+
Volume 128 Issue 73
kansan.com
Thursday, February 5, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAIRY GANSAN
COMMENTARY
Super Bowl displayed everything to love, hate
As the red, white and blue confetti settled on the University of Phoenix Stadium field after Sunday's Super Bowl, it signaled the final glimpse of the tumultuous season which had preceded it. But speckled throughout the Glendale, Ariz. arena, some of the 70,000 spectators remained quiet and patiently waited.
They wanted one more game-winning drive from quarterback Tom Brady. One more catch from Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse. One more Cinderella story, just as prominent as that of the Patriots' Malcolm Butler. Some would even settle for one more fight as the final seconds on the season ticked down.
In many ways, the game itself represented what was a tumultuous season for the league. The NFL was put into the limelight for its mishandling of player's off-field conduct this year, especially in domestic violence cases. League commissioner Roger Goodell made an effort to increase player safety with new policies, which ultimately failed in multiple instances in 2014.
The Super Bowl placed the immaculate receptions, the big hits and the scandals on center stage, which enthralled fans, but it also displayed the side of the sport which we despise.
In the first half, Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril was sent off the field and was diagnosed with a concussion; he didn't return. Good progress for the NFL on head injuries on the national stage, right? Wrong.
In the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, the NFL again made national headlines for the Patriots' mishandling of game balls, in what is now being called "Deflategate." Though investigation is ongoing, Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady became the men responsible for the under-inflated balls.
in the fourth quarter, Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman took a shot from Kam Chancelor after a 21-yard catch on 3rd-and-14. It was a crucial catch, but the millions of viewers saw it. Edelman appeared to be concussed. He kept playing. A few plays later, he came down with the game-winning touchdown, finishing with 109 yards.
On Sunday, Belichick held up his fourth Lombardi trophy, tying Chuck Noll for most by a NFL head coach. Brady scooped up a handful of Super Bowl records — most completions, touchdowns and third Most Valuable Player award — while also leading his team back from a 10-point deficit on two exhalating touchdown drives in the fourth-quarter.
Deflategate forgotten.
Player safety forgotten. Despite all of it, the Super Bowl became the most-watched television program of all-time, according to NBC.
Good or bad, people are watching football, regardless of any disdain viewers might have with the league — on-or-off the gridiron. That's how the NFL rolls, and we can't get enough of it.
Player safety forgotten.
-Edited by Laura Kubick
SWIM AND DIVE
Kansas to host final meet before championship season beings 1 PAGE 3B
Women's basketball players cheer on the bench after a teammate makes a basket. The Jayhawks defeated Texas Tech 71-67.
TEXAS TOAST
16-point run surges Kansas to victory over Texas Tech
JILL STIVERSON/KANSAN
DYLAN SHERWOOD
@dmantheman2011
Kansas did not need a last-second shot like in Lubbock, Texas, two weeks ago. The Jayhawks used a 16-0 run, over a 6-45 period in the second half after trailing 53-46, that led Kansas (13-10, 4-6) to a 71-67 win against Texas Tech (13-9, 3-7) Wednesday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks have won four of their past five games and fourth straight game against Texas Tech in the series.
Both teams would go back and forth in the first half, as Texas Tech guard Amber Battle got things going with a three-pointer. Kansas would then go on a 5-0 run to lead 5-3 but Texas Tech would answer with another three-pointer by forward Davo Olabode.
Kansas would then lead by seven points in the first half before Texas Tech took a brief 33-32 lead, but layups by senior guard Asia Boyd and freshman guard Lauren Aldridge put Kansas up 36-33 at the half.
"It was a tough game and we battled for it," Texas Tech coach Candi Whitaker said.
Texas Tech would make a charge at Kansas in the second half, going on a 12-0 run and leading 53-46 with 10:35 remaining as coach Bonnie Henrickson would call a timeout. A three-pointer by freshman guard Chayla Cheadle would get the run going for Kansas. Senior forward Chelsea Gardner would then score the next eight points to continue the run.
"They made a run, we made a run, but we forced tough two-pointers." Henrickson said. "Give them credit. Battle
didn't shoot it last year. It was a dogfight tonight."
The Red Raiders would get within four points within the last minute of the game, but key Kansas free throws sealed the season sweep against Texas Tech.
"I just came in and focused in practice to get this win," Gardner said.
Kansas shot 23 of 47 from the field for 49 percent, seven of 17 from beyond the arc for 41 percent and were 18-of-23 at the free-throw line for 78 percent. Kansas was 12-of-14 from the line in the second half.
"Coach Henrickson just wanted us to be more
aggressive and have more energy," Boyd said.
Four players in doublefigures for Kansas led by Gardner's 19 points. Cheadle added 13 points, senior guard Natalie Knight had 12 points and Aldridge and Boyd each had 10.
Texas Tech was led by sophomore guard Ivonne CookTaylor with a game-high 22 points.
Edited by Mackenzie Clark
Kansas is now in a four-way tie for fifth in the conference standings with Texas, West Virginia and Kansas State. Kansas will host Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. Saturday.
ALL NOVFR/KANSAN
Freshman Lauren Aldridge escapes a half court trap in the game against Texas Tech on Wednesday.
Softball heads to Florida to kick off season
Senior infielder Ashley Newman bunts to lead off for the Jayhawks. The team will start off its season in Boca Raton, Fla., on Friday.
DEREK SKILLETT
@derek_skillett
@derek_skillett
The Jayhawks will start their season off on Friday, Feb. 6 in the Florida Atlantic Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla. The tournament will run through Sunday. Kansas will play against LIU-Brooklyn and Georgia Tech on Friday, Arkansas and Florida Atlantic on Saturday and will close out the weekend playing Penn State on Sunday.
AMI JUST/KANSAN
GAME ONE: FIU-BROOKLYN
Kansas will get a literal early start to the new season by playing against the LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds at 9 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, Feb. 6. in the first game of the tournament. The Blackbirds are coming off a 22-34 season, making an appearance in the Northeast Conference championship game. Coach Roy Kortmann, who coached LIU-Brooklyn to 10 regular-season Northeast Conference titles during his tenure, leads the Blackbirds.
was named to Second Team All-Northeast Conference honors in 2014. Graduate student shortstop Lauren Morizi led the Blackbirds with a .335 batting average.
The Blackbirds return one graduate student, three seni-
sures, five juniors, six sophomores and welcome only two freshmen. Junior outfielder Whitney West led the team in 2014 with 60 hits, 17 stolen bases and four triples while scoring 29 runs. West
GAME TWO: GEORGIA TECH
On the field, Georgia Tech is led by 2014 All-ACC First Team junior infielder Maddie Lionberger, who had a batting average of .325 with four home runs, three triples and 31 RBIs.
The second game of Friday's, doubleheader will be played at 11:15 a.m. Eastern time against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Second-year coach Shelly Hoerner, who coached the Yellow Jackets to a 23-24 record and an eighth-place finish in the ACC in 2014, leads Georgia Tech. In 2014, Georgia Tech led the ACC with 1.38 stolen bases per game.
GAME THREE: ARKANSAS
The Jayhawks will face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first of two games on Saturday, Feb. 7. This one will be played at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. Fifth-year coach Mike Larabe, who led the team to a 27-28 record in 2014, leads the Razorbacks. In 2014, the team set numerous school offensive records. As a team, the Razorbacks compiled a batting average of .304, scored 359 runs, hit 325 RBIs, registered 231 walks and hit 14 triples.
This is a young team, however, with 13 freshmen and only three seniors on the 2015 roster. Senior utility player Devon Wallace led the team in 2014 with 12 home runs and 53 runs scored, earning ALL-SEC Second Team honors.
GAME FOUR: FLORIDA ATLANTIC
The Jayhawks will play host team Florida Atlantic Owls for the second game on Saturday, Feb. 7. which is slated for a 6
p. m. Eastern time start. Coach Joan Joyce leads the Owls for her 21st year. Joyce led FAU to a 33-22 record in 2014, which was the first winning season for the Owls since 2011.
Junior infielder Melissa Martinez, who earned First Team All Conference USA honors in 2014, leads the Owls on the field. In 2014, she recorded 38 hits, 10 doubles, three home runs and 24 RBIs on a .241 batting average.
GAME FIVE: PENN STATE
GAME FIVE: PENN STATE
The Jayhawks will close out
the Florida Atlantic Tournament against the Penn State Nittany Lions at 9 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, Feb. 8. Second year coach Amanda Lehotak leads Penn State. Lehotak led the Nittany Lions to a 14-35 record in 2014.
Junior outfielder Lexi Knief leads the Lions on the field. Kniff earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors in 2014 with a .382 batting average, 58 hits and 37 runs scored.
Edited by Callie Byrnes
.
+