Hoffman should be Hermann Trophy finalist

Of the 11 forwards still in the running for the MAC Hermann Trophy, UCLA junior Chandler Hoffman is the most deserving to be at the St. Louis dinner January 6.

Hoffman, the comeback story of 2011, has numbers that rival every candidate up for consideration, but what sets him apart is his precision and accuracy.

After breaking his leg during the 2010 preseason, Hoffman went from being “completely crushed” to one of the best collegiate goal scorers the West Coast has seen in 20 years.

In his last 29 games at UCLA, Hoffman has scored 24 goals, including 18 times in 23 outings this season. Not only that, but the junior, left-footed striker has put the UCLA Bruins on his back en route to the College Cup in his hometown area of Birmingham, Ala. He has converted on 78.3 percent of his shots on goal (18-of-23), the best percentage of the semifinalists by far. Closest to him is University of Memphis striker Mark Sherrod at 59.4 percent (19-of-32).

Hoffman’s 18 goals have come at the rate of 0.78 per game, and at one point this season he scored on 10 consecutive shots on goal. He currently has scored his last five shots on goal entering the College Cup.

The junior is one of 12 goal scorers this season for UCLA, but accounts for 44 percent of the Bruins’ 41 goals. The only semifinalist to account for more of his team’s overall goals is Sherrod at 51.4 percent among 11 goal scorers.

If the Hermann Trophy is going to go to an offensive goal scorer, then Hoffman should be the front runner. While he and Sherrod seem somewhat even in stats, no player has carried his team this season in the NCAA like Hoffman has the Bruins. Hoffman has scored most goals by one player at UCLA since 1991 while also maintaining a 3.79 GPA in communication studies to be selected as a Second Team All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

How shall we honor the tradition of Toomer's Oaks?

When the news hit about the oaks at Toomer's Corner, we all were angered and crushed. In the days since, I've read and heard numerous comments from fans of what should be done with the oak trees should they die. I say should, because I hold out hope that the tough ole' trees will fight this chemical weapon the same way it has stood the test of time. But if the herbicide is too strong, what shall we do to honor the life of this storied tradition?

Some have suggested to bronze the trees before they die or build a statue of the trees in their place. Others have said to use parts of the tree for a monument in Jordan-Hare or other locations. While all of these ideas seem great, let's not forget what makes this tradition so special.

Auburn is not a place for traditions of statues you gaze at or touch. Auburn is about living tradition: a walk with its fans, a battle cry that extends social/economic standards, a flight of an eagle and the beauty of a tree blowing in the wind filled with toilet paper. Each of these are living traditions passed down through generations. Such should be the legacy of the oaks.

Once the poison is gone from the rich Auburn soil, the best fitting tribute would be to pass the corner of Magnolia and College to the next generation of Oaks. Just as alumni pride themselves in being able to carry on their ancestors tradition of being an Auburn Tiger, so should the seedlings of Toomers' oaks, which are maintained by The School of Forestry and Wildlife Science.

Until that day comes, the Auburn Family has the opportunity to spread the seed of Toomer's oaks across the state and nation, not only in their own yards, but in parks or gardens.

The spirit of Auburn is alive. So shall be the spriit of Toomer's Oaks.

Purpose in print

Every now and then when things seem to get a rut, things get busy again at work. And usually in those moments something gives me a boost. Almost always that boost comes from knowing that there was purpose to my job that day.
No other time in my professional career, have I probably felt such purpose than this week.
A former Spain Park track and field captain named Imad Mohammad, 18, and his mother spent five days in the LaSalle Detention Facility in Jena, La. They had been in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since Jan. 12. I learned of the story this past Monday, three days after they were taken from the Perry County (Ala.) Jail to LaSalle.
While yes, here is a family who is here illegally after their visitation visa expired in the 1990s, they have been appealing their request for asylum for more than a decade, working, paying taxes, getting involved in their community and local school and living a clean, American life. All of a sudden, they were picked up by ICE - nine years after they were told they'd be deported.
While the Immigration Board of Appeals will decide what happens to the family, it was still our job to report what the family and lawyers were seeing as injustice - being detained all of a sudden by the government, while knowing that they had no country to send the family to.
On Wednesday afternoon, that purpose moment came when Imad and his mother were released after an inquiry by U.S. Congressman Spencer Bachus.
The words of encouragement and thank yous coming from the family and friends of the family are better than any award that can be won for a story. Hearing a father say through tears, "You brought a mom home to her children again," leaves you speechless.
Not only has this week brought a renewed sense of humanity to the father of the family and teachers at Spain Park, but hopefully to Imad, who was beginning to believe that he can not trust anyone in this world. Trust is exactly what he needs to have in his family, friends and government - even if by law it is not his government yet.
Here are the stories so far from this week.

1/28 - Mohammads released from jail

1/26 - Former Spain Park runner faces deportation

Who really owns the Iron Bowl?

I'd almost forgotten what an Iron Bowl Saturday in Dixie felt like. After living in Tennessee the previous two Iron Bowls, I'd missed that certain feeling in the air and buzz that moves freely through the state in late November. It's orange, blue, crimson and white everywhere you look. It's tiger tails and Bama flags, as the traffic flows steady down U.S. 280 or South on Interstates 459 and 59.
As Auburn fans celebrate their sixth-straight win over Alabama this week, a 17-10 victory on Nov. 24, I thought I'd pose the question of who really owns the Iron Bowl?
It's not Auburn or Alabama, but Paul "Bear" Bryant.
During Bryant's tenure in Tuscaloosa, he not only racked up one of the greatest coaching records of all time with 323 wins, but posted 19 of those against the "cow college," otherwise known as Auburn Uninversity, the "Loviliest Village on the Plains." His 19-6 record in the 72-game rivalry is the best of any coach for either team. It is understandable why Alabama fans are quick to call the rilvary theirs, however, despite what the series record of 38-33-1 says to their favor, the series is not theirs.
If you eliminate Bear from the equation, Auburn leads the way at 27-19-1.
Only one Alabama coach has beaten its rival more than five times: Bear Bryant. Three Auburn coaches have won more than five over the Tide: Ralph "Shug" Jordan (9-16), Tommy Tuberville (7-2 and still counting) and Pat Dye (6-6). Alabama's Gene Stallings and Red Drew were both 5-2 againt the Tigers.
So, as you see, it is Bear that owns the Iron Bowl, not Bama. For if it weren't for Bear, the bragging rights are Auburn's. Take away the Auburn win's againt Bear and the time spent by Shug and Dye pre-Bear and post-Bear, and the series still tilts toward the Plains (18-11-1).
Of course, you can't elimiate the records of three of the best coaches to coach in the rilvary.
Shug took over Auburn, or API at the time, in 1951 and stayed through 1975. Bear came in 1958 and departed in 1982. Doug Barfield was 0-5 for Auburn from 1976-80, while Dye was 6-6 from 1981-92. The time from Shug to Dye accounts for 42 of the rivalry's 72 games played, thus creating the heart of the heated battle. for this time alone, these 40 games, Bear won 19, Shug won nine and Dye won six. The Tide won 27 and the Tigers won 15.
But has the platue of the rivalry passed or is a new era dawning? Since Dye's departure in 1992, Auburn is 10-5. Before Shug ever walked the sidelines of Legion Field for the Iron Bowl, Auburn was 8-6-1.
The series between the two teams is as close as most of its scores.
Now there's a new Iron Bowl era. Tuberville is knocking on becoming the coach with the most wins against Bama in Auburn history. He already holds the longest win streak for Auburn against Bama. Next is three wins to pass Shug for most wins and to match Bear's streak of nine wins in the series.
So, you tell me, who really owns the Iron Bowl?

OTHER IRON BOWL FACTS
Record by location

Auburn: Auburn 7-2
-- Jordan-Hare Stadium: Auburn 7-2

Tuscaloosa:Auburn 6-0
-- Bryant-Denny Stadium: Auburn 4-0
-- Other Tuscaloosa location: Auburn 2-0

Birmingham: Bama 34-18-1
-- Legion Field: Bama 32-15
-- Birmingham Fair Grounds: Bama 1-0-1
-- West End Park: Auburn 2-1
-- Lakeview Baseball Park: Auburn 1-0

Motgomery: Tied 2-2
-- Highland Park: Bama 1-0
-- Riverside Park: Tied 1-1
-- Other location: Auburn 1-0

Goals met in Division II debut

It's something I began doing my junior year at the University of Montevallo when broadcasting basketball games. I'd go to a player before the game and give him or her a realistic goal to achieve that was slightly higher than his or her average. It might have been points, rebounds, assists, fewer turnovers or field goal/free throw percentage. It was often that those goals were met.
I took this form of encouragement and motivation with me to Martin Methodist College as sports inforamation director. It worked a little in the 2005-06 athletic season, however it was displayed the best last fall. My two most successful targets were Tassia Augusto and LaKenya Wrightsil. Tas, a native of Brazil, missed a large portion of her freshman season due to knee injury and was not able to travel as a player to the Kansas to help MMC win the women's soccer NAIA national championship in Nov. '05. She rehabbed and returned to the field last summer and although her speed was affected by her surgery, she developed the determination to score. I'd go to each girl in pregame warmups and wish them good luck individually. It had to be individually, because it was a superstition. If I missed someone, I was afraid they'd not play well. Again, I said it was a supersitition.
As I'd go around and comment, I'd give different players a different goal, however I always targeted Tas. I guess I was consistant with her last fall, because after her first goal of the season she came up to me and said "You told me I was going to score. That's all I thought about, and when I did I immediatly thought about how you'd told me."
I heard this numerous times. If I was at the game, Tas would look for me on the sidelines after a goal.
Tassia transfered last December from Martin Methodist to the Univesity of North Alabama in the Gulf South Conference. She may possibly be the weapon that the Lady Lions have been in need of to take them into the GSC Tournament and pose a threat. Realizing that UNA would open its season on Friday night, Aug. 24, I sent Tas a Facebook message Friday morning saying "Good luck Saturday in your North Alabama debut. Be sure to score one for me and two if possible."
I forgot to look up the score and check up on how she did. While researching some high school football in the state and visiting the Times Daily's website, I noticed a UNA women's soccer story, and opened.
Midway through, this is what I found, "Augusto, in her first season at UNA after transferring from Martin Methodist, scored the final two goals of the first half in the 34th and 36th minutes to make it 6-0 at intermission."
The end result is that it made me smile and laugh that for some reason this motivation tool never fails with Tassia. She also added three assists in the 8-0 victory.
This is just one of the moments that working around young athletes that makes things enjoyable and rewarding. I'm not saying I'm the reason she is scoring goals and playing well, but do believe my encouragement and goal helps motivate her to think offensively and make the moves she needs to be in position to score....and when in that position, the net is open for her.
The photo is of Tassia from her debut taken from the UNA women's soccer main page.

Remembering No. 33 – Chauncey Shelton

Every one enjoyed watching his command of the game on the basketball court and strong ability to score. Chauncey Shelton was a one-year wonder for Martin Methodist College men's basketball in 2006-07 that earned him the honor of NAIA Honorable Mention All-American this past March.

However, unlike some one-year wonder basketball players, Chauncey was not someone who will be in your mind one minute but gone forever when his playing days were over.

I am fortunate to have known Chauncey during my time as athletic communications director at MMC. The joy was not just knowing that when you needed a win, Chauncey was going to try to do what he could to make it happen, but the short conversations before or after a game or practice.

Following the senior day loss to Union University, Chauncey came off the court apologizing to myself and others for not being able to pull out a win, despite personally shooting 50 percent from the floor and scoring 33 points.

Senior day was my second trip back to Pulaski after resigning my position at MMC in late December to take over as sports editor at the Shelby County Reporter in Alabama. My first was homecoming, and Chauncey was one of the first players to speak to me after the game, asking for my number so we could keep in touch.

I'm sure many people will tell you the same, "He's a good kid. He was always smiling and spoke to everyone he saw." These are not just cliche "after they are gone" comments, but the truth, as far as I could tell.

I first became a fan of Chauncey last summer when head coach Jason Ficca and then assistant coach Patrick Wilcher were working to get Chauncey to MMC from Weber State. We knew that a player of his ability would give MMC a chance to be in position for a TranSouth Athletic Conference title. However, one of the major concerns was academics. It wasn't a concern of having the grades to be eligible, but would he be able to get the classes he wanted and needed to complete his criminal justice degree on time, without having to go too many extra semesters.

This former McDonald's All-American is someone I will not forget. I regret that since we last spoke outside the gym following his final collegiate game, that we did not keep in touch, as he hoped, but still Chauncey always made it an effort to find me when I was back and visit.

That is why it is sad that today I join the Martin Methodist family past to mourn his loss. His character showed through to death, being gunned down after breaking up a fight in Nashville on May 10.


News Channel 5 Update

Baseball's fan base and home runs

Does Major League Baseball have a future? I think it is safe to say that most sports fans, at least baseball fans, may wonder about the future of Major League Baseball. During the players strike in the early 1990s 50 percent of Americans said that they were a fan of professional baseball, however by the time the dust settled from the strike that number fell to 45 percent.
The summer of '98 brought the love for the game to an all time high at 56 percent, but as the drama of a homerun race wore off, the numbers began to steadily decline the next season and have fallen five percentage points in the past three years amid steroid speculation across the league. In a December 2006 Gallup poll, only 45 percent will claim themselves as a fan of the game on a professional level.

Now, what was once considered our national past time, holding the appeal of 39 percent of Americans as their favorite sport in 1948, the love has fallen behind football and basketball. Today 43 percent of Americans consider football their favorite sport, up nine points from December 2005, while basketball remains even at 12 percent and baseball at 11 percent.

So, what is the reason for the fallout of fans from our favorite past time? Is it because we have become a more fast paced society and would rather see an action-packed battle on the gridiron or an hour and a half basketball game as opposed to sitting through three to four hours of baseball? Or is there something more than that?

Baseball's poll numbers are starting to look like political polls – the majority just don't have a trust in the game anymore. Last June 47 percent of professional baseball fans claim that performance-enhancing drugs are the direct influence to the higher number of homeruns. Only 27 percent thought that it was based on an increase in quality hitters, while eight to nine percent said it was because of a new baseball or lack of quality pitching.

With that, it is no surprise that only three percent of sports fans consider Barry Bonds, second all-time in home runs, the greatest home run hitter in the history of the game. Babe Ruth holds that respect with 43 percent of the votes, while Hank Aaron is the only other to receive more than three percent of the votes with 26 percent. And of course the reasons for the doubt in Bonds, which was down from six percent just three years ago, is because 78 percent of professional baseball fans said last April that they believe he has used illegal steroids.

It'll be interesting to see how the 2007 season unfolds, as Bonds is in pursuit of the all-time home run crown after hitting hitting his fourth home run of the season Wednesday, leaving him with 18 needed to break the record.

One thing is for sure, if Major League Baseball has any hope of returning to the position it once held as the country's best, it needs to find a way to win back the hearts of Americans. Simon and Garfunkel's lyrics to Mrs. Robinson ring true today, "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you..." We need a Joltin Joe or an Iron Man (Lou) Gherig or (Cal) Ripken, to help peak our interests - players who are respected for their pure talent and passion for the game. The same players that were in the shinning spot light at baseball's greatest number of fans.

Hope may remain in the pen stripes, as Alex Rodriguez's walk-off homer on Thursday was his 10th of the season. Since playing his first full season in 1996, A-Rod has averaged 42 home runs a season through last year. He is on pace for 116 this year, although that number won't come to fruition, it is safe to say 40 will, which will list him in the Top 20 with more than 500 career home runs. Home run leaders in perspective..Hank Aaron averaged 33 a season for 23 years in 3,298 games, Barry Bonds has averaged 35 in 21 seasons (through 2006) in 2,860 games and Babe Ruth averaged 32.5 for 22 seaosns and 2,503 games. If you take away Babe's first four years in Boston and last season of his career, when he hit a combined 15 home runs, and he avereaged 41.11 through 17 seasons in 2,309 games. A-Rod's average of 42 a season through the past 11 seasons and 1,681 is impressive. He beats Bonds (.25) and Aaron (.22) with an average of 0.27 in seasons where he hit at least 10 home runs (all but two). Ruth's is at the top with 0.30.

Statistical information for this column came from various Gallup Polls and Basebal reference for poll resutls and career stats.