Fall 2008: a semester in SHU sports achievement

I’d like to propose a toast. Throughout the fall semester, the Seton Hill University (SHU) Griffin sports teams have taken the field in a dramatic and positive fashion. The SHU Men’s soccer program showcased some very young, very talented players, giving the program a reason to look forward to the future.

On the basketball court, Men’s basketball head coach Tony Morocco began leading the Men’s basketball program on a journey that will hopefully end in winning season.

By Steve Meredith

Senior Staff Writer

I’d like to propose a toast. Throughout the fall semester, the Seton Hill University (SHU) Griffin sports teams have taken the field in a dramatic and positive fashion. The SHU Men’s soccer program showcased some very young, very talented players, giving the program a reason to look forward to the future.

On the basketball court, Men’s basketball head coach Tony Morocco began leading the Men’s basketball program on a journey that will hopefully end in winning season. Likewise, the Women’s basketball team proved that experience and leadership are still two of the biggest keys towards building a winning program.

My hat goes off to all of the Griffin sports programs, and I wish them the best as we enter into the winter season of Griffin athletics. In my opinion however, the biggest sports story of the semester comes from the SHU Griffin football program.

The football team’s dramatic transformation into a winning program has been fun to watch, and the football team has proven that they can be a top contender, winning some close games by digging deep and outlasting their opponents.

The Griffins were fortunate enough to have a productive season from quarterback David Wess, a senior, who transferred from Division I University of Cincinnati. Running back Antwarn Jones, a junior, also had a great season, rushing for over 1,000 yards and a double-digit number of touchdowns this season.

The Griffins have also had a stellar defensive unit this season, showing people that they can compete with the best teams in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC).

“Defensively we’ve gotten better and better each week,” said SHU football head coach Joel Dolinski. “It’s a new defense this year under new defensive coordinator Greg Huster and each week they get more comfortable with what they’re doing and more confident. They’re kind of a bend don’t break unit. Obviously as a head coach I’d like them to be a three-and-out unit, but they bend and bend and then they’ll come up big for us with a turnover or a big stop when they have to have one. Overall they really have done a nice job for us.”

Earlier in the semester, I wrote that the hiring Dolinski would signal a change in mindset for the Griffins. With a winning record, a ranking in the top 25 teams in division II, and a playoff berth, it appears that the Griffins have made that change in mindset.

The Griffin football program has had a rough road getting to this point. They’ve taken criticism from the university and its students for some less than reputable conduct off the field. It appears, however, that by winning the majority of their games, the Griffin football team has turned their attention towards the gridiron, and in turn, they have earned the respect of the SHU community.

So with nothing further, let us all raise our glasses of root beer and other non-alcoholic beverages to the SHU Football team. Thank you for giving us something to talk about, something to cheer about, and something upon which all students and community members can look back and reminisce. You’ve turned the page, and we believe in you. The expectations will continue to be very high, but we have full confidence that you can live up to, and exceed those expectations.