MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 11, 2000

Have you ever wanted to know what a basketball coach was saying to his players during a timeout? Or what really goes on in the lockerroom before the game and during halftime? In today’s section is the first installment of “In the Paint,” a behind the scenes look of the East St. John Lady Cats basketball team. East St. Johnprincipal Debra Schum and Lady Cats coach Troy Giordano have given L’Observateur all-access to the team. That includes all practices and teammeetings before, at halftime and after games. We will also sit behind theteam’s bench during games and travel with them on road trips.

The first segment focuses on the team’s preparation to date, including summer play, conditioning and the first days of practice. Future segmentswill include a look at the clinics the team has attended, features on the players and coaches, a look at the events surrounding the first game of the season and a trip with the team to a tournament.

The season is only a month old and already it has been a crazy football season on all levels.

In the NFL, there are only two undefeated teams left – St. Louis andMinnesota. The Rams appear to be even better than they were last seasonwhen they won the Super Bowl. Kurt Warner is on pace to shatter a numberof passing records and an offense that also includes Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce is averaging over 40 points per game. To put that inperspective, the Cincinnati Bengals have scored only 37 points all season.

Minnesota has been somewhat of a surprise thanks to the play of second- year quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper showed just how good hewas, both running and throwing the ball, against Tampa Bay Monday night.

And for those who stayed up past 11 p.m. Monday, the Vikings-Buccaneerscontest was perhaps the best of the season.

Other than the Vikings and Rams, no team is pulling away from its division. No other team in the NFC has fewer than two losses and only theBears have yet to win more than one game. Teams that were expected to dogood – Denver, Seattle, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Carolina and Tampa Bay – have all struggled. On the other hand, Oakland, Baltimore andMiami each have only one loss and the New York Giants are tied with Washington atop the NFC East.

It’s been just as wild in college football where a Top 10 team falls every week. Perennial bowl teams Alabama, Tennessee, Southern Cal, Wisconsin,Texas A & M and Penn State are no where to be found in the Top 25.

Alabama and Wisconsin were actually in the Top 5 when the season started. Penn State is off to a 2-5 start.The bottom four teams in the Big 10 are Penn State, Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin, all bowl teams in 1999-2000. The team that leadsthe conference is none other than Northwestern.

Northwestern is not the only surprising team. Virginia Tech has provedthat last season was no fluke and is ranked second in the nation. Oklahomais 5-0 and Clemson is off to a 6-0 start. South Carolina, which failed towin a game last year, is 5-1. So is Auburn. Oregon and Oregon State havecombined to go 8-2.

High schools in Louisiana have not been immune to the epidemic. Perennialpower Evangel has already lost twice this season. Kentwood is not in theTop 10 in Class 1A. Neither is Catholic of Baton Rouge in Class 5A nor St.James or Lutcher in Class 3A. On the other hand, Hahnville is off to itsbest start since the 1994 season.

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