WEDNESDAY, JULY3, 2002
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 19
Mangino sees promise for upcoming season
Jay Pilgreen Kansan staff writer
As the new Kansas head football coach, Mark Mangino said things were looking good for the Jayhawks,and the players were excited for the fall.
"Our players have been very enthusiastic through the winter season, and it's carried through spring and now into summer, which is so important because it gets us going on the right foot come August." Mangino said. "They have dedicated themselves to getting better, and that's a great sign."
The Jayhawks start their season against Iowa State Aug 31 in Ames, Iowa, then travel to Las Vegas to play UNLV. The first home game will be Sept. 14 against Southwest Missouri State, followed by Bowling Green on the Sept.21.
Mangino said he was having a hard time keeping up with mail wishing the team well, and urged fans to keep up the support. He said it was important for players, coaches and fans to get off to a good start. He said this year's early games were designed to build confidence.
"I believe that the best way, when you're first starting up a program, is to schedule people you're very competitive with, and give you an opportunity to be successful early," Mangino said. "As your program develops, then you escalate your
non-conference schedule."
Mangino was part of both Kansas State and Oklahoma's coaching staffs when each of the teams achieved Top 25 status under Bill Snyder and Bob Stoops, respectively. He said that to contend with other powerhouses in the Big 12, the Jayhawks would just have to win. He said the players were moving in the right direction.
"The chemistry of the team is the most important thing when talking in relationship to winning, and we're developing that chemistry right now," Mangino said.
He said that team effort would give the Jayhawks victories, and that the program was coming together at the right moment
"The whole is greater than any of its parts, and I think our players are really starting to understand that," he said.
For fans wanting a winning season, Mangino said there was certainly hope, and that hard work was the key.
"I believe if our team plays hard on every single play, from the opening kickoff to the final gun, results will come."
Jenay Leddy, assistant media relations director for the football team, said players and assistant coaches were unavailable for comment throughout the summer.
Contact Pilgreen at jpilgreen@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jason Royer
Kim Clark moved into third place on the all-time Kansas list for the 800-meter run, finishing fifth in the event with a personal-best time of 2 minutes. 9.97 seconds. Clark ran a 2:10.48 in the preliminaries to qualify for the final.
"I was nervous, things just weren't going well," Hann said
Before her best jump, Hann was in fourth place and struggled to get comfortable on the runway, she said.
Athletes qualify for World meet
Hann made her best jump in the next-to-last round of the competition, winning by a quarter of an inch to overtake Erica McClain of the Texas Express track club.
Brandon Hodges also qualified for the
final of the men's 800 and finished eighth with a personal-best time of 1:51.11. Jeremy Mims ran 1:53.42 in the preliminary heat, recording the fastest time to not qualify for the final.
His mark of 76.55 meters, or 251 feet, 1 3/4 inch was well behind his throw of 81.66 meters, or 267-11, he recorded at last year's championships.
Recent graduate Charlie Gruber competed in the U.S. Senior Championships, held in conjunction with the junior meet. Gruber finished 17th in the preliminaries of the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:46.78 and did not advance to the final. Kansas throws coach Doug Reynolds placed fourth in the discus throw with a toss of 203-5.
Megan Manthe finished eighth in the women's 1,500 meter final with a time of 4.33.62, also a personal best.
On June 21 in Edmonton, Alberta, former Jayhawk Scott Russell defended his Canadian national championship in the javelin throw.
Brooklyn Hann won the triple jump with a leap of 41 feet, 8 3/4 inches and qualified for the World Junior championships in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16.
Contact Norton at mnorton@kansan.com. This story was edited by Matt Stumpff.
Hann, Clark, Hodges and Manthe all earned Junior All-American status for their performances over the weekend.
Five sophomores-to-be competed at the U.S. Junior Championships, June 21 to 22 in Palo Alto, Calif.
Kansan sportswriter
Several Kansas track and field athletes have pushed their seasons well into the summer because of their outstanding performances this season.
By Matt Norton