranking out a kick-booty marching band show, screaming those words (usually while standing at attention) was a rush. We were united. We were confident. And we were proud. The only feeling I know how to compare it to is the flood of emotion I experience when surrounded by a
crowd of my fellow Tigers. As a freshman, I felt the energy in the air; as a senior, I feel it radiating from my bones, coursing through my veins and pulsating in the atmosphere. Tiger Pride is no longer somthing I participate in during a football game or a Dr. Motl pep talk, it’s something I carry with me, across a glitter-bombed campus, down Elrod Boulevard and onward, outside the Bubble. Is it cliche that I’m bringing this up now, as our campus monuments are draped and taped with black garbage bags and silver duct tape? Yes. Do I feel it is necessary? Also yes. On Tuesday, Henderson’s newspaper, The Oracle, ran an opinion piece on Battle of the Ravine pranking. I doubt many students reading this paper will be in the vicinity of that one anytime soon, so I’ll summarize his points to the best of my ability: Battle of the Ravine pranks are on the decline. Ouachita egged a lot of cars last year (Ouachita is never actually spelled out; it’s “OBU” every single time – Is it difficult to spell or something?). Fun
pranks should be allowed because no one is harmed. Last year, Ouachita students cornered HSU (see what I did there?) students who were chalking cars and called the police. “Rivals are supposed to pull acts like [chalking car windows] on each other. It’s why they’re rivals.” Pranks should not be done only during Battle of the Ravine, but “at random times of the semester, each semester.” A list of suggestions for pranks that could and should
“American Horror Story” midseason review By Robert DeSoto Staff Writer
"I knew I was about to enter the gates of Hell, but like the inescapable pull of gravity, there was nothing I could do about it." These words internalized by cynical Dot (Jessica Paulson) during “American Horror Story: Freakshow’s” premiere episode continue to echo throughout last week’s episode, “Pink Cupcakes.” The fifth episode so far in the season, this chapter of American Horror is only a few episodes away from its climax. As the season begins to wind down, it is important to consider some of the themes presented so far, their implications and some guesses as to what we might see on future episodes. “Pink Cupcakes” saw Stanley (Denis O’Hare) take center stage as the central dark entity. The pseudo-researcher and disguised Hollywood talent scout still tries to kill and transport members of the freak show to be part of a human body exhibition that will, to his belief, win him fame and riches. Stanley now works to entrap Elsa (Jessica Lange) with the promise of reviving her career as an entertainer. Despite what the audience believed to be the two-headed sisters’ demise, Dot and Bette could be in even more trouble. The disturbing fantasy sequence of Stanley poisoning Siamese twin, Bette, and letting her sister Dot die in agony show Stanley’s true intentions. Whether intentional or not, Stanley’s playing Dot and Bette against Elsa caused the wannabe Marlene Dietrich to send the girls into the hands of another entity, where their question of safety will almost certainly be part of the climax. The death of Twisty the clown, a Ronald McDonald meets John Carpenter’s “Halloween,” might have satisfied some. However, we are still left with a far more sinister Dandy Mott (Finn Wittrock). In a sick homage to
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By Noah Hutchinson Opinions Editor
Matthew McConaughey was born
to be a space cowboy. If John Wayne, Harrison Ford and Clint Eastwood all got in an old timey western bar fight on the moon, the winner would still never be able to outdo McConauhgey’s performance in the recent Chris Nolan space adventure “Interstellar.” Interstellar is about a world renowned fighter pilot turned farmer (played by McConaughey) who, in the midst of a global, dustbowl-esque catastrophe, is driven by a mysterious force to find the underground organization that is the remains of NASA. From there. he’s roped into piloting a deep space mission through a mysterious wormhole to find a new home for the human race, even if that involves completely abandoning the lives on earth to start over with fertilized eggs. This movie was spectacular. To lay the foundation for everything else, the cast was fantastic. Michael Cain made an appearance as the grandfatherly mentor, as he does in all Christopher Nolan movies. Anne Hathaway did an outstanding job as the snarky, no nonsense straightwoman who grounds the ridiculous cast while slowly warming up to the main protagonist (think Ellen Paige in “Inception”). There’s a few more big stars, but I can’t give them away without including spoilers. You’ll know what I mean when you see the movie. Then there’s McConaughey. Michael Cain was Michael Cain, which is always fantastic. Anne Hathaway pretty much stole my heart the first time she dismissively implied that somebody was dumb and then ended the conversation by sass-walking away. But McConaughey was on a different level in this role. Basically, while everyone else on the spaceship
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Because last time I checked, we’re rivals because we are the only two schools in the nation who are separated by nothing more than a smalltown, two-lane road. It’s a lesson in cause and effect. Cause: We are rivals. Effect: Pranks ensue. Maybe that’s something we learned as a facet of our liberal arts education here at Ouachita. Pranks can be funny, but they can also be in poor taste. Oh, and they can get you in a bit of a legal tussle. So here’s my motherly advice for the day: “Dear Ouachita and Henderson, don’t do that. If your classes are so easy and you are so uninvolved with other things that you have time to execute poorly-planned pranks on a regular basis throughout the school year, maybe change your major to something that will challenge you. Or pick up a hobby. Start a new series on Netflix, if you must.” For the last three years, I’ve sat on the sidelines and had my spirits crushed as “that school across the street which shall not be named” has swiped the sweet taste of victory from our beloved, proverbial Tiger’s tightly clenched jaws. But I think everyone in this town knows that numbers don’t lie, so it’s due time for a different type of spirit to get crushed. So what do you say we put our money where our touchdowns are and let the scoreboard do the talking this Saturday? Look for me – I’ll be wearing my purple and a smirk. With pride. n
“Interstellar” deemed great, McConaughey owns his role
2000s “American Psycho,” Dandy fully realizes his capacity to murder. Dandy’s preying on male prostitutes presents another multi-faceted thematic issue within the series. The true freaks are not the physically deformed or mangled. Incest, sadomasochism, homoeroticism, greed and abnormal sexual practices are all behind the picketed fences and sparkling clean doors of middle- and upper-class Americans. Dandy is the boiled-down apotheosis of the closeted, white-washed selfdenial of nonconformity in the 1950s. Those in the freak show, those that society deems to be “freaks,” are in reality the most morally good. Although each season of “American Horror Story” is a separate story, there is no denying the connections between the stories. Most notable, Pepper (Naomi Grossman) is the first character to appear in two seasons (“Asylum” and “Freakshow”). If the rumors about the soon appearance of Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe) are true, the thematic issue of the horrors of lost innocence will again be emphasized. “Pink Cupcakes” didn’t feature weird-accented Kathy Bates or many other key characters as much. However, I do believe that Bates’ character’s conflict with lobster-handed Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters) and strong man (Michael Chiklis) will certainly be part of the climax. We will also be on the edge of our seats to find out what Dandy has in store for Dot and Bette. Like the 1932 film “Freaks,” the marginalized characters of this season reveal how “normal” characters really are “one of us.” God-like characters in each season usually have telling words about each season. The words of “Coven’s” Papa Legba ring true as we look forward to the climax of “Freakshow,” “Nobody gets away with sin. Everybody pays.” This season’s message so far: the freaks are not just the deformed or disabled. “We are all freaks.” n
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be pulled that I won’t explicity mention in order to keep with the standards that have been set by myself and others for this publication. Criticizing the schools taking “so many precautions to make sure we can’t do the slightest thing.” To put it simply: I disagree with all of these things. On top of that, I feel a very strong, very foreign, urge to lay my dissenting opinions out here. All in good fun, of course. After all, I ain’t afraid of no ghost. So pranks are on the decline, huh? Try telling that to the people dodging fallen egg yolks that slide down the walls of our building or those cleaning crude chalk messages and images off the sidewalks we walk every day or the students who have to scrub obscenities off their car windows before driving anywhere in town. I think what he meant was that memorable pranks are on the decline, to which I would agree. Grand tales of red marshmallows and captured homecoming queens are a thing of the past; now they’re annoying. Maybe we’ve lightened up on you, but I have seen nothing resembling a decline in my four years here. “No one is harmed.” I’m probably the only one, but seeing my school, my home, harmed is worse than experiencing physical harm – I bleed the highest pigment concentration of purple. My personal favorite is, “Rivals are supposed to pull acts like this on each other. It’s why they’re rivals.”
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is just some number crunching, research sponging nerd, McConaughey is sliding over the hood of a rocket ship like it’s the General Lee and drifting across the gravitational fields of black holes. Every time he finagled the crew out of a sticky situation, spouting of southernisms through every potentially deadly maneuver, I half expected the action to freeze so Michael Cain could insert a “I don’t know how them there Duke boys are gonna get outta this’un,” over everything just to complete the mood. I literally teared up several times in this movie. Not from some monologue about love. Not from a touching goodbye to a dying shipmate. But because Matthew McConaughey driving a spaceship was so cool that my emotions just didn’t know how to respond. That’s another thing about this movie, it had that palpable layer of “cool” draped over it that seems to be in all Christopher Nolan movies. The costumes were cool, from McConaughey’s classic, all American attire to Hathaway’s sleek, secret government agent get up. Almost everyone in the movie was smart enough to disassemble a government surveillance drone. The spaceship was called a “ranger” and looked like a moon Lamborghini. Everything was dripping with cool to the point that I oftentimes found myself wishing that the earth would die for real so maybe some of the cool could rub off on me. I’d recommend this movie to anyone. There’s very little violence or profanity, the characters and cast are fantastic and the action had my eyes bulging out of my head through most of the middle part of the movie. On top of that, it’s about space. Americans love space. In fact, if you don’t think that space is cool, you should probably go live in some lesser, gravity bound peasant country. Like Australia. n
The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published every Thursday during the fall and spring semesters when school is in session. The newspaper is distributed free of charge; 1,200 copies are placed in more than 20 locations across campus. Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or university. The Signal is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press and is printed by the Hope Star.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters to the editor are encouraged and accepted, unless libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters should be typed and include a signature and contact phone number, and must be less than 500 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and style. Letters should be sent via campus mail to Box 3761 or via e-mail to signal@obu.edu.
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sports
Thursday, November 13, 2014 2014
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Tiger soccer wins GAC championship with 1-0 win
“I’ll remember him as my second dad – someone who has pushed me like no other person has. I’ll never forget all that he has done for me and my family and I plan on having a lasting relationship with him throughout my life.”
By BRANDON SMITH Sports Information
-Drew White Photo by Dr. Wesley Kluck
Todd Knight:
Man of faith, family and football By HANNA DEAN Staff Writer
“An average day in the Knight household is usually pretty busy,” senior Spencer Knight said. “We’re all kind of spread out right now with 3 kids in college and grad school, but when we do have a chance to be together, we make the most of it. We love to laugh, talk about football, and just enjoy each others company. I love my family.” Many know Todd Knight as solely as Coach Knight. They think of his home as the white, metal athletic building that hosts the lockers and offices of the entire Ouachita football roster. They know him as the man who spends countless hours analyzing the past, present and future of the Ouachita football program. They forget about Knight being a father, husband and provider for a family of five. Knight grew up in Star City, Ark. and graduated from Star City High School. He played both baseball and football when he was in high school. Knight committed to playing football and furthering his education at Ouachita Baptist University. While at Ouachita, Knight met his wife, Julie. Julie was a junior when Knight graduated and left to be a graduate assistant at Delta State University in Mississippi. The summer after she graduated, the two got married and lived in Mississippi together. Julie taught school, while Knight finished up graduate school. Knight was a graduate assistant at Delta State University for a year and half. After a coaching change, he was able to snag a full-time assistant coaching job there and stayed for two and half more years. In 1990, he moved to Texas to be an assistant coach at the University of Texas at El Paso, but soon returned to Delta State to take on the position of head coach for the next six years. In 1999, the Knights made the deci-
sion to return to Arkadelphia, where the football program had just moved from NAIA to Division II. “The reasons that I wanted to come back, first, I thought it was a great place to raise my family on campus and have a chance for my kids to go to school here,” Knight said. “My brother teaches here. He’s the Dean of the Sciences, Tim Knight. My mother and dad were living in Cabot at the time. Julie’s parents were living in Searcy at the time, so it was really a family decision to come back here. And the challenge of building the program.” Today, OBU sports is a family affair for the Knights. Julie is in charge of Ouachita’s Gridiron Girls. Knight’s daughter, Casey, cheered and was on the dance team at Ouachita. Knight claims that Casey is probably, “the biggest Ouachita Tiger fan in the country”. Spencer, Knight’s son, plays for the Ouachita’s football team, and Jake, Knight’s youngest son, plays for Ouachita baseball team. The family is rooted in faith and sports. “I’ve been going to OBU football practices and games all my life and after every one of them, my dad always ends the day with someone on the team praying,” Jake said. “It just shows you how everything in his life starts with and is based on his faith in Jesus Christ.” In addition to his support system at home, Knight believes that none of the accomplishments that Ouachita’s football program has had could have been possible without his incredible coaching staff and players. Knight has been coaching with Offensive Coordinator Jay Derby for the whole time he has been at Ouachita and Recruiting Coordinator Brett Shockley for nearly nine years. The rest of Ouachita’s coaching staff is gaining years as well. One of the accomplishments that Knight considers a “team award” was the 2011 GAC
Coach of the Year. “Anything like that is really a staff award and really a team award as well, because you’re not good by yourself in this sport,” Knight said. “It’s not what I’ve done. It’s about what the team and the coaching staff did in 2011.” Though this accomplishment is huge for Ouachita’s football program, Knight gets the most excitement from, “seeing guys leave and be good workers, from leaders to owning businesses to being great employees, to being great dads, great husbands, doing good in their churches. Those guys that call back, tell us what they’re doing, come back to games, stay in touch with us, that is a great feeling.” “I’ll remember him as my second dad,” Senior Tiger Drew White said. “Someone who has pushed me like no other person has. I’ll never forget all that he has done for me and my family and I plan on having a lasting relationship with him throughout my life.” I believe that everyone can learn a valuable lesson from Coach Knight and the Ouachita football program. This lesson is one I was reminded of as I got up to leave Knight’s office from our interview. He read a quote from Tony Dungy that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The Ouachita football staff and team instills qualities of a true family. “As a person, I’ve grown in many ways after playing on his team,” Spencer said. “It sounds cliché, but I really have grown physically, mentally, and spiritually. TCC is something we have heard since the day we walked in to the program. It stands for Trust, Care and Commitment. I’ve learned how to trust my fellow man on and off the field, care for my teammates and coaches like family, and commit to something that is bigger than just myself. These three values will be with me the rest of my life.”n
The third-seeded Ouachita Tigers won their first ever Great American Conference women’s soccer championship on Sunday, defeating the top-seeded Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm 1-0. The lone-goal of the match came in the 18th minute, when the Tigers earned a free kick that was taken by Abby Emanuel. Emanuel’s kick reached the center of the box before it was headed in the back of the net by Tessa Woodcock. The goal was Woodcock’s first of the year, and Emanuel earned her second assist on the season. Ouachita attempted nine shots throughout the first half, while Southern Nazarene attempted eight. All four of the Tigers’ shots on target came in the first half, one of which being Woodcock’s goal. In the second half, the Tigers entered defensive mode, as Southern Nazarene attempted 20 shots but did not register a single goal. Lauren Llanes recorded eight saves in the half, including four in the final 10 minutes. Seven Tigers spent all 90 minutes of the match on the field, including Llanes, Emanuel, Woodcock, Haley Hatcher, Bryson Rial, Sammie Mack and Hannah Hover. Llanes, who finished the match with 10 saves, recorded her second shutout of the season, both coming in the GAC Tournament. The Tigers defeated second-seeded Harding 1-0 last Friday. Llanes finished the GAC Tournament with a record of 2-0 and a total of 15 saves. Hatcher, the 2013 and 2014 GAC Offensive Player of the Year, led the Tigers with five shots, two of them on target. Hatcher was named to the GAC All-Tournament Team, along with Woodcock, Llanes, Emanuel and Morgan Allen. Woodcock was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Ouachita finished the regular season with a record of 6-11-1 and a GAC record of 5-5. Including the post-season, the Tigers ended the season on a three-game winning streak. n
SEC West could be left out of CFB playoffs By CAMERON ALEXANDER Staff Writer
The South Eastern Conference in college football has been dominant over the past eight years. The conference has taken seven out of the last eight national titles, and it always seems to have multiple teams that could contend for a championship. However, this has been a very crazy year in the SEC West in particular. Right now the conference has four teams in the top 10 in the nation. These teams are Mississippi State who is ranked number one, Alabama number five, Auburn ranked at number nine and Mississippi coming in at number 10 in the polls. Every college football fan knows that the SEC West is by far the
most dominate conference in football this year, however this could be a huge problem for this conference. College football has come out with a new four team playoff to see who will play and compete for the national title. This seems like a wonderful idea to most, but it could cause havoc for the outstanding SEC West. Several professional sports analyst have been talking about this over the past few weeks especially with the way the west side of the South Eastern Conference is shaping up. Colin Cowherd is the main person who seems to believe that the nations best conference might not even get one team into the national playoff. The idea sounds shocking but could it be true? It could definitely shape up where the SEC has no football team in the
National Playoff. Most would not think about the logic behind this but if you check the remaining schedules of the two teams who have a realistic shot at making the playoffs you will find your conclusion. Auburn and Ole Miss both have had quality seasons and are ranked in the top 10 in the country, but with two losses a piece, they will not be attending the national playoffs. The two teams who have a shot to make the playoffs are Mississippi State and Alabama. Mississippi State is number one in the nation, but they still have yet to play Ole Miss or Alabama. These are two great teams who could easily hand the Bulldogs one loss if not two which would put them out of the National playoff conversation. Alabama, ranked at number
five, is on the outside looking in, but they still control their own destiny in making the national playoffs. It seems simple-if Alabama wins out they make the playoffs. This is much easier said than done. The Crimson Tide still have to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs who are considered to be the best in the nation, currently. Following that game, they will have to play the Auburn Tigers, who will more than likely, be a top ten team going into the game. This is one of the most anticipated games every year and could knock Alabama out of playoff contention with a loss. To sort all of this out to where an SEC tram will not make the playoffs is simple but still very difficult to believe. If Mississippi State loses to Alabama and Ole Miss then they
are out of contention. Then if Alabama falls to Auburn they will be out of the playoff picture as well-which is not a far fetched idea considering anything can happen in the Iron Bowl (for example, last season). This would leave four of the top teams in the nation with two losses and out of the playoffs. If this happens I think college football may have to think about weakening the SEC West because their is no doubt that one of these four teams could definitely compete and most likely win a national title if they faced other teams that will a make the playoffs such as TCU, Baylor, or Ohio State. This playoff system may seem logical to some, but if an SEC team is not in the mix it will be considered controversial for years to come. n