THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 5,2005
PAGE 1B
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FOOTBALL
Rising up to challenge rivals
Kansas fans celebrate in the south end zone after the victory against Kansas State last season. Then a junior, linebacker Nick Reid enjoyed the celebration on the field, too. "That was a blast. I didn't want to come into the locker room. I wanted to stay out there all night and celebrate with the fans," he said. The Jayhawks will try to defeat the Wildcats for a second consecutive season at 11 a.m. Saturday in Manhattan.
Kansan file photo
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWITTER
The Kansas-Kansas State rivalry has produced the same result for more than a decade. But the Sunflower Showdown gained back some of its intensity when the Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats at home last season for the first time in 11 years. That victory was Kansas' first against Kansas State since a 31-7 victory against the Wildcats in 1992 at Memorial Stadium.
Mangino said that because Kansas was more competitive now, the rivalry meant more.
"The program was in such disarray when we first got here that we couldn't even think about pointing out a game as a must-win game," Mangino said. "We weren't in a position to do that. At that time, we were just trying to win non-conference games and play hard in the conference season. That's all changed now. We feel like every time we line up, we have a chance to win, no matter who we're playing."
Last year's KU victory put an end to the 11-game winning streak, but one more streak is still alive for
Kansas State: Kansas has not won in Manhattan since 1989, when it came away with a 21-16 victory.
Kansas coach Mark Mangino said last year's victory was a big one for his team, but this was a new season with new players.
"I don't think they're worrying too much about last year's game anymore." Mangino said. "They're more focused on this game now."
Both Kansas and Kansas State enter the game with conference records of 0-1. Both teams lost on the road last weekend to Big 12 South teams — Kansas to Texas Tech, and Kansas State to Oklahoma.
Adding to this year's rivalry is the fact that the game will be televised for the first time in seven years. The last time the game was televised was 1998, when Kansas State defeated Kansas in Lawrence 54-6.
Reid said that the Kansas State game was important to the players, and winning a conference game on the road against one of the team's main rivals would be a big confidence booster for the team.
Senior linebacker Nick Reid was a freshman when Kansas State came to Lawrence and defeated the Jayhawks 64-0. Reid said the team has changed since the 2002 game.
"The coaches have done a great job recruiting talent," Reid said. "We have gotten a lot better since then."
That emotion is good, and we can feed on it. We can really use that to our advantage."
"It is just another game," Reid said. "But it is hard to downplay such a big rivalry.
— Edited by Becca Evanhoe
VOLLEYBALL
Senior Andi Rozum sets the ball during the match against Baylor Sept. 24. Rozum set the Kansas record for assists against Colorado last week end in Boulder. The Jayhawks look to end a 20-game losing streak against the Kansas State Wildcats tonight at 7 at Horesji Family Athletics Center.
Kansan file photo
'Hawks hope to turn tables
11 years since last victory
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The last time the Jayhawks recorded a victory against the Wildcats, players on both teams' current rosters were in elementary school.
The Jayhawks take on the 20th-ranked Wildcats at 7 p.m. at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center in search of their first victory against the Wildcats since 1994.
Kansas senior setter Andi Rozum said her team was ready to end the 20-match losing streak and start a winning streak of its own.
The Wildcats are 12-3 overall this season and 3-2 in the Big 12. They stopped a two-match losing streak on Saturday by defeating No. 23 Texas A&M.
"Everyone is really excited about the match," she said. "We're really hungry for a win against them."
Kansas State is led by coach Suzie Fritz, who guided the Wildcats to a 91-33 record and one Big 12 title during her last four years in Manhattan. She served as an assistant for four years before taking the head position.
Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard knows that Kansas State will be a tough test for his squad again this year.
"They're a low-error team that doesn't make a lot of mistakes," he said. "They're good defensively, and they don't beat themselves."
Beachard said the Wildcats have a few players whom they routinely go to in key situations. Senior outside hitter Agata Rezende leads K-State with 4.12 kills per game. Junior outside hitter Sandy Werner is second with a 3.57 average.
Junior middle blocker Joy Hamlin is a presence at the net. She is among the Big 12 leaders in blocks with 1.48 per game and carries a .369 attack percentage.
Bechard said the Jayhawks would have to play a near-flawless match to defeat the
Wildcats and improve on their 4-2 Big 12 record. He also said that the extra momentum gained in Kansas' victory against Colorado last Saturday could be helpful.
Emotion will be another important factor. The Jayhawks will have the advantage of playing in front of a large home crowd.
Bechard said the rivalry in the Kansas State match was always a little more intense.
"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't different," he said. "I think it means different things to different kids. Our in-state players have some familiarity with their players. Because of our proximity, there's obviously some added local interest."
Rozum said the team would have to suppress the emotion and stay in control to topple the Wildcats.
"We'll have to play our game," she said. "We can only worry about our side and not make too many unforced errors."
- Edited by Becca Evanhoe
THE COLUMN
JIMMY CHAVEZ
JCHAVEZ@KANSAN.COM
Tech fans lack class during victory
It's funny when you go on a road trip to cover one of these games, especially when it's at a conference rival. The more places you go, you still are amazed sometimes.
Traveling to Lubbock, Texas, to find my answers to the question of what kind of football team we will have at Kansas this year, I must admit I was taken by my Southwestern surroundings. It sure did show just how much land this conference encompasses.
Talking to some of the people around Jones SBC Stadium, the experience of game day in Lubbock was summed up by one local fan. "If you stand on the hood of your car and squint, you can see Dallas."
That was Lubbock. A town that sits alone out on the South Plains. From the press box all you could see were fields and grain elevators.
As for the evening in Lubbock, I was taken by the classlessness of the Tech student section. I have been to Lubbock enough in my life — I don't know if I should be admitting that — to know that the behavior of the student section at Tech in no way is a direct representation of the people of western Texas.
But there were several moments that disturbed not just me, but even a photographer with the Texas Tech school newspaper.
In the second quarter, Jayhawks tight end Derek Fine injured his knee on a pass that sailed too high. Lying on the ground in incredible pain, even the cheerleaders for a few seconds smiled and seemed to take joy in the injury. Following that display, the student section was cheering. In fact, one student yelled for Fine to be shot in the head.
The Tech photographer turned to me and said she hoped her school would lose. She was disgusted, and it wasn't the first time.
SEE CHAVEZ ON PAGE 6B
FOOTBALL
Cornish gives offense spark
BY RYAN COLAIANNI rcolaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN STaff WRITER
Junior running back Jon Cornish has been a surprise for the
Jayhawk offense this season. His role on the team's special teams unit, however, continues to limit his action at running back.
Kansas football coach Mark Mangino has said that he would not take Cornish off the special teams unit, despite his success running the football.
of our best special teams players, and he has been a force for us in those areas."
Cornish has been a staple on special teams the past two seasons, but only this season has he emerged
I won't say he has exceeded my expectations; he hasn't done that, but he is certainly moving in the right directions to meet those expectations."
"Each year he has really improved on the special teams, and now he is playing as well on special teams as you possibly can," Mangino said. "He is one
Mark Mangino Kansas football coach
as a talented running back. Now Mangino has to decide where to use Cornish.
"I love playing special teams, but I am just going to try to do whatever benefits the team most," Cornish said. "If that is me carrying the ball then I am going to have to take fewer reps on special teams."
Cornish previously saw little time at running back — in the past two seasons, he had a combined three carries for 8 yards — but Mangino has been pleased with his progress this season.
"I won't say he has exceeded my expectations; he hasn't done that, but he is certainly moving in the right directions to meet those expectations," Mangino said. "He only is going to do more for us as the season goes along. He is a talented young gun, and the light has come on."
Cornish was the team's most productive offensive player during Kansas' 30-17 loss to Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday. Cornish racked up 111 yards on 17 carries, good for 6.5 yards per rush.
After beginning the season as the No.2 running back behind senior Clark Green, Cornish is now making a charge at becoming the starting back.
His numbers through four games are better than Green's. Cornish leads the team in rushing with 290 yards, 63 yards more than Green. Cornish also has Green beat in touchdowns, with six compared to one.
Kansan file photo
Junior running back Jon Cornish slows down in the end zone after scoring a touchdown against Louisiana Tech Sept. 17 at Memorial Stadium. Coach Mark Mangino named Cornish his offensive player of the week after, his performance against Texas Tech. Cornish ran for 111 yards and one touchdown during the 30-17 loss in Lubbock, Texas.
SEE CORNISH ON PAGE 6B
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