Each year as the end of August nears, the U.S. Open is just beginning at Flushing Meadows in New York City. The U.S. Open is one of the four Grand Slams in tennis, which are the most prestigious tennis tournaments on the planet.

As it begins, hundreds of thousands of fans rush to Flushing Meadows, where the annual event is held. Each fan in attendance has only one big question in mind: who will win it all?

First, we will look at the men who are capable of snatching the title. Of course one could not overlook current world No.1 Roger Federer. Fresh off his record 17th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July and a finals appearance in the Gold medal match at the Olympics, Federer was brimming with confidence and playing some of the best tennis of his career. To great surprise, he was thwarted by Thomas Berdych in the quarterfinals in a grueling four sets.

Students from the Department of Communication are heading up a new television show featuring all of the different sports on campus.

The show, spearheaded by senior broadcast journalism majors Morgan Jones and Brian Petree, will recap the week’s sporting events and exciting social club games.

Working with the communication department’s TV16, students have many opportunities to obtain real life experience.

“Sports are a major part of every college, and we have the ability and opportunity to really do some things other schools couldn’t even dream up,” Petree said.

The Harding rugby team had its first practice last Tuesday under the leadership of new student-coach and captain, senior Hayden Dorsett.

The club has been coached by students since it formed. Last spring, Dorsett began learning the ropes of coaching and preparing to step up to the position.

For almost 25 years, Harding’s athletics department has been lacking one thing: a women’s softball team. Although Harding boasted a winning softball program in the 1980s, it unfortunately had to be terminated after other schools in the conference dropped their programs.

Beginning in the fall of 2013 however, Harding is re-creating the program under the guidance of athletics director Greg Harnden and head coach Phil Berry, in hopes of establishing it as a powerhouse in the Great American Conference.

From the Rhodes Rowdies to the screaming supporters of club sports, Harding University athletics carry a large following. However Harding’s most successful athletic team often flies under the radar of many fans as it is not even an official Harding sport.

The Bison’s Apocalypse Ultimate Frisbee was ranked #1 in the nation throughout most of last season, while the Lady Bisons team is bringing in a group of newcomers that hope to continue to strengthen the team with depth.

For the Apocalypse Ultimate Frisbee team, one of the biggest things that sets them apart from other Harding athletic teams is their competition. While other Bison teams compete Division II, Apocalypse is a Division I competitor, and a legitimate competitor at that. Last year was one full of heartbreak for the men of Apocalypse after being ranked as the top team in the country but failing to win a National Championship. However, according to team leader senior Taren Goins, last year’s heartbreak does not define this year.

When Bison football faced University of North Alabama last fall, they fell short by eight points.

But Harding has a chance to retaliate on Saturday when they take on UNA on the road for their first game of the season. Last season, second-ranked UNA scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, taking away the Bison’s six-point lead.

Harding is 5-7 against UNA, but both teams are expected to be stronger this year. This is especially true for the Bison defense, where seven of its nine returning starters are seniors.