Sports
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The University Daily Kansan
The cross country, soccer and football teams all competed this weekend for the opportunities to continue into the postseason. PAGE 8A
sports commentary
12A
Monday, November 17, 2003
Shane Mettlen
smettlen@hansan.com
Runners fans show intensity at meets
The scene at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships was similar to the Kansas-Oklahoma State football game played a few blocks away from the OSU cross country course. There were tents, banners and porta-potties just like the tailgate parties at Boone Pickens Stadium. It was like a tailgate party, except instead of fans from two teams being represented, there were fans from just about every team between Chicago and the Rocky Mountains.
STILLWATER, Okla. — The intensity level in Stillwater, Okla., was unbelievable Saturday. A coach screamed at his team "Oklahoma State is going down." Shirtless fans ran around cheering for the Cowboys with their faces and chests painted orange. One sign appropriately read, "Welcome to Hell."
You may not realize that cross country is an intense sport. You should check it out.
When the race was ready to begin, more than 100 runners, representing 25 teams, packed into a starting gate about 40 yards wide. When the starter fired his pistol, it really got wild.
Golden Gophers gathered near the "Minnesota Pride" banner, while a Southwest Missouri State fan proudly flaunted a flag with "SMS" and the Bear logo on it.
At Oklahoma State the first quarter mile or so is an uphill sprint at about a 45-degree incline. That's also when every runner in the race works for position by jostling, throwing elbows and doing everything in its power to not get boxed in by slower runners. There is a lot of gamesmanship involved, and if he's lucky, a runner can make it through that quarter-mile without catching a spiked shoe in the calf. Then all that's left is the rest of the 10-kilometer course; almost six miles.
The fans, which on Saturday included a few hundred friends and family and at least six dogs, love it. That's why they go to extremes to see their guys run. Sometimes basketball or football fans will stand during an entire game. Cross country spectators are always on their feet, and most of the time are running from one vantage point to another.
That success should be reason to celebrate. Football players dance and pump their fists after a victory. Volleyball players jump up and down after a kill, but cross country runners don't do all that. They're too exhausted. Besides, when the race is over, they have to go run a two-mile cool down.
In Stillwater, fans gather near the starting line and cheer until the barriers are out of sight. Then it's a mad dash across an open field to a patch of trees. The runners go by and they shout encouragements. It only takes seconds until their favorite runner is out of sight and then they are on the go again.
This time they head to the top of a gore. From there they can watch the racers try to keep their balance while they sprint down one side of the cavern, then try to let that momentum help them up the other side and back to the top. The rest of the course is fairly flat, but just in case the runners thought they had it easy, there's a few stair-step barriers for them to conquer.
Mettlen is a Lucas senior in journalism. He is a Kansan sports editor.
Saturday, the Kansas team took it all in stride. The women finished fifth overall, and the men fourth; its best finish under coach Stan Redwine. The top two teams from each region automatically qualify for the NCAA championships. The Jayhawks may have done well enough to make it as an at-large bid. The announcement is today.
Kansas shuts out Missouri
Soccer advances to Sweet 16
By Nikki Nugent
By Nikki Rugent
nnugent@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Kansas soccer coach Mark Francis is sporting a new hairdo.
Junior midfielder Lauren Williams suggested last week that the team shave Francis' head if it made the Sweet 16 round of the tournament. Francis agreed to it, so after a 2-0 victory over Missouri in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the team whipped out a razor on the sideline and got to work.
"I didn't think I was actually going to have to do it." Francis said.
No. 16 Kansas' second NCAA Tournament couldn't have played out any better so far. After solidifying the school's first NCAA Tournament victory by winning 3-1 over Illinois State on Friday, the Jayhawks faced their rival, Missouri, in the second round.
With the two tournament victories, the Jayhawks extend their record to 18-5-1 on the season.
Francis said he was rooting for Eastern Illinois in its first round game against Missouri on Friday. The Tigers have improved since the Jayhawks met them in Columbia, Mo., on Oct. 12, he said.
"It's not because I didn't want a Big 12 team to be in the game against us," he said. "I was really hoping that Eastern Illinois was going to win because I really didn't want to play Missouri again, especially on their field."
The game between the two rivals was physical and played at a much faster pace than Friday's match.
The Kansas defense was beat repeatedly in the first half, as the Missouri forwards had a number of scoring opportunities. Kansas goalkeeper Meghan Miller had four saves in the game.
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 9A
Forward Caroline Smith slid as she directed a kick toward a teammate. Smith was first to put Kansas on the board, scoring a goal in the 78th minute. Forward Carmel Kaplinger added the finishing touches with a second goal in the 89th minute.
John Nowak/Kansan
Kansas 21, Oklahoma State 44
Eric Breem/Kansar
Kansas freshman wide receiver Charles Gordon went airborne after a low hit from Oklahoma State cornerback Daniel McLemore (left) in the fourth quarter. Gordon had nine nets in the Javahys 44-21 loss to the Cowboys in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday.
Kansas' loss forgotten
Eric Braem/Kansas
Kansas football team leaves weekend loss behind focuses on accomplishing sixth victory for season
Jayhawks freshman wide receiver Moderick Johnson pulled in a one-handed, 13-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Brian Luke in the second quarter, tying the game at 10-10. Johnson recorded three catches for 35 yards Saturday.
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
STILLWATER, Okla. — If Kansas coach Mark Mangino never saw Vernand Morency again, he probably would not object.
The Jayhawks stuck with Oklahoma State until just after halftime Saturday. However, the Cowboys' Morency, sophomore backup tailback, totaled 170 of his 269 yards in the third quarter en route to a 44-21 Oklahoma State victory.
For the Cowboys, the victory ends their two-game losing streak, but it stretches the Jayhawks' skid to four games. At 5-6, Kansas now finds itself with a losing record for the first time since early September. More importantly, the Jayhawks are staring down a season finale with Iowa State that will largely determine whether or not they will be going home or playing during the holidays.
"I told our kids in the locker room,
The outlook was not good early when freshman quarterback Adam Barmann sustained an injured right ankle late in the first quarter. Mangino was left to depend on sophomore backup Brian Luke, whose last action was a fumbled snap against Kansas State that earned him an exit after just one play.
next Saturday will define the 2003 Jay hawk team," Mangino said after the game. "You play well, you win that game, and all is forgotten about, all the bumps in the road."
Luke did not resemble the downtrodden figure that sauntered to the bus after Kansas' 42-6 loss at Kansas State, but instead showed consistent flashes of his potential as a pocket passer.
Trailing 10-3 late in the first half, Luke led the Jayhawks on a 14-play, 80-yard drive that was punctuated by freshman receiver Moderick Johnson, making a one-handed grab on a jump ball pass to tie the game. 10-10.
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 6A
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact JJ Hensley and Shane Mettlen at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
Jayhawks victorious against Goldstar
By Jessie Newell jnewell@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
"I wanted to jump up for joy." Ervin said, "but I had to stay mellow."
It took just 18 seconds and an effortless drive to the basket for freshman Lauren Ervin to score in her first game for the Kansas women's basketball team. It took a lot more for her to remain quiet about doing it.
Fieldhouse.
Coach Marian Washington will be inducted into Women's Basketball, Hall of Fame. STORY ON 9A
Ervin and the rest of the Jayhawks were able to stay relaxed most of the game, taking an easy 79-28 exhibition victory yesterday over St. Louis Goldstar at Allen
Ervin, who was sent in at the 14:44 mark, was sure to make her first basket memorable. The 6-foot-4-inch forward, receiving a pass from senior point guard Leila Mengue, drove to the basket and leaned into her defender, perfectly kissing a jump shot off the glass to give Kansas a 10-0 early advantage.
"I told Lauren, 'I will remember that first shot of your first collegiate game,' and she started smiling," Kansas coach Marian Washington said.
The freshman also showed glimpses of what made her a high school All-American in the second half.
"It's definitely nice to have a player like Lauren," sophomore forward Crystal Kemp said. "She's very versatile and agile, and she can shoot the shot."
After a steal, Ervin drove the length of the floor, faking a pass in mid-air and finishing with a layup over a fooled defender as Kansas took its biggest lead of the game at 77-21.
The game was the last tune-up for Kansas, as the season opener against University of Missouri-Kansas City will take place Friday.
The Jayhawks played without four players on the roster but hardly missed a beat. In addition to freshman guard Sharita Smith and junior guard Aquanita Burras nursing injuries, junior guard Blair Waltz was out due to a concussion, and junior guard Larisha Graves was absent due to a death in the family.
"We can score," Washington said. "To score 79 points and have three starters out of the lineup, that's not bad."
Kansas also stepped it up on the defensive end, which was a focus all week. The Jayhawks held Goldstar scoreless for the first 6:47 of the game and allowed just 11 points in the first half.
Still, Washington sees room for improvement on the defensive end. She said she was sure Kansas would have better half-court defense when they face UMKC.
The Jayhawks took control from the
SEE VICTORIOUS ON PAGE 9A
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