1. In light of recent events taking
place within the National Football
League, NFL commissioner Rodger
Goodell will be the subject of his
own upcoming biopic that will deal
with the issue of concussions.
The movie, will focus on the
beginning of Goodell’s tenure
in 2006, succeeding former
commissioner Paul Tagliabue, and
how he’s dealt with the ongoing
concussion scandal amongst
current and former players. In
addition to focusing on Goodell,
whose set to be portrayed by actor
Luke Wilson, the movie will also
highlight forensic neuropathologist
Dr. Bennet Omalu and his findings
on a condition known as chronic
traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),
a degenerative brain disease that
occurs from multiple concussions.
Goodell has been on a
continuous mission as of late to
change his policies and the rules of
the game for the betterment of the
league. The overall improvement
of the game will not only protect
the players, but it’ll also allow
Goodell’s hope for a reduced
amount of long-term damage
inflicted upon retired players in
their “after football life” come to
fruition.
The head of any organization,
especially one like the NFL, has to
enforce policies that people might
not like but have to abide by for
the good of the company and the
players.
The same type of strict yet
necessary policies exist for the
Hampton University football team.
First year head coach Connell
Maynor said, in terms of his
policies for his team, “It’s going to
affect some individuals, in certain
ways… ultimately I have to do
and make the best decision for the
football program when I discipline
players.”
There is a harsh reality when
dealing with football programs,
whether it be at the professional,
collegiate, or little league level.
Rodger Goodell makes decisions
and policies for terms he feels
are right, which is a mindset that
Coach Maynor also has. “I tell
people all the time it’s not personal;
I got to do what is best for the
team,” shared Maynor
Coach Maynor’s players have
a clear understanding why his
policies are in place. Junior
punter/kicker Joseph Christian
Fabber-Kinney explained the
players’ general mindset, “Our
coach usually expects us to carry
ourselves like men. That’s what he
expects most importantly [in terms
of his polices]… over being a good
football player, is being a man.”
In author Lauren Ezell’s article,
“Timeline: The NFL’s Concussion
Crisis,” Ezell cites comments made
by NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello in
2009, one of which includes him
saying, “It’s quite obvious from the
medical research that’s been done
that concussions can lead to long-
term problems.”
The student-athlete position
can be broken down into two
separate entities: the student and
the athlete. And for some, fulfilling
the “student” obligations can prove
particularly challenging, especially
when your team is the reigning
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC) Women’s Basketball
Champions.
But for junior guard Ryan
Jordan, taking care of business on
and off the court comes naturally.
Since her freshman year, the
Manassas, Virginia product has
been able to maintain a high
grade-point average in her strategic
communications major, as well
as in her studies as a psychology
minor. Many student-athletes
choose a major that may require
less work and do their best to
remain on their respective teams.
However, Jordan decided to take
a more challenging route and
currently holds a near-4.0 GPA.
Jordan emphasizes time
management as one of her factors
to success. As a junior, the Lady
Pirates veteran is used to a heavy
course load and work schedule.
She developed this strong skill
by playing basketball, as well
as working in an International
Baccalaureate (IB) high school
program.
“I was definitely more of a
scorer back in high school and
played a different role on that team,
but [I’m] in college so the game is
a little different and I haven’t really
done the best of my abilities yet,
since I’ve been in college,” Jordan
stated.
Although Jordan works to
remain on top, she mentioned
that her daily challenges include
the lack of sleep she receives and
always staying on her feet. Aside
from having to hustle on the court,
Jordan empties the tank taking the
walk from the Scripps Howard
building for classes to Holland Hall
for early morning film watching
sessions, afternoon study hall, and
straight to practice.
Making the leap from high
school to college can be a difficult
adjustment for anyone, but
Jordan has had to adapt to both
classes and basketball in a new
environment.
Some of Jordan’s teammates
expressed their opinions on her
outstanding performance in class
and on the court. “I mean it’s Ryan;
it’s what she does,” stated Chenel
Green, a junior public relations
major from Washington, D.C. “We
always know that Ryan is going to
have the highest GPA.”
Kenia Cole, a senior sports
management major from Silver
Spring, Maryland, also shared her
thoughts on her teammate. “
We expect that from Ryan. She’s
always had the ability and work
ethic to be an outstanding student-
athlete,” she said.
Jordan’s teammates also
emphasized that not only is she
an inspiration to some of the
players but she’s, more importantly,
a role model and leader for the
championship winning team.
Jordan said she certainly doesn’t
feel like an inspiration, but hopes
to be a positive influence, whether
it’s through schoolwork or her
positive attitude amongst the team.
By managing her time and
knowing that school comes before
basketball in her life, Jordan has
been able to maintain a high
IQ both in the gym and the
classroom throughout her college
years. She has certainly made a
positive impression on her fellow
Scripps classmates, her teammates,
professors for being named a top
student-athlete and representing
the Hampton University both on
and off the court.
Despite Hampton University’s
lackluster record of the 2014-2015
football season thus far (2-7, 1-4 in
the MEAC), there’s no doubt that
first year quarterback and two-time
MEAC Rookie of the Week (Oct. 27
and Nov. 3) Jerrell Antoine has been a
beacon of light in his rookie season.
The Orlando, Florida native made
his debut against the Delaware State
Hornets on Oct. 25 and led the team
to a 23-0 rout, finishing with 143
passing yards on 13 of 25 attempts,
including a 56-yard touchdown
pass to redshirt sophomore receiver
Rashawn Proctor. He also utilized his
quickness and mobility to punch in
another TD and add 10 rushing yards
to the box score.
“I feel like I did good, but I feel
like I [have] a lot to learn from it,”
said Antoine when asked about his
performance. “I feel like I wasn’t
satisfied with how I played. I feel like I
can do a lot better.”
The Pirates almost lost out on
Antoine to Louisville last season.
Thankfully, a coaching change
spurred a change of heart for the stud
quarterback.
“I was really going to Louisville...
but then they had a coaching change
in [head coach Charlie] Strong leaving
,” said Antoine. “So then the week
before signing day, Coach [Maynor]
had called and said he wanted me to
visit. So I came down here and visited
and liked it, so I just committed here.
It was the place for me.”
Coach Maynor has been
instrumental in helping Antoine take
his game to the next level and making
sure that he stays focused.
“He’s helped my game from high
school to college a lot. He’s teaching
me a lot of things,” said Antoine. “I
had three coaching changes in my
senior year of high school so he’s
taught me a lot that some coaches
didn’t teach me and helped me out
and made the game a lot easier. He’s
been very helpful.”
Antoine also credits fellow QBs
Jaylian Williamson and Bryan Bailey
as well as running backs Eric Carter Jr.
and Jorrian Washington with helping
his game grow.
“He’s doing a real good job but
he’s still got some things to learn,”
said Washington when asked about
Antoine’s debut.
Carter Jr., who’s also Antoine’s
roommate, cites sleepless nights,
studying the playbook and their
constant communication on and off
the field as a catalyst for both of their
solid performances in the Delaware
State game.
“I just told him, I said ‘this is your
chance.’ You don’t really get too
many opportunities,” said Antoine’s
roommate. “You don’t really need
the door to be open; you just need it
cracked and when you get it cracked,
just kick the door in’ and that’s what
he did.”
Despite the people within the
program who have motivated him,
Antoine says that the most influential
person in his life is his mother.
“She’s always telling me to do the
best that I can,” Antoine continued.
“I won’t lie - she’s the person there for
me all the time, so I just want to be
able to give back to her.”
He also said that he wants to do
everything for her so that he can
give back to her as much as she gave
for him. Antoine mentioned that he
would like to play professionally upon
graduating but wants to focus on
playing well here and getting a good
education as a criminal justice major.
Following a tough, 38-35
Homecoming loss to Morgan State,
Hampton has only three games
remaining on the schedule. Freshman
QB’s have been a trend for the Pirates,
with Bailey starting as a freshman last
year. But if Antoine has anything to
do about it, this job is his for the long
run.
“It could be, but I’m here to stay
and I’m going to keep working hard.”
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014
THE HAMPTON SCRIPT 7
JADE LAWSON
STAFF WRITER
JELANI SCOTT
STAFF WRITER
This past Saturday, Hampton
University football played Morgan
State in HU’s Homecoming matchup.
Unfortunately, the Pirates could not
pick up the win over the Bears, losing
by a close margin of 35-38. It was
a hard-fought game for Hampton,
but what was more shocking was
the attendance at Hampton’s 86th
homecoming game.
Game attendance at Hampton
University home games has been
rather spotty throughout the 2014
season, but the lack of attendance
at the homecoming game was
disturbing. While the football team’s
record has been sub-par this season,
the homecoming game represented
much more than a simple win-loss
record. It was the perfect opportunity
for the thousands of Hamptonians to
exhibit their school spirit and to show
support not just for the team, but also
for their school as a whole.
During homecoming week,
students filled seats to get into the
fashion show and concert. Students
stood shoulder to shoulder at the
bonfire and Friday’s 12 to 5, but
lacked the same amount of zeal at
the homecoming game. Students
purchased cabaret and concert tickets
weeks in advanced, yet almost no one
felt like supporting our football team.
The weather, which was gloomy
and grey, could have been a factor in
the lack of Hampton students and
alumni in the stands, but that certainly
did not hinder other events that were
going on at the same time.
Prior to and during the game,
there was a large tailgate extravaganza
in the Convocation Center parking
lot. Clubs, groups and Greek letter
organizations gathered in the parking
lot to listen to music, eat good food
and converse. The homecoming
tailgate attracted masses of people to
the festivities, but it never transferred
the tailgaters into the bleachers of
Armstrong Stadium. Even during the
game, while the stands were barely
full, the tailgates outside the stadium
were still thriving.
Could it be that people looked
forward to the tailgating more than
the actual game?
Jamal Bailey, a fourth-year five-year
MBA major from Prince Georges
County, Maryland commented on
what attracted people to HU more;
the tailgate or the game.
“It depends on our football
team’s performance,” said Bailey, the
president of Hampton’s chapter of
the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
“This year, I feel the tailgates are more
looked forward to because our team
isn’t performing too well, but if you
look back maybe three years ago in
fall 2011 when the team finished 7-4,
the game [attendance] was maxed out
because the team was performing well
so its dependent on each and every
year.”
The tailgate was not the only
event that was taking place during the
football game. Outside the Student
Center there was the homecoming
bazaar with the plethora of vendors
and food stands. While the game
was still going, there were masses of
people at the vendors and listening to
music in the student center.
A vendor from Phoreal Enterprises
commented on the success that his
stand had with selling merchandise at
the time.
“Homecoming business has been
real good,” the vendor said. “A lot
of alumni came in at the bazaar and
spent well with us even though it’s
cold.”
Aside from the Phoreal Enterprises
vendor, numerous other souveneir,
clothing and food vendors were
packed with Hamptonians young and
old looking to make purchases.
The bazaar, the Student Center
and the tailgate had greater turnouts
than the game, which reflects the
lack of support that Hamptonians
give the Pirates football team.
While it’s commonly argued that
the lack of fans stems from the
poor performance of the team, but
it is equally debatable that sub-par
showing of the team comes from the
lack of support seen at home games.
Homecoming is the time for
Hamptonians to unite and show
support for it’s athletes and this is the
time that they need it the most.
Regardless of our teams records
the Hampton community needs to
rally and support those players on the
fields and the courts, that shed their
blood, sweat and tears for our “Home
By The Sea.”
Empty Stands at Homecoming
JORDAN GRICE
SPORTS EDITOR
“Homecoming is the time for
Hamptonians to unite and show
support for it’s athletes and this
is the time that they need it the
most.”
“I tell people all the
time it’s not personal; I
got to do what is best
for the team,”
-Coach Maynor
Irabor Imobisa | Hampton Script
Running back Eric Carter, Jr. rushes against the Morgan State Bears in the Hampton Homecoming
game last Saturday.
Freshman QB Antoine Shines
Ryan Jordan:
4.0 Athlete
SPORTS
Irabor Imobisa | Hampton Script
Two-time MEAC Rookie of the Week, quarterback Jerrell Antoine
passes against Morgan State in Hampton’s Homecoming game.
Tyana Talley | Hampton Script
Junior guard Ryan Jordan maintains a near-4.0 GPA while playing
for the Hampton Lady Pirates.
WESLEY EGGLESTON
STAFF WRITER
NFL Commish comes
out with new movie