Friday, August 25. 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
It's wide open in AFC West
Five NFL teams could have shot at division title
The Associated Press
One thing the AFC West won't be is boring. It's already been the NFL's busiest division during the preseason, off the field and on.
There's been tragedy, with the death of Chiefs star linebacker Derrick Thomas.
There's been controversy, with Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski dealing with an indictment for unlawful possession of a controlled substance, obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and deceit, and two counts of conspiracy.
There's been a possible career resurrection by Ryan Leaf in San Diego. Seattle might have found the league's most sensational rookie in running back Shaun Alexander. And the Raiders, well, they've simply been
the Raiders, which means nothing is predictable.
Nor is the AFC West predictable.
It's conceivable that all five teams will go deep into December with a shot at the division title. Only Denver wasn't in a position to make the playoffs down the stretch in 1999, and the Broncos may be the team to beat this year.
If they can settle down after the disturbing Romanowski saga, the Broncos should be over the trauma of losing John Elway to retirement. They have Terrell Davis back from a knee injury, and some depth behind him in Olandis Gary.
The best receiver in the AFC West for years has been Oakland's Tim Brown, but he's rarely had enough support to get the Raiders into the playoffs. They should have been there last year. All eight of the Raiders' losses came by seven points or less.
To cure that and a weak kicking game that cost them field position, the Raiders made Sebastian Janikowski the first kicker taken in the opening round of the draft since 1979.
Also at 8-8 last season was San Diego, a surprise because only Cleveland scored fewer
points in the AFC. The Chargers' calling card was their defense, paced by the indomitable Junior Seau at linebacker and safety Rodney Harrison.
Kansas City had the division in its grasp last year, then flopped down the stretch, as losses to Seattle and Oakland blew a chance at the division title and a playoff berth. Still, the Chiefs were 9-7 in a retooling season under first-year coach Gunther Cunningham.
The Seahawks must deal with a late-season slump that nearly kept them from their first playoff berth since 1988. They won the division only because the Raiders edged the Chiefs in overtime in the season finale.
Seattle coach Mike Holmgren must decipher whether the real Seahawks are the team that started 8-2 or the one that finished 1-5 and fell at home to Miami in the wild-card round.
He also isn't sold on Jon Kitna at quarterback, but seems enamored of the game-breaking skills top-draft pick Alexander brings to the backfield.
Prediction: Denver (10-6): Kansas City (9-7)
Oakland (9-7): Seattle (8-8): San Diego (7-9)
Horror Zontals take game to new heights
Continued from page 1B
Despite their on-field accomplishments, many of the team members agree that it is the camaraderie and commitment that make the group special.
"We get to travel all around the country to warm places such as our ten-day trip to Savannah, Ga.," said Will Griggs, Topeka senior. "The sport helps us to be committed, to work with others and to teach others."
While some of the players found out about Ultimate upon arrival at Kansas, others played informally with high school friends.
Joe Shoffner, Williamsburg, Va., senior, found out about the sport in an unorthodox manner.
"I was on the cross-country team in high school, and our coach made our Friday practices Ultimate Frisbee games," he said. Laing said that he decided he wanted to play Ultimate Frisbee after an encounter with some Horror Zontal members at his residence hall his freshman year. He also had the chance to play the game overseas while he studied abroad in England the following year.
The team is open to recruiting players with little or no frisbee experience. However, many of the team members have previous experience in another sport.
Brandon Eastland, Topeka senior, said he was optimistic about his first season with the Zontals.
"This sport gives us great exercise, and
we have a cool team," said Eastland, who played in a summer league.
The team has three or four practices per week during which they run drills, scrimage and work on fundamentals. They plan to begin their fall practice Thursday and prep for a themed tournament in Razorback Country.
The Zontals will go to Fayetteville, Ark. on Halloween weekend for the Harvest Moon tournament. Unlike ordinary Ultimate tournaments, Harvest Moon requires teams to dress up for the occasion. "Last year, our team had a 'Braveheart' theme," Hindman said. "We played Ultimate in kilts and face paint."
— Edited by John Audlehelm
Interactive Artwork maze by crop artist Stan Herd
•Helicopter rides Labor Day Weekend
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