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
Associated Students, Inc. discusses their strategic priorities for the year at a board meeting in the University Union, Sept. 23, 2015. 

ASI discussed having media relations

Angel Kidka October 20, 2015

Associated Students, Inc. held its working board meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 14 in the Foothill Suite of the University Union where they received a presentation about media relations and discussed the...

Should we accept sex, violence, and crude language as normal?

Brandie Maguire July 10, 2015

Sex and violence are becoming more acceptable in our media-intensive culture.Most nightly news stations report on at least one murder or death every program. On Facebook, there is an abundance of celebrity...

Views of beauty are shaped by media

Pornmanus Saetae February 27, 2015

It is said that a person is exposed to roughly 5,000 ads in one day. Many of which target how a person can change something about themselves, whether it is their looks, personality, eating habits or overall...

The neverending story of Michael Sam

State Hornet September 17, 2014

The media coverage about Michael Sam and his sexual orientation seems to be never-ending. Since February, Sam has been speaking to the media about being a proud, openly gay man in the NFL.We can agree...

Get news from multiple sources

Kaitlin Bruce May 15, 2013

The media has always been the first thing we turn to in times of catastrophe and celebration, but it is important to stop and ask, "Is this really the truth?"The obligation of a journalist is to inform...

Thieves get quick cash from metal theft of stolen catalytic converters

Thieves get quick cash from metal theft of stolen catalytic converters

Fabian Garcia April 9, 2013

They may not be glittering in diamonds, but platinum-lined catalytic converters – known as “cats” on the street – have become a hot commodity for thieves and buyers running the black market for...

Buzz of the Crowd: Reputation at risk following skirmish

State Hornet Staff February 27, 2013

It took a fist fight for people to finally buzz about Sacramento State sports.The Hornets received national attention thanks in part to local news station KCRA and its video of a baseball fight between...

Buzz of the Crowd: There is no place like your home court

State Hornet Staff December 5, 2012

Some teams wish they could just click their heels and say there is no place like home.While L. Frank Baum coined the phrase in his 1900 literary masterpiece, “The Wizard of Oz”, it holds true in the...

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]

Scandals take away from the important issues

Samantha Gallegos December 5, 2012

The media are quick to build people up as bigger than life, but if they get involved in a scandal then the media are also just as quick to tear them apart and fill the news with constant coverage of their...

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