INSIDE: Soccer team rises to sixth in central region polls. SEE PAGE 3B. INSIDE: Water polo team plays for the love of the game. SEE PAGE 8B.
TALK TO US: Contact Jay Krall or Sarah Warrehn at (785) 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2001
Commentary
Michael Rigg Columnist sportsokansan.com
Today's trial could dictate rest of season
Every team has one of these players. Kansas, on the other hand, has two.
Two players who are enormously gifted at football. Two players who also can't help getting in trouble.
can't help getting excited
Kansas football team practices typically start at 3 p.m. At that time this afternoon, Reggie Duncan and Mario Kinsey are due in Douglas County District Court.
While the rest of their teammates strap on their helmets and hit the practice field this afternoon, the sophomore running back and the freshman quarterback are scheduled to be playing in their biggest game of the season. It's the state of Kansas v. Kinsey and Duncan, and who wins may dictate the way this football season plays out.
Both players are scheduled to appear before the court today to defend themselves against misdemeanor counts of theft and unlawful use of a credit card.
Kansas football coach Terry Allen has refused to discuss the matter at any length this season. But even the embattled coach knows that the troubled duo is the key to his professional future.
Have any two players ever been so good on the field, yet so bad off of it?
The biggest game of the season will take place today at the corner of 11th and Massachusetts streets, not this Saturday at Memorial Stadium. If the two somehow get out of the charges, then all is once again good in Jayhawk country. But if they are convicted, Allen should heavily consider booting one or both of them off of the team. Allen has been too giving in his five years, and he must debate taking a stand for what is right at the expense of a few victories.
Both Kinsey and Duncan are talented football players, by anyone's account.
On Saturday, Duncan recorded the eighth-best rushing mark in school history when he piled up 227 yards in a huge double-overtime game against Texas Tech. Kinsey, meanwhile, did nothing less than lead the Jayhawks back from an 11-point deficit with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
But they haven't been talented citizens — in fact, the duo has been a disaster. Last fall, Duncan was charged with retail theft of less than $500 in Lawrence. On May 25, Kinsey was hauled in for possession of marijuana in his home town of Waco, Texas. Three weeks later, a report was filed with the KU Public Safety Office stating that a student's purse had been stolen in front of Bailey Hall. The student later pressed the charges that the two players face today.
Also, Kinsey, who was named the starting quarterback two weeks ago, was benched at the start of Saturday's game against Texas Tech for breaking team rules.
Kinsey's rap sheet is growing long enough to give a black eye to the program. Already, the Internet message boards and national media are having a field day with the duo. Heck, irresistibly annoying syndicated sports radio commentator Jim Rome even dedicated a segment on his show to the two roommates' struggles.
All this came after Allen had already been branded as a soft coach who didn't install enough discipline in his team. A second chance for Kinsey evolved into third and fourth chances. Allen won't be able to hand out very many more without losing his team's respect.
Needless to say, Allen is assuredly hoping for a courtroom victory for his players today.
A loss may mean he would have to make the toughest choice of his career.
Rigg is a Greenwood Village, Colo. senior in broadcast.
'Hawks to battle 'Huskers
Big 12 leader Nebraska biggest challenge so far for Kansas volleyball
By Steve Laurenzo
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas volleyball team will attempt the near impossible tonight.
attempt the big improvemen
The Jayhawks travel to Lincoln, Neb.
today to challenge the defending
national champion and No. 2-ranked
Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Cornhuskers were 28-0 last year in regular season play, won 18 of 23 games in the NCAA Division I tournament, defeated the Wisconsin Badgers and captured the national championship.
national champions. This year, Nebraska (13-1, 6-0) has suffered one loss, to Long Beach State in the 'Huskers' second game of the sea.
Impressive statistics and Nebraska volleyball go hand-in-hand. Nebraska leads the series with Kansas 65-1-1. Nebraska has won four of the five Big 12 Conference volleyball championships. Nebraska has won 36 straight Big 12 matches. Nebraska has out-blocked its opponents in 67 straight matches.
opponents in 10-7. Then there's the statistic that may cause the Jayhawks (11-5,2-5) the most trouble. On average, 4,053 Nebraska fans attend each home match. The seating capacity of the Nebraska Coliseum is 4,200.
Hindering Kansas' chances further is sophomore outside hitter Abbie Jacobson's injury in Saturday's match against Texas Tech. Bechard said Jacobson would not play tonight and was doubtful for the matches this weekend in North Carolina against North Carolina and North Carolina State.
son. But Nebraska has not surrendered a game since, sweeping its next 11 opponents leading up to tonight's match. First serve is at 7 p.m. at the Nebraska Coliseum.
very critical," Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. "They're very good everywhere, but they're really good at home."
The Jayhawks will be looking to win their first game against Nebraska since 1998, when Kansas won the third game of the match in Lincoln.
Senior setter Molly LaMere said the Nebraska environment was intimidating to some, but familiar to her.
"It'll be loud to where timeliness and the tone of the communication will be
"For me, I love to go there and play," LaMere said. "Ever since I was little I was watching games there. I just love the facility and their fans are really supportive regardless of which team you are on. They just love to see good volleyball."
Nebraska is led by senior outside hitter Nancy Metcalf. Metcalf, a preseason All-Big 12 selection, is third in the conference with an average of 4.36 kills per game. Junior middle blocker Amber Holmquist is the league's best hitter with a 48.7 percent attack efficiency. Holmquist's 1.83 blocks per game is second in the Big 12.
As a team, the Cornhuskers lead the Big 12 with a 30.7 percent hitting efficiency, a 10.3 percent opponent hitting efficiency and an average of 4.27 blocks per game.
Contact Laurenzo at 864-4858
Soccer player brings fun to the team
J. E. WILSON/KANSAN
Senior forward Natalie Hoogveld takes part in a scrimmage yesterday. The team learned earlier that it is ranked sixth in its region.
By Ryan Wood Kansan sportswriter
side.
Kansas was down 2-1 to North Texas midway through the second half, and the Jayhawks desperately needed a goal to tie the score in Kansas' opener on Aug. 31.
Schroeder saw Hoogveld open, and dished the ball to her fellow senior. Hoogveld recognized her chance, and sent a powerful kick past North Texas goalkeeper Monica Housden.
Natalie Hoogveld waited at the top of the penalty box while forward Melanie Schroeder dribbled toward goal from the left side.
It was a tie game — time to celebrate.
Hoogveld held nothing back. Teammates were hoping to congratulate her, but Hoogveld took off on a dead sprint in the opposite direction. After a 30-yard dash that might have broken records, she stopped to dazzle the crowd with a midfield handspring. The form wasn't perfect, but no one seemed to care. Hoogveld's goal seemed to take the wind out of North Texas' sails, and Kansas cruised to a 4-2 victory.
"Hoogs," as the team calls her is quietly having a
J. E. WILSON/KANSAN
calls her, is quietly having a Senior forward Natalie Hooveld.
to its finest days ever. Hoogveld, a native of Calgary, Alberta, said that this year's team didn't compare to the Kansas teams of the past.
solid season for the Jay Senior forward network using hawks, and has been a key factor in the team's solid 7-3 start. Her four goals is third on the team, and her leadership and personality has lent a hand in bringing a struggling Kansas soccer program to its finest days ever.
team did not compare to the Kansas team. "Now, we have a lot more talent, a lot more heart, and a lot more drive," Hoogveld said. "We have more of a winning mentality than we have ever had, and that makes us successful."
Hogweld has 14 career goals in her four-year stint as a Jayhawk. No one in Kansas history has scored more. She earned Big 12 player of the week honors as a sophomore in October of 1999 after scoring three goals in two big conference games.
With senior Hilla Ranta producing record-shattering numbers on offense this season, Hoogveld is sometimes lost in the shuffle. She said she has no problem with that.
hume. She said she has no problems with it.
"I think it's great that Hilla's able to play this year and do so."
SEE HOOGVELD PAGE 5A
Men's golf team finishes fifth at Missouri tournament
By John Domoney
Kansan sportswriter
As the Kansas men's golf team returned last night from the Purina Classic in St. Charles, Mo., it wasn't exactly satisfied with its fifth place finish.
But the team believes it's a start in the right direction and that it's building momentum for the spring schedule.
For coach Ross Randall, the play of his team conjured positive feelings about the future, but he knows his Jayhawks can and must play better.
"We played steady but not too good."
he said. "We did make some mistakes but had a great round Monday."
But Randall was impressed with several performances he witnessed.
Junior Chris Marshall and sophomore Tyrle Hall tied for 10th place with scores of 215 after Marshall fired a final round 72 along with Hall's closing 74.
Senior Travis Hurst continued his consistent play as he shot a 74 and finish in a tie for 18th place. Hurst's finish was his second consecutive top 20 finish this fall. Equally impressive for Kansas were redshirt freshman Andrew
SEE MEN PAGE 48
Kansas women's golf team hits high numbers in wind
By John Domoney Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's golf team saw its scores raised along with the rest of the field, but the Jayhawks were able to hold firm and finish in 16th place out of the 19-team field. Kansas was in 16th place after Monday's opening two rounds.
Yesterday's third round of the Women's Collegiate Shootout in Franklin, Ind., featured wind and more wind as the scores of the players and teams ballooned much higher than those of the previous two rounds on Monday.
The Jayhawks managed to hold onto 16th place even though they shot a combined 321 yesterday after rounds of 307 and 311 in Monday's opening rounds.
For coach Nicole Hollingsworth, her team's play was encouraging, especially after the damage done by the winds around The Legends of Indiana Golf Course.
"I thought we played well," Hollingsworth said. "To shoot a 307 and a 311 on Monday was the best we've shot all fall. Today we shot a 321 because the wind got blowing
SEE WOMEN PAGE 4B
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