Sports
The Kansas volleyball team travels to College Station, Texas, to try to put an end to a winless streak against the Texas A&M Aggies. PAGE 3B
The University Daily Kansan
1B
sports commentary
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Ryan Greene rgreene@hansan.com
Fans should quit kicking Johnny Beck
In classrooms, offices and student hangouts everywhere on campus Monday morning, everyone suddenly became a Kansas football expert. All anybody wanted to talk about was how Johnny Beck blew it.
Beck blew it.
In a day riddled with missed opportunities and mistakes, the Kansas City, Kan., native turned out to be the fall guy because his misfortunes stood out more than anyone else's.
They were noticed more than a costly personal foul on third-and-eight in the second quarter that resulted in a Colorado touchdown, halting Kansas' momentum and giving the Buffs the lead back. They covered up the missed sack opportunity with the Buffaloes driving at the end of regulation on third down, resulting in a 27-yard pass play. They all but erased the memories of missed tackle upon missed tackle.
But did you hear the one about Beck's 35-vard field goal in overtime?
35-yard heterogeneous.
In the most pressured of pressure situations, Beck came through in the clutch when Kansas fans thought there was no way he could. Not only was it a great moment, but it was probably the most significant of his KU career. But you'll never hear about it. All of the focus is on the 40-yarder that sailed just wide about an hour earlier, or the extra point that was blocked near the end of regulation.
It can't be easy to be Johnny Beck. Kansas fans need to realize that, even though he is six for 11 on field goal attempts and 25-of-27 on extra point attempts this season, you have to support him, because he's the best option the Jayhawks have right now.
hawks have right now.
Waiting on the bench is true freshman Scott Webb. All anyone knows about the kid is what the media guide says — that he was rated one of the nation's top-15 kickers as a high school senior in Tulsa, Okla., by *Street and Smith*. No one knows how that will eventually translate to the Kansas gridron.
Coach Mark Mangino still says that he has confidence in Johnny Beck and his cannon of a leg as his starting kicker. And why not?
why not?
A change at long-snapper from junior Tony Coker to freshman Zack Hood last weekend proved to be a positive move. Mangino said Beck topped the extra point that was blocked, making the kick sail lower than usual, and it was only the second botched extra point attempt of the season. It's not the end of the world and it's not the only reason Kansas lost the game. Only five of the Big 12 Conference's starting kickers have perfect point-after marks this season. Colorado's Mason Crosby, who was a hero on Saturday, has missed four of them.
Saturday, has misses. Besides, removing Webb's redshirt tag and throwing him into action right now, in the thick of a postseason charge and a brutal conference schedule, would be unfair. If Webb goes out and misses his first four field goals, not only does it hurt the team now, but it could ruin a promising talent emotionally for the rest of his KU career. It's a decision in which the risk would far outweigh the reward.
Risk Would it be Mangino will not completely deny that Webb won't play this season. He thinks Webb is the kicker of the future, but Beck remains the kicker of the present.
"Johnny kicked the ball well most of the time," Mangino said. "We will continue to have competition at that position, and if there comes a time that we need to use Scott Webb, we'll do that. We don't play for the future at Kansas, we play one game at a time."
Being a placekicker on a major Division-I team is a give-and-take situation.
sion-1 team is a give and take game. Kickers play in a slight percentage of the game. They're not pushed to the same limits physically as the rest of their teammates, but they are just as integral to a team's success as a good offensive line or
SEE GREENE ON PAGE 6B
Students have been trying for many years to improve student seating at KU basketball games. While Athletics Director Lew Perkins is working on priority seating, he has said he was not going to try and improve the student section as of now.
Student seating to stay put
Proposals aim to raise funds improve seats
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Athletics director Lew Perkins had no qualms about how priority seating will raise money for a financially strapped athletics department. But there is one set of seats that Perkins is taking a hands-off approach to: student seating.
"Right now we're not going to touch it." Perkins said.
it. Perkins said.
One of Perkins' biggest projects since he arrived in Lawrence in July has been to devise a plan to raise new revenue from the basketball program. Perkins said he wants to raise an extra $5 million for the athletics department each year by having fans who own season tickets to men's basketball games donate money to the Williams Fund. The fund is used primarily to assist student-athletes with scholarships.
ships.
Students sit behind both baskets and behind the Kansas bench in Allen Fieldhouse. Although these seats are in similar locations to those of the students at Perkins' former school, the University of Connecticut, there have been proposals over the past few years to improve student seating. One Student Senate proposal to former athletics director A Bohl copied the student seating at Duke University, where students ring the lower level around the floor at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Perkins said he wanted to keep students a part of the spirited atmosphere at Allen Fieldhouse, but there were also financial concerns.
"Nothing is out of question but financially we wouldn't have any money," Perkins said. "Duke has an advantage because Duke doesn't need to sell tickets to make money. The university gives them money."
Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, is a part of the plan to move towards priority seating for the 2004-05 season. Marchiony was not only looking at men's basketball seating, but he has also tried to increase attendance at women's basketball games. Marchiony said an incentive program where students who attend women's basketball games receive better seats at men's games is not in the picture.
"We're looking forward to bringing women's basketball so it can stand on its own to a point where we won't have to do things like that to affect attendance at women's games," Marchiony said.
With all of the seating changes being discussed for Allen Fieldhouse, the Athletics Department is quick to realize that attendance is important at basketball games, even though the men's program sells itself with its storied history and continued level of championship basketball
"We will never take student attendance at games for granted," Marchiony said. "The students are a large part of why Allen Fieldhouse is one of the best places
in America to watch college basketball "
Matt Axcell, Lawrence senior, said he would like students to have better seats in the Fieldhouse. It would make it an even tougher place for visiting teams to play, he said.
said.
"There's no doubt that Allen Fieldhouse is very loud and a great atmosphere," Axcell said. "But I think it would great on television if students were all the way around the court."
Perkins said he wanted what was best for students and student-athletes, but he saw money as the way to improve the athletics department. Student wishes for better seating would be met with a simple response by Perkins.
response by I would do if that became an issue is I would just lay out the plan and say, 'Here are the consequences,' he said. "We might lose a million dollars. That means we would have to cut some sports. Our basketball program might not be as good, so it would end up being moot if you have good seats."
Edited by Scott Christie
Player conquers early jitters
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Saying freshman long-snapper Zack Hood was nervous before his first collegiate start last Saturday is an understatement.
Hood said the loud and intimidating atmosphere at Colorado's Folsom Field gave him butterflies in his stomach, and being in the stadium he had seen for so many years on television was much different in person than he had ever imagined.
"I'm from Iowa, and where I'm from you're used to seeing the Nebraska-Colorado game," Hood said. "To be honest, it took a couple minutes into the game, just to take it all in. The big thing was getting that first snap down."
ting that first snap down. Up until the Colorado game, one of coach Mark Mangino's biggest concerns had been the snap, hold and kick process on field goal and extra point attempts. Mangino promised to have the problem fixed after a botched field goal and extra point attempt against Missouri on Sept. 27.
On Septe 27. The first step toward success was giving Hood the starting nod against Colorado. Hood's consistency and nerves in a hostile environment earned his coach's praise.
coach's praise.
"During practice, he just snaps a zillion balls," Mangino said. "We're going
Hood
to go through some growing pains here and there, but he's doing a good job, and he'll do a great job for us here in the future."
Mangino said Hood watched himself on film and criticized himself in an effort to continue to improve. His hard work is what
got him onto the field and has now made him a starter, but Hood hopes to look back at this point four years down the road as the start of something great.
road as the start of some kings.
"I understand my role here at the University of Kansas, and I do what I can to help us produce wins here. I don't want to be an individual guy." Hood said. "I'm a long ways from being where I want to be."
Kansas Football Notebook
"I'd say that if there was an opportunity for him to play, it would be this week, and it doesn't look like we're probably going to have him installed in the game plan," Mangino said.
Kansas coach Mark Mangino said in yesterday's press conference that junior defensive tackle Travis Watkins would not play this Saturday against Baylor.
the game plan, Margaret came. Watkins, who broke his right foot in the final week of training camp, was eyeing the Baylor game as a target date to come back. Even though he is now in a soft cast, Mangino said whether Watkins tried to play or not this season was a decision he had to make with his family.
Monday practices are traditionally light workout days for the Kansas football team, but this Monday's session got a little bit heated.
"Down on the defensive end of the field, it was extremely intense," Mangino said yesterday. "There were guys flying all over the place, the kids were getting in some dust-ups against each other. The defense is upset and angry."
Even though Mangino encourages intensity on the practice field, he did not want things getting too out of hand.
"I blew the whistle and told them to get back in the huddle, they're wasting practice time," Mangino said. "I've never seen intensity like that on a Monday after a game since I've been. It's new, but it's a welcome sight."
Freshman tailback John Randle had his best game in a Jayhawk uniform three weeks ago against Missouri. The Wichita native racked up 61 yards on 12 carries and his first career touchdown when sophomore Clark Green was sidelined with an injury. However, Randle was only granted two carries and gained 12 yards in the Colorado game. After
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 6B
Running team ranks in top10
regional polls.
The rankings, released by the United States Cross Country Coaches Association and Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association, recognized the men's team as second and the women's team as 10th in the Midwest region.
The Jayhawk men, who are undefeated against conference and regional opponents, also tied with Minnesota for 32nd in the MONDO National Poll of NCAA Division I Cross Country Poll.
After their performances at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla., the University of Kansas men's and women's cross country teams earned top 10 rankings in the latest regional polls.
"We know we can compete with those top teams now," he said. "In the past we
Chris Jones, Iowa, City, Iowa, junior and the Jayhawks' No.2 runner, said the ranking was a confidence-booster for the team.
By Sean O'Grady
sogrady@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
SEE CROSS COUNTRY ON 6B
TALK TO SPCRTS; Contact JJ Hensley and Shane Mettlen at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM