The Student Printz October 8, 2015

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Volume 100 Issue 14

www.studentprintz.com PAGE THREE

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PAGE EIGHT

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NEWS

F E AT U R E

OPINION

S P O RT S

Publication ranks USM program 15th in nation.

Major disease often ignored by young women, men.

Model defies industry, social norms in latest video.

Golden Eagles to face 4-1 Thundering Herd Friday night.

College of Business

Breast cancer

‘Close the Loop’

Football

CAMPUS USM professor earns prestigious ON Students scholarship to attend conference sought for show reminiscent of ‘Shark Tank’

Camille Myrick Printz Reporter

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) recently honored Claire Kimberly with the Cindy Winter Scholarship Award for her leadership qualities and commitment to service.

Kimberly is an assistant professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi. She serves as the students and new professionals representative and secretary of the Affiliate Councils Board at the national level. The NCFR operates in political forums by providing expert advice on issues like same-sex marriage.

The network of professionals presents their research and use findings to better serve families in the U.S. as well as foreign countries. “(Kimberly) has exceptional professionalism and puts incredible energy into any task she takes on,” said Rose Allen, the current president of the Affiliate Councils Board.

“She can be counted on to follow through on any task she accepts—and it will be done to the highest standards. Like Cindy Winter, she has put her heart in NCFR.” Kimberly has been a part of USM for the past three years, having graduated from the University of Kentucky. As a member of NCFR, she has a vision for influencing students on the national level.

“I have a passion for connecting students with real life,” Kimberly said. “I’d like to use the student papers for things like policy change.

Instead of just writing a paper to get a grade (and) move on, the students can have a voice.

NCFR does things like this to a point, but I would love to see more student connection. This organization can do that.”

Kimberly said that students can also expand their reach into foreign countries.

“This coming year, NCFR is working on a project involving an orphanage in Africa,” Kimberly said. “We are looking into using more student organizations for

Andrew Dutton Printz Reporter

Fadi Shahin/Printz Assistant professor Claire Kimberly received the Cindy Winter Scholarship Award to attend NCFR’s annual conference Nov. 11-14.

help in funding that orphanage.

There are 3,000 members of NCFR and so we have resources to reach more people who need help.”

The NCFR is divided among the different regions of the U.S. Kimberly is part of the Southeastern Council on Family Relations, but the Cindy Winter award distinguishes a member across all regional conferences.

Kimberly humbly receives the award and is happy to be recognized for something she

not only is passionate about, but has a lot of fun being involved in.

“Most people start off having a lot of fun in NCFR but get to a point where they get more involved and it is stressful,” Kimberly said. “I’m still at the fun stage and I haven’t really felt any stress from it yet. I love to lead, but I am happy where I am. If the opportunity presented itself though, I would enjoy having a higher position in the organization.”

Last year, NCFR participated

in a project called the Diaper Drive that collected diapers for people in programs like Women, Infants and Children (WIC) who cannot afford diapers. Kimberly, who organized the project, believes that may be what got her recognized for the award.

“I enjoy the group and the people,” Kimberly said.

“Everyone is passionate about what they are doing. I enjoy being part of NCFR as long as it is mutually beneficial and I am an asset to the organization.”

According to a University of Southern Mississippi press release, USM students are now eligible to participate in a statewide, televised business competition.

The competition offers students the opportunity to interact with southern Mississippi business leaders and make student business ideas visible.

The winners of the competition will go on to participate in a roundtable discussion, imitating the popular program “Shark Tank.”

The program is expected to air as a series on the Mississippi Public Broadcasting network.

Students may enter as an individual or a team of up to four people through an online form. The deadline to complete and enter the form is Oct. 19.

Winners of the competition will be contacted on Oct. 23.

Applicants must be students at USM and should submit information about their proposed or active business on why the business would beneficial to the Mississippi community.

William Wright, a junior marketing major, actually watches the show and it interests him greatly.

“People have a lot of ideas that they want to try and get out there. It’s a really neat show,” Writ said.

Travis Gentry, a junior kinesiology major, wants to open up a gym to rehabilitate people using the skills he is acquiring here in college. However, he does not believe a show similar to “Shark Tank” would help him in this regard.

“I really don’t have any ideas for inventions or stuff like that to start off my business,” Gentry said.

However, Gentry would join a reality show if offered the SHARK TANK, SEE PG. 3

Page 2 | Thursday, October 8, 2015

INFORMATION MEET THE STAFF OF FALL 2015

Dirty Birds

EDITORS & STAFF

• On Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 12:30 p.m., larceny petit was reported at the bike rack near Mississippi Hall. The case remains open.

• On Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 4:41 p.m., false pretense was reported at Century Park. The case remains open.

Police Contact Information

When reporting, the following information should be provided: • • • • •

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Expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.

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University Police 911 (emergency) 601.266.4986 (non-emergency) Bond Hall, First Floor West

NEWS ON CAMPUS

Thursday, October 8, 2015 | Page 3

ON CAMPUS

Exercise coach Sport management program nationally ranked introduces fitness into Lindsay Adkisson Printz Reporter

In August, Sports Management Degree Guide ranked The University of Southern Mississippi 15th on its listing of the “50 Most Affordable Urban Schools for Sports Management in 2015.”

Sports Management Degree Guide used the NCES College Navigator database to examine 158 institutions in the U.S. and Puerto Rico offering four-year bachelor’s degrees in sport and/or fitness administration/ management and located in an urban or city setting. The top 50 were selected based on net price of the institution.

USM is the only college in Mississippi selected for this list.

The Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Sport Management in the College of Business offers an undergraduate degree in sport management. Completion of the degree program grants a student a bachelor of science in sport management. The bachelor’s degree is accredited by the Commission of Sport Management Accreditation.

Although USM is ranked among the top 50 most affordable, it does not affect the program’s impact.

Ryan McKeough, sport management major, said that the program is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling regardless of its lesser cost.

McKeough said the program allows its students opportunities to make connections with potential employers and handson experience with various aspects in the field.

Several guest speakers from financial, academic, marketing and broadcasting are offered to McKeough and other students for insight into the different fields in sport management. In addition to certain guest speakers, the department has many former students of associates who have connections to various professional and collegiate teams across the nation, according to McKeough.

“Once I decided that I wanted to become an athletic director at a university, I knew that not only was sport management the major for me, but Southern Miss was as well,” McKeough said. “I could not only gain a degree from one of the best sport management programs in the nation, but I could also open countless doors for myself by the connections and opportunities that the sport management program could provide for me.”

Not only does the program’s

affordability help a student financially, it also allows him or her to spend saved money elsewhere.

Jonathan Swalley, a junior sport management major, feels that the inexpensiveness of the program allows for more advantageous opportunities alongside his education. These opportunities range from tours of other schools’ athletic facilities, professional meetings and attending conferences due to expendable income.

“The program has given me the tools and knowledge on how to meet and greet with bigtime sports owners, players and coaches,” Swalley said.

He also adds that along with the tools and knowledge the program has given him, it has also taught him how to present himself in an interview with future potential employers.

“I have a love and a passion for sports, to which I want to watch it grow even bigger than what it already is,” Swalley said.

For further information on a program pathway for sport management, contact the College of Business. For the complete list of the “50 Most Affordable Urban Schools for Sports Management in 2015,” visit the Sports Management Degree Guide website.

CCD classrooms Nan Buti

Printz Reporter The University of Southern Mississippi’s Center for Child Development (CCD) hosted its Move to Learn program at 6 p.m. on Monday.

The center invited coach Larry Calhoun, star of the “Move to Learn” exercise break videos, to visit the CCD to perform a live exercise for students, families, faculty and other community members associated with the center.

Calhoun, accompanied by a team from The Bower Foundation and Mississippi Department of Education’s Healthy Schools, presented an educational and interactive exercise plan as a part of the Move to Learn initiative.

Calhoun taught his audience simple exercises developed by Mississippians for Mississippi children. These exercises have been proven to raise students’ cognitive levels and allow teachers to create a healthy learning environment.

“The motive was community building among people associated with the CCD and an opportunity for parent education about the importance of music and movement in promoting the health and education of young children,” said Jeff Leffler, executive director of the CCD. The classroom movement breaks can help teachers adjust and maintain optimum student energy levels, so that after a fitness break, students’ minds are concentrated and prepared to learn or take a test.

The Move to Learn initiative is a statewide concept focused on

SHARK TANK CONTINUED

Jillian Rodriguez/Printz USM’s sport management program within the College of Business is nationally ranked as one of the most affordable in the U.S.

chance for the experience itself.

Eugene Grassi, a junior kinesiology major with an emphasis in kinesiotherapy, has heard of “Shark Tank,” but he has no interest in the show.

“I have no interest in business right now,” Grassi said. “I’m just a kinesiotherapy major.”

“Shark Tank” has gone on to win the 2014 and 2015 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Structured Reality program along with Emmy nominations in 2012 and 2013.

The show also continues to be a ratings juggernaut. According to ABC network, season five of “Shark Tank,” which aired 2013-2014, dominated its

improving schools and students’ academic performances when exercise is incorporated into their daily learning lifestyles.

According to Move to Learn, studies of Mississippi students revealed better behavior and less school absences are associated with more fitness.

The initiative’s motive is to improve students’ health and academic success.

“Brief physical activity and increased fitness improve learning and test scores,” said Scott Clements, director of MDE’s Office of Healthy Schools. “With this in mind, Move to Learn was designed to be fun for students, improve learning and assist teachers with classroom management.”

As a Move to Learn preschool, the USM Center for Child Development will incorporate the Move To Learn curriculum into every classroom, infants to preschool.

“By exposing children at early age, our goal is reverse and eliminate trends in obesity, diabetes and heart disease by adopting healthier lifestyles not only for Mississippi’s children but for the entire family,” said Alice McGowan, program director for the USM Center for Child Development.

More information about The Bower Foundation’s Move to Learn programs may be found on the website at www. movetolearnms.org.

To learn more about the CCD, visit www.usm.edu/centerchild-development. The USM Center for Child Development childcare center is located at 3400 Morningside Drive in Hattiesburg.

Friday night time slot with increase in total viewership by 16 percent and adults 18-49 by 14 percent. With that kind of success, it comes as no surprise that Mississippi Public Broadcasting would want to replicate the show while also encouraging economic growth in the state.

Season premiere for this season of “Shark Tank,” which aired on Sept. 25, brought over 6 million viewers according to TV by the numbers.

For any further questions, contact Joel Bolton, assistant professor of management and international business at USM, at joel.bolton@usm.edu, or Sher Gibbs, another professor in the College of Business, at sherrhonda.gibbs@usm.edu.

FEATURE

Page 4 | Thursday, October 8, 2015

ON CAMPUS

College-age women often unaware of breast cancer risk Camille Myrick Printz Reporter

October is the month of the pink ribbon—Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

What students should know as they don pink socks, t-shirts and bandanas is that 70,000 people between the ages of 15 and 39 are diagnosed with cancer every year.

Irene Frederick, academic director of health care leadership at the University of Denver, said that women of all ages should be aware of the risk.

“There is never a time period in any woman’s life where the complaint of a breast mass should be dismissed,” Frederick said. “There is a lot of downplay, but the rule of thumb is that you never know.”

The solution is to not only raise awareness, but to educate women on how to check for early symptoms.

“I would hope that not only young women’s awareness of the possibility of breast cancer improve, but the physician’s awareness as well,” Frederick said.

Susan Brown is the director of health education at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising

awareness and funds for women with breast cancer. Brown says battling breast cancer can be much harder for a younger woman and the psychological effects last longer. “(Women in their 20s) should be facing other decisions—finishing school, thinking about starting a family,” Brown said. “One survivor I know who was diagnosed at a young age thought about breast cancer every day after her diagnosis, and still thinks about her possible mortality even though she survived 20 years ago.”

Anna Katherine Peel, a sophomore elementary education major and Chi Omega sister, watched her mother battle breast cancer. It is an emotional and defeating experience.

“It spreads so fast,” Peel said.

“It makes you feel like you have no pride left. Who wants to lose all their hair? And chemotherapy is so terrible. The whole journey is just horrific.”

Imagining having breast cancer in college, Peel discussed what she would lose as a result. “I would have to give up my dream of being a kindergarten teacher,” Peel said. “I also feel like once I stopped going to college, it would be hard to go back.”

Although it would be a long journey Peel has no doubt that she would have support from her on-campus family. “If my sorority found out I had breast cancer, they would have my back no matter what. If I had to go the hospital out of state, they would drive. I would have so much support from them, but it would still be hard.”

For other women at USM, it is hard to even picture walking in those shoes. Anne Tullos, a sophomore speech pathology major, finds it hard to speculate what her reaction may be to a cancer diagnosis.

“It’s hard for me to put myself in that place because I’ve never known anyone my age with breast cancer,” Tullos said. “Most of the people I know who have gotten it have been older.”

She can guess that her biggest regret would be missing out on the picturesque college experience.

“This would be an awful time to get it,” she said. “College is an important, vital time of life. It would take away from having that experience and that is what I would regret most.”

Breast cancer is often associated with women, but it should be pointed out that men are also at risk. Men who suffer from breast cancer are very rare, but the disease is just as

Courtesy Photo

life-threatening for them as women.

In some cases, it can be more fatal because men with breast lumps dismiss the possibility of cancer until it enters later stages.

Alexander Tummers, lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy and assistant department head for General Surgery at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune said that being awareness is vital for men at risk.

“The fact that most men aren’t aware that they can get breast cancer

is the biggest stumbling block to early detection,” Tummers said. “There is a stigma with men and breast cancer because men automatically think that it is a woman’s disease, so male breast cancer is often caught at a much later stage.”

As students pull out pink attire to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month, men and women of all ages should recognize the risk and learn how to check for masses in the breast as an act of prevention.

ON CAMPUS

Rising tuition causes some to seek odd jobs Hiba Tahir

Printz Reporter “Students are paying higher tuition than ever,” reads a recent news headline in The Atlantic.

According to the Washington Post’s Grade Point news blog, tuition is rising faster than inflation despite wages remaining relatively flat.

While most college students still take on typical jobs as servers, department store employees or tutors, the facts of our current education and economic system have made the college-bound millennial particularly adept at finding alternative ways to make money.

Some students find that more creative and unique jobs can make their undergraduate years more comfortable.

Chantel Rivera, senior nutrition and dietetics major, began searching for a job after returning from a semester in Spain last fall.

A friend she had traveled with was already employed by the bingo hall and knew they were searching for more employees, with a particular interest in hiring students from The University of Southern Mississippi.

Rivera was hired on the spot. As a bingo hall employee, she learned to take on many distinct roles.

“Everyone at the bingo hall is expected to be able to do multiple jobs,” she said. “So each person can fill in for anyone who is unable to be there. I was originally hired as a caller, but I enjoyed selling, so that is mainly what I did.”

As a seller, Rivera sold bingo

sheets to players throughout the night. Speed and accuracy were key components of her job. She had to make sure the line did not get too long and that she gave back the correct change.

Although Rivera excelled at the job, she did face some minor challenges during her seven months there.

Any trouble she might have had

involved mainly the interaction of such large numbers of differing personalities.

“I definitely learned to keep calm in all situations,” she said. “I realized no matter how ridiculous someone’s complaint may seem to you, people just want to be heard and respected.”

Rivera believes working an odd job can be a rewarding

experience and that you don’t necessarily have to look far to find one.

“Just start asking around.

Start with the people you know because everyone knows someone who knows someone,” she said. “You’d be surprised what you could find in Hattiesburg.”

Courtesy Photo

FEATURE

Thursday, October 8, 2015 | Page 5

ON CAMPUS

More degrees could yield more job opportunities Alexis Ware Printz Reporter

According to the Forbes’ article “Six Reasons Why Your College Major Doesn’t Matter,” what students choose as their major does not have a great impact on their career opportunities or success.

The article includes studies that report 85 percent of 2015 graduates researched their major before coming to college and chose their majors accordingly.

Many employers only require that applicants have a degree, but no specifications on what kind. Only 27 percent of college graduates work in a field of their major. Despite this, some students chose to increase their odds of employment by pursuing two degrees.

Senior Alexis Sanders chose to major in both biochemistry and molecular biology because she was unsure about what she wanted to do. She changed her initial major, which forced her to be a semester behind.

“I’ve already accepted my fate as a lifelong learner,” Sanders said. “I have to stay an extra semester but I think that’s still a good deal because I’m getting

two degrees (as well as) a minor, studying abroad and doing whatever else I wanted to do,” Sanders said.

Morgan Grace Milburn, senior English, Spanish and advertising

Spanish as a major because she had taken enough credits to meet the requirements. Allysa Cole found herself in a similar situation after studying abroad in Spain. Cole, a senior broadcast

speaking people.”

Having more than one major often leaves students with a more difficult undergraduate experience “I don’t get to choose as many fun electives. All of my electives

It’s not difficult, but it’s not easy.

I would describe it as a challenge because it’s double the work, double the capstones, double the classes.”

- Allysa Cole, senior broadcast journalism and Spanish double major major, started college with plans to be a double major.

“I’ve always been really interested in English, but I didn’t want to teach so I was interested in doing something else,” Milburn said. “So, I thought advertising would go well with that, and I find it interesting. I thought it could go well with the copyrighting part of advertising.”

After deciding she wanted to study abroad in Spain, she added

journalism and Spanish major, said the two majors will increase her employability.

“I decided to do double major because I knew that I would have more opportunities for jobs with two degrees,” Cole said. “If I can’t find a job in journalism, I know I can find a job in another country or in the United States as an English teacher teaching to Spanish speaking people or as a Spanish teacher for English

for one major are requirements for the other major, so I haven’t had as much chance to just kind of (think), ‘Oh, this seems interesting,’ and do that,” Milburn said. “I’ve had to take a few semesters over 19 hours, and that’s not the most fun.”

Cole agreed that obtaining two degrees takes much more effort.

“It’s not difficult, but it’s not easy,” Cole said. “I would describe it as a challenge because it’s double

the work, double the capstones, double the classes.”

Even with the challenges that come along with having more than one major, these students believe it will benefit them post-graduation.

“I’m trying to be the superhuman that medical schools want me to be,” Sanders said. “These are some of the things I have to do in order to get in.”

If a student’s ideal job requires a specific degree, choosing to be a double major increases their playing field in the job market. “(Being a triple major) gives me a background into more fields, and I think that’ll be really useful when I go out into the job field because I’ll have an in-depth background in Spanish, English and advertising,” Milburn said. “So anything I want to go into I can.”

Beyond increasing job opportunities, pursuing more than one degree allows students the chance to explore more of their interests.

“I have a passion for journalism and Spanish, so it’s a good feeling to know I can conquer both,” Cole said. “I can be qualified and have the credentials do the things I love and maybe I can be a part of it in some kind of professional way.”

OPINION

Page 6 | Thursday, October 8, 2015

INTERNATIONAL

H&M model dons hijab in video Camille Myrick Printz Reporter

An H&M promotional video sparked debate when a Muslim model was featured wearing a hijab. The video, titled “Close the Loop,” was not aimed at pointing out any specific groups based on sexuality, religion or race. It simply urged consumers to bring unwanted clothes and fabrics to H&M stores for reuse. The slogan ending the video reads, “There are no rules in fashion but one: recycle your clothes.”

Despite the creative “rulebreaking” premise of the video, recycling is not what caught audiences’ eyes. Instead, it was Muslim model Mariah Idrissi briefly shown leaning against a door frame, a houndstooth

print hijab draped elegantly around her neck. For those who don’t know, a hijab is a head covering some Muslim women wear in public for the “sake of being modest.”

Idrissi intends for her image to make Muslim women more comfortable with wearing a hijab by tweaking it to be more fashionable. She does not, however, wish for it to be some kind of new trend.

“Hijab isn’t a fashion,” Idrissi said. “We can adjust it to fashion, but we have to remember the sole purpose of the hijab is to be modest.”

This is not the first time Idrissi has modeled the headdress.

She is one of many Muslim women who often post selfies on Instagram with their hijab on. Her desire to make the religious act of wearing a hijab

more socially acceptable is not always encouraged by other Muslims. Some think it is sacrilegious to bring attention to the head covering by trying to integrate fashion. Idrissi stands by her appearance in the H&M advertisement, saying she is not restricted from blending modesty and fashion.

“I’ve seen a few comments where (people are) against it, but there’s nothing that says there is anything against it,” Idrissi said. “In our religion, anything that’s not stated as forbidden is permissible. All I’m doing is bringing it mainstream, because it should be seen as something normal.”

Mariam Veiszadeh, lawyer, writer and advocate for Muslims in Australia, is supportive of Muslim women being represented by mainstream businesses.

“There is more work that still needs to be done,” Veiszadeh said. “Muslim women still continue to face additional barriers in many industries.”

Veiszadeh would be happy to see diversity embody advertising and it no longer be grounds for special attention.

“I look forward to the day

when a hijab-clad model no longer makes headlines,” Veiszadeh said.

Ogilvy Noor is the world’s first Islamic consultancy agency that offers practical advice on how to build brands that appeal to Muslim consumers globally.

Vice President of Ogilvy Noor Shelina Jonmohamed insists that industries should not be hesitant to attract Muslims.

“There is so much in the news and political discussions about Muslims that brands understandably feel a bit nervous about reaching out to Muslim audiences,” Jonmohamed said.

“I would encourage them to be brave and be bold, and they’ll see that Muslim audiences are extremely responsive and very loyal.”

The H&M video, meant to promote “sustainable fashion,” could be the first stepping stone that leads to the integration of Muslim culture into social norms. Idrissi said her obligation to wear a hijab is not the only religious form of modesty she calling attention to.

“There are so many different women, like Jewish women or Christian women, that are not happy with their bodies,”

Idrissi said. “I want to try and incorporate this (modesty) into mainstream fashion and not make it such a separation between being modest and being fashionable.”

It is about time media began branching out and representing more culturally distinguished groups. For so long, fashion industries have used carbon copy models with similar faces.

The H&M video breaks every rule consumers once knew as “fashion rules.” For instance, blondes wearing yellow and redheads wearing red, or dressing across gender boundaries and, in Idrissi’s case, embracing what sets you apart. People should be able to dress in a way they feel represents who they are, instead of feeling like a pariah.

Idrissi understands this concept. Though the hijab featured in H&M’s video was inarguably stylish, she knows covering her head is only a reflection of herself.

“If you know you haven’t corrected your inside first, there’s no point in putting a hijab on for the fashion side of it,” she said. “Because then you’re defeating the object.”

Courtesy Photo

SPORTS

Thursday, October 8, 2015 | Page 7

SOCCER

Hypolite optimistic about USM soccer Deantae Smith Sports Reporter

While the Golden Eagles are 3-73 overall this season, redshirt junior Kay Kay Hypolite will be the first to tell you that the season has not gone as the team hoped, but that has not stopped the defender from giving all she has got.

Hypolite, a Hattiesburg native, began playing soccer when she was six years old.

“I saw a girl with a soccer uniform on,” Hypolite said. “And I told my dad I wanted to wear it.”

Hypolite was forced to deal with adversity before she was able to compete for the Golden Eagles.

The most difficult time in her career came before her senior season in high school, sustaining an injury in a powderpuff football game. The injury forced her to miss her first year of college competition.

“Missing that year was really rough on me,” she said. “I did not realize how much soccer mattered to me that first year.”

Three years removed from the initial injury, Hypolite still plays with a brace on her left knee. She describes the recovery with her

knee as ongoing.

“Overall, it’s been going well. Of course it gets sore and achy here and there, but for the most part I’ve been doing well.”

When it was time to decide on a school, the choice was not hard for Hypolite—she loved the feeling she had from her official visit to The University of Southern Mississippi.

“When I came (to USM), everyone was so welcoming and hospitable,” Hypolite said. “You grow up watching your hometown school play (and) you have to take the chance to fulfill that dream.”

It was important to her to have the opportunity to play in front of family and friends, and she chose to live out her dream by donning the black and gold.

While the team has not performed up to its expectations at this point in the season from a record standpoint, Hypolite’s optimism is not misguided.

Five of the Golden Eagles’ seven losses have been by one point. The small margins of loss have given Hypolite and the team a reason to believe that the team is potentially a bounce away from turning the season around.

“We’re coming along and improving,” Hypolite said. “We realize we’re young (and) we are so close to reaching our potential. We just have to a put it all together.”

Evidence of the Golden Eagles putting it together came when they picked up their first conference win of the season against Charlotte.

Hypolite and her teammates know the time is now to ride that momentum into turning the season around.

“It’s conference play now,” she said. “Competition is at an all-time high and we all know it.”

Hypolite takes great pride in being the last line of defense. The reaction from teammates and fans after a great tackle or a great save is what pushes her to raise her intensity for another stop. She is the type of defender you want on your back row.

“I am very competitive,” Hypolite said. “I absolutely hate being scored on.”

While Hypolite has started 49 games thus far in her career, she cannot pinpoint a particular moment in her career that stands out above the rest.

“I’ve loved my whole career,”

Kay Kay Hypolite/Courtesy Photo

Hypolite said. “I’m excited about the team’s progress and where we can be in the future.”

USM will look to carry its

momentum into a two-game weekend road trip to Florida this weekend, taking on FIU and FAU Friday and Sunday, respectively.

BASEBALL

Blue Jays favorites in wide open field Joshua Campbell Sports Editor

After one of the more exciting regular seasons in recent memory, it is finally time for October baseball.

Dominant rookies Kris Bryant and Carlos Correa and elite starting pitchers Zach Greinke, Dallas Keuchel and Jake Arrieta have set the stage for new stars to become household names.

Last season, Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants scratched and clawed their way to their third World Series in the last five seasons. Last postseason, as so many before it, proved the key to winning is pitching as the Giants rode their dominant starters and the Kansas City Royals utilized their explosive bullpen to get to the World Series.

After pitching, the biggest key for determining postseason success is timely hitting. Most postseason games are low-scoring, so the value of producing timely runs is astronomical. So which teams in the postseason field have the best chance to follow this mold to win the World Series?

The answer is that there are quite a few teams who fit that description.

Big payroll teams are no longer unquestioned juggernauts as they were in the ‘90s and earlier in the century.

The Toronto Blue Jays stick out as the team with the best chance

to follow the mold of strong pitching and timely hitting in order to bring home a title. Since acquiring David Price, Troy Tulowitzki, Mark Lowe, LaTroy Hawkins and Ben Revere at the trade deadline, the Blue Jays have easily been the best team in baseball.

They have the deepest lineup by far with Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and Tulowitzki leading the way. From top to bottom in their lineup, there is no easy outs and they scored 127 more runs than the second place offense, the New York Yankees.

Price is a true ace who has proven capable of going on a Bumgarner-like tear to go along with proven arms such as Marco Estrada and R.A. Dickey in the rotation. If any team is to truly dominate the postseason, it will be the Blue Jays as they are by far the scariest team.

After the Blue Jays, there is a jumbled group of teams capable of staking their claim as world champions. While all eight postseason clubs can get hot and win it all, there are four teams that stand out above the rest—St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Royals.

The Cardinals were the best team in all of baseball for the majority of the season, but they cooled off down the stretch as their huge injury list eventually started impacting their win-loss column.

But they have proven to have the

pedigree needed to bring home yet another title.

They consistently have had one of the best pitching staffs in baseball over the past decade and this season is no different. John Lackey has returned to form this season as an inning-eater, inducing ground ball after ground ball on his way to be the ace of the staff.

Lance Lynn and Michael Wacha both can shut down a lineup at any given time. But what could hold back the Cardinals is their offense.

Injuries have taken their toll on the Cardinals, but they have managed to stay somewhat productive with the next-manup philosophy. However, despite being the only team with 100 wins, their offense ranked 24th in runs and 27th in batting average with runners in scoring position.

With timely hitting being so key in the postseason, their inability to produce with runners in scoring position is a huge red flag. But with how consistent the Cardinals have been for so long, it is simply illogical to count them out, especially with their quality pitching.

The Cubs have been the darling of the baseball world this summer, winning 97 games while starting four rookie position players—a feat that is simply unheard of. Even with so much inexperience, the Cubs are one team nobody in the National League wants to face.

It begins with Jake Arrieta, who has been downright legendary

since the All-Star break. He went 11-1 with a MLB-record 0.80 ERA since the midsummer classic and is the best candidate to truly carry his team throughout the postseason.

Jon Lester has proven to be a star in the postseason while Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks are solid rotation arms.

While their offense strikes out more than any other team in baseball, that has not stopped them from being one of the best offenses in the second half led by Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.

The lovable losers have a decent shot at ending their 107-year title drought.

The Dodgers are very similar to the Cubs with two elite starting pitchers in Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. Combine their strong rotation with a dominant bullpen led by Kenley Jansen and the Dodgers could easily pitch their way to a title.

Their lineup has ton of experience and firepower with Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier leading the way, but their entire team has also gone into extended slumps at the dish.

For the Dodgers to win, they will need big contributions from either Yasiel Puig or Joc Pederson, who both have all the talent in the world, but have been wildly inconsistent.

Last but certainly not least, the reigning American League champion Royals once again have a legitimate chance at reaching the fall classic. Led by strong pitching

and defense a year ago, the Royals mode of winning has been altered this season.

Their rotation has been very inconsistent, led by Edison Volquez.

Volquez had been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, but has struggled mightily since being traded to the Royals. He will need to get back on track and be the ace they thought they were getting if the Royals are to win in the postseason.

Yordano Ventura was one of the biggest stories of the postseason last year, but struggled so much in the middle of the season that he was sent down to the minors to work on some mechanical issues. He has been better since his return, but he will need to prove that he can be consistent for the Royals.

Their bullpen is once again stacked and downright scary with Wade Davis and Greg Holland leading the way. What is much better this time around is the Royals offense.

Lorenzo Cain has developed into an all-around star at the plate to go along with his stellar defense while Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Kendrys Morales have quietly posted career years.

The Royals will need their toptwo rotation arms to be at the top of their game in order to reach the World Series for the second consecutive year, but if they do, they will be a team to be feared.

Page 8 | Thursday, October 8, 2015

SPORTS

FOOTBALL

USM looks to avoid hype against Marshall Jacob Kemp Sports Reporter

Ben Queen/USA Today Sports Marshall Thundering Herd tight end Ryan Yurachek carries the ball during the third quarter against the Old Dominion Monarchs at Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Oct. 3 in Huntington, West Virginia.

Southern Miss is off to its best start in the Todd Monken era, which includes its first Conference USA win of the year. It was the first time the Golden Eagles had won their conference opener since 2010.

The Golden Eagles looked the best they have looked all season in their 49-14 win over North Texas. Nick Mullens torched the Mean Green secondary, built off his chemistry with Casey Martin and distributed it to receiver Mike Thomas. Thomas had seven receptions for 155 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles had their best performance of the season. While Southern Miss’ defense has struggled early in the year, it dominated against North Texas, allowing just 14 points and carried a shutout into the fourth quarter.

But Friday night’s matchup against Marshall is another challenge in itself.

The Thundering Herd have been at or near the top of the conference standings over the past few years and are once again in a great position in the conference. Monken knows his team has its hands full Friday and must perform better than they have in previous matchups with Marshall.

“In 2013, we came out and had no chance, and then last year we didn’t do it well enough,” he said. “We had every opportunity early, then in the middle of the game, we couldn’t get off the field on third down and couldn’t continue scoring with them.

So that was frustrating, but we are significantly better than we were last year.”

The Golden Eagles have two major concerns, and for the first time this season, it is not the defense. Key players like Devonta Foster, Draper Riley and Anthony Swain have all been absent on the field due to an array of injuries. If USM is to make a run at the C-USA title, it will need its major pieces healthy.

Foster’s presence has been sorely missed in the secondary.

Though he may not fill up the stat sheet, he does important things like giving extra protection over the top for the cornerbacks in coverage and preventing running backs from turning seven-yard runs into explosive plays.

Another thing Southern Miss must avoid at all costs is to avoid its own hype. Since Monken has been at USM, he has preached and motivated his team through the underdog mentality.

With three dominating wins and the scare against Nebraska, Southern Miss will now be feared in the conference and Monken says that moving forward and not looking into the past will be huge for his team.

“Can’t carry over yards, can’t carry over turnovers and can’t carry over sacks,” Monken said.

“That was last week and that was a different opponent.”

“The challenge is how do you bring it every week?” Monken said. “The

best teams (and) the best players find a way to bring it every day in practice.”

The Golden Eagles might be their own worst enemy going forward and will need to focus especially this week. Southern Miss has also been used to following a set schedule as far as practices. Every game has been on a Saturday and they have been in a nice rhythm and routine, but it gets broken up this week by the Friday night game.

But for Monken, the process is simple and hopes his team will be able to focus after such a big win. “(We need to) eliminate the noise,” Monken said. “Eliminate the noise of the people that think you aren’t good enough at times and then those that think you can beat anybody and we’re great.”

Marshall (4-1, 1-0) has not missed a beat since star quarterback Rakeem Cato left, but still, Southern Miss should be able to slow down Marshall long enough to take a lead and hold on, but it will not be easy.

They still return a potent offense that is led by their twin headed rushing attack. Both Tony Pittman and Devon Johnson will likely give the Southern Miss defense fits on the ground. Pittman and Johnson have both rushed for three touchdowns on the year and combine for nearly 700 yards on the ground; however, Johnson is questionable to play.

If he does play, the 244-pound back will give the Golden Eagles a chance to slow down one of the toughest backs in the country.

The Thundering Herd’s starter at quarterback, Michael Birdsong, has been out since week two and backup Chase Litton, a freshman, has stepped in to fill the void.

If Marshall has a weak point, it is their offense. If Southern Miss can abuse the offensive line and get to Litton early, the Marshall offense will struggle.

One of the more underrated aspects about Marshall is their stadium. Most do not consider it one of the toughest places to play, but in C-USA, it is without a doubt one of the toughest.

Mullens, Martin and Thomas will need to be on the same page early for the Golden Eagles to have success.

They will also need to lean heavily on running backs Jalen Richard and Ito Smith.

Smith has been a true all-purpose threat coming out of the backfield this season and is one of their biggest home run threats on the Golden Eagle offense. Smith had nine carries for 84 yards and a touchdown, while also picking up seven receptions for 85 yards. For the season, Smith has averaged a gaudy 10 yards per offensive touch.

If Southern Miss plays like it is capable of playing, especially the way they did against North Texas, they will be hard pressed to not come away with a victory, establishing itself as a true contender for the conference title.

Kickoff is at 6 p.m. Friday night in Huntington, West Virginia.