Sports
The KU football season starts Saturday, but only half of the available tickets are sold. Columnist Daniel Berk asks
how the team can continue to recruit top players without fan support. PAGE 10B
sports commentary
12A
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Jason Hwang
jhwang@kansan.com
Tennis, golf fill basketball vacuum
As promised, I am doing part two of a series on why Jayhawk fans should care about fall sports and not allow the thought of basketball season swirl through their minds constantly. I hope that many of you have stopped repeating the question "When does basketball season start?" at my request.
Here are other "nonrevenue" fall sports that Kansas fans should give some effort to follow and support these athletes.
Cross Country
Although only two meets are in the state, they are within the next three weeks. The Jayhawks host their only meet in Lawrence on Sept. 6 at the Bob Timmons Invitational at Rim Rock Farm, just northwest of Lawrence. The following weekend, the Kansas cross country team will compete in the Kansas State Wildcat Invitational to Topeka. In a Division I sport like cross country, it would be nice for these athletes to compete in front of a favorable crowd, let alone a crowd itself. If there is an opportunity for Kansas to show itself as a superior school, it's always a plus. The Kansas women's team finished sixth in the Midwest Regional, the highest finish since 1994, and the men's team took seventh, which is the best since 1996.
The big misconception about golf is that it's boring to watch. That may be so on television, but to watch live golf is actually interesting. I went to the 2002 U.S. Women's Open in Hutchinson. Other than my feet hurting from wearing uncomfortable shoes, seeing golfers making great shots and being outside makes it a rewarding experience. That's why I recommend that Jayhawk fans check out the men's and women's golf teams at Alvamar Country Club. The men's team finished 19th in the Central Regional last year. Senior Chris Ward competed in the U.S. Amateur Championships last week and was only three strokes away from being in the top 64, where they compete in head-to-head match play. Although the women's team finished 11th in the Big 12 Championships, look for the team to rise under second year coach Megan Menzel. Senior Jennifer Bawanan was named to the All-America Scholar Team last season.
Tennis
I feel bad for the tennis team. Instead of playing their home matches in Lawrence (like they did at Alvamar Tennis Club two seasons ago), they must drive 25 miles west on 1-70 to the Wood Valley Racquet Club. I understand that people would not want to make a long drive, but for these tennis players it would be nice to play in front of a favorable Jayhawk crowd. If the team plays in front of some sort of fan base, I guarantee you they will feel a little more confident in playing in these matches, instead of hearing dead air after making good shots. Senior and all conference player Courtney Steinbock returns along with five other Jayhawks. Four freshmen come to Lawrence, including three from Canada, Brazil, and Mexico.
Hwang is an Overland Park senior in communication studies.
Kansas backs to split time
Randle impresses coaches in camp, will challenge Green for playing opportunities
By Ryan Greene
By Ryan Greene
rgreeene@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Just when sophomore running back Clark Green thought his starting job was secure with the departure of Reggie Duncan, another back jockeying for the starting role is nipping at his heels.
In 10 starts last season Green racked up 813 rushing yards and another 408 receiving, while splitting time in the backfield. But freshman John Randle will see some action this season after impressive showings at training camp.
"He will play and will get some carries," coach Mark Mangino said about Randle. "He will be out there. How much time, we don't know. We have to see the situation, how the game progresses, and what our needs are from the tailback in the game as it plays out."
Even though Randle has shot up the depth chart towards the tail end of training camp, right now his role is simply to be Green's backup, and he is using the opportunity to learn from his veteran teammates.
"They're all like my brothers, my family, they really help me out," Randle said. "I can't just run the ball anymore, you gotta find the holes and different reads, and different things you gotta look for in the defense coming at you."
In order for Kansas to be successful on the ground this season, it could end up being nice having the services of both Green and Randle, instead of one exclusive back. At 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Green is a more punishing back who can get the tough yards up the middle on first down, second down, and short-yardage situations. On the contrary, the 6-foot, 175-pound Randle will be used for his speed in order to change the pace of the game.
game.
As a senior at Wichita Southeast High School, Randle was tabbed as the second ranked overall player in the state of Kansas by mokanfootball.com, as well as a member of the Top-11 in both The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle. For Randle, facing Big 12 defenses this fall will be much different than the opposition he
was up against while rushing for 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
"Mainly just telling me to hold onto the ball is the main thing," Randle said. "They tell me everything will be quicker. Bigger guys out there, bigger guys to block, more people come swiping at the ball, coming from different directions at you."
Jealousy between the backs has yet to be an issue, which will make it easier for Randle to learn both on the field and from the sidelines, he said. Green, who has been one of Randle's biggest mentors in practice, believes one of the keys to their success is to keep learning from each other in game situations.
actions.
"Whoever's in there, if they have a good play, we're going to tell them good play or bad play." Green said. "You have to tell them what's wrong, what they did wrong, because one of us is going to be on the sideline and going to see it, and that's all you can do, and just help coach them."
— Edited by Nikki Overfelt
Jared Soares/Kansan
John Randle, a freshmen tailback, answered questions from the media in Hadl Auditorium yesterday. Randall will play some during the Northwestern game Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Lacrossed up
Members of the KU men's lacrosse club jostled for position during a practice at Shenk Field Monday night. The lacrosse club is gearing up for its season opener the second weekend of Septem ber in Missouri.
Injury act shields athlete status
By Mike Norris
mnorris@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Injuries have always been a part of sports.
But this season you may not hear much about them.
That's because the federal Health Insurance Portable and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, was passed April 2003. It says no information can be disclosed from a hospital about any person's injury, including all athletes, unless that person signs a waiver first.
It also means coaches and trainers cannot talk to the media about the injury without permission from the athlete. If a player chooses, they can
even withhold the injury from a coach. Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard doesn't see that being a problem.
With less information being disclosed about injuries than in the past, some fans might not know if their favorite player will play.
This will be the first year all Kansas varsity sports will be effected by the act. But it might also have an effect on fans.
"I can't see an athlete not wanting a coach to know," he said. "At least I hope it goes in that direction."
Another possibility is national media trying to pry medical information from hospitals.
Dennis McCulloch, director of public and government relations at the University of Kansas Medical Center, said it had happened before, but the hospital would adhere to HIPPA despite intense national media scrutiny.
"We take it very seriously," he said.
We take some of its possible downfalls, the act was set-up to provide the athlete with the privacy they deserve, said KU media relations assistant Scott Meyer.
"It protects the student athlete more than in past times," he said.
In the past at the University of Kansas it was up to individual coaches to release any injury information.
Now more than ever, Meyer said it leveled the playing field.
"It makes the athletic department as a whole and all teams uniform," he said. "Now it's black and white. It saves
everyone's back."
While it may not be as easy for reporters to find out injury information, Meyer said it should put an end to any conflicting media injury reports.
So far athletics departments around the nation are just now trying to adjust to the new policy. It remains unclear what impact the act will have on coaches, players or the media.
But Bechard said the opportunity for athletes to decide if they wanted an injury to be public knowledge was better for them.
Kansas may not have to wait long to see how the new act plays out. Football, volleyball and women's soccer all begin action this weekend.
- Edited by Katie Nelson