Section:
B
The University Daily Kansan
Sports Trivia
Sports
Johnny Rodgers opened a November 1972 game with a touchdown made on a 52-yard runback on a punt return. His team beat K-State 59-7. What school did Rodgers play for? Answer on page 2B
H
Inside: With a win today, the Kansas soccer team would earn its first Big 12 Conference tournament berth in school history.
SEE PAGE 5B
Inside: The cross country team is headed for tomorrow's Big 12 Championships in Boulder, Colo.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2000
For comments, contact Melinda Weaver or Jason Walker at 864-4858 or e-mail sports@kansan.com WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORT
SEE PAGE 5B
it's hard to imagine Kansas football coach Terry Allen prepping for tomorrow's game in the basement of the Kansas Union, but maybe that would be perfect.
Allen swilling a soda, staring down the lane ahead of him and what stands in his way. It's not much anymore. Not much is left keeping Kansas away from the dream Allen thought Kansas would achieve last season.
"It was starting to look kinda bad," said Kansas senior safety Kareem High. "But we really thought we could turn the season around."
But the Jaybowl survived after threats to have it torn down because lack of use and so have, for now, the Jayhawks. When Texas Tech meets the Jayhawks at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Memorial Stadium, it will mark Kansas' (4-3, 2-2) first true chance for a bowl game since 1995. A win would mean Kansas would need only one more victory in its remaining three games to be eligible for a bowl.
The Union and the stadium had something in common last year. Most people figured the chances of bowling from either this year were pretty slim.
But after a 4-7 showing last year
"We're trying not to look ahead," said junior cornerback Quincy Roe. "We've done that before."
Going 'Bowl'ing?
and a 2-3 start this year, it looked as if Kansas' post-season plans had found the gutter again. Kansas tried to put bumpers on its schedule this year, padding it with
such games as an opener at Southern Methodist that was supposed to be a nice way to start the season.
That loss threatened to tarnish the season for good. The team was embarrassed; the coaches were confused. After two wins against
Two more wins separate Kansas from possible post-season appearance
By Jason Franchuk
cupcakes, including Division I-AA Southern Illinois, it did not appear Kansas had much confidence. It lost at Oklahoma, then suffered an even worse defeat at home to Kansas State. Allen swore it was time to change — starting with practice.
"Winning heals an awful lot of things." Allen said.
Practices are more physical now. There's been challenges for positions. Players often fight during them. But it's funny how all the chaos and pain tend to be forgotten once success starts.
After wins against Missouri and Colorado, the Jawhaws have won consecutive Big 12 Conference
More information For more on Big 12 football action this weekend, See page 3B
games for the first time since 1997. A third win tomorrow would mean the first time the Jayhawks have done the feat since 1995
Kansas want to score, but Allen and the team do not like the insinuations that this is another must-win game. Figuring they only need two wins with four to play, the Jayhawks know they can struggle somewhere. But their next two games are close to a 7-10 split — at
the last time Kansas went to a bowl game.
— the last time
Nebraska, then against Texas in Kansas' home finale. If Kansas loses to the Red Raiders, it would need to upset either the Corpuskus or
the Longhorns, then win at Iowa State in the season finale.
"We're really just trying to take it one game at a time," Roe said. "But I guess sometimes it's tempting to look."
— Edited by J. R. Mendoza
'Hawks stumble into undefeated Cornhuskers
Volleyball team hopes it can catch Nebraska off-guard
By Sarah Warren
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
There's no such thing as a fun trip to Nebraska.
The No. 1-ranked Cornhuskers have downed every volleyball team they've come across this season. And, after dropping their last two games, facing the top-ranked team in the country on the road isn't exactly what the Jayhawks, 12-9, 3-9 Big 12 Conference, would wish for.
"The road kind of falls off the cliff there," said coach Ray Bechard. "We may play our best there and not win, but we'd become a better team from it."
As if facing the 20-0 'Huskers wasn't enough, the Jayhawks will have to do it in front of 4,000 screaming scarlet-clad fans in the sold-out Nebraska Coliseum. Although daunting in number, the scarlet sea may have a positive effect on the Jayhawks.
"When the fans are talking smack on you, you're like, Whatever. We're going to prove
"Nebraska, honestly, is the most fun
places to play. They just
like watching gooa volleyball, so even if we make a good play they'll
cheer for us."
Sara Kidd
senior outside hitter
you wrong." said Jennifer Kraft,
sophomore defensive specialist
"Nebraska, honestly, is one of the most fun places to play." Kidd said. "They just like watching good volleyball, so even if we make a good play they'll cheer for us. It's a really positive volleyball environment."
Senior outside hitter Sara Kidd said those who weren't "talking smack" on the 'Hawks might actually be hurling words of encouragement toward the opposing bench.
This should be comforting to the Jayhawks, after they were shut out by the 'Huskers in front of their own fans Sept. 20. But, in any case, friendly fans are only a small comfort.
Comfort in general is hard to come by in Cornhusker country, and the Jayhawks know it. They have been preparing for tomorrow in the hopes they will play their best of the season at 7 tomorrow night.
"We've just got to be read," Kraft said. "We've got to be perfect if we're going to play with them."
However, the Cornhuskers were sharp enough to shut out Missouri on Wednesday night in Columbia, Mo., handing the Tigers their first home loss of the season. Nebraska is holding its opponents to a mere .098 hitting percentage while holding down a strong .340 team hitting percentage.
Besides praying for heightened play from his team, Bechard said he was hoping to catch the dominant 'Huskers off-guard and off-balance.
"I think the biggest thing we've got to do is put the ball away," said Kldd, whose team is averaging a .253 hitting percentage. "We've got to execute at the right times."
"When you're undefeated and you're winning games 3-0, it's hard to stay focused and sharp." Beard said.
Edited by J. R. Mendoza
Jennifer Kraft, sophomore defensive specialist, prepares to bump the ball. The volleyball team will travel to Nebraska tomorrow to play the undefeated Cornhuskers. Kansas file photo
Early season practices show Chenowith improving
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Bv Michael Riaa
By Michael Kagg
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It's more a cliché than a media event, but sometimes, the reporters at the annual Big 12 Conference media day have something to talk about.
Such was the case yesterday, when the Kansas Jayhawks couldn't stop talking about the play of senior center Eric Chenowith.
With yesterday off, the Jayhawks have had ten practices this season. Already, Kansas coach Roy Williams is noticing Chenowith's improvement since last season, which both coach and player said they thought was abysmal.
they would say he's played as good or better than anyone on the court."
"He has really played well," Williams said.
"If you were to ask everyone on our team,
"One of the big things I want to have happen this year is to get my confidence back." Chenwith said. "So far, in the first ten practices I've felt a lot better on the court. I think a lot of the guys have felt better playing with me. Hopefully, that snowballs into a good year."
— is starting to regain some of the confidence he lost during his tumultuous junior campaigm.
Chenowith — whose totals dropped in almost every statistical category last season
Senior forward Kenny Gregory said he also noticed the difference in Chenowith.
"It's a major difference," Gregory said. "You can tell he actually did something this summer, unlike the summer before."
Chenowith's strong start is a sharp contrast from last season. A year ago, Williams was calling Chenowith into the coach's office to view videotape of the first week of practice. "He was not very good," Williams said. "But now, he's 190 degrees from that."
Now, Chenowith focuses on regaining his spot in Kansas' starting lineup. He was benched for the final 13 games of last season, but sald he was intent on not sitting on the Kansas bench for tip-off of the first game.
But Williams won't know his starting line-up until after the Jayhawks' two exhibition games next week. But he has an idea about his starting guards.
"I think Kirk (Hinrich) and Jeff (Boschee) are pretty secure," Williams said. "But that's because we don't have a lot of depth in the backcourt."
Big 12 Media Day Notes:
An important issue of the day was the new crackdown on personal fouls. The Men's Basketball Rules Committee — on which Williams serves — stated in May that rules regarding rough play would be strictly enforced this season. The reasoning, Williams said, was the lack of foul calls last season cut down scoring and stopped the nation's top players from performing at their highest level.
Charlene Taylor — the mother of Jayhawk recruit Keith Langford — told *The Cincinnati Enquirer* her son would chose between Cincinnati and Kansas. Langford, a 6-foot4 guard-forward from Crowley, Texas, is scheduled to visit Kansas on Friday, Nov. 3.
--- Edited by John Audiobookx
Sports Columnist
World Series needs to have Chicago aura in near future
As football season gets shorter and the NBA sets up shop for an excruciatingly long season, the city of New York continues to bask in the glory of success.
In basketball, the Knicks usually field a strong team in the NBA.
In the NFL, the Jets are 6-1 after last Monday's uncanny comeback win against the Miami Dolphins during Monday Night Football. The other New York football team, the Giants, are 5-2.
And, more importantly, the Mets and Yankees got the privilege of revisiting an all-New York World Series. Although the Subway Series is a delight for many sports fans, I long for the day when another city has the glamour of an intra-city Series. Ah, yes — Chicago.
Fellow columnist Amanda Kaschube rejoiced when the mighty White Sox took their glorious record into the playoffs against the Seattle Mariners. But the Sox were swept 30, and quietly retreated back to Chicago.
Being a Cubs fan, I enjoyed seeing the White Sox lose. I can't explain why. I'm not from Chicago, but I grew up watching the Cubs on WGN in north-central Kansas. I learned that it was in the job description to hate the White Sox if you were a Cub fan.
"Hey Steve, did you know Linenberger spelled backwards is Regebrennil? Holy cow!"
He also enjoyed pronouncing player's names backwards to WGN color commentator Steve Stone.
Nowadays, Harry's son, Skip, calls Atlanta Braves games for TBS, and grandson Chip does Cubs play-by-play for WGN. It's not the same, but baseball goes on and the Yankees win more and more baseball titles.
Obviously, the Cubs must help their cause and field a team that can end a World Series appearance drought that has existed since 1945. Giving Greg Maddux to the Braves didn't help, and Mark Grace's possible exit because of free agency would also be a tragedy. Along with an atrocious last-place finish by the Cubs this year, it doesn't seem likely that a Windy City Classic will happen anytime soon.
But if only it could have occurred during Harry Caray's lifetime. Chicago Cubs baseball just isn't the same since the long-time broadcaster died in the spring of 1998. Only Harry could be a Bud Man and a Cub Fan. An ice cold Budweiser would be enjoyable while covering a game, something Harry did with a unique touch. Of course, having a little liquor in his belly didn't hurt.
With that in mind, seeing a Windy City War would be a change of pace from the regular trend of the Yankees against somebody else.
While broadcasting one game, Caray said: "The bases are loaded and so am I."
Perhaps Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer, a former Cubs manager, will come back to Wrigley and lead the Cubs from the doldrums of mediocrity into the playoffs.
Until something spectacular happens, I'll have to settle for the Subway Series. It's great to see a natural rivalry as a showcase in the World Series, but someday I hope to see the same situation in Chicago. I'll be sitting with the Bleacher Bums in left field as Sammy Sosa hits a home run over my head onto Waveland Avenue against the White Sox.
And this will be a reality, because, Cubs fans, this is gonna be our century.
Lincolnberger in a Washington, Kan., sonor in journalism.