THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014
+
MEMORIAL STADIUM
PAGE 13
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
KU Athletics announced last Thursday that efforts to begin removing the perimeter track around Kivisto Field in Memorial Stadium will begin this Tuesday.
Athletics to remo perimeter track
DANIEL HARMSEN sports@kansan.com
The outdoor track surrounding Kivisto Field in Memorial Stadium will be removed this summer, Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger said Thursday.
The project will begin on June 24.
"It is an intermediate phase of renovation," Zenger said. "First and foremost, the decision was made for player safety. We also anticipate having more practice space on the sidelines."
Zenger predicted the first phase to be a six week process, and said the conclusion of the first phase will bring a more conventional look to Memorial Stadium.
"I think it will be best described as a traditional stadium," Zenger said. "Historically, many universities housed multi-use facilities with a track around the football field. We were the last BCS stadium with a
Coaches, players, recruits and fans will notice the loss of the track, but Zenger said this move is about recommitting efforts to Kansas football.
track around its football field, so this is about keeping up with the times."
"It's not as much about recruiting," Zenger said. "I think it shows commitment to our football program, to its coaches, its players, alumni and fans. This is now a football-only facility."
The first phase of the renovation will be completed before kickoff on Sept. 6. The rest of the advancements are still up in the air.
"This is step 1A of four or five," Zenger said. "We will be conducting some design work on our stadium and fleshing it out with stakeholders when the time comes."
Edited by Ashleigh Lee
BASKETBALL
Team selected to represent USA
BLAIR SHEADE
sports@kansan.com
The University basketball team will represent the USA as its national team in the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea, Craig Jonas, the head deputy of the USA delegation for the World University Games announced June 17, at a press conference.
"When you walk the halls here you realize what a great tradition Kansas has in the basketball world, and we're excited to have them there," Jonas said. "We went through a strong and long process to find the most appropriate team, and when we went through the criteria, Kansas was a great fit."
MICHAEL O'BRIEN/KANSAN
Junior forward Perry Ellis will be eligible to represent the USA in the 2015 World University Games in South Korea. Eligible players must be 18-25 years old and enrolled in one class.
The team's criteria to become the national team was total wins in the past five years (Kansas was number one with 150 wins), the 2014-15 preseason rankings (Kansas is fifth) and the Ratings Percentage Index in the 2013-14 season (Kansas was third).
"I don't think you do this for a recruiting nugget, but it's a by-product of it." Self said.
Coach Bill Self said the Games will give players more national and international exposure because they'll be seen by NBA and international teams.
Jonas said Kansas was the number one choice after combining all factors.
"The opportunity to have a topranked program like Kansas representing USA on the global stage will be historic," Jonas said.
To be eligible, players must be between 18 and 25 years old and enrolled in at least one class. Former players under 25 who haven't graduated can participate in the games. Ben McLemore, who's currently taking summer classes at the University and will be 23 years old in 2015, could be eligible.
Self said he told the current roster about the opportunity and all of them were excited to live in an Olympic-style village and compete with former University players.
Junior forward Perry Ellis said hed be most excited to play with Thomas Robinson.
"I never really played with him, so that would be cool," Ellis said.
Self said he saw one drawback about the player criteria for the Games: the players on the team have to be American-born. Former players such as Andrew Wiggins and Joel Emibi and future player Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk won't be able to suit up.
"If you were to look at one negative, the negative would be that we couldn't have our entire group of guys together," Self said.
— Edited by Tom DeHart