Section:
B
The University Daily Kansan
Yesterday in sports
Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops received a contract extension through the 2005 season that could raise his annual pay to between $900,000 and $1 million.
Sports
Inside: Three of Kansas' basketball recruits have committed elsewhere, but the team is still at the top of the list for some of the nation's top high school players.
SEE PAGE 2B
Inside: The cross country team faces a tough test this weekend at the Iowa State Invitational.
SEE PAGE 6B
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2000 For comments, contact Melinda Weaver or Jason Walker at 864-4858 or e-mail sports@kansan.com WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Equestrian team not the solution for Kansas State
Kansas State did its good deed of the year in the spring by adding a women's varsity sport in the spirit of Title IX, which gave women equality in sports.
The university went for the obvious choice women's equestrian.
Whoa. Trigger.
K-State is the only Big 12 Conference school without a soccer team and one of two with no softball team. Colorado has no varsity softball, or baseball for that matter. The Wildcats could have used the opportunity to field either of these popular sports.
Instead, K-State joined Oklahoma State as the only conference schools competing in the equine sport.
The department of animal sciences at K-State will build the EquiCenter, which, from its artist sketches, looks as though it will be pricey. It will house an arena, polo area and rodeo and equestrian team barns. More than 100 women attended an informational meeting for the equestrian sports, so there is some popularity, but other sports waiting for funding were unfortunately denied.
Women's equestrian has validity but only when sports such as softball and soccer are already available. Equestrian is an example of a sport that's lesser known and needs male and female teams to draw more support.
This isn't a wise economic decision for the Wildcats. Yes, a softball or soccer field would cost money, but those sports would also attract a strong amount of local talent. It's probably a safe bet that soccer or softball will attract larger crowds, which translates into revenue and contracts. The women's equestrian team probably hasn't etched any deals with Nike or Reebok.
To see a better understanding of Title IX, Kansas State needs to look east on I-70 to Lawrence.
The University of Kansas has four sports strictly for women, and six that field both men's and women's teams. K-State will have two sports exclusively for women with the equestrian addition.
Although the Kansas Athletics Department needs to follow through on commitments to a new track facility, a new softball field and, most urgently, a boathouse for the rowing team, the department has strong women's teams.
Jayhawk sports have a reputation for strength. Women's basketball has built a strong tradition, and the volleyball team has a coach who brings stability and winning to a program that hasn't had a great deal of either in the past. Softball has sent teams to the NCAA tournament in the past.
Plus, one of the most recent Title IX additions has made the most rapid climb to national prominence.
The Kansas rowing team has been ranked nationally the last two years with only five years of existence. The Jayhawks were arguably seconds away from advancing to the NCAA championships last spring.
K-State also has its share of sports tradition and strength. The Wildcats have become a national power in volleyball, cross country and football.
But an equestrian team isn't the answer to broaden athletic opportunities in Manhattan.
Linenherzer is a Washington, Kan., senior in journalism.
Kansas wide receiver Harrison Hill is tackled after making a catch in last season's game against Notre Dame. Hill missed the season opener against Southern Methodist because of chronic dehydration but will play tomorrow against Alabama-Birmingham. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
Jayhawks anticipate chance to turn season around early
By Jason Franchuk
Kansan sports writer
sports.kansan.com
Along with being the Butcher on the field, Carl Ne Smith is the Kansas football team's foremost hacker.
A novice golfer, the Jayhawks' safety is still learning the terminology of the sport, like 'mulligan,' when a golfer hits a ball off into the trees, and then gets another shot.
Allen and the Jayhawks know that football mulligans are just like the golf variety: To redirect this season, there's just one shot.
The team hopes that tomorrow against Alabama-Birmingham will be its redo to salvage the season.
"I'm nervous about this game," coach Terry Allen said. "We need to make some positive things happen early."
Allen remains positive about this team, but his confidence has been more subdued since Kansas lost its opener two weeks ago at Southern Methodist.
"We need this one real bad," junior cornerback Andrew Davison said. "The other one
KANSAS VS. ALABAMA-
BIRMINGHAM
Time: 6 p.m. tomorrow
Place: Memorial Stadium
Television: Tape delay on Channel 6 at 10 p.m.
Radio: Live broadcast on 105.9 FM the Lazer
Web: Play-by-play coverage, links to radio feeds and a post-game story on www.kansan.com
could have been huge, but it's nothing compared to these next two."
Davison has been one of Kansas' biggest critics. After losing in Dallas, Davison spoke of how he was distraught returning to Lawrence. He did not want to talk to friends back home in Detroit. He was embarrassed walking to his classes two days later when he felt the glares of fellow students.
"We were supposed to have that game," he said. "We weren't supposed to just win, we were supposed to blow them out. Then we get home, and I couldn't even stand to wear my Kansas football shirt.
Everybody thinks right now that we're the same old team. We're not."
This is the time for Davison and the rest of the Jayhawks to prove that, a spot at redemption that could rescue this year. A loss to the Blazers, hypothetically, could cause an avalanche of headaches. Despite all the speculation, Allen insisted he felt no more urgency to win tomorrow than he did any other game.
This is just another chance for the Jayhawks to play again, and to do it at home where they have been exponentially more successful.
"I can't wait to get back out there," said wide receiver Harrison Hill, who will return after missing most of the preseason and the opener because of chronic dehydration. "We're going to be at home, in front of our fans. It's going to be excited."
Besides Hill, Kansas also will get NeSmith back after he missed the SMU game when Allen suspended him for a conduct violation.
"He's kind of the heart of our defense," Davison said. "He's also the mouth. He gets us going."
- Edited by Erin McDaniel
Surface conditions force soccer team to Overland Park
By Yoshitaka Ebisawa
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
The players are ready; their home field isn't
After playing the season's first six games on the road, the Kansas women's soccer team (3-3) was supposed to enjoy a homefield advantage against two non-conference foes this weekend — Mississippi at 4 p.m. tomorrow and Southwest Missouri State at 1 p.m. Sunday — in the KU Credit Union Jayhawk Soccer Classic.
But because of the bad surface conditions of SuperTarget Field in Lawrence, the tournament has been moved to Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park.
"Obviously, it's a big disadvantage for us not being able to play on our own field," coach Mark Francis said. "It's like playing another away game."
Sophinore disliked the change but supported the decision.
"I'd hate to have a team come in this field representing our school. It just looks really bad on us," she said. "I think playing on a better surface is going to help us mentally. We're not going to have to worry about bumps on the field or anything. It's going to be a lot more controlled game."
KU CREDIT UNION JAYHAWK CLASSIC
Kansas soccer team vs. Ole Miss at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Kansas vs. Southwest Missouri State at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park.
Take K-10 East, which becomes 1435S.
Take the Quivira Road exit, No. 82.
- Turn right onto Quivira Road,
- Turn left onto 135th Street,
■ The field is located at the intes-
section of Switzer and 135th
streets (look for field lights).
Despite the loss of the homefield advantages, Brown, who was named defensive player of last week's California-Irvine Tournament in Irvine, Calif., said that the team was ready for the tough competition.
"I definitely think we've been improving every game so that it's going to be healthy for us to see how we hold up against a good team," she said. "It'll be a close game."
Jennifer Ray, a freshman midfielder and last week's Newcomer of the Week in the Big 12 Conference, agreed that the team is prepared to play against tough opponents.
"I don't think the record on paper reflects the way we've been playing," she said. "There's been more than one occasion where we should have won the game we lost."
Ray said the team should have won four or five games instead of three.
Ole Miss (3-2) will head into the tournament on the heel of last Friday's 5-1 victory against Southern Mississippi. The Rebels finished last season with a 14-9 record, including a 3-1 victory against Kansas.
Southwest Missouri State has lost three of its last four matches, but is capable of mass-producing goals as evidenced by a 7-0 win against Arkansas State. Kansas defeated the Bears 3-1 last season in Springfield, Mo.
The two non-conference teams will kick off the tournament at 4 p.m. today as they face each other.
"Mississippi is going to be a tough game. They are a very good team." Francis said.
He said Southwest Missouri had a more physical style of game.
But Francis still expects to win the tournament. "Players are getting used to each other and understanding the system better," he said. "If we show up and play well both games, we should win it."
—Edited by John Audlehelm
Sarah Rome, freshman outside hitter, prepares to serve the ball in a match against Colorado Wednesday night at the Horejsi Family Athletic Center. The Jayhawks face No. 19 Texas A&M at 6 tonight in College Station, Texas. Photo by Craig Bennett/KANSAN
Kansas faces Big 12 road battle
Undefeated Jayhawks plan to prove themselves against Texas A&M
By Sarah Warren
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
Even though the Kansas volleyball team has one Big 12 Conference challenge out of the way, the Jayhawks face yet another when they take on Texas A&M tonight in College Station. Texas.
Kansas heads to the Lone Star State with a 9-10 record following a win against Colorado Wednesday night. The No. 19 Aggies, meanwhile, are 4-3 and 0-1 in Big 12 play after a defeat at the hands of unranked Missouri.
"Anytime you play in our conference, you're going up against the best in the country," said Kansas coach Ray Bechard. "Texas A&M included."
Although the Aggies can be defeated, as the Tigers proved Wednesday night, they have never lost to the Jayhawks.
"These girls are really learning what they can do out there," he said. "They really do battle."
leading the all-time series 9-0.
Indeed, Bechard said that he had confidence that his players could do anything they put their minds to.
And the Jayhawks are going to have to do battle with Texas A&M much like they did against Colorado this week.
"We just need to come out and play hard if we're going to beat them," said Danielle Geronymo, senior middle block. "And we can do that."
If Texas A&M and Kansas battle the way Kansas and Colorado dueled, the match at 6 tonight could keep the fans at G. Rolling White Coliseum in their seats for a couple of hours of action. The Kansas-Colorado match lasted two-and-a-half hours and five matches until the Javahawks won on a net violation.
According to junior setter Molly LaMere, the 'Hawks don't expect to go
"Texas A&M is very similar to Colorado," Bechard said. "They have more upperclassmen, more experience, though."
quietly into the night tonight, either.
To gain the respect of the Big 12, the Jayhawks plan to capitalize and build on their strengths — ball control and kills.
"We're going to study their hitters and know what to look for," she said. "We're going to prove to people that they should have confidence in us."
Senior outside hitter Amy Myatt has recorded 101 kills in a week, while LaMere has 288 set-assists in that time frame — a testament to Kansas' ball control skills. In addition to those stats, the Jayhawks have begun to improve in the digs department, garnering 88 against Colorado.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M middle blocker Heather Marshall is leading her team with 3.48 kills and 1.52 blocks per game, and setter Jenna Moscovic was a preseason All-Big 12 selection, currently averaging 12.7 assists per game.
"They're a conference team, so we're going to have to be at our best," Bechard said. "Hopefully we'll be ready."
— Edited by Shawn Hutchinson