NSAN
2009
Sport THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KA
BASEBALL SWEEPS OSU IN THREE-GAME SERIES
Kansas comes from behind to win third game in overtime. BASEBALL 16B
SOFTBALL WINS 4-1 EARNS SERIES SPLIT
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Valerie George steps up to the mound Saturday. SOFTBALL I 10B
KANSAN
ty,
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2009
PAGE 1B
On fast track for greatness
After making 2008 Jamaican Olympic team, record-breaker enters her final season with Kansas
BY JASON BAKER
ibaker@kansan.com
In her two years at Kansas, Nickesha Anderson has achieved historic accomplishments in the track and field world — some that earned her a spot on Jamaica's 2008 Olympic team. Now, she has high expectations for her final season of outdoor track, which started with this week's Kansas Relays.
Running has been in Anderson's life since kindergarten and a tradition among the women in her family as well, beginning with her grandmother then her mother and now her.
Anderson first arrived in the states in Fall 2005 in St. Louis at Missouri
Baptist University. She was offered several scholarships at different universities, including Iowa State. But Anderson had seen several brochures of Missouri Baptist and she had known one person who would be there. Maresia Pencil, a middle distance runner from Clarendon, lamaica.
"I wasn't going into an environment where I didn't know anybody even though I was going to be away from my family for a long time." Anderson said.
Anderson said shed known Pencil since high school back in Jamaica. Both she and Pencil eventually transferred to Kansas and are currently roommates.
While at Missouri Baptist, Anderson held the record in the indoor 60-meter and 200-meter dash events and the outdoor 100-and 200-meter dash events. At the 2007 Kansas Relays, Anderson ran a season-best time of 11.29 seconds in the 100-meter dash, earning the victory and piquing Kansas coach Stanley Redwine's interest.
Despite this, it would take until her junior year to persuade her to take her career to Lawrence.
"I was set to finish the year and I had met a whole lot of friends," Anderson said. "It's always hard for me to change in an environment that I'm really settled in with other people."
Even though she had friends at Missouri Baptist, Anderson decided a Division I school could give her a new level of competition that she wanted.
"With the talent I had and everybody having seen it, I might as well just go ahead," Anderson said.
Anderson said that even though there was competition at Missouri Baptist, it was nothing like Division I, so Anderson made the transfer to Kansas in Fall 2007.
Anderson remembers her first practice as being hard, but not too hard to handle.
"It wasn't excruciating, but it wasn't easy." Anderson said.
SEE TRACK ON PAGE 9B
FOOTBALL
Photo by Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
Despite two suspensions, Jayhawks pick up pace
BY STEPHEN MONTEMAYOR
smontemayor@kansan.com
Jocques Crawford's future with Kansas is in question after coach Mark Mangino confirmed the junior running back's suspension following Saturday's spring game. Crawford and suspended sophomore wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe were both absent from the annual scrimmage.
"It was a situation where he has breached team policy more than once in a relatively short period of time." Mangino said of Crawford. "I am taking a look at his situation and he will not participate the rest of the spring. I'll be honest with you, I don't
When asked if Crawford's suspension was related to an incident at Jayhawker Towers last week that led to sophomore offensive lineman Ben Lueken being struck or thrown off the hood of a vehicle, Mangino could not comment, citing an ongoing investigation.
The absence of one of the nation's top receivers and Kansas' third-leading rusher from 2008 paved the way for those filling their spots Saturday to leave an impression at Memorial Stadium.
know his status, whether he'll be back or not."
Clear skies and crisp temperatures greeted the team on Saturday with an estimated
17,000 fans for an afternoon scrimmage that saw the Blue squad of starters defeat the White squad 20-7. Sophomore wide receiver Johnathan Wilson finished with a team-high seven receptions for 133 yards and an opening drive touchdown for an early lead his squad would not relinquish.
"I feel like I've become more like a playmaker and could be used more on the offense now," Wilson said. "Hopefully next year I'll just get more involved and can contribute more."
Weston White/KANSAN
In Briscoe's absence, Wilson became junior quarterback,
.
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 9B
Junior receiver Johnathan Wilson steps into a tackle Saturday afternoon. Wilson had 133 receiving yards with one touchdown in a 20-7 victory for the Blue team.
Players show fans off-season hard work
After the game — is it really a game? — coach Mark Mangino even downplayed the meaning of the ceremonial start for next season Still, spring football, much like spring training in baseball, offers a glimpse into next year's team:
And we know the Blue team slugged out a 20-7 victory against the White Team. Yet, even that meant little as some players donned both colors during the game.
So here's what we know. There were cheerleaders, fans, a marching band that didn't march, tailgaters and a handful of kids playing football on the bill
JOHNATHAN WILSON
HAS GOTTEN BETTER
Sure, Wilson performed well as Kansas' third receiver last season. But with the absence of sophomore wide receiver Dzemr Briscoe this spring, Wilson stepped into an enhanced role this offseason.
There's always an odd dilemma faced by football coaches during spring games. If one part of the team is good, such as the offensive line, does that mean the opposing part is bad, such as the defensive line?
KERRY MEIER STILL HAS BEST HANDS IN BIG 12
On Saturday, he hauled in seven catches for 133 yards, a touchdown and looked to be the fastest player.
OFFENSIVE LINE GOOD OR DEFENSIVE LINE BAD
When freshman center Jeremiah Hatch struggles in practice, he calls former teammate Ryan Cantrell, last year's starting center.
HATS OFF ...
OK, I know this one isn't surprising to anyone who watched five minutes of a game last season. But watching Meier pluck passes thrown anywhere near his body was truly a highlight on a day when not much else happened offensively.
Gotta love the switch to five defensive backs on defense. Not only does it perfectly fit with Kansas' personnel right now, but it also matches up with the spread-happy offenses used by almost every team in the Big 12.
Well, as it nears spring and the weather warms, let's stick with the positive. Kansas' reconstructed offensive line allowed quarterbacks little pressure throughout the game, while doing a respectable job running the ball.
JEREMIAH HATCH A WORK IN PROGRESS
"He just tells me to keep going and just come to the next practice," Hatch said.
One of the biggest position changes this spring came when Mangino announced that Hatch would switch from offensive tackle to the heart of Kansas' line. And, as Hatch said after the game, he's still learning the specifics a new position.
On Saturday, Hatch snapped a ball when Todd Reesing was looking to the sideline, resulting in a big loss. Still, for the most part, Hatch appeared solid in the middle.
"It's not always going to be good' Hatch said, "but it's not always going to be bad."
The same could be said for any spring football game.
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Edited by Realle Roth
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