INSIDE: Volleyball squad looks ahead to weekend tournament. SEE PAGE 8B. INSIDE: Golf team gears up for Myrtle Beach. SEE PAGE 4B.
TALK TO US: Contact Jay Krall or Sarah Warren at (785) 864-4810 or sports@kansan.com
SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2001
Fans shouldn't judge athletes for acting like other students
From stolen purses and shoplifting to drug possession, off-the-field problems seem to follow Kansas football players these days.
Already this season, quarterback Mario Kinsey and running back Reggie Duncan were suspended from the Jayhawks' home opener for violating unspecified team rules. Kinsey and Duncan were identified as suspects in a June 12 purse theft.
It wasn't the first run-in with the law for either plaver.
Both players will be on the field tomorrow when Kansas plays UCLA.
But don't blame coach Terry Allen for going easy on his troubled athletes, and don't be too hard on Kinsey and Duncan for their recent transgressions, either.
After all, Allen, Kinsey and Duncan are products of a generation that condones recreational drug use and petty theft. Sadly, the number of young people I know who regularly smoke pot and steal outnumber the people I know who don't.
It's not hard to figure out why. Penalties for these actions are almost always minuscule, and sometimes there aren't any.
Take rock concerts, for instance. The weed smell is everywhere at most concerts, and people hitting off bongs and smoking pipes are easily identifiable. But rarely is anyone arrested. When weed smokers are caught, a fine is usually all that follows. The offender can even pay more money and have the incident removed from his or her record.
The penalties aren't much stiffer for shoplifters. Many store managers who catch thieves don't want to hassle with police. They simply demand the stolen items be returned and let the perpetrator leave. If the police are involved, consequences rarely involve more than a trip to the police station and a fine.
Kinsey and Duncan are being ostra-cized for doing things deemed tolerable by a society reluctant to enforce its laws with stiff penalties. Allen's decision to suspend the players for one game was a weak punishment, nothing more than a light slap on the wrist. But it was justified compared to the consequences most people face for similar actions.
Those bent on chastising Allen for his leniency are missing the real issue. Theft and drug use are significant problems facing America's youth, but no one has stepped up to do anything about it.
Instead, people blast collegiate athletes for doing the same things the rest of America's youth are doing. Then they whine about the lack of consequences.
Allen, Kinsey and Duncan are scapegoats in an all-bark, no-bite world. They have become victims of a society blinded by its own hypocrisy.
Stinnett is a Shawnee senior in journalism and psychology.
'Hawks face challenge in UCLA
Coach hopes Duncan will improve running game. Kinsey to share time at quarterback
By Jeff Denton Kansan sportswriter
After hanging on to a 24-10 victory in their season opener, the Jayhawks realize they need to raise the bar tomorrow against the No. 14 UCLA Bruins.
Without 60 minutes of flawless football tomorrow, the Jayhawks will be in jeopardy of starting this season 1-1, said coach Terry Allen.
"I think this will be a great measuring stick for what this football team will be about," Allen said. "But we've got to be at our best."
Kansas was able to win last week without playing its best. The offense committed four turnovers, including two fumbles deep in its own territory. Kansas was also
penalized eight times for 75 yards and struggled with its running game. Sophomore quarterback Zach Dyer led the team in yards per carry and was second in yards and attempts behind fill-in starter Dan Coke at running back.
"We can't have a situation like we had last week where we turned the ball over," Allen said. "Turnovers with UCLA will turn ugly on us. If we can stay away from that and be successful rushing the football, then I think we'll have a very good chance."
Allen said he hoped the return of Reggie Duncan would revitalize the running game. Duncan missed last week's win for breaking team rules. But last year as a redshirt freshman, the 5-foot-9, 202-pound Texan rumbled 38 yards down the sideline against Colorado, setting up a fourth quarter score in Kansas' 23-15 win. He also ran for 96 yards in front of 78, 096 fans in Nebraska.
Duncan said that tomorrow would be the game to make a statement — for
himself and his teammates.
"It's a nationally televised game, and I want people to know who I am," Duncan said. "We have got a lot of players on this team that want to go out there and beat these boys."
Kansas senior defensive back Andrew Davison, who will be making his 28th consecutive start tomorrow, energized a secondary that gave up only 185 passing yards on 32 attempts against Southwest Missouri State. Davison expected a tougher opponent this week but was confident in a Jayhawk victory.
Davison started the last time Kansas defeated a nationally-ranked team, when it defeated Colorado, 33-17, when the Buffaloes were ranked No. 17.
"UCLA's a real good team," Davison said. "But I feel like we can beat them. I expect to win."
If the Jayhawks win tomorrow, it would be their first win against a ranked opponent in nine tries.
Kinsey Apologizes to Team
Freshman quarterback Mario Kinsey, who will make his Kansas debut tomorrow, apologized to his teammates after Wednesday's afternoon practice.
"What happened is something I'm going to use to become a better person and a better ballplayer," Kinsey said. "I let my teammates down, and I apologize."
Kinsey, along with starting running back Duncan, was kept out of Kansas' 24-10 victory on Saturday for violating team rules.
Allen said Dyer would start against UCLA but Kinsey would share time.
"We're just really trying to get Mario back in the flow of things." Allen said.
Allen also said there was no set time or quarter when Kinsey would enter the game.
Denton can be reached at 864-4810
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Bruins keep coming, 'Foster and Foster'
Kansas will have to avoid penalties and stop UCLA running attack
By Brent Briggeman Kansan sportswriter
Based on last week's performance, Kansas shouldn't expect any help from No.14 UCLA tomorrow.
The Bruins escaped Alabama with a 20-17 win against the Crimson Tide because they played near-flawless football. No penalties. No turnovers.
"To start the season and play in that venue and not have a turnover or penalty really was incredible," said UCLA coach Bob Toledo.
By contrast, Kansas received eight penalties and four turnovers in the opening win against Southwest Missouri State.
Injuries in past seasons helped this year's Bruins gain experience. Last year the team lost 15 players to injuries, including seven to the defensive line. In the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin three years ago, injuries forced Toledo to start five freshmen on defense.
Those freshman are now seniors, and as
Toledo said, they've grown up.
The Bruins' depth chart is cluttered with upperclassmen. Of the 22 starters on offense and defense, 15 are juniors or seniors. More than half of the top 60 are upperclassmen. That number would be even higher if senior defensive linemen Ken Kocher and Stephen Sua weren't out with injuries.
Kansas has a mostly upperclassmen lineup as well, including 17 starters and 36 in the top 60. But 11 starters are junior college transfers, and Kansas has more than 20 juco transfers.
UCLA has only two transfers on its roster.
Toledo, in his sixth year at the helm, said this was the first year he had worked with an entire class of players who were recruited and brought up through his system.
Kansas coach Terry Allen said the Bruins were as talented as they were experienced.
"They've got 26 seniors who seem to be on a mission," he said. "You can look at their press guide and see that they've got guys up for just about every major award."
SEE UCLA PAGE 5B
Senior defensive back Andrew Davison says he expects a win against UCLA tomorrow. Davison started the last time Kansas defeated a nationally-ranked team.
JAMIE ROPER/KANSAN
Soccer team readies for first game on the road
Freshman midfielder Gabriela Quiggle braces herself as the ball falls toward her. The Jayhawks travel to San Diego State this weekend for games against San Diego State and the University of Nevada,Las Vegas.
LAURIESISK/KANSAN
Women still stung by last weekend's loss to Illinois
By Ryan Wood Kansan sportswriter
After two exhibition games and two regular season games at home, the Kansas soccer team is about to experience a taste of life on the road.
The Jayhawks (1-1) will take on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, at 3:30 p.m. PST today in San Diego at the San Diego State Invitational. Coach Mark Francis said his players were ready to tackle the Rebels.
The Rebels bring a 1-0-1 mark into today's showdown. They played Long Beach State
"The last two days of practice have been good," he said. "The intensity has been really good."
Francis said the sting from last Sunday's 4-3 double-overtime loss to No.18 Illinois had not vet left the players.
and died at 2-2 before defeating Washington State 1-0.
"I don't think they've forgotten about it," he said. "I think they're still mad about it. So hopefully that will fire them up a little bit."
The Jayhawks will go on to play San Diego State at 12:30 p.m. PST on Sunday to complete the weekend. The Aztecs are 2-0 after posting victories against Montana and Eastern Washington. San Diego State opens the tournament today against South Carolina.
Notes
Junior defender Brianna Valento sat out of practice this week after suffering a twisted ankle against Illinois. Valento
is expected to be ready for today's game.
Sophomore midfielder Maggie Mason sat out of Wednesday's practice with back problems. Her status for this weekend is questionable.
Junior forward Carmel Kaplinger has taken a redshirt and will not play this season. Kaplinger has suffered setbacks since breaking her leg in the spring and was not 100 percent when the season started. She will have two years of eligibility remaining.
"It's hard because we'd like to have her out there," Francis said. "But I think for her best interest, it was probably the best thing to do."
■ Kansas has never played UNLV or San Diego State.
Contact Wood at 864-4810