ROWING: Accidental rowers lead team. SEE PAGE 3B. ULTIMATE FRISBEE: 'Zontals, Bettys take on St. Olaf SEE PAGE 8B.
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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2002
Andy Davies
adavies@kansan.com
Football team faces more than competitors in the stadium
One program's tradition drips with success — national and conference championships, a string of All-Americans and legions of adoring fans.
The other program boasts limited success — often that success is a winning season sandwiched between years of bad teams. There are conference championships and All-Americans, but memories of them are fading quickly and belong only to fans who have followed the Jayhawks for decade upon decade.
Kansas basketball and football couldn't be much more different. Basketball is a religion. Football an afterthought once basketball practice starts in October. But why are the programs worlds apart? I used to credit the gap to superior coaching, better talent and the home-court advantage of Allen Fieldhouse for the basketball team.
About two months ago though, I discovered the real reason behind the differences in the two programs. Sitting in Wallace Johnson's Myth, Legend and Folk Beliefs in East Asia class, I was dutifully taking notes when ol' Wallace said something that caught my attention.
Johnson said he was going to explain why the Kansas basketball team experienced so much success and the football team struggled year after year.
Of course, I perked up instantly. It's not just any day that you get to find out the answers to such important questions in life.
Johnson began to explain about chi. Chi is the life force that flows through the universe and people. There are two types of chi: the yen, which flows from the north and should be avoided at all costs, and the yang, which comes from the south and is warm and pleasant.
Johnson, giving an example of how chi works, said the struggles of the Jayhawk football team and the success of the basketball team could be summed up by that old real estate rule: location location, location.
Memorial Stadium sits on the north end of campus against the base of Mount Oread. When the yen flows into the stadium, it bounces off of Mount Oread and flows right back into the stadium. That gives the stadium a double whammy of the awful chi. It's no wonder the Jayhawks haven't had a winning season since 1995. (Of course, playing teams like Oklahoma and Nebraska every year may have something to do with that, too.)
Conversely, Allen Fieldhouse sits on the south side of Mount Oread. The cathedral of basketball receives all of the positive yang chi not once, but twice. The yang also deflects off of Mount Oread and flows back into the Fieldhouse. Is it any wonder then that 11 Final Four banners hang from the rafters?
Obviously, nothing needs to be done to help the basketball team. But what should be done to limit the affect of the yen on the football team. Another stadium could be built on a more favorable site. A giant wall could be constructed on the north end of Memorial Stadium to block the yen force from coming in. Still, the best solution might be to convert the stadium into a dome.
Then the Jayhawks would only need to defeat the opponents on the field.
Davies is a St. Mary's senior in journalism.
Williams aims for rafters
If Gooden stays or goes Kansas coach still wants No.0 hung in Allen Fieldhouse
By Doug Pacey
Kansan sportswriter
The men's basketball team annual awards ceremony is usually highlighted by the seniors' speeches and team highlight video, but it was Roy Williams' announcement about junior Drew Gooden that had the audience buzzing.
No, Kansas' coach didn't say if his All-American forward was staying for his senior year or leaving for the NBA, but said he was going to lobby the Kansas Athletic Department to hang Gooden's No.0 jersey from Allen Fieldhouse's south rafters. The National Association of Basketball Coaches named Gooden and Duke's Jason Williams co-players of the year this season. A KUAC rule says that a player can only have their jersey hung in the fieldhouse if he or she earns the National Player of the Year, which is voted on by the media, or the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Williams said he thought the NABC honor had more credence because it was voted on by coaches, while "guys who listen to Dick Vitale" vote for the National Player of the Year award.
After Williams ended his comments, a misty-eyed and obviously surprised Gooden walked across the Lied Center stage in front of nearly 2,000 people and embraced his coach to a standing ovation.
"If Drew goes, he has given us three good years," Williams said. "If he stays, I'll enjoy coaching him next year. But sometime in the near future they'll hang another jersey in Allen Fieldhouse."
Gooden, who was also voted by his teammates and coaches as the team's Most Valuable Player, was unavailable for comment, but Williams said he has gathered information about the Richmond, Calif., native's draft prospects and expected a decision to "come soon."
After the ceremony at the Leid Center,
"We had a great year this year and I'd like to thank everyone again."
Drew Gooden Kansas junior forward
Gooden's father, Andrew, said that a press conference would come later this week but he didn't know what the decision would be because his son was torn between staying and leaving for the pros.
When Gooden gave short speeches after receiving the Bill Bridges rebounding award for the third year in a row and the Phog Allen team MVP award, they had all the earmarks of a farewell speech.
"This is the best team I've played on since I've been here," Gooden said as he addressed the audience. "We had a great year this year and I'd like to thank everyone again."
The Jayhawks are also in danger of losing junior Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison to the NBA, too. Williams said he had details about their draft status to give the two Iowa natives so they could make a decision about next year, too.
"There's 2,000 people here that will pull for TCU in every game except for one," Williams said. "But I don't believe anyone in this crowd will put on that frickin' purple."
One person who has already left the Jayhawks for another team is assistant coach Neil Dougherty, The Leavenworth High graduate accepted a position as Texas Christian University's coach about two weeks ago after Kansas beat Oregon for a berth in the Final Four. Dougherty choked up when he said his goodbyes but couldn't help laugh when Williams poked fun at the Horned Frogs' colors
Contact Doug Pacey at dpacey@kansan.com. This story was edited by Justin Henning.
The Jayhawks ended the season with a 97-88 loss in the Final Four to eventual-national champion Maryland, but finished with a 33-4 record and a perfect 16-0 Big 12 Conference mark.
Kansas forward Drew Gooden, left, accepts the Bill Bridges rebounding award from former assistant coach Neil Dougherty at last night's basketball banquet. Coach Roy Williams said Gooden's decision about next season should come soon.
KIMBERLY THOMPSON/KANSAN
Jayhawks take on nationally ranked Shockers
Freshman pitcher Tom Gorzelanny is a possible starter for Kansas tonight when it takes on No. 8 Wichita State at 7 p.m.at Hoglund Ballpark.
CHRISTINA NEFF/KANSAN
By Ryan Wood Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas baseball team plays its biggest non-conference game of the season tonight, when No. 8 Wichita State comes to Hogland Ballpark for a 7 p.m. showdown.
"It's in-state, and it's a big rivalry," coach Bobby Randall said. "Wichita State is one of the best teams in the nation."
With the Jayhawks (13-15 overall) coming fresh off a three-game set against No. 11 Texas, and with a three-game set with Texas Tech starting on Friday, the top three starters on Kansas' staff, seniors Jeff Davis, Dan Olson and Jake Wright, will likely be unavailable for tonight's game.
"As important as Wichita State is." Randall said, "it has to take second to the Big 12."
Tonight's starter is yet to be determined, although possibilities include freshmen Chris Jones (2-1) and Tom Gorzelanny (0-5).
Kansas vs. No. 8 Wichita State
Kansas vs. No. 8 Wichita State
■ When: 7 p.m. today
■ Where: Hoglund Ballpark
■ Records: Kansas is 13-15 overall; Wichita State is 20-7.
"We have several guys that are itching for an opportunity to start," Randall said.
The Shockers (20-7) are coming off a four-game series against Indiana State. They won three of the four, including a 14-10 victory on Sunday. They are led by sophomore Drew Moffitt, who has hit .378 with eight homers and 27 RBI in 27 games.
"Other than the fact that he's been hampered by a hamstring pull the last two weeks." Shocker coach Gene Stephenson said of Moffitt, "I think that he has become a very good hitter, with great patience, and balance. He has tremendous strength and bat speed."
SEE BASEBALL PAGE 3B
Revitalized softball team ready for six-game homestand
By Ali Brow
Kansas sportswriter
Kansas softball coach Tracy Bunge talked about the team starting the season over mentally last week.
The Jayhawks were on a losing streak and in desperate need of a victory. Victories against Washburn and Creighton got the Jayhawks back on track as they headed to Texas A&M for more Big 12 Conference play.
The Jayhawks split with the No.21 Aggies during the weekend and stand at
Kansas vs. Southwest Missouri State
■ When: 2 p.m. today (doubleheader)
■ Where: Jayhawk Field
**Records:** Kansas is 23-16 overall; Southwest Missouri State is 16-14.
23-16 overall and 3-6 in the Big 12. Kansas begins a six-game homestand today with a doubleheader against Southwest Missouri
State starting at 2 p.m. at Jayhawk Field.
"It's always good to be home," Bunge said. "We cherish our time at home with our own fans and our own field. It means a lot to our players to play in front of friends and family."
Kansas battles a Southwest Missouri team that is 16-14 overall and 6-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bears learned how tough the Big 12 is when they lost to No. 4 Nebraska 11-0 on April 1.
southwest Missouri is led on the mound by senior Tauni Kennemer, who is 11-7 with a 2.10 ERA. At the plate,
"It's always good to be home. We cherish our time at home with our own fans and our own
field."
Tracy Bunge Kansas softball coach
junior right fielder Amanda Bean paces the Bears with a .361 batting average.
/
SEE SOFTBALL PAGE 3B
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