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Volume aaa, Number 7 |
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Fans of the week!
BECKY TANENBAUM
STAFF WRITER
Anyone who has ventured out to a field hockey game has surely seen Mike O'Neill '04 and Mike Stevens '04 working their magic from behind the officials' desk. For their unbridled dedication to the field hockey program, the Orient bestows upon Mike O'Neill and Mike Stevens this week's Fans-of-the-Week award.
This season marks the third time that O'Neill and Stevens have worked at field hockey games. Stevens shared the intense hiring process for the position with the Orient: "We submitted our resumes to coach Lynn Ruddy, Assistant Athletic Director and Chief Executive Officer of Field Hockey operations. Following an intensive interview process, we got the job. This was after a screen of our criminal records. Records which obviously were absolutely clean."
Keeping track of the score and statistics as well as running the sidelines are just a few of O'Neill and Stevens' many responsibilities. Before the games, they watch the opposing players warm-up in order to assess the situation. "We want to see who could be dangerous," O'Neill said. "We try to see what kind of talent is there."
A highlight of the games for the fans-of-the-week is the opportunity to see their favorite players in action. Stevens noted Leah McClure '03 as one of his favorite players. "We're from the same great Canadian province of New Brunswick so I can identify with her on that level," he said and then added referring to his own skills on the ice hockey rink, "Also, she scores a lot and I score a lot so we have that in common too."
O'Neill and Stevens spoke about Gillian McDonald '04 who they believe is the top goalie in the NESCAC. Stevens also mentioned Britney Carr '04 as a multi-dimensional player. Two of the fans' favorite players, O'Neill and Faye Hargate '04, referred to Carr as a defensive stalwart.
The players also recognize O'Neill and Stevens' dedication to field hockey. Britney Carr shared her thoughts with the Orient: "Mike and Mike are amazing fans. They are always there before the team arrives and they really know how to get us pumped up for the game. Stevens does a great job announcing the line-up and the goals. As for O'Neill, he counts down the last minute better than anyone I have ever seen. I also want to mention that they are very supportive when you get a yellow card. They definitely deserve to be fans-of-the-week."
Field Hockey has provided O'Neill and Stevens with great memories and with much to look forward to in the future. "The first time we saw the talented Trinity Field Hockey Team was a great memory," Stevens said. Nodding his head in agreement, O'Neill continued, "And we're eager to meet them again in the playoffs when Bowdoin will hopefully host the NESCAC tournament."
They are also eagerly anticipating the end of the year field hockey banquet at Benzoni's. "We've been neglected at the banquet these past few years. We paid our dues to the program and we deserve an invitation," Stevens emphasized.
Throughout the interview, the fans-of-the-week constantly stressed the importance of the people they work with. "We are where we are today because of the people we have working with us and for us," O'Neill said. "You're only as good as the people you work with."
Stevens specifically mentioned several people who are essential to the field hockey program. "We would like to thank Coach Jaime Dumont. Although at times he can get annoyed with us, he does a great job and he is a good administrator." O'Neill and Stevens also spoke about Jim Canton without whom, they said, they would not be able to do their jobs.
O'Neill and Stevens were quick to mention Bowdoin football's fans-of-the-week, Scott Brien and John Gregory, as role models. "We are truly flattered to be put in the same company as Scott and John," Stevens said with a tone of admiration. "They are a very special breed of fan and they bring an element of energy and excitement to every game they go to. We try to follow the example they set." O'Neill, inspired by Brien and Gregory's cheer-writing skills, has been working on his own cheer which he promised to debut at the field hockey banquet, pending an invitation.
The fans' were quick to mention that their love of field hockey extends far beyond Ryan Field. Although he has never played the game, Stevens often wears a field hockey skirt around his house. "I really enjoy it when he wears the uniform," O'Neill said, "you can really see the definition in his legs."
Stevens and O'Neill believe their unique approach to their jobs adds both an exciting and entertaining element to the games. This is one of the reasons they believe people should come out to watch field hockey games. "We try to spice things up," Stevens said. "We like to think of ourselves as new-age, new-wave."
But the fans clearly expressed the main reason to go to field hockey games. O'Neill said, "The Bowdoin field hockey team really kicks ass. It's just a wonderful thing to be out there watching the game." So if you want to see the fans-of-the-week and the talented field hockey team in action, head out this weekend to watch Bowdoin field hockey who are playing against Bates to clinch the top NESCAC seed entering the playoffs.