Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
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Tuesday, September 5, 2000
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Kansas Football
Jayhawks hope to move past loss, learn from mistakes
Kansas wide receiver Roger Ross struggles to break away from SMU free safety Leroy Price during the second half of Saturday's game. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
By Allan Davis sports@kansas.com Kansans sportswriter
That may be the best philosophy for the Jayhawks after their 31-17 loss to Southern Methodist University Saturday. The Jayhawks said they recognized their errors and would put the loss behind them as they prepared for their next opponent, the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Saturday, Sept. 16, at Memorial Stadium.
"We just want to go back and prepare ourselves for UAB," said junior wide receiver Terraine Fulton. "There's nothing we can do about it now. It's just one of those nights that happen. I guess they were just more prepared than us and ready to play more than us. We just made a lot of mistakes — dropped passes, special teams. But we're not going to dwell on it. We can't let this stick with us the whole season."
Senior Eric Patterson, who caught
three passes for 21, started at wide receiver in place of junior Harrison Hill. Patterson was aware early in the week that Hill, suffering from dehydration, would not be able to play.
"We just can't start out like we did," Patterson said. "You can't have the mistakes in the special teams — things like that. We've just got to come back after the off week and play harder. We're going to focus harder in practice. Everyone's going to get on the same page. I believe our outcome is going to be a lot better against UAB."
Senior Bilal Cook started at free safety in place of co-captain Carl Nesmith Nesmith was suspended for a violation of the team code of conduct.
"It was not, as everyone often assumes in those situations, a drug situation," said coach Terry Allen. "It was a situation where he broke some rules, and we won't stand for that. That's over. It was for one game. He's still one of our captains, and we're anxious to get him back."
It's doubtful that Nesmith's presence
would have altered the outcome, given the number of mistakes the Jayhawks made.
However, after their first-quarter punt-team problems, the Jayhawks demonstrated that they could move the ball even though they failed to capitalize on a couple of close-to-the-goal line opportunities. They settled for a field goal in the second quarter and turned the ball over on downs in the fourth quarter after a catch by tight end David Hurst led to a first-and-goal on the one-yard line.
"We had a chance," Fulton said. "We just couldn't convert and make things happen. When you've got those kinds of opportunities, you can't let them pass you by. You've got to take advantage of that."
in the fourth quarter, Smith hooked up with wide receiver Roger Ross for three receptions for 39 yards, and Fulton caught a 32-yard touchdown pass, bringing the 'Hawks to within two touchdowns.
'Hawks' confidence shaken following road defeat to Mustangs
— Edited by Amy Randolph
By Jason Franchuk sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
Kansas coach Terry Allen has spent the majority of his life in Iowa, but Saturday he sounded like a man who grew up in California.
In California, disasters — such as earthquakes and hurricanes — seem inevitable. The Jayhawks, when playing anywhere away from home, have been a disaster of
ourir own. So when Southern Methodist University beat Kansas Saturday in Dallas, 31-17, Allen acted like his team already had gone through the proper precautions to try and move forward.
"Unfortunately, we've been through this before." Allen said.
What looked like a confident team is shaken after losing another road game.
"There's nowhere to go but up," said David Hurst, sophomore tight
end. "I don't want to say we're at rock bottom ... but we can only go up."
The loss evoked memories of last year's defeat to San Diego State, in which Kansas was humiliated at home by what was considered by many an inferior opponent. But this was different.
Kansas looked more prepared for this game than it did before last year's debacle. All along, Allen and his players insisted that
If for nothing else, give Allen credit for making a gutsy change to his defense by suspending All-American safety candidate Carl Nesmith before the game, which may have been a factor in Kansas' defensive struggle. Allen declined to elaborate on the suspension but said Nesmith was expected to start Saturday, Sept. 16, against Alabama-Birmingham.
in no way were they overlooking the Mustangs.
The loss could have trickle-down effects for Kansas. First, of course, is fan base and interest. After the Jayhawks lost to San Diego State last year, nearly 10,000 fewer fans came out the next week to watch Kansas beat SMU.
Second, Kansas has 32 Texans on its roster, and losing there, lywhere potential recruits are watching, cannot help matters.
"Those are things associated with a loss," Allen said. "And they
certainly could affect us later."
For now, Allen said he did not want to think about playing on the road again. He figures the Jayhawks have plenty of work to do to get ready for their next two home games.
"Well, now we're playing twice at home," he said. "There's three weeks before we play on the road again. We've got to take care of our mistakes before we can talk about being successful on the road."
— Edited by Shawn Hutchinson
EVERYTHING BUT ICE
BEDS • DESKS
CHEST OF DRAWERS
BOOK CASES
unclaimed freight &
damaged merchandise
936 Mass.
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J. HOOD, BOOKSELLERS IS CLOSING
We appreciate the support from all our customers over the years, extend our thanks for your patronage, and encourage you to continue buying and reading good books.
After twenty-six years of operating an open bookshop in Lawrence, Kansas - we will be closing the door at 1401 Massachusetts and moving on to a new chapter in our adventure with scholarly books.
John & Gloria Hood
We are grateful to the Lawrence community for being the kind of place in 1974 which allowed a tiny independent business to begin and flourish, and hope there are still places in the city for that to continue amidst the giant corporate invasion now happening. With fewer than 1000 used books, we opened August 28th, 1974 and grew to over 85,000, selling them first to our Lawrence customers and now all over the world through the data banks of the internet. With the shift in book buying toward mega-stores and the internet, coupled with the desire to simplify our personal lives, the open shop is no longer a sustainable avenue for selling our books.
We will begin September with a 20% reduction sale on all the books in the store and then transfer our computer cataloged titles to the new bookbarn near our home. The remaining books will then be sold with a progressive reduction over the next 4-6 weeks.