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SPORTS
13A
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2002
KU prediction settled in a virtual... FACE-OFF!
By Ryan Greene and Levi Chronister rgreeenekansan.com Ichronisterkansan.com Kansan sportswriters
Rolling in with a two-game virtual winning streak, the Kansas Jayhawks marched into Tulsa, Okla., confident. After edging Bowling Green last week, Ryan Greene was ready to take on Kansan sports editor Levi Chronister and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
"Last week was awkward because I was not used to the XBox controllers," Greene said. "Now that I'm back with the Nintendo Gamecube, I'm unbeatable. You
tendo Gamecube, I'm unbeatable. You can take that one to the bank."
Chronister came in with the same situation that Greene found himself in the week before, and was not optimistic.
“Considering that the only Gamecube game I've played is Parappa The Rappa 2.” Chronister said, “I'm not feeling too confident."
1st Quarter
LEVI CHRONISTER
Things turned ugly for the Golden Hurricane
immediately when Brandon Birks fumbled the opening kickoff. Linebacker Kyle Knighton recovered the ball for KU at the Tulsa 11. Three plays later the Jayhawks capitalized when Bill Whittemore ran in the game's first touchdown from six yards out.
Tulsa University Golden Hurricane
KU7, TU0
After Tulsa went three-and-out behind quarterback Tyler Gooch, Kansas quickly responded. Reggie Duncan broke a tackle, then received a crucial block downfield from Brandon Rideau, which resulted in a 45-yard touchdown run. It was just the start of a huge night for the "King of Killeen."
"Watch out Levi, he's just getting warmed up." Greene said. "All he's seeing when he looks downfield is green."
KU14,TU0
Birks returned the following kickoff 67 yards, but Tulsa failed to capitalize when Brad DeVault's 41-yard field goal attempt fell short.
"I'm not sure this team has the talent to get on the scoreboard."Chronister said, "let alone into the end zone."
Kansas wrapped up a nine-play, 78-yard drive at the beginning of the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown toss from Whittemore to tight end
2nd Quarter
SEE FACE-OFF ON PAGE
RYAN GREENE
University of Kansas Jayhawks
Virtual coaches tackle Kansas-Tulsa game
In case you've missed it the past two weeks, The University Daily Kansan has been running a Virtual Face-Off every Thursday. Using NCAA Football 2003 from EA Sports, two Kansan writers have played the Kansas football team's game against the team's upcoming opponent and given readers the result in almost irritating detail.
COMMENTARY
almost inviting Kansan associate sports editor Jessica Tims and I decided to make the match a weekly feature after Ryan Greene brought up the idea for a column. Given the number of students who play video games — don't deny that you're one of them — we thought it was a perfect item for our sports section.
Games are played with five-minute quarters to make the scores more realistic, although that rule failed to pan out this week, and Greene is the virtual coach of the Jayhawks each week to keep
Levi Chronister lchronister@kansan.com
some consistency through the season.
This week was my turn to take on Greene. With almost no experience playing a Nintendo Gamecube and as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, rated C- overall in the game, I barely stood a chance.
The game's artificial intelligence wouldn't help me any, and I fumbled the ball on the opening kickoff. Greene recovered and scored the first of his two first-quarter touchdowns.
Another early touchdown in the second quarter had me looking for ways to slow Greene down, so I ran the ball for nearly the entire field and the entire quarter, but the Al held me down again, forcing a holding call on an apparent touchdown run. I turned the ball over on downs, and it appeared that the video game gods looked much more kindly upon Kansas than the real ones.
I finally put the ball in the end zone in the third quarter, but it was too little, too late. Greene had already scored 21 more points. He tacked on another two touchdowns in the final period, ending the rout.
That made nine touchdowns by the Jayhawks, but sorry, you don't receive a 45 percent discount at the Union bookstores Tuesday for them. The touchdown count was greater than the Jayhawks offense has scored this season.
That's not a knock against the real law.
hawks, though. I think Greene wouldn't be quite as successful with a clipboard in his hand as when he has a controller
Greene was dominant against Tulsa and me, making his winning streak three games. It will be tough for him to keep the streak going, though. He has to face tougher opponents such as Nebraska, Kansas State and Texas A&M and, more importantly, players who are more experienced with the Gamecube than me.
The Oklahoma State game in mid November may not be the final virtual game. If the Greene-controlled team ends up in a bowl game, we'll bring you the virtual postseason as well.
You might as well get an early taste of what coach Mark Mangino should eventually bring to Kansas.
Chronister is a Lawrence senior in journalism. He is the Kansan sports editor.
Jayhawks stop Buffaloes' with upset
For 14 straight years, Kansas' volleyball team has traveled to Boulder Colo., and always came back knowing defeat.
There won't be a 15th trip home to Lawrence with a loss, because the Jayhawks stunned the 23rd-ranked Buffalooes 3-2 with a decisive fifth game victory yesterday at the Coors Event center (19-30, 30-21, 29-31, 30-28, 15-13).
"I said to the four seniors that this was their chance to finally beat them at Boulder and the team got it done," said Bechard, whose team defeated a ranked opponent for the first time in his five-year career.
Freshman middle blocker Josiane Lima led the team with 19 kills, her career-high and the team best mark this season, and 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the year. Sophomore middle blocker Ashley Michaels marked a season high 17 kills. Junior outside hitter Sarah Rome was the only other Jayhawk with double digit kills (10), and freshman setter Andi Rozum, Loveland, Colo., dished out a career-high 85 assists.
"This was really a great team effort," Bechard said. "It's always special to win on the road in this conference. But, to be at a ranked opponent on its home court makes the feeling even better."
After losing game one, the Jayhawks were hanging on to a 23-19 lead in game two. Kansas then proceeded to string seven straight points to win the game 30-21. This was the first time since 1993 the Jayhawks won a game at Colorado's home court.
In game four, Colorado took a 17-13 advantage. Kansas made a 10-4 run to cut the Buffaloees' lead to 23-21. The Buffaloes jumped in front with four straight points, for a 27-21 lead. But Kansas responded, scoring nine points for a 50-28 win.
In the final game, the Jayhawks forced the Buffaloes to quickly call their second timeout of the game after Kansas took a 12-7 advantage. Colorado scored the next four points, cutting its deficit to one.
Then junior outside hitter Abbie Jacobson ended the game with her ninth kill of the match, giving the Jayhawks a 15-13 win and their first win in Boulder since 1986.
Jason Hwang
Kansas men's rugby team combines competition with fun
Kansas rugby team to sponsor tournament
By Steve Vockrotd
svrockrotd@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The University of Kansas men's rugby club is looking for victories and is having fun in its search.
A Kansas rugby player runs from two Oklahoma State players last year. This year's team will next play in the Heart of America tournament Oct. 5.
"We have not been winning, but we are having fun," junior Kyle Ricketts said.
Ricketts and Nick Jansen, junior expect a large student turnout at the tournament, especially from students who may be interested in joining the team.
After two losses against Truman State University and University of Nebraska, the team will sponsor the traveling Heart of America Tournament the weekend of Oct. 5 in Lawrence.
"We used to play Kansas State, but they have not had a solid side in years," Ricketts said. "Truman State is a big rival because of location, and they have had good teams."
Kansas, which was runner-up in the Big 12 Conference last year, will face other Big 12 competitors. Jansen said the
Regional rival Truman State will play in the tournament. The rivalry developed in recent years because the universities compete as the two major collegiate teams in the area.
Members of the team want students to attend matches and become fans of a sport that is less popular in the United States, Jansen said.
University of Texas was usually the toughest team in the conference, along with the up-and-coming University of Colorado team.
The team's next non-tournament game is Oct. 26 against Truman State at the Westwick Rugby Complex.
He and Ricketts said a stereotype of violence was associated with the sport because of the absence of pads and other protection.
Jansen got involved in rugby at KU when he lost interest in wrestling and football. The skills he developed from these sports helped him adapt to rugby.
Ricketts also benefited from his experience playing football when he became interested in rugby in his third year at KU.
"I had played football, and I progressed from there," Ricketts said. "Two years later, I am still learning."
The rugby team is planning a trip to New Zealand to compete and experience both the international rugby system and a different part of the world.
"I'm definitely excited; I've never been outside of the country." Ricketts said. "We'll meet new, interesting people and
play a couple of games. The team will hold fundraisers for the trip, including auctioning off team members to women at the team's primary hangout, Johnny's Tavern, 401 Second St. Student Recreation Services will sup-
play a couple of games."
plement the team's fundraising efforts.
The team will rely on native New Zealand clubs for lodging. The custom in international club rugby is to provide lodging for visiting teams free of cost.
With all the fun a trip to New Zealand
promises, the team will still focus on competing well. Jansen said the team did not fit the stereotype of a party sport, but members also had a good time.
- Edited by Erin Ohm
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