Sports
1061
The University Daily Kansan
KU men's and women's cross country teams will open their season this Saturday at the Bob Timmons Invitational at Rim Rock Farm. Races begin at 9 a.m. PAGE 4B
1B
Wednesday, September 3, 2003
sports commentary
Joey Berlin jberlin@kansan.com
Jayhawks need upset after loss
Building a football powerhouse from rubble and ashes isn't easy when you play in a conference as competitive as the Big 12 Conference — you have little margin for error. That margin is reduced even more if you lose the games you're supposed to win
Kansas '28-20 season-opening loss to Northwestern Saturday was more than just one defeat. By itself, the loss may have set Mark Mangino's team back one year in the rebuilding process.
See, this year's non-conference schedule wasn't supposed to be challenging. It was supposed to be four potential victories, paving the way to a possible six-victory season and a bowl trip—and greater glory in future years.
Bill Snyder's Kansas State Wildcats, for whom Mangino worked from 1991-98, established the blueprint for building a long-term college football powerhouse from scratch. The process consists of four basic steps:
1. Schedule easy non-conference games, preferably at home.
2. Win those games and do just well enough in conference action to earn a trip to a pre-New Year bowl.
3. Convince top-notch recruits that your 6-6 regular season record and appearance in the Mediocrity.com Bowl means the program is on the verge of something big.
4. Using those recruits, break into the Top 10, earning yourself — at least in theory — perpetual shots at blue-chip prep players and BCS bowl games.
Following the lead of his former employer, Mangino executed step one perfectly. But losing the opener means this year's team has little chance of reaching step two.
A 6-6 record followed by a bowl trip might get Kansas all the way to step three in the rebuilding process by 2004.
The goal for the Jayhawks was to be 4-0 when they play their Big 12 opener against Missouri on Sept. 27. As usual, the Jayhawks' Big 12 schedule is murder, with the Oct. 18 game against Baylor likely the only time Kansas will be favored. So to finish 6-6 and earn a trip to a lower-level bowl, the Jayhawks need to sneak an upset in there. The most likely candidate will be Iowa State on Nov. 22 at Memorial Stadium.
But now, the 2003 Jayhawks are realistically looking at, best case scenario, a 5-7 season. And the difference between 6-6 and 5-7 is more than just one game — it's the difference between appearing at least mildly attractive to a touted prep prospect and not being worth said prospect's time.
Mangino and his team have to follow K-State's lead on the field. Sure, these days the Wildcats earn well-deserved national ridicule for bashing helpless non-conference opponents they have no business playing. But back in the early '90s, when it was still in the rebuilding process, K-State won all the games it was supposed to win. That opened the door for Snyder to bring in players like Chris Canty and Michael Bishop, establishing the cycle of recruiting interest K-State needed to become a perennial top 10 team.
It may be hard to believe that one loss could set back Mangino's rebuilding effort so severely. But if the Jayhawks manage to finish 5-7, they'll look back at the Northwestern game as a missed opportunity to accelerate their climb back to respectability.
Golfer sets top-10 goal
Joey Berlin is a Leawood senior in journalism.
Junior Men's Golfer Kevin Ward chipped a ball from the rough on the back nine of Alvamar Golf Course Friday. Ward, men's golf junior, gained experience from playing courses in the Western Amateur and United States Amateur Championships last summer.
Eric Braem/Kansan
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Junior men's golfer Kevin Ward was left with a lasting impression from his play in the Western Amateur and United States Amateur Championships this summer.
summer.
"The courses were harder than anything I've ever played," Ward said. "It's as hard as it gets. I think I did pretty well for playing on courses that are practically impossible."
cally impossible. It was Ward's play on those 'practically impossible' courses that has him focused on turning some of his best golf into team accomplishments for the Jayhawks. Ward finished in the top-20 at the Western Amateur and missed the cut by three strokes at the prestigious U.S. Amateur.
said. "If I do that in the game, I'm
While Ward admits that Kansas is the
right spot for him, the junior did not sign
with the Jawhaws out of high school
The Rockhurst High School product instead headed south to play for Wichita State University. After a redshirt season in 2000-01, Ward looked elsewhere to continue his collegiate career.
contain his colleagues.
"I just didn't really like the school itself," Ward said. "I never fit in there. I tried to give it a chance, but I just made a mistake."
If Wichita State was the wrong answer, then Kansas was the right one for Ward, where he burst onto the scene for coach Ross Randall's Jayhawks during his first year with the program in 2001-02.
Ward filled in for an injured Tyler Hall midway through the spring season and played in seven events on his way to a 76.94 stroke average. Last season, Ward participated in five tournaments, with a 77.0 stroke average and a season-best tie for 46th at the Kansas Invitational.
With a summer of tournament golf under his belt, Ward said this edition of the Jayhawks might prove to be the best in his three year career at Kansas.
"I think our team has so much potential," Ward said. "If we get together and all play well together at the same time we can be top-10 in the country."
This would be good news for Randal, who will count on Ward to be a vital piece of the puzzle for a team looking for its first conference championship since 1999.
"I don't know just yet," said Randall referring to Ward's place in the starting five. "He certainly should be in there if
WHAT'S IN THE BAG
Driver: 580 Taylor Made
Three Wood: Taylor Made
Irons: Titleist 690
Wedges: 54 and 60 degree Cleveland
Putter: Callaway White Hot
Golf Balls: Pro V X
Eric BraemyKansan
Kevin Ward putted on the green of the back nine at Alavamar Friday,Ward,the veteran, will look to be a contributor for this year's squad.
he plays like he did this summer."
One of Ward's worst enemies has been his knack for being a long hitter. Keeping his ball flight on a straight path is something both Ward and Randall would like to see.
would like to see "I hit it long,but I also hit it crooked," Ward said. "If I can hit it straight and avoid big numbers, I can have a good round nine out of 10 times."
As serious as Ward is about becoming a team leader for the Jayhawks, his teammates are often left with a lasting impression of Ward's comedic side.
impression of War "He's a character that's for sure," said Andrew Price, Lake Forest, ill., junior. "He's just hysterical."
Edited by Scott Christie
Kicker faces stiff competition
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
It seemed as though Kansas junior kicker Johnny Beck was mired in a nightmare he could not wake up from the 2002 season.
As a freshman in 2001, the Kansas City, Kan., native connected on 14-of-20 field goal attempts, making him one of just a few bright spots from a team that stumbled to a 3-8 finish.
That light seemed to burn out last year, as Beck hit only 7-of-17 attempts and missed four extra points. Even with the struggles, first-year coach Mark Mangino stuck with his young kicker, no matter how bad things got.
In fans minds, no matter how bad things got that year, Beck was still a model of consistency. He was the gleaming light at the end of the long, dark tunnel.
In fans' minds, no
Beck
In Saturday's season opener against Northwestern, Beck's misfortunes struck again as he missed his only field goal attempt of the game, a 20-yarder, early in the third quarter.
early in the midsummer.
"It upsets me just because I expect perfection from myself," Beck said. "I'm not trying to brag on myself, but I worked really hard in the spring and the summer.
"I don't expect to go out there and miss a lot of kicks, especially a 20-yarder, but I guess if you know my past, those 20-yarders are a little tough sometimes."
Beck's 2003 campaign may not have gotten off on the right foot last weekend, but his coach still expects him to come around by the time it's all said and done. Not only was Mangino impressed by Beck's improvements mechanically this offseason, but also mentally.
season, but also mention the "Last year, if he missed a kick or something, his arms were flapping, he's holling at the holder, he's holling at the deep snapper," Mangino said. "This year, he understands that everyone's doing their best. In practice, if the snap's not right, he goes right back, he encourages the holder. Those are real signs of maturity."
Beck said he thought the newfound maturity was something he not only needed for this season, but for his life after football as well.
"I think I just came to the perspective that this isn't the only thing in my life," Beck said. "If I make excuses now, what am I going to do ten years from now when I'm at a job? I guess the way I'd say I have matured is just taking responsibility for my actions, not pointing the fingers whether it's my fault or it's not my fault. I'm not the one to judge."
to judge.
Another difference from last year to this year is that there is a younger prospect nipping at Beck's heels.
Freshman Scott Webb, who was ranked 19th among kickers in the nation by Rivals.com last year as a high school senior, has begun to work his name into the mix. Mangino said that if he were put in a situation where he was forced to use Webb, he would be comfortable with the freshman.
Even with Webb on the roster, Beck is concentrating on his own success with
BECK'S CAREER STATISTICS
2001 2002 2003
Games 11 12 1
Extra Pt. 16-17 23-27 2-2
FG 20-29 yds. 1-2 3-3 0-1
30-39 4-6 3-7 -
40-49 7-10 1-4 -
50-59 2-2 0-3 -
Longest 59 42 -
the confidence that is one of his brightest qualities.
BECK'S CAREER STATISTICS
est quatles:
"It's not that I'm on a short leash. It's just that there's a guy behind me who can get the job done," Beck said. "If I start letting things domino effect, then he's going to replace me, but I'm not worried about it. I know what I can do."
— Edited by Ehren Meditz