Sports
7A
The Kansas women's soccer team will host a tournament stacked with challenging opponents.The Crimson and Blue Invitational kicks off today at SuperTarget Field. PAGE 9A
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, September 12, 2003
Jayhawks face road test
Charles Gordon stepped over the hands of a would-be tackler. Gordon had four catches for 59 yards in the last week's 46-24 victory over UNLV and is expected to be a threat when Kansas takes on Wyoming tomorrow at 3p.m. in Laramie, Wyo.
By Ryan Greene
rgreene@kansan.com
Kansan sportwriter
Now that the Kansas football team has experienced victory, the next step is accomplishing the same feat on the road.
The Jayhawks will have that opportunity when they head to Laramie, Wyo., to take on the Wyoming Cowboys 3 p.m. tomorrow. As if it won't be difficult enough for the young team to win its first road game, the weather forecast does not look cooperative.
With temperatures expected to dip as low as 40 degrees and a chance of rain, coach Mark Mangino told his team to make the best of a tough situation.
Even with the offensive success, what pleases Mangino most is the performance of his special teams units.
make the best of a tough situation.
"When we started practice today, the temperature was 90." Mangino said. "I told our guys they'll think they've died and gone to heaven."
uses the success to his goal. "They've responded well to the coaching." Warinner said. "They're starting to gel in terms of working together."
In yesterday's final practice, Mangino gave senior quarterback Bill Whittemore a feel for what to expect by having him practice with footballs dunked in water.
Through two games, Kansas ranks first in the Big 12 Conference in total offense and sixth in the conference in rushing offense. Even though the line is made up mainly of fresh faces, first-year offensive line coach Ed Warinner attributes the success to his group's unity.
downs in the game's first win.
If the Jayhaws hope to repeat last weekend's performance in which they gained 276 rushing yards in their 46-24 victory over UNLV, the offensive line will have to continue its improvement.
"The emphasis that we've put on special teams is now starting to pay off," Mangino said. "When you look at the field position our offense was able to have, the fact that we didn't put our punter on the field, we were perfect in field goals and extra points, that's a good game."
practice with footballs an atmosphere if the weather presents an atmosphere like that of the Jahawks' opening game against Northwestern, Kansas' ground game could play the biggest role of all.
and play the biggest role of last weekend, Wyoming allowed Oklahoma State tailback Tatum Bell to run wild for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the game's first three quarters.
"I always knew I had the ability to be a playmaker," Gordon said.
extra points, thats a good goal. Junior kicker Johnny Beck found some consistency in a 4-for-4 field goal effort last Saturday, and freshman punt returner Charles Gordon also made his coaches smile. Gordon's hard work between his redshirt season and the 2003 campaign has paid off.
As five-point underdogs against the
Cowboys, the Jayhawks biggest motivation might be silencing their critics.
tion might be silencing the man. "We like to be underdogs when we shock people," Gordon said. "As long as
we go out and perform and win, all that doesn't matter."
See 12A for a breakdown of which team will have the advantage on offense, defense and special teams.
- Edited by Andy Marso
Athletics official's notable career ends
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Associate Athletics Director Doug Vance retired on Wednesday after working for the Kansas Athletics Department for more than 20 years.
Vance has spent the past few weeks preparing for life away from the department.
"The last two football games I sat in the stands for the first time in 20 years," he said. "It was a difficult change to do that, but I want the Jayhawks to do very well in the future."
After weeks of deliberation, Vance decided to retire based on family matters.
"This is more of a family decision for me," he said. "In recent days I've had the opportunity to do things with my sons and grandsons. This had nothing to do with my feelings about the department."
Even though Vance will enjoy his time with his family, he said he was bringing with him relationships that he would not have made if not for his years at Kansas.
"Doug took a chance on me and gave me my start in this business as an intern in 1997." Germann said. "He is one of the best in the business of media relations at dealing with media, coaches and his peers."
sports commentary
Vance
Mitten Germain, director of media relations, and Mason Logan, associate media relations director, said they appreciated Vance's work for the department.
Vance had been with the department for21 years. He was promoted to associate athletics director in 2001. His responsibilities included media relations, marketing, information systems
Mitch Germann
1978-83. Vance was also active in collegiate athletics outside of Kansas during his career in the University's athletics department. He was a member of the NCAA Coordination Committee for four years and served as media coordinator for the 1997 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional in Kansas City, Mo.
After attending Eastern Kentucky University, Vance worked five years as sports information director at Austin Peay State University from 1973-78 and Murray State University from 1978-83.
and working with the KU Athletics Hall of Fame. He was also involved in the University's trademark licensing office and coordinated the department's contract with ESPN Regional.
Outside of collegiate sports, Vance worked as a press officer for the 1987 and 1989 Olympic Festivals, the 1991 Pan American Games in Cuba and the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He also
served as co-author of Max and the Jay hawks, a book about broadcaster Max Falkenstein.
"Obviously his reputation is well-regarded around the Big 12 and the country." Logan said.
For his contributions to University media relations, Vance was elected into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame after serving as the organization's president.
"To get elected to that position means you have to be respected and well known for your work," Logan said.
Vance, who lives in Lawrence with his wife, Sue, has no specific plans for what career path he will embark on, but wants to stay in the area.
"I'm very interested in seeing what's out there," Vance said. "I'm ready to leave the college campus and pursue something off campus. I'm treating this as a rebirth and rebirths are exciting."
—Edited by Andy Marso
Jonah Ballow jballow@kansan.com
Athletes should wait on NFL
One man could change the face of college football with one monumental decision.
Ohio State University running back Maurice Clarett was suspended Wednesday for the rest of the 2003 season. Ohio State decided to punish the sophomore star because the school said he lied to NCAA investigators and accepted thousands of dollars in improper benefits.
Ohio State penalized Clarett to stay away from any violations the NCAA could impose on the university. Clarett will keep his scholarship for the remainder of the year, but will have to make a decision about his future.
With Claret's solid freshman performance, the question is now raised: Can a player leave early from college to the pros?
The NFL states that players must have been out of high school for three years in order to declare for the draft. Now, for the first time in college football, there is serious consideration that someone could challenge the rule.
could challenge the university. If the rule was changed, universities across the country, including the University of Kansas, could see the effects.
Recruitment would become more difficult for teams because the number of available players would decrease and limit the pool of talent. Teams would have even more trouble competing with the bigger schools and a trickle-down effect could develop.
Looking in the past, a player like Dana Stubblefield had a stellar three-year career with the Jayhawks. During his junior season he recorded 10 of his total 19 career sacks. Stubblefield gained fame with his Aloha Bowl performance where he was named most valuable player in his senior season. The star defensive end benefited from another year at the college level.
level.
Clarett can choose from a variety of options. He can take the one-year suspension and wait to play for Ohio State next year without being able to practice all season. The running back could transfer to another Division I-A school and sit out another year, plus any suspension the NCAA would add to the punishment. Another possibility for Clarett is to transfer to a Division I-AA school and instantly play with consent from the NCAA.
College football is one of the most popular attractions in sports for a reason. It features great players who have a chance to develop before heading to the NFL. Both college and professional football have benefited from the strict rules now that are in jeopardy.
If Clarett decides not to sue the NFL, one day a player will come along and challenge the rules.
The NFL needs to stay strong and resist any attempt by a player to forgo the three years rule.
College basketball has taken a serious hit because of players heading to the NBA draft either right out of high school or after one season.
or after one season.
Not only would a player not be ready for the NFL mentally but physically as well. The league is full of veteran players who are prepared because of their experience in either college or a professional league in Canada.
With Clarett making his decision, the NFL must refuse to let players enter the draft in order to protect one of the league's most valuable commodities: the game of college football.