Volume 124 Issue 24
kansan.com
Thursday, September 22, 2011
COMMENTARY
Well, that sure changes things, doesn't it?
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott seemed destined to take Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech, making the Pac-12 the first conference with 16 members and all but killing the Big 12. But then something happened. Everything just stopped. And for now, that's the best outcome for Kansas.
Texas and OU keep us afloat
The Pac-12 released a statement Tuesday night saying they weren't expanding, much to everyone's surprise. The potential move would have put Kansas in limbo. Whatever the reasons were — not wanting to be the one to blame for changing college athletics, not wanting to get in bed with Texas or not wanting the "other schools" Texas Tech and Oklahoma State — are most points
As long as both Texas and Oklahoma are members of the Big 12, there's no better place for Kansas to be. With those two schools in tow, the conference keeps its legitimacy, not to mention the Texas high school recruiting Kansas football relies on. Telling recruits you will play in their home state three times every season is a big deal. Losing two more Texas schools would hurt recruiting immensely.
Sure, the Pac-12 is a much more stable conference and not a bad option, should the Big 12 ever dissolve, but travel would be a Kansas nightmare for non-revenue generating sports. The Pac-12 staying put and the SEC taking just one Big 12 member doesn't take us to the brink of major change just yet.
There's a big difference between the future marriage between the SEC and Texas A&M and the Pac-12's courtship of one-third of the original Big 12. Texas A&M leaving doesn't kill the conference. It cripples it for a while, but the conference is still intact. The television deal worth millions is still legitimate, and SEC commissioner Mike Slive can tell the country with a straight face that he wasn't responsible for starting a seismic shift in college athletics that would have changed the landscape permanently.
That might not look great on a resume.
With the SEC about to have 13 members, it will have to expand. At least one more time, but most likely three more times. Having 14 schools doesn't seem plausible for scheduling reasons.
The schools out west can bide their time, waiting for the SEC to get this ball rolling and say they were just reactionary. The Oklahoma/Oklahoma State/Texas/Texas Tech combination isn't going anywhere for a while. They are "committed" to the Big 12 now. Committed until the Pac-12 decides the time is right or until Texas figures out that no conference wants to deal with that pesky Longhorn Network.
For now, the Big 12 is still breathing. It was just another round of realignment chaos and another false alarm. Missouri was rumored to have an SEC invite according to ESPN, but only if the Big 12 collapsed. The Tigers are still in the fold and it appears the conference will try to expand. BYU makes the most sense as the 10th member.
My only advice for BYU: Don't unpack your bags.
Edited by Jonathan Shorman
V4
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM HANGS OUT AT MRS. E'S PAGE 8
Senior wide receiver Daymond Patterson hurts himself while making a move after a reception during the McNeese State game earlier this season. Patterson had three receptions and one touchdown in the victory.
FOOTBALL
Injured wide receiver takes medical redshirt
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
twitter.com/ukw b12bball
Senior wide receiver Daymond Patterson will miss the remainder of the season after injuring his groin in the opening football game against McNeese State, according to coach Turner Gill.
Patterson will take a medical redshirt and return to the field for the lavihawks next season.
Gill said that Patterson's injury was lingering, and although it is possible for him to return later in the season, they believe this is the best decision for Patterson and the football team.
"You don't want to have a senior year where you're maybe only playing half the season," Gill said. "That's what it came down to. He maybe could come back at some
for 34 yards and one touchdown this season.
point in time during the season and be available"
Patterson had three receptions
Edited by Alexandra Esposito
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Top state recruit chooses Kansas
MAX ROTHMAN
AND MIKE LAVIERI
mrothman@kansan.com
mlavieri@kansan.com
K an s as coach Bail Self and his staff have recruited forward Perry Ellis since he was a freshman at Wich
ita Heights
High School. It paid dividends when Ellis committed to Kansas on Tuesday afternoon at a press conference in his high school's gymnasium.
"I just felt so comfortable," Ellis repeatedly said of Kansas. "That's the main thing."
Ellis, a five-star recruit, trimmed his list to Kansas,
Ellis
Kansas State, Kentucky and Wichita State on Aug. 11.
Ellis said that the way assistant coach Danny Manning developed previous big men such as Cole Aldrich and Marcus and Markieff Morris played a role in his decision. He also said that he plans on attending Saturday's Legends of the Phog alumni game.
"It's one of the top tradition programs," he said. "And I'm proud to be a part of it."
Kentucky coach John Calipari has lured several top recruits in the past, but Ellis decided to stay close to home.
"Some people like to get away," Ellis said. "I wasn't like that."
Ellis will sign an official letter of intent to Kansas in November.
Edited by Stefanie Penn
SISTER ACT
Sophomores Kara and Amy Wehrs, a setter and an outside hitter, are twins on the volleyball team, and many struggle to tell them apart. However, their unique roles on the team and personalities make it hard for anyone to confuse them.
NOT SO SIMILAR
Kara and Amy Wehrs are twins with different styles of play
MATT GALLOWAY
mgalloway@kansan.com
twitter.com/uuk vball
Unfortunately, that advantage doesn't help volleyball coach Ray Bechard when it comes to his team's set of twins.
One of the easiest ways to differentiate between the most recognizable identical twins in Jayhawk history was Markieff Morris' trademark sideburns. His facial hair varied from that of his brother Marcus, who usually preferred a more trimmed appearance.
Sophomore Amy Wehrs said there is one way to tell her apart from her twin sister Kara.
"The challenge for me at first was just telling them apart." Bechard said.
"I smile all the time," Amy said. "Kara is more of a 'Let's get down to business. Let's get stuff done person. I'm just always happy."
Kara, a setter, is a starter who sees more playing time than her sister, who is one of
"She's extremely capable" Bechard said. "She's a high-level pass and serve. Right now in the system we've got going on, her role hasn't been extensive as far as playing time goes, but I know if she is called upon she will be ready to go."
Bechard said Amy's lack of playing time is not a result of her abilities, instead citing team depth and his coaching staff's system as reasons for the hitter's limited minutes on the court.
eight outside hitters on the team. However, Amy saw significant playing time in the Jayhawks (11-1) sweep against DePaul on Saturday, where she recorded a career-high two aces in only her second appearance of the season.
In last Saturday's first game against Valparaiso, Kara helped the team overcome its third five-set contest of the season with a double-double of 52 assists and 13 dips. She said she can only have a stankout performance if her hitters are playing well.
"Their kills count as my assists," Kara said.
Last weekend's DePaul Invitational in Chicago was a homecoming of sorts for the twins, who are natives of Hampshire, III. Chicago is about an hour-long drive from Hampshire, where the twins played volleyball together their entire lives. Playing side-by-side at the collegiate level was not initially important to the twins. But as they approached their decision, the reality of separation began to weigh on both of them.
"We didn't care if we went to different schools." Kara said. "But as the process got further along, we decided we did want to play together. We've played together our whole lives, so it was kind of important that we went to the same school."
Kara said she knows her sister can play great volleyball when called upon. "Anyone who comes off the bench like Amy did is going to have great success
with the team," she said. Finally seeing the court was a good confidence booster for Amy.
"I just think it was good for me to know I could still have confidence in myself". Amy said, "I just wanted to know that I could help the team."
Sophomore libero Brianne Riley said the pair are similar off the court, but on the court it's a different story. "Amy is always positive and always in a good mood, and Kara is a little more intense." Riley said. "That is definitely how you can separate them on the volleyball court."
Despite the differences in position, playing time and personality, the twins are always there for each other when the goes gets tough.
Edited by Lindsey Deiter
"Whenever we're having a bad day,we're there for each other"Amy said. "When ever we're having a good day, we're there to congratulate each other."
REALIGNMENT
Pac-12's decision could save the Big 12
It seemed that the Big 12's demise was a forgone conclusion, but now that is not necessarily the case.
ANDREW JOSEPH
ajoseph@kansan.com
Tuesday night, the presidents and chancellors of the Pac-12 Conference decided not to expand beyond its current 12-team membership.
The news came amid reports from The Kansas City Star and The Birmingham News that Missouri had made an informal agreement to join the Southeastern Conference if the Big 12 were to collapse. The SEC denied offering both a formal and informal membership to Missouri, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
"After careful review, we have determined that it is in the best interests of our member institutions, student-athletes and fans to remain a 12-team conference," Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement to the Associated Press.
The Pac-12's vote to cease expansion is encouraging news for the Big 12, which appeared to be at risk of losing Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech. But now that the Pac-12 is not an immediate option for those schools, the Big 12 appears to have some new life for the time being.
After the members of the Oklahoma Board of Regents authorized University of Oklahoma President David Boren complete control of the Sooners' conference affiliation, Boren specifically mentioned the Pac-12 as a possible destination for the school. However, Oklahoma's sights now seem to be solely on improving the Big 12.
Boren said in a statement issued Tuesday night that even though Oklahoma didn't apply for membership to the Pac-12 this year, Oklahoma's leaders have developed a rela-
SEE REALIGNMENT 1.7
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