The Hoya: The Guide: September 23, 2016

the guide FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FEATURED

GUIDE

SPORTS

Koechner on Comedy Career From “Saturday Night Live” to “Anchorman,” David Koechner discusses his career.

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Lacking Magical Flare The highly anticipated script “The Cursed Child” misses the bar set by the original “Harry Potter” series.

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Homecoming Game The football team will look to remain undefeated when it plays Columbia this Saturday.

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Beyond Bland New Italian restaurant All Purpose fails to impress with boring, lackluster cuisine.

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Mac Back for More Mac Miller’s latest album proves he is no generic artist, but a rapper with real talent.

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Conference Home Opener The No. 6 women’s soccer team will play its first Big East home game Sunday.

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THE HOYA

the guide

friday, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FEATURE

FICTIONAL GEORGETOWN References to Georgetown University are scattered across pop culture, from hip-hop to television to the countless films set in and around the neighborhood. These allusions to the Hilltop are a mark of Georgetown’s influence, as well as a testament to the creative inspiration countless filmmakers and television writers have taken from our nation’s capital and its most storied university.

TELEVISION

“I just got a call asking me if I wanted to comment on a story that’s going to run in the Georgetown Hoya tomorrow.” White House Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) says as he nervously paces around his boss — Toby Ziegler’s (Richard Schiff) — office. In the scene, Seaborn is reacting to concern about a Georgetown sociology professor teaching controversial material to a class in which the President’s daughter is enrolled.

Since this scene was actually shot on location, several Georgetown students were rumored to have been charged $10 for those who wanted to watch the shoot from nearby rooftops.

This snippet from the critically acclaimed political drama “The West Wing” is just one of many mentions of Georgetown in Aaron Sorkin’s Emmy-winning series. In another episode of “The West Wing” — this time in its fourth season, filmed in 2002 — President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) walks into Healy Hall to deliver a speech to his daughter Zoey’s graduating class, which features actual Georgetown students as extras. Like any proud parent overtaken by emotion, the series’ typically eloquent speaker struggles to find the right words.

Bartlet, in full cap and gown, shares a laugh with Georgetown’s president: “Got my speech on some napkins in my pockets. Although, I just realized I don’t have access to them anymore. But, you know, what are you gonna do?”

Zoey Bartlet’s romantic interest, Oval Office aide Charlie Young, is also a fellow Hoya. A protege of the president and a close friend to most high-level staffers, this fictional alumnus sets a high bar.

In the spirit of Zoey and Charlie’s Georgetown–White House power coupledom, the CBS legal and political drama “The Good Wife” presents us with another fabulous pairing: Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) and Will Gardner (Josh Charles), the Georgetown University Law Center lovebirds. When co-creator and Executive Producer Michelle King was asked why the main characters were

from Georgetown as opposed to Harvard or Yale, she told Georgetown Law she wanted to emphasize that smart, highly successful lawyers were just as likely to come from Georgetown as they did from any Ivy League school.

Even real-life figures from Georgetown make appearances in popular culture. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, one of Georgetown’s most distinguished faculty members, recently appeared in the CBS political drama “Madam Secretary,” where she gave Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni) foreign policy pointers during a walk around campus. Elizabeth’s daughter, Stevie (Wallis Currie-Wood) eventually transfers to Georgetown, while her father, Henry McCord (Tim Daly) is a lauded theology professor, enabling them to have long family lunches near Dahlgren Chapel’s benches.

When the time comes for Stevie’s younger sister to select a college, Stevie tells her to consider Georgetown, since she is “incredibly happy there.” Shots of campus are never missing in “Madam Secretary,” whether it is Henry being dropped off by a CIA van on Prospect Street in order to make it on time to class or Stevie running around in a snowy day, overwhelmed by all her pre-law homework.

The Georgetown community is also represented in “Scandal,” with Olivia Pope’s (Kerry Washington) law degree coming courtesy of Georgetown Law. The series also uses footage of the hospital in episodes where the characters are being treated. The tormented yet brilliant Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) in “Homeland” is also a former graduate, as is President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) in “24.” Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) of the “National Treasure” film series is also a graduate of our history department.

The HBO new release “The Brink,” a comic tour de force led by Alex Talbot (Jack Black) and Walter Larson (Tim Robbins), is strongly connected to Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service.

Inspired by the satirical honesty of “Veep,” “The Brink” casts the overwhelming task of managing international turmoil in a humorous light.

When Larson is asked to recommend someone to work at the State Department, he claims anyone from the SFS will do, “since all diplomats seem to come from Georgetown anyway.”

In the HBO crime drama “The Sopranos,” Carmela (Edie Falco), Tony Soprano’s wife, takes it upon herself to get her daughter Meadow into the university in season two. In order to gain an “admissions upper hand,” she asks Joan, a Georgetown graduate, to write her daughter a letter of recommendation. After Joan refuses, Carmela subtly implies that it is not wise to

Dani Guerrero Special to The Hoya

go against the wife of the biggest mob boss in Northern New Jersey. Even though her methods are devious — and illegal — there’s no denying her Hoya enthusiasm.

Netflix’s “House of Cards” may have failed to disclose any Georgetown graduates working in Frank Underwood’s administration, but for Georgetown Law professor Katyal, it was the start of a small acting career as a Supreme Court advocate in the third season. Initially a consultant, Katyal was cast because of his naturally compelling performance.

FILM

The apex of Georgetown’s cinematic history remains the 1973 horror classic “The Exorcist,” and its climactic scene at the infamous “Exorcist steps” that has become an indelible part of horror pop culture. Georgetown alumnus William Peter Blatty (CAS ’50), the author of the book upon which the film was adapted, wrote Fr. Karras’ dramatic death into his novel after being inspired by a classmate who fell from the stairs after stealing a physics exam.

Since this scene was actually shot on location, several Georgetown students were rumored to have been charged $10 for those who wanted to watch the shoot from nearby rooftops. William Friedkin’s film was based on Blatty’s novel, who recalled hearing about the exorcism of a boy in Maryland during a New Testament class in White-Gravenor Hall.

An emblematic depiction of Hoyas’ favorite haunt, The Tombs, can be found in Joel Schumacher’s film “St. Elmo’s Fire,” as a group of recent Georgetown graduates try to find their place in the post-grad world. Alec Newbary (Judd Nelson), former president of Georgetown College Democrats, is an aspiring public official who ends up working for a Republican senator. Alluring characters such as Billy (Rob Lowe) and Jules (Demi Moore) charmingly avoid all “grownup” responsibilities, while Kevin (Andrew McCarthy) seeks “the meaning of life” for his newspaper writings. All coming-of-age struggles seem to

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reach momentary truces at The Tombs, presented in all its mid-80’s glory.

MUSIC AND BOOKS

The most direct musical reference to the Hilltop is rapper Wale’s explicit reference to the Georgetown basketball team in his song “Georgetown Press,” focused on the contrast between notorious D.C. drug kingpin Rayful Edmond III’s notoriously close ties with the Georgetown basketball team in the 1980s and Coach John Thompson’s positive influence.

“Georgetown Coach John Thompson made a personal appeal to Edmond to stay away from his players,” Wale says in the outro of the song.

In the novels by Robert Ludlum, Jason Bourne’s adventures include his tenure as Georgetown linguistics professor David Webb.

In the novels by Robert Ludlum, Jason Bourne’s adventures include his tenure as Georgetown linguistics professor David Webb.

While in both “The Bourne Legacy” and “The Bourne Sanction” he returns to a more conventional lifestyle as a faculty member, he soon drops Webb’s quiet teaching existence and returns once again to serve as a CIA special agent.

What is unique about the University’s portrayal in pop culture is how references to the Hilltop emerge in reference to the best and brightest the nation’s capital has to offer. Not only is this context relevant, but it is additive to the national and global perception of the University as a center of excellence in political and legal education. The University has uniquely defined itself curricularly, independent of its vivid social life and continued athletic success.

sky.net, cbs

For those film makers, television producers, authors or musicians with an eye toward setting their work in the District, the Georgetown neighborhood, along with the university campus have become inescapable aspects of the city’s culture and history. Georgetown University has name recognition that lends itself to international mention.

the guide

friday, september 23, 2016

THE HOYA

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q&a feature

Michael White

The Music On My Playlist Michael white is a sophomore in the College. He is a music major, and is the events director for the WGTB radio station.

In an absolutely unsettling track that lives up to its title, Daughters delivers a dissonant assault on the brain. Do not show this to your grandma, because it sounds like it is being put through an automotive assembly line.

‘Fiery’ by Daughters In an absolutely unsettling track that lives up to its title, Daughters delivers a dissonant assault on the brain. Do not show this to your grandma, because it sounds like it is being put through an automotive assembly line.

‘bodmon’ by ramriddlz Canada has been consistently cranking out catchy tropical-sounding music and this is no exception. I dare anyone to listen to this hazy and warm song without shaking their hips inappropriately to the beat of Ramriddlz’s infectious autotuned crooning.

‘the realest’ by issues This is a funky combination of Hot Topic metal, rap and pop punk. It sounds awful, right? It absolutely is, but you cannot help but be amazed by the lyrics and sexy groove.

‘Wriggle’ by clipping This song has a sample that is scarier than HIM from “Powerpuff Girls” and Nevel Papperman from “iCarly.” Daveed Diggs impressively figures out how to rap over a monster of a beat. Everybody wants to talk about how great the musical “Hamilton” is, but no one wants to talk about how good Daveed Diggs and clipping are at churning out dark but catchy rap tracks.

‘brown sugar’ by d’angelo Every single time I put this song on my computer, I find myself making out with the screen. This neo-soul classic is so unapologetically sexy and smooth. It is like listening to molasses while taking a rose incense bath surrounded by candles.

I cannot conceive of anything sexier than D’Angelo’s crooning over the frosty electric organ. Even though this is an older track, it is absolutely timeless and I would recommend it every day of the week.

COURTESY DAVID KOECHNER

David Koechner is known for his comedic prowess, but is making a dramatic turn in the upcoming thriller “Priceless,” directed by Ben Smallbone. It tells the story of a truck driver who works to free two girls trapped in a human trafficking ring.

Koechner Gets Serious

Comedian David Koechner talks past, future john miller

tion, but the tone of the film isn’t comedic at all.

Best known for his role as sportscaster Champ Kind in the 2004 comedy “Anchorman” and as Steve Carrell’s irreverent friend Todd Packer in “The Office,” actor and comedian David Koechner is recognizable by almost all modern-day audiences, even if they do not know his name.

Koechner first rose to prominence doing sketch comedy on “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” in the mid-1990s. He then earned praise for playing a more serious role in 2013’s “Cheap Thrills,” and looks to continue with his new film “Priceless,” a drama thriller about human trafficking set to be released on Oct. 14.

Aside from acting, Koechner continues a career in stand-up comedy, and is currently doing a string of shows, which includes performances at the Arlington Drafthouse in Arlington, Va. from Sept.

22 to Sept. 24.

The Hoya spoke with Koechner earlier this week to discuss his upcoming projects.

Was this a conscious career choice to move into a dramatic role, or was it a function of being in the right place at the right time when the role arose?

A little bit of both. My buddy Steve Barnett was the producer and asked me if I wanted to do it. It was a short commitment and not too far away from the family, so I did it.

Hoya Staff Writer

Some of your characters share a similarly irreverent manner. Where did that inspiration come from? Is it a character that comes naturally?

The inspiration comes from the writers. How you play the script is where the characters come alive, it’s a combination of the writers and directors. I don’t have an instinctual desire to play horrible human beings. It’s not often in life you can say horrible things to and about other people with no consequence — that’s where the fun in playing that type of character comes from. For me, it’s completely ironic.

I have five kids and a wife whom I adore; there’s not any misogyny living within me.

Nor am I a racist or a xenophobe, but I see it in other people. These characters are satirical, and are meant to make people say “I know somebody like that.”

The millennial generation grew up with some of your iconic characters. What should audiences expect from you in your new film “Priceless”?

A surprise. “Priceless” is a drama about human trafficking. There’s no comedy in this film. There are a few places where there is a laugh because of an absurd situa-

How do the skills you have developed on screen translate into the standup format?

I started in sketch improv 30 years ago.

That’s where I did my training, so that’s where those skills come from. I’ve done live theater and live comedy since I began.

It’s much more translating those skills onto the screen.

In what format is your home base?

Where are you most comfortable?

I would say it’s in all media. I enjoy each format equally. Film is a little more special because it is mounting such a big, one-time show and you have to get it right. There are so many elements, and it’s such a large undertaking that you end up having more pride and ownership if it turns out well. I certainly love every facet of show business.

Stand-up comedy is a one-man show, but film is a different dynamic. Is your approach different in that regard?

Certainly. The technical aspects change what you are going to do. Inside of what you are doing, there are so many essentials that are the same.

What was it like working with Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carrel on “Anchorman”?

It was as wonderful as you can imagine.

I’ve known these guys for a very long time, and we’ve worked together for years. Picture the greatest pickup game you’ve ever played, or whatever thing you love to do, with some of the best players in that game.

You’re playing at the highest level, so it’s fantastic.

Did that role alongside Carrell build a chemistry that led to your role in “The Office”?

Directly, because there was trouble cast-

ing Todd Packer. I have known Steve for a very long time, and I was out of town shooting “Snakes on a Plane.” Steve suggested to writer Greg Daniels: “What about Koechner?”

You can tell by the relationship on screen that it must have been a natural chemistry. Was that the case?

We’re friends, and when you get to work with your friends, it’s just that extra joy.

The only thing I can equate it to is, say in basketball, the other guy knows where you are going to be on the court, and he gets you the ball at the right moment. In football, it would be akin to a timing route.

You worked with Ferrell on “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights,” but also earlier on “Saturday Night Live.” Is there anything in progress for a future collaboration?

Not right now. I don’t know what Will is up to. I just shot a TV pilot, and I’m waiting to see how that turns out. Hopefully it works out in the short run and takes up a chunk of my time in the future.

You have worked with so many greats in the entertainment industry over the years. Is there someone in particular you have not worked with that you would like to?

There are probably too many people to mention. The first that comes to mind in the Coen Brothers, or Tarantino. At the same time, you don’t want to get a list, because what if someone out there sees your short list and goes “Wow, I didn’t make it?”

Those sort of things I don’t put too much weight on.

Having been a college student, what is your advice for us?

Number one is to read “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell, and number two is to keep reading. Always be reading, your professors will love that. Honestly, now is the time for great growth. That really is the opportunity here. You’re getting all of this independence and freedom, and how are you going to use it? This is important because it can impact the rest of your life.

It’s about opening as many doors as you can within your mind, knowing they are there, and exploring all of them. I want to go back.

YOUTUBE

Comedian David Koechner was born in Missouri but now resides in Los Angeles. He performs regularly at improv clubs there; following a yearlong gig on “Saturday Night Live” in 1995, Koechner shot to fame for his role in “Anchorman” (right).

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the guide

THE HOYA

Feature

Friday, september 23, 2016

This week’S TOP FIVE

High-Profile Celebrity Divorces

1

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

Cries can be heard around the world as the “Brangelina” era has drawn to a close. The high-profile relationship recently came to a shocking ends after 12 years.

Jolie was the initiator of the divorce and, according to sources, is fighting for full custody of their six children.

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BONOBOS

Bonobos, a men’s fashion retailer, has pioneered an innovative model that encourages customers to purchase online after trying clothes on in the store.

Shopping Redefined In the 21st Century Eleanor Tolf Hoya Staff Writer

Through an all-glass storefront, the layout of Bonobos’ new “guideshop”, essentially a showroom for clothes, is sparse and simple — bare white walls, steel accents and a few wooden tables display select pieces of the modern men’s fashion line. The guideshop is unique among brick-and-mortar stores, as it directs customers to purchase online after visiting. The store does not offer in-store purchases but instead ships items to the customers, without an additional fee, in one to two business days.

As Bonobos’ Public Relations Manager Erin Grant describes, Bonobos is attempting to present itself in a way that appeals to urban men.

“We aim to promote a masculine and modern aesthetic,” Grant said.

This target aesthetic becomes clear upon entry into the store, as customers are greeted with a beer to sip while shopping. Located on 1924 Eighth St. NW in the Shaw neighborhood, this is the 22nd national and second D.C. storefront of the originally online-based company. The layout of the space reflects Bonobos’ unique millennialfocused model of shopping.

There are usually two or three customers in the shop at any given time, and all customers are assigned to their own guide, who help direct them toward proper fits and appropriate styles. Founder Andy Dunn has proven through his online and in-store success that modern young men are looking toward more individualized shopping experiences focused on clothes that properly fit both their style and bodies.

Bonobos was originally the brainchild of Dunn’s Stanford Business School roommate, Brian Spaly. Spaly’s experience of self-tailoring his pants for years due to his muscular build was the inspiration for the creation of a company that met more specific stylistic needs for men. By 2009, he and Dunn had raised $3.57 million from investors and set up their New York headquarters. Their principal product reflected Spaly’s original need — washed chinos with a “signature curved waistband” to better conform to differing shapes.

While Spaly left the company in 2009, going on to found the successful startup Trunk Club, Bonobos continued to grow under Dunn’s supervision. In 2011, the company began opening physical locations with its new e-commerce guideshop model. The locations of Bonobos’ 22 current physical locations include Georgia, Washington, Texas, California, Maryland,

Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts and D.C. Bonobos is not alone in this new online and in-person retail model. Companies like Warby Parker, Amazon and Modcloth are all establishing physical locations as add-ons to their once purely digital establishments. In 2013, an IBM report indicated that almost half of all digital shoppers assess merchandise in store before buying online.

Some Georgetown students find the Guideshop model confusing.

“I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just go all the way and make a real storefront,” Benny Weisman (COL ’19) said.

However, according to Bonobos, the purpose of this model is to eliminate the possibility of an item being out of stock. They also hope that not having to lug bags out of the store will be an appealing prospect for shoppers.

Like many other startups, Bonobos has been taking on the advertising industry through alternate approaches, trying to target the elusive millennial market. In 2012, the online retailer dramatically reduced marketing spending focused on traditional advertising formats. Instead, they doubled search-engine marketing and focused on building partnerships with similar companies.

Bonobos is not alone in its attempt to target a generation of young professionals, though it is uniquely suited given its orientation toward quality style at an accessible price.

“Bonobos is, quite honestly, the perfect brand for a college student. [It] provides a wide variety of clothing styles for every college event while still being affordable — providing a 15 percent discount for students — and guaranteed to look great,” Lindsey Kirchner, a public relations intern for Bonobos, said.

So far, it is still too early to tell if these advertising routes are reaching college students. Many, like Henry Horita (NHS ’19), had never heard of the brand, online or offline, and are confused about the benefits such a model might bring.

“In my opinion, I don’t know if I’d go out of my way to [go to a Guideshop] unless I was buying a suit or something,” Horita said.

It is difficult to convince students, who are rushing to fit everything into their schedule, to make extra trips; however, the small storefronts are making a big splash on working millennial men’s style. From personalized service to an innovative new business model, Bonobos’ guideshop may redefine the shopping experience.

THE FIX

Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt

Before there was Angelina, there was Jennifer. Pitt ended the marriage when he met Jolie on the set of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Despite Aniston’s remarriage to Justin Theroux, her response to the recent shocking announcement, “That’s karma,” shows evidence of some residual spite.

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FEMINISTA

Elin Nordegren & Tiger Woods

Back in 2010, one of the world’s most successful and influential golfers publicly admitted to cheating on his wife, shattering numerous hearts and destroying his marriage. Within a year, America’s former favorite golfer stained his reputation beyond repair and ended up paying more than $100 million to his ex-wife.

4

BIGLEAD

Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin

Although they announced their decision of a “conscious uncoupling” two years ago, this duo still remains family-oriented and amicable, despite Martin’s claim that he went through a year of depression immediately following the split. They are still seen out and about together with their two children, Apple and Moses.

5

WOMANISTA

Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries

A shockingly brief marriage of only 72 days can only be associated with the Kardashian clan. The overly extravagant wedding was projected to have cost upward of $10 million. It also aired on the popular reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” leading the public to raise some eyebrows about the legitimacy of the relationship.

CARBONATED

Photo of the Week | Sunset Over Campus

BONOBOS

Targeted at the working millennial man, the “guideshop” features guides for each customer to assist in selecting the best fits and style.

DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA

the guide

friday, September 23, 2016

THE HOYA

B5

RESTAURANT review

Falling Short on All Fronts all purpose

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1250 Ninth St. NW | Cuisine: Italian | $$ Viviana de santis Hoya Staff Writer

Developing on opposite banks of the Atlantic Ocean, authentic Italian food in its many regional variations and ItalianAmerican food have become distinct cuisines. While Italians understand that no comparison exists between the two culinary traditions, All Purpose, the newest of many eateries in the Shaw neighborhood, represents a failure to identity with either. Instead, it is simply a failed attempt at Italian-American food.

Although my friend from Rome and I have eaten at several Italian-American restaurants together, All Purpose made us regret our decision to explore another. The painfully adulterated imitations of the traditional dishes to which our senses had grown accustomed were hardly appetizing.

When I arrived for dinner, the eatery was overcrowded and busy. After glancing at the menu, I noticed many grammatical variants of the Italian language and started critically assessing the originality of the place. I first chose an adaptation of a typical Italian dish, calamari fritto ($12). The only reinvented aspect of the plate was a sense of distaste. A thinly sliced lemon had been fried with the calamari and served on a base of sweet Calabrian chili aioli. I was shocked to learn that the region of Calabria suddenly shifted from its historical cult of spiciness to sweeter tastes. Despite these

VIVIANA DE SANTIS/THE HOYA

All Purpose fails to execute on its uninspired menu offerings.

flaws, the dish escaped a major pitfall by limiting its reuse of frying oil, as I deduced from the crispy, golden, almost white, crust.

After disapproving of how non-Italian even the most nominally authentic of the hot appetizers turned out to be, my friend and I examined the pizza section of the menu only to find six expensive options. Prices for pizzas ranged from $14 to $20. I opted for a classic tomato and mozzarella margherita pizza ($14), while my friend ordered a Cossimo ($19). The menu described the Cossimo selection as a combination of roasted mushrooms, tallegio, scallions, preserved truffle sauce and grana, but what came to the table was an undistinguishable white plateau of sloppily compiled ingredients.

A homogeneous blandness characterized the Cossimo pizza and its excessive cheesiness roughly contrasted the overly dense whole-grain pizza dough.

A homogeneous blandness characterized the Cossimo pizza and its excessive cheesiness roughly contrasted the overly dense whole-grain pizza dough. A few slices of pizza were enough to leave us with hardly any space to spare. Viscous and fluid at the same time, the tomato and mozzarella pizza resulted in the dish’s lacking a defined taste.

Apart from the disappointing presentation and consistency, the restaurant lacked an important quality of most businesses: flexibility to consumers’ demands. My friend and I were denied little variations from the stiff menu standards, leading us to believe that the restaurant has yet to build some adaptability into its menu choices in order to accommodate allergies or strong, specific preferences. For instance, the server confessed that due to gaps in cooking experience and lack of many ingredients such as fresh mozzarella, my pizza could only come with melted cheese.

All Purpose fails to meet the goal of producing high-quality offerings that most eateries set for themselves. While the restaurant may appeal to those looking for a bustling eatery in a popular neighborhood, those looking for quality and value in their food should pass All Purpose by without a second thought.

VIVIANA DE SANTIS/THE HOYA

All Purpose is a restaurant that feels pulled in too many different directions, as it fails to fullly identify itself with traditional Italian or Italian-American cuisine.

RESTAURANT review

Timber Pizza Expands Beyond Foodtruck timber pizza

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809 Upshur St. NW | Cuisine: Italian | $$ Sarah Jackmauh Hoya Staff Writer

Every Wednesday, a long line of students winds through Red Square hoping to get a taste of one of the District’s most famed food trucks — Timber Pizza Company — at the Georgetown University Farmers Market.

Students, professors and other members of the community loosen their belts one notch and open their wallets in preparation for the full-sensory immersion of this gourmet pizza experience.

Timber Pizza boasts a wide range of woodburning, oven-cooked artisanal pizzas. In 2014, co-founders Andrew Dana and Chris Brady began launching their savory pizza line at farmers markets across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

The entire restaurant exudes a cozy feel — Dana, one of the owners, took my order, and the other owner gave me my food.

The team became a local sensation and was picked up by chef Dani Moreira. Moreira, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, is the executive chef at the team’s first established storefront at 809 Upshur Dr. NW in the Petworth neighborhood, which opened its doors this past summer. With praises from The Washingtonian and DC Eater, as well as rave reviews in Zagat, Timber Pizza has become a new hit in D.C. After stealing bites of my friends’ pies during farmers’ market each Wednesday, I decided to travel to Timber Pizza’s Petworth location to give it a try.

Timber Pizza’s environment and ambiance compensated for the 25-minute Uber drive and made the long journey well worth it. The small storefront did not do justice to the large and expansive interior. The exposed whitewashed brick is reminiscent of an airy New York City loft, while the wood-brick oven in the central hearth brings eaters into a Tuscan backyard. Metal stools and chestnut wood benches give off the feel of a Nashville barbecue joint, while the excellent wait staff

and take-out service bring you right back to mom’s kitchen. The entire restaurant exudes a cozy feel — Dana, one of the owners, took my order, and the other owner gave me my food and held the door for me as I left the buzzing atmosphere.

Navigating the menu was difficult, as all the pizzas are unique and loaded with a variety of ingredients, from sweet potato fritters and provolone on the Ackley ($15.50), to 16-hour slow-roasted pork and pineapple chunk on the Lot ($16). Eventually, I ordered the Dunya salad ($7), the Cheese Please ($12) pizza and the Green Monster ($15) to bring back to my two roommates.

The Dunya was a hearty appetizer, with leafy greens unearthing a layer of sweet potato, butternut squash, beets and pistachios. The salad came with a za’atar vinaigrette, which I could have gone without, since the leftover seasoning from the ingredients — mainly the potatoes and squash — gave the salad enough flavor. Each salad can be ordered for one ($7) or for sharing ($18).

Luckily, I was not full enough to pass on slices of both pizzas, which were happily shared and devoured among the three of us. Timber nicely combined a variety of cheeses on the Cheese Please pie, which offered a provolone and mozzarella mix as well as classic mozzarella over the whole pizza. The provolone gave a mature flavor, which contrasted nicely with the sweetness of tomato and basil.

While the Cheese Please was a fresh take on a classic cheese pie, the highlight of the meal was the Green Monster. With a pesto sauce and feta cheese base, this pizza offered the perfect balance of leafy greens and aged cheese — not to mention the kale and zucchini, which were crisped to perfection and placed on top of this already mouth-watering medley.

Prices are average for a 10-inch pizza, at $12 for the Cheese Please and $15 for the Green Monster. Yet, the high-quality presentation, flavors and combination of fresh vegetables and cheese make the prices seem like a bargain. The menu allows for add-ons, ranging from $1 to $3, for those who wish to customize their pizzas with a personal twist.

Those who do not have time to trek to Petworth can stop by Timber Pizza’s mobile cart at the farmers market in Red Square, where getting gourmet food is as easy as pie.

FACEBOOK

The restaurant offers a refreshing and creative combination of fresh-Mex cuisine and standard healthy fare including vegetarian options.

TIMBER PIZZA CO.

Timber Pizza Company, one of the most popular food trucks at the weekly farmers market in Red Square, opened a brick-and-mortar location this past summer.

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the guide

THE HOYA

Friday, September 23 , 2016

Book review

Neither Magical Nor Spellbinding THe Cursed child paolo santamaria Hoya Staff Writer

Nearly two months after the release of the much-anticipated play transcript, “The Cursed Child,” the magic is all but gone from the world of Harry Potter.

Set more than 19 years after the end of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the play further introduces and develops the children of Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy as they take center stage in a quest through time and history. All the while, familiar heroes explore the demons that continue to haunt them.

In a tweet from J.K. Rowling on June 29, 2015, the best-selling author said the story should be considered canon, adding that she, along with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, the play’s writer and director, respectively, developed it together.

That this work now exists as fact in the beloved world of Hogwarts is not only disappointing, but also feels like an attempt to cash in on fan-fiction.

The foundation of Harry Potter was that, despite the wizardry, everything always seemed rooted in reality. It was an immersive and captivating world that blurred reality into a world of magic and fantasy.

This was a world in which certain rules balanced out and contextualized Rowling’s vivid imagination.

Rowling, Thorne and Tiffany, in a single poorly written play somehow managed to completely erode that foundation and upset the entire Harry Potter universe.

The saddest component is the havoc this release has wrought upon the beloved wolrd of wizardry in which so many of us dreamed of growing up.

One source of havoc is the prominent role of the time tuner, a powerful timetravelling device. In an interview regarding the third book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Rowling addressed her creation of the time turner and how she regretted developing it without a second thought as to the long-term potential consequences. She stated that she rectified these issues by having Hermione return her time turner coupled with Dumbledore’s monologue emphasizing the danger of time travel.

In contrast to Rowling’s lighthearted exploration of time travel in the original seven books, she fully immerses the reader in the concept in the “The Cursed Child,” staging the time turner as the focal point of the story.

 Rowling makes a strange choice at the start concerning the relationship between the two main characters. Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, the two main characters in the play and children of Harry and Draco, respectively, experience three years of Hogwarts in the first few pages, placing them in their transformative fourth year for most of the story.

Their friendship, one many have analyzed as being more than just a typical guysbeing-guys relationship, is the crux of the story. Never one for the easy route or the safe play, Rowling could have made Albus and Scorpius dynamic characters. Instead, both characters are static as Albus has a chip on his shoulder and Scorpius serves as an ever-present voice of reason.

The reductionist stereotyping and archetyping hardly stop at the protagonists.

The main villain of the story, Delphi, is so obviously the femme fatale that she might as well have been named Jezebel. Further, the twist that comes with her character shakes up the established canon so aggressively that it serves to undermine the preceding 19 years of careful characterization.

It is easy to pick on the new characters and compare them to the literary perfection that is Rowling’s original roster of wizards and witches. However, the contributions of familiar characters should, in theory, be enough to overlook the comically awful new characters. Unfortunately, the old characters are somehow even more poorly written than the new ones.

Harry flirts with the prospect of being an absentee father, while retaining the angst that typified his younger self. Hermione easily could have been replaced with an encyclopedia for the wizarding world without much effect, except for when she makes an uncharacteristic mistake that exacerbates the climax. While this twist adds excitement, it feels as though the writers had simply run out of other ideas.

The only redeeming quality to any character in the play is Ginny’s resemblance of a good parent, and her show of genuine concern for her son.

Unfortunately, Ginny’s care comes far too little and much too late. Emotion is not only absent in the characters, however, as the play lacks any emotional connection to the original seven novels. For a story that leaves its readers with more questions than answers, it is best for anyone who loves the Harry Potter series to leave this final page in the Harry Potter story unturned.

Rowling, Thorne and Tiffany, in a single poorly written play somehow managed to completely erode that foundation and upset the entire “Harry Potter” universe.

the fix

An attempt to extend the “Harry Potter” franchise into a new medium and to reach a new audience, “The Cursed Child” is an unnecessary addition to the series.

movie review

Love and Film Shine in Despotic Darkness tHe lovers and the despot Mateo garnica Hoya Staff Writer

“The Lovers and the Despot” is a documentary that examines life and culture in North Korea through the lens of dictator Kim Jong Il’s attempt to create an internationally recognized film industry in North Korea. Against the backdrop of longexisting Cold War tensions between North and South Korea, a South Korean director and an actress, Shin Sang Ok and Choi Eun Hee, respectively, have become the central figures of a vanity-fueled attempt by late North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il to cre-

ate film projects that rival those of South Korea.

The co-directors of “The Lovers and the Despot,” Ross Adam and Robert Cannan, use the experiences of Shin and Choi to illustrate the absurd extent to which North Korea’s leadership will go to satisfy the egos of the Kim dynasty. With the use of audio recordings from Shin as well as footage of North Korean pageantry and daily life, the directors succeed in revealing life within the infamous regime.

“The Lovers and the Despot” goes beyond mere factual analysis, taking time to examine the emotional and personal side

 of each person involved. Significant time is given to analyze the demeanor and personality of both Kim and Shin. The narrative of Shin’s troubles and his ambitions evokes an understanding of his complicated relationship with North Korea’s despot.

A fuller picture also begins to develop regarding the psyche of Kim and his various passions, including one for the arts. Choi offers the starkest analysis of the couple’s time, giving an intimate glimpse into her mental state at the time, as well as that of the now-deceased Shin. Through various other testimonials, a complete account of the couple’s experiences and psyches dur-

PALETTE 22

In an attempt to garner international recognition for the fledgling North Korean film industry, notorious dictator Kim Jong Il kidnapped a prominent couple in South Korean cinematography to serve as a foundation for new direction.

ing this period emerges.

The directors developed a keen eye toward capturing the realities of life in North Korea through archival footage. The imagery of the dynamics of North Korean life demonstrate the statecraft of autocracy and its capacity to elicit not only fear but also feigned emotions in its citizenry. This capacity for manufacturing synthetic emotion and friendship was also mastered by the two protagonists in their effort to remain in the good graces of their benevolent host and abductor.

Kim’s twisted account of their stay showcased Choi and Shin as willing visitors who had spurned the luxuries of the Western World. Every image and bit of footage released of them seemed to indicate that they were enjoying their stay. In reality, this was a thin veneer, which barely masked the couple’s fear and suffering under the stifling authoritarianism of the regime. While they had been supplied with all the resources they would ever need for creating their art, they were cognizant that they were only within Kim’s benevolence as long as they remained true to his aims and narrative.

At its heart, this documentary is a story about resilience and patience. In a case of life imitating art, Shin put to use his knowledge of various films, such as Steve McQueen’s “The Great Escape,” to piece together a plan for his own getaway. Both he and Choi became enamored with the generosity and acclaim they garnered in North Korea and the Communist Bloc for a time, but success could only obfuscate their lack of freedoms for so long. This is the real conflict of the film: whether people should sacrifice their political freedoms in order to be able to fully exercise their artistic sensibilities and passions.

In the end, the film is not only a portrayal of the personal trials of the couple, but also the extent of the cult of personality that surrounds the Kim family and the methodologies used by Kim Jong Il to maintain his absolute authority over his subjects. The directors do well in using this anecdotal experience in order to point to the broader issues facing those living north of the 38th parallel. This piece is a well-constructed observation of the idiosyncratic state of North Korean society.

the guide

friday, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Sunlit Youth

album review

Special to The Hoya

Los Angeles-based five-piece Local Natives released its third album, “Sunlit Youth,” an ambitious new record that explores themes of love, drugs, politics and youth, earlier this month.

While the album signifies the band’s somewhat rough transition from folk-infused indie rock to techno-influenced pop, it also offers honest, thought-provoking lyrics and glimpses of musical brilliance.

Lyrically, the album demonstrates both nostalgic remembrance of the past and a desire for wisdom rather than the somewhat naive hopefulness characteristic of the band’s 2010 debut “Gorilla Manor,” or the dark intimacy of its 2013 sophomore effort “Hummingbird,” fittingly mirroring the evolution of the band itself.

The five members of Local Natives have been together since the band originated in 2005, with the exception of bassist Nick Ewing, who joined in 2012. The men are now approaching their 30s, and the concepts of age and time are a clear focus of the album. Writing credits are given primarily to bandmates Kelcey Ayer, Ryan Hahn and Taylor Rice, but the work saw collaboration between all five members.

Musically, the band strays from its lo-fi indie rock origins by incorporating electric synth

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into most songs. “Sunlit Youth” experiments with an electronic pop sound while retaining soulful lyrical integrity, mystical harmonies and characteristically intense percussive rhythms. Though the album misses the mark in certain respects — sounding at times confused and uncoordinated with its exploration of a new sound — it is wholly representative of both the band’s push for growth and desire to hold on to its identity.

The first track, “Villainy,” sets the tone for a significant shift from the subdued, jaded themes of depression and anguish present on “Hummingbird.” The upbeat, electronic single is an anthem of hope and renewal, featuring the lyrics, “I know that I’ll make it through/ Mine is a chrome palace/ Islands and old ballads/ Shining like brand new.” The song is bold and ambitious; the heavy bass and explosive synth backgrounds are a far cry from the live drums and electric guitar riffs that defined “Gorilla Manor” and the band’s most famous hit, “Wide Eyes.”

On first listen, “Villainy” may be a noticeable change for a Local Natives fan. The lyrics seem to be calling out to the listener as much as they are reflecting on the narrator’s life, “It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust/ Step out into the sun.” The lyrics acknowledge the initial shock of the new sound, but promise beauty to come.

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Local Natives burst onto the music scene with the release of the 2009 record “Gorilla Manor,” which was self-funded by the band and debuted in the Billboard 200.

CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND

“Dark Days,” the second — and perhaps most well-known — song off the new release blends the folksy vocals and mystical harmonies that typify the band with a strong bass line and techno-pop synth melodies. “Ellie Alice” features acoustic guitar and a detailed narrative on the verses, while switching to more electronic influences and nostalgic, reflective lyrics in the choruses. These two songs strike the right balance between the band’s roots and its new direction.

In particular, “Dark Days” and “Ellie Alice” are coherent and simple yet thoughtful — a refreshing break from the overwhelming synth chaos of songs like “Past Lives,” “Jellyfish,” “Masters” and “Fountain of Youth.”

The standout track on the album, “Coins,” is different from any other on “Sunlit Youth.”

“Coins” is not defined by mellow washed-out melodies or over-the-top complex techno riffs.

Instead, it is characterized by funky, groovy electric guitar patterns and soulful, melodic voices. The emotion and honesty of the song are captured in Ayer’s solo vocal belted on the verse, while the lyrics, written

by Hahn, encapsulate an obsession with the past: “Time stands still and then one day it’s gone/ Where did it go?/ Where did I go?/ We couldn’t wait to grow old/ But I can’t fight the feeling anymore.”

Like other songs on the album, it begins acoustically and adds in electronic features for the chorus. Unlike some tracks, however, it succeeds at achieving musical allure without trying too hard to be different. Where “Coins” succeeds and where other songs fail is in simplicity and sincerity, typifying the main issues with the album.

While the release of “Sunlit Youth” may end comparisons of Local Natives to contemporaries like Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear, it begins a new age of the band: one that may not be attractive to all but is progressive and exciting nonetheless. The album is not without flaws but is still definitely worth a listen.

album Review

The Divine Feminine

Mac Miller

ZUNICK

NICK HARRISON Hoya Staff Writer

Mac Miller’s latest album, “The Divine Feminine,” is a milestone for the Pittsburgh rapper. Despite his unimaginative 2011 debut album, “Blue Slide Park,” leading many people to write him off as generic and uninspired. Miller exceeded expectations with his psychedelic 2013 album, “Watching Movies with the Sound Off.” His sophomore project boasted a stellar feature list and improved lyricism. His follow-up 2015 album “GO:OD AM” was also strong and saw Miller touch on his past struggles with substance abuse and his newfound positivity.

Prior to the release of “The Divine Feminine,” Miller had already overcome his mediocre reputation through a period of devoted musical experimentation. The only ques-

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MUSIC

Local Natives Jillian Aicher

THE HOYA

tion remaining was where he would go from here. Few could have guessed that he would make a 10-song project about love, but Miller never fails to surprise.

“The Divine Feminine” is more cohesive and focused than Miller’s past efforts, each of which was several songs longer and thematically scattered. The album’s opening track, “Congratulations,” sets the stage for what is to come as a female narrator proclaims, “The Divine Feminine, an album by Mac Miller.”

Miller begins his album rapping about his lover over a soft piano soundscape. A building string arrangement defines the song’s jubilant atmosphere as Miller gushes, “You too divine to just be mine.” The strings and lyrics may feel overdone at times, but the song prepares the listener for an album in which Miller does not hold back musically or emotionally.

Following is “Dang!”, a standout track featuring Anderson .Paak. It features a minimalist, jazzy beat that invites head-bobbing.

Horns enter later to add to the groovy feel. .Paak sings, “I can’t keep on losing you over complications / Gone too soon,” leading Miller to express frustration and sadness over a girl leaving him. However, Miller wisely acknowledges that much of his irritation is with his immaturity, singing of, “Knowing shit get old when I act so young.” The song’s atmosphere is well-suited to allowing Miller to express his emotions without sounding over-the-top.

The next track, “Stay,” opens with a vibrant horn solo, exemplifying the album’s musical cohesion. The themes in “Dang!”

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are echoed in the subject matter. The hook is simple but catchy. Miller asks, “Will, you, stay, just a little while, babe?” as horns trill while he pauses after each word.

Miller’s avoidance of modern hip-hop beats in favor of piano, strings and horns gives the album a distinct, romantic vibe. Its cohesion, in terms of both production and subject matter, show that his work has become more deliberate.

However, the album is not without its flaws. The message of most of the songs is neither subtle nor layered, and Miller’s verses are often peppered with sexual references that get old and repetitive or are not as clever as he thinks. For instance, in his fifth track, “Cinderella,” he raps, “Okay your legs like a store, they open up.” Other lines are just plain corny. “I’m a Superman, you’ll be my Lois Lane,” he raps in the final track, “God is Fair, Sexy, Nasty”, featuring Kendrick Lamar.

Nevertheless, Miller is able to convey genuine emotion and the sincere affection he feels for his significant other despite these missteps.

Despite its lack of subtlety, “The Divine Feminine” is a cohesive, unique album that shows how Mac Miller has grown both musically and personally. Those who buy this album expecting anything like Miller’s previous repertoire are going to be surprised but will not be disappointed. Miller has dramatically changed his sound before and, by now ,fans should learn to welcome it. As Miller makes music in the future, listeners have to wonder, and look forward to, what he has in store for them.

IDOLATOR

cALVIN HARRIS ‘MY WAY’ Although rumored to be an ode to his breakup with superstar Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris insists that his new single “My Way” is inspired by his days working at a Scotland Safeway before breaking into the music business. Emanating end-ofthe-summer island vibes, Harris lends his vocals to a track that also features steel drums. Harris’ downcast lyrics contrast with an upbeat electro pulse, and a repetitive chorus threatens to become stuck in listeners’ heads for hours.

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Madeleine Peyroux ‘SHOUT SISTER SHOUT’ The French-American singer’s warm vocals soothe the soul in her latest album “Secular Hymns,” a piece filled with new recordings of old Peyroux favorites. The upbeat swing of “Shout Sister Shout” offers a softer, sensuous take on the blues classic originally recorded by Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Accompanied only by the pluck of a bass, the strumming of an acoustic guitar and backing vocals on the chorus, the beauty of the track is in a simplicity that lingers throughout the album.

YTMIG

SAINT MOTEL ‘YOU CAN BE YOU’ “You Can Be You” is the second single released in anticipation of Saint Motel’s second full album. The band ascended into the spotlight after its 2014 radio hit “My Type.” “You Can Be You” may disappoint those looking for the band to return to the jazzy rock sound it has produced so far.

The new single lacks the band’s signature trumpets and saxophone backgrounds, trading those for a techno beat and loud indie whistling.

BCBITS

KISHI BASHI ‘M’LOVER’

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Mac Miller’s latest album sees the rapper open up thematically, exploring new themes and taking new directions musically. While his previous releases have been generously disappointing to fans, “The Divine Femine” charts a new direction for the star.

Kishi Bashi, also known as Kaoru Ishibashi, released his fifth album “Sonderlust” on Sep. 16. Bashi is known for innovated electronic melodies in singles “Say Yeah” and “Can’t Let Go, Juno.” Similarly, “m’lover,” the opening song on the album, stands out. While most of “Sonderlust” adds a retro dance vibe to his usual pop-violin techno style, “m’lover” is a refreshing and catchy change of pace. It is a light and optimistic beginning to an album that will not disappoint new and old Bashi fans.

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sports

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the water cooler

field hockey

Teams Exploit Hiring Rules I

FILE PHOTO: LAUREN SEIBEL/THE HOYA

Senior forward Aliyah Graves-Brown has a team-high two goals and two assists this season. She has taken 13 shots and leads the team with six points.

Hoyas Look to Rebound Emily Dalton Hoya Staff Writer

After a tough weekend on the road, Georgetown field hockey (2-6, 0-1 Big East) looks to turn its season around this Friday as it hosts No. 17 Old Dominion (4-3, 0-1 Big East) in the second home game of the year at Cooper Field. The Hoyas will then play again on Sunday, facing off against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (1-6, 0-1 Patriot League).

The Monarchs are coming off of a pair of losses, dropping games to the undefeated and then No. 5 Connecticut Huskies (7-0, 1-0 Big East) on Friday and the James Madison Dukes (5-2) on Sunday, both by a score of 2-1. Lehigh, like Georgetown, is looking to snap a six-game skid.

Despite extended periods of strong defensive fronts in recent matches, Georgetown has struggled to keep its opponents off the scoreboard.

This weekend, the Hoyas hope to revive the tenacity they displayed at the beginning of their 2016 campaign, during which they won their first two matches.

Even though the scoreboard has not shown the most ideal results as of late, the Hoyas have managed to keep a majority of their games within a close margin.

This feat is due in large part to the efforts of senior goalkeeper Rachel Skonecki and her back line.

Skonecki has made a total of 74 saves so far this season, including three games with double-digit saves. Last Sunday, she made 10 saves in the opening 38 minutes of play.

“My role every game is to play the best I can, to give us the best chance we can to win,” Skonecki said. “Working with our defense, it’s a unit back there. We have to almost read each other’s minds and communicate to know who’s going to step, who’s going to fall back and who’s going to get the ball out, so it’s really a team effort. Not one person does it alone.”

On Friday, the Hoyas should be especially wary of the Monarchs’ freshman forward Erin Huffman, who leads her team with four goals. Old Dominion senior forward Casey Dolan and junior forward Danielle Grega trail by just one, with three goals each.

While the Monarchs possess a skillful front line, the Hoyas have a handful of talented forwards who have also managed to find the back of the net on multiple occasions. Like the Monarchs, a freshman leads the Hoyas in scoring.

Freshman forward Lindsay Getz holds a team-high three goals, followed by four other Hoyas: senior Aliyah GravesBrown, freshman Michaela Bruno, sophomore Sam Hickey and sophomore Helena Masiello, who have all scored twice. Additionally, GravesBrown and Bruno have each tallied two assists this season.

As it heads into this weekend’s competition, Georgetown looks to create offensive opportunities and to execute on the potential penalty corners, which it has been working hard on at practice to improve.

This weekend’s match is a critical one for the Hoyas, not only for their record, but also for team morale. The team will be taking the field with something to prove, and hopefully hard work will pay off and the results will go their way come Friday afternoon.

“We need to put up a big fight. This is a great time to turn our season around and get some W’s, show the Big East who we are, show the NCAA who we are, so not only are we looking for a W, but we’re looking for a statement. We’re looking for something to show the world,” Skonecki said.

Georgetown is set to take on Old Dominion on Sept. 23 at Cooper Field at 1 p.m.

sailing

Swift Victories Found at Sea Tyler Welsh

Special to The Hoya

The Georgetown sailing team continued its success on the water this past weekend, placing first and third overall in the NY Maritime Fall Open and the Nevins Trophy, respectively.

At the NY Maritime Fall Open, sophomores Andy Reiter and Rebecca Fung finished first in the A division.

In the B division race of the same competition, junior Jack Marshall and senior Albert Kraus comprised the second place team.

In the Nevins Trophy, the first interconference competition of the year, the Hoyas emerged third overall of the 20 teams competing. Interconference events include the best teams in country and the competition proved intense for Georgetown.

Senior AJ Reiter and junior Meaghan MacRae placed tenth overall in the A Division, junior Roger Dorr and sophomore Haley Shea came away fourth in the B Division and senior Greg Martinez competing individually in the C Division single-handed competition placed first.

“I started off kind of slow and knew I had to pick up halfway through the event,” Martinez said. “I started sailing a lot harder and a lot stronger and ended up with some really consistent results.”

In the final race Martinez put five boats between himself and the competitor in first place to win, ultimately claiming the top spot in a tiebreaker. Marti-

nez is already focusing on next weekend and looking to help the Hoyas maintain their strong performance this season.

“Going forward I’m going to keep working hard in the gym and take that strength and focus out on the water,” Martinez said.

“I was encouraged,” Georgetown Head Coach Michael Callahan said when speaking of the team’s performance this past weekend. “I think Greg’s result masked some of the issues we had in the A and B Division.”

“I’m going to keep working hard in the gym and take that strength and focus out on the water.”

Greg martinez Senior

The Georgetown sailing team experienced a significant loss this offseason, graduating 18 sailors, many of whom were All-Americans. Callahan named Martinez as one of many seniors who have stepped up as leaders on the team this season.

“It’s important to encourage new freshmen and underclassmen to motivate the juniors and seniors, the veterans on the team,” Martinez said.

Due to the unprecedented number of graduated seniors and an untimely num-

friDAY, september 23, 2016

ber of sailors abroad, the team has taken on a number of walk-ons this season.

“We’re sill in the process of having people try out and join the team,” Callahan said. “Some of them have plenty experience, some are fairly green to it.”

These newer sailors will not be competing for Nationals until the spring. Callahan described the importance of showing them the ropes before working them into a top sailing program like that of Georgetown.

“We’re going to take it nice and slow with them and get them acclimated to the boats.” With sailors like Martinez, Patton Hughes and Lola Bushnell competing in Nationals this fall, the team does not have the luxury of time.

“We’re going to try to push them to perform in the fall,” Callahan said.

Optimistic about the team’s performance, Callahan is focused on continuing Georgetown’s success into the upcoming weekend and having the team’s younger talent gain more experience on the water.

“We’re trying to figure out who our best sailors are, still, and for the women it’s just about time in the boat,” Callahan said.

Next weekend the Hoyas will compete in the Faye Bennet MAISA Women’s Singles, a single-handed women’s qualifier for the national championship.

Additionally the team will participate in the in-conference Tom Curtis Memorial Regatta, a co-ed doublehanded qualifier.

t only took eight days from the kickoff of the NFL’s regular season for the league to see its first coaching casualty: Greg Roman, the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator. Head Coach Rex Ryan has since promoted running backs coach Anthony Lynn to take Roman’s place.

While this is notable for several reasons, mainly because coordinators are rarely fired after two games, Ryan’s choice — whether he knew it or not — bucked a surprising trend of promoting a black coach to coordinator.

Although the NFL’s Rooney Rule has been in place for 13 years and requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coach and senior front office positions, its successes often seem limited or waning. It is time to revamp it so the rule achieves its purpose more effectively.

Research conducted in part by Georgetown professor Christopher Rider has shown that white assistant coaches are more than twice as likely to receive promotions to become coordinators than are similar black assistants even after controlling for performance. In a way, this is not surprising.

Coordination positions are not subject to the Rooney Rule, and, for those that are, some teams will go through the motions of interviewing a minority candidate even though the desired person is already known. The Denver Broncos are the case in point.

After firing John Fox after the 2014 season, rumors quickly arose that Denver Broncos’ General Manager and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway wanted to hire then-Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak to be the head coach.

This surprised almost no one because Kubiak was Elway’s backup when they played together in Denver ,and they had also been roommates. Kubiak was Denver’s offensive coordinator when Elway won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998, and the two remained close after Elway retired. It was essentially nepotism.

To fulfill the Rooney Rule,

the Broncos interviewed Vance Joseph, then the defensive backs coach in Cincinnati.

No one, however, realistically thought Denver would offer Joseph the job — the interview took place because it had to. In a nutshell, that is how teams skirt the Rooney Rule.

With all of this said, there are still very legitimate reasons teams choose coaches and coordinators aside from color. I would hope and probably assert that color has very little to do with the causal reason the NFL is approximately 70 percent black and has a disproportionate lack of black coaches and coordinators.

Michael Ippolito The biggest step the league could take is making the Rooney Rule apply to coordinator positions. Coordinator positions are often a gateway to head coaching jobs, so guaranteeing minority candidates an interview can only help.

Another problem that makes improving the rule somewhat difficult is the recycled nature of NFL coaches.

Just because a coach was fired in one place does not mean that he is necessarily a bad coach.

Again, using the Denver Broncos as an example, its defensive coordinator was fired by both the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys before leading a historically great Super Bowl-winning defense — one team’s trash is truly another one’s treasure. The problem is getting minority coaches in the door so they can begin to enjoy the benefits of that cycle.

The NFL makes a good faith effort to hold teams to the spirit of the rule: There are some checks against sham interviews, and the NFL has issued fines to teams in the past for failing to uphold the spirit of the Rooney Rule.

Unfortunately, $200,000 is not much to a team and owner worth $2 billion. At the same time, the NFL has also rejected the inclusion of coordinators under the Rooney Rule as recently as 2013.

There are clear reasons why head coaches should be allowed to choose their own coordinators and staff, but there still is no harm in hearing new ideas and strategies from different coaches.

At worst, mandating that head coaches consider a minority candidate for coordinator positions is one more interview they have to conduct, and at best the coach is won over enough in the interview and hires the candidate. In that case, everybody wins.

The head coach fills his vacancy with the best candidate, a minority coach becomes a coordinator and gains access to the head coaching pipeline and by virtue of the solid hire the team’s prospects for winning increase.

Improving the Rooney Rule would also decrease the nepotism that is all too prevalent in the NFL. Sons or siblings of current and past NFL coaches have a de facto golden ticket into coaching circles if they want, almost regardless of performance.

Kyle Shanahan, Brian Schottenheimer and Rob Ryan, who are all current coaches and the sons of former NFL head coaches, are solidly mediocre coaches or coordinators at best — the results speak for themselves, yet these men are perpetually employed.

For their own sake, teams should stop looking at the children of successful coaches and focus on finding coaches who can actually be successful.

In a league where the overwhelming majority of owners are elderly white billionaires, it is time to stop counting on their ability to change. The NFL must take leadership of this issue and force the change for themselves.

Michael Ippolito is a senior in the College. The Water Cooler appears every Friday.

men’s soccer

Defense Braces for Xavier Darius Iraj Hoya Staff Writer

A week after its second win of the season against Providence College (4-3, 0-1 Big East), the Georgetown men’s soccer team (2-5, 1-0 Big East) will face its Big East Rival in its Homecoming day matchup with the Xavier Musketeers (3-2-2, 1-0 Big East).

In the first Big East game against Providence, sophomore goalkeeper J.T. Marcinkowski recorded his second clean sheet of the season to give the Blue and Gray a narrow 1-0 victory. Senior forward and co-captain Brett Campbell was the hero of the night, scoring the game-winning goal in the 54th minute of the game.

His poaching goal came off of a free kick from junior midfielder Christopher Lema. Lema delivered a low free kick that barely got past the ball, and Campbell was right in front of the goal alone to chip it over the goalie and in the end give Georgetown the win.

“That game against Providence, any team that we would’ve had that we would’ve taken to that environment, we would’ve been really happy with a 1-0 win,” Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese said. “Providence is one of the better teams in the league, really hard to play against, really tough, really well-coached, really wellorganized.”

The defense has not been much of a concern for the team because it has allowed just two goals in its last four games. However, the offense’s production continues to be limited. It has scored just two goals in its last four games. However, for Coach Wiese, the offense’s production is less of a concern than is finding a way to just win every individual game.

“We’re not really talking to guys about scoring more goals right now, we’re talking about handling details

FILE PHOTO: NAAZ MODAN/THE HOYA

Senior midfielder Bakie Goodman has started all seven games this season. He has taken 10 shots thus far. to win games,” Coach Wiese said. “In a lot of the games the opponents we play are really quality, so a 1-0 win is going to be very realistic in a lot of these games. We were really pleased with getting that in the Providence game.”

Furthermore, Xavier will not be an easy matchup for Georgetown on Saturday.

Last season, the Hoyas barely got past the Musketeers in Cincinnati in a 1-0 overtime victory. They also defeated them 1-0 in the Big East tournament. However, this season Xavier, coming off of a 1-0 victory over DePaul, has a much better record than Georgetown.

“They’re a team that prides themselves on not giving up anything easily, and they have very blue-collar and a very athletic group,” Coach Wiese said. “So it’s a real test to how to find a win against a really good team.

It’s a team that I think is likely to win the league as much as any team in the conference by a long shot.”

In a competitive conference like the Big East, that is high praise for any team.

Xavier also boasts the Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in junior defender Cory Brown, who was also the College Soccer News Preseason All-America Second Team. Additionally, Xavier freshman forward Derrick Otim leads the team with three goals.

For Georgetown, this game represents a huge test for how the rest of this season will go. Coming off an important win, with the confidence level higher than it has been, and a Xavier team that is a contender to win the Big East on Homecoming, this is an important match for the team to win.

“It’s just a matter of executing and continuing to get good results to hit your stride going into the middle of the season and the beginning of the Big East,” Coach Wiese said. “It’s a good time to start feeling good about where you are individually and where you are collectively, so I think the guys are in that place right now.”

Saturday’s Homecoming game will kick off at 1 p.m. on Shaw Field.

SPORTS

friDAY, september 23, 2016

THE HOYA

Around the district

B9

women’s soccer

Early Woes Abound Defense Leads Title Bid RAAB, from B10

included a 1-3 start — the same ratio of wins to losses the team would maintain at the end of the season. 2015 saw a 2-2 start to the season end in a 9-7 record and a playoff berth — again a relatively consistent start and finish.

What has been most glaring about the Redskins’ failure to start hot, though, is its repeated occurrence when expectations and hopes are highest. Memories of the 2013 season’s dismal follow-up performance to 2012 is what makes me break out in a cold sweat when thinking about this team late at night.

The 2013 season was a brutal splash of reality for a fan base that had gained some faith in its franchise after a seven-game winning streak to end the season brought the Redskins a 10-6 record and a playoff berth. That playoff game against the Seahawks would become infamous for Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback Robert Griffin III’s attempt to play on an injured knee with the blessing of his coach, Mike Shanahan, and the subsequent buckling of that knee, ending the Redskin’s season.

That campaign was followed by a 3-12 effort, including a 1-3 start to the season (0-2 at home). RGIII never returned to form, and the team

crashed back down to earth, losing all eight games against the divisional opponents they had bested for the NFC East crown only a season before.

A surprising 2015 campaign saw Kirk Cousins lead the Redskins to the division title again. That season, the Redskins started 2-2, and won two of three games at home — perhaps the most inspired early season performance in recent memory for the team.

The Redskins still dug themselves a 2-4 hole in the first six weeks and needed a petite, fourgame version of the winning streak that ended the 2012 season to grab a playoff berth.

Now, an 0-2 start has Washington staring into the eyes of another high-expectation, low-quality performance season. The Redskins have struggled to perform on offense, raising questions about Cousins throughout the media and supposedly even in the locker room. It is far too early to start jumping to dramatic conclusions.

Fourteen games remain, and a lot of the problems besetting the Redskins so far can be chalked up to early season rustiness — formation problems, substitution issues, conditioning, etc. But the potential parallels are stark, and early season woes are inviting cynicism far earlier than desirable for a team looking to shake off its erratic ways.

Last year, Washington made the playoffs without beating a team with a winning record. This year, it pays for that success with a more challenging schedule, including dates with the Bengals, Packers, Cardinals and Panthers, along with a week one Monday night loss to the Steelers.

The Redskins cannot afford another slow start. All those matchups come in week eight or later, interspersed among divisional games. There is no room for slow progress — urgency is needed now.

A Super Bowl hangover is one thing. A Wild Card hangover is an entirely different, more humiliating problem to have. For Cousins and Gruden, the ominous quarterback/head coach carousel looms in the background, and we know all too well that Dan Snyder is not afraid to flip the switch and try something new.

The jury is still out, and I am still hopeful that someday I can again shout, “You like that?” without sounding like a falsely-confident Dallas fan.

However, a tepid start to the season would be a serious setback, and any righting of the ship will have to occur much sooner than later.

Matt Raab is a senior in the School of Foreign Service.

Around The District appears every other Friday.

football

FRIARS, from B10

really done nothing yet. We have had some good wins but we’ve done nothing yet.

So it’s exciting but scary.”

“Last year we did fall into that trap of looking at the games that would have the highest competition, but we can’t do that this year. We don’t want to make the same mistakes.”

Chloe Knott Junior Midfielder

The winner of the Big East regular season championship and the runnerup each earn a bye to the semifinals of the Big East championship, which, along with the final, will be contested this year at Shaw Field.

The goal right now is to earn the automatic semifinal bid and avoid a quarterfinal match; as Nolan knows

after last season, anything can happen in tournament games.

“Our semifinal game against Providence last year in the Big East, if anything, taught me that,” Nolan said. “We should have been up 3-0, 4-0 at halftime, they score a wonder goal, and then it takes everything we have to get it back. And then unfortunately, we go down on PKs. In conference games, everything just has a little bit more importance.”

In addition to the offense producing plenty and the defense benefiting from the return of graduate student defender Marina Paul, another reason for the Hoyas’ success has been the play of sophomore goalkeeper Arielle Schechtman. Schechtman earned the TopDrawerSoccer.com nod for National Player of the Week as well as Big East Goalkeeper of the Week.

The sophomore goalkeeper made eight saves in the win over West Virginia (7-1-1) to break its 30-match home unbeaten run, confidently claiming just about any ball that came into her box. She has already posted four shutouts this season.

Though Georgetown looks ahead to difficult fixtures like Marquette (4-4-2) and DePaul (3-4-2) on its conference

schedule, Knott understands the importance of simply focusing on Providence, which has proved a bogey team for Georgetown over the past couple seasons. Games against Providence have reached overtime twice.

“It’s really easy to look ahead and think that not this game, but the next game, is going to be harder,” Knott said. “We do that a lot.

It’s hard not to do that … I think last year we did fall into that trap of looking at the games that would have the highest competition, but we can’t do that this year.

We don’t want to make the same mistakes and slip up.”

As a junior, this will be Knott’s third time through the Big East schedule. After coming from New Zealand to Georgetown two years ago with no expectations, Hoya soccer has been all she could have asked for.

“I knew obviously it was going to be an amazing experience, but I didn’t know what to expect,” Knott said.

“And the fact that I’m best friends with Tay [Pak] and Rachel [Corboz] and we get to play with each other every single game, and work for each other and support each other on and off the field. … I’ve never had that on a team before, and it’s really cool to be able to do that with your best friends.”

volleyball

Offensive Effort Key to 3rd Win FOOTBALL, from B10

on more third downs to keep drives alive. his second year as the Another key for Georgeteam’s starting quarter- town will be getting off back, leads the Lions’ of- to a better start. Georgefensive efforts. Mornhin- town punted on its first weg can use his legs as two possessions, and only well as his arm, rushing scored two field goals out 84 times for 413 yards last of eight possessions in the season, along with three first half. rushing touchdowns.

“We just need to come Senior wide receivers out a little faster,” Sgarlata Cameron Dunn and Scoot- said, “We just need to exer Hollis add experience to ecute and perform better Columbia’s receivers. Hol- in the first couple series, lis was the leading pass- on both sides of the ball.” catcher with 51 catches Such early season sucfor 515 yards and one cess has been rare for touchdown, while Dunn this Georgetown team in was a distant third with 21 recent memory, but the catches for 206 yards.

Blue and Gray are keeping “Columbia’s offense, level heads and staying fothey’re experienced, cused on the job at hand. they’ve got a “We defisolid O-line nitely got that’s been “We definitely to keep around for a somewhat while. Quar- got to keep of a tunnel t e r b a c k ’ s somewhat of a vision. Got been around to keep our the system. tunnel vision, eyes on the They’re prize, just good, we got got to keep our keep going to be on our eyes on the prize, f o r w a r d . best game,” 2-0 doesn’t senior de- just keep going mean anyfensive linething if you man Hunter forward. 2-0 don’t win K i s e l i c k doesn’t mean the rest of said. them and On de- anything if you keep it up,” fense, the Kiselick said.

Lions will don’t win the Sgarlata rely heav- rest of them.” feels his ily on senior team is linebackers taking its HUNTER KISELICK Christian success in Senior Defensive Lineman Conway and stride so far, Gianmarco mainly due Rea. Last season, Conway to the leadership that the tallied 57 total tackles, senior class has provided including 7.5 tackles for to the team. loss and two sacks. Last “Senior leadership has season, the Lions’ defense been really good because allowed 19.8 points per even coming off of Marist game to opponents. during the bye week the The Hoyas’ offense, kids knew we didn’t play guided by senior quar- as well as we should have,” terback Tim Barnes, is Sgarlata said. “The expeclooking to keep things tation to win and be sucrolling, after engineer- cessful is important, and ing a game-winning drive those guys knew when against Marist two weeks we watched film on Sunago. The offense finished day that we played well the Marist game with 358 enough to win, but they total yards on offense, in- know they didn’t play to cluding 150 yards on the the best of their potenground. tial.”

“The O-line’s been doSaturday is sure to bring ing a great job making one of the biggest — if not plays, getting a good the biggest — crowds of push. They’re making my the season for a Georgejob a whole lot easier,” town football game, and junior running back Alex the players are eager to Valles, who had 15 car- put on the pads and keep ries for 93 yards against their positive momentum.

Marist, said.

“All of our families are However, the Hoyas here. It’s playing in front were just 5-of-20 on third of one of the biggest down, something that crowds we’ll probably see will have to change as the all season so it’s pretty imseason progresses, start- portant to us,” Valles said. ing Saturday against CoKickoff is scheduled for lumbia. Barnes acknowl- 2 p.m. Saturday at Cooper edged the need to convert Field.

FILE PHOTO: CAROLINE KENNEALLY/THE HOYA

Senior middle blocker Ashlie Williams has 84 kills and 188 total attacks this season. She also has 19 digs and 31 blocks, second on the team. Williams has played in 35 sets.

Tumultuous Season Continues VOLLEYBALL, from B10

two sets and staring down a potential sweep, the Hoyas adjusted well in the locker room and tightened up their defense.

The third set saw the Hoyas play their most energy-driven and sharp volleyball, leading the set the entire way, at one point 21-14. Sinnette accounted for seven kills and took over the Hoyas’ offense, helping them power through to a 25-20 win, forcing a fourth set.

Sophomore libero Kenzie Higareda led the way defensively throughout the match, recording a match-high 22 digs.

“Our serve receive was lacking a little bit but our outside hitters and our front really stepped it up for us, which really helped us pick up one area when another area

was lacking,” Higareda said. “Then, if defense was lacking our blocking was doing better, and we just made sure we picked each other up in different areas and tried to come together as a team.”

“We need to make sure we are hitting our serving zones and taking care of our side of the net when push comes to shove.”

ARLISA WILLIAMS Head Coach

The Hoyas battled throughout the fourth

set, absorbing runs and playing spurts of great volleyball. But with the score tied up at 18, St. John’s utilized a 3-0 run to take control of the set, and it weathered a Georgetown comeback bid to win the set 25-22 and take the match 3-1.

Georgetown has another short week to prepare for their next match, at Villanova (10-4, 1-0 Big East) this Saturday.

The Wildcats are coming off a sweep of the Seton Hall Pirates (6-8, 0-1 Big East) in their Big East opener, and have won six of their last seven matches on the season. They are led by senior middle blocker Michaela Berendt, who leads the Big East in hitting percentage and ranks 11th in the nation connecting at a rate of .423 in 23 sets this season.

Williams looked to the

positives in the match against St. John’s, noting that Georgetown is capable of competing with anyone in the Big East, and will challenge the team to play at a high level against a streaking Villanova squad.

“You saw us play great volleyball and then St. John’s would go on a run, and then we’d play great volleyball and they’d go on a run,” Williams said.

So, figuring out how to sustain that level of play at a high level, which we are very capable of doing is, the first goal. Then we need to make sure we are hitting our serving zones and taking care of our side of the net when push comes to shove.”

Georgetown makes the short trip to Philadelphia to take on Villanova, with first serve set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24.

SPORTS

Field Hockey Georgetown (2-6) vs. Old Dominion (4-3) Friday, 1 p.m.

Cooper Field

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

UPON FURTHER REVIEW Brady’s absence is defining Bill Belichick’s career and adding to his already storied legacy.

See thehoya.com

TALKING POINTS

“

NUMBERS GAME

This is a great time to turn our season around and get some W’s.”

SENIOR GOALKEEPER RACHEL SKONECKI

FOOTBALL

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Hoyas to Host Lions on Homecoming AIDAN CURRAN Hoya Staff Writer

Off to its best start since the 2012 season, the Georgetown football team (2-0) is set to take on the Columbia Lions (0-1) in its Homecoming Weekend matchup this Saturday.

Fresh off a bye week, the Hoyas are looking to keep their strong early season momentum roll-

ing against a Lions football program that has been steeped in futility for many years now.

On Saturday, the two teams will play the second game of a 10-year series, competing for the Lou Little Trophy. The trophy is named after College Football Hall of Fame Coach Lou Little — former head coach at both Georgetown and Columbia. Little

coached at Georgetown for six seasons, and his .759 winning percentage remains the highest among Georgetown head coaches who have coached more than 20 games on the Hilltop.

Last year, Columbia finally ended a 24-game losing streak by defeating Wagner University 26-3 at home. Prior to that, Columbia had endured two

FILE PHOTO: KARLA LEYJA/THE HOYA

Junior running back Alex Valles is the team’s leading rusher. He has 191 rushing yards this season and has a yards per carry average of 7.1.

straight winless seasons.

Al Bagnoli, who is entering his second year as the Lions’ head coach, is leading Columbia through this rebuilding period.

Bagnoli came to Columbia after a successful 23-year tenure at the University of Pennsylvania, where he had a 148-80 overall record, including a 112-49 record in the Ivy League. Bagnoli is also the only coach in Ivy League history to win back-to-back undefeated Ivy League titles, accomplishing this feat three separate times.

“I’ve known Coach Bagnoli since I was a pup.

Nothing but respect for the staff. You look at his record at Penn and all the Ivy League championships, with what he’s done over the years, it’s tremendous,” Georgetown Head Coach Rob Sgarlata said.

The Lions’ season began last Saturday with a lowscoring 13-9 loss to Saint Francis University (1-2).

Saint Francis University defeated Georgetown last season 48-20. The Lions almost capped off a comeback victory when senior quarterback Skyler Mornhinweg — a transfer from the University of Florida — found senior wide receiver Cameron Dunn for a threeyard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left in the game.

However, Columbia’s late push fell short when Saint Francis recovered the ensuing onside kick and closed out the game Mornhinweg, who is in See FOOTBALL, B9

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Conference Play to Pose New Challenges CHRIS BALTHAZARD Hoya Staff Writer

The No. 6 Georgetown women’s soccer team (8-1) will open Big East conference play at Shaw Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Providence Friars (6-31). The game follows a torrid non-conference run that saw the Hoyas pull off major victories against three top-12 teams in the country.

Georgetown has already been unanimously voted

by Big East coaches as the preseason favorite, and the strong results to open the season have ensured the rest of

the conference will be looking to upset Georgetown. So far, Georgetown is the only Big East team to receive votes in the NCAA rankings.

The Hoyas are led offensively by the Big East Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and junior midfielder Rachel Corboz, who sits at No. 6 in the country in points scored. Corboz has helped the Hoyas rise to No. 3 in RPI and No. 3 in Soccer America’s women’s college soccer rankings during their current seven-game winning streak.

Head Coach Dave Nolan, though pleased with wins

over No. 3 Virginia (8-1, 1-0 ACC) and No. 2 West Virginia (7-1-1), realizes now that the slate is wiped clean.

“We’ve done everything we possibly could at this stage of the season,” Nolan said. “But this now needs to be parked, because now we’re going into conference, where everybody is 0-0. And the good work we have right now, we were three in the RPI this morning, which is incredible. We’ve never been that high. But no matter what we do in conference, that’s going to drop because of our conference. But it’ll drop a lot more if we lose

games to teams we should beat.”

Junior midfielder Chloe Knott, who alongside junior midfielder Taylor Pak bosses the defensive midfield for the Hoyas, reiterated Nolan’s sentiment, adding that there does exist some pressure to live up to that preseason favorite title.

“I’m super excited,” Knott said. “We just had a meeting recapping the pre-Big East season, and I had chills in the meeting because we have so much potential to do good things. But we’ve See FRIARS, B9

FILE PHOTO: ERICK CASTRO/THE HOYA

Sophomore middle-blocker Symone Speech has played in 52 sets this season and recorded 159 kills.

GU Drops Big East Home Opener CAMERON PERALES Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown women’s volleyball team (4-10, 0-1 Big East) opened Big East play this past Tuesday, taking on St. John’s (10-4, 1-0 Big East) in McDonough Arena and losing 3-1. The Hoyas fought hard throughout, but could not sustain their stretches of high-level volleyball to overcome the Red Storm.

Sophomore middle blocker Symone Speech and sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Sinnette continued to lead the Georgetown offense, registering 22 kills and 12 kills, respectively.

Sophomore setter Paige McKnight also continued to do it all for the Hoyas, registering 42 assists, five kills, five digs, three blocks and two aces.

In the first set against St. John’s, Georgetown started strong, and took an early lead at 7-2, but the Hoyas could not hold the lead. In a set with five lead changes and each team making runs, it was the Red Storm’s final 5-1 run that downed the Hoyas in the first set 2521.

The second set saw St.

FILE PHOTO: JENNA CHEN/THE HOYA

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John’s carry over its momentum and open up a fivepoint lead, which Georgetown cut down to three at 18-15 behind junior setter Meghan Richard’s four kills out of six for the match, doubling her career high.

The Red Storm ultimately prevailed, taking the second set 25-21.

Head Coach Arlisa Williams said she was pleased with Richard, who emerged as a new outside scoring threat against St. John’s.

Williams also said the outside hitters played well all night, and that she sees a potent force sprouting between Sinnette, Speech and Richard.

“We have been offensive all year, and our outsides did a great job tonight,” Williams said. “They got better as the match went on. We were able to get Symone the ball in the middle, but I think the big difference maker for us tonight was Meghan Richard on the right side. She had zero errors on nine swings and hit .400 was great. So we will build on that progress.”

After dropping the first See VOLLEYBALL, B9

AROUND THE DISTRICT

Matt Raab

Playoff Dreams Dashed Early

T

Junior midfielder Rachel Corboz has started all nine games this season. She leads the team with 20 points, has scored seven goals and has tallied six assists. She has won multiple Big East Offensive Player of the Week awards.

6

The national ranking for the women’s soccer team through nine nonconference games.

here are many frustratingly unclear aspects of Coach Jay Gruden’s master strategy for the Washington Redskins so far this year, but one classic element of the Redskins’ existence has reared its head once again: The franchise loves to get off to bad starts and does not demonstrate any type of home-field advantage early in the season.

The Redskins have built this expectation-tempering reputation over the past four seasons and continued it this year. Starting in 2012, the Redskins have gone 6-10 in the first four games of the season. With two losses already this year, Washington could at best make that record 8-12, but the team hasn’t seemed to hit the rhythm that would make two wins possible.

In those 16 season-opening games, the Redskins are 3-5 at home. This year they have lost two games at home, and with one more left in week four, they have secured another season of losing starts at FedEx Field.

The NFL is an unpredictable league predicated on parity, and with just 16 games the door is always left open for the unexpected to happen.

But home-field advantage tends to hold true and is often an essential component of any winning franchise’s formula for success. The Redskins struggle to cultivate that advantage.

It may be a little unfair to chalk these slow starts up to anything other than the Redskins’ simply being a mediocre team. A forgettable 4-12 2014 campaign See RAAB, B9