Niner Times: January 30, 2018 by Niner Times

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Hunter Heilman editor@ninertimes.com EDITORIAL

Emily Hickey MANAGING EDITOR Alex Sands NEWS EDITOR Kathleen Cook SPORTS EDITOR Jeffrey Kopp A&E EDITOR Hailey Turpin LIFESTYLE EDITOR Salina Dickie COPY EDITOR Mia Shelton OPINION EDITOR Leysha Caraballo PHOTO COORDINATOR Pooja Pasupula PHOTO COORDINATOR Joshua Worley VIDEO PRODUCER Carmen Westra COMMUNITY EDITOR Natasha Morehouse LAYOUT EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITORS

Stephanie Trefzger, Angie Baquedano, Emma West, Madison Dobrzenski CONTRIBUTING STAFF

Daniel Head, Chimena Ihebuzor, Ana Valdez, Taylor Maness, Brianna Sumpter, Sam Palian, Chris Crews

NEWSROOM: 705.687.7150

SPORTS

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Pearsonʼs passions

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Charlotte claims win over Clemson

Charlotte womenʼs basketball getting better wih age Charlotte runs for the record books

A&E • • •

TV REVIEW: ʻRuPaulʼs Drag Race All Starsʼ – ʻAll Star Variety Showʼ TV REVIEW: ʻAmericaʼs Next Top Modelʼ – ʻBeauty is Los Angeles/Beauty is a Trademarkʼ Gaming Roundup: January/February 2018

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MEDIA MARKETING MARKETING DIRECTOR

Fred Brown

mktdirector@uncc.edu

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ryan Scott

production@uncc.edu

MARKETING STAFF

Kayla Christian, Brandon Cox, Brandon Freer, Teely Yang, Yishni Yun

LOCATED IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE STUDENT UNION

NINER TIMES • RADIO FREE CHARLOTTE SANSKRIT LITERARY-ARTS MAGAZINE MEDIA MARKETING • TECHNICAL T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F N O R T H C A R O L I N A AT C H A R L O T T E

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JAN. 30, 2018

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POLICE BLOTTER JAN. 22 - JAN. 26

UNC Charlotte hosts ninth annual ‘49ers 4 Life’ blood drive American Red Cross partners with UNC Charlotte community to save lives during winter blood shortage

ARREST JAN. 26 •

9135 Mary Alexander Road, during a traffic stop, it was determined that the subject had an outstanding warrant out of Durham.

By Daniel Watson Photos by Chimena Ihebuzor

NEWS NEWS

ASSAULT JAN. 20 •

Hall, officer took a report in reference to a possible sexual assault involving a non-student.

DRUG VIOLATION JAN. 26 •

South Village Deck, officers issued one state citation and three campus appearance tickets in reference to possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

INFORMATION ONLY JAN. 22 •

Sanford Hall, officers responded in reference to a wad of toilet tissue that had been set on fire. The item was surrounded by concrete and no damage was noted to the floor or walls of the building.

LARCENY JAN. 24 •

Greek Village, unknown person(s) removed headphones from a room that had been left unsecured in a secured area.

For more information on Mecklenburg County arrests, visit arrestinquiryweb.co.mecklenburg.nc.us

On Jan. 23, the American Red Cross held the ninth annual 49ers 4 Life Blood Drive at UNC Charlotte. The blood drive took place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Barnhardt Student Activity Center. Maya Franklin, external communications manager for the American Red Cross Biomedical Services, was excited for another chance to partner with the UNC Charlotte community. “We’re really excited to be working with UNC Charlotte again. There’s so many student organizations that get involved. This year, we’re aiming to collect more than 650 blood donations.” According to the American Red Cross, this blood drive comes as the organization faces a winter blood shortage. Winter storms this month have forced many blood drives to cancel causing thousands of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. Blood is urgently needed now so patients can continue to receive the life-saving treatments they need. Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals as fast as they are coming in. “It’s important because one blood donation can save up to three lives,” said Franklin. “There are constantly patients who are in need of blood transfusions. The only way for them to get that potentially life-saving treatment is through blood donations. Obviously, there

is no substitute for blood, you can’t get it anywhere else but from our volunteers who regularly and bravely offer themselves to help save a life, the life of a stranger.” 732 pints were given, potentially saving 2,196 lives. Donors were compensated with a specially designed Red Cross T-shirt and food from local Jet’s Pizza and Appalachian Cookie Company. Senior Briana Teaver is no stranger to the needle. After giving blood on multiple occasions, she has learned that some things never change. “I always pass out when I give blood. I mean it’s pretty normal but that one was a lot more intense. But I do strongly suggest eating the [Appalachian Cookie Company] sugar cookie for comfort,” she said. Freshman Cam Russ is new to both UNC Charlotte and giving blood. “You know that was my first time giving blood and it actually wasn’t that bad,” he said. “I didn’t believe them when they said your blood turns blue once it hits the air, but I could actually see it as it passed through the tube.” Senior Zach Zamin was very happy to give back, describing ‘49ers 4 Life’ in two words. “Saving lives.”

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JAN. 30, 2018

Checking in with SGA By Ana Valdez

Press Secretary Ana Valdez catches us up on the latest in student government

The UNC Charlotte Student Government Association (SGA) is kicking off the spring semester with tabling, legislation and programs geared toward addressing the interests and concerns of our diverse student population. Updates As of November, 13 new student organizations have been approved by the legislative branch, bringing the total to 39. Information on newly approved organizations and how to join can be found on OrgSync. All Senate meetings begin at 5 p.m. every Thursday in room 200 of the Popp Martin Student Union. Senate meetings will also be streamed live on Instagram and are open to the public. SGA began a weekly social media campaign on Twitter and Instagram. Every day of the week represents a different theme. Wednesdays are used to announce the speaker at Senate for that week. The SGA Elections Act will be going under revision soon. For more information, contact Secretary of Internal Affairs Mackenzie Belton. New legislation has been passed in Senate that will address representing and informing the student body and act as a liaison between students, directors and administrative staff. The Student Senate is taking steps to formally create a Youtube

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channel on behalf of SGA. It will consists of speakers from the student senate and similar content. A new resolution changing “OrgSync” to “Norm’s Hub” has been adopted after a vote from the student body. A new resolution to establish Niner Palooza as an annual event has been adopted. Niner Palooza is intended to increase participation in SGA spring elections by connecting the student body with SGA representatives and University administrators. The Senate is in support of Niner Palooza as an annual event to ensure students are informed of their candidates and continue to foster a relationship between SGA and students. The current student body vice president and press secretary will be the new coordinators. New legislation can be found on https://sga.uncc.edu/legislation. Upcoming Events Niner Palooza will take place Monday, March 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be located in the College of Education and College of Health and Human Services plaza and will feature food trucks, free food, raffles and Norm the Niner.

THE GREAT CONDOM DEBATE

The debate regarding who should purchase the condoms in a sexual relationship

OPINION OPINION

By Taylor Maness Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Pixabay With great sex comes great responsibility. Sexual safety is important for any relationship. There are plenty options to choose from when it comes to contraceptives. Couples could choose birth control pills, an IUD, abstinence and many others. As effective as these methods may be, there is one form of birth control that reigns supreme among college students. The condom. It will come as no surprise many college students choose condoms as their favorable form of birth control. There is; however, one burning question that couples have. Should the man or the woman be buying the condoms? This seemingly simple question has raised quite a bit of debate among couples for years. Men are the ones who wear the condoms, so they should be in charge of buying them, right? Wrong. There has been a long standing myth that solely men should be supplying the condoms. The logic behind this is beyond flawed. To say tthe men are “in charge” of having the condoms is the equivalent of saying men are “in

charge” of sexual safety. Purchasing condoms should not be a sign of masculinity. Gender should not even be a factor. This double standard could lead to unprotected sexual activity. If a situation arises where a man does not have condom on hand, there would no protection for the man or woman against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. Safe sex should be practiced by everyone. This isn’t just the simple act of buying condoms. It’s a matter of taking control of your own sex life. Being adequately prepared for sexual activity of any kind is a crucial part of a healthy sex life. Condoms are the most popular form of birth control among college aged people. It is reported; however, that college students are foregoing birth control. A study done by the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada discovered that nearly 50 percent of sexually active college students aren’t using condoms at all. This is especially concerning considering college students make up for about half of STD cased. According to the Center for Disease Control, about 20 million new STD cases are reported every year. What’s especially chilling for us college folk is that half of these 20 million cases are from young people between the ages of 15 and 25. These facts aren’t thrown in here to scare you away from sex, but to highlight the importance for both men and women to be appropriately prepared. This doesn’t just protect you; it protects your partner, as well. What might cause such a commotion between couples over who should buy the condoms could just be the process of getting them. The walk

down the contraceptives aisle can be a daunting one. Many people could feel embarrassment, and even shame, over purchasing condoms. This is especially prevalent in women. The fear of being labeled as a “whore” or a “slut” stops women from feeling comfortable buying condoms. This is a societal issue that needs to be done away with. Not only should women feel comfortable buying condoms, they should feel encouraged to. It should be a liberating feeling to know that you are being sexually responsible. There should be no negative stigma placed on anyone taking the initiative to protect themselves and their partner. Communication among partners is crucial when it comes to buying contraceptives of any kind. Condoms come in a vast array of sizes, brands and fits. It might seem easier to let the man buy

the condoms simply to avoid a potentially awkward conversation. Avoiding these conversations could lead to a disconnection within the relationship. Talking to your partner about condoms should not be an uncomfortable situation. Couples should make an effort to sit and talk openly about sexual preferences; this would include condoms. This allows for a better understanding of what each person likes and dislikes. Being informed of these things about your partner leads to an overall openness and understanding in the relationship. These types of conversations are what create an intimacy between couples that stems well beyond just sexual activity. Both men and women should take responsibility for their sex lives. Now we can finally put this debate to bed. Who should be buying the condoms? Everyone.

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JAN. 30, 2018

Strategize with LIFESTYLE A&E Exercise

By Brianna Sumpter Photo courtesy of Pixabay and NT File

How to get fit on a budget

Sometimes as college students, we struggle with finding the time to balance everything we want to do in our day to day lives. We don’t always have access to the most beneficial foods, or the most convenient times to work out because as expected, most of us are broke college students. Luckily, our campus does have a great fitness center. Our fitness center is conveniently in the middle of campus in the Student Activity Center (SAC). The SAC is helpful for students who live on campus because they don’t have to travel to get to the gym and for commuters, you already have to come to campus, why not take a fitness class while you are here. There is plenty of variety in the fitness classes, which means the SAC has a little something for everyone. They offer cycling, yoga, zumba, BODYPUMP, cardio dance and many more fitness classes that you probably wouldn’t normally think of. Some of these classes are held in the Belk Gym as well, so you would have to go online and verify where each of the classes are. They also have swimming classes in the Belk Gym that you can take if interested. Aside from the fitness classes, each of these locations also has a fitness gym. The gym in Belk consists of treadmills, ellipticals, recumbent bikes, upright bikes, olympic benches and free weights to lift as well as many more pieces of equipment. The best part of all of this is each of these locations are free with your student ID card! They also have fitness assessments available to take, but these are $15 for students and $20 for nonstudents. Now that you know all that the fitness centers entail, it is important to know how to stay focused and accomplish what needs to get done

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at the gym. As far as remaining focused, I believe the center of focus is situational and varies with each person. Personally, I get more done in the gym when I go with a friend. My best friend is into working out and taking fitness classes so when I go with her, she is the perfect example that I need to see how to properly use the equipment and to stay focused. She is also my motivation to get up and go to the SAC or to the gym, since we do not live on campus. Some people tend to think that going to work out with another person is distracting, so their best bet is to go alone. If this applies to you, I recommend you bring a pair of headphones, because listening to the conversations of others around you can be very distracting. Make a playlist of the songs that motivate you the most so that you can concentrate and get to where you need to be in order to make your fitness trip a successful one. As far as what not to do, nobody should ever look at someone else’s exercise habits and methods and aim to copy them. Sometimes looking at what others are doing around you can be somewhat inspiring, it is never good to shoot to be like somebody else. Your body is not their body, you do not know how long they have been working out and the last thing you need to do is put the pressure on yourself to be like someone else. Everyone is different, your body is meant for you and nobody but you. Take your time, work at your own speed and trust yourself and your limits and you’ll get to where you need to be in no time. For more information on the on campus fitness centers, check out their website at https://sac.uncc.edu/ and https://recservices.uncc.edu/ facilities/belk.

5 Reasons Why You Should Party In College By Brianna Sumpter Photo by Chris Crews Let’s be real, we don’t need a reason to party. We’re college students, there’s pretty much an unspoken thing and it’s understood college students are going to go out and go to parties. On the other hand, there is always that percentage of college students who legitimately don’t go out and party. It’s understandable that it can be hard to balance everything and obviously our main priority is school. I feel like partying in college is a very big part of the college experience and can actually be very beneficial to you. When I say party, I don’t even mean the typical college stereotype of “getting wasted and wild.” Being sober at a party is totally normal and with that being said, here are five reasons why you should party in college. 1. Networking Although it might sound weird, almost everything in life is a networking experience. Going out to a party or a social gathering means there is obviously going to be other people at this party or social gathering. The chances of someone being there you did not know when you entered through the door are extremely high. This is the chance to meet so many new people. Especially if you’re an underclassman or someone who just transferred and does not know many people, this is the way to meet them. It can be extremely difficult to start over in college and meet new people. Going out to a social gathering makes it so much easier to casually meet people. Almost every time I have gone to a party, the next time I went back to school I saw a familiar face from the party. It is so worth it and you’ll be able to say you met new people. 2. Enhancing your social skills We have all heard of the phrase “if you don’t use it you lose it” and this is true when it comes to social skills. A lot of people believe the bulk of your social skills need to be established when you are young. Although I do believe that it is very necessary to establish social skills at a young age, it is just as necessary to carry that same set of skills throughout your whole life. Being able to socialize and talk to new people in your twenties is so essential. This is the time in a lot of our lives that we are working on finding ourselves and finding careers, and a lack of social skills really makes these years in our lives extremely difficult. When you go to a party, most of the time you end up conversing with someone you don’t know that well. Whether you’re shooting your shot or just having a conversation about the boy that won’t leave you alone, you are still working on your social skills. Being able to be in a room full of people that you don’t necessarily know, without having that feeling of discomfort is very prominent, especially in your college years. These parties are practice for what you will find in the real world, which is you having to be around people you don’t know constantly.

3. Memories When you look back on your college career and your children are asking what you liked best about college or your favorite college memory, what are you going to say? For some sooner than others, memories are going to be the only thing left of college at some point. Memories are going to be the only thing you’ll be able to look back on and smile about. If there’s anything that you don’t want to do in college, it is definitely not make memories. The biggest regret you’ll ever have is not going to that party, or not hanging out that one night with your friends, or not speaking to that person you thought was cute. The WORST thing to have to live with in life is regret. I encourage everyone to go out and make new friends and go to parties. As long as you’re taking precautions to be safe at all times, please by all means go out and have fun. My seventh grade social studies teacher, Mr. Kyle, told my class if there was any time he could re-live from his past it would be college. He also told us that if we go to college, it would be the best time of our lives. And he did not mean that stressing over tests and crying over professors was the best time of his life. He meant meeting his life long friends and really experiencing the joys of being young and free were the best times of his life. Make memories while you can! 4. To make mistakes I know this sounds weird, but it’s oddly true. Honestly, everyone in life makes mistakes. Think of the smartest, most insightful person you know and ask them how many mistakes they’ve made. Next, ask them when they made these mistakes and I guarantee you that most of them, if not all of them will say between the age of 17 and 25. If you get more in depth with the conversation, you will probably find that a lot of them, if they attended college, also attended numerous parties. If ever the time to make a mistake in life, it is definitely in college. The small mistakes that you can make now with your friends are a lot less life threatening than the mistakes you would make in the real world if you never made those mistakes. It may sound weird, but the next time you speak with a college graduate, ask them how many mistakes they made in college and how many of them were in a social setting and it will make more sense. 5. To have fun Lastly, please remember that we are college students and it is okay to have fun! Every now and then it is very necessary to put down the books and have some fun. You will literally tarnish yourself and your brain if you don’t take time to yourself. If you do anything in college, if all else fails, please please please be able to say you had fun! Live your best life and make as many memories as possible because once it’s gone, that’s it!

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JAN. 30, 2018

TEN YEARS OF BLUE SKY

A&E

by Jeffrey Kopp Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures Television/AMC “My name is Walter Hartwell White...” This is one of the first sentences television viewers first heard when “Breaking Bad” premiered on Jan. 20, 2008. The jarring opening scene of a half-naked man standing in the middle of the desert next to a crashed RV kickstarted what would become one of the most critically acclaimed television shows of all time. Over the course of five seasons and 62 episodes, viewers were treated to a wild ride of lies, betrayals and methamphetamine, which saw the rise of television’s greatest anti-hero. While most agree we currently live in the “Golden Age of Television,” The series was ahead of its time when it premiered ten years ago. “Breaking Bad” is not an easy show to watch by any means. It requires the viewer to question their own morality as the question “What would you do for your family?” is raised. Could you lie and go behind the backs of those most dear to you? Could you break the law to pay bills? Could you kill someone to guarantee tomorrow for yourself? Could you manipulate friends to get what you want? These are just a few of the morally-wrong actions Walter White (Bryan Cranston) does to build his drug empire. The viewer knows exactly why Walt is doing these things and the viewer knows that what he is doing is bad. Still, it’s basically impossible to root against him as he evolves from a nerdy chemistry teacher to a frightening maniac with a selfish messiah complex. Morality is a central theme of “Breaking Bad” and nearly every character is examined against the scope

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of what they’re willing to do and accept. Besides Walt, the most compelling character to have his ethics examined under a microscope is the greatest villain in all of television, Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito). The parallels between Walt and Gus add a layer of complexity as the two characters are meant to be seen as complete opposites, but as the series progresses, the wall between the men essentially disappears. The choices that these characters make are even more jarring to explore when compared to those of Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), who operates in the morally gray area; at the start of the series, he is portrayed as the stereotypical “junkie” character, but his layers are peeled back over the seasons, showing him to be possibly the most clean-handed player in the game. Aside from those involved directly in Albuquerque’s booming drug industry, Walt’s family provides an in-depth look at the secrets and lies that can literally destroy relationships and end lives. Skyler (Anna Gunn) and Walt Jr. (RJ Mitte) help to keep Walt grounded in the first few seasons, but when greed takes over necessity, the family dynamic shifts and becomes muddied. The same goes for Walt’s DEA brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris) and his wife Marie (Betsy Brandt), who represent the divide between law enforcement and crime that lurks in the shadows. The show makes strong claims that we don’t always know who our family and friends are; your neighbor next door, your teacher, your best friend or even your

significant other could be living a whole other life and you have no idea. “Breaking Bad” is the definition of peak television in every sense. The story isn’t told just through the narrative, but also in the cinematography and the performances. Literally every single scene has an additional layer to it when one pays attention to the lighting, framing and angles. The series toys with unusual placements and filming techniques to take bland ideas and environments, turning them into works of art; from POV shots and extreme fast-forwards, there is so much creativity packed into the series in the most subtle of ways. You can’t discuss the show without mentioning the acting, which will likely stand as the best in all of television as the years go on. Cranston, Paul and Esposito live and breathe Walt, Jesse and Gus respectively, commanding the screen with their presence and developing a fascinating dynamic with every other cast member. Perfecting subtle facial expressions and loud screaming matches, there is no denying that the plethora of Emmys this cast wracked up were 100% completely earned. Over the course of decades of television, several shows have stood out from the rest, but “Breaking Bad” surpasses even these. The story is a masterpiece, not necessarily because of the concept, but in the execution. It’s a show that started off small, but grew into a worldwide phenomenon and solidified itself into the cultural lexicon; even as it grew, “Breaking Bad” stayed true to itself and never tried to be something it wasn’t. The story was told and it went out on its own terms. Bold decisions in the narrative were made and risks were taken, but there were no gimmicks. “Breaking Bad” is a genuine tale of morality, secrets, lies and family. It will stand the test of time and live on to entrance future generations. 10 years after it first premiered, the show’s magic is still very much alive and likely won’t ever die.

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JAN. 30, 2018

ACROSS 1 Vulgar 5 Cancel, as a mission 10 Leave in a hurry 14 Gobi Desert continent 15 Calf-roping event 16 “The __ Duckling” 17 Writer Ayn 18 Harmless garden slitherer 20 Played the Samaritan 22 Italian automaker 23 “The Big Bang Theory,” for one 27 Big bang 29 Rock band staple 32 Gush 33 Ones who once shared quarters 36 Juicy Fruit, e.g. 37 Cause of shrinking beaches 38 Delivers the news 40 Cup o’ mud 43 Love sugary snacks, say 48 Up in the air

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49 Ukr., until 1991 50 Many Middle Easterners 51 More alluring 53 App symbol 54 Ten or more points, rebounds and assists in one game, in hoops lingo ... and a literal feature of 20-, 33- and 43-Across 60 Minor infraction 63 Special forces mission 64 Ointment additive 65 Fertile desert spot 66 Thomas __, 9/11 Commission chairman 67 Snowy day toy 68 Hilton rival 69 Poet Pound Down 1 Cooking fat 2 Morales of “NYPD Blue” 3 Collection of energyproducing turbines 4 Avant-garde art movement

5 Specialized jargon 6 NYC division 7 Took too much, briefly 8 Clarinet insert 9 Shades of color 10 Baker’s ring-shaped mold 11 Turkish honorific 12 Type 13 Caustic chemical 19 Earthquake prefix 21 Garden entrance 24 Piece of the action, or a shout that stops the action 25 Valuable underground find 26 Peaks: Abbr. 27 2016 film based on a Roald Dahl novel, with “The” 28 Baseball’s Gehrig 29 Archery ammo 30 Poet Marianne and actress Julianne 31 Dorm decoration 34 Workout count 35 Waterfall spray 38 Updated, as factory equipment 39 Diner, drive-in or dive 40 1969 Woodstock folk singer 41 Gambling venue letters 42 “I didn’t hear you” sounds 43 Gives birth to 44 Pub brew 45 __ populi: popular opinion 46 Food truck fare 47 Political satirist P.J. 52 Copier maker 53 That is, in Latin 55 Ask for divine guidance 56 Pop singer Loeb 57 Discharge 58 Perjurer 59 Writer Ferber 60 __ de deux 61 Pipe bend 62 Digit on a foot

FANCHER FRESH

SPORTS LIFESTYLE

Men’s basketball coach serves up subs for cancer fundraising

By Sam Palian Photo provided by Charlotte Athletics Men’s Basketball Head Coach Houston Fancher changed roles to a sandwich artisan at the Subway on campus for an hour on Tuesday, Jan. 23, as a part of Subway’s Coaches Versus Cancer fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. “I think it’s imperative we stand up and fight this. It’s not going to go away on its own. It’s important that we step forward, make contributions and do what we can to help fight this dreaded disease,” Fancher said. “I just love the opportunity to be out here, to be on the platform that I’m on right now and step aside and do something in support of this great cause. I’m all for it.” Donations can be made at the Subway in the Cone Center through the end of February. The money raised will help better and save lives from cancer. The money that goes to the society help to provide access to better care and prevention of cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Many coaches now participate and raise money in whatever ways they can through events including 3-point challenges and the Suits and Sneakers. “Some of the coaches in our region are all stepping forward and spending some time at Subway to help promote this cause. I think it’s important for us to step outside of our box so that we can do things too to help fight this,” Fancher said.

The awareness continues through Saturday when the 49ers turn their attention to their attire. All of the events are aimed at one goal: raise money

I THINK IT’S IMPERATIVE WE STAND UP AND FIGHT THIS. IT’S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY ON ITS OWN.

HOUSTON FANCHER HEAD COACH, MEN’S BASKETBALL

and attention for cancer research. “It’s Coaches Versus Cancer Weekend in the NCAA this weekend, so we’ll be wearing tennis shoes with our suits during our games to once

again raise awareness and that’s why we’re here today. To raise awareness, to draw support and to continue to fight this dreaded disease.” Fancher said he prepared for the hour of making sandwiches for students by making an abundance of sandwiches for his family the night before. As a coach on campus, he has spent his own time standing in the lines at Subway in Cone and knew exactly what to expect come the time for students to be getting out of their 11 o’clock classes. “We can excite students and make them aware of what’s going on here. They enjoy the process here, I’m not sure if they enjoy their sandwiches or not, but I hope they’ll be aware that what we are trying to fight here, we’ve got to do it together,” Fancher said. Students seemed to really enjoy meeting Fancher in this environment and he certainly seemed to enjoy it as well. The coach was incredibly lighthearted about making sandwiches for everyone while trying to help bring awareness to the cause of Coaches versus Cancer. “I think it’s a team fight, it’s something that we are all together trying to do, it’s not just an individual doing that. We’re helping to raise awareness and that’s what makes me excited about it, it gives me a chance to say, ‘Hey, this something that we need to do together,’” Fancher said. The 49ers will play their Suits and Sneakers game on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. against Old Dominion in Halton Arena.

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JAN. 30, 2018

2018 FOOTBALL SLATE ANNOUNCED

By Kathleen Cook Photo by Chris Crews

The Charlotte 49ers released the 2018 football schedule Tuesday morning. The schedule features eight opponents who traveled to bowl games last season. The team opens at home for the first three game and closes their schedule on the road for three of their last four games. For the second time ever, the team will open their season at home against FCS opponent Fordham on Sept. 1. The team finished 4-7 overall last season, 3-3 in the Patriot League. The last time the Niners could be seen at home for an opener was the 52-7 victory against Campbell. The following week, Sept. 8, Charlotte will take on in-state foe Appalachian State in the Rich. This will be the first time the two teams will compete against each other, but marks the beginning of a home-and-home series. The Mountaineers were the 2017 Sun Belt Champions and defeated Toledo, 340, in the Dollar General Bowl. The Niners will open conference play on Sept. 15,

FORDHAM APP STATE OLD DOMINION* @ MASSACHUSETTS @ UAB BYE WKU* @ MIDDLE TENNESSEE* SOUTHERN MISS* @ TENNESSEE @ MARSHALL* FIU* @ FLORIDA ATLANTIC*

* CONFERENCE USA GAMES

12 JAN. 30, 2018

2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

SEPT. 1 SEPT. 8 SEPT. 15 SEPT. 22 SEPT. 29 OCT. 6 OCT. 13 OCT. 20 OCT. 27 NOV. 3 NOV. 10 NOV. 17 NOV. 24

NINERTIMES

hosting Old Dominion. Charlotte has yet to defeat the Monarchs, losing 6-0 last season in Norfolk. The 49ers have also yet to win a conference opener. The following week the 49ers will travel up to Massachusetts to take on the Minutemen. Last season the team went 4-8 as an FBS Independent team which included a 17-13 loss at Tennessee and a 30-27 loss to Appalachain State in overtime. Sept. 29 the 49ers resume conference play traveling to UAB. The Blazers were the 49ers lone win last season with a 25-24 overtime victory on homecoming. UAB touts C-USA’s Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year with Bill Clark and running back Spencer Brown. The Blazers fell to Ohio, 41-6 in the Bahamas Bowl. The team will get a breather on Oct. 6 as this will be the team’s bye week. Charlotte returns to play Oct. 13 hosting WKU. The 49ers have only faced the Hilltoppers once before and lost 45-14 in Bowling Green. Last season Western Kentucky fell 27-17 to Georgia State in the Auto Nation Cure Bowl. Next, the Niners hit the road and travel to face Middle Tennessee on Oct. 20. Charlotte is 0-3 against the Blue Raiders. The last time the two teams met was in MT’s 35-21 victory at Jerry Richardson last season. The Blue Raiders defeated Arkansas State 35-30 in the Raycom Camellia Bowl at the conclusion of the 2017 season. Oct. 27 holds a home match for Charlotte against Southern Miss on Oct. 27. The Golden Eagles have lost to the 49ers once in their three matchups. The team finished 8-5 overall and 6-2 in conference. They lost to Florida State in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl, 42-13. The first weekend of November the 49ers will travel to Rocky Top as they will play against the University of Tennessee. The Niners have only faced an SEC opponent once before in their 5810 loss to Kentucky. The Volunteers were 4-0 in non-conference play last season and welcome new Alabama’s defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt as their head coach this season. Charlotte continues their road trip the next week

at Marshall on Nov. 10. The last time the team traveled to Huntington they returned to the Queen City victorious, 27-24 in 2016. The Thundering Herd beat Colorado State in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, 31-28. The Niners wil host FIU for their final game in Charlotte on Nov. 17. The 49ers are 0-3 all-time against the Panthers. FIU lost to Temple in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl, 28-3 last season. To finish the regular season, the 49es will travel to Florida Atlantic on Nov. 24 and face Lane Kiffin and the Owls. Charlotte recorded their first ever conference win two seasons ago in Boca Raton. Last season, the Owls were the C-USA Champions and they defeated Akron 50-3 in the Boca Raton Bowl. Spring practices and the annual Spring game are looming overhead, meaning these games will be here in no time.