Syracuse, NY (U-WIRE) -- Web logs are usually associated with computer geeks who have way too much time on their hands. For Toni Smalley, a Web log is just something she is able to fit into her schedule.

Smalley, a sophomore forward on the Niagara women's basketball team, writes a Web log, which appears every week on Niagara's Web site. Tonight at 7, she and Niagara take on Syracuse at Manley Field House in SU's season opener.

While there's no official count on how many players keep Web logs, you can bet there aren't many. That's something Smalley, a communications major, welcomes with open arms.

"I enjoy it," Smalley said. "People who read the journal can find out more about us."

Smalley will have a lot more to write about tomorrow when her Purple Eagles team travels to Syracuse for its first game of the season. When Niagara comes into Manley Field House, it will be doing so with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year - Smalley's teammate Eva Cunningham.

But even Cunningham can't help but laugh at some of the attention her teammate's journals have gotten.

"Our parents call us up sometimes," Cunningham said, "and ask us about some of the stuff (in her journal entry)."

Even though Niagara might have to deal with the occasional call, Cunningham believes the journals actually help bring the team closer together. Smalley echoed her teammates' sentiments.

"These aren't big secrets," Smalley said. "We're together constantly. We do everything together. They laugh about it. It's a good laugh."

According to Niagara head coach Bill Agronin, the team's sports information director approached Smalley with the idea after seeing something like it on ESPN. He knew Smalley would be perfect for the job, not just because of her journalism background but, as he put it, because "she's from a different planet."

"We assign a freshman to watch her when we go to the airport for road trips," Agronin said.

The extra supervision hasn't changed the way coaches and players feel about Smalley and her journals. Agronin said he has heard nothing but positives about the journals.

"We've had a lot of feedback from our alums," Agronin said. "They like it a lot."

As for Smalley, she says she has only gotten a few e-mails. But one from her dad particularly stood out in her mind.

"He called me a hunky girlie man," Smalley said, "because he read that I had been lifting weights."

There's a good chance that Smalley laughed that off just like she does everything else. While Smalley concedes the journals are fun, she doesn't want that to overshadow her play on the court.

"I want people to say, 'She can play basketball and she can write as well,'" Smalley said.

For now, Smalley is focused on the beginning of the new season. But as for the future, expect the journals to continue.

"Even if they told me to stop, I'd probably keep doing it," Smalley said.

(C) 2004 Daily Orange via U-WIRE