6B SPORTS
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008
Mizzou TE Coffman may play Saturday against Kansas
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri tight end Chase Coffman missed senior day and the victory that clinched the Big 12 North because of turf toe.
An extra week of rest after the 12th-ranked Tigers captured the North for the second straight season might help him finally get back on the field for the regular season finale against Kansas on Saturday, Coffman, coach Gary Pinkel and quarterback Chase Daniel all were optimistic on Monday, although Pinkel noted he's sounded hopeful notes before each of the games Coffman has missed.
"The last couple of times I've talked to you, I anticipated him playing," Pinkel said. "I anticipate him playing this week. We certainly need him back."
Coffman has practiced the last two days and said he's been doing "pretty much everything" although the left big toe that was hyperextended while blocking against Baylor on Nov. 1 isn't perfect.
To cope with the injury, which causes a sharp pain every time he pushes off, the toe is heavily taped
and he's wearing special insoles to relieve pre.sure.
"It's feeling a lo, better," he said. "I'm still having just a little bit of problems, but hopefully I'll be right around 100 percent for the game."
The 6-6, 245-pound Coffman is the most prolific pass-catching tight end in NCAA history with 230 receptions and holds the school record with 27 touchdowns receiving. Despite the injury, he's fourth in the nation at his position this season with 73 catches, an 11.2-yard average and seven touchdowns.
Coffman participated in pregame warmups before the Iowa State game on Nov. 15 and was prepared to play if Missouri (9-2, 5-2 Big 12) needed him. Early on in a 52-20 victory, he didn't have to be told to stand down, plus freshman Andrew Jones was having a good day with a career-best seven catches for 61 yards.
"I followed the coaches around for the first couple of series, just seeing how things were going," Coffman said. "Once we started scoring, getting up, it pretty much sealed the deal that I wasn't going to play."
Pinkel said it's important to be patient with such an injury, which can easily get aggravated.
"You know he'll get back as fast as he can."
"A guy's just got to feel right and you trust Chase," Pinkel said. "There's never, 'Hey, we've got to get this guy ready to play."
All signs point to a return in the Tigers' annual border rivalry game against Kansas (6-5, 3-4), even if the neutral-site game in Kansas City that decided the North last season is just a mere warmup for the Big 12 championship game Dec. 6. Both games will be played at the Chiefs' home, Arrowhead Stadium.
Missouri is looking for its third straight victory in the series, which players and coaches insist has their full attention. Daniel said he learned of the intense Kansas rivalry early in the recruiting process.
"This is one thing that I think would just make their season," Coffman said. "Whether they go to a bowl game or not probably doesn't matter to them as long as they beat us, and I think it's kind of the same way here."
Weston White/KANSAN
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas senior Savannah Noyes attempts to hit past a competitor's block in a recent home matchup. Noyes and Natalie Uhart are the team's only seniors and will be honored in Wednesday night's senior night match against Baylor at 7 p.m. The game will be the Jayhawks' last home match of the season and will be the second time the team has played the Bears this season.
Baylor in town for senior night
BY JOSH BOWE
jbowe@kansan.com
Coach Ray Bechard knows that tomorrow's senior night match belongs to two of his players.
"We feel like we have the oppor
Kansas volleyball has only two seniors this season — middle blockers Natalie Uhart and Savannah Noyes — and Bechard said this match, along with this week, was dedicated to them.
tunity to play our very best volleyball," Bechard said. "We hope to put our best effort we've seen all year out there on Wednesday night."
night's match is any less important to the team.
The Jayhawks will need all the momentum they can get against the Bears. Baylor is fourth in the conference and hopes to lock up an NCAA Tournament bid tomorrow night. The team has one of the
"We still have a lot to play for and a lot to look forward to," sophomore outside hitter Karina Garlington said. "Hopefully it'll transfer over against Baylor."
K ans as
(12-15, 6-12)
will play.
"We still have a lot to play for and a lot to look forward to. Hopefully it'll transfer over against Baylor."
KARINA GARLINGTON Sophomore outside hitter
Baylor (18-11) in its last home match of the season at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Though a postseason bid is likely the question for Kansas, it doesn't mean Wednesday
most dominating defenses in the conference. The last time Kansas faced Baylor, earlier this year, the Bears marched to a three-set sweep and used their offense to stifle the Jayhawks. The Bears hit an
804 Massachusetts St.
Downtown Lawrence
(785) 843-5000
The Denali Jacket
www.sunfloweroutdoorandbike.com
eye-popping .427 and the layhawk defense was nowhere to be found.
Bechard said he understood that the last two matches this season were against two quality teams. He conveyed the importance of this week to his team after last Saturday's three-set loss to Texas. The Jayhawks' NCAA Tournament dreams might be over, but their season isn't.
"It is what it is. We have two games left to show progress and for this group to be together," Bechard said.
Kansas will have a lot to look at after the Texas loss. Not much went right during the three sets in Austin. Bechard attributed the loss to bad passing, saying the setter-hitter connection was off. Nine hitting errors and nine kills in the second set won't get it done against a high-level opponent. Bechard said, and the Jayhawks won't fare much
notes
SEASON-ENDING REMATCH
STILL A SHOT TO IMPROVE
— Josh Bowe
Kansas plays its last match of the season on the road against Iowa State at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Kansas beat Iowa State in its second Big 12 match of the season, coming back from a two-set deficit to win in five sets. The teams have since headed in opposite directions. Kansas stands tenth in the conference and Iowa State is now fifth.
better tomorrow if the plays squabble the same way. Bechard also implemented a different system against the Longhorns to get his bigger, physical players up front to combat the athleticism from Texas. It didn't work out, but Bechard said he didn't have any regrets about trying it.
The Jayhawks still have a chance to improve upon last year's Big 12 victory total. Kansas finished with seven victories in conference last season.Two more victories from Kansas this year will give them eight.
"You can't sit around and go status quo and hope it works out," he said. "You got to try to make some adjustments."
$6.50 WALK-IN SPECIALI
With two seniors ready to move on to the next level of their lives after tomorrow night's senior night match, Bechard will do everything he can to make sure they go on top.
SMALL I-TOPPING PIZZA
SMALL 1-STOPPING PIZZA
&
20oz. DRINK
— Edited by Rachel Burchfield
842-3232
"WE PILE IT ON!"
LARGE 16"
ONE TOPPING PIZZA
$8.99
DINE IN CARNIVAL OUT ON DINER
701C W. 9TH