By wpengine September 19, 2003
His teammates are always snickering. And everytime senior wide receiver John Kellner looks over at his gridiron brothers, he knows the object of that laughter — it’s his receding hairline. “I’ve just heard about all of them by now, and I don’t even hear them anymore,” Kellner said. “I look around and I see people laughing and I just know what they’re talking about. It’s all in fun.” Cornell’s opponents this year, though, might not have as much to laugh about. After playing only sparingly during his freshman season, Kellner burst onto the scene as a sophomore, posting 31 receptions and 437 yards. He bettered those marks as a starter opposite Keith Ferguson ’03 last season, putting up career-highs in both receptions — with 36 — and receiving yards — with 493. This year, Kellner’s no longer the complimentary receiver — he’s expected to be the go-to guy. “In our offense, I’m the No. 1 receiver because I’ve played the longest. But essentially all three of us [Kellner and seniors Chad Nice and Vic Yanz] are starters,” Kellner said. “Now, I’m expected to make those plays. Whereas in my sophomore year, it was kind of a surprise that I was even playing. And last year, there was Ferg. And this year, it’s going to be expected every play. That’s what I like.” Cornell head coach Tim Pendergast is confident that Kellner can fill the void. “Kellner’s going to be what he has been for us, but better,” Pendergast said. If past performance is any indication, Kellner has shown the ability to be the Red’s top receiving threat. Last season, with Cornell facing fourth-and-17 from its own 28-yard line and scoreboard reading Columbia 14, Cornell 10, Kellner stepped to the forefront. The then-junior split the Lions defense and raced down the seam, catching a 44-yard bomb from senior quarterback Mick Razzano and putting Cornell at the Columbia 22-yard line with just 1:15 left on the clock. A few plays later, Razzano found Kellner again, this time for a seven-yard touchdown and the win. Making big plays in the fourth-quarters is nothing out of the ordinary for Kellner, though. He’s a natural at the receiver position. He was born to play it. He has the genes. “I’ve played receiver since my sophomore year of high school,” Kellner said. “My dad was a receiver in high school, scholarship to Colorado St., so I didn’t really have much of a choice but to be a wide receiver.” Fellow seniors Nice and Yanz, who converted to receiver position, point to Kellner’s innate skills as a wideout as his biggest attribute. “John is more of a natural receiver than both Chad and me,” Yanz said. “And you can see it just in the routes he runs, just things that are instinctual to a receiver that Chad or I or somebody else would have to think about before the play. It just happens for John. “We can learn from John and his experience, and you can obviously tell from his hairline that he’s got more experience than all of us,” Yanz continued. With two years of extensive playing time under his belt and the designation as Cornell’s No. 1 wideout, Kellner has just one personal goal for the upcoming season — consistency. “Last year, I think I had too many drops. I don’t want to have a drop all season,” Kellner said. “Yeah, that’s somewhat unrealistic, but that’s what you shoot for, that’s what you practice for — perfection. To go out and be consistent week in and week out is my ultimate goal. And to lead this team and win games.” Archived article by Alex Ip
By wpengine September 19, 2003
Students on the Arts Quad witnessed a genuinely weird spectacle at 10 a.m. yesterday morning. A hooded male figure, pushing a cart of some sort, slowly ambled along the paths. A sizable crowd gathered, and one bystander, asking questions, reported that the man “growled at me.” He caused enough commotion that the Cornell Police were called — only to discover that they were spectators to a form of “performance art,” according to Lt. Michael Musci of the CUPD. The cart, he said, was actually a “window pane on wheels.” The police confirmed with a professor that it was in fact a student making art. Yesterday, a cell phone ringing interrupted the Arch 131: An Introduction to Architecture class of over 600 students. The speaker, a visiting lecturer, looked around annoyed until he realized the owner of the phone — himself. Anyone who’s been around the Commons lately has noticed that group of five or six townies heckling individuals about buying cologne and perfume. They were in the Commons two nights ago and were doing business in Collegetown, just over the bridge, yesterday afternoon. Is New York City’s merchandise hitting the streets of Ithaca? Cornell Dining prohibits patrons from purchasing more than just their food items using points. In other words, if you eat with a friend who has points, he or she cannot technically buy you food. What’s to prevent students from carrying up all the food for themselves and then purchasing it while their friend hides somewhere? A manager at Hughes Dining responded that the policy is because of “New York State tax laws.” Oh, that explains it all.Archived article by Sun Staff