28 SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2009
PERKINS (CONTINUED FROM 27)
a road trip to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech and non-conference home games against Northern Illinois and University of Texas at El Paso. Perkins said the schedule builds on the team's efforts to strengthen its non-conference schedule.
"Each year we are taking a step forward," Perkins said.
Construction crews are working on renovations in Memorial Stadium this year that include the placement of artificial turf. Perkins said a new video score board, originally scheduled to be in place this year, would be
in place for the 2010 football season, with installers starting work immediately after the end of this season. The new score board will replace the MegaVision in the south end zone.
These renovations follow the team's opening of the practice facility, located next to Memorial Stadium, last year. Perkins said "probably about 10 to 15" universities had visited the practice facility, and that kids who committed to coming to Kansas said they were impressed with the facility.
Perkins said all of this contributed to an expectation of success in
football, the newest tone-setter in Kansas sports.
"We have the community support," Perkins said. "It's all up to us."
"I think we have all the necessary tools to be a great team."
Edited by Ross Stewart
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The athletics department will
LEW PERKINS Athletics director
open a new practice facility this fall in the Wagon Student Athlete Center, a result of the space gained by the football program's move to the Anderson Family Football Complex. Hanging from a wall in this new spacious hall is a slice of
the 2008 Final Four court, where the men's basketball team emerged as national champions. And now following the women's program's run to the Women's National Invitational Tournament final, both have big expectations.
Perkins said the Jayhawks' participation in the WNIT final was a building block for both community and student support. Perkins said the WNIT experience was "very positive" for the program.
"Our kids got an opportunity to play for a national championship."
Perkins said. "To me, that's pretty desirable. That's pretty meaningful."
Perkins said the women's basketball team should be better this year because last year's team is still intact and will be adding talented players.
"Coach Henrickson and her staff have done a magnificent job of recruiting." Perkins said.
Perkins also pointed to the success
of senior forward Danielle McCray in the Women's World University Games, in which McCray was the second-leading scorer for Team USA in it's gold medal performance. Perkins said the tools were there to have success for women's basketball.
"Being one of the elite programs in the country,you can never have enough players."
"We think this could be one of our best years ever," Perkins said. "I think we're going to see a real push toward women's basketball."
Perkins said that the men's program was one that "a lot of people have a lot of high hopes" for, and that the focus should now turn toward winning games to get to where experts and fans alike have the team placed — the Final Four.
LEW PERKINS Athletics director
think we have all the necessary tools to be a great team."
"You don't win on reputation, you win on playing," Perkins said. "I
Perkins said sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor's performance for Team USA in the Under-19 World Championships, in which Taylor led the team in scoring, proves that the more great players a team has, the better a team is going to be.
"I think everybody's going to contribute on this basketball program," Perkins said. "Being one of the elite programs in the country, you can never have players."
Perkins said Kansas coach Bill Self did a great job of recruiting, and that includes senior guard Sherron Collins and junior
center Cole Aldrich staying on the team.
"The two best recruits we got were two veterans, Cole and Sherron," Perkins said.
Perkins described the team for the upcoming year as "very, very exciting".
"I think we have all the necessary tools to be a great team," Perkins said.
- Edited by Jason Baker
FOOTBALL
Briscoe to be reinstated for fall football season
Coach Mark Mangino issued a statement on the status of preseason All-Big 12 first team selection Dezmon Briscoe at the Big 12 media day on Tuesday.
Briscoe, who had 1,407 receiving yards last season, was suspended for spring practices before Mangino reinstated him. Sports.espn.go.com said Briscoe was suspended for "an undisclosed violation of team rules."
"There are several players that have work to do," Mangino said. "And I tell them, 'It's pretty simple. You get your work done you're with us in August. You don't get your work done, you're not.' And we don't cry about it and we don't feel bad about it. We go to the next player. But I don't anticipate any issues."
Jayson Jenks
NFL
Online College Courses BARTONline.org
Vick cleared to practice play by commissioner
NEW YORK — Michael Vick was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and could play in regular-season games as early as October.
Vick can immediately participate in practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games.
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