Section B · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, September 1, 2000
'Hawks hoping to beat the heat
Continued from page 1B
have rested for spurts at practice to chug any drink they could find, Allen has kept his glass half-full on the heat dilemma.
"The weather has contributed to a lot of guys missing practice over the course of the past few weeks," Allen said. "Having had to practice in the 100-plus temperatures will benefit us in the long run, though."
the temperature in Dallas tomorrow is expected to hover near the century mark. The 6 p.m. kickoff should help some, but it should not matter to 32 Jayhawks who hall from Texas (21 will suit up), including five from Dallas. From Austin (sophomore tight end David Hurst), to Waco (freshman quarterback Mario Kinsey), this is a home game for these guys.
The rest of the Jayhawks may need the Texas natives to help them feel at home. Home is where the Jayhawkes have played their best and where Allen would prefer to open his fourth year at Kansas. The players insist that there is no mental roadblock because of its past ineptitude on the road, but maybe the Texans can help.
Kansas' football team cannot bring most of its fans to Dallas for Saturday's season opener. Nor can the Jayhawks lug their lockers, or their beds, to Southern Methodist to make themselves at home.
And because the opposition doesn't make a habit of welcoming its visitors with open arms, Kansas cannot hear its song, AC/DC's "Hell's Bells," which
blares through the speakers as the team storms onto Memorial Stadium for home contests.
"Playing on the road is tough, man," said running back Moran Norris, a Texas native. "Nothing is the same as it is at home."
So this trip to Dallas is not just about the game. It is a psychological battle staged within each Kansas player, who will have to convince himself that playing in front of what Terry Allen refers to as a "hostile environment"—the road crowd — is the same as playing a game with the Campanile in the background. The burning question is whether the Jayhawks can withstand the heat on the road.
"If in the history of sport we had the answer to (why road games are tougher)," Allen said, "we'd all be rich people."
10 this point with Allen as coach, Kansas has accepted the script of losing to better teams on the road. But there have also been disasters at Iowa State and Missouri — two conference foes the Jayhawks should match up well against considering league ranks and records. At home, it's been just the opposite. Kansas has beaten Iowa State and Missouri, and has been incredibly competitive against teams like Nebraska in a close 24-17 loss last season.
The opener at SMU poses an interesting problem. A simple glance at both teams shows that the Jayhawks should win easily. After all, they won last year's match-up at Memorial Stadium without a problem, 27-9. And Kansas responded better in that game than it does typically on the road. At one point, Kansas trailed 9-0. But Kansas has broken down in previous road games, and Allen would rather not have his players reading articles detailing past failures.
So as the Jayhawks try to regain full health by tomorrow, they face searing heat, a road crowd, and the pressure that if they do not win this road game, it may be a while before there is another chance. Their next three opponents are Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska.
"We have to get this one for our confidence and so we can start this season off better," defensive lineman Nate Dwyer said.
Last season, Kansas lost its first two road games to Notre Dame and Colorado before a humiliating home loss.
In Texas, they remember the Alamato. At Kansas, the Jayhawks remember last year's San Diego State 41-13 victory at Memorial Stadium.
The heat is on. The heat is most definitely on.
Smith left practice approximately 40 minutes early yesterday, walking off with a trainer after suffering more flu-like symptoms.
"Dylen is still going to play, he's fine," said Allen. "He's just having a little more effect of the flu symptoms. He should be fine."
— Edited by Shawn Hutchinson
SMU optimistic for home opener
Bv Allan Davis
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Southern Methodist University football team is determined to have a successful inaugural game in its new stadium Gerald J. Ford Stadium, named after a successful banker who contributed heavily to the cost of building the stadium.
The 32,000-seat stadium is expected to be full or nearly full of screaming Mustang fans who are expecting to win the first game in the facility.
the help wren opener Mustangs coach Mike Cavan said he would like to keep the Jayhawks from running where they please in the season opener.
The Kansas football team, who invited guests to the inaugural game, intend to ruin the Mustangs' Ford Stadium housewarming party. The Jayhawks intend to turn the housewarming into an open house — go wherever they want to, as in up and down the field with repeated visits to the end zone.
"Obviously, we want to get off to a good start," Cavan said. The Mustangs were 4-6 last season, but Cavan said he was optimistic about this season. SMU returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense.
It's no secret that the Jayhawks have only one starter returning on the defensive line, so SMU plans to challenge the Kansas run
Cavan said he had confidence in his offensive line, which returns four starters. In addition to giving the quarterback time to pass, the Mustangs' offensive line is expected to open holes for the running backs to exploit.
defense. The Mustangs are expected to use a one-back offense with last year's leading rusher, sophomore Kris Briggs, who averaged 5.1 yards per carry and got most of the carries last season. The Mustangs can be expected to try to establish their running game behind their experienced offensive line and then try to beat the Jayhawks defensive backs with deep play-action passes.
SMU's starting quarterback, junior Josh McCown, said he had faith in his wide receivers.
Our receivers can really stretch the field." McCown said.
The Mustang defense might have some problems with the Jayhawks balanced offense. The Dallas Morning News called the Mustangs' defensive line "questionable." Even though the Jayhawks have some new starters on the offensive line, they do have a size advantage compared to the SMU defensive line. Experienced running backs such as David Winbush and Norris don't need huge holes to get through, so the Jayhawks should be successful running the ball against the Mustangs 4-3 defense.
The Mustangs' pass defense might also be suspect. Referring to the defensive backs, The Dallas Morning News said, "This is the biggest area of concern."
Freshman Leroy Price will start at free safety. The other three starters are 5-foot9, 5-9 and 5-10, and the Jayhawks taller receivers may be able to exploit their size advantage.
Edited by Kathryn Moore
Two new features appearing in Section B near the Classifieds in the Kansan.
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