4B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY AUGUST 22 2008
BIG 12 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
New Nebraska football coach embraces defense, tradition
BY TAYLOR BERN
tbern@kansan.com
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bo Pelini may be stepping into a better situation as Nebraska's coach than most people think.
Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini, left, instructs defensive end Barry Turner, second right, on the first day of football practice on Aug. 4 in Lincoln, Neb.
Pelini, the former LSU and Nebraska defensive coordinator; takes over in Lincoln after Bill Callahan was run out of town. The Cornhuskers' biggest error last year was their atrocious defense, while Pelini's defensive unit in Baton Rouge led the Tigers to a national title. Sure, LSU currently has superior athletes, but Pelini's schemes can do wonders for any squad.
Senior Joe Ganz isn't technically a returning starter, but he does bring back starting experience. The senior quarterback threw for 1,399 yards and 15 touchdowns in the final three games after taking over for Sam Keller.
OFFENSE
"He can make all the throws and he can also do some things with his feet," Pelini said. "I feel really comfortable having him as our starting quarterback and I think he's set up to have a really good year."
Joining him in the backfield is senior Marlon Lucky, who amassed 1,743 all-purpose yards last year. Together they make a formidable duo that will keep the Cornhuskers in most games.
Last season Nebraska's offense averaged nearly 470 yards per game, the ninth most in the country. In addition to the backfield, Pelini welcomes back four starters on the offensive line and senior receiver Nate Swift.
It won't be the option attack that made them a national power, but Pelini's willingness to adopt the shotgun spread means the Cornhuskers offensive attack is headed in the right direction. And according to Ganz, they could reach their destination this season.
"If we don't think we can win the Big 12 North, there's no reason to play," he said.
DEFENSE
Pelini's defensive units during his time at Nebraska were solid. Nebraska defeated Michigan State 17-3 in the 2003 Alamo Bowl, when Pelini served as interim head coach.
Pelini's defenses ranked in the
top 15 every year when he was the defensive coordinator at LSU.
Now he gets to dig in and try to revamp a unit that ranked in the bottom 10 in scoring, total yards and turnover margin last year.
Nebraska returns its entire start
ing defensive line, including end Barry Turner. Turner was taken aback by his new coach's interest in his players' lives and not just their performance on the field.
"He talked to every single player on the team in a one-on-one conversation — just wanting to know you, wanting to know the player personally," Turner said. "He asked me about my daughter and how my daughter is doing and my family."
Family is very important in Lincoln, as in the family of former football players. Callahan turned away former players from practice, which used to be a time-honored Cornhusker tradition. Now former greats are welcome anytime and the pride that once came with playing for Nebraska is returning.
Part of that is the once-dreated Blackshirt defense. The Cornhusker defense used to be a tenacious and feared unit, but last year they were stripped of their traditional Blackshirt practice jerseys. Pelini is bringing back that defensive fire and everyone around the team is taking notice.
At spring practice the defense made a big play and Ganz saw Pelini bolt over to them.
"He was going out there and head butting people and pushing people around," Ganz said. "He's just like one of us."
SEASON OUTLOOK
The first year of a coach's tenure is rarely a pretty one, but Pelini's team has most of the pieces in place for a successful campaign.
The offense will score points, that we know. The question is whether the defense can stop anybody.
Nebraska surrendered a school record 76 points to Kansas in November, but they're unlikely to continue with that kind of record-breaking performance. So, the question you've got to ask yourself is, 'Do I feel Lucky?' Well, do you Pelini?
PREDICTION 7-5, Insight Bowl
VOLLEYBALL
Edited bv Arthur Hur
Senior aims high for this year's season after medical redshirt
BY JOSH BOWE
jbowe@kansan.com
While most 24-year-olds are adapting to life without college, or playing a sport, Natalie Uhart is still going strong, just as long as her body lets her.
The sixth-year senior from Lansing is ready to show how talented this year's Jayhawks volleyball squad is, even if they've encountered some bumps and bruises along the way.
Uhart recently came back from a congenital heart defect that forced her to sit out for 20 matches last
year, "I go through phases of being frustrated," Uhart said. "Then I just get used to it."
Uhart is used to her fair share of injuries. She suffered a knee injury that forced her to miss her entire junior year. The NCAA granted her a medical redshift early last season, giving her a sixth year of eligibility. But more recently a heart condition limited her playing time last year, although she still led the team with 1.71 blocks per game and a 271 hitting percentage.
"It never crossed my mind that I would stop playing," Uhart said. "But I thought about if I was going to live till 40."
With all the injuries she's had to endure, Uhart said she contemplated a switch to her high school number 15, thinking her college number was jinxed, but decided to stick with it. Even being named to the preseason All-Big 12 coaches' team hasn't added any pressure to Uhart.
Kansas coach Ray Bechard understands the value of having a player with Uhart's talent and experience.
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same sentiments as their coach about Uhart and what she brings to the table.
"She can do everything, help anywhere on the court," senior middle blocker Savannah Noyes said.
Uhart, Noyes and the other veterans will help with leadership and maintaining the chemistry of the team.
"Natalie has her place; I have mine," Noyes said. "And the younger players offer help too, when it's their area."
Kansas can boast a healthy squad that will see the return of junior middle blocker Brittany Williams, who tore her ACL last season, and the Jayhawks return experienced sophomores Melissa Menda and Jenna Kaiser as well. But an NCAA tournament birth isn't guaranteed. A league with Nebraska, who went to the Final Four last year, and Texas, a top 10 school, will prove difficult.
"We will be very disappointed if we are not playing in December," Bechard said. Kansas hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since 2005.
"We want to make it to December," Williams said. "We can feel confident."
Uhart also has her own checklist for what she wants done so
Williams agrees with her coach's expectation.
Natalie Uhart, returning senior middle blocker, jumps to block a spike from a texas hitter. Nov. 7, 2007 in the Hosei First College Athletics Center.
she can walk away from the game happy, like proving the team's low ranking was wrong.
"I want to prove a lot of people
wrong". Uhart said, "Shut a lot of people up, who rank us low."
BY JASON BAKER
jbaker@kansan.com
Edited by Ramsey Cox
CROSS COUNTRY
Young runners to lead team in new era
All-American Colby Wissel is gone. So is Paul Heferon. But Kansas cross country coach Stanley Redwine spoke nothing but positive remarks at the Jayhawk Olympic Media Day on Wednesday. Despite having a relatively young team, Redwine said that the men's cross country team was in good shape even after only three practices. The team lost four
seniors from last season, including Hefferon and Wissel, the only Jayhawk to make it to the NCAA Championship, placing 39th overall. But Redwine, who welcomes 11 new runners to the team, sees opportunities for the runners.
"They know that's its there turn now to step up." Redwine said of the returning guys on the team. One of the guys who will be stepping up is Bret Imgrnd. The junior from Shawnee, Kan., had strong performances during last year. Imgrnd
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Imgrand, who suffered a stress reaction femur injury in the spring, said he was excited about the upcoming season. Imgrand said he was up to full speed and he ran about 70 miles a week during the summer. Imgrand said that he had two goals this season.
finished third behind Wissel and Hefferon in almost every competition, but had a strong performance finishing second overall behind Wissel at the ISU Pre-Nationals.
"Obviously to do well and keep pushing myself." Imgrow said. "But the other is to get the team to where it needs to be and bond and grow as a team."
On the women's side, the team will be led by Lauren Bonds. The Hutchinson junior finished first in every meet she competed in last year. Her best performance was at the NCAA Midwest Regional where she finished 25th.
"She's very competitive and a hard worker she wants to win." Redwine said about Bonds. He said he thought she had the potential to make it to the NCAA Championship this year after her performance at the Midwest Regional.
Redwine also said sophomore Amanda Miller could be an influence. As for the men's team, Irmund said sophomore Dan Van Orsdel could contribute as well.
Both teams will compete in their first meet on Aug. 30 at the Bob Timmons Classic at Rim Rock Farm.
Edited by Brieun Scott