kansan.com
Volume 126 Issue 34
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
COMMENTARY
Kansas should look to Baylor as model of success
Not too long ago, in a place not too far away, there was a football program that looked a lot like Kansas.
looked at for the title.
Now it's a national title contender.
Kansas coach Charlie Weis and athletic director Sheahon Zenger can look to what Baylor's done as a model for success. The Bears will be playing in a sparkling new $250 million stadium next year and are currently on track for one of the best seasons in the school's history.
Now it's a national title contender. The 10 years before Art Brieles got to Baylor, the Bears went 29-85 and didn't go to one bowl game. The Baylor football program was where teams went to set records. This season, teams have to worry about Baylor setting records on them.
It's possible to turn a Big 12 punching bag into a heavyweight fighter. It takes some ingenuity. Some luck. And a whole lot of patience.
Baylor coach Art Briles, who has always been on the cutting edge of offenses since his days coaching high school in Texas, is the ingenuity. Signing Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III was the luck. The six years in between was the patience.
But when Weis was asked if he can learn something for Baylor's turnaround, his answer wasn't too enthusiastic.
"First of all, they're about three-games over .500 since [Brites] has been there," Weis said. "So it wasn't always all rosy like they were 6-0."
Of course it wasn't. No program as bad as Baylor's was could become a contender overnight. And for the record, Biles is nine games over 500.
Weis continued to go even further.
"Every once in a while, you hit it big," Weis said. "There's a guy by the name of RGII. He was a relatively obscure player a few years ago. When he steps up and does what he did, it makes recruiting that much easier, because everyone wants to be the next RGIII at their respective positions."
Yes, Robert Griffin changed everything at Baylor — especially with recruiting. But his coach was Briles. He had two solid NFL receivers, Kendall Wright and Terrance Williams, in his first recruiting class along with Griffin. He has a defense that's improved consistently in his six years in Waco, Texas.
Baylor is a team built around elite athletes at all positions. They want to play for a coach that's put up gaudy offensive numbers his whole career. Two seasons before Art Briles was hired at the University of Houston, the Cougars went 0-11. Briles won 10 games there four years later.
Programs like Kansas should look to Baylor as a model for success — a team of athletes with an offense built to take advantage of any matchup problems it's destined to have.
It's OK to be jealous when watching Baylor's offense this Saturday in Lawrence. Just know Kansas' athletic department will be too.
Edited by Clias Strobel
WITHIN REAC
SWEET CAROLINE
Senior Caroline Jarmoc aims to break University blocking record
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Caroline Jarmoc, senior middle blocker, spikes the ball during the Sept. 22 game against Notre Dame. Jarmoc is close to breaking the University's blocking record.
HEATHER NELSON
hnelson@kansan.com
Redshirt senior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc was unaware Friday that she was five blocks away from breaking the University of Kansas record. Nor did she realize she was about to surpass an almost-20-year-old record of 514 blocks set by Amanda Reves.
The middle blocker has a chance at tying — possibly even passing the record — Wednesday night at Kansas' match against Iowa State at Horesei Family Athletics Center. However, that accomplishment
is still far from her mind
"I know that it's five more, but it's not something I will be thinking about during the match," larmoc said.
It may be far from her mind, but Jarmoc has a likely shot at taking down the
This feat may be a challenge to complete against Iowa State. No. 3 Texas, who beat Iowa State Saturday, Oct. 19, combined for a total of six team blocks. Last year on Oct. 24, Jarmoc had one solo block and eight block assists — nine for the night.
Coach Ray Bechard said that Jarmoc's time as a redshirt certainly paid off.
record. Currently, larmoc averages about five blocks a game. And with five tomorrow night, she would become the new Kansas leader.
After redshirting her freshman season in 2009, Jarmoc became a leader on the Kansas volleyball team. In her redshirt freshman season, she recorded 93 block assists, which is ninth-most in a single season at Kansas.
"I'd be kind of sad right now if shed already graduated." Bechard
said. "She's put in the work and she's dedicated herself"
The following years weren't much different. In 2012, she was named Kansas volleyball's first All-American. She was also a factor in her team's NCAA tournament berth. Yet, with all these accomplishments, jarmoc focuses on self-improvement.
"I'm a person who focuses on my performance during games, as well," Jarmoc said. "I always focus on blocking. That's something that I can control because it's just me being engaged as much as possible."
"She's put in the work and she's dedicated herself."
RAY BECHARD Coach
Jarmoc's perseverance and train
ing has put her within reach of the blocking record. Beachard said.
"You have to have a certain mindset to set a record like that," Bechard said. "It."
speaks of her commitment to being a relentless blocker and the effort she's put in."
"I wouldn't be able to have such high blocking numbers if my pins weren't also as solid because a majority of my blocks are assists," Jarmoc said. "I have to attest some of the success to them, and it's going to motivate me to continue being a defensive middle as well."
Bechard said Jarmo deserves the credit of holding a Kansas record because of her work and dedication, but Jarmo attributes much of her success to her teammates.
Jarmoc may not be counting, but she will have a second chance to celebrate her accomplishment next Wednesday, Oct. 30, against Baylor at Horeses Family Athletics Center.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Edited by Chas Strobel
Kansas, Oklahoma State handle preseason hype
Even with an experienced team full of NBA-hopefuls, Oklahoma State can't climb past a Kansas team with a lot of questions. The
It's the reality of the hype that shows the true differences between the preseason favorites. It's the fact that one program has held at least a share of the Big 12 title each of the last nine years, and one program hasn't finished atop the conference in more than two decades.
"All we've really done is basically tell our guys there's been some pretty good players here before you that have proven their ability and how they can impact a program." Self said. "And none of you guys have even made a basket yet."
Travis Fish is new to it, Bill Self is used to it and every other coach wants it. Still, when dealing with preseason hype it seems the message is the same no matter who delivers it. At least, that was the case at Big 12 Media Day in Kansas City.
BLAKE. SCHUSTER
bschuster@kansan.com
"We haven't talked much about where we were picked," Ford said. "We talk a lot about understanding what our goals are and what we want to try to accomplish."
That wasn't too far from what Self preaches.
The Jayhawks are relying on Perry Ellis this year for a good portion of their scoring. While no one doubts Ellis' ability to get to the rack, that's a lot of weight to put on a kid who averaged about six points last season. Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart was unanimously named Big 12 Player of the Year in 2013. He's expected to do even more this season.
"We've been ranked higher preseason a lot of times than we are this year," Self said. "But seems like to me there is more hype around this team in large part because of our recruiting class, the unknown, and of course getting Andrew [Wiggins] late."
"We fully grasp that Kansas is still a team to beat," Ford said. "I think any coach would tell you that. They're still the team in the Big 12 that everybody's trying to compete with."
Cowboys' coach wasn't one to shy away from the challenge.
No one is saying these players
Ford took it one step further. He reiterated that Oklahoma State did not win the Big 12 Tournament last season. He reminded the media that the Cowboys were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round.
Yet OSU sits atop the Big 12 rankings for the main reason Kansas shares the seat; potential.
"There's new excitement and everybody wants to join in," OSU forward Michael Cobbins said. "We keep telling ourselves the ranking is a target on our back. We really haven't accomplished anything."
can't accomplish their respective feats, but it's the idea that they will that most people are banking on. And as the expectations grow, so does the noise.
Kansas could say it's feeling the same way. Youd think the program couldn't be put on a higher level. Then GQ, Sports Illustrated and the likes come calling. Pundits crown teams National Champions before they ever step on the court.
Self and Ford may have been tempering expectations, but their comments were draped in honesty.
"They come to work every day and really we don't talk much about the hype," Self said, making it seem as if there weren't enough hours in the day to acknowledge it.
"I think they'll get everyone's best shot too. It's not going to be easy. You're going to have to fight for everything you get."
Edited by Kayla Overbey
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN Coach Bill Self discussed preparing the Jayhawks for the upcoming basketball season during Big 12 Media Day in Kansas City on Tuesday.
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