SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, February 18, 1993
11
Jayhawks deserve fans
Women players have earned, but don't get, respect
One would think that the defending Big Eight Conference champions would average at least 2,500 or 3,000 fans each home game.
However, that is not the case for women's basketball at Kansas. In fact, women's athletics as a whole struggles when it comes to fan support.
Some facts about the Kansas women's basketball program:
1. Kansas was 12-0 last season in games played in Allen Field House and 25-6 overall.
2. Kansas won the 1992 Big Eight Conference regular-season title and also earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
3. Prior to a Jan. 2 loss to Creighton, the Jayhawks had a 20-game winning streak in Allen Field House, which was the longest in the program's history and one of the longest in the nation at that time.
4. This season, Kansas has a 9-2 record in Allen Field House.
Tradition runs deep in thousands of Kansas fans all across the nation. It is a tradition that has existed since men's basketball was invented here in 1898. The women's basketball program was not established until 1968, but since that time it has developed a history and tradition of its own.
Marian Washington is one of the most respected women's basketball coaches in the United States. Now in her 20th season at Kansas, she is the dean of Big Eight coaches. She also is president of the Black Coaches Association.
Washington coached the most pro- lific scorer in the history of women's basketball and the all-time leading scorer in Kansas basketball history men included.
That player was, of course, Lynette Woodard. A four-time Kodak All-American, Woodard was recently presented the FoH Yumm award by President Bill Clinton. Her dedication and commitment to Kansas is still strong. Woodard attends game whenever her hectic schedule allows.
BASKETBALL PLAYER
Some of the fans who attend our Lady Jayhawk basketball games receive T-shirts and hats. They also receive a great deal of appreciation from our team and staff. This appreciation shows through the team's endless effort on the court and in the classroom.
When we step on the court we are representatives of our university. We practice and compete to make Kansas students, faculty, staff and ourselves proud.
Even though we appreciate the limited number of fans, we are disappointed with the smaller turnouts. We get excited when our fans get excited. This season, there has been an average of only 840 fans at each home game.
The crowd can actually help break the concentration of the opposing team. The more noise in the arena, the more difficult it is for the other team to concentrate.
Unfortunately, when we compete in front of large crowds, we usually are the visiting team. The following are examples of the crowds we have had to face on the road this season.
Dec. 27 at Southwest Missouri State — attendance 6,280
Jan. 10 at Colorado — attendance
2,857
■ Jan. 31 at Kansas State — attendance 1,350
Jan. 22 at Oklahoma — attendance 1156
Feb. 14 at Nebraska—attendance
3,126
Jan. 24 at Oklahoma State - attendance 1,250
I can think of several reasons why fans are not too enthused about women's basketball. In the basketball sense, women are said to be slow and incapable of being very entertaining while playing basketball.
On the other hand, men are said to be stronger, more physical and quicker. Rather than compare, I would challenge you to come to a game and see that the women's game can be just as exciting.
I feel that the key to our fan situation may lie in our own hands. If we achieve just one great goal, a trip to the Final Four and a national championship title game, we will be recognized and respected by Kansas fans. They will then come to see their great women's basketball team. They will be excited about their running Lady Jayhawks. Their gratefulness will show when our stands are full with excited fans.
It will be a hard fight to get there. It may take a couple of years, but in the end people will be very proud of us, and we will have more fans.
People, challenge yourselves. Students get in free with KUID cards, and faculty and staff are admitted for only $2 with staff identification. Come and see just how entertaining we really are. Your support can, and will, make a big difference in our program.
Angela Aycock is a Dallas sophomore majoring in psychology.
Tuesday night's home game against Lamar drew 250 fans.
The women's basketball team plays at 7 p.m. tomorrow against No. 24 Oklahoma State in Allen Field House. Sunday, the Jayhawks will play Oklahoma at 2 p.m. in the field house.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
A week from Sunday, Kansas will play its last regular season game, taking on Kansas State in the field house.
BRIEFS
Bo begins comeback with artificial hip
The Associated Press
Jackson, with a barely noticeable limp, ran the bases, took batting practice and fielded grounders at first base.
SARASOTA, Fla. — Bo Jackson took a few more steps yesterday in his bid to return to baseball with an artificial hip, working out at the Chicago White Sox camp a day before spring training officially starts.
His 40-minute session came under the watchful eye of team trainers and a few fans who wandered into Ed Smith Stadium.
Jackson worked out earlier this year at Comiskey Park in Chicago, running sprints through the corridors.
He arrived in Sarasota on Monday and began drills designed to determine whether he will be able to play this year after missing the entire 1992 season.
So far in Florida, Jackson has not tried to slide on the bases.
Jackson, 30, underwent hip replacement surgery last April. He has spent almost a year getting accustomed to the plastic-and-metal prosthesis in his left hip.
Jackson's last full season in the majors was 1990, when he hit .272 with 28 home runs and 78 RBIs for Kansas City. He played 111 games, most of them in the outfield.
Jackson was released by the Royals in March 1991 and signed by the White Sox in April.
He went through a rehabilitation program that took him through the minors, and returned to the majors in September, hitting .225 with three homers and 14 RBs in 23 games, all of them as a designated hitter.
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