6B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2007
NFL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Baltimore Ravens defender Chris McAlister, right, breaks up a pass intended for New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss during the first half midnight on July 15. The Patriots struggled against Baltimore for much of the game, but a late touchdown drive clinched the game for New England.
Patriots stay undefeated after tough 27-24 victory
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BALTIMORE — The New England Patriots are still perfect, but looking mighty vulnerable.
New England pulled off its greatest escape thus far to become the sixth team in NFL history to start a season with 12 victories. For the second straight week, it was a struggle against a losing team, but the incredibly resourceful Patriots got Tom Brady's 8-yard touchdown pass to Jabar Gaffney with 44 seconds.
left to beat the Baltimore Ravens 27-24 Monday night.
The winning drive in the final minutes covered 73 yards and required two fourth-down conversions, one on a defensive holding penalty 6 seconds before Gaffney beat Dawan Landry in the left corner of the end zone.
Driven to distraction by a Baltimore defense at times reminiscent of the 2000 unit that led the Ravens (4-8) to a Super Bowl victory, Brady came through late — as he always seems to.
. . .
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Eight days after edging Philadelphia 31-28, the Patriots barely kept alive their pursuit of the only unblemished record in NFL history. Miami's 17-0 in 1972.
With Pittsburgh (9-3) up next, the Patriots must recapture some of their record-setting ways from earlier in the season to keep their flawless record intact.
As the biggest road favorite in a non-replacement game (19 points), the Patriots nearly laid a dud in swirling winds and occasional snow flurries. They trailed for much of the game, but Brady relentlessly guided them downfield for the winning score and his 41st touchdown pass of the season. He's eight short of Peyton Manning's record with four games left.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Drew Darling stiff arms the New England Patriots' Brandon Merion after catching a pass during the first half Baltimore in.
And New England is four wins shy of the only 16-0 regular season ever. Remaining after the Steelers are the weak Dolphins and Jets, and a Saturday-night visit to the New York Giants.
That the Ravens, losers of five straight, would test the Patriots so severely was stunning. Indeed, if not for intuitely penalties and a fumble of an interception return by Ed Reed, the Ravens might have pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.
Baltimore got a brilliant effort from Willis McGaehe, who rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown. Boller threw for two scores, and the Ravens managed three sacks.
But they couldnt manage to hang on.
Take a break.
》CLUB SPORTS
KU Dancesport team competes practices while helping beginners Members learn variety of styles, create welcoming environment dancesport styles
Dancesport teaches the art of ballroom dancing while promoting a healthy atmosphere of competitive spirit. It allows experienced dancers and newcomers alike to compete in more than 10 different styles of ballroom dance from around the world
BY EMILY MUSKIN emuskin@kansan.com
Only a week after its most important competition of the year, the KU Dancesport club was found practicing in the aerobics room of the Student Recreation Fitness Center. The team
"You don't need to be graceful. I continually fall down stairs and walk into things."
The success of the team during the past four years can be attributed to many factors. Once a week, the more advanced members of the team get assistance from Perry Gingerich, a Kansas City-based dance coach. Gingerich is one of the most highly sought-after coaches in the area.
Aside from this, the team
competing at every level.
traveled to Ohio to compete in the annual National Collegiate Dancesport Championships Nov. 17 and 18.
KRISTEN STANDLEY
St. Louis senior
as the team holds three more practices throughout the week. Raad said having the time and patience to devote to the sport was essential for success.
Club officer Jenny Raad, a fourth-year graduate student from Morrison, Colo., said the team earned more callbacks this year than ever before. A callback is earned when a judge picks the most impressive pairs of about 100 other competing couples and sends them to the next round of competition.
Dancesport allows participants to pick from four levels of competitions: newcomer, bronze, silver and gold, for the most experienced dancers. The KU club had members successfully
The time and devotion that team
"You don't need to be graceful. I continually fall down stairs and walk into things." Standley said.
One common misconception people have about Dancesport is that experience and grace are required, said Kristin Standley, St. Louis senior.
members put into the sport has had positive effects for many members. Mark Snyder, a fourth-year graduate student from Lynchburg, Va., said that the sport had helped him build confidence and form long, lasting friendships.
While that may be true in her everyday life, she is one of the more experienced dancers on the
International Latin Style:
Rumba
Cha-Cha
Samba
Jive
Swing
Mamba
Paso Doble
International Standard Style:
Waltz
Tango
Quick Step
Fox Trot
Viennese Waltz
team. For some members, grace and experience have been built over time. Raab said she never felt prettier or more graceful than when she was dancing. Every week, Raab, Snyder and Standley have the opportunity to share their passion for the sport with the new team members by teaching them the different styles of dance.
Edited by Matt Erickson
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