The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

Student news without fear or favor
The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

Student news without fear or favor
Fourth-year exercise science major Natallie Melgoza (left) and  fourth-year pre-medicine major Paola Garcia (right) pose by the Sac State library on Sept. 20, 2022. The two women are the founders of the Girl Gains chapter at Sac State.

Sac State club empowers female strength in the gym

Jacob Peterson September 29, 2022
Sac State’s Girl Gains chapter is helping women feel empowered in and out of the gym
Cam Sevaaetasi, Opinion Writer for The State Hornet, stretches before a workout at the Well.

Some students have an unhealthy obsession with working out

Cambrie Sevaaetasi November 5, 2015

Hundreds of students on campus are in gym clothes, having just worked out or on their way to work out. Spandex plagues the seats of classrooms and herds of gym shoes squeak across the halls. Today...

Students turn to The Well to relieve stress

Ashley Hurtado February 26, 2014

As the semester progresses and course work becomes increasingly demanding, students are utilizing the Well to relieve stress that has built up the first couple weeks of school.Business administration major...

Sac State 5k Fun Run kicks off today at the Well at 6 p.m.

A'talah Foster April 18, 2013

As the season starts to change and weather becomes warmer, more people in the Sacramento community are taking their exercise outdoors.While many enjoy working out in the gym, the on campus recreational...

What the Heck?

What the Heck?

James Heck December 5, 2012

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One of the biggest myths in the National Football League is the idea that a player cannot lose his job after suffering an injury and missing playing time.

When a player goes down, there is already a backup ready to take his spot. All it takes is one injury to another player and the backup now becomes the starter.

Now, whether or not the original backup eventually becomes the full-time starter depends on the situation with the injured player.

NFL players have an average career of three-and-a-half years. It is a mistake for them to become comfortable and think they will play forever.

It is an even bigger mistake to think they are not replaceable. Whether the injury is serious or not, a football player is only one play away from being knocked out of the game – either physically or through demotion.

I think the reason this is such a hot topic in the football community is because people have different views on whether or not being replaced is fair.

To be honest, I do not know what is fair and what is not fair. That is a gray area to me.

Perhaps the only concrete reason to claim an injured player’s swapping is fair is if the newcomer provides more potential and ability at the position.

There are some players in the NFL that are unquestionably elite at their respective position.

Players like quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers on offense and linebackers Patrick Willis and DeMarcus Ware on defense are simply too good to be easily replaced.

If any of these players were to get injured, their job would not be in jeopardy.

Controversies only occur when there is a legitimate brewing of tension between choosing the original player and his replacement.

The most recent controversy in the NFL involves the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick.

Smith, the eight-year veteran, boasted his best season under center in 2011 after leading the 49ers to the NFC Championship game against the New York Giants. The previous six years were very up and down for Smith and the team. Many fans, including the media, had given up on him.

While his stock has risen the last season and a half, many still doubt him.

Smith was knocked out of the Nov. 11 game against the St. Louis Rams with a concussion and replaced by second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick has started two games since then - against the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints - and played very well in route to winning both games.

I do not think there would be a quarterback controversy if Kaepernick did not display a different, and better, level of play than Smith had – but he has.

Kaepernick’s ceiling is unknown, but it undoubtedly is higher than Smith’s.

For the last eight seasons, I have come to understand the type of player Smith is. He is careful with the football, relies on check-downs and is not a deep-threat quarterback.

Now, this is fine and wins games, but fans want more.

Kaepernick, although relatively still unknown in his abilities, provides more ability at the position. He is currently on a hot streak and should get better each game.

Smith will lose his job to Kaepernick, but what the future holds remains to be seen.

I personally do not think it is fair. After all, Smith has been a winning quarterback for the past two seasons.

But when Kaepernick had to step up for the injured Smith, he outplayed him in every way. Kaepernick under center opens the 49ers passing offense up and creates a new, explosive dimension it lacked before.

James Heck can be reached at [email protected]

Golf teams bundle up for winter break

James Heck December 5, 2012

After concluding the fall portion of their season, the Sacramento State men’s and women’s golf teams head into winter break reenergizing and preparing for the remaining meets in the spring. Even though...

The Well holds biggest intramural event at Hornet Stadium

The Well holds biggest intramural event at Hornet Stadium

Clifton Jones October 18, 2012

The Well is putting on its annual Intramural Football Championship and for the first time it will be played at Hornet Stadium. In order to get to the championships, eight teams have been battling it out...

These workouts should be done for 30 minutes and practiced two or three times a week.

Train for the apocalypse

William Miles October 17, 2012

These workouts should be done for 30 minutes and practiced two or three times a week.

Martial arts are the best form of fitness

Miles Tsue March 29, 2012

Martial arts is the best form of exercise. Martial arts trains almost every part of the human body. It trains the big muscles like the thighs and shoulders, and the fine muscles like the smaller wrist...

Dantes food chart for his first week of veganism. He really likes avocados. 

The Vegan Challenge: Week 1

Courtesy of Janice Daniels and Courtney Owen March 16, 2012

Dante's food chart for his first week of veganism. He really likes avocados. 

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