THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25. 2007
SPORTS
7B
WISSEL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
"Hearing Colby say 'I've seen you run, and I've worked out with you, and I know that you have this in you,' that means a lot because sometimes, you kind of need affirmation from other people." Heferon said. "It just helps you come along, especially from someone who isn't your coach."
THE TITLE DEFENSE
It's a cloudy, brisk day just outside the city of Lawrence and Colby Wissel is taking advantage of it. He has to. There is only one week left before he has to defend his title of Big 12 individual champion in Lubbock, Texas, at the Big 12 Cross Country Championship.
Outside of Lubbock, there is a billboard with a picture of Wissel running in last year's Big 12
Championship race. Out of every male cross country runner in the Big 12 conference, Wissel was chosen because he was the best. He will
see the onboard he drives into Lubbock, but right now, it isn't on his mind. Right now, he is focused on training and having fun with his teammates. He jokes more about the television series "The Office" than about his upcoming title defense.
"He's not a boastful or arrogant athlete, and that's one of his strong suits because he could be," Hefferon
of the men's cross country team
"I've always felt, since the first day I coached him, that he could go on to the next level beyond college athletics. I know he can do it physically, but he'll have to decide to do it."
said.
DOUG CLARK Assistant coach
Teammates say that it's that kind of laid back attitude that has made him one of the most well-liked members
"I think the
Wissel is the current University record holder in the men's 3,000 meters. He set that record during his junior year, and the coaching staff thought he had the potential to accomplish even more.
stage is set for him to elevate to be the best guy since Jim Ryun, Clark said. "He could be one of the best
runners since the "60s."
Wissel estimates that there have been 30 days in the past year that he has not trained, and that the other 335 days have contained some sort of workout. He stayed at school to run during his fall and spring breaks and came back to Lawrence weeks before school was scheduled to begin during winter break. He doesn't even remember the last time he had a vacation, but he probably spent a good part of that vacation running.
HIS NEXT STEP
When he does get a chance to return to Elm Creek, Wissel can easily see how his decision to become a distance runner has changed the course of his life.
He spends time with his friends
playing football or basketball. All the while, he thinks about what life might have been like if he had decided to play football rather than become a distance runner.
Even with all of the pressure and obligation, Wissel stays motivated.
"Day in and day out the motivation has to come from within you," Wissel said. "I think that if I have that strong fire in me, that drive to be the best, that's where my motivation comes from."
Like most people, Wissel wishes he could see the future to know what life has in store for him. The directions his life could take are very different.
After he finishes his eligibility this year, he plans to stay with the team as a volunteer assistant coach while he finishes his accounting degree.
After that, he will have another
decision to make. He's thought about entering the working world using his degree, and he's also thought about pursuing his love of distance running by becoming a professional, with a shoe company sponsoring him. He could end his obligation to run every day, or he could continue as he has for the past seven years. Either way, he has a decision to make.
football notebook
Edited by Kaitlyn Syring
PREPARED FOR CROWD NOISE
This weeekend, Kansas will visit
one of the most famous - and noisiest - venues in college football.
Texas A&M's kyle Field seats more than 80,000 of some of the loudest fans in the nation. Kansas
Cantrell
started preparing for the experience
Wednesday by practicing in Memorial Stadium with artificial crowd noise and the Texas A&M fight song blaring. Junior center Ryan Cantrell, who has watched multiple games at Kyle Field, said it would be fun to play at the notorious stadium even if it didn't motivate him any more. "The only motivation I need is to sing the Rock Chalk chant after each game. One more check on the list is all I need."
HEISMAN HOPEFUL
It's been quite a while since a Kansas player made a realistic push
for the Heisman Trophy, Sophomore quarterback Todd Reeing might not change that this season, but he has.
started attracting some Heisman attention. CSTV included Reseing at No. 9 on its Heisman Watch list this week, behind nationally acclaimed players such as Oregon
Reesing
quarterback Dennis Dixon and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. So far this season, Reesing has accumulated 1,805 passured yards and ranks fourth in the nation in passing efficiency with a rating of 149.42.
SECONDARY
The Kansas secondary has proved sturdy this season, allowing just 178 passing yards per game. Because of the success, Kansas coach Mark Mangino sees no reason to distribute playing time any differently in the defensive backfield. Sophomore safety Justin Thornton will
continue to see most of his playing time in third-and-long formations, Mangino said. Last weekend against Colorado, Thornton replaced junior safety Patrick Resby for much of the second half even playing in the team's base formation. Mangino said junior cornerback Kendrick Harper had done a good job fitting into his nickel back position despite missing the first four games of the season. Harper has made five tackles and one interception in three games.
》 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Mount Union deserves historic recognition
BY NANCY ARMOUR
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mount Union?
ALLIANCE, Ohio — Think of college football dynasties, and a few programs should come to mind: Oklahoma, Nebraska, Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Mount Union.
Asher Fusco
It's no surprise that the Purple Raiders are undefeated again this season. They've posted four shutouts and haven't allowed a touchdown in more than a month. They put up 52 points in the season opener against Averett — and that was just in the first quarter.
Yes, Mount Union, the tiny Division III school in northeastern Ohio. What the Purple Raiders are doing is as impressive as anything the major programs have accomplished: nine national titles, with eight in the last 11 years alone; a 223-10-1 record since 1990 that's the best in all of college football.
"Before you get here, you know all about Mount Union's great history, its tradition, the win streaks, all the great accomplishments," said Nate Kniic, a junior who is already
Mount Union's career rushing leader. "You're just hoping you can live up to those standards. You're just trying to keep up with that great tradition.
When Larry Kehres took over as Mount Union's coach in 1986, he didn't dream of building a dynasty. Kehres had played at Mount Union and served as an assistant coach for 11 years, watching the Purple Raiders grow from an average program in the 1960s and 1970s to the Ohio Athletic Conference champions in 1985.
"You don't want to leave Mount Union being the senior class that didn't win the Stagg Bowl," he added, referring to the Division III national championship game. "You don't want to be that class."
His goal was consistency, to make Mount Union a team that could contend for the OAC title each year.
"I'd seen growth and improvement, better players; Our facilities were improving. I had a feeling we could be successful," Kehres said. "I didn't envision this."
In 1993, Kehres' eighth season, Mount Union had its first unde- feated season and won its first Stagg
Bowl. It was the start of something historic.
Since then, Mount Union has made it to the Division III semifinals or better every year but one (they lost in the quarterfinals in that "down" season). The Purple Raiders have won three straight national titles two different times, from 1996-98 and from 2000-02.
Notre Dame leads Division 1 with eight national titles, but it took the Irish 50-plus years to get them.
---
The single best way to avoid getting the flu is to get the flu vaccine. Student Health Services is holding flu clinics that are open to all KU students, faculty, staff and retirees (ages 18 and over).
Cost*:
Flu Shot - $15
Nasal Mist Flu Vaccine - $23
(Nasal mist for ages 4 - 49; subject to availability.)
- Payable by check, cash or credit card at time of service. No insurance billing. Medicaid and Medicare are not accepted.
Can't make it to a clinic? You can also get a flu shot or the nasal mist flu vaccine at Watkins Memorial Health Center by calling 864-9507 to make an appointment.
Date Time Location
Monday, Oct. 22 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Kansas Union 4th Floor
Tuesday, Oct. 23 2:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. Watkins Health Center
Thursday, Oct. 25 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Nichols Hall
Tuesday, Oct. 30 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Strong Hall
TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM. DON'T SPREAD THE FLU GET VACCINATED.
KU STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
NO HASSLE FOR YOUR TASSLE JBS
Widoka Memorial Health Center
1200 Shriver Drive
Lawrence, KS 60454
785-843-9500
(785) 843-9500
CONTRIBUTING TO STUDENT SUCCESS
"Top of the Hill" quality, service & same-day availability... Personalized announcements and regalia for any degree JAYHAWK BOOKSTORE
[Edwards campus too]
jayhawkbookstore.com