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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2001
Commentary
Chris Wristen Columnist sportskanan.com
Inspirational cross country runners brave snow,heat
Sub-freezing temperatures should signal that it's time to head indoors, snuggle up on the couch and start watching college basketball 23 hours per day.
Sadly, that's been the story of my semester, with the lone exception of going to basketball games, which replaced football, volleyball and soccer. So instead of taking it easy this winter, it's time for me to tackle a new challenge: to stop becoming a fat ass.
It should be time to take a break from exercising, take a break from being healthy and just enjoy being lazy until March when the weather warms up again.
After spending the semester hard at work keeping local downtown establishments in business, hanging out at a friend's house that has a bar in the living room and ignorantly bypassing the extended warmth this fall, I decided that Monday's 44-degree weather would be the ideal time to start exercising.
I simply waited three-and-a-half months to start running again so I could add seven pounds of "warmth" to my muscular physique and be ready to handle the bitter-cold Lawrence weather.
But now I'm ready to get in shape again and I encourage you all to join me. Besides, let's be honest, we could all use a little exercise in the wake of Thanksgiving. With the weather becoming chilly and some added insulation on the belly, there's no better time to start. Winter is the ideal season to run. Summers are great, but cold weather truly tests a runner's commitment.
Fortunately we have some good role models at KU whose dedication should inspire us to take the next few months seriously. Kansas cross country runners do this year-round. Rain or shine, deathly hot or freezing cold, they always run.
In 20-degree weather and thick snowfall you'll surely see seniors Brent Behrens, Brian Blachly and Charlie Gruber dashing across campus and around town — in shorts — leaving their tracks in the snow.
In a heavy downpour you'll probably see sophomores Laura Lavie and Lauren Brownrigg and freshman Jennifer Duffy sloshing through the mud as they conquer a routine eight-mile workout.
You also won't find an ounce of flab on any of them. They don't take three months off, one month off or even a full week off — ever. Distance running is always in season, and if you snooze, you lose. You'll only find them downtown for minutes at a time as they glide down the sidewalk, turn the corner, shorten their strides and charge back up Mount Oread.
Theirs Is a diet of pasta and peanut butter and jelly, not 50 chicken wings and a pitcher of Boulevard Wheat at jefferson's.
Year-round dedication to their sport and a healthy lifestyle is why they aren't getting fat like me and many of the rest of us. It's also why they could take time off to watch basketball and become lazy slobs and they'd still be in better shape than most of us.
But they're better than that, and it's about time we start following their lead, conquer the cold and get back in shape.
Wristen is a Leawood senior in journalism.
Freshmen test Gorillas
Pittsburg State game to give gauge of trios' progress, Simien out with injury
By Ryan Malashock Kansan sportswriter
Roy Williams has operated on a steeper learning curve with his freshman this season.
The Kansas men's basketball coach's four freshmen, Aaron Miles, Keith Langford, Michael Lee and Wayne Simien, each are major contributors, and Williams said the freshmen have had plenty to learn about the Kansas (2-1) system.
pley to learn about Tonight's 7 p.m. game at Allen Fieldhouse against Division II Pittsburgh State (3-1) will be an accurate gauge of the freshmen's progress. Williams said
gudge of the first step program.
“This Year Aaron, Wayne and Keith have all had to do more learning, and things have been more shaky for the freshmen,” Williams said.
“We have to go back and cover things over and over again, but that's just part of the teaching process. The process is still going on.”
Simien, who Williams said was Kansas' most consistent freshman in the preseason, was missing from the Jayhawk lineup in Maui. Simien tore ligaments in his left knee in practice two weeks ago. Williams said Simien had been participating in non-contact drills in practice this week and wouldn't see action tonight.
Miles and Langford each played pivotal roles in Kansas' three games in the Maui Invitational last week. Langford averaged 11.3 points and Miles led the team with 19 assists. Lee came off the bench and gave the Jayhawks depth in the backcourt.
"He's upset about being hurt." Williams said yesterday. "He's wanted to play, but he's not ready yet."
Keith Langford, freshman guard/forward, drives toward the basket in the first half of the Fort Hays State game. Langford had a pivotal role in the Maui Invitational last week, averaging 11.3 points.
SEE PITTSBURG PAGE 8B
Allen says program grew in his 5 years
By Brent Briggeman Kansan sportswriter
According to Terry Allen, the new Kansas football coach will enter a better situation than he did when he took the job five years ago.
From both a talent and facility standpoint, Allen said he left the program better than he found it.
When Allen came to Lawrence in December of 1996, it had been nearly 20 years since a substantial amount of money had been devoted to the football program and aging stadium. In recent years, that pattern has changed dramatically.
In 1999, a two-year, $26 million renovation project was completed at Memorial Stadium. The project included extensive infrastructure repairs, new concession stands and restrooms, a new home locker room and a larger press box equipped with 36 new scholarship suites. The 1999 season also brought the debut of the video board in the south endzone.
field was removed and a new AstroPlay surface was installed. The new surface created a softer, safer playing field.
Last year, the AstroTurf
In August, Kansas alumnus Dana Anderson gave the school $4 million to be put toward a new weight facility.
With a total cost of $8.5 million, the Anderson Strength Center will be a two-story, 15,000 square-foot complex. It is scheduled to open within the next two years.
CHRIS BURKET/KANSAN
SEE ALLEN PAGE 3B
Terry Allen is awaiting new job prospects after losing his position as Jayhawks head coach.
Football players awarded All-Big 12 honors
Bv Jeff Denton
Kansan sportswriter
The dozen coaches in one of college football's most competitive conferences took notice of Justin Hartwig, enough to award the Jayhawks' right tackle with second-team All-Big 12 honors.
The coaches recognized three other Kansas seniors. Middle linebacker Marcus Rogers was named third-team All-Big 12. Cornerback Andrew Davison and outside linebacker Algie Atkinson were named honorable mention All-Big 12.
pounds, was selected to the Big 12 coaches' honorable mention teams after his sophomore and junior seasons. He completed his four-year career on Saturday in Kansas' 27-14 win against Wyoming. His start at right tackle was his 34th straight.
Senior Harrison Hill informed Hartwig about the honor before Saturday's game. He said he appreciated the recognition, but said the award award didn't erase Kansas' disappointing 3-8 season.
Hartwig, 6-foot-4. 205
"It was frustrating to go through such a bad year," Hartwig said. "But it's always nice to get an individual award like that."
Sam Pittman, Kansas offensive line coach, said he saw Hartwig emerge during the last half of the season. Pittman was impressed with the way Hartwick battled against talented defenses such as Nebraska,
Though the season has ended, Hartwig said he would continue working out to stay in shape. Hartwig has been invited to play in the Blue-Gray game on Dec.25 in Montgomery, Ala.The annual game showcases the elite seniors of college football in front of NFL scouts.
Marcus Rogers: Third-team AllBig-12, 6-foot-2, 235, linebacker, lead the team in tackles this season with 97 despite missing the last two games with an ankle injury.
Andrew Davison: Honorable mention All-Big 12,5-foot-11, 185, corner-back, finished his career with 38 consecutive starts and six interceptions.
SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 8B
Aligie Attkinson:
Honorable mention All-Big 12,6-foot-5,
240, linebacker, finished his career as Kansas' all-time sack leader with 23.
Justin Hartwig:
Second team All-
Big 12, 6-foot-4,
295, offensive tacke
le, will play in Dec.
25 Blue-Gray
game, college
football's first and
oldest postseason
game.
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
No.1 Duke 80
No. 13 Iowa
62
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
No.4 Maryland 76
No.2 Illinois
63
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
No.23 Wake Forest 85
Minnesot 79
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
Creighton
Creighton 94
No.18 Western Kentucky 91
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