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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
1B
Commentary
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2001
Brandon
Stinnett
Columnist
sportsskansan.com
Fullback spot could benefit Jayhawks
Kansas has no chance whatsoever of beating Texas Tech on Saturday, and here's proof.
In the proud history of Jayhawk football, Kansas has never beaten a Tech school. It is 0-9, including a 0-6 record against Texas Tech. Six straight losses against schools with names that begin with a "T" further proves Kansas' impending demise. It's just three games into the season and already hopes are waning.
I'll offer a positive outlook to lighten the mood: Kansas leads the Big 12 Conference in stopping opponents' fourth down conversion attempts. Three times opponents have attempted to prolong drives by going for it on fourth down, and each time the Jayhawks' defense has held.
The Jayhawks rank ninth in points per game (19.0), 11th in points allowed (26.0), 10th in total offense (285.3 yards) and last in total defense (411.7 yards allowed).
As for the rest of Big 12 statistics, Kansas is not so proficient.
These numbers show no significant improvement from last year's Kansas team, which finished eighth, 11th, 11th and ninth, respectively, in these four categories.
In a season that may well be Terry Allen's last as head coach, the Jayhawks needed to improve by leaps and bounds to save his job. So far, this has not been the case.
Barring a miracle, Allen's career at Kansas is over, but there is still time for Allen to make one right decision.
A fullback must be a permanent fixture in the Kansas offense. Notice that many college and professional teams rely on a fullback to provide extra blocking and an additional rushing option.
I realize that quarterback Mario Kinsey enjoys a wide-open Kansas offense with scores of receivers streaking down the field. But Kinsey is no Michael Vick, and the Kansas offensive line benefits greatly from a fullback who can help open up holes for Reggie Duncan to run through.
Last Saturday against Colorado, Kansas did use a fullback.
Mitchell Scott came in and blocked for Duncan, who rushed for 63 yards on 16 carries in the first half, a 3.9 average per run. That's a big improvement from the 1.3 yard-per-carry average that he brought into the game.
But in the second half Scott was used sparingly and Duncan's numbers suffered. He added seven yards on six carries.
Allen's decision to use Scott less in the second half didn't add up. Kansas' offense with Scott in the game was effective and the Jayhawks were doing well, clinging to 16-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. There was no reason for Scott to be on the sideline during the fourth quarter, when Colorado rallied for the victory.
Allen should learn to stay with what works by permanently inserting a fullback into the lineup.
Keeping Scott in the game might not result in more Kansas victories, but it would be a definite step in the right direction.
Stinnett is a Shawnee Senior in Journalism and Pyschology.
Flubug hits Kinsey, Allen
Coach and quarterback expected to be healthy for Texas Tech game
By Brent Briggeman
Kansan sportswriter
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Freshman quarterback Mario Kinsey looks for an opening in the Colorado defense during Kansas' 26-17 loss to the Buffaloes Sept. 22. Kinsey came down with the flu this week, but is expected to play against Texas Tech Saturday.
Little Alex Allen is only 1 year old, but he is already making news.
The youngest son of Kansas head football coach Terry Allen, Alex recently gave his dad the flu. The bug has since been passed to quarterback Mario Kinsey, who was noticeably ill in practice yesterday.
"I had a little bit of that crud last weekend," Allen told a group of reporters after yesterday's practice. "But it actually, it falls back to my youngest. He gave it to me and I think I passed it on to Mario."
Poor Alex, taking the blame for the latest problem to infect the Jayhawk football team.
"I hate to say it, but I think that's the case," Allen joked.
Though Allen, Kinsey, and yes, Alex are expected to be 100 percent by the weekend, the illness will diminish the quality, if not the number, of snaps Kinsey takes in practice this week.
"We'll still try to get both quarterbacks the repetitions we always would," said Rip Scherer, the Jayhawks' quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. "Mario will be ready, but so will Zach Dyer."
Kinsey alternated between bursts of energy yesterday, burning the scout team defense, and moments of rest, hacking phlegm and hanging his head between his legs.
Kinsey was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Saturday's game at Texas Tech will be the first time Kinsey, a Waco, Texas native, has played in his home state since high school.
The illness is the latest in what has been an eventful year for Kinsey. He sat out the first game while serving a one-
game suspension for breaking team rules, only to return and win the starting quarterback position from Dyer.
Kinsey and teammate Reggie Duncan face an Oct. 10 court date. They have been charged with stealing a Kansas
Cameras banned from hearing
Local media denied access to Kinsey's and Duncan's preliminary court appearance
By Jay Kraill
Kansan sports editor
A Douglas County judge has denied requests to allow cameras in the courtroom when Kansas football players Mario Kinsey and Reggie Duncan appear next week to face charges of misdemeanor theft.
Judge Peggy Kittel, who will preside over the trial, denied requests by the University Daily Kansan and Channel 6 News Lawrence.
Kinsey and Duncan are scheduled to appear at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10. Kinsey has been charged with one count of theft and two counts of criminal use of a financial
card. Duncan has been charged with one count of theft and one count of criminal use of a financial card.
Janet Reid, reporter for Channel 6, said she submitted about a half-dozen requests each month for courtroom cameras. She said that in her more than three years at the station, she could not remember ever having been denied a request for a camera during a defendant's first court appearance.
All charges stem from a June 12 purse theft in which a University of Kansas student's purse was stolen in front of Bailey Hall.
SEE FLU PAGE 4B
Though Kansas law requires that requests to allow cameras be submitted in writing at least two weeks before the court date, Reid said she had often submitted requests the same day or the day
"Usually we only do it for higherprofile cases," Reid said.
before the trial and had them approved.
Both Channel 6 and the Kansan submitted the requests for the Oct. 10 court appearance before the two-week deadline.
Linda Koester-Vogelsang, administrator for Douglas County District Court, said judges had the authority to determine whether cameras could be used in their courtrooms. Judges use different criteria in making the decision, she said.
"The judges are very,very conscious of the individual's rights as well as Constitutional rights"ensuring freedom of the press, Koester Vogelsang said.
Judge Kittel did not return phone calls yesterday.
Contact Krail at 864-4858
Kansas golfers suffer subpar outings
Men and women's teams disappoint in weekend tournaments
The women's team finished 14th in a field of 16 yesterday at the Big 12 Invitational in Stillwater, Okla. The men finished slightly better at the Jim Colbert Invitational in Manhattan, where
By John Domoney
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas men's and women's golf teams completed competition in separate tournaments yesterday, but both teams came away with the same result — disappointment.
they grabbed fifth-place out of nine teams.
T he women's team started its second day of the tournament in 13th place, focusing all its
Kansas finished the tournament with a combined team score of 987, only two strokes behind 13th place Colorado.
energy on getting out of the situation. The Jayhawks did get out of the unlucky spot, but moved the wrong way.
a team-best tie for 19th behind her strong play in Monday's two opening rounds. Yesterday, MacDonald ended with a score of 18-over-par 234 after her round of 81.
Juniors Tiffany Kruggel and Heather Rose both finished in a tie for 54th after Kruggel shot an 86 and Rose carded an 85.
Junior Jill MacDonald finished in
Also competing for Kansas were sophomore Jennifer Bawanan and junior Kristy Straub.
Bawanan finished in a tie for 64th with a round of 89 yesterday to give her a 54-hole total of 254. Straub finished in last place after an 88 yesterday for a tournament total score of 269.
SEE GOLF PAGE 4B
Chenowith gets second chance with Kings
By Ryan Malashock Kansan sportswriter
It didn't take long for Eric Chenowith to get a second chance at the NBA.
Chenowith said he would be at Sacramento's training camp this week and that he would find out if he made the roster at the end of the week.
After having his rights renounced by the New York Knicks Sunday, the former Kansas center is in California, working out for the Sacramento Kings.
Twenty players are trying out for 15 spots on the Kings' list, which includes a 12-man roster and three-player injury reserve.
Playing for Sacramento would give the Orange, Calif., native a chance to be close to home and to compete along with former Jayhawk teammate Scot Pollard.
Wayne Cooper, Kings vice president of basketball operations, told the Sacramento Bee yesterday that the Kings had
Chenowith: trying for Sacramento spot
heard rumors that Chenowith was going to be cut. They acted swiftly when he was officially released.
Needing size for the coming season, the Kings have brought in four other big men to compete for roster spots. They include 7-foot-2, 302-pound center Garth Joseph, who has played in four career NBA games; 6-10 power forward Mario Bennett, a 1995 first-round draft choice by the Phoenix Suns; 6-8 power forward Torrye Braggs, a Utah Jazz draft choice in 1998; and 6-11 forward Jabari Smith, who was with the Kings last season before they renounced his rights on June 30.
Contact Malashock at 864-4858
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