The Rampage #4 March 2020

The Rampage

Sports

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••• and the team, as they look at obstacles as opportunities instead of problems. He said he thinks his style of coaching is what will set Bluefield apart from its opponents. The team practices faster than they play, and the coach challenges the players to be fearless on the court. “He’s a good coach and very determined,” said sophomore Terrell Boston about the new coach’s style. “He likes to switch things up that we did in the past to make us look better.”

Senior Carleek Owens said Coach Alvarez “does things differently, and he came up with a system change so many teams don’t know what (we) will run.” Freshman General Smith agreed. “I like his style and that he is getting us better at our position,” Smith said. “He’s teaching us new things about the systems we run.” Now in his 22nd year of coaching, Coach Alvarez said he sometimes thinks about retirement, but then remembers everything he would miss about coaching. When asked what

he would miss the most, he said, “The relationships with the players is the thing that matters the most.” In fact, he went into detail about how he still keeps in touch with some of his previous players. The other aspects he said he would miss are practice planning and strategic planning. For now, Coach Alvarez said he wants to focus on making a difference for men’s volleyball at Bluefield College. He said he hopes everyone will come out to home matches to cheer on the team as they strive for a successful season. “ It is closer to campus, and that is an advantage because it is easier to keep up with players and things going on around the school,” The Sims Center also provides more space for football training. The players said the old weight room felt “closed in.” Dustin Barker said in the new facility the weight room feels more open and spacious. “We are putting in hard work,” Barker said, “and trusting Coach (Dino) Kaklis with what he has for us in the weight room.” Even though there are plenty of positives, there are some improvements to be made. Coach Lusk said that he would like to use some of the space in the Sims Center to eventually make a football locker room. With all of the space left in the center, there is a good chance of making that happen over time. One major improvement that stood out to Barker was that he would like to see the flooring improved in the Sims Center, including some that is not slick and that’s easy to clean. Overall, members of the football team say the move was good for Bluefield College, and it is putting the team in the right direction for success.

Football Team Adjusts to Life in Sims Center by Lowell Patron Sports Management • 2020

I n October 2019, Bluefield College secured the Herb Sims Wellness Center on Stadium Drive for its football training and administrative facilities. At that time, the football teammoved its weight room as well as coaches’ offices out of the old facility on North Street into the new Sims Center. Now, a little more than three months later the big question some might be asking is how well has the football team adjusted to the move? We sat down with two players and head coach Dewey Lusk to find the answer to that question. Coach Lusk said the new location and facility is definitely better than the old one, simply because of the easy access and short walking distance it is for the players, especially those who don’t have

a car to drive. He also mentioned how it is great for the students who want to work out at the Sims Center. “It is closer to campus, and that is an advantage because it is easier to keep up with players and things going on around the school,” Lusk said. With the previous facility some two miles away from Bluefield College, the coaches whose offices were housed at the North Street location felt disconnected from the students on the main campus. Now less than a mile away and just a 10 minute walk, the new football facilities keep the coaches right next to the players and make it is easier for the players to get to classes and the coaches to visit with recruits on the main campus.

Equipment in the Herb SimsWellness Center