View from the Corner Desk

Some quick hits

Seniors Megan Elliott and Brittany McGowan played their final matches on their home floor Wednesday, as the Wildcats beat Ferris State, 3-0, in a GLIAC quarterfinal game.

It was nice to see them going out on top. The volleyball team at NMU, once a jewel program at the university and with the potential to become one again, has had anything but smooth sailing the past few years. The seniors have played for three coaches in four years, and no coach has stayed at NMU for more than two years this decade.

Enter Dominic Yoder. The players seem to like playing for him. He took a talented squad that Qi Wang recruited last year, helped them survive a rocky start to the season, and molded them into winners who understand his system.

With Yoder at the helm, a great amount of talent and only two seniors moving on, it may not be too long before the GLIAC semifinals and finals are held at Vandament Arena, not just the first round.

That's the way it should be. The volleyball Wildcats are never too far down or for too long, but it would be great for fans in Marquette to see sustained, high level success yet again.

MTU Hoops

Michigan State narrowly got by Michigan Tech in an exhibition basketball game tonight, 61-55. Marquette product Tim Strom led all scorers with 17 points. He shot 6-for-16 and 3-for-10 behind the 3-point line. He added six rebounds. MSHS product Sean Geary scored two and Westwood's Josh Makela added three.

Detroit Lions 6-2?!?!

It's not that I've been the greatest NFL fan over my lifetime. Not really the greatest Lions fan either. I'm not going to proclaim to be the greatest Lions fan now, either.

But I can't help but think these Lions are pretty fun to watch. They've got a quarterback in Jon Kitna who sounded crazy when he proclaimed the team would win at least 10 games. Now they have six. And then he dresses up as a naked coach for Halloween. You can't beat that!

On the field, you've got Roy Williams, Kevin Jones, and Matt Millen's receiver obsession finally paid off with his 2007 draft pick of Calvin Johnson. On the defensive side, images of 350+ pound lineman Shaun Rogers not only intercepting a Denver pass, but rumbling 66 yards and diving into the end zone.

And now, the results of the Thanksgiving game may actually matter (to the Lions anyway) for the first time in years.

And finally...

We have a Reichel sighting on the NMU basketball web site!