what we heard I always think in terms of, 'Are we getting better?' and the answer to that is no." Kansas State football coach Bill Synder on the Wildcats' defensive performance against California on Saturday. Kansas State won 42-28. For more on this story, see page 3B.
2B
the university daily kansan
off the bench
Kevin Flaherty
kflaherty@kansan.com
Several football teams in the Big 12 Conference face similar circumstances this year. They have problems that could lead to a long season of second-guessing by disgruntled fans. But if these problems are fixed, they could surpass expectations, and some teams could even make a national title bid.
During its season-opening 42-28 win over California Saturday, Kansas State showed a number of holes in its defense. K-State's cornerbacks couldn't cover, and its defensive line got no pressure on the quarterback.
Football programs to improve
the quarterback. Going up against Texas and Oklahoma State back to back on the road, both teams with good quarterbacks and fantastic wide receivers, could mean two losses for the 'Cats if they don't get these problems solved.
problems solved.
Texas and Oklahoma both have the same problem — they cannot beat one of the Big 12 South teams. Oklahoma can't beat Oklahoma State, and Texas can't beat Oklahoma. But look for at least one of those trends to fall this season.
Oklahoma State must find a defense to compliment its explosive offense, featuring wide receiver Rashaun Woods.
tiring wince field. The cornerbacks struggled last year, and the Cowboys must replace All-Big 12 defensive tackle Kevin Williams. If the Cowboys shore those problems up, they could be a dark horse candidate in the Big 12 South.
Texas A&M must be more consistent. Last year's squad beat then-top-ranked Oklahoma but lost to an inferior Missouri team at home the next week. New coach Dennis Franchione was a great hire for the Aggies — Franchione led a probation-saddled Alabama squad to a 10-3 record last year.
Colorado must replace four starters on the offensive line. The Buffaloes have dropped at least one of their first three games the past four years.
The Bufs must tackle a daunting early schedule that includes Colorado State, UCLA, and Washington State at home before a road game at Florida State.
Nebraska must find an offensive identity. Offensive coordinator Barney Cotton says the Huskers will pound the ball, but coach Frank Solich insists they will pass more in a balanced attack.
Watching quarterback Jammal Lord pass is like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard, so if the 'Huskers want to get back on track, Cotton better win the debate.
The Big 12 is one of the top conferences in the nation, with great depth from top to bottom. As many as nine teams could get bowl bids, but all must deal with pressing needs to meet their potential.
Kevin Flaherty is a Lenexa senior in journalism.
Our Jayhawk is bigger than yours
A nearly 20 football Jayhawk on center court is the latest addition to Allen Fieldhouse and was unveiled Friday afternoon. The Jayhawk is returning as the logo for the first time since the days of Larry Brown. The Jayhawk at Allen Fieldhouse is now bigger than the 'Hawk at Memorial Stadium's midfield.
Twins win game, series ends in tie
Santana, 8-3, has become the Twins' ace with a 1.25 ERA over five starts in August, tying his season high for strikeouts. He gave up six hits and two walks in six innings, but allowed only one run on Desi Relford's second-inning homer.
Matthew LeCroy had three RBI singles for the Twins, each scoring Shannon Stewart.
The Associated Press
Minnesota moved within 1 1/2 games of first-place Chicago in the AL Central, while Kansas City stayed a game back. The White Sox lost 5-0 to Texas.
Appier was forced to leave after two innings because of tightness in his right elbow and the score tied 1-all.
MINNEAPOLIS — Johan Santana struck out 10 batters for the second straight game, and the Minnesota Twins broke loose after an injury to Kevin Appier on Sunday for an 8-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals, salvaging a split of their four-game series.
But unlike Saturday, when D.J. Carrasco and Mike MacDougal shut out the Twins for five innings while the Royals rallied to win, Minnesota jumped on Graeme Lloyd (0-2) for three runs in the third.
monday, august 25, 2003
Lloyd walked Stewart and Luis Rivas to lead off the inning. Both moved up on
a double steal, and LeCroy singled home Stewart. Rivas scored on Corey Koskie's fly to center, taking advantage of Carlos Beltran's sore elbow by scooting home ahead of a weak throw.
singed in the fourth, and Rivas perfectly executed a suicide squeeze to score Cristian Guzman in the sixth.
After Toril Hunter walked, Jacque Jones singled in the third run to make it 4-1.
After Relaford homered with one out in the second — snapping a 4-for-23 slump — Angel Berroa tripled. But Santana struck out Brent Mayne and Aaron Gueli to end the inning.
In the fifth, the Royals put runners at the corners with one out, but Santana struck out Mike Sweeney. He walked Carlos Beltran but got Raul Ibanez to pop out to short.
Appier, who entered the game 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA in three starts for Kansas City, gave up one run on one hit and two walks and threw a wild pitch.
pop out to shot.
Hunter hit his 23rd homer of the season, a 434 foot shot off a hanging Appier breaking ball, to tie the score 1-1 in the second inning.
and threw a wild pitch. The Royals won the season series 11-8 despite being outscored 98-81. Kansas City won seven of the eight one-run games between the teams.
The vehicle of former Kansas men's basketball standout Nick Collison was broken into and burglarized in Lawrence between 8:30 p.m. Thursday and 7:45 a.m. Friday.
Collison's car burglarized, roommate's backpack stolen
The reports indicate the suspect broke in through the front passenger window.
Police reports said an American Eagle backpack belonging to Collison's roommate and valued at $30 was stolen, along with $2 in change.
Collison's roommate asked that his name not be printed.
"I don't know what the point of taking my bag was," Collison's roommate said. "They basically just broke the window for nothing."
Collison
The vehicle was parked near Collison's Lawrence residence.
Collision is currently in Puerto Rico playing for the USA men's basketball team.
Joe Hartigan
MU football may see 'good things'
The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Justin Gage is gone, but University of Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel still sees good things from his receivers.
The Tigers already know they have a potential Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Brad Smith. But Pinkel feels the trio of Darius Outlaw, Thomson Omboga and Sean Coffey has potential to be among the best in the Big 12.
"We've got some talent at the receiver job," Omboga said, "but we all have different egos and different goals. When one's having a bad day it seems to reflect on everybody else."
to be among the best in the league. "We have a lot of playmaker potential people out there," Pinkel said. "I've seen
a lot of coaches get fired on potential. We have to have guys make plays."
Omboga believes the receivers still have some work to do.
on everybody else. Omboga, a 6-2, 190-pound junior, caught 21 passes for 253 yards and one touchdown in seven games last season.
Outlaw, a 6-2, 180-pound senior, is a
former quarterback who moved to receiver last season and became Smith's No.2 target.
No.2 target.
"If Smith is in trouble, I want to be that guy he goes to, but at the same time we have two other outstanding athletes in Coffey and Thomson and I think we're doing a great job of moving the ball." Outlaw said.
Coffey, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound sophomore, played in all 12 games as a red-shirt. He caught 12 passes for 159 yards and had a team-best 13.2 yards per catch.
1) North western vs. Kansas
2) Central Michigan vs. #7 Michigan
5) #8 USC vs. #6 Auburn
3) #19 Washington vs. #2 Ohio State
4) Colorado vs. #25 Colorado State
6) #24 Oklahoma State vs. Nebraska
7) #20 Wisconsin vs. West Virginia
Week1
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8) Fresno State vs. #16 Tennessee
9) Illinois vs. Missouri
10) Northern Iowa vs. Iowa State
11) UAB vs. Baylor
12) Elon vs. Furman
Picks are due by Thursday at noon. Picks may be dropped off at Mojo's, 714 Vermont; Jayhawk Bookstore, 1420 Crescent Road; and The University Daily Kansan
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Kansas Athletics Calendar
friday
Volleyball at Northern Illinois Tournament, Debalb, Ill.
Volleyball vs. Western Kentucky
Soccer vs. Northwestern, 5.p.m., SuperTarget Field
saturday
Volleyball I at Northern Illinois Tournament,
Dekal, Ill.
Football vs. Northwestern, 6 p.m., Memorial Stadium
Volleyball I vs. Liberty
sunday
Soccer vs. Evansville, 1 p.m. SuperTarget Fiel
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