I Thursday September 25, 2003 www.michigandaily. com sports@michigandaily.com POt~RTS~aa 1OA I Endurance, patience key for Van Alstyne Now starting at running backfor TexasA&M... Me Despite Michigan's appeals, the Wolverines' game at Minnesota will be played on Friday, Oct. 10 By Naweed Sikora Daily Sports Editor Michigan sophomore defensive end Jeremy Van Alstyne currently checks in at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds. Still, he feels that he's just decently sized for his position. "I'd like to be a little bit bigger," Van Alstyne said. The former linebacker shouldn't worry about being a lit- tle small for his position. He should just think back to his wrestling days., In his senior year at Center ' Grove High School in Greenwood, Ind., Van Alstyne won the state wrestling championships compet- ing in the 275-pound weight class. At the time, he weighed 220 - his opponent in the final match weighed 270. How did he pin a guy who weighed 50 pounds more than him? "Endurance," Val Alstyne said. "I was in much better shape than him." Van Alstyne may not use wrestling moves out on the football field, but he's certainly brought that hard-working mentality along with him to the Wolverines. As the backup for senior Larry Stevens, Val Alstyne may not match the senior in trash-talking ability, but his quiet demeanor and work ethic speak for themselves. The sophomore says he's happy to get the opportunity to play and learn. He's also happy to be at Michigan, a wish that almost didn't come true for the Indiana product. Van Alstyne initially committed to Notre Dame at the beginning of his senior year of high school because he said he wanted to get it out of the way. "My parents and my high school coach wanted me to commit early because I was under a lot of stress," he said. "Michigan hadn't made an offer to me yet, but I was in touch with Coach (Andy) Moeller." After the second game of Van Alstyne's season, Moeller came calling, and the senior couldn't resist. "I took the opportunity to come see the University of Michigan on an unofficial visit. I fell in love with the play- ers, coaches and the school. I knew I had to come here." Van Alstyne had made a verbal commitment to Notre Dame, but since he never made an official visit to South Bend, he said it was easy to tell them he was going to Ann Arbor. "It wasn't that hard after I came here" he said of Ann Arbor. "I knew this was the place for me" Van Alstyne's first two seasons at Michigan have been a big learning experience. As an inex- perienced young player, he says he often caught himself thinking too much on the / field and making mental mistakes. But increased playing time, along with some helpful advice from the senior line- men, have helped Van Alstyne improve his game. "Larry Stevens has helped me out so much. All of the senior defensive linemen have helped like Grant (Bowman), Nor- man (Heuer) and Alain (Kashama)," he said. "The seniors teach us how to handle ourselves, and what we need to do in different situations. "Things are starting to become more natural for me. I'm not thinking about what I should do - I already know" Michigan's starting defensive line is composed of four seniors. Beyond that, a gap exists between the seniors and the younger players like Van Alstyne. The need to develop these younger players is one reason why Van Alstyne and his fellow defensive linemen are seeing an increase in playing time. They are expected be a big part of Michigan's future defensive attack. But Van Alstyne doesn't feel any pressure from the increased role, or the fact that he has to back up a player like Stevens. After all, he's been in tougher situations on the wrestling mat. T.G.LF.: Despite the strict objections of Michi- gan coach Lloyd Carr, the Wolverines' game at Minnesota has been moved from Saturday, Oct. 11 to Friday, Oct. 10. The move was made after the Minnesota Twins officially qualified for the Major League Baseball playoffs. The decision was announced yesterday after the Golden Gophers argued against moving the game to a neu- tral setting to keep it on its original date. Jeremy Van Alstyne COURTNEY LEWIS The Daily Grind am a college running back. I play for Texas A&M, and I've scored four touchdowns this season. This may be a shock to those who know me as a 5-foot-4 (with my shoes on) shrimp with no coordina- tion to speak of - and to those of you who saw the headshot at the top of this column and correctly assumed that I am a female. Actually, I was a little surprised myself to hear, when the Texas A&M vs. Virginia Tech game was on the T.V last f Thursday night, the play-by-play guy call my name on a touch- down run. It turns out that I had not found a way (The other) to morph myself into Lewis a terrific athlete in Texas and, at the same time, watch television in Ann Arbor. The touch- down belonged to Courtney Lewis of Houston, who's a redshirt fresh- man and rising star for the Aggies. Nobody will be confusing me with Courtney the football player, but it's not like we don't have any- thing in common at all. According to his bio on the Texas A&M football website, his favorite book is "To Kill A Mocking Bird" - also one of my favorites. Once I thought about it, I realized it makes sense that I have an alter ego on the football field. The Daily has a history of sportswriters with gridiron counterparts - in recent years, Steve Jackson and David Horn could be found both on NCAA teams and in the Student Publica- tions Building. So, I was glad to find that the tradition continues. I've certainly heard of football players named Courtney before - the Hoosiers will bring two with them to Ann Arbor this weekend (Courtney Clency and Cortney Roby) - but the Texas A&M run- ning back takes it to another level. Courtney in College Station and I are not alone out there, though. A Yahoo! People Search shows that there are at least 51 other Courtney Lewises across the country. But as far as I know, the Aggies' Lewis is the only one who plays college foot- ball. And he seems to be the only one of us who will regularly be found on national television and as the subject of stories in the sports pages. So, Courtney Lewis, be good to our name. I'm questioning your choice of colleges a little bit here (I've always wanted to see my name on the back of a maize-and-blue jer- sey, and having it echo out of the Big House sound system would have been sweet), but I'll let that go. Especially since you're the one who made it to collegiate sports, and I'm the one who writes about them. And your number, 25, is fine. But we've got to do something about your taste in spectator sports. You list track as your favorite thing to watch other than football. Track? We'll have to work on that. As far as being famous, keep it on the football field, eh? I don't want to hear my name circulating around scandals or see it on arrest records. And I'll do my part in that area, too. Speaking of being famous, I don't know how good you're going to get, but what do you think of making a little deal, here? I'm giving you some pub now, right? So if you become a household name, maybe we could share some of the benefits, since we share a name and all. Like, I don't know, a championship ring with my name on it? That'd be pretty cool. You don't think that's fair? Alright, how about you just keep scoring touchdowns? Not that many people get to hear their name called by a college football announcer on Saturday afternoons. Touchdown, Courtney Lewis. I like the sound of that. And I get to skip the whole part about being slammed to the ground by 300-pound linemen every week. 0 6 Freshmen stickers adjusting to college life By Megan Kolodgy Daily Sports Writer It was 3:30 a.m., and Michigan field hockey forward Mary Fox was nestled in her modular bed after an interminable day of practice, classes and homework. Suddenly, she was jolted awake by a deafening noise. The freshman hopped out of bed, not certain what was going on. Tornado warning? Nuclear holocaust? Nope. The ruckus was nothing but an infa- mous South Quad fire drill. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and dashed out the door. While she scampered down- stairs and crossed the lawn in front of the build- ing, the normally-coordinated Fox stubbed her toe on a sprinkler. She later learned the toe that helps her navigate the field with such agility was, in fact, broken. "I had to have it taped for about a week," Fox said. "It's fine now, but it was a little embarrass- ing at the time." In the five games she has played for Michigan, Fox has managed to score two goals and has one assist. Her teammate, freshman Jill Civic, has already recorded six goals and one assist. Both have become indispensable components of a highly competitive field hockey program. Though their statistics are sparkling thus far, these standouts are just two freshman trying to get by. "Living in the dorms was definitely ... an adjustment," Civic said. "I don't spend a lot of time there. I'm mainly only there to sleep and do some homework." Despite the fact that they must keep their bod- ies in top condition, they. too dine in South Quad's eclectically decorated dining hall. "I usually manage to find something there to eat," Civic said. "Usually, that something is salad." They are also learning to adapt to life away from their families. "Yeah, I miss them," Civic said. "Luckily my parents have made it to every game but two so far this season. Sometimes they drive, some- times they fly. I don't know how they do it, but they're pretty much always there to support me." Civic also has an older brother who attends Temple University's medical school. "My brother and I are really close," she said. He made it out to the game in Boston, and he's determined to make it to Ann Arbor one of these days to see me play." The girls had to quickly overcome any initial homesickness, and dive into a full coauseload Fortunately, academics are another realm in which these players excel. Fox, an LSA student, is working towards a career in law, but also wants to transfer to the School of Engineering. Fox's desire to become a Wolverine was seem- ingly innate. "I always wanted to go to Michigan, for some reason," the St. Louis native said. "I just got a weird feeling every time I heard the name." Civic's path to Ann Arbor was a bit more con- ventional. "When I came on my official recruiting visit, the campus felt like home," Civic said. "No other team has this kind of talent, or the kind of work ethic that these girls display. I think the coaching staff brings out the best in every player." The athletes' goals for their careers at Michi- gan, and this season in particular, are already sky high. Both aim to do whatever they can to help the team win the Big Ten title and tourna- ment, and perhaps another national title. Courtney Lewis the sports writer can be reached at cmlewis@umich.edu. ::..: ~Z0& 8tts~V~w~ns~~i~ stoies '~O ~yads ux. F~vetowaMAW~ Contraceptive Injection Satrolyou tkik ae*ou*t jus-t Lxa gear medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension i~acd to s'cakf1.. DEPO-PROVERA* Contraceptive Injection (medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension, USP) This product is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against HIV Infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases. What is DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection? DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection is a form of birth control that is given as an intramuscular injection (a shot) in the buttock or upper arm once every 3 months (13 weeks). To continue your contraceptive protection, you must return for your next injection promptly at the end of 3 months (13 weeks). DEPO-PROVERA contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, a chemical similar to (but not the same as) the natural hormone progesterone, which is produced by your ovaries during the second half of your menstrual cycle. DEPO-PROVERA acts by preventing your egg cells from ripening. If an egg is not released from the ovaries during your menstrual cycle, it cannot become fertilized by sperm and result in pregnancy. DEPO-PROVERA also causes chan es in the lining of your uterus that make it less likelyfor pregnancy to occur. How effective is DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection? The efficacy of DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection depends on following the recommended dosage schedule exactly (see "How often do I get my shot of DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?"). To make sure you are not pregnant when you first get DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection, your first injection must be given ONLY during the first 5 days of a normal menstrual period; ONLY within the first 5 days after childbirth if not breast-feeding; and, if exclusively breast-feeding, ONLY at the sixth week after childbirth. It is a long-term injectable contraceptive when administered at 3-month (13-week) intervals, DEPO-PRORA Contraceptive Injection is over 99% effective, making it one of the most reliable methods of birth control available. This means that the average annual pregnancy rate is less than one for evecy 100 women who use DEPO-PROVERA. The effectiveness of most contraceptive methods depends in part on how reliably each woman uses the method. The effectiveness of DEPO-PROVERA depends only on the patient returning every 3 months (13 weeks) for her next injection. Your health-care provider will help you compare DEPO-PROVERA with other contraceptive methods and give you the information you need in order to decide which contraceptive method is the right choice for you. The following table shows the percent of women who got pregnant while usin different kinds of contraceptive methods. It gives both the lowest expected rate of regnancy the rate expected in women who use each method exactly as it should be used an the typical rate of pregnancy (which includes women who became pregnant because they forgot to use their birth control or because they did not follow the directions exactly). Percent of Women Experiencing an Accidental Pregnancy In the First Year of Continuous Use " if you have had cancer of the breast " if you have had a stroke - if you have or have had blood clots (phlebitis) in your legs e if you have problems with your liver or liver disease " if you are allergic to DEPO-PROVERA (medroxyprogesterone acetate or any of its other ingredients). What other things should I consider before using DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection? You will have a physical examination before your doctor prescribes DEPO-PROVERA. It is important to tell your health-care provider if you have any of the following: "a family history of breast cancer an abnormal mammogram (breast x-ray), fibrocystic breast disease, breast nodules or lumps, or bleeding from your nipples " kidney disease " irregular or scanty menstrual periods " high blood pressure Smigraine headaches " athma - epilepsy (convulsions or seizures) Sdiabetes or a family history of diabetes - a history of depression if you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications This product is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against transmission of HIV (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis. What if I want to become pregnant after using DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection? Because DEPO-PROVERA is a long-acting birth control method, it takes some time after your last injection for its effect to wear off. Based on the results from a large study done in the United States, for women who stop using DEPO-PROVERA in order to become pregnant, it is expected that about half of those who become pregnant will do so in about 10 months after their last inection; about two thirds of those who become pregnant will do so in about 12 months; about 83% of those who become pregnant will do so in about I5 months; and about 93% of those who become rgnant will do so in about I8 months after their last injection. The length of time you use DEPO-PROVERA has no effect on how lonit takes you to become pregnant after you stop using it What are the risks of using DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection? Slrregular Menstruol Bleeding The side effect reported most frequently by women who use DEPO-PROVERA for contraception is a change in their normal menstrual cycle. During the first year of using DEPO-PROVERA, you might have one or more of the following changes: irregular or unpredictable bleeding or spotting, an increase or decrease in menstrual bleeding, or no bleeding at all. Unusually heavy or continuous bleedin ghowever is not a usual effect of DEPO-PROVERA; and if this happens, you should see your heah-care provider right away. With continued use of DEPO-PROVERA, bleeding usually decreases, and many women stop having periods completely. In clinical studies of DEPO-PROVERA, 55% of the women studied reported no menstrual bleeding (amenorrhea) after I year of use, and 68% of the women studied reported no menstrual bleeding after 2 years of use. The reason that your periods stop is because DEPO-PROVERA causes a resting state in your ovaries. When your ovaries do not release an egg monthly the 6.Other Risks Women who use hormone-based contraceptives may have an increased risk of blood clots or stroke. 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Call your health-care provider immediately if any of these problems occur following an injection of DEPO-PROVERA: - sharp chest pain, coughing up of blood, or sudden shortness of breath (indicating a possible clot in the lung) - sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, problems with your eyesight or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (indicating a possible stroke) * severe pain or swelling in the calf (indicating a possible clot in the leg) - unusually heavy vaginaI bleeding - severe pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area .Persistent pain, pus, or bleeding at the injection site What are the possible side effects of DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection? l.Weight Gain You may experience a weight gain while you are using DEPO-PROVERA. About two thirds of the women who used DEPO-PROVERA in clinical trials reported a weight gain of about 5 pounds during the first year of use. You may continue to gain weight after the first year Women in one large study who used DEPO-PROVERA for 2 years gained an average total of 8.1 pounds over those 2 years, or approximately 4 pounds per year. omen who continued for 4 years gained an average total of 13.8 ounds over those 4 years, or approximately 3.5 pounds per year Women who continued for 6 years gained an average total of 16.5 pounds over those 6 years, or approximately 2.75 pounds per year: 2.Dther Side Effects In a clinical study of over 3,900 women who used DEPO-PROVERA for up to 7 years, some women reported the following effects that may or may not have been related to their use of DEPO-PROVERA: Irregular menstrual bleeding, amenorrhea, headache, nervousness, abdominal cramps, dizziness, weakness or fatigue, decreased sexual desire, leg cramps, nausea, vaginal discharge or irritation, breast swelling and tenderness, bloating, swelling of the hands or eat, backache, depression, insomnia, acne, pelvic pain, no hair growth or excessive hair loss, rash, hot flashes, and joint pain. Other problems were reported by very few of the women in the clinical trials, but some of these could be serious. These include convulsions, jaundice, urinary tract infections, allergic reactions, fainting, paralysis, osteoporosis, lack of retum to fertility, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, breast cancer; or cervical cancer If these or any other problems occur during your use of DEPO-PROVERA, discuss them with your health-care provider Should any precautions be followed during use of DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection? L.Missed Periods During the time you are using DEPO-PROVERA for contraception, you may skip a period, or your periodsnay stop completely If you have been receiving your DEPO-PROVERA injections regularly every 3 months (13 weeks), then you are probably not pregnant. However if you think that you may be pregnant, see your health-care provider. 2.Lobortory Test Interactions If you are scheduled for any laboratory tests, tell your health-care provider that you are using DEPO-PROVERA for contraception. Certain blood tests are affected by hormones such as i.. t4 x R ..m___._ t <,, . z' I 20%Ho ff HeaShotia PortIts 2900 S. State St. Suite R6 Ann Arbor, MI 48104." (734) 913-2615 I * U Lowest Method Expected Typical DEPO-PROVERA 03 0.3 Implants (Norplant) 0.2* 0.2* Female sterilization 0.2 0.4 Male sterilizaton 0.1 0.15 tina~r~i sesoto