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	<title>The Snapper:  Millersville University &#187; 83:1</title>
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		<title>Listen Up: CD Review: Young Jeezy &#8211; &#8220;The Recession&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/10/listen-up-cd-review-young-jeezy-the-recession/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/10/listen-up-cd-review-young-jeezy-the-recession/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:08:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sean Purnell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arts & Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cd review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Young Jeezy’s junior album, eclipses a dull summer and presents itself as something for Russell Simmons to “woosah” to after those disappointing record sales calls.
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Young Jeezy’s junior album, eclipses a dull summer and presents itself as something for Russell Simmons to “woosah” to after those disappointing record sales calls.</p>
<p>The Recession, (which is surprisingly more highly favored than The New Kids on The Block’s comeback album which features the Billboard smash, Sexify My Love) glamorizes Jeezy’s status of kingpin amongst today’s class of easily disproved rappers and others in serious need of “G Pass” revocation.</p>
<p>Keeping in mind the thesis of America’s need for political overrule and an economic resurgence that Jeezy put forth in pre-release interviews, Jeezy doesn’t seem to have seen the track listing for the album that he released.</p>
<p>Therefore the album plays like a Thug Motivation sequel rather than the sparkling rock (no pun intended) that hip hop needed a trap rapper to produce (sorry, there was no way<br />
around that one).</p>
<p>For the album’s first six tracks, he doesn’t make it past a minute without a testimonial to the coke game and while at times these predictable couplets are uninspiring, you can’t help but chuckle at how innovatively he puts it.</p>
<p>Case in point: By The Way (produced by Terry “TA” Allen ), the third track off of The Recession where Jeezy’s recognizes that he “Turned a brick into a clothing, a Boost commercial/ And he’s still talking (Ya)Yo/ so who’s commercial?”</p>
<p>Jeezy’s political commitments are evident in two songs. If you haven’t seen him with the Barack Obama graphic tees, then his Nas featured My President, definitely allows you to rule out his candidacy for vice president to McCain (and I did say “Mc”).</p>
<p>Jeezy’s two verses are beasts, that the world will have to rediscover after the hype of Nas’ “Just two albums in and I’m the realest ***** on this Label” line dies down.<br />
But is Jeezy still motivating the thugs or is he making an indisputably classic album in which he stresses different ideals with equal fervor? All criticisms aside, Jeezy’s become the most credible candidate to bring social commentary and street knowledge together so well on a platinum album.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, The Recession isn’t that album.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Savage Mistage</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/10/savage-mistage/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/10/savage-mistage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:52:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Emily Stam</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arts & Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thesnapper.com/?p=264</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Finally English speakers can read Roberto Bolaño’s masterpiece novel “The Savage Detectives. Translated into English in 2007 by Natasha Wimmer, “The Savage Detectives” is an epic story spanning two decades and multiple continents.
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Finally English speakers can read Roberto Bolaño’s masterpiece novel “The Savage Detectives. Translated into English in 2007 by Natasha Wimmer, “The Savage Detectives” is an epic story spanning two decades and multiple continents.</p>
<p>“The Savage Detectives” has no set, easy to explain plot. It tells the stories of the Visceral Realists, a group of Latin American poets that exist on the fringe of Mexican literary society.</p>
<p>The strange Ulises Lima and Arturo Belano lead the group in between their disappearances. But it is about much more than the poets and their small stories.<br />
The reader is taken from country to country, year to year through interviews with various people who came into contact with Lima and Belano.</p>
<p>They try to understand Lima and Belano, often sidetracking into their own stories. Throughout the book Lima and Belano search for Cesárea Tinajero, a lost founder of the Visceral Realists.</p>
<p>Bolaño divides the book into three sections. The first and third are comprised of diary entries from one of the youngest visceral realists as he becomes a part of the group.<br />
He embodies all that it means to be a young poet, lost and confuse and stumbling into new experiences.</p>
<p>With him the reader enters the deeply sensuous, at times erotic, world of the visceral realists. Juan García Madero throws himself into their scene with abandon. He leaves school and spends all his time hanging out in restaurants and bars writing poetry, or sleeping with members of the group.</p>
<p>He sets off into the desert with Lima and Belano on their quest for Cesárea Tinajero.<br />
The middle section holds all of the interviews in the book. Friends, lovers, and acquaintances of Lima and Belano from around the world talk about how the pair affected their lives.</p>
<p>The reader must piece together all the small pieces of information to get a hazy picture of the pair. They often contradict themselves, make mistakes, and fool people.<br />
The overall feel is one of real people with real stories.</p>
<p>Little to no actual poetry makes its way into the book. “The Savage Detectives” is a book about poets. It tries to capture their strange scene, and bring it to life on the page. There is no other book out there like “The Savage Detectives”</p>
<p>While it is a good book, “The Savage Detectives” is not a book to begin reading lightly. All 648 pages are packed with complex stories within stories, and keeping up with it all can be difficult at times. Despite that, it’s a worthwhile read.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Fall fun film preview: College cult classics semester</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/10/fall-fun-film-preview-college-cult-classics-semester/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/10/fall-fun-film-preview-college-cult-classics-semester/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:48:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alvie Hearren</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arts & Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[student organizations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Off-beat, dark, different, yet movies many watched over and over. For the fall of 2008, the MU Cine club will bring to public view a series of film, that may not be on the top-10 list of film critics, but are often movies we watch. Movies with unusual off beat qualities that draw in audiences with diverse taste.
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Off-beat, dark, different, yet movies many watched over and over. For the fall of 2008, the MU Cine club will bring to public view a series of film, that may not be on the top-10 list of film critics, but are often movies we watch. Movies with unusual off beat qualities that draw in audiences with diverse taste.</p>
<p>For the spring of 2008 the film club showed a series of classic romance movies. For the fall, a series of cult classics popular with college students will be the selections to kick off the 2008-2009 school year. “This is a series of films popular with college students.</p>
<p>They show views counter to popular mainstream ideologies and tastes through critiquing and reacting to the society around them. Showing the movies in a public setting will help bring back that group dynamic of movie watching not experienced at home,” said Dr. Jill Craven of the MU Cine Club. “Plus they are really fun,” she said.</p>
<p>Film club kicked off the series on September 9 with Tim Burton’s 1994 biography film, “Ed Wood” the life and times of eccentric filmmaker famous for cheesy schlock such as “Plan Nine from Outer Space” and “Bride of the Monster.”</p>
<p>Showing September 25, is the 1971 love story “Harold and Maude” a classic, touching and unusual love story about Harold, a young man needing meaning in his life, and Maude, an older lady full of passion for life. They are two people who needed each other in their lives. The film shows that age is not a barrier to finding people who bring meaning and joy to life.</p>
<p>On October 9, Rob Reiner’s classic rock and roll mockumentary, “This is Spinal Tap” of 1984 will be shown. The life and times of fictional British metal band “Spinal Tap” the glitz and glory that is the rock and roll life are satirized throughout. We see the band’s triumphs and their failures. Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer, prolific voice actor of The Simpsons fame star.</p>
<p>October 14, film club will show Terry Gilliam’s Sci-Fi movie “Brazil” of 1985. In a future where every movement is monitored and people live in an extreme state of bureaucracy and inept government, Sam Lowry, (Jonathan Pryce) is fingered as a terrorist, turning his life upside down as he works to prove his innocence.</p>
<p>October 21, Film club will show the 1993 low budget dark comedy “Army of Darkness”. In this third installment of the “Evil Dead” trilogy, Ash (Bruce Campbell) is sent back to medieval times and embarks on a quest to find the book of the dead, the Necronomicon. After mis-reciting the chant, Ash unleashes the evil deadite army, lead by his evil counterpart. The movie climaxes with a battle between good and evil.</p>
<p>Around the corner from Halloween, on October 28, film club will show the horror flick “Night of the Living Dead”. A group of people barricade themselves in a farm house attempting to escape the hordes of flesh eating zombies coming for them.</p>
<p>The humans fight off the zombies to keep from becoming part of their ever growing army of mindless flesheaters. “Night of the Living Dead” a horror film steeped in tradition, shot in black and white, right in time for Halloween.</p>
<p>Showing November 6, The last person you expect to be a serial killer, Beverly Sutphin, (Kathleen Turner) middle class, stay at home mom, loves her family, but also takes it upon herself to swiftly end the lives of people she finds detrimental to the livelihood of her beloved family in 1994’s “Serial Mom”.</p>
<p>Wrapping up the Fall 2008 lineup, film club will show “Donnie Darko” of 2001. Jake Gyllenhall plays troubled, time travel obsessed teen Donnie Darko. Blending the real and the surreal, hallucinations with reality, in a Richard Kelley movie not just touching on what is uncomfortable and taboo, but outright dives into it.</p>
<p>All films will be shown free of cost, at 6:30 p.m. at Myers Auditorium in McComsey Hall. More information including schedules and information on the movies shown this semester can be found on the Cine Club’s website,     www.millersville.edu/english/community/filmclub.php.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Millersville cross country team&#8217;s anxious to get &#8217;08 season under way</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/millersville-cross-country-teams-anxious-to-get-08-season-under-way/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/millersville-cross-country-teams-anxious-to-get-08-season-under-way/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:38:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Zack Tertel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cross country]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thesnapper.com/?p=165</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Millersville Cross Country team has been talking about this upcoming season, since Winter.  This is just one example of the their increased level of commitment approaching the new season.

Both the men’s and women’s teams are in preparation and read to get another season underway.  Coach Andy Young has seen “A significant increase in their commitment.”
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Millersville Cross Country team has been talking about this upcoming season, since Winter.  This is just one example of the their increased level of commitment approaching the new season.</p>
<p>Both the men’s and women’s teams are in preparation and read to get another season underway.  Coach Andy Young has seen “A significant increase in their commitment.”</p>
<p>“Not that they did not train hard in the past, but they have taken it to a whole other level,” Young said.</p>
<p>The women’s team was selected to finish sixth out of 16 teams and the men were chosen to place ninth out of 15 in the first-ever Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) coaches preseason poll.</p>
<p>However, both teams later received higher rankings by the U.S. Track &amp; Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic Region Preseason Poll last week.</p>
<p>The women’s team jumped up one spot to fourth place while the men significantly increased after being selected fifth.<br />
Coach Young said that while it is nice to get recognized, they do not put much into the polls.</p>
<p>As far as the difference in the polls, Young feels the team does not get much respect from the other coaches in the PSAC.</p>
<p>The women’s team’s biggest addition may not be an addition at all.<br />
Senior Priscilla Jennings missed most of last season with an injury but now is ready to approach this season after a record-breaking year in track and field.</p>
<p>Coach Young not only expects her to compete at the regional and conference championships, but possibly be in the running for nationals.</p>
<p>While cross country is somewhat of an individual sport, the top seven runners at each competition determine the team’s score.</p>
<p>This means they need more than just one runner to finish well, but this should not be a problem. One person does not make a team, and Young acknowledges this.</p>
<p>“We have quality depth that we have not had in years,” Young said.<br />
Junior, Brittany Zuver, excelled in track last year and is set for a successful season.</p>
<p>“She is ready to run fast this year,” Young said.</p>
<p>Jessica Leddy is one of only two seniors on the team.  After putting up the team’s top finish at last year’s NCAA East Regional, Young thinks she is even stronger this year and motivated to finish her career at Millersville on a positive note.</p>
<p>Other top performers for this year’s team include junior, Jess Jacobson and freshmen Elicia Anderson and Rebekah Moore.  Young thinks this team could be the deepest in the conference.</p>
<p>The men’s team also possesses a lot of depth.  Senior Adam Malloy, was last season’s top performer at the PSAC Championships.<br />
“He’s ready to run and do some damage,” Young said.</p>
<p>Junior Joshua Folds transferred in last season but came in with an injury.  Folds is fully healed and in a lot better shape to make an impact.</p>
<p>Junior Jim Boyer also worked hard during the off-season to put himself at a higher level for this year.  He is expected to have another successful year.</p>
<p>The team will run in the Alumni Open on Saturday.  Young does not put much stock into this particular race and just hopes the team has a good time.</p>
<p>But that does not mean it does not mean anything and hopes to see where his team currently stands.</p>
<p>“I keep telling them, ‘This is the test of your fitness’,” Young said.<br />
The team hopes that this winter they are reflecting on a successful season.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Marauders come up just short in opener</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/marauders-come-up-just-short-in-opener/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/marauders-come-up-just-short-in-opener/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:32:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carla Anderson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stand alone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volleyball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The Millersville Women’s Volleyball team lost, in a close game, to visiting Shippensburg University on September 2.  The Marauders fell just short of forcing a fifth and set, but consecutive kills with the score tied at 24 by Shippensburg won them the match. 
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Millersville Women’s Volleyball team lost, in a close game, to visiting Shippensburg University on September 2.  The Marauders fell just short of forcing a fifth and set, but consecutive kills with the score tied at 24 by Shippensburg won them the match.</p>
<p>The Marauders entered the game under the tutelage of new head coach Betsy Haden.  Haden enters the season looking to improve upon last years record of 15-20.  Shippensburg took last years PSAC conference championship and were picked to earn the top spot again.  The Marauders were pegged in 6th place out of 7 in the preseason conference poll.</p>
<p>Millersville returns junior setter Meredith Sinback who was named to the All-PSAC second team last season.  Along with Sinback are six other members of the team who were significant contributors last season, and hope to turn things around this year.</p>

<a href='http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/marauders-come-up-just-short-in-opener/dsc_0096-01/' title='Women&#039;s Volleyball (1)'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/dsc_0096-01-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Photo by Carla Anderson." title="Women&#039;s Volleyball (1)" /></a>
<a href='http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/marauders-come-up-just-short-in-opener/dsc_0104-01/' title='Women&#039;s Volleyball (2)'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/dsc_0104-01-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Photo by Carla Anderson." title="Women&#039;s Volleyball (2)" /></a>
<a href='http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/marauders-come-up-just-short-in-opener/dsc_0057-01/' title='Women&#039;s Volleyball (3)'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/dsc_0057-01-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Photo by Carla Anderson." title="Women&#039;s Volleyball (3)" /></a>
<a href='http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/marauders-come-up-just-short-in-opener/dsc_0042-01/' title='Women&#039;s Volleyball (4)'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/dsc_0042-01-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Photo by Carla Anderson." title="Women&#039;s Volleyball (4)" /></a>

<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Optimism surrounds women&#8217;s soccer team after opening win</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/optimism-surrounds-womens-soccer-team-after-opening-win/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/optimism-surrounds-womens-soccer-team-after-opening-win/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:12:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Sorgi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soccer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Coming off of a 4-12-3 season in 2007 there is nowhere to go but up for Millersville’s women’s soccer team.  
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Coming off of a 4-12-3 season in 2007 there is nowhere to go but up for Millersville’s women’s soccer team.</p>
<p>Head coach Mike O’Brien, will be leaning on a plethora of young talent in his third year as coach.  There are a handful of seniors on the club that will provide good leadership for the young Marauder team.  Leading the charge will be senior midfielder Sarah Cameron .  Guarding the goal will be senior Jamie Lancaster who did not allow a goal in her 35 minutes of action last year.  Sophomore midfielder Olivia Taylor will be expected to step up again this year as she was the only player to start all 18 games last year.  As a freshman   The freshmen and sophomores appear ready to help the team regain its form this year.</p>
<p>“We are looking forward to a much more positive season this year. Many of our young, new players have been proving to be a great addition to the team,” said junior defender Nicki Conzentino.<br />
Goal scoring was a problem last season for Millersville.</p>
<div id="attachment_156" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sp_jbc_practice_dsc_0143-01.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-156" title="Carrying the ball" src="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sp_jbc_practice_dsc_0143-01-300x227.jpg" alt="A member of the women's soccer team tries to push the ball up the field during practice. Photo by Jeff Conner." width="300" height="227" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">A member of the women&#39;s soccer team tries to push the ball up the field during practice. Photo by Jeff Conner.</p></div>
<p>“There were too many ties and 1-0 losses for us last season so the need for an improvement in scoring was obvious. Starting out the season with a win against Philly U, having scored two goals, was a great accomplishment for us,” stated Conzentino .  Improved goal scoring will undoubtedly help the team to a much stronger record this year.  Scoring early also helped set the tone that this is a different club from last year.</p>
<p>“Staying positive and playing tough was the key today,” senior Sarah Cameron said.</p>
<p>Last season it was not until the fifth game that the Marauders scored their first goal so the improvement is obvious.  In 2007 the girls were held scoreless 12 times while scoring more than one goal only four times. The ladies will hit the road for a key PSAC game in West Chester on September 3rd.  They will finish up the week at home against Concord on Friday September 5th.  It is a new era for Millersville’s women’s soccer team and there is plenty of reason for optimism.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Phillies-team of mystery and inconsistency</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/phillies-team-of-mystery-and-inconsistency/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/phillies-team-of-mystery-and-inconsistency/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:58:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Zack Tertel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MLB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sports commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Who are these people? Those guys that have been wearing the jerseys that say “Phillies” on the front all summer.

I have watched this team take the field almost daily this season. This is a team that I considered the favorite to win the National League East from spring training and assumed that would be the case. 
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who are these people? Those guys that have been wearing the jerseys that say “Phillies” on the front all summer.</p>
<p>I have watched this team take the field almost daily this season. This is a team that I considered the favorite to win the National League East from spring training and assumed that would be the case.</p>
<p>A team that fans and experts alike thought they knew so well has instead become a mixture of mystery and mediocrity that now limps towards October.</p>
<p>To start, Jimmy Rollins came into this season with an MVP trophy and a plethora of confidence.  Confidence ordinarily is not worth noting when it comes to Rollins, but this spring training it seemed to be more than his usual level.</p>
<p>It was not enough to claim that the team would win the division; he proclaimed the team would win 100 games.  Now Rollins has done a complete 180.  Forget MVP talks.  Never mind 100 wins.</p>
<p>Thanks to his lack of production at the top of the lineup and his complaining about Philadelphia fans being “front runners,” Rollins has gone from beloved to consistently booed in just one year.</p>
<p>While the offense starts with Rollins, it does not end with him.  Thought of as one of the best in the National League and the reason they were expected to repeat as division champs, their offense has struggled significantly over the last couple months.</p>
<p>Ryan Howard has put up the MVP-like home run and RBI numbers, but is not even in consideration due to his abysmal batting average and strike out numbers.  He is on pace right now to break the record for strikeouts in a season, a record he already possesses.</p>
<p>However, in terms of inconsistency, Howard seems to either hit a home run or strike out every time he steps to the plate.</p>
<p>Even Chase Utley, the model of consistency, has slumped after his<br />
hot start.  I don’t think a lot of people expected him to lead the league in home runs like he did back in May, but hot and cold streaks have been the theme of his season.</p>
<p>Utley’s average was down to .281 just two weeks ago.  Utley is currently riding another one of those hot streaks and has brought his average back up to .293.  If the Phillies want to get into the playoffs, they cannot have Utley get cold again in September.</p>
<p>Pat Burrell instead has been the most consistent hitter on the team, which has led to his current stance with fans.  Gone are the days of calls for his banishment from Citizens Bank Park.</p>
<p>Burrell and Rollins have switched roles and Burrell is now the player that no one wants to see leave after this season.</p>
<p>The success of many of the Phillies’ pitchers has also baffled many.  The starting rotation has gotten way more out of Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick than the Phillies front office would probably like to admit, no matter how confident they spoke publicly about their staff before the season. If the Adam Eaton project had actually worked out this season, I would have completely lost faith in everything I previously believed in about sports.</p>
<p>The bullpen has been confusingly phenomenal.  After being forced out of Houston, Brad Lidge is pitching better than he ever has in his career.  He finished last season strong and has been a top closer in the past, but I?don’t think anyone expected him to not have any blown saves so late into the season.</p>
<p>He is not the only one.  J.C. Romero showed what he was capable of last year.  But Ryan Madsen?  Chad Durbin?  Rudy Seanez?  Even Tom Gordon had his moments of greatness this year.  If not for the bullpen, the Phillies would not be anywhere near the top of the standings right now, and no one would have said that before the season.</p>
<p>A team plagued by slow starts in the past, the Phillies came out this year and looked like they were going to run away with the division. The Mets might not be a strong team, but the fact remains that this is going to be a race to the finish and probably come down to the last weekend of the season.</p>
<p>The Phillies always finish strong.  They came back to take the division on the final day of last season and must have a similar conclusion to the year.</p>
<p>One could assume that the same is possible this year, but if this team has proved anything this season, it is to never assume.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Start gearing up for another unpredictable NFL season</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/start-gearing-up-for-another-unpredictable-nfl-season/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/start-gearing-up-for-another-unpredictable-nfl-season/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:40:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Miguel Guadarrama</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sports commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thesnapper.com/?p=150</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Staff writer tries to predict the division and conference champions and what the upcoming season has in store. 
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With the 2008 NFL season underway, there may be many questions being asked about what is going to happen this season.<br />
What can you expect from last year’s Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants? Will the New England Patriots be the same powerhouse team they were last year and who is this year’s surprise team?</p>
<p>AFC North- Though the Pittsburgh Steelers have become a little soft, they are still tougher than most teams in the NFL and they are still the toughest team in the AFC North.</p>
<p>Expect them to win the division, but they will have some serious competition with last year’s surprise team, the Cleveland Browns.<br />
No, they were not a fluke and they will continue to be competitive. With one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and a strong young defense the Browns will snag the last wild card spot in the AFC.</p>
<p>AFC East- For the last several years the New England Patriots have dominated the AFC East and they will continue to do so.<br />
It does not matter that Brett Favre is now playing for the New York Jets; honestly Alan Faneca was a better addition to the team than Favre was.</p>
<p>And since I am in an honest mood, I expect the Buffalo Bills to come second in the division.</p>
<p>To all the excited Jets fans, Favre is not going to be your savior. Remember when Favre was complaining about his receivers in Green Bay, which most quarterbacks would love to have, well what do you think he will say about Jerricho Cotchery and Laverneus Coles? Good luck with that.</p>
<p>AFC South- This has arguably become the toughest division in the NFL, and the winner of this division will be the toughest team in the NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars.</p>
<p>What!? Don’t be too surprised, this pick is not that crazy, this division has become home of smash mouth football and the Jaguars do it better than any other team in the NFL.</p>
<p>Do not worry, I did not forget about the Colts, though they will come second in the AFC South they will also be a wild card team.<br />
AFC?West- Even with Shawn Merriman hurt, the San Diego Chargers will easily win the AFC West. If it was not for the Chargers being the best team in the AFC this would be the worst division in the league. Seriously, expect the Chargers to win their division by at least three games.</p>
<p>The Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders have not done enough during the offseason to improve their teams and make them serious competitors.</p>
<p>NFC?North- If you want to talk about tough defensive teams, look no further than the NFC North.</p>
<p>The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings all could easily come ranked in the top five in defense this upcoming season. But the toughest defense goes to the Minnesota Vikings, who will also win the NFC North. I believe that defense wins championships, just take a look at the 2007 New York Giants. The Vikings defense will overwhelm offenses; they are solid from top to bottom.</p>
<p>Also expect another big year from Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, this will be the year where he becomes the NFL’s best running back, Peterson is no fluke.</p>
<p>NFC East- The home of the Super Bowl champions, the New York and the toughest division in the NFC, perhaps the NFL.</p>
<p>For the third straight year, I expect this division to send three teams to the playoffs.</p>
<p>The Dallas Cowboys will be crowned division champs, they are not a flashy team but they will be solid and they are well balanced. I have very few questions about the Cowboys as a team and I expect them to be the best team in the NFC.</p>
<p>Also expect the Philadelphia Eagles to bounce back and take second place in the East and a playoff spot.</p>
<p>They did not do much to improve their offense during the offseason; but they did improve their defense with the additions of Asante Samuels and Chris Clemons.</p>
<p>As for the Giants, they will likely round off the playoff picture for<br />
the NFC, even with the losses to key defensive players like Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Gibril Wilson.</p>
<p>NFC South- Of all the divisions in the NFL, the NFC South is by far the most unpredictable and arguably the worst. Since 2003 each team has won this division at least once.</p>
<p>But the team that has improved the most was the New Orleans Saints with key additions like Jonathon Vilma, Jeremy Shockey, and Randall Gay who will play nickelback.</p>
<p>These additions will help them win the division, which should be a tight race between the Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers.</p>
<p>NFC?West- When talking about the NFC West, the first thing that comes to mind is predictable. This is a division that makes subtle changes and does not change much.</p>
<p>The Seattle Seahawks will win this division with no problem.<br />
But if there is going to be a surprise team this season, it will be the San Francisco 49ers. Many analyst expected big things from the 49ers last season, but this season should be a little different.</p>
<p>The 49ers defense will be great if their offense can stay on the field for more than 25 minutes a game, if that happens expect bigger things from San Francisco.</p>
<p>This season you will see a power shift within both conferences, and it will show in the playoffs.</p>
<p>The Dallas Cowboys will take on the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship game where the Cowboys will advance to the Super Bowl.</p>
<p>In the AFC championship you will see the San Diego Chargers take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, and finally this is the year that the Chargers get over the hump and advance to the Super Bowl.</p>
<p>Finally, the winner of Super Bowl XLIII will be the Chargers, whose<br />
3-4 defense and great running game will be too much for many teams to handle.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Marauders builds off last season</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/marauders-builds-off-last-season/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/marauders-builds-off-last-season/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:36:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Paul Black</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soccer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thesnapper.com/?p=148</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Millersville Men’s Soccer Team begins its road back to another potential playoff birth, with many reasons to be confident that they will repeat last year’s feat.  
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Millersville Men’s Soccer Team begins its road back to another potential playoff birth, with many reasons to be confident that they will repeat last year’s feat.</p>
<p>This year the bar is set significantly higher.  Last year’s team pushed their way into the playoffs, despite the overwhelming youth within the side, and now the team feels as if they are expected to be in the playoffs once again.</p>
<p>“Last year we felt that we gelled and clicked as a team, and internally we believed that we had good talent and a successful year.  Externally, however, it may have appeared that our very young team overachieved.  Reflecting on last year’s side, expectations are higher, our minimum expectations are the playoffs,” said Coach Steve Widdowson, who was named Conference Coach of the Year last season.</p>
<div id="attachment_168" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sp_jbc_practice_dsc_0211-01.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-168" title="Soccer practice" src="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sp_jbc_practice_dsc_0211-01-300x222.jpg" alt="The men's soccer team works on their ball-handling skills at practice on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff Conner." width="300" height="222" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The men&#39;s soccer team works on their ball-handling skills at practice on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff Conner.</p></div>
<p>Coach Widdowson is excited with his freshman group of players; however the team is led by seniors, Sean McLaughlin and Ryan Kiley.  McLaughlin is a forward who led the team in goals (9) and assists last season, and was nominated a first team Pennsylvania State Athletic Committee (PSAC) All Conference player.<br />
Kiley is a left sided player who finished second behind McLaughlin in scoring (7) last season.</p>
<p>Complimenting these two attack-minded players is returning sophomore Kyle Loughlin, who was a main piece to the team’s playoff run, adding four goals throughout the last season.</p>
<p>The good mixture of upper and lower class players provide adequate experience and energy to the team.</p>
<p>The added freshmen this season bring extended depth and strength to the team. They will undoubtedly contribute to the team’s success this season.</p>
<p>Some of these key additions include center back John Claffy and defending center midfielder Adam Santeusanio, who fill starting roles this season.  Midfielder Ethan Daubert and Pat Baffuto also seek to shine in their freshman year.</p>
<p>Overall, the freshman class representing this season’s squad will be the determining factors on how well the team produces on the pitch.</p>
<p>The team runs a traditional 4-4-2 formation, accompanied by a free-flowing, fast-paced style of attack.</p>
<p>Their style of play dictates a possession oriented game plan, and enables the team to control the rhythm of the game.</p>
<p>“We play a high tempo game.  Attack at pace, find the strikers early, and create timely chances.</p>
<p>We play a quick, short-passing game.  The key to our success is possession with purpose,” Coach Widdowson said.</p>
<p>The team kicked off its season against Holy Family, where Millersville came out victorious, 2-0.</p>
<p>The game was the first of two games the Marauders would win, while competing in the Wilmington University Tournament.<br />
The second win came against Philadelphia, 1-0 in overtime, on the following day.</p>
<p>The Marauders begin their conference schedule, on Sept. 3 at West Chester University.  Their home debut is out of conference on Sept. 6 against Malloy and is also scheduled as youth soccer night.<br />
Their first home conference game is versus Shippensburg on Sept. 13   (Alumni Day).  The team finished last season 11-8-1 overall<br />
and 10-5-1 in conference.</p>
<p>They look to improve on this record and achieve even more success this season.</p>
<p>Millersville was seeded third place in the PSAC Eastern Division, according to the PSAC preseason poll.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Football struggles on both sides of the field in season opener</title>
		<link>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/football-struggles-on-both-sides-of-the-field-in-season-opener/</link>
		<comments>http://thesnapper.com/2008/09/04/football-struggles-on-both-sides-of-the-field-in-season-opener/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:15:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kevin Martincek</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[83:1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volume 83]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thesnapper.com/?p=144</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Millersville entered Friday’s season opening football matchup versus Bentley College with high hopes of providing newly appointed head coach Greg Colby with a milestone first victory.  Instead it was the Bentley Falcons and their electric passing game under head coach Peter Yetten, who proved to be too much for the Marauders and went away with a milestone victory for Yetten with his 150th career win as a head coach.
No related posts.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Millersville entered Friday’s season opening football matchup versus Bentley College with high hopes of providing newly appointed head coach Greg Colby with a milestone first victory.  Instead it was the Bentley Falcons and their electric passing game under head coach Peter Yetten, who proved to be too much for the Marauders and went away with a milestone victory for Yetten with his 150th career win as a head coach.</p>
<p>Millersville squandered a third quarter lead and never took back control as they fell to Bentley 35-22 in Waltham, Massachusetts.  The Marauders got off to a good start in the first quarter when sophomore quarterback Jamal Smith hit junior wide receiver Brad Lantz with a pass of 43 yards on Millersville’s second offensive play from scrimmage.  Millersville then drove to the Falcons’ five-yard line with a first and goal opportunity, only to get stuffed on three straight runs before settling for an 18-yard field goal from junior John Banzhof.</p>
<div id="attachment_183" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 238px"><a href="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sp_jbc_practice_dsc_0086-01.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-183" title="Catching a pass" src="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sp_jbc_practice_dsc_0086-01-228x300.jpg" alt="Sophomore wide receiver Andy Downs prepares to make the catch in attempts to gain yardage for the Marauders. Photo by Jeff Conner." width="228" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Sophomore wide receiver Andy Downs prepares to make the catch in attempts to gain yardage for the Marauders. Photo by Jeff Conner.</p></div>
<p>Bentley would then take the lead in the second quarter after quarterback John White began his aerial assault on Millersville.  White threw a 46-yard strike to receiver John Studley for the Falcons’ first touchdown and then set up another score later in the quarter by completing three consecutive passes of 17, 38, and 11 yards.  The passes along with a balanced running attack set up a two yard touchdown run for Luis Cotto with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter to provide the Falcons with a 14-3 cushion at halftime.</p>
<p>Millersville chipped into the lead on the opening drive of the second half after Smith found senior Derek Fry in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass.  The extra point was blocked and Millersville still trailed 14-9.  The Marauders though were able to gain the lead on Bentley’s first possession of the half when Dan McClellan intercepted and returned it 42-yards for a touchdown.  The score put the Marauders ahead 16-14, but it would be their last lead of the day.  The Falcons scored again towards the end of the third quarter after White connected with Kyle Tuthill for a 15-yard passing touchdown to take control 21-16 at the end of the third quarter.</p>
<p>Bentley never looked back as they went on to score two more insurance touchdowns in the fourth quarter when White hooked up with Studley and Tuthill on passes of 18 and 6 yards.  The two scores gave both receivers two touchdowns on the day and put Bentley way out in front 35-16.  White finished the day 23-38 for 371 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.  John Studley and Kyle Tuthill each exited with personal bests in receiving yards as Studley ended with 10 catches for 157 yards and Tuthill added 9 catches for 183 yards.</p>
<p>The Marauders would tack on one final touchdown for the day when backup quarterback Bill Shirk found Derek Fry for his second touchdown of the day on a 6-yard pass.</p>
<p>Millersville had a tough time establishing their offense on Friday allowing eight sacks and averaging only 2.4 yards per carry as a team, which especially hurt towards the goaline.  Smith led all Millersville rushers with 69 yards on the ground, while also going 6-14 for 90 yards and a touchdown through the air.  Last years leading rusher and newly converted receiver Brad Lantz finished with five catches for 78 yards.  Lantz and Fry both have moved to receiver in hopes of adding some more depth to the position where they lost their top two players from last year due to graduation.  Lantz was a running back last year and Fry was a tight end.</p>
<p>“Having an ex-running back in the slot as a receiver is basically like having a third running back on the field and it gives us more options.” Fry explained “I used to play receiver when I came here before I played tight end so I have the receiver experience so it was easy for me to move back out there.”</p>
<p>The Marauders are optimistic that with Smith’s continued development and more game experience together they will begin to flourish as a unit.</p>
<div id="attachment_182" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 235px"><a href="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sp_jbc_practice_dsc_0080-01.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-182" title="Throwing a pass" src="http://thesnapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sp_jbc_practice_dsc_0080-01-225x300.jpg" alt="Sophomore quarterback Jamal Smith throws a pass down-field during practice on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff Conner." width="225" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Sophomore quarterback Jamal Smith throws a pass down-field during practice on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff Conner.</p></div>
<p>Apart from Friday’s offensive struggles the defensive performance could have been even more of a cause for concern.</p>
<p>After losing Seniors Brandon Shelton and Marcus Banks in the secondary to graduation, the Marauders will be looking to fill the void with less experienced players.</p>
<p>Last season Shelton tied the University record for career interceptions with 16, and Banks was the team’s leading tackler. The lack of experience showed on Friday, but growing pains are to be expected.</p>
<p>The Marauders have a good mix of veterans and young players, and while the secondary gave up lots of yards through the air they showed they are capable of getting to the ball and creating turnovers after coming down with two interceptions.  Like the offense, members of the defense are not deterred by Friday’s loss.<br />
“We have a lot of young kids that are going to step up, I think we’re going to have a good secondary again,” Senior defensive lineman Jarrod Linn said.</p>
<p>Part of the reason the Marauders remain so confident is because they are playing under a new, but well traveled head coach Greg Colby.  Colby, the former defensive coordinator at Northwestern University has installed a new system and the team is taking the transition well.</p>
<p>“He [Colby] came in with a division one mindset which is good,” said Linn “I think the transition has been going really well, we’re doing a lot of new stuff but not too much is different.”<br />
With five returning all-PSAC selections and a short term memory of last seasons disappointing 3-8 finish the Marauders seem poised to turn things around this year.</p>
<p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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