VOLLEYBALL: Baylor, Texas A&M trump Kansas. SEE PAGE 2B. SOONERS: Satisfied with QB switch. SEE PAGE 4B.
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SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22. 2001
Commentary
Brent Wasko
Columnist
opinionkansan.com
Allen needs more time
Despite lost to Mizzou football coach,team will improve
The Kansas football team's 38-34 loss at home to archrival Missouri on Saturday afternoon was a debacle, but the game should not cost coach Terry Allen his job.
Because the Jayhawks have won only 20 out of 51 games with Allen coaching on the Kansas sideline, he has not earned the right to return next season. Still, Al Bohl, Kansas' new athletics director, would make a big mistake firing Allen.
During the past year, the general consensus among Jayhawk fans has been that Allen would be fired after this season unless he produced a winning season and an invitation to a bowl game.
Losing to the hated Tigers might have sealed Allen's fate. The Jayhawks would have to beat Iowa State and Wyoming and then win two out of three games against Kansas State, Texas and Nebraska, teams Kansas almost never beats, to qualify for a bowl game.
The chances of the 'Hawks finishing the season with a winning record are about as high as my chances of becoming a famous male model — It's not going to happen. Fans have every right to be disappointed about the Jayhawks' lack of success lately and about losing to Missouri. Falling short at home against the Tigers is, for some, like getting a tooth pulled. But a knee-jerk reaction isn't the answer.
Allen has figured out what it takes win at Kansas, but that knowledge has not yet translated into wins.
The program is heading in the right direction. During Allen's first four years in Lawrence, the Jayhawks had one of the worst assistant coaching staffs in the country. The game plans didn't work, and the team always seemed undisciplined. Allen, being the nice guy that he is, was loyal to his friends and kept them around.
It was a mistake.
Allen, possibly knowing that his job was on the line, fired much of the assistant coaching staff and hired experienced coaches who knew how to win from successful programs such as Oklahoma and Purdue.
The new staff is already making an difference. By letting his assistants run practices, Allen is now able to focus more on the administrative duties of being a head coach. The attitude of the players is more positive, practices are more intense, and players are no longer being patted on the back after they make mistakes.
Allen is also a better coach than he was five years ago. He is no longer afraid to try anything or change a game plan to lead the Jayhawks to victory. This was evident in the Jayhawks' win against Texas Tech earlier this season.
■ Wasko is a Salina senior in journalism
Also, getting kids to come to smalltown Kansas to play for a football program with no tradition is difficult, but somehow Allen has been successful with recruiting talent from around the country.
If Bohl gives Allen just one more season to prove himself, good things will happen for the Jayhawks. According to CBS Sportsline, Kansas has the fourth toughest schedule in the nation this year. Next season, the schedule will be significantly easier.
cantly easier. Firing Allen would be like potty training a dog and then giving it away. Allen has learned from his mistakes, and he will make jayhawk fans proud next season — if he gets the opportunity.
Tigers leap'Hawks for late win
By Brent Briggeman Kansan sportswriter
Senior cornerback Quincy Roe's day epitomized the entire Kansas football team's struggle in its 38-34 loss to Missouri on Saturday.
Missouri on Saturday.
Roe returned an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter as Kansas stormed to a 14-0 lead. However, Roe made several costly plays in the second quarter as the Tigers leapt to the lead, 21-14.
He was flagged for pass interference on a third and five when he became tangled with Tiger receiver Marcus James on an overthrown pass that likely would have fallen incomplete. Several plays later, Missouri running back Zack Abron trotted in from one yard out with the tying touchdown.
On the next Tiger possession, 6-foot-4 receiver Justin Gage literally dragged the 5-foot-9 Roe into the end zone for the go-ahead score on a 14-yard reception.
yard reception.
“It’s a game of momentum,” Roe said. “We had it for a while, but we let it get away from us.”
The game had the makings of a blowout in the first quarter. Driving into a 20-mile-per-hour south wind, Kansas redshirt freshman quarterback Mario Kinsey passed for 118 yards during the quarter, including a 41-yard score to Derek Mills.
Defensively, Kansas kept the Tigers to only two first downs as they stymied the Tigers' running game.
"Looking back, it's going to be a damn coach's nightmare because
"Looking back it's going to be a damn coach's nightmare because there's so many chances that we could have taken them out of play." Terry Allen
Terry Allen Kansas coach
Kansas coach Jerry Foley Down 14-0, Missouri made adjustments that Kansas didn't anticipate The Tigers went to a series of quick passes and rolled quarterback Kirk Farmer wide, using his speed.
"They were doing stuff we didn't really study on film," said senior defensive end Marquis Hayes. "They caught us off balance. He was releasing it before we could get a pass rush on or he was rolling to the outside."
there's so many chances that we could have taken them out of play," said Kansas coach Terry Allen.
After gaining just 36 yards on their first four drives, the Tigers gained 193 on their final four drives of the half.
on their final four drives. Kansas tied the score before the half with another touchdown pass from Kinsey to Mills, this time from 24 yards.
"It was like it was zero to zero," said Kinsey, who completed 13 of 25 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. "It
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 6B
Sophomore wide receiver Derick Mills takes a Mario Kinsey pass 24 yards for a touchdown as he eludes the tackle of Missouri cornerback Marcus King. Mills' late first-half touchdown tied the score at 21-21 going into the half.
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Painful defeat wounds team's spirit
Kansan sportswriter
By Brent Briggeman
Everything Kansas coach Terry Allen and his football team said after Saturday's 38-34 home loss to Missouri expressed their disappointment. But by watching them, the depth of their pain was truly revealed.
Allen rarely looked up as he fielded questions from reporters attending his
post-game press conference. His red face matched the color of his shirt as he continually rubbed his eyes and ran his fingers through his spiked hair.
The redshirt freshman was last off the field as he walked to the locker room with Kansas baseball cap on backward and eyes glued to the ground. Once out of the locker room, Kinsey shrugged when told he needed to speak with reporters
Clearly Allen wanted to be anywhere except in front of cameras and tape recorders at that point.
Starting quarterback Mario Kinsey shared his coach's demeanor.
"This one hurts," Allen said. "It's probably as disappointing a loss as we've had since I've been here."
Kinsey said the loss hurt, but it was the way the 'Hawks lost that made it so
disappointing. The Jayhawks had jumped in front 14-0 in the first half and had great starting field position on their next possession,starting from their own 45-yard line. Buta 14-yard sack on third down killed the drive and any moment the Jayhawks may have had.
Kansas punted, and Missouri started
SEE DEFEAT ON 6B
Big 12 foes knock down Kansas
By Ryan Wood
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas soccer team was shut down this weekend, losing 4-0 to No. 17 Texas A&M on Friday and falling 2-0 to No. 12 Texas yesterday at Super Target Field.
Super Targeted Idea.
"I think we played pretty well," coach Mark Francis said. "It came down to mistakes. When we come in to play against good teams, you can't have mental breakdowns because they will punish you."
breakdowns because they
the Jahayhaws, who are 9-5 overall and 5-3 in Big 12 Conference play, were unable to capitalize despite several scoring opportunities in the two contests.
The Longhorns, 9-3 overall, remained undefeated in conference play, thanks to an early assault on the Kansas defense. Texas forward Kylee Wosnuk connected on an unassisted goal just five minutes into the contest.
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
unassisted goal just before. Just six minutes later, forward Kelly McDonald gave Texas another early score. Texas' freshman phenomena Kelly Wilson provided the assist.
"I think we just started out a little slow in the first 20 minutes," said junior midfielder Brooke Jones. "With a good team, if they have opportunities, they are going to take advantage of them."
The Jayhawks had their share of scoring chances but were unable to finish. Jones had a breakaway in the 25th minute but was stopped short by Longhorn goalkeeper Shay Wilkerson's save. Late in the game, freshman forward Monica Brothers connected on a strong header, but Wilkerson was able to stop it as well.
"Our finishing this year has been really good," Francis said. "But chances we've been putting away all year, we just didn't put away this weekend."
an year, we just didn't put him in four goals in eight minutes proved insurmountable to Kansas against Texas A&M. After a scoreless first half, the Aggies, 8-3-1 overall, jumped ahead in the 68th minute when forward Linsey Johnson knocked a loose ball in after a corner kick. Defender Adrienne Dillard then scored off of another corner kick, making it 2-0.
Freshman forward Monica Brothers passes to a teammate as Texas' Kristen Teter braces for Brothers' landing. The No. 12 Longhorns shut out the Jayhawks 2-0 yesterday afternoon at Super Target Field. Texas improved its Big 12 record to 7-0. The Jayhawks fell to 5-3.
then scores of all or both Texas A&M forward Nicky Thrasher connected on the final two scores and put the game away Texas A&M outshot Kansas 16-11 en route to the victory
▼
"It was within our reach to be able to beat those guys,"
Francis said. "We just didn't do enough at either end of the field. They scored on two corner kicks, and all of the sudden, we're digging ourselves out of a huge hole. Against good teams, you can't do that."
Brothers will be a guest on The Bench, a sports program on KJHK 90.7 FM from 5:15 to 6 p.m. today with hosts Michael Rigg, Chris Wristen and Ryan Greene. Brothers will talk about the team's best start in school history, its chances at a first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and previewing the game against Drury.
The Jayhawks look to end their two-game slide at 3 p.m. tomorrow, against Drury at Super Target Field.
Note:
Contact Wood at 864-4854
NBA players flock to Jayhawk court
The excitement of once again taking the Naismith Court may have sparked some nervousness in Ostertag. The 7-foot-2 sixth-year pro committed two fouls in the first two minutes of Utah's 95-70 victory and quickly found himself on the bench.
"The one thing I remember most about this place is how loud it gets," Ostertag said. "I feel welcome every time I come back here. Once you're a Jayhawk, you're always a Jayhawk."
lans at Allen Fieldhouse. Ostertag, a former center and 1995 KU graduate, talked with reporters before Thursday's game and said he had fond memories of the fieldhouse and looked forward to his reunion with the Jayhawk faithful.
One of them enjoyed a successful four-year career as a Jayhawk, and the other committed to be a Jayhawk but reversed his decision and turned pro.
By Ryan Malashock Kansan sportswriter
Ulan jazz player. The game lacked five of the Philadelphia 76ers' top players, including Allen Iverson, injured and absent, and Utah's Karl Malone at home tending to his sick mother. Ostertag and Stevenson, along with Larry Brown, 76ers coach and a former Kansas coach, attracted most of the noise from the 10,100 fans at Allen Fieldhouse.
reversed his decision and made
Despite differences in their Kansas connections, Thursday's NBA exhibition between the Utah Jazz and the Philadelphia 76ers in Lawrence was a pleasant homecoming for Utah jazz players Greg Ostertag and DeShawn Stevenson.
This preseason could provide a chance for Ostertag to prove that he is ready to step into the Jazz's starting center spot. Ostertag spent last season coming off the bench and could possibly find himself in the same role if he doesn't get in better shape quickly, said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.
"I the job is pretty much open," Sloan said. "It's up to him. We need his size and for him to play hard and play well. I was real disappointed in his conditioning when he first came into camp, knowing he had that coming to him.
"Greg knows himself better than I do. Greg has to decide how important basketball is."
SEE NBA ON PAGE 3B
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