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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2003
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Andy Samuelson asamuelson@kansan.com
Students still fans despite Roy's leaving
There's no place like home Roy Williams is home.
More importantly, Kansas basketball fans know their home is Lawrence.
The situation solved itself Monday.
Williams provided Kansas with 15 years of hard work and wonderful accomplishments. Every Jayhawk owes him a thank you.
But that's it.
In the end, Williams couldn't deny his dream. his dad or Dean.
"The factors for me leaving — my dream," said a surreal-looking Williams sitting in front of the numbing colors of North Carolina on Monday evening as he took the head coaching position in Chapel Hill, N.C.
"Another factor is my family. The last time I made the decision not to come, some people got very upset with me, and I had a hard time understanding because I gave up more than anybody else did. Because I gave up the opportunity to be with my family.
"And then the last factor for going back; These are my roots."
Kansas, however, will not let its program become uprooted by one storm, no matter how strong Williams — who holds Kansas' highest-ever winning percentage .at. 805,418 wins and four Final Fours — was.
"KU has a tradition second to none in college basketball," said Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway in a statement released late Monday night, as he had already begun his search for the Jayhawks' next coach.
Basketball flourished at Kansas when the game's inventor, James Naismith, passed over his leadership role to Phog Allen.
William O. Hamilton became the successor to the supreme Allen, recording twice as many wins as losses in 10 years.
There were tough times under both Dick Harp and Ted Owens. Still the pair combined to win 469 games or 64 percent of the time.
Larry Brown brought a boost and the title.
Yes, maybe the Golden Age of Kansas basketball was the last 15 years under Williams' winning ways.
Or maybe it lies ahead. Perhaps under the coaching of Bill Self, Tom Crean or Mark Turgeon.
Mark Turgeon.
Nevertheless, Kansas basketball is a product that a coach is only part of.
The letters across the chest will always outweigh the letters of a single person's name.
"I'm still a Jayhawk," said outspoken graduate Scot Pollard, still reeling from Monday's shock.
And Kansas basketball is still a family.
There's no place like home.
Looking for a new Jayhawk
Basketball coach search bit of buyer's market
By Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
Kansan senior sportswriter
"Let's face it," Jennings said. "This is a lit
One day later, Kansas was still there— even if Roy Williams wasn't.
With the former Kansas coach's announcement of his departure for North Carolina less than 24 hours old, Drue Jennings, interim athletics director, was left to put the loss in perspective. He fielded reporters' questions for 30 minutes yesterday morning, saying that Williams would be missed, but the Jayhawks were far from busted.
years. The committee will request input from the University of Kansas Athletics Corporation and basketball players during the decision process, Jennings said.
tle bit of a buyer's market for us, and I don't mean to sound cocky about that, but we do have a very fine program. We have a fine University to sell and that's reflected in the level of interest that has been shown by the people who have contacted us already."
Jennings said numerous coaches and coaches' representatives had already contacted the Athletics Department about the vacancy, but he refused to say who they were or whom they might be talking to in the future out of respect to potential candidates.
Jennings, Chancellor Robert Hemeway, Senior Associate Athletics Director Richard Konzem and Associate Athletics Director of Communications Doug Vance are the four men in charge of selecting Kansas' eighth basketball coach in 105
Surrounded by reporters immediately after Jennings' press conference, sophomore forward Keith Langford wasted little time in offering his coaching preference.
"Personally, I would rather have somebody within the Kansas family take over the job, but obviously it's not really my say," he said. "There's not a lot of people that I would say that I would definitely stay and play for."
When asked for whom he would stay at Kansas, Langford didn't hesitate to say, "Coach Holladay."
A longtime assistant to Williams, Joe Holladay made the trip to Chapel Hill.
N. C., for his boss' press conference. Williams said that he would like Holliday to join his staff at North Carolina if he were not offered the Kansas job.
Langford was also asked about playing for former Williams assistant Neil Dougherty.
"I'd definitely play for Neil," he said.
"But who's to say he wouldn't leave next time another job opens up?"
Samuelson is a Wichita senior in journalism.
Sophomore guard Michael Lee told reporters from the The University Daily Kansas and KUJH that he would remain a Jayhawk regardless who coaches the team.
"I don't know," he said. "I don't want to play for any other coach, honestly, but that's out of my control now."
Jeff Jacobson/KUAC
Edited by Julie Jantzer
Doug Reynolds, Kansas assistant track and field coach, winds up for discus toss in the newly constructed throwing ring northwest of Memorial Stadium. Reynolds is one of the top throwers in the nation and will compete in the Kansas Relays this weekend.
Past' Hawks, nation's elite compete at Kansas Relays
By Shane Mettlen
smettlen@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The 76th running of the Kansas Relays will once again feature some of the top names in track and field. Mile runner Alan Webb will headline this year's crop of participants.
"Alan is one of track and field's household names," said Meet Director Tim Weaver. "When ESPN breaks into SportsCenter to show your race live on national TV, as they did for Alan at the Pre Classic, you know that you are one
In 2001, Webb became the first high school runner since former Kansas track star Jim Ryun to run the mile in under four minutes.
ournalism.
of the biggest figures on the track landscape."
"Leo is just getting out of spring ball and it depends on what kind of condition he's in," Redwine said. "I don't know what shape he's in so after spring ball we'll be able to determine exactly what he's able to do."
Webb will have formidable competition in the Glenn Cunningham Invitation Mile, to be run Saturday. Former Kansas All-American Charlie Gruber is slated to run against Webb.The two ran against each other at the indoor U.S. Championships two months ago, with Gruber emerging victorious.
Olympian Calvin Davis, who trains with the Jayhawks, will be the favorite in the 400 meter hurdles, but Kansas coach Stanley Redwine is not sure if Leo Bookman, the NCAA indoor 200 meter champion and Jayhawk football player, will compete.
Other events will also feature some of the world's top athletes. Former Iayhawk and NCAA champion Scott Russell and Nebraska's Carl Meyerscoff will compete in the throwing events and are expected to be Olympians for Canada and Great Britain, respectively. Kansas assistant coach Doug Reynolds is also one of the nation's top
For more on the 76th running of the Kansas Relays see pages 3B and 4B
throwers and will compete.
- Edited by Jason Elliott
Coaches sound Off Kansas coaches sad but accept Roy's decision Compiled by Ryan Greene
"I'm disap pointed he left, but I have great respect for his decision."
Mark Mangino Football coach
"Sometimes in life we have to make decisions that are not only best for ourselves,but
also best for our families as well. So I support his decision and wish him and his family the best."
Marian Washington Women's basketball coach
Not only did he support the women's golf program but his staff did as well. We want
to wish him the very best and look forward to the future of Kansas basketball."
Megan Menzel Women's golf coach
SEE COACH ON PAGE 8B
Baseball team comes out swinging, outlasts Avila
By Daniel Bork
dberk@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
After a five-game road trip to Western Illinois and Texas Tech, the Kansas baseball team returned home last night in impressive fashion by defeating Avila University 8-5.
Senior Pat Holmes got the start on the mound for Kansas and lasted only three and a third innings allowing six hits and 2 earned runs. Holmes was relieved by freshman Don Czyz in the fourth, and Czyz pitched five and two-thirds innings
With the victory, Kansas improved its record to 29-15, and Avila dropped to 27-8.
allowing three hits, no earned runs and striking out five batters.
Czyz earned the victory and improved his record to 2-2 on the season. Against Baker University on April 8. Czyz got the start and lasted only two innings and was credited with the loss.
Kansas wasted no time getting on the scoreboard — the Jayhawks registered 3 runs in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs and no runners on base, junior first baseman Ryan Baty drew a walk. He was
"I felt pretty good out there tonight," Czyz said. "I needed a chance to redeem myself and I got that. Last week, I didn't have my stuff. To come out today and throw good was big."
followed by senior designated hitter, Kevin Wheeler, who tripled, which scored Baty.
After Wheeler, junior right fielder Matt Tribble walked and put runners on the corners for senior left fielder Casey Spanish. Spanish delivered a single into the outfield, which scored both Wheeler and Tribble. Spanish was thrown out on the play trying to advance to second base.
"He is a huge spark plug in the middle of the lineup," coach Ritch Price said. "Not only is he physical with the bat, he can really run. He is a very talented young man."
Spanish ended the game 2-for-4 with 2 runs batted in and is currently leading the team in batting average at .406.
Trailing 5-1 in the fourth inning, Avila put together a rally to score 4 runs and tie the score at 5 a piece. In the inning, Kansas committed two of its three errors in the game and also walked one batter.
After breaking the tie in the sixth inning and scoring one run, Kansas scored 2 insurance runs in the eighth to secure the victory.
The victory was Kansas' fifth in six games. The Jayhawks swept a doubleheader from Western Illinois on Thursday, then took two out of three games from Texas Tech.
"This past weekend, I really thought we took a big step forward," Price said. "We competed at the highest level. In my opinion, this past series was ever more important than the LSU series earlier this year."
KANSAS 8 - AVILA 5
The Jayhawks will return to the playing field this weekend when they travel to Norman, Okla., to face the Sooners in a three-game series that begins Friday night.
Edited by Christy Dendurent
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 -R H A
Avilia 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 0 -5 9 3
Kansas 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 X -8 10 3
Ichkari
Pat Holmes (3/1) Dani Cryz (5/2-3)
Avilla-Reed Reid (8)
Win - Cryz (2-2)
Save - Cryz (5-2)
Save None