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Football fever
The University Daily Kansan
Check out tomorrow's University Daily Kansan for Friday football coverage. Get the latest information on who to watch, what to expect and who should win.
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sports commentary
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Jonah Ballow
jballow@kansan.com
Conference reshuffling hurts teams
The movement of teams in both basketball and football from conference to conference is hurting the state of college athletics.
When the Big Eight Conference expanded to form the Big 12 Conference in 1997, the move seemed legitimate and natural. During the course of six years, the conference has achieved considerable success in both football and basketball. However, the recent moves in other conferences to gain better teams could mean the Big 12 may have to take part in the domino effect that is now occurring in college athletics by expanding the conference.
The whole process began with the Atlantic Coast Conference trying to improve its football status by taking accomplished teams from the Big East. The high-powered Miami Hurricanes will join the ACC along with nationally ranked Virginia Tech and Boston College. While the ACC does gain two extremely good teams in Miami and Virginia Tech, it adds only one decent basketball team, Boston College. The ACC now forms a 12-team league, which will allow the conference to hold a football championship game and add another revenue source for its member schools.
After the cutthroat maneuvers by the ACC, several of the Big East athletic directors went public and said they were offended by the lack of loyalty to the three other teams. The conference was only left with five teams for football: Syracuse, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Rutgers and Connecticut.
But don't feel too sorry for the Big East.
But don’t feel too sorry for the Big East. The Big East condemned the ACC for stealing teams but then decided to go on a manhunt of its own. After losing quality football teams, the Big East did not address those needs but instead added premier basketball programs. For basketball, the Big East expands to 16 members in the 2005-2006 season, including Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida, DePaul and Marquette.
The expansion by the Big East forced Conference USA to get more teams because it lost five programs. The domino effect will continue, and each conference is going to have to pull teams from one another until the smaller conferences will eventually not exist.
With the expansions, the conferences have lost a sense of identity and region. Fans used to be able to recognize a team because of its association within a particular conference.
Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said in a recent interview with the Associated Press that the changes were tough to handle but necessary for the league.
"I liked the Big East when it was small, but it is growing, and people come and go, and change happens and is needed," he said. "It will be a great challenge for UConn and all the schools, and I am excited about the new challenges ahead."
Are the changes really needed?
The real reason to add teams to the conference is money. With the Bowl Championship Series contract expiring in 2006, the Big East would like to keep its automatic berth for the seasons to come. The Big East will also benefit from a much more attractive conference basketball tournament at the end of the season and send several of its teams to the NCAA tournament in March.
The ACC will benefit from football powerhouses Virginia Tech and Miami, who both rake in money every season with Bowl games.
Sallow is a Lora Tree, Colo., senior in journalism.
The teams who will suffer are in the smaller conferences who will have to find a way to compete with the larger conferences with superior teams. Eventually they will lose money and have to find other sources of revenue.
The face of college athletics is going to look extremely different next year when all of the changes begin to take place and fans will suffer trying to find teams in the now jumbled mess of college athletics.
'Hawks sweep Sooners
By Mike Norris
mnorris@kansan.com
Kansan Sportwriter
Quick and to the point — not something the Kansas volleyball team has been used to in the past month.
After a string of five consecutive five game matches, the Jayhawks defeated the Sooners 3-0 last night at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
The 1-hour-and-9-minute match marked the first time since Oct. 17th the Jayhawks (17-9 overall, 9-6 Big 12 Conference) didn't play five games.
Kansas coach Ray Bechard joked about ending the streak.
"I told the team we might need to practice because usually we play an hour longer than this," he said.
Junior middle blocker Ashley Michaels had a team-high 11 kills to go along with zero hitting errors. She said a quick match was exactly what the team needed.
"I was feeling it a little bit tonight," she said. "It was nice to get it done, and now have a little bit of time off."
In game one, Michaels acknowledged the team got off to a sluggish start. But after trailing 13-11, the Jayhawks used a 19-1 run to end with a 30-14 victory. It was the fewest points Kansas had given up in a game so far this year. The 'Hawks also had five service aces to the Sooners zero.
"I think that was the best we've served as a team probably so far this year," senior outside hitter Abbie Jacobson said.
Kansas came out a little slow in game two, trailing 5-4, but continued to serve well. Sophomore middle blocker Josi Lima had two straight aces to give Kansas
Coming out of half time, the Jayhawks showed they didn't want to have anything to do with a fifth game. When senior outside hitter Sarah Rome's kill whizzed passed the Sooner defense to give the Jayhawks a 2-1 lead, they would never trail the rest of the game to earn the sweep.
a 9-6 lead. After Oklahoma tied the game at 14 with an ace, Kansas used another big run to finish off Oklahoma 30-21.
"I've grown up here my whole life and have always been a huge KU fan," she said. "It's kind of hard to go against something like that."
Baldwin High School senior Emily Brown, who will sign with the Jayhawks at noon tomorrow, was on hand to watch her future teammates. The 6-foot-2-inch Brown leads her high school team in assists and kills, which caused many teams in the Midwest to recruit her, including Big 12 powerhouse Nebraska. But she said Kansas was a better fit.
Beachard is now just one victory away from 100 in his career at Kansas.
"That means I've been around for a while," he said.
He also said the next victory would be more important for the team as a whole.
GAME NOTES
The victory was the third in a row in the Big 12 for the Jayhawks, tying a team record.
Sophomore setter Andi Rozum had more assists, 33, than the entire Sooner team. 27.
— Edited by Abby Sidesinger
His first opportunity for the milestone will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at Iowa State.
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
Jill Dorsey, junior libero, reached for a dig during the second game of last night's match against Oklahoma as Sarah Rome, senior outside hitter, and Ashley Michaels, junior middle blocker, watched the play. Oklahoma lost to Kansas in three straight games.
Soccer preps for tournament
By Nikki Nugent
nugent@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Kansas fans know a lot about the NCAA Tournament, but not this one.
The No. 16 Kansas soccer team, 16-5-1 this season, will face the Illinois State Redbirds (11-5-3) in the first round of the tournament tomorrow. This is Kansas' second appearance in the tournament.
The NCAA chose 16 national seeds to host the tournament.
As No. 15 of those 16 seeds, the Jay hawks will play in Columbia, Mo., losing home-field advantage.
Caroline Smith, sophomore forward, said the Jayhawks could win in the NCAA Tournament though they had never done it before.
"This team has never shied away from trying to do what nobody else has done," she said.
Smith said the team was aware of the sense of urgency that goes along with the NCAA Tournament. The team must be more prepared and more focused to be successful.
"You always prepare for postseason a little differently because it's single elimination," she said.
Sophomore Caroline Smith has been a dominant force for the Jayhawks, leading the team in goals and points. Ranked 13th in its second NCAA Tournament appearance, Kansas will face Illinois State tomorrow in Columbia, Mo.
Kansan file photo
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 6A
Columbia to host Jayhawks
By Nikki Nugent
nugent@kansan.com
nkans sportswriter
Despite the bitter rivalry, the Kansas soccer team is as pleased about the location as it could possibly be, considering the situation.
Jayhawks know that Columbia, Mo., is not the most welcoming place for Kansans.
Caroline Smith, sophomore forward, said the team would much rather have home field advantage, but the familiar territory is a benefit.
"Whenever you go to Columbia, you're never too welcome," coach Mark Francis said. "We were there a month ago, so I don't think it's going to be anything they haven't seen."
"It's a comfortable environment, which gives us a little bit of advantage there." Smith said.
SEE COLUMBIA ON PAGE 6A
No charges filed after Randle arrest
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Kansas freshman tailback John Randle was arrested on Nov. 2 under suspicion of domestic battery and criminal damage to property, according to the KU Public Safety Office
The arrest was made at about midnight, just hours after the Kansas football team had returned from its 45-33 loss at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. KU Public Safety officers responded to a 911 call at Randle's on-campus residence.
Randle
According to Lt. Schuyler Bailey, the victim, a 20-year-old Wichita native who is Randle's girlfriend, accused Randle of grabbing her by the arm and then by the
throat, holding her in a headlock. The woman had minor injuries but refused medical treatment. Bailey said alcohol was not involved in the incident and no one else was present at the time.
A silver necklace with a diamond pendant was damaged in the dispute. The necklace was valued at $100.
Randle, 18, was arrested and booked into the Douglas County Jail, but was released. Officials at the jail couldn't provide the exact time of Randle's release.
Douglas County District Attorney Christine Kenney said Tuesday that she had reviewed Randle's police report, but charges were not filed against him because of a lack of evidence.
The woman's phone number was not released in police reports and she could not be reached for comment.
Randle has made a name for himself this season as one of Kansas' most talented offensive players. He has 431 rushing yards and another 107 yards receiving with three total touchdowns. Randle played on defense for the first time last week against Nebraska, starting at cornerback for injured senior Remuise Johnson.
At his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Kansas coach Mark Mangino was asked about Randle's off-field situation and quickly attempted to put the issue to rest.
"To my knowledge, there is nothing to reten-
gue." Mangino said. "There's nothing."
The Athletics Department released a statement from Mangino at the Kansas men's basketball game on Tuesday night.
ment's basketball game on Tuesday night. "I have been notified that due to insufficient evidence, no charges were filed against John Randle," Mangino's statement said. "Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, we will have no further comment on this matter."
Kansas Football Notebook
Kansas Football Notebook
Gordon earns new praise — Kansas'
do it all player, freshman Charles Gordon, played more last Saturday than he ever had in a single game. The wide receiver, who is also the team's punt returner, added the duty of defensive back on Saturday. Mangino named Gordon the offensive player of the game because of his six receptions for 47 yards. Gordon also was given honorable mention as defensive player of the game.
Watkins might play, but ... Kansas coach Mark Mangino said yesterday after practice that junior defensive tackle Travis Watkins will once again be a gametime decision as the Jayhawks prepare for Oklahoma State. Watkins, who already took a redshirt in his freshman season, will not be a candidate to apply to the NCAA for a medical hardship and a sixth year of eligibility. Watkins has missed all 10 games so far this season with a broken right foot. He cannot apply because his first redshirt was 'voluntary and not due to injury.
Edited by Andy Marso
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact JJ Hensley and Shane Mettlen at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
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