6B
wednesday, August 18, 1993
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Kansas tight end Dwayne Chandler poses with coach Glen Mason during media day.
PERCEPTION: Mason and team turn KU's program, image into winners
Continued from Page 1.
realistically, I did not know if KU could turn around that fast." Schmidt said. "I knew we'd be a winner before left, but I couldn't imagine that we'd come this far."
winner.
Three national television appearances and a regional television appearance in 1992 enhanced the changing perception of Kansas football, as did increased attendance for home games at Memorial Stadium.
Kansas' average attendance improved by 11,985 fans last year, the second biggest increase in college football, behind San Diego State. The Sunflower State Showdown against rival Kansas State produced a sell-out crowd of 52,000 at Memorial Stadium, and an estimated 7,000 fans watched the contest from Campanile Hill.
When Mason arrived in Lawrence, the annual contest with K-State was referred to as the "Toilet Bowl," since both schools were annually among the worst in college football.
Now, the rivalry means more than just state barging rights. Each school — the Wildcats in 1991 and the Jayhawks in 1992 — has parlayed victories in the game into winning seasons and upper division finishes in the Big Eight Conference.
The Jayhawks built upon the success of the 1992 season for future benefits. Kansas signed a top 25 recruiting class last February headlined by All-American defensive back Tony Blevins of Kansas City, Mo.
"Every year the program has been getting better," said Blevins, who chose Kansas over Stanford, UCLA and defending national champion Alabama. "KU was the place where I felt most comfortable."
The 1993 season will be a big test for the Jayhawks. Kansas opens the season against No. 1 Florida State in the Kickoff Classic Aug. 28 in East Rutherford, N.J.
Trips to Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado are also on the Jayhawks' itinerary.
Nebraska's visit to Lawrence on Nov. 6 highlights the home schedule, which also includes Western Carolina, Utah, Colorado State, Iowa State and Missouri.
Kansas did not have to accept the invitation to play Florida State in the Kickoff Classic, but Mason knew that facing the Seminoles would help improve the perception of his program.
"Some people think we shouldn't be playing in this game," he said. "But when you get the opportunity to play an additional game like the
Mason and his staff face the challenge of trying to improve on last season's 8-4 record and help the Jayhawks reach their ultimate goal — playing in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
Kickoff Classic. you take it."
Mason said that there was pressure to keep Kansas improving since the perception of Jayhawk football was changing to a winning program.
"I firmly believe that either as a player, coach or program, you either get better or worse," Mason said. "You never stay the same."
"Pressure forces a team to reach a different level of expectations or you fail. The pressure will be helpful in our situation."
While Mason is still working on changing the perception of Kansas football on the field, he has succeeded in changing the perception in one area off the field.
When he went out on speaking engagements during his first year, Mason was introduced as "the guy who's trying to change the cry that's heard at the start of each football season." When does basketball season start?"
KU physician nurses wounds of Olympic athletes
Mason disliked that then, but now not many Jayhawk fans are thinking about the start of the basketball season.
Mason said fans now are thinking about Kansas football. It is a victory for "perception."
Broken bodies
By Anne Felstet
feelings of
Kansan sportswriter
concerns of Watkins
Just as athletes worked, toiled and practiced this summer, so did Lawrence Magee, staff physician at Watkins Memorial Health Center and one of the four team physicians for all Kansas athletic teams. He was head physician at the Olympic Sports Festival held between July 23 and Aug.1 in San Antonio, Texas.
The Olympic festival is held every summer excluding Olympic years. The festival, exclusively for U.S. athletes, has the same rules as the Olympic Games and is run similarly, complete with drug testing and opening and closing ceremonies.
with Magee on research projects.
Wayne Ossness, head of the health, physical education and recreation department, informed Magee of where to receive an application. Osness has been on the Olympic committee's board of directors for the past eight years and has worked
That experience lead him to recommend Magee, Osness said.
Magee's quest to be a part of the medical team at the festival has been a long process.
"Magee was a natural." Osness said. "I thought he would be a great asset to the Olympic movement."
After applying, Magee said he was placed on the waiting list for two and a half years. Physicians who are selected must volunteer their time at one of the two U.S. Olympic training centers in either Lake Placid, N.Y., or Colorado Springs, Colo.
Aphysician who is picked to work one of the U.S. Olympic festivals can work up to the international festivals, the Pan-Am Games and finally the Olympic Games.
Prior to this summer, Magee volunteered two weeks at the Colorado Springs Olympic training center. He also worked
the 1991 basketball and track and field Olympic festivals.
"We must be chosen to progress." Magee said of the promotion process. "Physicians, just like the athletes, must work their way up the ladder."
Like Magee, Doug Vance, assistant athletic director/media relations and marketing, also worked his way up the ladder — all the way up to the top. Vance worked at the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona, Spain.
"It is an honor to work such events," Vance said of the experience. "I not only represented the U.S., but I represented Kansas."
Charles Yockey, Watkins' chief of staff, said it was great that Magee worked at the Olympic festival.
"KU students definitely benefit from his experiences because he can come back with new techniques," Yockey said.
As the head physician, Magee said he dealt with any problems that occurred, took care of the administrative end of the operation, held interviews and was the extra help in caring for the athletes. Magee said he was the trouble shooter.
"It was hot. I worked long hours, but it was a good experience." Meye said.
Vance said his experiences have helped him make contacts with national media figures.
After working this summer, Magee said he is ready to move up to the next level of competition.
The festivals' serving as a training ground for Magee mirrored their purpose for the athletes.
The festivals were started as a way to give U.S. athletes a chance to compete at this level and to get more involved in the Olympic program," Magee said.
Direct Work VANCAM
Lawrence Magee, Watkins Memorial Health Center physician, talks about his recent experience as the head physician for the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival in San Antonio, Texas.
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