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SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2003
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Brad Zollars bzollars@kansan.com
Al Bohl deserves respect for work
Give Al Bohl a break. During the last two weeks the Kansas athletic director has run the gamut of reckless speculation and rampant finger-pointing. Continued allegations of mispropriety at his former position at Fresno State University have everyone in a 50-mile radius of Lawrence offering to stake Mr. Bohl's plane tickets back to California.
Lawrence must look a lot like Salem to him now, right up to the accusing flames licking at his feet. Don't get caught up in the witch-hunt just yet, though.
True, members of the Fresno State basketball team did accept cash and other gifts from agents during Bohl's tenure, but this does not make him guilty. Don't forget the coach of that team was and still is Jerry Tarkanian. Make no mistake: the reason Al Bohl is on the outs is not because of the new revelations at his former job or even to ensure a clean legal future at of Kansas.
The reason is far more simple than that. Al Bohl is disliked by the biggest name in Kansas Athletics and that is why he will eventually be asked to leave.
It's no secret that Roy Williams would shed few tears if Bohl were to leave. The relationship between the two got off to a rocky start and has only gotten worse. Almost two years ago, former Kansas football coach Terry Allen was fired with three games left on the schedule, a controversial move that caught the ire of coach Williams.
"I loved his family, his children, everything about him." Williams said of Allen, his regular golfing buddy.
To make matter worse, Bohl replaced Bob Frederick, the man who hired Williams. Or to Williams, "the guy who gave me the chance."
Truth is, Al Bohl loves Kansas Athletics, probably too much. He attacks everything he does with the excitement of a child the day after Halloween and can talk your ear off on anything and everything. But his passion is as undeniable as his success.
Bohl brought in Rich Price, the man who resurrected the Kansas baseball team, took steps to rejuvenate Kansas football like he did in Fresno State and supported Marian Washington when she was on the chopping block after the team's dismal 2001-2002 season.
Oh yeah, and do you like tailgating with alcohol before football games? You have AI Bohl to thank for that.
The problem is that Bohl doesn't mesh with the team. He is out of place in the Kansas Athletic Department, he's too flamboyant for them. He loves the students—he'd give you his last dollar if you needed it—but he isn't professional enough for this university. He doesn't run things like they want him to. He's too off-the-cuff. Next thing you know, he'll be giving good seats in Allen Fieldhouse to students who camp out for weeks. The alumni might even have to stand at times to see the game.
Al Bohl has done a lot to improve the athletics at the University of Kansas. But undoubtedly, in a matter of weeks. Al Bohl will most likely resign from his post. Not because he was wrong, but because he knows it's better for both sides this way. Wave at him as he leaves Lawrence, he deserves your respect.
Zollers is a Chicago senior in communications.
Kansas to meet its match
Nick Collison, senior forward, pulls down a rebound. Ten out of Collison's 14 total rebounds during the Jayhawks victory over Colorado were on defense.
Brandon Baker/Kansan
By Doyle Murphy
dmurphy@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Top-ranked Big 12 teams to tangle; Sooners, Jayhawks test playing styles
Last season, Kansas blitzed the entire Big 12 Conference. Its undefeated conference season was a league record and removed any doubt about the identity of the Big 12's best team.
Now, Kansas is finding out that the difference between a one and a zero in the loss column can be the difference between coasting through a championship season and fighting for everything it gets.
Despite losing just one conference game, a 60-59 loss to Colorado, the No. 6 Jayhawks (20-5 overall, 10-1 conference) don't have to look too far behind them to find their closest competitor for the league title this season. In fact, they'll meet face to face when Kansas plays No. 5 Oklahoma (18-4, 9-2) Sunday.
Kansas senior forward Nick Collison is in the running for national player of the year and has been a rock for the Jayhawks, averaging 18.9 points per game and 8.9 reboundsp per game, but he told reporters nothing could be taken for granted when facing the Sooners.
"That's going to be a whole different ball game going into Oklahoma," he said.
Collison's prediction is understandable considering the two teams play two very different styles of basketball.
The Jayhawks' high-production
KANSAS VS. OKLAHOMA
6 KANSAS (20-5)
P No. Player Rt. Yr. PPg IRG
F 4 Nick Collison 6-9 Sc 18.9 8.9
G 5 Keith Korderd 6-4 So. 15.5 4.8
G 10 Kirk Hinnick 6-3 Sc 17.8 3.7
G 11 Aaron Miles 6-1 So. 9.1 3.4
F 42 Jeff Graves 6-9 Jr. 5.2 5.8
5 OKLAHOMA (18-4)
F 23 Wayne Simien 6-9 So. 15.6 8.9
G 25 Michael Lee 6-3 So. 4.6 2.4
G 33 Bryant Nash 6-6 Jc. 2.9 2.1
P No. Player Ht. Yt. PPG RPG
G 10 Hollis Price 6-1 Gr. 19.8
G 15 De Angelo Alexander 6-4 Fr. 6.0
G 4 Quernas White 6-1 Fr. 8.3
F 34 Kovin Bookout 6-8 Fr. 9.9
F 32 John Gibert 6-8 So. 6.0
    32 John Gibert 6-8 So. 6.0
G 2 EbiEre 6-5 Sr. 14.7 5.2
C 21 Jabahbrown B 6-10 Jr. 6.0 5.4
C 21 Blake Johnston 6-1 Sq. 3.0 1.0
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Norman, Okla.
Radio: 105.9 KLZR and 1320 KLWN
TV: Channels 5 and 13
offense makes its living by outrunning opponents. Kansas' 84.8 points per game average is first in the Big 12 and third in the nation.
The Sooners, on the other hand, have become famous for their deliberate pace and brawling defense. Lightning quick senior guards Hollis Price and Quannas White set up bruisings from senior guard Ebi Ere and freshman forward Kevin Bookout. The result has been the league's best scoring defense, holding opponents to 59.6 points per
SEE OKLAHOMA ON PAGE 6B
'Hawks to battle Bears
Washington shuffles offense guard responds with points
By Ryan Greene
rggreene@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Carrying momentum from a 62-58 victory at Nebraska on Wednesday night, the Kansas women's basketball team now has to show it can string together two solid games.
The Jayhawks (10-13 overall, 3-9 Big 12 Conference) will have their chance to do just that tomorrow when they host their only meeting of the year with the Baylor Bears (16-8, 5-7). Despite the victory, Nebraska outdid Kansas in rebounds 41-32. Against a smaller team than the Cornhuskers, coach Marian Washington expects the same intensity tomorrow from the Bears.
and so very hard-nosed and physical."
"They just play so hard," Washington said. "I think that they have won a lot of ball games because they have been so intense
On the offensive end, the Jayhawks have discovered a new way to attack. Sophomore guard Aquanita Burras is now
Opponent: Baylor
When: 2:05 p.m. tomorrow
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
Radio: 90.7 KJHK and 1320 KLWN
"Aquanita's someone who's got size, so she'll complement
Aquimia Burles is seeing more time at the point guard spot, moving Erica Hallman and Leila Menguc to play shooting guard. Washington said Hallman is one of the team's best shooters, and the new lineup is something she will continue to experiment with.
David McGee/Daily Nebraska
Sophomore guard Aquanita Burras and freshman center Tamara Ransburg double up on Nebraska's Alexa Johnson. With the victory over Nebraska, Kansas looks to add to its conference wins against Baylor tomorrow.
Bowl money helps Kansas
By Kevin Flaherty
kflaherty@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Every time Oklahoma wins an NCAA football game to advance closer to the national championship. Kansas fans should belt out a chorus of "Boomer Sooner." Kansas benefits every time Oklahoma or any Big 12 team plays in a bowling game.
Susan Wachter, Kansas chief financial officer, said Kansas' revenue from the Big 12 Conference is divided into several categories. The categories include tournament money, football and basketball television money, bowl money and conference basketball money.
Wachter said Kansas earned $1,286,747 from the Big 12 in bowl money last year, despite not attending a bowl game.
Bo Carter, assistant commissioner of the Big 12, said the Big 12 made millions of dollars from bowl games and made between $20 million to $25 million this season.
"That money is put into a larger pool with post-season money from other
sports, spots and television contracts, and then divided up between the teams," Carter said.
This year's bowl teams included Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech. Texas A&M was bowel eligible, but not invited to a bowl.
The Rose Bowl) payout to the Big 12 for Oklahoma's victory in January will be between $11.8 million and $14.1 million.
The complete pool money is split
SEE MONEY ON PAGE 6B
Baseball
Jayhawks try to build momentum
By Daniel Berk
dberk@kansan.com
kanserswriter
After a week that brought the Kansas baseball team many accolades, the Jayhawks (9-3) will return to their home field to play a three-game series against the Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-4) starting today at Hoglund Ballpark.
After the team's three-game sweep of nationally ranked Louisiana State University, the Jayhawks received their first Top 25 national ranking since joining the Big 12 Conference, coming in at No. 21. Sophomore third baseman Travis Metcalf received the honor of National Hitter of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association and Big 12 player of the week. Metcalf batted .588 with five extra base hits in last week's victories over Western Illinois and LSU. The Jayhawks were honored as the first College
Metcalf
**Opponent:**
Eastern
Michigan
**When:** 3 p.m.
today, 11
a.m. and 2:30
p.m.
tomorrow
**Where:**
Hoglund
Ballpark
**Radio:** 1320
KLWN
Baseball Insider team of the week for the young 2003 season.
"I think all the attention this team has received by the media is phenomenal." coach Ritch Price said. "It is a huge boost for our program, and helps with our recruiting as well."
Metcalf said he thought the early season success and accolades have been payback for all the hard work Price had put into the program.
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 6B