THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2005
Josh Kirk/KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
Savannah Noyes spikes the ball on the Iowa State defense for a Kansas point. The Cyclones defeated the Jayhawks 3-1 Wednesday night.
LIVIN' THE DREAM
DANIEL BERK
DBERK@KANSAN.COM
Running game hurting Kansas
The last three weeks have been a frustrating time for the Kansas football team.
After falling behind early in its first conference game of the season, Kansas couldn't come back and dropped its opening game to Texas Tech. Since that game Kansas has mustered just six points despite two great performances by the defensive unit.
Kansas has struggled to find a quarterback that can be consistent and as a result has gone through three different quarterbacks.
But way too much has been made of the quarterbacks. Just this week, the talk started spreading to the offensive line. Coaches and players are saying the line needs to do a better job blocking and continuing to improve through the season.
Other fans have been upset with the wide receivers for not getting open. One area that hasn't been talked about is the running game.
That is what Kansas is missing. Both Jon Cornish's and Clark Green's statistics look OK, but when you look at what they have done in conference play, besides one strong performance by Cornish against Texas Tech, the running game has been nonexistent.
Adam Barmann and Brian Luke didn't just forget how to throw a football. Last season, Luke threw for nearly 240 yards against Missouri and led the team to a 31-14 win. In that game Green was able to rush the ball effectively and Missouri had to respect the run. Barmann has also had solid games in the past.
The problem is neither running back is good enough to lead Kansas to a victory.
Green is a solid back, but he has been here for four years, and teams in the conference know how to stop him. Cornish is OK, but there is a reason he hasn't played in his first two years here.
Last year, with John Randle, defenses were kept off-balance and didn't know if Kansas was going to run or pass. Now any time there is a big play, the opposing defense knows Kansas is throwing the ball. When the entire defense knows you're throwing, it doesn't matter who the quarterback is — the opponent is ready for it.
Kansas will struggle for the remainder of the year, because Cornish and Green just aren't the answer. Both could have a good game here or there but not every single week, and that is what you need to be successful.
The Jayhawks could prove this theory wrong and win three of its final six games and qualify for a bowl game, but unless Gayle Sayers comes back in time for Saturday's contest at Colorado, don't count on it.
If you look at the top teams in the country, all of them have solid running backs to go with their quarterbacks.
Kansas could surprise a team this season and win a game it shouldn't,but it won't be a force in the Big 12 this season or any other when it doesn't have an effective run game.
- Berk is a St. Louis senior in journalism.
Frustrating finish
VOLLEYBALL
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The frustration of the Kansas volleyball team could be summed up in one moment of last night's 3-1 loss to Iowa State at the Horeisi Center.
Junior defensive specialist Jamie Mathewson lay on the court with the ball at her feet after an unsuccessful save attempt in game four. With a face
full of emotion, she put a fist to the ball, sending it flying toward press row.
"We out-hithem, out-blocked them and out-digged them," senior middle blocker Josi Lima said. "We just made a lot of errors we shouldn't have."
Kansas sits in a tie for sixth in the league with Colorado at the halfway point of the season.
Oddly, the box score was in favor of Kansas.
The Jayhawks finished the four-game match with a .156 attack percentage and a school-record 22 blocks, each topping the marks tallied by Iowa State.
The Jayhawks suffered their fourth consecutive loss, dropping them to 12-7 overall and 4-6 in the Big 12 Conference.
Errors were the downfall of the Jayhawks. Serving miscues thwarted any Kansas effort to come back from a 2-0 deficit.
SEE FRUSTRATING ON PAGE 2B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Men's basketball head coach Bill Self jokes with reporters in Hadl Auditorium last week. Self traveled with seniors Jeff Hawkins and Christian Moody Wednesday to the Big 12 Conference's basketball media day in Dallas.
Rvlan Howe/KANSAN
Self: Jayhawks are young, refreshing
MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIETER
DALLAS — Wednesday was a long day for Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self and seniors Jeff Hawkins and Christian Moody.
After a couple of hours of repetitive questions, the three Jayhawks headed back to Lawrence, where they traded their
Hawkins said he got up at about 6 a.m., put on his suit and tie and boarded the jet, which took off out of Lawrence. Upon arriving at the Harvey Hotel in Dallas, Self, Hawkins and Moody were swamped with questions about last year's early exit from the NCAA tournament, the loss of the graduating seniors and the youth on this year's squad.
The trio boarded a private jet bound for Dallas at 7 a.m. and arrived about 8:30 a.m., just in time for their 9 a.m. scheduled time to address media gathered for the Big 12 Conference's basketball media day.
suits for sweats in time to make it to the team's 4 p.m. practice
Self was the first coach to address the media. Texas A&M's Billy Gillespie, Kansas State Jim Wooldridge, Oklahoma State's Sean Sutton, Missouri's Quin Snyder and Texas Tech's Bobby Knight followed. The remaining Big 12 coaches will address the media today.
"There's something about newness. There's something about youthful enthusiasm. There's something about guys not knowing any other way," he said. "I think that makes it easier to coach in a lot of wavs."
Self described his Jayhawks as young, inexperienced and refreshing.
Last year at this time, the question was who was going to join Aaron Miles, J.R. Giddens, Keith Langford and Wayne Simien as the fifth starter for the Jayhawks. These days people are wondering what players are going to be in the rotation.
SEE SELF ON PAGE 3B
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
Texas Tech quarterback Cody Hodges sets up for one of his 65 pass attempts against Kansas State in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech will try to carry the momentum of 669 passing yards last week into Austin, Texas, when it faces quarterback Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns Saturday.
LM Otero/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Longhorns and Red Raiders to face off in Austin Saturday
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWITTER
The Longhorns go into the game with a perfect 6-0 record. The Red Raiders are also undefeated and have their highest ranking in more than a decade.
The marque match-up in the Big 12 Conference this weekend takes place in Austin, Texas, where the No. 2 Texas Longhorns will play host to the No. 10 Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Junior quarterback Vince Young and freshman running back Jamaal Charles lead the Texas offense.
Charles is averaging more than eight yards per carry this season and has racked up 584 yards rushing for six touchdowns.
Young had another stellar performance last weekend against Colorado, passing for 336 yards and two touchdowns and running for 58 yards and three additional scores.
"Vince Young threw the ball as well as he has in a game in his career." Texas football coach
Mack Brown said
ESPN and several other sports outlets have tapped Young as a Heisman Trophy candidate. This season, Young has compiled 1,357 passing yards and 12 touchdowns while only throwing five interceptions.
Last week, Texas Tech quarterback Cody Hodges was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 643 vards and five touchdowns.
"Texas Tech has recruited very well," Brown said. "They don't have a lot of media hype, and their players are much better than people think they are. It's unique when you have to rush a passer 74 to 75 times a game, and it tires out your defense."
Brown said this game would be a very difficult game because of the high-scoring Texas Tech offense. Just a week ago, Texas Tech passed for more than 600 vards against Kansas State.
This season, Hodges has thrown for more than 20 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards in six games.
Hodges is joined in the backfield by senior running back Taurean Henderson, who set a NCAA record for the most career receptions by a running back last weekend against K-State. Henderson had 10 catches against the Wildcats and has 272 receptions in his career.
Texas Tech's offense is ranked No.1 in scoring offense and total offense in the Big 12.
The Red Raiders defense is also having a strong season. The unit is ranked third in the conference and 18th in the country.
"This is one of our better teams we have had, and we're older on defense with some more experience than we have had," Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach said. "This could shape up as one of our best teams. It remains to be seen as we continue the season."
Texas defeated Texas Tech last season in Lubbock, Texas, 51-21. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on ABC.
Edited by Tricia Masenthin
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