The Observer, November 16, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 11
Spartan Notebook
Informed electorate
Football's Greg Debeljak is getting lots of fan votes for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award. Fan votes count for 20 percent of the final decision and Debeljak currently has the third most. The award is given to the college football coach who best demonstrates responsibility, integrity, and excellence on and off the field.
"It's an honor, of course," said Debeljak. "But it isn't really an individual award. It reflects on the assistant coaches, the athletes, and the program as a whole."
The winners (a Coach of the Year will be named in each NCAA Division: DI, DIAA, DII, and DIII) will each receive $50,000 toward the charity of his choice and $20,000 for his school's Alumni Association.
Get a room
The Spartans' cross country program has a devoted fan base. The runners that weren't competing at the Great Lakes Regional drove to Grand Rapids, Mich. to support their teammates. Some slept outside, underneath bleachers in temperatures that dipped below the freezing mark. Some left Cleveland at 4 a.m. to make it to Grand Rapids in time for the race's 11 o'clock start. "It meant a lot having them there, as cheesy as that sounds," said Joy Zhu, who finished 31st. Many on the men's team will travel to Minnesota to support the women's squad at nationals. Hopefully they'll at least bring along cardboard boxes or some steel drums to make fires in.
Halftime show
Saturday's football game against Ohio Wesleyan featured a hard-fought battle off the field. For the seventh year in a row, Rascal House Pizza sponsored the Rascal House Relay, a contest that featured two teams of four lined up at four tables. On the first table sat wings, a personal pizza on the second, a meatball sub on the third, and a carbonated beverage in the anchor's position. The team of Corey Meeks, Patrick Nicely, Brian Whalen, and Austin Ingraham got the win and took home the grand prize, a pizza party.
"I think the speed between tables was the key," said Meeks. "We also chewed well."
Revving up
Case's best distance runners will be training like sprinters in preparation for tomorrow's national tournament. The women's team will run six 150- meter sprints, followed by a game of cornhole. "It's for mental sharpening," said coach Kathy Lanese.
Now hear this
Case's NCAA Playoff game against Widener will cost $8 for general admission and $4 for students. Admission isn't free for students because Saturday's game (noon start time, Case Field) is an NCAA event. The Office of Student Affairs is sponsoring a $2 discount for all students to help offset the cost.
Halftime will feature a Spartan costume contest. The five best costumes will be voted on by the fans to determine the winner, who will receive a prize pack.
The game will be broadcast via the Varsity Athletics website and on tape delay on Sports Time Ohio. See case.edu/athletics/varsity/ for more details.
