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SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER27.2002
SPORTS
Jonah Ballow
jballow@kansan.com
There is an old saying that states, "money is the root of all evil."
This quote reminded me of the ongoing debate of money compensation for college athletes.
Imagine that you found out that former Jayhawk Paul Pierce had accepted thousands of dollars from a booster while he attended the University of Kansas.
Pierce has never been a accused of taking money but a similar situation has occurred at the University of Michigan. Former Wolverine Chris Webber is an example of why college athletes should not get paid for their talent.
Webber and his family are charged with accepting $280,000 in cash and gifts from Michigan booster Ed Martin. The charges are now pending and will be dealt with by the NCAA. However, this serious situation has again brought debate about whether college athlete should be paid College athletes receive free educations, free merchandise and much-deserved popularity.
The problem is there should be no debate.
College athletes do make enormous amounts of money for universities across the nation. Here in Jayhawk land, the Kansas bookstore brought in $2.1 million for the 2001- 2002 year.
You may ask, what do these athletes get for all that money they bring to the University?
How about an education, often with a scholarship that most kids would love to obtain? Does that work? Wait, there's more.
Besides the free education there is the opportunity to travel the United States and visit cities that most students must wait for to experience.
Team members are treated like gods around this campus even if their NBA futures are suspect. The attention given to a unnamed senior shooting guard last year is a prime example of a player gaining celebrity status.
Because Late Night with Roy Williams is just around the corner, it's appropriate to discuss the advantages the basketball team enjoys.
Merchandise is an expensive proposition for most college students but players are equipped with the best apparel money can buy. The jerseys, shorts and shoes all come free of charge when obtaining a scholarship.
Players like Webber have made comments that they could not afford a Big Mac at McDonald's while in college while local vendors sold their jerseys for $50.
Webber now makes roughly $17 million dollars a year. The All-Star forward can buy about seven million Big Macs.
College athletes receive free educations, free merchandise and muchdeserved popularity. They are amateurs and should remain so until entering the money-driven world of professional sports. Otherwise that evil could take root on campuses around the country.
Ballow is a Littleton, Colo., junior in journalism.
Chris Burket/Kansan
Sophomores Johnny McCoy, safety, and Travis Watkins, defensive tackle, take down Bowling Green quarterback Josh Harris. Coach Mark Mangino said more consistency from both the Jayhawk offense and defense would be key in tomorrow night's game at Tulsa.
Kansas tests Tulsa
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
As the Kansas football team heads south to Tulsa, Okla., for tomorrow night's game, the Jayhawks don't want their play to move in the same direction.
Kansas (1-3) is still in search of its first victory against a Division I-A opponent, and the University of Tulsa is just in search of a win.
The Golden Hurricane has the nation's longest losing streak at 14 games, but Kansas coach Mark Mangino said the Jayhawks cannot take anything for granted.
"A wounded team is a dangerous team," Mangino said.
"I don't say we've lost our confidence," senior wide receiver Marcellus Jones said. "It's hard to lose a game, but we realize we have an opportunity to build some more confidence this week and in the weeks thereafter."
Kansas' pride has also been wounded this season, especially after last Saturday's 39-16 loss against Bowling Green.
The Kansas players insist that they still have faith in the team.
If the trend of Tulsa's first four losses holds true, Kansas players should be able to establish themselves early in the first quarter.
SFE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 3B
'Hawks duel weak Hurricane
By Doyle Murphy
Kansan sportswriter
dmurphy@kansan.com
The University of Tulsa is on a streak, and it would be thrilled if Kansas ended it tomorrow.
The Golden Hurricane has lost 14 consecutive games since last season. That translates into an unfamiliar role for the Jayhawk football team - the favorite for the game.
Kansas won't treat Tulsa as a an underdog when they meet at 6 p.m. at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa, Okla., Kansas coach Mark Mangino said.
"We're not in a position to take anyone for granted," Mangino said.
The Golden Hurricane has not won a game since it beat Indiana State
Chris Burket/Kansan
Greg Cole, senior linebacker,sacks Bowling Green quarterback Josh Harris on third down. The Jayhawks will face the University of Tulsa, which has lost its last 14 games.
SEE TULSA ON PAGE 3B
Volleyball surging after win over Buffs
By Jason Hwang
jhwang@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
After ending an 0-15 streak against Colorado on the road, the Kansas volleyball team will attempt to break another, though shorter, winless streak.
The Jayhawks earned their first victory over the Buffaloes in Boulder with a 3-2 victory Wednesday, marking coach Ray Bechard's first victory against a ranked opponent.
Bechard said the team vowed to make this season different than any in the past by going into territory it has never been before.
The two losses to Texas Tech in Lawrence have been close. Both were extended to a fifth game.
"These seniors have been part of this process to make this all happen over the years," Bechard said. "We're pleased for the program number one. Also, obviously, for the seniors that we're going to Boulder for the last time and end it on a happy note."
Tomorrow, Kansas (10-1, 1-1 Big 12) will try to end a four-game losing streak against the Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-5, 1-1 Big 12) at 7 p.m. in the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
Sophomore libero and defensive specialist Jill Dorsey said she thought the road victory opened the eyes of other Big 12 Conference teams and made them respect Kansas more.
"We're just building up our program," Dorsey said. "Every game we're getting more confidence. Beating a ranked team is awesome. It builds so much confidence, and it's a great team win."
Texas Tech was swept in three games Wednesday by No. 5 Nebraska, suffering its first conference loss of the season.
The Red Raiders are led by sophomore outside hitter Kelly Johnson and senior outside hitter Melissa McGehee. Johnson averages 4.18 kills per game, third in the Big 12, and McGehee is eighth in the conference with 3.79 kills per game.
Bechard said Texas Tech relied on their left side more, but ran a quick, balanced attack in many matches.
Soccer team opens Big 12 play
He said despite the magnitude of this victory, nothing would change what the Jayhawks did on the court or how they worked for it.
"We need to be able to bounce back from those wins and perform on a high level in back-to-back matches," Bechard said.
Rv Nikki Overfelt
Edited by Erin Ohm
noverfeit@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
For the first time in three weeks, the Kansas soccer team will have home field advantage.
The team opens Big 12 Conference play against Colorado at 4 p.m. today at SuperTarget Field.
Kansas is on a five-game winning streak and comes into the match with a 6-1-1 record, the best start in the program's history. The team is ranked 10th in both the NSCAA/Adidas and Soccer Buzz Central Region polls for the third consecutive week.
Kansas coach Mark Francis said his team was confident going into this weekend's games.
"We have a lot of people playing well right now, so the timing is very
"We have a lot of people playing well right now, so the timing is very good for us to start our conference."
Mark Francis Women's soccer coach
good for us to start our conference," he said.
Nikki Wahle, senior defender and co-captain, agreed.
"We are all pretty comfortable in our abilities." she said.
Wahle said the team was thrilled to be playing at home after playing its last six games on the road.
Francis said playing at home would be good for the team.
weekends, it's exciting for us to be back," he said. "It's a huge advantage to be playing at home."
"Having been gone for the past three
Colorado enters the match with a record of 4-3-0. Last weekend the team defeated Illinois 4-1 and Maine 3-2. Nicholle Taylor, sophomore forward, leads the team with three goals and three assists in the season.Fran Munnelly, freshman midfielder, was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Tuesday after scoring two goals in the team's victories over Illinois and Maine.
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 3B
Kansas will take the field against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at home Sun-
Kansas has a 3-5 all-time record against Colorado. The Jayhawks defeated the Buffaloes last year 4-0 in Boulder, Colo.
Kansan file photo
Jordan Garrison, junior middle blocker, spikes the ball in a match against Marquette Sept. 13. The Jayhawks face Texas Tech at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Horeisi Family Athletics Center.
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