SOCCER: Six players named to academic All-Big 12 teams. See Page 12A. MEN'S GOLF: Tyler Hall surfaces as a top performer. See Page 16A
10A
---
SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TALK TO US: Contact Jay Kraill or Sarah Warren at (785) 864-4858 or sports@ksan.com
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, 2001
Commentary
Brandon Stinnet
Columnist
opinionakansan.com
Despite bad rep,fat burners no real danger
From weight lifters to exercise junkies millions of Americans have turned to over-the-counter fat-burning supplements, such as Xenadrine and Hydroxicut, to lose fat and in shape.
Senior guard KC Hilgenkamp drives the lane against Houston Jaguar Anitra Davis. Hilgenkamp had nine points in Kansas' loss last night.
cut, to lose interest.
But reports of health problems associated with these supplements have prompted many doctors and pharmacists to advise patients against taking them.
to advise patients agree. Clinical trials show that fat-burning supplements often do lead to increased weight loss when paired with a healthy diet and exercise program. And reports of negative side effects are minuscule compared to the millions of people who take them.
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
In their attempt to save consumers from a potential health risk, people, such as Hy-Vee pharmacist Jeff Hodgson, are keeping consumers away from a proven aid in the battle against obesity.
milions of people who use But this hasn't stopped overreacting doctors and pharmacists from urging people to steer clear of fat-burning supplements.
"I tell people to change their eating and exercising habits instead of taking supplements," Hodgson says.
But why?
But why. The Food and Drug Administration received 140 reports of adverse events related to the use of fat-burning supplements between June 1, 1997 and March 31, 1999. The New England Journal of Medicine examined each report and concluded that just 43 of the incidents were likely caused by the supplements. Of those incidents deemed supplement-related, there were four strokes, two heart attacks, one seizure and three deaths.
Not exactly the type of numbers that warrant large amounts of negative criticism, especially considering that millions of Americans use these supplements every day.
Most of the hoopla centers around ephedra, an ingredient found in most fatburning supplements that increases blood pressure and heart rate and releases adrenaline that puts the body on full alert
A 1994 federal law left the Food and Drug Administration powerless to regulate supplements the way it does most over-the-counter and prescription drugs. As a result, fat burners that contain ephedra are not subjected to the same stringent clinical tests that other drugs must go through to earn FDA approval.
Hodgson says, "Its kind of dangerous to recommend a product that is not recommended by the FDA."
True, the FDA does not advocate the use of fat-burning supplements, but not because they pose a serious threat to most users. They simply haven't been tested enough to earn approval.
Critics, such as Hodgson, say the lack of FDA approval and documented reports of side effects should be enough evidence to convince consumers not to take fatburning supplements. But critics fail to take into account that most of the millions of supplement users nationwide experience no negative side effects whatsoever.
In a sense, Hodgson is right. Fat burners are dangerous and people have died while using them. But life, by nature, is dangerous. People, simply by daring to exist, assume a host of dangers that can be fatal.
assume a car from driving a car to simply turning on a light switch, people get hurt and die all the time. It's inevitable.
Fat-burning supplements simply provide an edge for people trying to improve their lives. A handful of reports citing possible side effects shouldn't keep people from taking them.
Stinnett is a Shawnee senior in journalism and psychology
Kansas women lose to Jaguars
By Jessica Scott Kansan sportswriter
It took half the game, but the Kansas women's basketball team managed to work out some of the off-season kinks and start competing last night, in the first of two exhibition games.
carson high school
However, "jitters" as
Kansas coach Marian
Washington called
them, got the best of her
Jayhawks as the Houston
Jaquaras won 67-60.
"These kids before the game were very nervous, very nervous," Washington said.
The nerves were evident. After a sloppy beginning, the Jajhwaks trailed 36-21 at halftime. Kansas' starting five contributed only nine points in the first half, shooting 4 of 19 combined. Senior KC Hilgenkamp was held scoreless until early in the second half, finishing with nine points on 4 of 13 shooting.
"I thought we lost the ball game in the first half," Washington said. "We certainly didn't shoot very well. We shot a lot better in the second half, played defense better in the second half."
Kansas put together a run midway through the second half once its shooting warmed up. A short jump shot, followed by a steal and layup by Hilgenkamp, sparked the Kansas squad offensively. Freshmen Blair Waltz and Chelsey Thompson both hit short jumps and
senior Kristin Geoffroy scored, closing the gap to five points.
"I think it was a real good indication that they do have a lot of heart," Washington said of the run that her team put together. "They never stopped playing. I'm really pleased that they continued to fight."
the game was the contribution of the newcomers. Thompson and Waltz combined for 13 points with only two turnovers. Sophomore Keila Beachem added seven points and 11 rebounds.
"I was really impressed with the way Keila played," Hilgenkamp said. "I thought she did a great job on rebounding.
One bright aspect of
Kansas faces Fort Hays State at 2:05 p.m. Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse for its final exhibition game.
Contact Scott at 864:
4858
Panel to use its expertise to find new football coach
By Jeff Denton Kansan sportswriter
Al Bohl made no secret Sunday that he wanted to quicken the process of finding former coach Terry Allen's permanent successor.
Step one for Kansas' first-year athletics director - find the right people to hire the right man.
Two days after firing his football coach, Bohl assembled a 16-person panel that will spearhead Kansas' football coach search committee. Bohl said finding the right fit was centered around not limiting his choices.
His melting pot of knowledge includes six former Kansas football players, three faculty members, a member of the rowing team, the Kansas track coach, an adviser to the Chancellor and a pair of Jayhawks boosters.
Several committee members could not be reached for comment, but the man responsible for the hiring and the firing spoke freely.
"This is a huge decision for the University," Bohl said yesterday. "It was important to have diversity on there, and it was critical to
rear good.
Former Kansas running back David Winbush and Kansas rower Amanda Leland were the two students named to the group. Winbush, who amassed 3,910 all-purpose yards at Kansas from 1997-2000, caught Bohl's attention with an impressive resume and keen football mind.
have two students on there. I feel that these people can do some real good."
"I asked a lot of people who was really David Winbush," Bohl said. "Having played here and having good ties with a program, he was a great choice."
he was a great Leland is a sophomore varsity rower from Stanford, Calif. Bohl was drawn to her because he and her father shared the same profession. After meeting her and observing her dedication, Bohl asked Leland if she wanted to be included.
Leland's father is the athletics director at Stanford.
"She's been in and around athletics her entire life. I saw that she was open to the challenge." Bohl said.
Another part of the panel is Kansas track coach Stanley Red-
pen.
Bohl said that rounding up the search committee followed a pattern familiar to him. Well-known Division I coaches Nick Saban of LSU and Gary Pinkel of Missouri were reeled in by Bohl while he led the athletics department at Toledo. Hill was baited by Bohl when he steered the athletics department at Frekno State.
wine. Bohl said many potential football recruits expressed an interest in running track in college. He is interested in luring lightning-fast wide receivers.
"Some of these kids want to do both—look at programs like Tennessee," Bohl said. "All of a sudden we got a couple of great wide receivers who can flat out run. I want coach Redwine and him to work together to make that happen."
Bohl is confident he can find the right man for Kansas. And he believes in the 16-people he hired to lead the way.
"Football has not done very well here," Bohl said. "We now have the right people in place to change that."
Contact Denton at 864-4858
All-Stars to test Jayhawks in first game
By Ryan Malashock Kansan sportswriter
Twenty practices was enough for Roy Williams. The Kansas men's basketball coach wants his team, especially his newcomers, to perform in a game.
As of Monday, Williams said the team had not upset him throughout its preseason practices.
Tonight, his Jayhawks begin their season when they take on the EA Sports Central All-Stars at 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
need to find some things out.
One thing that Williams needs to find out is the fifth starter in his lineup. Williams wasn't sure who would join senior Jeff Boschee and juniors Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison and Drew Gooden in the starting lineup tonight. Collison said the starting lineup wouldn't matter yet, but that he had a general idea. Freshman guards Aaron Miles and Keith Langford came to mind.
"We've had 19 practices so far, 20 will be today, and only one has been awful." Williams said Monday at his weekly press conference. "The freshmen have been doing a good job of fitting in, and the upper-classmen are setting the tone. But I was just looking at the schedule and saw that we start in two weeks so we need to find some things out."
"I think you'll see a lot of experimenting with line-ups," Collison said. "Right now I'd say Aaron, Kirk, Jeff, me and Drew would start just because I think those are the guys who are playing the best. You could go with Keith instead of Aaron just to have more of a prototype 3-man, maybe get a few more rebounds."
prototype 3-man, may be grayhawk In addition to Miles and Langford, Williams also mentioned freshman forward Wayne Simien as a possible starter. Simien would start if Kansas wanted to match up against a team with a size advantage.
match up against a team with a lead.
Kansas has won ten consecutive exhibition games dating back to 1995, and has won 14 consecutive home exhibition games. EA Sports' roster is comprised of former collegiate players, most notably former UCLA forward Kris Johnson. Johnson will return to Allen Fieldhouse after playing against Kansas in 1995. Preseason No. 1 Dukeblew out EA Sports 129-94 in Durham Monday night, sending EA Sports to its fourth straight loss.
Contact Malashock 864-4858
By Ryan Malashock Kansan sportswriter
Allen's firing upsets Williams
Roy Williams spent much of his first weekly press conference on Monday answering questions on recently fired football coach Terry Allen.
"I thought he handled it very classy, very professionally," Williams said. "He has a deep love for Kansas and what this place has meant to him. I thought he handled a very, very difficult situation."
Williams was impressed with the way Allen accepted his fate on Sunday.
Williams was not, however pleased with the decision that sent Allen packing with three games left in the football season.
In August, Williams was part of a panel of college and high school
Roy Williams
a panel of college and high school coaches and administrators, which attempted to pass a rule barring the firing of college head coaches in the middle of a season. After being a part of that panel, Williams said he couldn't agree with the decision.
Williams said he couldn't agree. "One of the things proposed that came out of it was the hope that no coaches would be dismissed during the season." Williams said. "So I'm disappointed. If I'm supposed to be a part of that then it means I would agree with that. So I'm disappointed. But I'm not the athletic director, I'm not the administration."
Allen finished with a 20-33 record at Kansas, and Williams said Allen's downfall may have been that he tried to play too many quality opponents recently.
Williams said Allen scheduled games, such as UCLA this year, to earn money for the athletics department.
Williams didn't limit his displeasure to Allen's situation. Charlie Weatherbie, former Naval Academy head football coach and father of current Kansas football backup quarterback Jonas Weatherbie, was also fired midseason this year.
"I'm also disappointed when I see the Naval Academy," Williams said. "If you're a coach, you're always going to have empathy for the guy in that spot because you always know it could be you next. It could be me just as well as it could be anyone else."
Contact Malashock at 864-4858