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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2002
Andy Samuelson asaimuelson@kansan.com
Waco: One whack town
Wacko, Texas — Howdy y'all!
I'm here in this treasure of a Texas town, getting ready for Saturday's slowdown — where the winner automatically becomes the second-worst loser in the Big 12.
Rather than talk about which football team will be the league's doormat or the rich pigskin tradition of either university
—hey the two schools (Question: Is Baylor a school or a four-year Baptist retreat?) are a combined 43-99 since the Big 12's inceptin in 1996 —I'd rather tour dis her town. Fah y'all mathematicians down there in the Lame Bar State (Prohibition sucks) that wus wondur, dat'a the .303 winning percentage. (Sorry, mom and pops Sam couldnafn for that der private educaton yee-all halves).
Of course our mighty Jayhawks — yeah, yeah the mythical bird — have been just as much at fault as your losers, Da Bears. Whens exactly was the last time you saw a bear there? Green at that? (Wait cowboy, I'm not talking the Cameron Park Zoo, although I hear the pansy collection is quite beautiful this time of year.)
But at least our fine location here in Lawrence decided a long time ago it didn't want to be the armpit of the Big 12. And unfortunately I am factoring in Ames-nothing, Iowa; Still-no-water, Okla; and the Sunflower State's very own ManHappin
just an hour to the west, but light years away from our Abercrombie and Fitch fall fashion free-for-all, here in "Larry."
I know you were drugged into the Big 12, by those dug bullies from University of Texas. Who wouldn't want to be the sophisticate of the Southwestern Conference?
Now in reading your ancient folklore, I red that the Waco Indians were a branch of the Wichita.
Let me get this rite: You're original settlers took notes from the (wichi)TA?
That's gatt to be you guys' first misteak.
We've all seen Planes, Trains and Automobiles and what yee-all shod've thunk was dadgum nothn' ever good comes out of Wichita, exceps plains and a good case of the shakes.
What happened to those great pioneers that drove dem horses threw "That whole other country?"
Looks like yee'll found the lest watr hole at dee troph.
Did them just build Dallas, Hugeston and San Antone and stopp. Heck well just throw up a few of these der sod houses and call it Whack-O.
Speaking of watering holes, you guys can drink, right?
Because a couple of my Kansanonians were thinking of inhabiting one of those der ladies clubs. C'mon Texas, is like the porn capitul of the worrld, rih?
Oops, you's so touchy subject, sorry, I forget your, Baylorites can't *bear* it.
Next time instead of whening them dang T-shirts with yours frets name on it, you can, pretend to be another frat so you can get in the "Magazine," wink, wink—vet not lose your beverage privileges.
After sippn' on that Shirley Temple, I can't wait for whass nex?
A quick scant across dee suspension bridge might be a whooot! Or maybe a toor of the Dr. Pepper Museum, I bets you can't buy a flamn one.
Hey, but Waco's had tough times, and tragedy's never cool.
Both our schools have seen that with the higher learning loss of Waco's very own Mario Kinsey — you might 'member him as dee strtn' quartback at Kansas before the darn pizzas accident.
Well, heres to hoping I can find a shanty to sleep in. Plus you guys won't have a chunc to round up the posse for me til in the morning.
Yeah, I'm all for the "Don't mess with Texas," thing, ...unless.
Sorry WoeFull
Sorry WoeFull
Samuelson is a Wichita senior in journalism.
John Nowak/Kansan
Brandon Watkins, sophomore fullback, breaks a tackle by a Tulsa defender in the Jayhawks' 43-33 defeat of the Golden Hurricane Saturday in Tulsa. The 'Hawks will play the Baylor University in Waco tomorrow.
Coming off a victory
Jayhawks face pressure of defeating Baylor after defeating Tulsa
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Saturday the Kansas football team was faced with the pressure of extending the nation's longest losing streak.
The Jayhawks beat the pressure and the University of Tulsa, too.
The reward for continuing Tulsa's losing streak comes this weekend in the form of Baylor University, a team burdened with another type of losing streak.
The Bears have lost 29 straight Big 12 Conference games, dating back to 1998 when they beat the Jayhawks 31-24 in Waco, Texas.
All of the pressure that comes with playing games against teams with losing streaks has Kansas coach Mark Mangino trying to keep his team focused on the game and not the numbers.
"We went down to play Tulsa this week on its home field, and unfortunately that team has a losing streak that it would not like to have, and we found it to be a very dangerous team." Mangino said at Tuesday's press conference. "Now we'll play a Baylor team that we think really is working hard and fighting to get a conference win."
Kansas and Baylor both need the victory this weekend to even their Big 12 records to 1-1. The Jayhawks lost their Big 12 opener to Iowa State 45-5
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 3B
Road win may be tough to find
It's been nearly four years since Baylor University beat Kansas 31-24 in Waco, Texas, and Baylor hasn't won a Big 12 game since.
The Bears will try to end the 29-game losing streak when the Jayhawks return to Waco for the first time since 1998. The Bears and the Jayhawks last met in 1999 when Kansas thrashed Baylor 45-10 at home.
The Bears are putting together another streak at home in Floyd Casey Stadium. The Bears have won their last three games at Floyd. They also have won three of five games against the Jay-hawks.
But if the Bears are looking at the Jayhawks as an easy kill, coach Mark Mangino hasn't found any evidence.
Golden's 12 points per game ranks second in the Big 12 and fifth in the nation. He set the new Baylor record and tied the Big 12 mark for most touchdowns in a game with six against
No doubt Mangino and staff have also been keeping an eye on junior running back Jonathan Golden.
Samford on Sept. 7.
Another Bear being watched is junior linebacker John Garrett. In fact, Garrett is on a watchlist for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker. He has accounted for a team-best 27 tackles, including five for a loss, this season.
Along with Golden and Garrett, the Jayhawks face another test — the road.
Kansas' last road win was also Baylor's latest victim, they didn't play last weekend. The Jayhawks hung on to defeat Tulsa 43-33 last week, and the Bears beat Tulsa 37-25 the week before.
They will play their fourth road game out of six this season. Mangino said he thought the Jayhawk players were learning from the experience.
"We feel like our kids are starting to understand what it takes to be successful and to play well out on the road," Mangino said.
Doyle Murphy
John Nowak/Kansan
Fans celebrated Kansas' first road victory of the year Saturday when the Jayhawks beat the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane 43-33. The Jayhawks will be in Waco, Texas, tomorrow to try for their second road victory against the Baylor Bears.
Columnist picks Bears over 'Hawks
When the sports staff of The University Daily Kansan called and suggested that we exchange columns in advance of the Baylor-Kansas showdown, it sounded like a great idea. A little harmless trash talking between friendly Big 12 foes never hurt anybody.
SPORTS
Actually, my first reaction was, "How can two such pathetic football programs engage in trash talk with a straight face?" What would we say to each other? "My team's more inept than yours is!?"
With that in mind, I offer the following:
John Allen
john_allen@
baylor.edu
Baylor needs the
Baylor needs the win much more than Kansas does. Baylor coach Kevin Steele needs it much, much more than Kansas coach Mark Mangino. The Bears have lost 29 straight Big 12 games. Steele is 0-24 against the Big 12 during his tenure here. Baylor's all-time Big 12 record is only 3-45. Kansas, with 12 wins in Big 12 competition, has four times as many wins. By the way, the Bears' last conference win was a 31-24 win against — you guessed it — Kansas on Oct. 10, 1998, in Waco, Texas.
As a practical observation when comparing mascots, a bear would certainly annihilate a Jayhawk—not that I have a clue what a Jayhawk is. Judging by the mascot images I've seen and the territory that I assume it inhabits, it looks like some sort of demented prairie chicken.
If statistics mean anything, Kansas is the worst football team in the Big 12. The Jayhawks rank last in both total offense and defense. On the other hand, Baylor ranks last in punting, pass defense efficiency and turnover margin. On second thought, let's leave stats out of it before it depresses both sides.
Now, to the coaches. Mangino certainly strikes more of a physically imposing figure than Kevin Steele. Mangino is also ahead of Steele in disrupting high school football games. Steele likes to recruit high school players; Mangino likes to cause a fracas with the officials. Mangino also leads Steele in the category of running off players and coaches in less than a year on the job.
Steele, however, leads the world at inspiring ex-Baylor football players and alumni to purchase banners that are flown over Floyd Casey Stadium on game day calling for the removal of both Steele and athletic director Tom Stanton. If you like, we can point the planes north. They move slowly, so by the time they reach Kansas, Mangino could also be 0-for-the-Big 12 in his third season.
As for common opponents, Baylor beat Tulsa, powerhouse that it is, by 12 points and never trailed in the game. Kansas fell behind early and was able to rally to only a 10-point victory.
Kansas has almost twice as many students as Baylor: 27,000 to 14,000. Because Baylor has played in twice as many bowl games as Kansas, 16 to eight, it's obvious that we accomplish more with less. I haven't checked test scores,
SEE BAYLOR ON PAGE 3B
Volleyball looks to snap another losing streak
By Jason Hwang
jhwang@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas volleyball squad (12-1, 3-1 Big 12) resumes its conference season on the road against Texas (11-3, 3-2) 7 p.m. tomorrow.
In six visits to the Gregory Gym, Kansas has never won in Austin, Texas. The Jayhawks have already ended one long road losing streak to a Big 12 team. Kansas won in five games against Colorado on the road on Sept. 25, the team's
first victory at Boulder, Colo.
Last season Kansas split its two matches with Texas, beating the team for the first time Nov. 17 in four games.
"I don't think our losing streak to them is on the back of our minds," said senior defensive specialist Jennifer Kraft.
Kansas will rely on its potent middle blockers, freshman Josiane Lima and sophomore Ashley Michaels. Lima is fourth in the conference with 4.08 kills per game and third with 5.16 points per game. Michaela leads the Big 12 with a 444 hitting percentage. She is fifth in the
conference with 1.16 blocks per game.
"Texas is one of the most physically talented teams we're going to see," said coach Ray Bechard.
Texas is on a three-game conference winning streak, sweeping Oklahoma, Kansas State and Baylor. The Longhorns are led by sophomore outside hitter Mira Topic, who was placed on last year's all Big 12 team.
Junior outside hitter Abbie Jacobson is questionable for the match against Texas. Jacobson pulled her left hamstring Wednesday in a game against the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The win came on the Jayhawks' final home game of the season.
"Beating them on our Senior Night was awesome, and I think we're pretty fired up to do it again on their court." Topic averages 4.74 kills per game, which is good enough to be second in the Big 12. Sophomore middle blockers Bethany Howden and Kathy Hahn both record 3.5 kills per game.
Edited by Jessica Hood