SPORTS BECKKKKKKETT
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
RED SOX WIN EASY IN WORLD SERIES OPENER PAGE 6B
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007
CROSS COUNTRY
PAGE1B
Senior thinks about going pro
Wissel holds impressive record, starts to wonder about post-college path
psoto@kansan.com
BY PETER SOTO
Colby Wissel had to sacrifice a great deal for his success, and he isn't finished yet.
"I started running because I was good at it." Wissel said. "Right now, I run every day. I rarely take a day off. I'm living the routine."
Wissel, an Elm Green, Neb., native, lived the routine since he began running year round during his sophomore year of high school. His hard work paid off. In addition to becoming the 2006 Big 12 individual champion, Wissel was named a 2006 college All-American.
Wissel's current success has been years in the making.
RACE TO SUCCESS
"Before he became a dominant athlete in Nebraska, we had already known about him."
As Colly grew up in Elm Creek, his father, Stan Wissel, gave him opportunities to excel in athletics by organizing fun runs at his elementary school. Later, Wissel would be coached by his father at Elm Creek High School where he was expected to play quarterback for the football team.
had to decide whether he would stay with his father in Elm Creek and play football or leave for nearby Kearney High School to pursue distance running. Elm Creek didn't have the competitive cross country program that Kearney had. After much thought, Wissel left his father and football behind.
During his freshman year Wissel excelled in football, basketball, baseball and track and field, but felt that his future in athletics depended on focusing on one sport. Wissel
DOUG CLARK Kansas assistant coach
"I knew that if I wanted to do anything beyond high school, I would probably have to start focusing on running." Wissle said. "The thing about me is that I didn't want to be average in four sports. I wanted to be good at one sport, so I went in that direction and focused on running."
At Kearney High School, Wissel's name quickly became associated with distance running. He gained attention from Division I schools across the country. He won nine separate state championships and became a high school All American. From Georgia to Kansas, Wissel was a much sought after recruit.
"Before he became a dominant athlete in Nebraska, we had already known about him." Assistant coach Doug Clark said. "His high school coach had contacted us about him before we could even start recruiting him."
At the University of Kansas, Wissel would meet fellow distance runner Paul
Hefferon, Overland Park senior. Together Wissel and Hefferon would become All Americans and quickly make their way up the Kansas distance-running record lists. Competing against each other on a daily basis caused them to work harder and longer than they ever had before. The reason being, if one of them relaxed in his training, the other would take over and become the dominant runner. Their friendly competition was more helpful than competitive.
"Having someone who is close to your level and developing at the same rate and taking the same journey, it helps both of us tremendously," Hefferon said. "We help each other, especially during the difficult times in the race. If one of us is feeling stronger that day, then the other one can use that energy to help them have a better race."
During their sophomore year, Wissel and Hefferon traded success back and fourth. Each week was a competition, not just with the rest of the field, but with each other, and the winner was different at each event. This continued until their junior year when HeFFERON was sidelined by an injury. For weeks, he wasn't allowed to train, and Wissel took the lead.
Even with all of his individual success, Wissel has stayed focused on helping his team be as productive as possible. Words of encouragement come easily from Wissel to his teammates.
SEE WISSEL ON PAGE 7B
Colby Wissel, senior distance runner, currently holds the Kansas record in the men's 3,000 meters. He was named a 2006 college All-American and the 2006 Big 12 Individual Champion.
son Goering/KANSAN
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Jason Schweitzer, senior, Colby Wissel, senior, and Paul Hefferon, senior, make each other better runners by competing in the practice. The three focused on providing encouragement to teammates throughout the season.
HAIR TODAY,BIG 12 TOMORROW
when you spend a lot of time just out there running miles after miles,you get bored. We've just always kind of been obsessed with guys with beards.Maybe it's cause we have a Napoleonic complex cause we're all skinny and we want to feel like lumber jacks.
—Paul Heffron
truth be told, it doesn't really help. Every girl I've ever talked to is always encouraging me to wear a beard and I decided to go with their wishes
— Colby Wissel
Mostly my family and everything have seen the mustache and they thought it was disgusting. They wanted me to shave it. It came out looking like an'80s style mustache. It was just for laughs and giggles with the team.
—Jason Schweitzer
>> COMMENTARY
Reesing earns Heisman attention in Flutie fashion
On Nov. 23, 1984, the day after thanksgiving, No. 10 Boston College traveled to Miami to face the defending national champions and No. 12 at the time. Boston College won the nationally televised game 47-45 on a last second Hail Mary pass by $ 5'10 " quarterback Doug Flutie. The now famous pass caught the attention of the nation, and Flutie went on to win the Heisman Trophy that year. The Boston College football team finished the season ranked No. 8, at 10-2, including a Cotton Bowl victory against Houston.
Before Doug Flutie played at Boston College, the last short quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy was the legendary Davey O'Brien, who the national quarterback of the year award is named after, back in 1938.
Sophomore quarterback Todd "Sparky" Reesing, is having success very similar to Doug Flutie's Heisman campaign. Kansas is winning and slowly getting more attention now that games are being nationally televised.
Flutie, who was an All-League performer at Natick High School in Massachusetts, was overlooked by colleges because of his height. The only school to offer him a scholarship was Boston College.
Reeing, a stand out at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, was also overlooked by in-state schools Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. It's the same story. An all-star high school quarterback who was doubted because of his height goes on to college and succeeds.
While Reesing may not have the same amount of national attention as quarterbacks like Florida's Tim Tebow or Kentucky's Andre Woodson, he is certainly getting attention in the Big 12. The coaches who did not offer him scholarships, Dennis Franchione at Texas A&M and Mack Brown at Texas, are both kicking themselves now.
Todd Reesing, 2007 season Projected Stats
"Anybody who didn't recruit him, including us, made a mistake," Brown said Monday at the Big 12 football coaches teleconference.
On Tuesday, during Texas & M's media luncheon, coach Franchione was asked whether he remembered Reesing's play at Lake Travis. He said, "Yeah, just a guttier winner. I say the descriptions our guys used when looking at him were 'competitor'... kind of like Chase Daniel... 'fiery', 'winner', does whatever he needs to do to move his team. I think he's playing that way right now."
When then to No. 24-ranked Kansas State lost to Kansas, junior defensive end Ian Campbell said after the game, "I was impressed with Todd Reesing. He's not a very tall or big guy, but knowing myself personally, you can't judge a book by its cover. I was impressed with how he handled himself and he does very well when he scrambles as well. They've got a solid team and he's got a good receiving corp."
Doug Flutie,1984 season Heisman Trophy winner
3,094 yards passing 3,454
29 touchdown passes 27
368 yards rushing 149
Kansas is still undefeated team's season result Led Boston College to a 10-2 record and victory in the Cotton Bowl.
The opposing defenses that have tried to stop Reesing on the field have also noticed his play.
After losing to Kansas last weekend, senior line back Jordon Dizon, Colorado's Dick. Butkus Award semifinalist, said, "He's as fast as our linebackers and almost as fast as our db's, and he isn't a quarterback to shy away
from contact; he'll lower his shoulder to get some extra yards. He was able to get yards with his feet when he needed to, and he did a good job keeping their offense on the field. He played well today."
If Reesing continues to play the way he has the rest of the season, he will have very similar statistics to what Flutie had during his Heisenman year. In 1984, Flutie passed for 3,454 yards and 27 touchdowns, and rushed for 149 yards. Reesing is currently on pace
7
to pass for 3,094 yards and 29 touchdowns,
and rush for 368 yards.
Given Kansas' success this season, the Heisman voters should be watching. If Doug Flutie caught their attention in 1984, and if Davey O'Brien did in 1938, Reesing should be considered. After all, he is only a sophomore, and Kansas is 7-0 and ranked No. 9 in the BCS.
Edited by Chris Beattie