PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The pouf is mightier than the pen when it comes to speaking fees at New Jersey’s largest university.

Toni Morrison

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi

The Rutgers University Programming Association paid Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of the reality TV show “Jersey Shore” $32,000 Thursday to dish on her hairstyle, fist pumps, as well as the GTL — gym, tanning, laundry — lifestyle.

That’s $2,000 more than the $30,000 the university is paying Nobel-winning novelist and Lorain native Toni Morrison to deliver Rutgers’ commencement address in May.

Money for Polizzi’s appearance came from the mandatory student activity fee.

Freshman Adham Abdel-Raouf told The Star-Ledger of Newark he thought the price was a bargain given Snooki’s popularity. Another freshman, Dan Oliveto, said it was a waste of money.

Snooki’s advice to students: “Study hard, but party harder.”

CLEVELAND — Opening Day breeds optimism, and the Indians were no exception 24 hours before playing their first regular-season game.

Though they will open the year today under cold conditions against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field, it didn’t stop some Cleveland players from heating up expectations for the 2011 season.

“Playoffs,” right fielder Shin-Soo Choo answered Thursday, when asked the team’s goal for the season, “first in the division.”

“Our goal is to win the division and make the playoffs,” said designated hitter Travis Hafner, who the Indians are once again hoping has overcome a chronic shoulder ailment and will return to his feared form of 2004-07. “Yeah, we have a lot of development to do, but I think we have the talent in this room to do it.”

That is a lofty goal for a team coming off consecutive 90-loss seasons and that will employ the youngest roster in the majors. Not to mention, the Indians will enter the season with an unproven rotation and key position players coming off injury-plagued years.

That’s why the Indians have been picked nationally to finish no higher than fourth place in the Central Division behind Minnesota, Detroit and Chicago. And it’s why not everyone in the Cleveland clubhouse was talking postseason.

“I wouldn’t go as far as playoffs,” said right-hander Chris Perez, who enters his first season as a full-time closer after a banner 2010. “But we do have the chance to compete. The pieces are there. We just have to do what every other team has to do, to stay healthy and get some breaks.”

It all begins to play out today against a familiar foe and under less than ideal conditions. The Indians and White Sox, who have met six of the last seven years on Opening Day, left the spring training Arizona sun and 80-degree temperatures to return to snow and 40 degrees.

“It was a little kick in the face,” Perez said. “As long as it’s not going to snow during the game. It’s different, but I think it’s an advantage for the pitchers, so I’m fine with that.”

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen isn’t.

“It’s very stupid to play in Cleveland right now,” Guillen said, as grounds crew members cleared snow from a tarp covering the outfield at Progressive Field. “Nothing against Cleveland. We expect that when you play on Opening Day in Cleveland. A couple years ago they canceled like 30 games here.

“(But) we are here and we have to play through snow.”

Actually, the weather forecast says they won’t. While it is expected to be chilly with temperatures in the mid-40s, snow is not expected to fall under the afternoon sun.

“I don’t think it’s going to be too bad,” Hafner said. “It will be a good day for baseball.”

And after all, it is Opening Day. It’s the one day during the baseball season that players’, managers’ and fans’ spirits can’t be dampened — or frozen.

“It’s like a holiday for us players,” Perez said. “It’s what we prepared for the whole offseason.”

“It’s one of the best days of the year,” Hafner said. “The city’s excited. We’re excited. It’s a special day.”

“We’re cold, but we’re excited,” said second-year manager Manny Acta. “Opening Day is here.”

Today

• What: Opening Day
• Who: Cleveland vs. Chicago White Sox
• Time: 3:05 p.m.
• Where: Progressive Field
• Pitchers: Carmona (13-14, 3.77 ERA in 2010) vs. Buehrle (13-13, 4.28)
• TV/radio: Channel 3, STO; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM

Projected lineups

Indians

• Michael Brantley, CF
• Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
• Shin-Soo Choo, RF
• Carlos Santana, C
• Travis Hafner, DH
• Orlando Cabrera, 2B
• Austin Kearns, LF
• Matt LaPorta, 1B
• Jack Hannahan, 3B
• Fausto Carmona, RHP

White Sox

• Juan Pierre, LF
• Gordon Beckham, 2B
• Adam Dunn, DH
• Paul Konerko, 1B
• Alex Rios, CF
• Carlos Quentin, RF
• A.J. Pierzynski, C
• Alexei Ramirez, SS
• Brent Morel, 3B
• Mark Buehrle, LHP

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

CLEVELAND — As Indians players past and present filed quietly into pews along with ordinary baseball fans to celebrate the extraordinary life of a one-of-a-kind legend and cherished civic treasure, the church’s organ filled the space with a familiar tune.

“Take Me Out To The Ballgame” sounded sublime.

For Bob Feller, it was the perfect choice, the only choice.

More photos below.

Much more than a Hall of Fame pitcher to generations of Cleveland fans, Feller was honored Thursday during a touching 75-minute tribute at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where grounds were blanketed with fresh spring snow on the eve of the Indians’ season opener.

The ceremony, which was open to the public, was at times humorous, deeply moving and so befitting Feller, who died Dec. 15 at age 92.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Indians owner Larry Dolan were among the speakers who eulogized Feller, Cleveland’s famed No. 19 who spent all 18 seasons of a career he dutifully interrupted to serve his country with the Indians and remains the club’s leader in several pitching categories.

Described as “a man of the people,” “a real life hero” and “like nobody before him or since,” Feller is and will forever be the greatest Indian of them all. The celebration opened with a reading from Ecclesiasticus with the opening line: “Let us now sing the praises of famous men …”

There was no one more famous than “Rapid Robert” Feller, the fearless Iowa farmboy with the gifted right arm who broke into the major leagues as a 17-year-old fireballer and who throughout his life was never afraid to speak his mind on any subject.

Kasich recalled Feller giving him a baseball autographed by Ted Williams — “took the breath right out of me” — and making a trip to Iowa with Feller, who showed the governor the barn behind the family’s farm where Feller first learned how to pitch. It was there, while playing catch with his father, that a young Feller developed the fastball once referred to as “the heater from Van Meter.”

Feller then took Kasich to “Field of Dreams,” the ballpark carved into Iowa’s corn fields where the movie starring Kevin Costner was filmed.

“He said, ‘You be the catcher,’” Kasich said. “To be at Field of Dreams with Bob Feller was a dream come true.”

Addressing Feller’s widow, Anne, who sat with other family members in the front row, Kasich referred to the permanent statue of Feller that sits outside Progressive Field, a bronze sculpture capturing him in mid-delivery, his left leg kicking toward the sky.

To Kasich and others, the artwork seizes Feller’s essence.

“Bob never got old,” Kasich said. “He may have aged, but he never got old. He’s frozen in time, that young, handsome, athletic, strong man that’s enshrined as long as Cleveland shall exist.”

Indians manager Manny Acta was joined at the service by team president Mark Shapiro, general manager Chris Antonetti and current Cleveland players Shin-Soo Choo, Travis Hafner, Chris Perez and Justin Masterson. Former Indians manager Mike Hargrove, All-Star catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. and Andre Thornton sat among fans, some of them wearing Cleveland jerseys and jackets, who saluted the iconic Feller.

The altar was adorned with a photo of Feller and an American flag from the USS Alabama, the battleship Feller served on as a chief petty officer and decorated gun captain during World War II. Feller enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 9, 1941, two days after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

The national anthem was sung during the service and a solo trumpeter played taps from the balcony after Anne Feller was presented with the flag.

Feller remained physically active in his later years. Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson remembered calling Feller two years ago and inviting the then-90-year-old to take part in a game in Cooperstown. Feller accepted — with one request.

“Bob said, ‘I’ll be there, and I’d like to start,’” Idelson said. “He was a real life hero on so many levels to so many people, not just in baseball but in so many other walks of life as well. There will never be another like Bob Feller.”

The Indians plan to celebrate Feller’s life throughout the upcoming season.

Before today’s home opener against the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland’s players will each wear Feller’s No. 19 jersey during introductions and Anne Feller will present a “silent” ceremonial first pitch. The team is also wearing uniform patches on their sleeves with Feller’s retired number and a silhouette of his high-kick delivery.

“What a man,” Acta said following the ceremony. “It’s too bad that the majority of the young people in our country don’t know what Bob Feller actually meant to America and to baseball. Bob Feller gave his life, his soul to the Cleveland Indians, Major League Baseball and to America.

“It’s because of people like him that we’re going to have Opening Day tomorrow.”

CLEVELAND — Fausto Carmona will make his first Opening Day start in his first full season as an ace today when the Indians host the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field.

Carmona

After watching the right-hander bounce back last year from consecutive subpar seasons, manager Manny Acta thinks Carmona is up to the task on both fronts.

“I think he’s in a better spot confidence-wise,” Acta said of Carmona, who went 13-14 with a 3.77 ERA over 33 starts in 2010. “He had a tremendous season last year. He won 13 games for us, and this was a team. There was a lot of times that he pitched very well and didn’t get the win.

“Fausto will be fine.”

Carmona, who was unavailable for comment prior to a workout at Progressive Field on Thursday, was a Cy Young candidate in 2007 before enduring back-to-back seasons of struggles.

His performance last year seemed to signal a return to form, which was strengthened by a positive spring training effort from Carmona (5-2, 3.72 ERA in seven starts).

His No. 1 starter status will get an early test today, when he squares off against White Sox ace Mark Buehrle, a veteran left-hander who has been tough on the Indians in the past.

“He makes it tough for just about everybody,” Acta said of Buehrle, who beat the Indians on Opening Day last season, making the defensive play of the year at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field. “He’s been doing it for a long time.”

Closing time

Right-hander Chris Perez was one of the most effective relievers in the American League last year. The trick is to do it again.

“This year is probably more important than last year,” Perez said, “just to validate what I did last year, that it wasn’t a fluke.”

As a part-time closer last year, Perez saved 23 games, posting the second-lowest ERA (1.71) among AL relievers. At 25, he will enter this season as a full-time closer for the first time in his career.

“He had been lights out since Day One,” Acta said during spring training. “I can’t wait to hand him the ball in the ninth inning.”

Progress report

Acta said Grady Sizemore (microfracture surgery left knee) would continue to play center field every other day in minor league games, increasing his innings count from the five he is at now until he gets to nine.

The three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove award winner will continue his rehab either in Arizona or with one of the minor league affiliates, depending on the weather.

“After that, we’ll see where we’re at,” Acta said. “We can’t put a timetable on when he’s going to be here.”
Sizemore has predicted that he will be back before May.

Remembering Feller

Prior to the workout, Acta attended the public memorial service for Indians legend Bob Feller.

“What a man,” Acta said of Feller, who left baseball in the prime of his career to serve in World War II. “It’s too bad that the majority of young people don’t know what Bob Feller meant to America and baseball. He gave his life to his country and to baseball.

“I don’t know too many players that would give up four years of their career to voluntarily serve in Afghanistan. That’s something we all have to value.”

Crowe’s seat

It was good news, bad news for outfielder Trevor Crowe and his ailing right shoulder.

Crowe, who hit .251 in 122 games for Cleveland last year, is scheduled to undergo surgery on the shoulder Saturday and will miss at least four months. He avoided reconstructive surgery that would have sidelined him for 6-8 months.

“It wasn’t as serious as we thought,” Acta said.

Rotation roundup

Carmona and Buehrle will open the season today at 3:05 p.m., followed by right-hander Carlos Carrasco vs. RHP Edwin Jackson at 1:05 p.m. Saturday.

Right-hander Justin Masterson will start the series finale Sunday (1:05 p.m.) against White Sox lefty John Danks.

Indians right-handers Josh Tomlin and Mitch Talbot will make their season debuts Tuesday and Wednesday against Boston at Progressive Field.

Opening up

• The Indians are 58-52 all time in the home opener, with a 57-53 mark in the season opener.
• Feller’s victory total of four is the most by a Cleveland pitcher in home openers.
• The Indians have played one-run games in 34 home openers, posting a 19-15 record.
• Carmona is the 56th different pitcher to start a home opener for Cleveland.
• This will be the 21st time the Indians have hosted the White Sox in the home opener, second-most behind the Tigers (32). Chicago has been the opponent in four of the last 10 home openers.
• Since moving to Jacobs/Progressive Field in 1994, the Indians have sold out all 18 home openers.

Roundin’ third

• The Indians acquired minor league outfielder Bubba Bell from the Red Sox for cash considerations. Bell, 28, spent last season at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he hit .293 with six homers and 49 RBIs in 104 games. Bell, a career .292 hitter in six seasons in the minors (all with Boston), was assigned to Triple-A Columbus.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.