Sports
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Columnist Mike Norris isn't prepared to say that the Kansas volleyball team will win the Big 12 Conference, but it is worth supporting. PAGE 9A
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The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, September 9, 2003
Running game improves
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
As a self-proclaimed "old offensive line coach," Mark Mangino loves blue-collar efforts.
That said, the Kansas coach was in heaven Saturday night after his team ran the ball for 276 yards in a victory over UNLV. Mangino was positive after the game, but sophomore running back Clark Green was more elated than anyone after eclipsing the 100-yard mark for what he hoped would be the first of many times this season.
Green exited the Kansas locker room after the game with a firm grip on the ball that coach Mangino awarded him after a gritty 117-yard effort. Green's 79-yard performance on 17 carries against Northwestern was overshadowed by the loss. After the victory over the Rebels on Saturday, Green said he was not surprised by the resurgence of the running game.
"We didn't put our heads down after the loss in the rain," Green said, "We knew we had another opponent coming up that we could run the ball on, and that's what we did."
Even though reaching the century mark is something the Kansas coaching staff has come to expect of Green, it did not expect the spark off the bench provided by freshman tailback John Randle.
John Nowak/Kansar
After fumbling early, Randle came back to gain 77 yards on nine carries. Most of the Randle's yardage came after an injury forced Green out of the game for a few plays.
"I just felt like I was letting the team down because coach talks about ball security all day, all practice." Randle said. "It was a little discouraging, but I just had to pop back in, role play and just do my job. I feel like I came back in and just did my thing."
With Green playing the role of the bruising runner and Randle presenting a change-of-pace back off the sideline, the multiple dimensions were enough to earn praise from UNLV coach John Robinson following the game.
"They had a great game plan—they
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Whittemore named national performer after UNLV victory
Last
Kansas running back Clark Green eyed the Rebels' defense as he took off down the sidelines against UNLV. Green ran 19 times for a total of 117 yards.
Shaking off the rust after last year's season-ending injury, quarterback Bill Whittemore's career-high 270 yards and three touchdown throws against UNLV earned him National Performer of the Week honors from College-SportsReport.com.
Whittemore was an integral part in the Jayhawks' 23-point third quarter, connecting on a 39-yard touchdown strike to Mark Simmons and again on a 12-yard score to Brandon Rideau, which capped a 10-play, 97-yard drive. Whittemore also added 65 rushing yards and a one-yard touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter.
CollegeSportsReport.com picks a Performer of the Week each Monday from every major football conference and out of that group selects the National Performer of the Week
The National Performer of the Week honor is Whittemore's first accolade since being named the 2002 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Whittemore's big game came just a week after struggling in a 28-20 loss to Northwestern.
Ryan Greene
Men's basketball unveils schedule
By Chris Wintering
cwintering@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The men's basketball team released its 2003-04 schedule yesterday, weeks later than previous seasons.
Because of the late completion of the schedule, the vouchers for student tickets are incorrect. The team was originally planning on hosting two games in the Feist Shootout, but instead will play one game at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., against Oregon.
The current vouchers do not include the games against Richmond or Villanova, the final games to be added to the schedule, nor the home game against Michigan State. Students will still be given these tickets if they purchased a sports pass.
The KU ticket office said that it would not be printing new vouchers and would have a new plan on how to pick up tickets in the next few days.
"It will be fairly similar to the current vouchers plan," said Jason Jeffries, an assistant in the ticket office.
Self said the final changes would benefit fans.
"We wanted to fill our last two games with quality opponents that the fans would really enjoy." coach Bill Self said in a news release. "We think we did that with the addition of Villanova and Richmond."
Kansas will appear on ESPN's Big Monday telecast three times away from home: Jan. 5 at Colorado, Feb. 9 at Oklahoma State and Feb. 23 at Texas, in addition to once at home, Feb. 2 versus Missouri. The home game against Oklahoma on Feb. 29 will be televised on CBS. The team is guaranteed to appear on national television 14 times, on ESPN, CBS and ABC.
Self said he was excited to complete the schedule, which was a combination of his staff's work as well as the previous staff.
star.
"When we arrived here, it was obvious that we inherited a very challenging schedule this season, especially with the number of tough games away from home," Self said.
— Edited by Ehren Meditz
Women's soccer team anticipates triumph
By Nikki Nugent
nnuagent@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
sports commentary
After its first loss of the season Sunday, the University of Kansas women's soccer team wants to return to its winning ways.
The team lost 3-2 to Wisconsin, making its record 3-1 so far this season. The Jayhawks travel to Springfield, Mo., fora 7 p.m. game against the Bears of Southwest Missouri State University.
The Bears have not won a game this season, losing to Murray State in their first game of the season, 2-1, and also against Ole Miss, 4-0. Games against Tennessee-Martin and Mississippi State ended in 1-1 and 0-0 ties, respectively.
Kansas goalkeeper Meghan Miller, Seattle junior, said the Jayhawks should be able to rebound from Sunday's loss by
Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com
Tar Heel payback available
Well, sort of.
Well, that pot of hatred that has been simmering in Lawrence for seven months now can finally be uncovered. Jayhawk fans can have their revenge on the Tar Heel nation.
Wen, so far,
Kansas basketball fans will never forget the image of a tearful Roy Williams exiting a closed-door meeting with his players in April, just before jetting to Tar Heel country for a new gig and new digs.
Even with the hiring of Illinois' Bill Self, Roy's sudden abandonment of the school and fans who embraced him so loyally for 15 seasons still left shock in the heart of the Midwest.
Saturday night, the North Carolina volleyball team will pay a visit to the Horeisi Family Athletics Center.
The nationally ranked Tar Heels will be the first team from Tobacco Road brave enough to make the journey west to Lawrence since Roy's change of address. As if Kansas isn't pumped enough after winning three games at the Nike Volleyball Invitational last weekend in Minneapolis, Carolina coming adds extra incentive.
With all that said, here are a few things fans can do to make this experience seem even more important.
1) Camping
I'm sure if people actually showed up to camp for this occasion, the Athletics Department would be generous to open up the Horeisi lobby for air mattresses, PlayStations and any other basketball camping necessities. I mean, if people were psychotic enough to camp outside Memorial Stadium last Friday night, certainly this game would qualify. Also, coach Ray Bechard seems like a nice enough guy, I'll bet you he could top Roy Williams' doughnut donations.
2) Don the anti-Roy paraphernalia
2) Dont the anti-Roy paraphrase
For those headed to the game, it would be wise to not only wear all the KU gear you can pull out of your closet, but whip out the "Benediet Williams" and the "I Could Give a S*** About North Carolina" T-Shirts that were all over campus last spring. Shoot, to take it one step further, it'd be nice to see some of those dorky Roy Williams bobblehead dolls hanging from a noose. There are no boundaries on this one folks.
3) Fill the place, please
This may not be a shot at the Tar Heels in the Final Four, but I know most loyal Jayhawk fans are looking to get back at North Carolina any way possible. This could be the best opportunity you have for a while.
Even if you don't want to go along with my first two proposed ideas, at least make the effort to get out to the game. The Horejsi has the potential to be a tough place to play when there's a decent crowd. I've always been a huge advocate for proper crowd behavior, but this is a special occasion. What did the Tar Heel volleyball team ever do to deserve it? Nothing really, except for wearing the Carolina blue that is frowned upon here. Make sure no team from Chapel Hill, especially the men's basketball team, will ever want to visit Lawrence again.
Greene is a Vernon Hills, Ill., senior in journalism
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact JJ Hensley and Shane Mettlin at sports@kansan.com
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