Sports
The University of Kansas Crew team has found a creative way to raise money. Team members rent themselves out for manual labor at $80 a day.PAGE 3B
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Wednesday, September 24, 2003
The University Daily Kansan
Following Missouri's 36-12 victory over Kansas on Oct. 26, 2002, Missouri students took to the field to tear down the north goalpost. They carried the goalpost through campus and to Harpo's, a local pub in downtown Columbia, Mo.
Players recall bitter feud
By Ryan Greene rgreee@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Kansas sophomore linebacker Banks Floodman remembers Oct. 26, 2002 all too well.
In fact, every member of the Kansas football team has their own memory of that day. Even the players who weren't there.
Not only was it the afternoon that the Jayhawks fell to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the day. Even the players
Big 12 Conference, it was also the afternoon when they had to watch both Missouri's fans and players tear down the goalposts in Columbia, Mo., after 36-12 Tigers win.
This week, inside the Kansas football locker room, in each locker along with pads, helmets, jerseys and cleats resides a photograph.
photograph That picture shows the now infamous goalpost incident with a caption that reads "Remember October 26, 2002."
For Floodman, it was one of the toughest days he has endured as a member of the Kansas football team. It was tough because he could not play. Instead, he was in Lawrence, nursing a season-ending knee injury he sustained in the opening game against Iowa State and listening to the game on the radio.
"I just can't stand listening to my teammates and not being able to help them out," Floodman said. "It was hard enough to watch the home games from the sidelines."
For the players who were there, such as senior defensive end David McMillan, there was a similar feeling of anguish.
"I felt bad for the players who were from Kansas, who get offended by the rivalry." McMillan said. "Now I know more about the rivalry and more about my teammates who are from Kansas, personally. I'm just ready to go out there and prove what we can do."
SEE FEUD ON PAGE 4B
Golfers take tournament
By Ryan Colaiani sports@kansan.com Kansan correspondent
"I just wanted to shoot three rounds under par before the tournament began and I was fortunate enough to do it," Price said.
Kansas won for the first time since the Spring of 2002, and junior Andrew Price won his first collegiate tournament yesterday at the Kansas Men's Fall Invitational at Alvamar Country Club.
The Jayhawks extended their lead from 12 strokes after the second round to 17 strokes as they easily defeated second place North Texas.
The Jayhawks were the only team to finish the tournament under par. The team finished at nine under.
"I am very pleased with the win, especially with how difficult the course played today," coach Ross Randall said. "Plus, there is a lot of pressure that goes with playing with the lead."
Randall said the course played harder yesterday than it did in the first two rounds because the wind was much stronger.
Price followed up his 67 and 69 with a 1-under-par 71 yesterday and won the tournament by six strokes at 9-under. Three players finished in a tie for second at 3-under.
Price set the 54-hole record for the Kansas Invitational this week.
Price had his shot of the tournament during his second round Monday. On the par-5 second hole, he hit his tee shot in the left rough behind a tree. He punched out to about 150 yards but
tnen stuck his third shot to within inches from the pin. He finished that hole with a birdie, one of 13 in his two rounds Monday.
"Nine-under on a course like Alvamar is very impressive," Randall said.
Junior Kevin Ward and freshman Tyler Docking finished in a tie for 11th place at 1-over par for the tournament. Docking was playing in only his second collegiate event.
Sophomores Ryan Rainer and Pete Krsnich finished in a tie for 26th at 5-over par.
"Kevin played much better today, unfortunately he had a couple of bogeys down the stretch," Randall said. "He is really close to playing great."
SEE GOLF ON PAGE 4B
Junior Andrew Price finished up the 18th hole yesterday with a victory at the Kansas Men's Fall Invitational at Alvamar Golf and Country Club.
Megan True/Kansan
sports commentary
Joey Berlin
jberlin@kansan.com
Whittemore on track to rewrite record book
The term "Kansas football legend" may seem ironic, like "The Best of Meat Loaf" or "MTV News." But each week, Kansas quarterback Bill Whittemore makes a case that he deserves legendary status.
In fact, when he completes his career this winter, Whittemore could arguably be the greatest quarterback in Kansas history.
To some younger Kansas fans used to the helpless passing antics of Zac Wegner and Mario Kinsey, it may be surprising to learn the Jayhawks have had some fine quarterbacks.
nine quarterbacks. Bobby Douglass was an All-American during the 1968 season while leading the Jayhawks to an Orange Bowl appearance and played 13 seasons in the NFL.
John Hadi was a three-time all-Big 12 Conference selection. Mike Norseth's 1985 season was probably the best ever by a Kansas passer.
So where does Whittemore rank among them?
First of all, Whittemore is on pace to have the greatest season ever by a Kansas quarterback. In 1985, Norseth set single-season school records with 2,995 passing yards, 3,214 total yards and 15 touchdown passes.
whittimore's unbelievable numbers in four games are on pace to blow those standards away. Project his 2003 stats over 12 games, and you get 3,294 passing yards, 3,912 total yards and 30 TD passes.
It's almost impossible for Whitemore to keep that statistical pace. Kansas hasn't begun conference play and hasn't faced a defense the caliber of, say, Nebraska's. But Whitemore's early performance has left him room to drop off and still get all three records with ease.
So, let's say he does. What about career value? Just for estimates, let's add the projected 2003 stats to Whittemore's junior-year numbers and see where he'd rank in those three categories.
Passing yards: Whittemore would finish with a projected 4,970 passing yards, fourth place on the Kansas list behind Frank Seurer, Kelly Donohoe and David Jaynes.
Touchdown passes: Whittemore's projected 41 career TD passes would top the Jayhawks' list, ahead of Jaynes" 35.
Assistant uses winning background to help team
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com kansan sportswriter
SEE BERLIN ON PAGE 4A
Cut open Seth Litrell, and you'll see a man who has bled crimson and cream since he was in diapers. However, some blue has found its way into his system in the past two years.
The second-year administrative assistant for the Kansas football team grew up in Muskogee, Okla., just 150 miles from Norman — the mecca of college football in that state. From a young age, Litrell
From the 1997 season to the 2000 season, Littrell was a hardworking fan favorite for the Sooners. He learned under head coach Bob Stoops and his staff, who turned a 5-6 team in Litttrell's sophomore year into a championship contender two seasons later.
knew he wanted to suit up for the Oklahoma Sooners, just like his dad, Jim Littrell, did from 1973 to 1975. He knew that he wanted to be a fullback, just like his dad. And he knew he wanted to win a national championship, just like his dad.
As a senior, Littrell played a big part of
the Oklahoma offense that marched to the Orange Bowl as a fullback when the team played for the championship he yearned for. After downing Florida State 13-2 and winning the big one just like his dad, Littrell felt the reward of his hard labor.
"It's something you can't really explain unless I guess you've been there," Littrell said. "Being with those teammates for four years, kind of like here, through the thick and the thin, it's a great experience."
After that January evening in south
Florida, Littrell's playing career was over because of injuries sustained during his college years. He turned to the career path he had envisioned since junior high.
"It's weird, because even in junior high and high school, I knew everyone's positions and what everyone was doing on the field," Littrell said. "I always wanted to be a football coach. My dad wanted to do that growing up, and he never did, and I think he always wished he would have."
When starting in the coaching world, Littrell followed one of his mentors from
"I grew fond of Seth when I was coaching at Oklahoma," Mangino said. "He didn't possess outstanding talents other than tremendous heart, and desire, and respect for the Oklahoma tradition. When I had an opportunity to bring him along in a position that he could learn and grow into, I didn't hesitate."
his years at Oklahoma: Mark Mangino. The former OU offensive coordinator had just taken the head coaching position at Kansas.
SEE LITTRELL ON PAGE 4B