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The KU bowling team competed in its first tournament last weekend. The team is looking forward to another national bowling final.PAGE 3B
The University Daily Kansan
1B
sports commentary
nursday, October 30, 2003
Kevin Flaherty
kflaherty@kansan.com
Questions answered in Big 12
With the Big 12 Conference season now half over, it is time to answer some of the major questions on everyone's mind.
■ What the does B.J. Symons put in his persona?
cereal?
Well, it's hard to say, but his offense eats defensive backs for breakfast. Symons has garnered national attention for his passing efforts this season, which has surprised some. Texas Tech was supposed to lose a step this season after record setting quarterback Kliff Kingsbury graduated. Instead Symons stands posed to knock out NCAA records by the end of the year.
So what makes him so effective? For a short answer, Symons has a stronger arm than Kingsbury. When Texas Tech can spread out the field in its wide open offense and throw downfield it makes short passing that much more effective. Defenses must respect the deep ball, and Texas Tech's wide variety of screens and slants become even more dangerous. The result? Symons is on pace for an NCAA record shattering 6,360 yards and 59 touchdown passes (counting a bowl game) by the end of the season. By the way, the previous records in those categories are 5,188 yards held by Ty Detmer and 54 touchdowns held by David Klingler.
Who is the best quarterback in the Big 12?
There are certainly several nominees in a season where the Big 12 is full of great signal calls. Symons, Oklahoma's Jason White, Kansas' Bill Whittemore, Missouri's Brad Smith and Kansas State's Ell Roberson all are worthy candidates, but this season, the debate has come down to Symons, Whittemore and White. Because Whittemore is injured, the search is narrowed down to Symons and White. While Symons' performance this season has been astronomical, there have been fewer quarterbacks who have been as efficient as White. Some would attribute Symons's performance to the Texas Tech system, while White is in a less pass-happy offense. A finally healthy White has brought Oklahoma an offense that matches its defense by passing for 2,288 yards and 25 touchdowns while only throwing four interceptions. His performance has helped make 2003 Oklahoma possibly the best college football team in the past few seasons. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has mentioned on more than one occasion that White should be in the running for the Heisman.
Does Oklahoma have any weaknesses?
Yes. The Oklahoma running game has struggled this season, but that is not Oklahoma's main problem. The Sooners defense still struggles against a mobile quarterback. Missouri was in the game against Oklahoma because of the running abilities of Smith. The Sooners defensive backs jump the shorter routes, and when other teams fake a shorter route and a run a longer one, it's effective.
Those sorts of routes were effective both for Texas A&M and Oklahoma State last season, which accounted for both Oklahoma losses.
Who are the best candidates for postseason awards?
For Big 12 offensive player of the year, Oklahoma's White would seem to be the obvious vote. He is the best player at a loaded position and is the best offensive player on the best team in the nation. However, my vote goes to Tatum Bell, the Oklahoma State running back. Bell has 1,081 rushing yards so far, which ranks second in the nation, to go with 15 touchdowns. He is a huge reason why Oklahoma State is playing so well this year offensively and ranks fifth nationally in points per game with 41.5. For defensive player of the year, look at Demorrio Williams of Nebraska or Oklahoma State defense end Greg Richmond. Williams makes plays all over the field and is in the conference's top ten in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, forced fumbles and fumbles recovered. Richmond leads the conference with 10.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. For offen-
SEE BIG 12 ON PAGE 3B
Record not enough for Hawk
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Kansas sophomore kick returner Greg Heaggans etched his name in the school record books last Saturday, but it was awfully tough to celebrate.
Heaggans set the Kansas record for career kick return yards in just his second season. His 1,150 yards eclipsed the old mark of 1,077 held by Maurice Douglas, who played from 1998-99.
The Kansas City, Kan., native was disappointed by his team's 42-6 loss to Kansas State, and that he committed the mortal sin of any returnman, he was tackled by the kicker.
On the game's opening kick, Heaggans blew by the entire Wildcats special teams unit, but kicker Joe Rheem was able to slow him down enough to give his teammates time to catch up. Rheem was able to keep Heaggans from streaking for the end zone.
"When I'm on scout team as the quarterback, sometimes the first team defense can't even tackle me," Heaggs said. "He barely grabbed my ankle and I tripped up. I was heated. I thought that should have been six."
Sophomore kick returner Greg Heaggan's took the ball upfield during last Saturday's game against Kansas State in Manhattan. The Jayhawks are gearing up for the Aggies of Texas A&M Saturday at College Station, Texas.
Kansas file photo
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 5B
Whittemore helps coach, prepares team
Bill Whittemore has not been alone in his room crying since Saturday.
He has not been staring at the wall feeling sorry for himself.
He has not been in need of his friends' assistance to get to class.
In fact, after sustaining what was thought to be a season-ending shoulder injury last Saturday, Whittemore has been as positive as anyone this week.
"It's been tough for me, but that's the most important thing for me to do right now is be positive and support the guys who are out there playing." Whittemore said yesterday.
Following yesterday's practice was the first time the senior quarterback had addressed the media since his inierv
The most encouraging sight was Whitemore trotting off the field in his practice uniform without his right arm in a sling.
'Cats come back to defeat'Hawks
SEE WHITTEMORE ON PAGE 5B
Megan True/Kansar
Sophomore middle blocker Josi Lima and junior outside hitter Lindsey Morris attempted to block a spike by a Kansas State hitter last night in Horejsi Family Athletics Center. The volleyball team lost 2-3 in its match against K-State.
By Mike Norris
mnorris@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
If only NCAA volleyball matches were best out of three.
The Kansas volleyball team played its 10th five-game match of the season last night, losing to Kansas State (21-3 overall, 11-1 Big 12 Conference) 3-2. The Jayhawks are 4-6 in five-game matches.
The Jahawks (14-9, 6-6) jumped out to a 2-0 lead but lost the last three games to the Wildcats.
Kansas coach Ray Bechard said after game two, the Wildcats showed why they are ranked No. 7 in the nation.
In game one, the Jayhawks took a 7-4 lead on a kill by junior Lindsey Morris, that landed just inches in bounds. It was one of 17 kills for the outside hitter.
"There was no urgency in the locker room," he said. "There was a feeling of confidence, a feeling of, 'Hey, we can win this,' but their great experience came through."
"I have this thing against K-State," Morris said. "I really, really wanted to win that match."
Kansas built the lead to 17-10, but a 12-7 K-State run cut the lead to 24-22. KState never got closer, as a kill by junior Ashley Michaels hit a Wildcat opponent on the forearm and shot into the crowd to seal the 50-28 victory.
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 5B
Brothers to meet in championships
By Sean O'Grady
sogrady@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Austin, Texas, is an odd place to host a family reunion. That is, if your family is from Kenya.
Benson Chesang, Ravine, Kenya, freshman and Kansas' top cross country runner, will refinish at the Big 12 Conference Cross Country Championships in Austin, Texas, with his brother Mathew, a junior runner at Kansas State.
The two have already competed against each other twice this year. In the first match-up at the Wildcat Invitational in Topeka, they ran stride for stride over the four-mile course. However, Mathew out leaned Benson at the finish, beating him by one-hundreth of a second.
At the OSU Cowboy Jamboree they faced off again. Benson was the first collegiate finisher across the line. Mathew, who was nursing a leg injury, could not keep pace with his brother and finished seventh.
When the two toe the line in Big 12 competition Friday morning at the Barton Creek Lakeside Country Club, the
stakes of this race will be much higher, something Benson already understands.
"I have to run my own race," Benson said. "If he wants to run with me, then he can. But my goal isn't to beat him, it's to beat everyone."
Matthew said the rivalry made competing against his brother bittersweet.
"He's my brother," he said. "But then again, he's my opponent."
"I talked to him a few days ago and told him, let's just try to run smart," Benson said.
The brothers are well aware about the importance of the race, but have barely discussed it.
Benson said this rivalry almost never happened though. K-State originally had recruited him to run as a Wildcat in the fall of 2002. However, complications with paperwork left Benson in Kenya for the fall semester and the Jayhawks, with the help of Benson's current roommate, teammate and fellow countryman, Abraham Kimeli, came calling.
Kimeli is no stranger to competing against his brothers. He competed
Brothers Mathew Chesang, K-State runner, and Benson Chesang, Kansas runner, are ready to reunite at the Big 12 Cross Country Championship in Austin, Texas.
Kansan photo
SEE BROTHERS ON PAGE 3B
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact JJ Hensley and Shane Mettlen at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
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