22B - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2002
Coffeyville favored despite few returnees
The Associated Press
It would have made more sense had Garden City or Butler County, the Jayhawk Community College Conference's best teams of the past 10 years, been picked to win the 2002 conference championship.
But coaches showed their respect for second year coach Jeff Leiker by tabbing Coffeville to finish on top.
Coffeyville has only three returning starters — tight end Matt Sellers, center Joe Zogg and tailback Brandon Jacobs — which is good for seventh among the eight JCCC schools in returnees. The team finished last season by winning five of its final six games.
Garden City and Butler County, meanwhile, are loaded.
Garden City has the punishing one-two tailback duo of Kay Jay Harris and Tyson Thompson and is coming off a 9-2 season. Butler County has six returning starters and has won three of the last four JCCC postseason playoff championships.
In this season's National Junior College Athletic Association preseason poll, Garden City was picked No. 4, Coffeyville No. 11 and Butler County No. 17.
Butler County defeated Garden City 15-14 in last year's postseason championship playoff game, and both teams finished in first place in the final regular season standings with 6-1 records.
Indicative of the talent level in the JCCC, running backs Kay Jay Harris of Garden City and Gerard Jackson of Dodge City and defensivebacks Ced Williams of Garden City and Reynaldo Hill of Dodge City were all named first-tier All-Americans.
The JCCC season begins on Aug.
Jayhawk Community College Conference pr season coaches poll:
1. Coffeyville
2. Butler County
3. Jackson City
5. Hutchinson
6. Dodge City
7. Highland
8. Independence
31.
"It kind of surprised me they (Coffeyville) were picked first, but I know the coaches in this conference have a lot of respect for jeff," said Butler County coach Troy Morrell, whose offensive line coach was Leiker when Morrell played at Butler County (1990-91). "Coffeyville had kind of been in a rut, but Joad had them making some big strides last year. A lot of the four-year school coaches have come away from their place raving about how good their players are."
Running back Brandon Jacobs, who rushed for 1,051 yards in Coffeyville's conference-best rushing offense in 2001, is among the most talented players in the ICC.
Butler County, which fell in last year's NJCAA championship game to Georgia Military, finished 10-2 thanks largely to tailbacks Jermaine Green and Ronald McClendon, who each rushed for more than 1,000 yards. But they gone and the Grizzlies may pass more this season.
With five starters back on offense, Garden City looks to be as tough as in past years. The school has reached the playoff title game three straight years and has been to three bowls in Bob
Larson's three years as head coach.
First year coach Kevin Verdugo shook up the ICCC when his Fort Scott Greyhounds bounced to a 5-1 record, including a 24-17 win over Garden City, ranked No. 1 nationally at the halfway point of last season. But Fort Scott finished 5-4.
Hutchinson limped to its first losing season in a decade last year, at 4-6, and will be hard-pressed to better that murk. The Blue Dragons' offensive line lacks game experience, not good for a team that averaged a mere 11.6 points per game last season, and the defense has only one starter back.
This year, their hopes center around eight returning starters, five on defense. "We passed a last last year but this year we think we have more weapons to draw on," said Verdugo.
At Dodge City, second-year coach John Rossetti has one of the country's top running backs in sophomore Gerard Jackson. Jackson, who scored a dozen touchdowns and rushed for a conference-best 1,248 yards, should get more quality support this season, as Rossetti added 12 NCAADivision I transfers to his roster in an effort to help bolster a program that has not had a winning record since 1992.
Highland's forte in the past has been its passing game out of the shotgun formation. The Scoties, 3-6 overall a year ago, return some muscle on defense. Linebackers Steve Jeffers and Sam Crawford, tackle David Sharp and defensive back Verler McCullough all started in 2001.
Independence will have a difficult time escaping the basement, where it ended up last year. The Pirates, who have lost 21 successive conference games over the past three years, have plenty of experience, with eight starters back.
Uncertainty about players plagues Broncos' program
The Associated Press
GRELEY, Colo. — The Denver Broncos gathered in a huddle at the middle of the field following practice on Friday. Cheers rang out, then players scattered in every direction.
Many ran straight to the locker room while others lingered on the field to chant together. A
Training camp is finally over
But as the Broncos head back to Denver after three weeks of two-a-day practices, several questions remain unanswered.
group of about seven climbed on one of the Gator cars that take players from the field, whileereserve guard Mookie Moore ran alongside trying to get in.
At the top of the list is one that has plagued the Broncos for four seasons; Will Terrell Davis be able to come back from his latest injury?
Davis was one of the most productive running backs in the NFL his first four years, but has had a series of injury problems since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Davis, who has played 17 games the past three seasons, was strong early in camp, but hasn't practiced since pulling himself out with a swollen left knee before the Broncos' preseason game against Chicago on Saturday.
Davis said his knee was feeling a little better on Thursday, but yesterday he announced his retirement.
Another issue facing the Broncos is whether quarterback Brian Griese can rebound from a difficult 2001 season.
Griese, who threw for 23 touchdowns and 19 interceptions last season, has been solid in camp, but backup Steve Beuerlein has garnered most of the attention after missing last season with an elbow injury.
Shanahan said there was little doubt Griese is the starter, but also made it clear that the competition was still open and that Beaucerl could get the nod if Griese faltered.
"I think he (Gries) had a good camp overall." Shanahan said. "Everybody practiced well. Like I told them, that's the first phase. Now we go back, we take it day-by-day and if we take it in those terms we have a chance to be better."
Wide receiver Ed McCaffrey also remains a question mark.
McCaffrey is back after breaking his leg in two places during the first game of last season, but the Broncos have taken his return slowly after watching Davis struggle with his injuries.
Like several of the veterans and players coming off injuries, McCaffrey was held to one practice per day through most of camp. He started against the Bears, but has been limited most of this week with a strained thigh.
McCaffrey was back at practice on Friday, but Shanahan said he would not play against San Francisco today.
"We don't want to push him too
hard." Shanahan said. "He is getting some good workouts in. We know what he can do. I'm just afraid if we pushed him and he tried to come back on Monday night, it might set him back."
McCaffrey's setback and Davis' retirement highlight another issue the Broncos must overcome: injuries.
Since Davis tore the ligament four years ago, the Broncos have been plagued by injuries, particularly to running backs and wide receivers. The trend continued in training camp this year.
At one point or another, wide receivers Ashley Lelie, Scotte Montgomery, Kevin Kasper, Rob Moore, Rod Smith and Chris Cole have missed practice time. Cole is possibly out for the season after breaking his wrist against the Bears and Rob Moore was released on Aug. 6.
The Broncos also lost tight end Desmond Clark for up to six weeks with a broken arm, while running backs Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughts, KaRon Coleman and Will Bartholomew, and tight end Dwyane Carswell have sat out at least one practice. Bartholomew was released on an injury settlement earlier this week.
Despite the setbacks, Shanahan was pleased with training camp.
"What you can do is take it by day-by-day, try to get better and prepare to do that," Shanahan said. "Then you have a chance for good things to happen. We have to prepare ourselves. We've had that type of camp which has been good."
K-State receiver gets new chances
CARLISLE, Pa. — He came to Washington to play for one Redakins coach, but receiver Kevin Lockett staved for another.
The Associated Press
Lockett signed with the Redskins as a free agent last year, thinking it was his best shot at snaring a
starting receiver job. At the time,
Washington's new coach was Mary
Schottenheimer, for whom Lockett
played with the Kansas City Chiefs.
But the Redskins booted Schottenheimer after one season, bringing in Steve Spurrier, the University of Florida coach known for dynamic, pass-happy offensive schemes.
"When I first heard he was coming in, I dreamed about it. My mouth watered." Lockett said. "I had to take a pay cut, but to be in this system is the best thing for my career. To me, it's not always about the money. It's about the best situation."
This situation provides an offensive system unique to the NFL, which
His college coach, Kansas State's Bill Snyder, said it was difficult for Lockett to leave the Chiefs. Lockett had grown up in Tulsa, Okla., and his younger brother, Aaron, was playing for Kansas State.
"He was entrenched in Kansas City and really had made a home for himself there and was well-received by the Kansas City fans, so it was very difficult for him to make that move." Snider said.
"The great thing about Spurrier is, he gets the ball to the receivers quickly, on the run." Lockett said. "This offense is going to win."
But Snyder thinks things turned out well: "I have no complaints about where he is right now. I think it's a pretty dogge good fit for him."
The coach keeps in regular touch with Lockett and his brother, who was drafted in the seventh round this year by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Lockett described as a half-dozen receivers "out there flying around."
After coming to Washington, Lockett helped teach teammates the offensive system under coordinator Jimmy Ray, who had coached him in Kansas City and went to the Redskins.
This year, during training camp at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. he was learning again, although his speed and size—186 pounds—work well in Sourier's Fun 'N Gun offense.
At this point, it seems to be working. The Redskins and their rookie coach scored a combined 75 points against the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers in the first two preseason games. They played Pittsburgh at home yesterday.
"It's a lot of stuff, but it's really player-friendly." Lockett said. "The terminology is pretty simple."
Against the Panthers, Lockett dove to catch a 22-yard scoring pass from Shane Matthews, then crashed into the goal post. Washington won the exhibition game, 37-30.
Lockett was known for big plays at Kansas State, when he smashed school and conference records by catching 217 passes for 3,032 yards receiving. He became the only player in Big 8 and Big 12 history to gain more than 550 yards receiving in four straight seasons.
BACK TO SCHOOL SALE
Built to be ridden.
2002 GIANT RINCON
$269.99
Regular price:$339.99
818 Massachusetts Downtown Lawrence 785-842-8744
color Men's: Metallic Red/Silver & Black/Silver
size X-small (14 inch), Medium (19 inch),
Large (21 inch)
frame supersized ALUXX 6061 butted aluminum bipolyaluminum tube & durable derailleur hanger
fork custom SR/Sunitown XCR-E suspension
fork with 2" tourmaline
derailleur Shimano Acera
www.TheBikeShop.biz derailleurshifters Shimano EZ-Fire, 7-speed
How are you going to get to class?
Bus passes are now on sale on the 6th floor of the Kansas Union Info/Questions, call 864-4644
Buses are free Aug.19-23!
MONDAY NIGHT SPECIALS
GOURMET BURGER BASKETS ON MONDAY NIGHTS. THIS IS THE BEST DEAL IN TOWN!!! $2.50 GUSTOS OF BUD, Bud LIGHT, COORS LIGHT, MILLER LIGHT AND MICHELOB LIGHT
2 FOR 1
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
25c Hot Wings 6 pm-Midnight Happy to be back with our old price $2.25 Domestic Longnecks Every Wednesday Only at Henry T's
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
SATTELITES
NHL Center Ice MLB Baseball Package NCAA Full Court Press NFL Ticket NBA League Pass
INDOOR & OUTDOOR TV'S
3520 WEST 6TH STREET 749-2999