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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7A
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2002
Chris Wristen cwristen@kansan.com
Mascots may bring back old, tantrum-having Bobby Knight
Bobby Knight's temperamental past has been well documented, but he's been a surprisingly good boy since arriving at Texas Tech last spring.
The legendary former Indiana University coach, who was fired by Indiana after violating a "zero-tolerance" policy concerning his erratic behavior and a short fuse, has apparently been almost as generous as Santa Claus since taking over as coach of the Red Raiders.
Sure, he hasn't been given many reasons to lose his temper — he has Tech in the Top 25 for the first time since 1994, the Texas hospitality treats him well and a cop even let him off the hook for speeding just a few months after moving there — but it's hard to imagine that even the solitude of Lubbock, Texas, could be enough to calm and cool the raging inferno that Knight became during his 29 years coaching Indiana.
That could all change at 3 p.m. Saturday when No. 24 Texas Tech comes to Lawrence to play No. 2 Kansas. The very thing that could set him off considers Allen Fieldhouse its natural habitat and doesn't like it when someone or something else steals its home court spotlight — the mascot.
The mascots seemed pretty ticked off when The Penguin — an incredible fan creation that I hope will make a return soon — made multiple appearances in the student section last year. Baby Jay climbed into the student section and tried to cut in on The Penguin's thunder. Big and Baby Jay saw that as a violation of their territory.
Knight has a larger-than-life persona that could infringe on their Allen Fieldhouse territory, too. The mascots have the power to push him over the edge — not from flailing their wings or throwing T-shirts to the crowd — but because of their smell. Baby Jay's suit isn't too bad, but the horrible stench permeating from Big Jay's suit makes a sweat-soaked running shoe after a run through the sewer seem like potpourri. Four-month old rotting pumpkins smell better. Road kill smells more appealing. Its awful aroma is noticeable within a 15-foot radius. It's almost powerful enough to knock a grown man unconscious.
But the stink spreads, too. Parents beware! When Big Jay high-fives a fan or puts its wing around a kid while posing for a photo, its funk rubs off, and the kid becomes a carrier pigeon for the foul fragrance.
Considering Knight's history at snapping over small things, the tension of a hard-fought game combined with Big Jay's stench just might do it. And it would be hard to blame him. Knight has always been a fan of hygiene, ranging from a clean-cut haircut to a tucked-in jersey. I'm sure he'd find an unclean costume intolerable.
Cleaning the suit frequently can get expensive, so I'll eagerly donate a few bottles of Febreeze to help tide things over until the Athletice Department can buy the bird a bath.
Something needs to be done, because it would be a shame for Knight to spoil his new nice-guy image over something so minor as a smelly bird suit.
Wristen is a Leawood senior in journalism.
Access our online archives to read more sports columns.
kansan.com
Mangino signs first class
Speed is a 'sign' of the times for new football recruits; Mangino's late start doesn't hinder results.
By John Domoney
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas football coach Mark Mangino has been around the college coaching carousel enough times to realize that speed is the name of the game in college football.
speed is the main factor. Mangino was a part of teams at Kansas State and Oklahoma that piled up victories based on team speed on both sides of the football.
So, it was no surprise that Mangino stressed the importance of speed in his first recruiting class at Kansas during his press conference yesterday at Hadi Auditorium.
"Speed's the name of the game," Mangino said. "The programs I've been associated with in this conference won because we could run."
won because we trained them.
The Jayhawks signed 23 players from eight states and one from Canada to national letters of intent during yesterday's signing day. Along with speed, Mangino signed a host of specially-skilled players to secure the Jayhawks' level in positions that have certain requirements — namely quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, defensive backs and linebackers.
Bill Whittemore, a transfer quarterback from Fort Scott Community College, answers questions from reporters after announcing his intent to play for Kansas next year. KU signed 23 players yesterday at its football recruit signing day.
SARA SHEPHERD/KANSAN
Twelve of the 23 players that signed yesterday are listed as offensive/defensive backs or wide receivers, and nine of the recruits have 40-year dashes of 4.5 seconds or better.
John Kirby, MoKan Football magazine recruiting editor, was impressed with Kansas' ability to recruit as strong as it did with Mangino's late start.
"If you look at some of the offers that players ended up signing you've got schools such as Oregon and Colorado," Kirby said. "They did a pretty good job of going out and finding some recruits late in the game."
Kansas gained most of its new recruits on the offensive side of the ball. Sixteen of the 23 players signed playing offensive positions.
Five new wide receivers will join the Jayhawks led by Charles Gordon of Carson, Calif., Jerome Lewis of Carrollton, Texas, Dominic Roux of Los Angeles and Mark Simmons of DeSoto, Texas.
Mangino also looked for help in the trenches with the offensive line that struggled last year to open running lanes and provide protection for Kansas' quarterbacks.
the Jayhawks signed five new offensive linemen, including junior college transfer Tony Coker.
Coker originally signed with Kansas and took a redshirt during the 2000 season for the Jayhawks. He will return to the program after playing last season at Hutchinson Community College.
SEE RECRUITS ON PAGE 8A
'Hawks fall short with Cyclones
Senior forward Nikki White goes up for a shot against Iowa State's Mary Coffield late in the second half of last night's game at Allen Fieldhouse. White scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Kansas fell 75-50 to Iowa State.
CHRIS BURKET/KANSAN
By Jessica Scott Kansan sportswriter
Midway through the second half of last night's Kansas women's basketball game, three Jayhawks lunged for a loose ball under the basket. As the ball bounced out of bounds, the Jayhawks also lost grip of the game, falling to No. 12 Iowa State 75-50.
"They're not 25 points better, but we just did not play very well in the second half," Kansas coach Marian Washington said. "We just don't have that player yet, that go-to-player that can help to make a difference down the stretch."
The Cyclones (18-5 overall, 6-5 Big 12 Conference) came out cold in the first half, shooting 35 percent from the field. Kansas (5-19, 0-11) took advantage of this fact and was able to keep close to the Cyclones by making 4-of-7 firsthalf three-pointers. Two of these baskets were by senior guard K.C. Hilgenkamp, who was the focus of a box-and-one defense for much of the contest.
"With box-and-one you take that player and use her to set some screens," Washington said. "Early on we got great looks inside, we got great looks on the baseline. I didn't feel that bothered us."
Kansas fought through the defense and trailed just 30-28 at the break. In the second half, however, the 'Hawks lost focus and struggled to find scoring from any one.
SEE KANSAS WOMEN ON PAGE 8A
Travel woes don't slow Iowa State
By Ryan Wood Kansan sportswriter
When it comes to playing at Allen Fieldhouse in the past decade, No. 12 Iowa State would prefer to just stay home.
Despite the Cyclone's 75-50 victory over Kansas last night, this year's trip was no exception.
"It was a bad day." Cyclone forward Melanie Bremer said with a sigh.
Before last night, the Cyclones (18-5 overall, 6-5 in Big 12 Conference play) had left Lawrence as losers on nine of their last 10 trips, dating back to 1991.
Although they finally did beat the Jayhawks (5-19,0-11), it came with a scare off the court.
Already delayed with radio problems, the team's charter flight, destined for Kansas City yesterday morning, was greeted in Des Moines, Iowa, by a barrage of fire trucks and ambulances after faulty landing gear forced an emergency landing.
The Cyclones were forced to board a bus from Des Moines to Lawrence, arriving just two hours prior to tipoff.
"Charter flights are supposed to be convenient," coach Bill Fennelly said. "This one ended up being totally inconvenient."
The tardiness forced the Cyclones to miss their game-day shoot-around. The rust seemed evident by their 35 percent shooting in their first half, a significant drop off from their 49 percent average on the year.
SEE CYCLONES ON PAGE 8A
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