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(07/28/05 8:17pm)
Dan Smith, interim dean at the Kelley School of Business will be named the new dean today at 10 a.m. in the Kelley School at IU Purdue University at Indianapolis.\nSince April 2004, Smith served as Interim dean, replacing Dan Dalton who stepped down from the position to go back to the classroom after eight years on the job.\nAfter an ongoing process, about a week ago Charles Bantz, IU vice president of long-range planning and chancellor of IUPUI officially offered Smith the job.\n"(Bantz and I) worked through the details over the last week to 10 days and finalized it in the last day or two," Smith said. "It feels good, we can now move forward on some major strategic initiatives."\nSome of the new initiatives that Smith plans to implement include improving upon Kelley Direct. Kelley Direct is an online program that allows students to pursue degrees via the internet, including Master of Business Administration degree.\nAdditionally Smith wants to improve the MBA program, something he felt could not be done carrying the interim tag.\nThroughout the process the search spanned the entire country as potential candidates were interviewed, but Smith's vision to lead the Kelley School to international prominence was a deciding factor in the Smith being appointed the new Dean.\n"We picked him because he was the best of an outstanding group," Bantz said. "It was a bonus (he was at IU), but it would not get him the job and it didn't. It was his talent passion and vision."\nWhile there are certain initiatives Smith plans employ there are other goals he wants to accomplish. One is to enhance the thought leadership and the Kelley School's research presence throughout the world. Another is aggressive fund raising, particularly for endowed chairs in professorships for faculty.\nThe undergraduate program is another area of interest for Smith as new innovations planned to introduce into the curriculum, something he said he looks to follow closely.\nSmith has been at IU since 1996, focusing on brand management and marketing strategy. He also was the chair of the MBA Program from 1998 to 2001.\nAlthough he is now the dean of the Kelley School of Business rather than interim dean, he said not much will change in his day-to-day life.\n"While it is a deep honor to serve as the dean, my life hasn't changed a whole lot," Smith said. "At the end of the day I was pretty much making decisions as a dean for the last year so my life won't change a whole lot ... I'm really committed to the well being of the Kelley School. Had the dean position not worked out, there is a high likelihood I would have stayed on teaching and researching and serving any way the dean wanted."\nThe passion and vision Smith has for Kelley School isn't by accident, Bantz said.\n"Dan is a professor of marketing and it is not accidental that he has that expertise and he is very good about seeing how all of comes together," he said. "(Smith) has a very clear strategic vision to move the Kelley School to be even more successful in a competitive market"
(07/21/05 4:00am)
Each year around this time college football fans go nuts. Not because the season is forthcoming, but because EA Sports releases their annual "NCAA Football." 2006 is the version this year and once again it proves why they make the best sports games around.\nWhile "NCAA Football 06" is a new game, the great thing about this series is that it builds upon previous years, allowing old-timers to reuse old tricks, while newcomers immerse themselves in college football.\nMinor changes include different controls for gameplay, which could cause problems for you and your quarterback as defense blitzes and that lightening speed that was once no problem suddenly becomes impossible to use. Another change from previous years that improves on the game, making it more competitive, is a better Artificial Intelligence.\nThe AI is basically "the computer," a non-person opponent. In other years the run game was easy to stop, allowing you blitz all game. This year provides a different challenge, because for the first time the AI can actually run. The improved gameplay is a major improvement over year's past and for true fans of the NCAA series, this game is worth purchasing for that alone.\nIn addition to Matt LoVecchio and other notable 2005 stars missing from the game, the main thing that keeps gamers coming back for more besides the changing rosters are the new features. Gameplay is important, but the features are what makes the series and keeps you playing until the sun rises the next day. \nThree new changes improve what 2006's NCAA predecessors have done before. First, there is a Heisman mode. If you have ever dreamed of being a Heisman trophy winner this is about as close as most mortals will come. The details are such that the player even has girlfriends -- depending upon how well he performs the girlfriend changes. In addition to competing for the top individual trophy in the land, you can learn to pick apart a defense with spring drills. The game has four modes that can make even a novice a top player. Last, but certainly not least, is the in-season recruiting. Even though recruiting is nothing new to NCAA series, the fact that recruiting is not relegated to the end of the season is an improvement. Throughout the week during dynasty mode players can be recruited and there are even pipeline schools that help only your team become the best in the land.\nOverall the problems of learning a few new buttons and having to deal with more competitive AI isn't enough to dampen the otherwise much improved version of "NCAA Football 06"
(07/20/05 9:03pm)
Each year around this time college football fans go nuts. Not because the season is forthcoming, but because EA Sports releases their annual "NCAA Football." 2006 is the version this year and once again it proves why they make the best sports games around.\nWhile "NCAA Football 06" is a new game, the great thing about this series is that it builds upon previous years, allowing old-timers to reuse old tricks, while newcomers immerse themselves in college football.\nMinor changes include different controls for gameplay, which could cause problems for you and your quarterback as defense blitzes and that lightening speed that was once no problem suddenly becomes impossible to use. Another change from previous years that improves on the game, making it more competitive, is a better Artificial Intelligence.\nThe AI is basically "the computer," a non-person opponent. In other years the run game was easy to stop, allowing you blitz all game. This year provides a different challenge, because for the first time the AI can actually run. The improved gameplay is a major improvement over year's past and for true fans of the NCAA series, this game is worth purchasing for that alone.\nIn addition to Matt LoVecchio and other notable 2005 stars missing from the game, the main thing that keeps gamers coming back for more besides the changing rosters are the new features. Gameplay is important, but the features are what makes the series and keeps you playing until the sun rises the next day. \nThree new changes improve what 2006's NCAA predecessors have done before. First, there is a Heisman mode. If you have ever dreamed of being a Heisman trophy winner this is about as close as most mortals will come. The details are such that the player even has girlfriends -- depending upon how well he performs the girlfriend changes. In addition to competing for the top individual trophy in the land, you can learn to pick apart a defense with spring drills. The game has four modes that can make even a novice a top player. Last, but certainly not least, is the in-season recruiting. Even though recruiting is nothing new to NCAA series, the fact that recruiting is not relegated to the end of the season is an improvement. Throughout the week during dynasty mode players can be recruited and there are even pipeline schools that help only your team become the best in the land.\nOverall the problems of learning a few new buttons and having to deal with more competitive AI isn't enough to dampen the otherwise much improved version of "NCAA Football 06"
(07/11/05 1:00am)
A life saver isn't just a bite-sized piece of candy to Kellen Lewis. \nWhile most college bound prospects signed letters of intent in February, Lewis didn't and he was planning on attending Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia.\nLewis, a 6-foot-3-inch quarterback from Jacksonville, Fla., got his life saver in a call from cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator Troy Douglas -- a scholarship offer to IU.\nAfter the call on June 30 and a visit to Bloomington Tuesday and Wednesday, Lewis made the decision to be a Hoosier and made it official by singing his letter of intent Friday.\n"It is one of the biggest reliefs in my life," Lewis said. "At the prep school I was going to have to cut my hair and wear a uniform. The phone call was a life saver. Either way I was going to have to leave and be far from home and now I can play Division I football."\nThe life saving call almost never was until two redshirt quarterbacks left IU. First Mike Vlahogeorge left the program in mid-June and was followed up with Grant Gregory transferring to the University of South Florida at the end of June.\nWith the possibility of the Hoosiers having only two quarterbacks for the season, IU was looking to fill the hole in time for the season.\nBecause of Douglas' connections in Jacksonville, it made getting Lewis a reality, IU football coach Terry Hoeppner said in a statement. \n"One of my adages is to have a plan, work a plan and plan for the unexpected," Hoeppner said. "When we had two quarterbacks decide recently that they did not want to play here, we continued to pursue Kellen. Troy Douglas did a great job staying in touch with him, and the end result is that we're fortunate to have a talented quarterback who is a solid student and a quality young man."\nAs a star at Mandarin High School, Lewis accumulated more than 2,600 yards and 24 touchdowns. The end result was Lewis being named Florida Class 6A District Two Player of the Year.\nWith the accolades and impressive statistics Lewis was a hot prospect, being recruited by Florida, Pittsburgh, Maryland and North Carolina State among others. Many schools wanted Lewis to switch to a different position, as a result offers were cut and many of the schools that wanted Lewis were Division IAA, something he said he didn't want deal with.\n"I was looking for better offers and all I had were Division IAA," Lewis said. "When coach Douglas called it was a no-brainer."\nAs a quarterback, Lewis described himself as a "scrambler". Lewis runs a 4.6 second 40-yard dash and has a 33-inch vertical leap, with good arm strength, but needing to improve on passing accuracy, he said.\nWhile visiting the campus and meeting Hoeppner, what sealed the deal in his signing with IUU was Douglas. Because Douglas is a Jacksonville native, Lewis was at ease when talking with him about the possibility of becoming a Hoosier.\nLewis is the fifth player from the Sunshine state to sign with the Hoosiers under Hoeppner.\nEven though Lewis isn't as familiar with IU football as the rest of the 2005 recruiting class he feels he is ready to make an immediate impact for the Hoosiers next season, he said.\n"I know there is pressure, but I'm not one to buckle under pressure. On my visit they showed me some of the things they run and a lot of the concepts they run I already know," Lewis said. "I'm nervous to an extent. I'm hoping to do something on the team and get some playing time, and show them what I can do on the playing field"
(07/07/05 5:05am)
Assembly Hall, which has been a part of IU since 1970, is going from outdated to state of the art with the addition of a new $1.99 million scoreboard/video board, IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan announced Tuesday.\nThe project is being financed by IU Sports Properties through the IU Foundation over a 10-year period. The project will not cost the athletics department any out-of-pocket expense.\nIn addition to the new system, the athletics department is slated to receive $250,000 in revenue in the first year.\nAccording to IU Sports Properties General Manager Bob Agramonte, Regions Bank and State Farm Insurance have already committed to be a significant part of the project.\nWhile Assembly Hall has signage in its concourses and network advertising when games are on television, the new advertising will be a first for men's games. \nFor the past 11 seasons IU's scoreboard and timing system could not show video and individual's statistics. During close games, the Hoosiers were without the most current technology as the timing equipment allowed only tenths of seconds. With the addition of the new scoreboard, fans will not only know how much time is left in the game to the hundredth of a second, but they will also know how many points players on the court have as well as video screens to watch the game.\nKeeping Assembly Hall pristine as well as advancing the technology in the arena was an important consideration, Greenspan said in a statement.\n"We are looking to create a positive fan experience, while still preserving the distinct look of Assembly Hall," he said. "The new scoreboard/video board system will be a great addition for our fans, and will allow them to enjoy the experience of attending an IU game more than ever."\nOverall, there will be a new scoreboard/video board system with four video screens, four video/scoring/statistic screens, one center-hung ProAd ring, five ProTable scorer's table units, four auxiliary portal scoreboards, and three-sided shot clocks with a new scoring \nsystem.\nThe new system comes as part of a renegotiation with IU Sports Properties, the exclusive media and advertising rights holder for IU athletics.\nWhile grad student David Marshall isn't sure how Assembly Hall will look with the new scoreboard, he said it seems about time IU took this kind of step.\n"It seems that a scoreboard like this is a little more up to date," Marshall said. "It seems timely and fitting of IU and the status of the program."\nWith the new system, the Hoosiers will be joining an elite group to use this technology. Only the University of North Carolina uses similar ProTable technology and Wisconsin is the only school in the Big Ten to have center-hung ProAd ring.\nThe old scoreboards were lowered Tuesday afternoon. The new one is expected to weigh 26,000 pounds, dwarfing the old mid-court scoreboard, which weighed only 6,700 pounds. As a result of the heavier scoreboard, $800,000 will be spent to strengthen the roof to support the new scoreboard.\nWhile there has been some concern about how Assembly Hall would look with a new scoreboard with advertising, sophomore Phillip Sanders is OK with it as long as it is done in the right way, he said.\n"It is definitely more revenue and anything (the athletics department) can do to help out they should do," Sanders said. "If the advertising is done in a good way and it isn't cheesy or whatever and they put some thought behind it, then I am all for it."\nThe revenue will be a welcome sight for an athletics department that has been in the red for some time. According to the U.S. Department of Education's Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, IU athletics had a $492,060 deficit for the 2003-2004 school year.\nThe board of trustees recently approved the renewal of the $30 athletics fee for the 2005-2006 school year by a 6-2 vote.\nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.
(06/30/05 5:54am)
Forty-six picks came and went, but Bracey Wright's Draft night came to a close as the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him in the second round with the No. 47 pick overall.\nThough Wright was drafted, only first round picks are given guaranteed contracts. Despite falling lower than he and his agent Bob McClaren felt he would go, Wright said he is still excited about going to the Timberwolves.\n"It feels really good to have Minnesota select me," Wright said in a statement. "I am willing to do whatever they need me to do next season. They have a great group of players already there, including Kevin Garnett, and I am just happy to be a member of their team."\nIn going to Minnesota, Wright will be going to a team that just missed the playoffs in the Western Conference with a 44-28 record. While the team doesn't have any major free agents, Minnesota does have a glut at the guard position with seven under contract. The Timberwolves do have some uncertainty with one free agent and current guard Fred Hoiberg undergoing heart surgery Tuesday.\nAs the night went on, McClaren was working the phones in hopes of getting Wright as high as possible in the Draft, but because of the way the Draft shook out, Wright fell, McClaren said.\n"As we went into the late portion of the first round we expected to hear some news and I guess the anxiety kind of grew," said McClaren, who also represented Deron Williams, the No.3 overall pick in the Draft to the Utah Jazz. "I talked to a couple of teams through the whole evening and I felt they were going to get Bracey a little earlier. But there were still players on the board that they didn't expect."\nWright is the first player to be drafted from IU since 2002 when Jared Jefferies went No. 11 to the Washington Wizards. Since IU men's basketball coach Mike Davis took over in 2000, the Hoosiers have had three draft picks, including former IU player Kirk Haston in 2001 with Charlotte \nHornets.\nDavis was happy to see his most recent standout land in the NBA, he said in \nstatement. \n"I am excited for Bracey being drafted by Minnesota," he said. "Ever since he came to Indiana, his goal was to reach the NBA."\nWhile Wright was counted on as a scorer at IU, averaging more than 18.3 points per game his junior season and nearly 1,500 for his career, there are plenty of options in Minnesota be counted on for scoring, including his draftmate Rashad McCants, who was picked No. 14 overall.\nMcCants and Wright have a history together -- this past season both faced off when UNC played IU. McCants got the better of the faceoff, as he scored 19 points to Wright's 18 and the Tarheels beat the Hoosiers 70-63.\nThe duo is excited about getting to Minnesota and helping the Timberwolves, Wright said.\n"I have talked with Rashad and we are both excited to play together," he said. "Rashad and I have played together before back in high school. We are good friends off the court, so I am looking forward to playing with him in Minnesota."\nThroughout the process of working out for teams, one of the teams that Wright came away the most impressed with was Minnesota, McClaren said. McClaren said that Wright even called after he worked out with the Timberwolves hoping they would draft him.\n"I stayed in Minneapolis for a couple of days when I worked out for the Timberwolves, and it is a great city with great basketball fans," Wright said. "I am looking forward to contributing to the team's success in the future."\nNext up for Wright is a trip to Minnesota to meet with teammates. He will be participating in Minnesota's NBA Summer League July 15 to 19.
(06/30/05 5:10am)
The North Carolina Tarheels dominated throughout the college season, winning 33 games en route to the 2005 National Championship.\nTuesday night in New York, the Tarheels stole the show at the NBA Draft as four players from the title squad were selected in the lottery, in the first 14 picks of the draft. It was the first time any school had four players picked in the lottery. The last team to have four players selected in the first round was Duke in 1999.\nEven with all the Carolina blue going early, they still didn't claim the first pick in the Draft -- that honor went to Andrew Bogut of Utah.\nThe Milwaukee Bucks made Bogut, the national player of the year, the highest Australian ever picked in the Draft.\nBefore the Draft experts considered the No. 1 pick a two-horse race between Bogut and former Carolina forward Marvin Willliams.\nOne of the deciding factors was who could turn the Bucks into a playoff team more quickly, said Larry Harris, Milwaukee's general manager.\n"The biggest difference was who could make the biggest difference for us right away," Harris said during the broadcasting of the Draft. "We now feel solid at the center position."\nWilliams then went No. 2 to the Atlanta Hawks. Williams, who spent his only season at Carolina, saw his stock rise throughout the NCAA Tournament and afterwards because of his physical ability and potential down the road. Atlanta had the worst record in the NBA last season.\nEven with all the glitz of going as the second overall pick in the draft, Willliams was humbled after the pick.\n"It's a great honor to get picked, and I wish the best for all the guys," Williams said. "There are some guys at my position who are good, but I wasn't surprised. I was excited to be drafted at No. 2."\nAfter two big men being selected, point guards became the points of emphasis as Deron Williams of Illinois, Wake Forest's Chris Paul and Raymond Felton from the Tarheels were picked Nos. 3-5 by Utah, New Orleans and Charlotte, respectively.\nUtah moved up to get Williams by trading the Nos. 6 and 27 picks and a 2006 first-round pick to Portland for the No. 3 spot.\nAt No. 6 the Trailblazers snagged high school phenomenon Martell Webster from Seattle. This draft marks the end of high school players entering the draft as the new collective bargaining agreement forces players to wait at least one year after their high school class graduates before entering.\nJoining Webster in the first round straight out of high school was center Andrew Bynum at No. 10 to the Los Angeles Lakers and Gerald Green -- a potential lottery pick going into the draft -- who fell to Boston at No. 18.\nIn past years, foreign players had been much of the talk going into the draft, but this year the first from a non-U.S. college or high school was Fran Vazquez from Spain at No. 11 to Orlando.\nSean May and Rashad McCants rounded out the lottery and Carolina's dominance in the Draft at Nos. 13 and 14 to Charlotte and Minnesota, respectively.\nMay, a former Bloomington High School North standout, knew there was a possibility of going to Charlotte and staying in North Carolina, but said he was even more delighted he gets to continue his professional career with one of his running mates in Felton.\n"The whole time as the draft started to play out, as soon as Charlie (Villanueva) went seventh (to the Toronto Raptors), my eyes were sold on Charlotte at 13," said May after being drafted.\n"I'm very thankful to play for an organization like the Bobcats and I didn't think when they took Raymond (Felton) with the fifth pick that they would take two Carolina guys but I'm extremely elated at the opportunity I have ahead of me."\nAlthough the Pacers didn't pick until No. 17 in the draft they still got an impact player in former New Mexico forward Danny Granger. Granger, who on many Web sites was projected to go in the lottery, fell out of the lottery and into the Pacers' lap.\n"Granger can come in tomorrow and play," said team President Larry Bird on the Pacers' Web site. "He's very talented. I never dreamed he'd be there. ... I still can't believe it. I think he's that good of a player."\nAlthough he didn't land as high as many projected, he is glad that he is playing for team that is ready to compete for the NBA title, he said.\n"(There's) definitely no disappointment," Granger said. "Indiana's a playoff team. Sometimes it's better going lower. Going to a better team where you have time to learn is better than going to a losing team."\nWhile the first round was filled with mostly college stars, many picks in the second round went more of the foreign or high school player route. Among the 30 picks in the second round, 16 were non-college players, including six from high school. Included in the second round is former IU guard Bracey Wright, who was chosen at No. 47 to Minnesota.\nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.
(06/29/05 5:18am)
46 picks came and went, but Bracey Wright's Draft night came to a close as the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him in the second round with the No. 47 pick overall.\nOn the night, Minnesota also selected former North Carolina guard Rashad McCants in the first round with the No. 14 pick. McCants was one of four UNC players selected in the lottery portion of the Draft.\nCheck more in Thursday's paper on the Bracey Wright and the rest of the NBA Draft.
(06/27/05 9:14pm)
It's the eleventh hour for Bracey Wright's fifteen minutes of fame. Will his stardom carry on out of the Hoosier state?\nMonths of working out, training and auditioning culminates Tuesday night in New York at the NBA Draft. The draft will be in Madison Square Garden and on ESPN at 6 p.m.\nWright plans to be in New York Tuesday, but feels waiting in the green room with the rest of the top prospects might be nerve-wracking.\n"(The draft) is all about who wants it more -- it is tough. This month and all these workouts determine where you go and what happens with you and it erases the last 15 years of basketball up to this point."\nThe 6-foot-3-inch guard from The Colony, Texas will be looking to become the first Hoosier since Jared Jefferies in 2002 to be drafted in the first round.\nAfter his last workout with the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday morning, one of a dozen or more team workouts he participated in, Wright said he has improved vastly since he left IU in April. \n"I learned a lot from a lot of different people and it was a positive experience for me and something I won't forget," he said. "When I first came out there was a lot I didn't know and … I needed to improve. You get an outlook on how different things are going to be."\nThe first team All-Big Ten member is vying for a first-round selection, which gives a player a guaranteed contract.\nIn the past week Wright has worked out for New York, Minnesota, Dallas, Detroit and Cleveland, among others. \nAlthough he worked out for a variety of teams with a multitude of needs, the team Wright came away impressed the most by was Detroit, in part due to Pistons' coach Larry Brown, he said.\n"We did things differently," Wright said. "It was more of a practice and teaching you stuff and showing us different things in the NBA game. It was interesting to me. Out of the 12 or 13 teams that I worked out for, that was the only one of that kind."\nWhile at IU Wright was a scorer first, leading the Big Ten in scoring this past season with 18.3 points per game, finishing his three-year career with nearly 1,500 points.\nSince deciding to make the plunge to the NBA, Wright has tried to prove that he is combo-guard rather than just a shooting guard. Proving he could be that type of player was one of the biggest questions that needed answering, said Tommy Thomas, Wright's high school coach at The Colony.\n"The greatest thing he had to prove is that he can do other things than just shoot and score," said Thomas, who also coached Deron Williams, a likely lottery selection. "He has had some excellent defensive feedback and he is handling the ball better. Those were all questions that needed to be answered.\nWhile Wright can handle the ball, he said the main thing teams wanted to know is if he would bring the same level of energy on the defensive end as he has on the offensive end. \nFor some analysts predicting where some high profile players go is almost science, but Wright and agent Bob McClaren feel unsure about the former Hoosier's future.\nWhile many Web sites predict Wright to get picked in the second round or not at all, McClaren said Wright should fairly high.\n"We believe that Bracey will be drafted in the first round or high second," He has done everything he can possibly do."\nWright said agent is talking with seven or eight teams, but also said that much of where he goes depends on who is drafted before him.\n"I would say to be drafted as high as you can go," he said. "I want to be drafted by a team that I will have an opportunity to contributed and be in an environment where there is good team chemistry."\n"I think everything is going to be all right," Wright said. "I've done a lot of praying to God and I think he is going to put me in the right spot"
(06/27/05 6:56pm)
Months worth of working out, practicing and living a jet-setting life will come to a close Tuesday as Bracey Wright will find out if all that work pays off in the NBA Draft.\nThroughout the process Wright has been all over the country in hopes of impressing teams enough to make him a draft pick -- possibly a first-round selection.\nWhile Wright participated in workouts before the Chicago Pre Draft Camp, June 8-10, things intensified in this last week before the Draft.\nSince Monday, Wright has worked out for New York, Minnesota, Dallas, Detroit and will finish up with Cleveland this morning before heading off to New York for Draft night. Wright will be in Madison Square Garden for the Draft night festivities.\nGoing from city to city is just part of the process, said Wright's agent Bob McClaren.\n"He has been in a new city every day since Chicago," McClaren said. "He needed to be in front of as many teams and scouting directors as possible to show he can not only score but play great defense."\nWhile scoring was never an issue at IU, as Wright tallied nearly 1,500 points for his career, proving that he was more than a scorer was, said Wright's high school coach Tommy Thomas.\n"He had some excellent defensive feedback and he is handling the ball better," Thomas said. "Those were all questions that needed to be answered."\nAlthough Thomas was surprised by his former player's decision to take the risk of going pro, he has heard positive feedback from many teams, including Toronto, Phoenix, New York and Indiana. \nSince the time Wright decided to leave IU there has been speculation about where he would he would go. Some Web sites have him listed as a second-round pick, others not at all. Insidehoops.com has Wright as a mid-to-late second-round choice, Nbadraft.net doesn't have him being selected.\nAs discouraging as it could look for Wright, McClaren said from what he has been told by other teams Wright will go somewhere in the first round or early in the second. Even with the optimism, much of where Wright will end up will depend on which teams draft which players and any trades made Tuesday, he said.\nWhile Draft night is likely to be filled with a lot of nervousness and anticipation, Thomas said all they can do is be sure they will feel the same way about him Tuesday as they did when the process started.\n"I think you just reassure him whether he goes 10th or 25th that you are going to love him no matter where he ends up," said Thomas, who also coached Deron Williams, a likely lottery choice.\nAfter all the months of trying to impress the league that he isn't just a one-dimensional player, McClaren feels he has done enough to warrant Wright being picked in the first round, he said.\n"He has done everything he can possibly do. He is a very active and very energetic defensive player -- I think that can work to his advantage," McClaren said. "I'm very hopeful for him to be with a team that can really give him an opportunity to play and grow."\nAttempts to reach Wright were unsuccessful by press time.
(06/23/05 2:50am)
Former IU assistant coach Tracy Smith left Miami University of Ohio to replace Bob Morgan as IU's next baseball coach Wednesday.\nSmith re-joins the Hoosier staff after leading the RedHawks the past the nine season with a 317-220-1 record in Oxford, Ohio.\nThe Kentland, Ind. native said he was thrilled at the opportunity to come back to Bloomington.\n"Growing up in the state of Indiana, it is something else," Smith said. "It was always a place that always held something very special to us and for reasons other than the athletic program. We just love Bloomington and to have a chance to come back to a community that you love and something you love -- it was a no brainer."\nSmith marks the second coach to come from Miami to IU within the past year. In December, Terry Hoeppner left the RedHawks to become the new head man for IU football. To rejoin his old buddy from Oxford is nice, Smith said.\nAs the newest member of the IU coaching family, Smith has a large task looming -- to get IU baseball back on a national level.\nBefore Morgan decided to resign June 5, the Hoosiers had \nlosing records three of the past five seasons, including a 26-30 mark this season.\nGetting the Hoosiers to play in the NCAA Regionals on a consistent basis, the last time coming in 1996, will be one of the main tasks ahead.\n"We want to get Indiana baseball to a level where we are competing," said Smith, who served as IU's pitching coach from 1995-1996. "If we aren't playing (in the College World Series), or our goal isn't to get to a College World Series, then why am I coaching? It will be a process, but it is a realistic goal to get that done at Indiana University in the Big Ten Conference."\nSmith knows about getting teams to the NCAA Regionals as he took the Miami twice in his nine years. Smith's most recent time came this season when the RedHawks lost to Arkansas, pounded Quinnipiac College 35-8 before bowing out to College World Series participant Texas.\nFinding someone who has a diverse background as a coach was important, Athletics Director Rick Greenspan said in a statement.\n"Tracy Smith is a proven winner," Greenspan said. "His assistant coaching resume shows his background in player development, and we were most impressed with how he rejuvenated Miami's baseball program."\nA part of getting IU on an national level will be to beef up the schedule Smith said. In the past under Morgan, IU played a non-conference schedule that lacked much name recognition. With Smith in charge that should change. While at Miami, the RedHawks weren't afraid to take on the big boys. In 2003 Miami went down to Stillwater, Okla., to match up with Oklahoma State and later went out to the University of Arizona. In 2004 the schedule got tougher with a trip the University of Florida and defending College World Series Champions Rice. This season the RedHawks went to No. 20 Alabama and took two of three from the Crimson Tide. By taking winning the series it marked the first time since 1993 that Alabama lost a non-conference series at home.\nPlaying a tough schedule of the Big Ten Conference will be a trademark under Smith, he said.\n"We will always play the most competitive schedule that we can, given our geographical location and our budgetary concern," Smith said. "It is a motivating factor and I think it needs to be done. If you are playing those teams when you get to the Regional it isn't a shock when you play those teams."\nImproving facilities is another obstacle for Smith to overcome at IU. Currently Sembower Field seats 2,250, but does not have lights for night games or lockers adjacent for the team. At Miami with Smith in charge, the RedHawks opened their new ballpark, Stanley G. McKie Field at Joseph P. Hayden Jr. Park. The new ballpark at has a 12-seat luxury suite in addition to two heated dugouts along with an indoor facility.\nEven with the task ahead, Smith said it can be done, because it has been before.\n"We (won the Big Ten Conference) in '96 and we can do it again," Smith said. "I want to get it back where it is the expectation and where it is not the once in a while thing"
(06/20/05 1:42am)
With the NBA Draft fast approaching, Bracey Wright is doing his best to stay busy -- his future career might depend on it.\nAfter a standout year as a junior for the Hoosiers, Wright declared early into the NBA Draft and has been doing his best to impress teams and scouts to prove he is worthy of a first round pick and a guaranteed contract. Wright has spent the past few weeks working out for teams in the NBA and by the time the process ends he will have worked out for nearly every organization, said Wright's agent Bob McClaren of McClaren Sports in Houston.\nNearly two weeks ago Wright participated in the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago and did well to help his position in the Draft, McClaren said.\n"He had a nice week up there," McClaren said. "Everyone knows he can score with the best of them. What he has done to help himself is show that he is a ferocious defensive player and it really came through over this week."\nTo help with his defensive work, Wright has worked out with former Utah coach Rick Majerus to improve his defense.\nDuring the camp, Wright played in three games averaging 7.7 points per game. In Wright's first game he came out firing, scoring 13 points in his team's win. The next two games Wright struggled scoring, but helped his teammates get on the board as he finished camp with 10 assists.\nSince the camp, Wright has stayed busy working out for whichever teams have a legitimate interest in taking the 6-foot-3-inch guard.\nWright was in Phoenix Tuesday working out with the Suns, who have the No. 21 and 57 picks in the Draft. For his next workout, Wright traveled north to practice with Toronto. The Raptors will be drafting four times at No. 7, 16, 38 and 58.\nWright will continue with workouts up until the draft night as he goes to Minnesota today and will be with the Pistons and addition to another team, McClaren said.\nAs Wright tries to prove that he can be a combo-guard rather than a just a shooting guard, one thing he has going for him is his wingspan.\nAt the camp, despite being listed at 6-feet-1 1/4-inch, Wright measured in with a wingspan of 6'10". Bryan Colangelo, Phoenix Suns president and general manager, said on the Suns Web site Wright's wingspan could play a factor in him being drafted.\n"Bracey plays bigger than his size," Colangelo said. "He has a tremendous wingspan -- a 6-10 wingspan on a 6-2 frame. That's a big differential and something we always look at."\nWhile there are Web sites all over the internet that predict from picks one to 58, Director of \nScouting for the NBA Marty Blake said it is just too early to tell where players will fall in the draft.\n"You have to look at how many players on that team will be free agents, what do they need in the first round," Blake said. "There are teams in the second round that will take players from Europe and put them in the hopper in Europe for big people that won't be coming over."\nDespite not getting into specifics on where he thinks Wright will be drafted, Blake said the guard will be taken.\n"Somebody is going to draft him," Blake said. "He could be a first round pick. All it takes is one team."\nWright is working to impress the scouts not only with his play but his personality, something that most teams consider when drafting a player, McClaren said. \nAlthough McClaren doesn't know a specific team or pick for Wright, he said he has received indications that Wright might be a first-round selection.\n"There are teams that have told me that he is a late first-round or some that have seen him as an early second-round guy," said McClaren, who also represents Wright's former high school teammate and Illinois guard Deron Williams. "We have gotten very good reads from teams that he has a strong possibility of being drafted in the first round. He has the scoring and temperament to be a first-round pick and he has shown people for years that he can score and that he can match up defensively."\nAttempts to reach Wright were unsuccessful by press time.
(06/20/05 12:56am)
In IU football coach Terry Hoeppner's first recruiting class he scoured the entire country for a quarterback. This year he only needed to look across town.\nBloomington High School South quarterback Ben Chappell became the second IU football commitment for 2006 June 11.\n"The coaches were excited and said that I was the quarterback they wanted," Chappell said. "It is going to be a great situation for me."\nThe quarterback had the opportunity to attend camps at Illinois, Purdue and Michigan during the summer but scrapped those plans by making the early commitment to the Hoosiers.\nWhile the Big Ten schools, the University of Louisville and most of the Mid American Conference were busy trying to land Chappell, an unfamiliar name to the football game was also in the hunt -- Harvard.\nIn addition to being a star on the field Chappell stars in the classroom, boasting a 4.0 GPA, and had the opportunity to attend the Ivy League school for free.\nEven with the tremendous opportunity to attend an esteemed university and be its No. 1 prospect at quarterback, Chappell said that IU was just a better fit for him.\n"It was a tough decision, but I am more comfortable at IU," he said. "I think the football opportunity will be better for me at IU. But the Harvard opportunity was very flattering for me because it is so prestigious."\nOne advantage that IU had over every other school was home field advantage. Having the ability to stay in Bloomington and to continue to play in front of friends and family was a factor, he said.\nAnother was the offensive system.\nOnce Hoeppner arrived in Bloomington in December, the passing attack immediately became the cornerstone of the IU offensive scheme, something Chappell feels he will fit right into.\n"I'm very excited about the spread," said Chappell, Hoeppner's first quarterback commitment since coming to IU. "I think it will fit me perfectly."\nLast season at South Chappell passed for more 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns leading the Panthers to a 7-4 record.\nThe coaching staff also figured into the decision. Dealing with quality people was one of the reasons the Chappells were won over by Hoeppner and IU, said Stephen Chappell, Ben's father.\n"We were very impressed with the coaches," Stephen said. "They all seemed to be enthusiastic and genuine. They have an excellent track record with (Hoeppner's) background at Miami Ohio and his development of players like Ben (Roethlisberger). He has proven he has a winning formula and he is interested in developing players as people and \nstudent-athletes."\nWhile passing up academic opportunities at Harvard were tough for Chappell, he knows he still has the opportunity to get a quality education at IU as he plans to major in accounting at the Kelley School of Business.\nDespite IU's lackluster performance in football over the past decade, Ben Chappell said he knows things are going to change with Hoeppner.\n"I'm really impressed with everything he has done with the program," he said. "Everything he did with the process was great and I committed because of him. I know it is going in the right direction and that is something I wanted to be a part of"
(06/16/05 5:48pm)
As the temperature rises in the summer recruiting battles over the top high school football players follow suit. Ben Chappell decided to end things Saturday before it got too hot as he became the second IU football commitment for 2006.\n"The coaches were excited and said that I was the quarterback they wanted," Chappell said. "It is going to be a great situation for me."\nThe Bloomington High School South quarterback had the opportunity to attend camps at Illinois, Purdue and Michigan during the summer but scrapped those plans by making the early commitment to the Hoosiers.\nWhile the Big Ten schools, the University of Louisville and most of the Mid American Conference were busy trying to land Chappell, an unfamiliar name to the football game was also in the hunt -- Harvard.\nIn addition to being a star on the field Chappell stars in the classroom, boasting a 4.0 GPA, and had the opportunity to attend the Ivy League school for free.\nEven with the tremendous opportunity to attend an esteemed university and be its No. 1 prospect at quarterback, Chappell said that IU was just a better fit for him.\n"It was a tough decision, but I am more comfortable at IU," he said. "I think the football opportunity will be better for me at IU. But the Harvard opportunity was very flattering for me because it is so prestigious."\nOne advantage that IU had over every other school was home field advantage. Having the ability to stay in Bloomington and to continue to play in front of friends and family was a factor, he said.\nAnother was the offensive system.\nOnce IU football coach Terry Hoeppner arrived in Bloomington in December the passing attack immediately became the cornerstone of the IU offensive scheme, something Chappell feels he will fit right into.\n"I'm very excited about the spread," said Chappell, Hoeppner's first quarterback commitment since coming to IU. "I think it will fit me perfectly."\nLast season at South Chappell passed for more 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns leading the Panthers to a 7-4 record.\nThe coaching staff also figured into the decision. Dealing with quality people was one of the reasons the Chappell's were won over by Hoeppner and IU, said Stephen Chappell, Ben's father.\n"We were very impressed with the coaches," Stephen said. "They all seemed to be enthusiastic and genuine. They have an excellent track record with (Hoeppner's) background at Miami Ohio and his development of players like Ben (Roethlisberger). He has proven he has a winning formula and he is interested in developing players as people and student-athletes."\nWhile passing up academic opportunities at Harvard were tough for Chappell, he knows he still has the opportunity to get a quality education at IU as he plans to major in accounting at the Kelley School of Business.\nDespite IU's lackluster performance in football over the past decade, Ben Chappell said he knows things are going to change with Hoeppner.\n"I'm really impressed with everything he has done with the program," he said. "Everything he did with the process was great and I committed because of him. I know it is going in the right direction and that is something I wanted to be a part of"
(06/13/05 12:40am)
IU football coach Terry Hoeppner announced his second recruit, Bloomington South quarterback Ben Chappell.\nChappell joins Ohio offensive lineman Pete Saxon as the most recent to join the 2006 recruiting class.\nThe commitment of Chappell marks the first quarterback to commit since Hoeppner has been at IU.
(06/06/05 1:57am)
Despite more than 1,000 career victories and eight season of 40 wins or more, IU baseball coach Bob Morgan announced Sunday he was resigning as head coach.\nFor the past 22 seasons, Morgan guided the Hoosiers to nearly 800 wins, but IU has struggled lately with losing records in 2004 and a 26-30 mark this season. Morgan leaves IU with a career record of 1070-586-6.\nWith all the success he has had during his time while at IU, Morgan said he feels he has made a permanent mark on IU baseball.\n"I have enjoyed my 22 years at this institution and believe I have made a significant contribution," Morgan said in a statement. "I am indebted to my coaches, players and colleagues with whom I have had the benefit of working."\nEven with the lack of success the past few years, Morgan only had three losing seasons at IU. Overall, Morgan led the Hoosiers to 35 wins or more in 11 seasons, including a 57-win season in 1985. \nAdditionally, Morgan led the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title since 1949 in 1996 when the team won the title by defeating Illinois 6-4. The win also guaranteed the Hoosiers an NCAA Tournament appearance, only the second in school history. While in the NCAA Tournament, IU picked up its first and only tournament win, defeating Delaware 10-8.\nThough there was some speculation that something could happen with Morgan, the team officially found out Saturday, said junior pitcher Josh Lewis.\n"We got an e-mail from him yesterday," Lewis said. "There was an idea that it might happen, but I didn't think it would. We did have a bad last couple of years."\nFor Athletics Director Rick Greenspan, this will be the third coach since his arrival in September that has either resigned or been fired. Former IU football coach Gerry DiNardo was fired in December after an 8-27 record in three seasons. Former women's basketball coach Kathi Bennett resigned after five seasons as coach. In her time at the helm the Hoosiers were 72-75, making one NCAA Tournament appearance in 2002.\n"We appreciate Bob's dedication and commitment to the Indiana baseball program," Greenspan said in a statement. "Bob approached his job with great vigor and we thank him for his effort and wish Bob and his family the best in future endeavors."\nLewis, who still has one season left at IU, expects that when a new coach comes in an entirely new staff will be brought in.\nMuch like prior searches for new coaches, Greenspan plans to do so quickly, although he hasn't set a timetable, he said.\n"I will work diligently to try and make this transition as smooth as possible," Greenspan said. "We will immediately begin on a national search in order to find a coach with proven credentials in all facets of a successful program -- on the field, in recruiting, compliance and academics."\nAlthough Lewis is disappointed Morgan is no longer coach, he said he understands.\n"You never want to see the guy you've been with the whole time with go," Lewis said. "I wish he could have stayed for my last year. Sometimes when things aren't clicking, you've got to fix it."\nMorgan could not be reached for comment by press time.
(06/02/05 8:16pm)
INDIANAPOLIS -- More than 250,000 spectators watched as Danica Patrick tried to become the first female driver to win the Indianapolis 500. Patrick almost made history, but her fuel and pit troubles proved too much as Dan Wheldon overcame Patrick down the stretch to win.\n"This has been a dream come true for me," Wheldon said. "I've loved the Indianapolis 500 ever since I was a little kid in England."\nAfter stalling in her pit on lap 79, Patrick had trouble during the fifth caution of the day as she did a quarter-spin on the restart, continuing the caution and causing damage to the front of her car. Patrick was forced to pit on lap 159, but wouldn't again for the duration of the race. Despite all this, Patrick grabbed the lead on lap 172, her second lead of the day, and held it for 14 laps. Patrick first took the lead on lap 56, becoming the first female driver ever to lead an Indianapolis 500.\nBut as lap 187 started, caution broke and Wheldon grabbed the lead, trying to become the first Englishman to win the Indy 500 since Graham Hill in 1966. Once the caution lap ended on the 189, the crowd rose to its feet as Patrick quickly re-took the lead by going on the inside on lap 190. \n"My engineer Ray told me that I needed to have the restart of the century," she said. "I think we had it. It was pretty good."\nFor three laps the crowd anxiously waited to see if history would be made. But Wheldon had other ideas. After three laps of chasing Patrick's tail, Wheldon captured the lead for good just before the start/finish line on lap 194. Patrick had to settle for fourth as she finished on fumes. \n"I knew I could pass her, but it was just a case of timing," Wheldon said. "And having done it once, she was obviously aware of where I was good and where I was not. So she made it a little bit more difficult. But certainly the guys in my car gave me a car that was at its best right at the end of the race, and I needed every bit of that to win this race."\nIn the process of winning the Borg-Warner trophy, Wheldon also became the first driver ever to win with the No. 26 car and to win starting from the No. 16 spot.\nThough the victory milk belonged to Wheldon, much of the race was Sam Hornish Jr.'s. Hornish Jr. started the race second but quickly jumped to first, passing pole sitter Tony Kanann in turn three. Hornish Jr. led the most laps of the race with 70. But his day ended on lap 147 as the right side of his car collided with the wall in turn one. \nWhile Wheldon walked away the winner, Vitor Meira and Bryan Herta rounded out the top three. Meira managed to finish second despite a hand injury suffered in the race. Buddy Lazier finished fifth behind Patrick.\nOn the day there were eight cautions which knocked out more than half the field of 33. The race ended with only 16 drivers still on the track, and of those, only nine were on the lead lap. The final caution of the day signaled the end of the race as Sebastian Bourdais crashed as the white flag came, giving Wheldon the Indy 500 title under yellow.\nWhile Patrick sat with mixed emotions after the race, the same couldn't be said of Wheldon's team, Andretti Green Racing, which includes Michael Andretti as a co-owner. After going his entire racing career without a win at the Indy 500, getting one as co-owner proved just as sweet, he said after the race.\n"I never tasted milk so good. It's awesome," Andretti said. "I finally won the Indy 500. Oh yeah. No more curse."\nDespite the possible significance of Patrick holding the lead and finishing in the top five, she was more concerned about not winning in her rookie try than the possible significance her performance had, she said.\n"I didn't even think all that media stuff going on was that… overwhelming," she said. "It was frustrating to be leading the race with so few laps to go and not be able to finish hard and just hang out up front and win the thing"
(05/31/05 6:18pm)
INDIANAPOLIS — More than 250,000 spectators watched as Danica Patrick looked to make history as the first female driver to win the Indianapolis 500. Patrick almost made history, but her fuel and pit troubles proved too much as Dan Wheldon overcame Patrick down the stretch to win the 89th Indy 500.\n"This has been a dream come true for me," Wheldon said. "I've loved the Indianapolis 500 ever since I was a little kid in England."\nAfter stalling in her pit on lap 79, Patrick had trouble during the fifth caution of the day as she did quarter-spin on the restart, continuing the caution and damage to the front of her car. Patrick was forced to pit on lap 159, and wouldn't again for the duration of the race. Despite all this, Patrick grabbed the lead on lap 172, her second lead of the day holding it for 14 laps. Patrick first took the lead on lap 56, becoming the first female driver ever to lead an Indianapolis 500.\nBut as lap 187 started, caution broke and Wheldon grabbed the lead, Wheldon and looking to become the first Englishman to win the Indy 500 since Graham Hill in 1966.\n"My engineer Ray told me that I needed to have the restart of the century," she said. "I think we had it. It was pretty good."\nOnce the caution lap ended on the 189, the crowd rose to its feet as Patrick quickly re-took the lead by going on the inside on lap 190. \nFor three laps the crowd anxiously waited to see if history would be made But Wheldon had other ideas. After three laps of chasing Patrick's tail, Wheldon captured the lead for good just before the finish line. Patrick had to settle for fourth as she finished on fumes. \n"I knew I could pass her, but it was just a case of timing," Wheldon said. "And having done it once, she was obviously aware of where I was good and where I was not. So she made it a little bit more difficult. But certainly the guys in my car gave me a car that was at its best right at the end of the race, and I needed every bit of that to win this race."\nIn process of winning the Borg Warner trophy Wheldon also became the first driver ever to win with the No. 26 car and to win starting from the No. 16 spot.\nThough the victory milk belonged to Wheldon, much of the race was Sam Hornish Jr.'s. Hornish Jr. started the race second but quickly jumped to first, passing pole sitter Tony Kanann in turn three. Hornish Jr. led the most laps of the race with 70. But his day ended on lap 147 as the right side of his car collided with the barrier in turn one. \nWhile Wheldon walked away the winner, Victor Meira and Bryan Herta rounded out the top three. Meira managed to finish the race second despite a hand injury suffered in the race. Buddy Lazier finished fifth behind Patrick.\nOn the day there were eight cautions which knocked out more than half the field of 33. The race ended with only 16 drivers still on the track, and of those, only nine were on the lead lap. The final caution of the day signaled the end of the race as Sebastian Bourdais crashed as the white flag came, giving Wheldon the Indy 500 under yellow.\nWhile Patrick sat with mixed emotions after the race, the same couldn't be said of Wheldon's team, Andretti Green Racing, which includes Michael Andretti as a co-owner. After going his entire racing career without a win at the Indy 500, getting one as co-owner proved just as sweet, he said after the race.\n"I never tasted milk so good. It's awesome," Andretti said. "I finally won the Indy 500. Oh yeah. No more curse."\nDespite the possible significance of Patrick holding the lead and finishing in the top five, she was more concerned about not winning in her rookie try than the possible significance her performance had, she said.\n"It sounds so goober stupid, but I just don't think about it. I didn't even think all that media stuff going on was that… overwhelming," she said. "It was frustrating to be leading the race with so few laps to go and not be able to finish hard and just out up front and win the thing"
(05/23/05 6:50pm)
For 18 seasons, every game night was "Miller Time."\nBut Thursday night was "Miller Time" for the last time as Reggie Miller and the Pacers lost to the Pistons 88-79, marking the end of his career with Indiana. \nWhile the city of Indianapolis watches as one of its greatest sports stars walks away, Pacer fans at IU are feeling many of the same emotions that Pacer fans everywhere are feeling -- sadness.\nMany things stay a constant in people's lives. For junior Robbie Calderon, it has been Miller. Ever since he has been a fan, Miller has been there, he said.\n"He has been playing since I have been alive," Calderon said. "It will be strange that he won't be playing anymore."\nThough many fans were watching Miller's final game on a television screen, junior Jamison Shuck was one of 18,345 in attendance.\nFor someone who has attended games throughout his lifetime, including six this season, watching Miller walk away was an emotional moment, he said.\n"It was really sad," Shuck said. "We all started to chant his name and 'one more year.' I got \nteary-eyed."\nMiller has been a star throughout his time with the Pacers. But for the nation he became a superstar during the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 5 against the New York Knicks, Miller scored 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 8 points in 11.2 seconds.\nThere are many moments that left people in awe throughout Miller's career, but one sticks out in sophomore Michael Mitzman's mind.\n"The one against the Bulls in 1998 when he hit the game-winning shot," Mitzman said.\nThe shot came in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals as Miller hit a three pointer with 2.7 seconds left to propel the Pacers past Chicago 96-94.\nCalderon's favorite was last season during when Indiana beat Detroit in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals, when Miller hit a three with 31.7 seconds to break a 74-74 tie and give the Pacers the win.\nDespite the feeling that Miller was cheated out of a championship run this season -- due to the melee with Detroit Nov. 19 that led to the suspensions of Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson -- Shuck said he was glad that Miller got to finish his career the way he was for most of it -- a star.\n"I think the incident did hurt our chances for a championship," Shuck said. "But it let him go out on top. He got to retire as a superstar rather than as a role player."\n-- Contact Sports Editor Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(05/19/05 5:16pm)
Baseball, horse racing and cooking all have one thing in common, and it isn't food. Each has a triple crown recognizing excellence. Food, however, is how IU alumna and former Indiana Daily Student cooking columnist Camilla Saulsbury won $100,000 Friday in Charlotte, N.C., in the 46th annual National Chicken Cooking Contest.\nAfter battling with 51 contestants, one from each state and the District of Columbia, Saulsbury awaited the results along with 200 to 300 people at the Westin Hotel. \n"As it got closer and closer our stomachs were turning over," Saulsbury said. "I couldn't quite believe it when they announced 'Indiana.'"\nOnce she overcame the shock of winning the competition, and the $100,000 grand prize, Saulsbury took the stage. Although she was fully aware of the cash, Saulsbury was unaware of the additional prizes she would be awarded. One was a new GE gas oven and range and the other was a new set of Cutco knives, something that is very important in the kitchen, she said.\nThis contest is considered among the top three cooking contests in the circuit. The other two include the Pillsbury Bake Off, and one sponsored by the beef industry. \nContestants submitted their best recipes and officials chose one finalist from each state. The finalists then prepared dishes for a panel of experts, who then chose a winner.\nThe criteria for the contest include taste, appearance, simplicity, and overall appeal, said Director of Communications of the National Chicken Council Richard Lobb.\nSaulsbury's dish, "Mahogany Broiled Chicken with Smokey Lime Sweet Potatoes and Cilantro Chimichurri," combined a unique balance of those elements, said Paul Schultz, executive food editor of the New York Daily News and chairman of the judges.\n"Sometimes when you have a lot of spice, it can be overpowering, but in this dish the combinations worked well," he said.\nThe recipe involves a chicken breast that is cut and cubed and marinated in sauce combining hoisin sauce, sugar, vinegar and mustard. The dish is served over mashed sweet potatoes and a chimichurri sauce.\nSaulsbury isn't a novice when it comes to contests and food. She began in 1999 and by the fall was chosen as a finalist for the Build a Better Burger competition.\nIn all, she has gone on 10 trips throughout the country trying her hand at cooking.\nAlthough Saulsbury is an experienced cook, anyone could prepare this award-winning dish, she said.\n"There are different parts, and people can do them the way they like," Saulsbury said. "Each part is really simple, it takes a little time to do all three and someone with little cooking experience could do it."\nDespite receiving her doctorate in sociology from IU in 2004, Saulsbury's future plans are more cooking-oriented.\n"I made the decision a year-and-a-half ago to do something food related in food writing," Saulsbury said. "Another profession I am involved in is the fitness industry and I would like to do more to fuse those things and bring sociology into the mix."\nWriting and cooking has paid off for Saulsbury as she has two books published -- "Cookie Dough Delights" and "Brownie Mix Bliss" -- and a third on the way in October, "Cake Mix Cookie \nCompanion."\nSaulsbury isn't wasting anytime putting the grand prize to work. She and her husband, Kevin West, are moving to Nacogdoches, Texas, where he will be teaching at Stephen F. Austin University.\nAs her victory sinks in, the thought of her win still brings her a chill, Saulsbury said.\n"I'm still in disbelief about the whole thing," she said.