SPORTS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17.2005
8B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thanks
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His name is Larry Hare, and he joined the department this fall as assistant athletics director of equipment operations.
Hare, along with three assistants, is responsible for the equipment used by all University sports teams. While his work is not often recognized, what he does is necessary to the department.
Even though his position doesn't receive the same publicity as others in the department, Hare still takes pride in his work. Hare finds satisfaction in doing the small yet necessary things, like adjusting a football player's helmet before kickoff so it fits just right.
When the University switched from Nike to Adidas apparel this year, Hare helped coordinate the contract and made sure the equipment received met the needs of each sports program.
"The rewarding part of the job comes when you see the teams out on the field on gameday and you see the fruits of your efforts." Hare said.
Hare's main responsibility is to manage equipment for the football and men's basketball teams, but he is also responsible for what he calls "special projects."
"If we have a young lady that needs a special shoe, or a special fit, or some special work done to the shoe, I kind of handle that," Hare said.
Hare began working with sports equipment when he was a student at Boston College. Hare had always been involved with sports, and so he simply walked into the athletics office and asked what he could do to help. Hare was given a student basketball manager position in addition to a work-study job in the equipment room.
After graduating in 1996, Hare earned a position at Northern Arizona University as head equipment manager, a position he held until 1998. From there, he moved back to New England to work at the University of Connecticut under the same title. After seven years at Connecticut, the opportunity to come to Kansas arose.
knew he had to strongly consider. It was those closest to him who had the most influence on his decision to come to Kansas.
Hare said he was well aware of Kansas' reputation as a prominent athletics program. The assistant athletics director of equipment operations position at Kansas was a promotion he
"The job provided me an opportunity to be home maybe an hour or two earlier each night and have some extra time with my family." Hare said.
Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins and Associate Athletics Director of Internal Affairs Sean Lester both worked with Hare at Connecticut and sold him on the idea of life in Lawrence.
"The folks that had come here from Connecticut raved about living here in Lawrence and that was another big factor for me and the family to come out here." Hare said.
Lester, who has known Hare for more than six years, was in charge of hiring someone to fill the assistant equipment operations position. After going through the interview process with all the candidates, it was clear to him that Hare was the most qualified in the group.
"Just because of all the things we're trying to implement, he's done, he's been a part of," Lester said.
Senior running back Clark Green makes a cut past Texas junior safety Michael Griffin for some of his 69 total yards Saturday in Austin, Texas. Green and the other seniors play their final home game Nov. 26 at Memorial Stadium.
"I know when I left Connecticut, probably two of the toughest things for me to leave was my staff and the football team because you grow very close," he said.
Hare realized how important the people he worked with each day were to him when he left Connecticut for Kansas.
Lester noticed this caring attitude in Hare over the years and thought they were the qualities that would make Hare a successful athletics director if he ever wanted to be one.
Hare likes his new position so far, but always keeps an open mind to the future. A year ago he wouldn't have imagined moving from Connecticut to Kansas, so he's not making any definite predictions about his future.
A more visible role as an athletics director might mean recognition for the dedication Hare has shown to his family, his job and the people he works with, but recognition isn't what he's looking for.
"Would I love to be an athletic director someday? I don't know. I don't know," Hare said.
"The thought has grown on me more and more over the course of time, but we'll see."
Football
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Green passed former NFL great Gayle Sayers last weekend against Texas and moved into fourth all time on the Kansas career rushing yardage list. Green now has 2,699 yards in his career.
Floodman said it would be hard parting ways with this group of seniors because the group had
been through so much.
In all, eight of the 11 starters on defense will depart after the season and four of the 11 starters on offense will graduate.
Edited by Anne Burgard
"It's been a bumpy road," Floodman said. "But it's been a lot of fun with them and we have to finish it on the right note."
After suffering its worst loss of the season last week at No. 2 Texas, Mangino said it was important to have a veteran group
of guys who could bounce back from a loss like that.
"It's a resilient group of kids," Mangino said. "They understand the importance of this game and that is what they are focused on. They know it is an important game. History doesn't mean anything to them, it's what is taking place now that is important."
practice up until Saturday and resume on Monday. There will be no Sunday practice as usual.
— Mangino said he had talked to Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder since he announced his retirement on Tuesday. Mangino said he was surprised when he first heard the news and Snyder had given no indication of leaving.
— Mangino said the team would
Football Notes:
— Edited by Anne Burgard
Jackson
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"You don't want both those guys to have two fouls with 12 minutes left ..." Self said.
Jackson won't be playing until at least Dec. 22 when the Jayhawks play Northern Colorado. Self said he felt bad for Jackson because he wasn't aware that he was breaking the extra-benefits rule.
"I wish we could have identified the situation earlier, but it is what it is," Self said. "He understands that there are rules and he has to follow the rules."
Jackson broke the rule by accepting meals, lodging, transportation and a $5000 personal loan from Oklahoma City booster Don Davis. Jackson, who is an Oklahoma City native, was friends with Davis before he committed to Kansas.
"This was a unique situation because this was a relationship that
was established well before his college recruitment but didn't fit the criteria for a prior relationship," Self said. "There's not too many out there like this one."
Self said Jackson thought of Davis as a spiritual mentor rather than a KU alumnus. "This was a guy that he saw as a father figure in a life which he didn't have one." Self said. "He did not see this guy as a Kansas guy, he saw him as his friend. But its
wrong, it's still wrong."
Self said the biggest challenge for Jackson would be not just keeping his spirits up, but also keeping his body in shape.
"I think it will make him hungry, and I know that he will do everything he can to push Sasha and C.J. around until he can come back. But it is certainly disappointing to him." Self said.
Edited by Tricia Masenthin
Volleyball CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
The Aggies hit .000 in the game, finishing with 12 kills and 12 errors as a team. Kansas finished the game and thwarted a mini-rally with a kill by senior outside hitter Paula Caten. She tallied 14 kills on the evening.
The Jayhawks easily won game three, 30-24, to take a 2-1 lead in the match. That set up the all-important game four, in
which Kansas had a chance to finish off the match but failed to capitalize.
Leading 27-25 and serving, the Jayhawks watched the Aggies score five of the next six points to win 30-28. That forced a decisive game five with the season possibly hanging in the balance.
Leading 27-25 and serving, the Jayhawks watched the Aggies score five of the next six points to win 30-28. That forced a decisive game five with the season possibly hanging in the balance.
The Aggies led 9-8 in the fifth game before scoring three straight points to take a commanding 12-8 lead in a race to 15 points. They held on to win
the game 15-9 and the match 3-
2.
"I'm extremely disappointed in the outcome of the match, but our kids played really hard," Bechard said. "They showed
a lot of heart in an extremely tough place to play, but Texas A&M played with more poise at the end than we did."
Senior outside hitter Laura Jones was the key for the Aggies. The all-conference selection led her team with 28 kills and also added 18 digs. Junior middle blocker Christi Hahn recorded 21 kills to help the Aggies earn their 13th victory of the season.
Kansas fell to 15-12 overall and 7-11 in Big 12 play. Texas A&M improved to 13-12 and 6-10.
The Jayhawks, in all likelihood, must win their last two matches to have any shot at postseason play. That would
put their conference record at 9-11, just like last season when they were selected to the NCAA tournament. If they do that, they will have to beat a top 10 Missouri team, which always looks good on a tournament resume.
"If we win the next two we'll be fine," Bechard said. "But Missouri and Iowa State are probably thinking the same thing."
- Edited by Erin Wisdom