THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22 2008
SPORTS
3B
NFL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Here we go again: Chiefs lose 38-14
Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner (33) gets past Kansas City Chiefs' Bernard Pollard to score a touchdown in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday in Atlanta. Turner scored three touchdowns as Atlanta won 38-14.
Falcons score the first 24 points over Chiefs, deliver 12th straight loss to KC squad
BY CHARLES ODUM ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA — The Kansas City Chiefs' defensive plan was obvious: Stop the run.
That didn't deter Michael Turner and the Atlanta Falcons.
Turner ran for three touchdowns and the Atlanta Falcons scored the first 24 points to beat Kansas City 38-14 on Sunday, handing the Chiefs their 12th straight loss.
Turner had scoring runs of 4, 1 and 2 yards, his first game with three rushing touchdowns, while leading the Falcons with 104 yards rushing. Jerious Norwood
added 75 yards rushing.
"We have stressed since Day 1 we want to be a physical team," said Falcons first-year coach Mike Smith.
That strategy didn't change when the Chiefs' plan had early success.
Turner's 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter gave Atlanta (2-1) a 24-0 lead.
The Chiefs dared Atlanta rookie quarterback Matt Ryan to pass as they stacked the defensive line to stop the run from the first play. The strategy seemed to be working when the Chiefs forced the Falcons to punt on their first three possessions.
Bolstered by an Atlanta defense that didn't allow a first down until the second quarter, Smith didn't
Then, on the first play of the Falcons' fourth drive, Turner changed the game.
panic.
Turner dragged Chiefs linebacker Pat Thomas for a few steps before breaking free and running through other defenders for a 38-yard run from the Falcons 8. A 30-yard pass from Ryan to Norwood helped set up Turner's first touchdown run.
Tyler Thippen, the third starting quarterback in three weeks for Kansas City (0-3), threw three interceptions in his first career start. The third interception, by cornerback Chris Houston, was returned 10 yards for a touchdown with 1:01 left in the game.
Turner's determined run helped to soften the Kansas City defense. Ryan found Roddy White for a 70-yard touchdown pass on Atlanta's next possession, and the Falcons were on their way to a big early lead.
"They came out playing great defense," Turner said. "We have to be patient for the run and big things are going to happen."
"I didn't play up to my expectations." Thigpen said.
SPORTS BRIEF Hinrich will return to Lawrence to retire jersey
Kansas' 2008 national championship banner won't be the only new addition to the Allen Fieldhouse rafters this season. The Jayhawks will also hang Kirk Hinrich's No.10 jersey in the gym sometime this year.
Hinrich, who graduated in 2003 and currently plays for the Chicago Bulls led
Hinrich
the Jayhawks to the national championship game in his senior season and was a Wooden All-American.
Hinrich and the Athletics Department haven't selected a date for the ceremony because it will depend on the Bulls' schedule.
"I think it's the greatest honor you could have to have your jersey up in this building." Hinrich said. "In a place that means so much to me, it's an amazing feeling."
Case Keefer
Senior leads the team at weekend Invitational
TENNIS
Seniority led the team on the first day of the University of New Mexico Invitational this weekend
Senior Yuliana Svistun gained
a win in both doubles and singles brackets to set the pace for the team.
Svistun
She earned a 6-4 victory in her singles match against Abilene Christian University and a 9-8 victory against Northern Arizona University with her partner, freshman Ekaterina Morozova. Junior
Morozova
Kunigunda Dorn and sophomore Maria Martinez both went 1-1.
On the second day, Svistun and Morozova ended with a 2-1 finish in their doubles match. During the singles consolation bracket, Dorn, freshman Erin Wilbert and sophomore Kate Goff each lost. However, Martinez secured a Jayhawk victory to finish the first tournament.
MLB
Whitney Hamilton
After 85 years, Yankee Stadium hosts last gam
As baseball said farewell to Yankee Stadium, one of the game's most beloved players stood beneath the stands in a full vintage uniform. Now 83, the man who coined the phrase "it ain't over till it's over" put his own stamp on the day.
NEW YORK — Even Yogi Berra knew this was the end.
"I'm sorry to see it over, I'll tell you that," Berra said.
The goodbye completed an 85-year-old run for the home of baseball's most famous team. What began with a Babe Ruth home run on an April afternoon
in 1923 was likely to end with Mariano Rivera pitching on a September night.
All the greats were remembered during a 65-minute pregame ceremony that included 21 retired players, six of them Hall of Famers.
"I feel like I'm losing an old friend." Reqgie Jackson said.
Bob Sheppard, the 90-something public address announcer who started in 1951, read the opening greeting. He missed this season because of illness but recorded his announcement and introduction of the Yankees starting lineup.
Associated Press