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SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
1B
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2002
Seniors must run hard,lead team
JABED SOARES/KANSAN
From left, seniors Mark Menefee, Eve Lamborn, Derec Lacio and Courtney Deutch are preparing for the upcoming cross country season.
By Justin Schmidt
Kansan sportswriter
A strong team must have strong leadership. In college sports, the greatest expectations lie with the athletes with the most experience. The senior class is always expected to be the core of any team.
Courtney Deutsch and Eve Lamborn are the Kansas women's cross country seniors. Last year both of them helped the team, but this year their contributions are even more significant.
"I think you expect more out of yourself every year." Deutsch said.
Derec Lacio and Mark Menefee are the senior members on the men's squad. Menefee hopes he can live up to the senior title.
"I don't want to get stressed out because I'm a senior," he said. "I'm trying to put less pressure on myself than I have in the past."
This year's Kansas cross country seniors are trying their hardest to live up to the their senior status. They also know
that in cross country, a team must work together.
All of the seniors said they felt the pressure to lead the team, but they did not want to be considered more important than their fellow runners.
"We each play our roles, no matter what our year is." Deutsch said.
Coach Stanley Redwine said the seniors could only be as good as the rest of
the squad.
"I expect everyone to do their best," he said.
"Obviously, they are more experienced and expect more out of themselves," he said. "The curiosity of 'can I do this?' is over. It's a matter of going out and doing what they are expected to do."
While the senior runners might downplay the importance of being the most experienced, Redwine hopes that the age factor will benefit Kansas.
Laco wants his last year to be his best.
"It's your last opportunity to give it all you've got. There's no next year," Lacio said.
Redwine is proud of this group of soon-to-be alumni.
This is a special group of seniors," Redwine said. "These are people that show what being a Jayhawk is all about, that's why I'm proud of every senior we have."
Contact Schmidt at jschmidt@kansan.com.
This story was edited by Andrew Vaupel.
KU Frisbee club strives to 'horrify'
HorrorZontals led by veterans, new recruits
By Steve Vockrodt
Kansan sportswriter
To introduce the University of Kansas' ultimate Frisbee club only by its name — the Horror-Zontals — would do the team no justice.
As the official 'Zontals Website puts it: "To those who know it, the name 'HorrorZontals' brings memories of a team, a tradition, a family, and a damn good time. To our opponents, it brings nightmares."
The team aims to instill more horrific visions to competitors this season with a roster returning virtually every member from last year's squad as well as some new recruits.
Nick Casady, Overland Park junior, passes a Frisbee around a defender at Fools Fest XX last spring.
"It's really going to be tough to find a college team that can beat us," said Brian Powell, Barnhart, Mo., senior.
Ultimate Frisbee is played between two seven-man sides who advance a Frisbee by passing. Once in possession of the disc, the player cannot run any further and must make a pass. Once out of possession, the other team takes control of the disc and looks to advance it.
Players score goals by tossing the Frisbee past end zone lines.
Growing interest in the sport prompted the team to implement
a new roster format that will allow A and B teams to compete during the spring season.
The A team will feature more experienced players participating in highly competitive tournaments across the nation. The A team's goal is a berth in the national tournament in the spring.
Contributed Photo
The B team will accommodate the added interest in the team by providing a team for newcomers to participate and learn the sport.
Topeka junior Clay Davis said last season ended short of the 'Zontals expectations when
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Vance takes new position with voracity
By Kelly McNearney
Kansan staff writer
Doug Vance began working for the University of Kansas Athletics Department before most KU sophomores were born.
Now in his 20th year on the department staff, Vance begins his first year as Associate Athletics Director for Communications. Vance takes on greater responsibility in his new executive role after serving in the media relations department.
"This is something I've been thinking about for a few years," Vance said. "I really wanted to influence the growth of the department."
Athletics Director Al Bohl created the position, giving Vance a greater administrative role in many different areas of the department. Bohl and his executive committee depend heavily on both internal and external communication, and will rely on Vance to improve that division of the department.
As associate athletics director of communications, Vance oversees media relations, marketing, information systems and the KU Hall of Fame. He serves as the liaison between the department and the University's licensing office, managing the use of the Jayhawk and other KU trademarks.
"Having worked a little bit with Doug Vance, I knew he had a lot of administrative experience, and this was perfect for him." Bohl said. "He's doing an excellent job."
He also coordinates the University's agreement with ESPN Regional. ESPN Regional assumes responsibility for all broadcasts of KU sporting events and the advertisements that accompany those games.
The new opportunity excited Vance, who embraced the upcoming challenges.
"This is one of the best things that's happened to me in a long time in this career," Vance said.
While Vance enjoys his new position, as well as being part of Bohl's executive committee, he will miss the connection he had with student athletes in the media relations office. He has adjusted to a role with less direct contact with media and coaches, but has enjoyed the aspects of his new job.
"I look forward every morning to coming to work," he said.
Focused on improving the communication division. Vance hopes to influence positive change in the department.
Mitch Germann, director for media relations, took over when Vance left.
"He has really made his mark in this business," Germann said. "We had big shoes to fill."
Contact McNearney at
kmcnearney@kansasan.com. This story was edited by Ryan Malashock.
Passion for sports drives columnist to seek insight
So, what was your favorite read as a little kid? Your bread and butter of children's books, so to speak. The Berenstein Bears? Dr. Seuss? The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew?
But my childhood was not like most in the reading aspect. To learn a little something about me — which is my goal for you, our readers — I deemed it necessary to reveal my primary childhood reading.
Those are all classics, and, yeah, I dabbed in those selections from time to time. I'll admit it. I was a Matt Christopher junkie.
And it wasn't any type of book. It's actually a version of what you're holding right now. It was the Omaha World-Herald sports page.
To be honest, I cannot recollect the first time my toddler eyes set in on the sports page. It was that long ago. And it really must have been a strange sight. A 5-year-old scanning statistics, vainly trying to understand foreign words.
Ryan Malashock rmalashock@kansan.com
COMMENTARY
A passion, somewhat of a 'relationship', formed through that sports page. It's a passion that has transcended over the years — through playing, watching and analyzing sports — into a lifestyle, and now an occupation. Sports to me is what peanut butter is to jelly.
Why am I telling you this, you ask? Call it a signal of credibility, an attempt to prove my worth. Sure, worth cannot be determined from a 189-word recounting.
but explaining my sports fanaticism was a decent starting point.
The late Jim Murray, the most talented sports columnist I've ever read, once said that great sports writing is not about sports, it's about people.
Look around us. The athletes we cheer. The athletes we boo. The athletes we live our fantasies through. Those athletes are just like you and me. They are University of Kansas students. They groan the same groun when we annoyingly walk to Western Civilization class. They party the same party on Thursday nights at Abe and Jake's.
And I couldn't agree more.
So this column will take you inside those athletes' minds. Together, we'll get to know these people for who they are our equals.
As for predictions, I'm never too hot on sticking my neck out. So for the moment, here are some brief observations—with a few general forecasts—on the Kansas sports year ahead:
■ Isn't it fantastic that campus is buzzing about Reggie Duncan instead of Kirk Hinrich? This is the first year I've been in Lawrence that the talk around town in August has not been Kansas basketball. Mark Mangino may not win many games this season, but he will instill fight and pride — nonexistent qualities in past Jayhawk teams — into his players. He has studied under two coaches — Bill Snyder and Bob Stoops — who thrived when faced with Mangino's situation. He will get the most out of this team, even if that is only good for 3-9 or 4-8. Only good things await Kansas football down the road.
If I had to name one football player and one only before the season that was irreplaceable, it would have been Harrison Hill.
Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison will both be first-team All Americans. And the team will be in New Orleans come April. Whether Roy Williams finally brings home a national title depends on the team's ability to replace Drew Gooden's offensive rebounding and Jeff Boschee's clutch three-point shooting. Enter the current Je'is — Graves and Hawkins, that is.
The Jayhawk volleyball and soccer teams will shock the casual observer. The Big 12 will be mistaken to take these experience-laden teams lightly.
Marian Washington will win a Big 12 game this year, although eight newcomers will have to grow up fast for the women's basketball team to avoid another horrible season.
New baseball coach Ritch Price has
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