Wednesday, October 29, 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
More students climbing the walls
Members aim for new heights in club sport
By Daniel Ferguson sports@kansan.com Special to the Kansan
The student grabs, fights, scratches and claws for every inch with the next hold just a distant sight. And when the student has used every ounce of energy getting to that point, he or she has do it all again.
This is rock climbing, and it quickly is becoming one of the fastest growing club sports at the University of Kansas. The Rock Climbing Club, which now has about 30 members, was created for both expert and beginning climbers who want to have fun and meet new people while enjoying a great form of exercise.
"It's a lot of fun," said Chris Brooks, Lawrence freshman. "The camaraderie in the club is great. I enjoy the climbing, but the people are the best part."
The club does have a few experienced climbing members, but according to Chris Kemler, club president and third-year climber, the majority of the group's members are beginners.
"We cater to the experience of the climber," said Kemler, Basehor senior
In addition to having two club practices a week, the climbers also go on occasional weekend climbing excursions. The club has been on two weekend trips this school year and plans to go on at least one more.
Earlier this semester, the climbers traveled to Warsaw, Mo., and Sam's Throne, Ark. The club plans to take a trip during the second weekend in November to Chandler Park in Tulsa, Okla.
Kemler said that about 20 people went on the earlier trips, and he expected about the same number, if not more, for the trip to Chandler Park.
"We had a lot of first-time climbers on those first two trips," he said. "We set up ropes for everyone's abilities and climbed for about one and a half days at each place."
One of those first-time climbers said he had enjoyed the challenge.
"I'm a beginner, and I have quickly found out that the trips can be enjoyable for all levels of climbing," said Bryan Caldwell, Gardner sophomore.
Many beginners said they were pleased with the willingness of the more experienced climbers to help the beginners.
"The people in the club are very patient when you are learning to climb," said Jason Marshall, Gardner sonhomore.
Many of the climbers also mentioned the great exercise and social opportunities that have come with being part of the club.
"I enjoy climbing for the exercise — plus it is a great way to meet a lot of new people," said Jamie Mance. Shawnee sophomore
Rock climbing is not usually thought of as an extremely competitive sport, but Kemler said the club planned to attend two intercollegiate competitions later this year.
"Missouri and Wichita State usually hold a competition each year that we will probably end up going to." Kemler said.
In addition to that, the club sponsored the "Vertical Plains Climbing and Bouldering Competition" on Saturday. The competition was held at the climbing wall in Robinson Center and had competitors in beginning, intermediate, and advanced routes.
Even though the club is well into the season, Kemler stressed that anyone still want to join the club would be welcome. Students do not have to have any equipment and are welcome on all trips, but they must pay a $25 membership fee per semester.
Students who have questions should contact Kemler at 749-1293 or club secretary Ward Byrum at 864-8365.
Jenny Hollman, Kansas City, Kan., senior, scales the rock-climbing wall in 207 Robinson Center. Hellman is one of about 30 members who are part of the rock-climbing club that meets from 7 to 9:30 p.m. every other Tuesday. Photo by Pam Dishman/KANSAN
Bowls battle for championship game
Commentary
By Richard Rosenblatt The Associated Press
Miami or Pasadena, Calif.?
Stone crabs or goat cheese pizzas?
South Beach or Venice Beach?
These questions will be answered in the next five weeks as college football enters November with the Orange and Rose bowls waiting to see which one gets the national title game.
Even though the bowl alliance has designated the Orange Bowl to be its championship game, the Rose Bowl — a nonalliance game until next season — could produce the top matchup.
On Nov. 8, Michigan will play at Penn State and Florida State will play at North Carolina, so at least two more beatens will lose.
Entering Saturday's games, seven teams are unbeaten — the top five in The Associated Press poll (Nebraska, Penn State, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina), plus No. 10 Washington State and No. 22 Toledo.
With that in mind, here is a rundown of each team's prospects for a perfect season and shot at the national title (The Big 10 and Pac-10 champs are committed to the Rose Bowl).
ORANGE BOWL
Nebraska (7-0): The easiest path — the 'Huskers'
final four regular-season opponents are unranked and a combined 13-16. Their toughest game could be at Colorado (4-3) on Nov. 28. Right now, No. 19 Oklahoma State (6-1) is the likely Big 12 Conference title game opponent. It will be a shock if the "Huskers fail"
to make it to Miami undefeated.
■ Florida State (7-0): The Seminoles have to beat two top six teams — North Carolina and Florida — on the road. Can they? It's tough to envision a Seminole win at Florida Field.
■ North Carolina (7-0): The Tar Heels have it a bit easier—they have to beat the Seminoles at home. But Carolina can't afford
to start slowly at Georgia Tech on Thursday night or at Clemson on Nov. 15. Two losses are not out of the question.
If the Seminoles and Tar Heels both lose, the likely opponent for an unbeaten Nebraska would be No. 6 Florida, but only if the Gators can beat Florida State and win the SEC title.
Also:
—TOLEDO (7:0): We won't leave out the Rockets, but the alliance does. The Mid-American Conference isn't part of the group. The MAC champ plays in the new Motor City Bowl on Dec. 26. Toledo still has its toughest games ahead, including Miami, Ohio on Saturday.
Penn State (6-0): The Nittany Lions have the toughest road to a perfect season, with three ranked teams.
ROSE BOWL
left — Michigan, at Purdue and at Michigan State — plus games against Northwestern (Saturday) and Wisconsin. The way the Lions played against Minnesota in a 16-15 win, coach Joe Paterno's first chance at win. No 300 may not come against the Spartans on Nov. 29. The loss of fullback Aaron Harris hurts, too. A defeat
appears imminent — even Purdue (6-1) and Wisconsin (7-2) can't be taken lightly anymore.
■ Michigan (7-0): Is anyone playing better than the Wolverines? With wins against four teams that are — or were —
ranked, Michigan's toughest test will be at Penn State. Ohio State is at Michigan on Nov. 22, but the Buckeyes are just 1-7-1 in the last nine meetings. Two biggies, though, may be one too many for coach Lloyd Carr's squad.
- Washington State (7-0); With Ryan Leaf at the controls, the Cougars are capable of finishing 11-0 and returning to the Rose for the first time since the 1930 season. But the Cougars' defense will be tested Saturday at Arizona State. Should WSU win, the biggest game becomes the Apple Cup showdown against Washington on Nov. 22 at Seattle. Remember this: In eight years under coach Mike Price, Washington State is 0-12 in November road games.
A perfect Rose is a longshot, but a once-beaten Washington against a once-beaten Big Ten team wouldn't be a total loss. It just wouldn't be a national title game.
Missouri's Smith hesitant to predict bowl-game bid
Tigers' success doesn't guarantee postseason play
"No, no, no, no, no, no," was Smith's initial response to the question after Saturday's improbable 51-50 double-overtime victory against previously unbeaten Oklahoma State. "Right now, I'm not even thinking about that.
"Hey, let's take them one at a time, achieve the winning season first and then take what goes with it."
The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, Mo. — One victory shy of Missouri clinching its first winning season since 1933 and a possible bowl bid, coach Larry Smith is far from crowing.
Smith said that until the Tigers (5-3) beat Colorado, this week's opponent, Nebraska or Baylor, the bowl issue was moot. He doesn't want his players talking about it, either.
Smith said he's not worried about his players looking ahead
Oh, sure he's no looking ahead instead of focusing on the task at hand.
"I don't give them time to think about it," Smith said. "We've got enough seniors and juniors that have been around that know you never start thinking two weeks or three weeks down the line — not in today's football."
However, he can't keep the fans from speculating about holiday travel plans about the team's first bowl game since the 1983 Holiday Bowl.
Colorado (4-3) won't be easy on the road, and top-ranked Nebraska (7-0) has been stomping everybody. But lowly Baylor (1-6), the finale at home, should be the ticket.
Since the recent proliferation of bowl games, no Big 12 or Big Eight team that won six games against Division I-A opponents has failed to make it to the postseason. If Missouri wins six games, a finish lower than sixth overall in the conference also is highly unlikely.
The most likely possibilities are the Copper Bowl, Dec. 27 in Tucson, Ariz., which gets the conference's sixth-place team; the Aloha Bowl, Dec. 25 in Honolulu, the fifth-place team; and the Alamo Bowl, Dec. 30 in San Antonio, fourth place.
There are gray areas in the selection process accounting for natural rivalries and other aspects. The Copper Bowl would be a natural draw, considering Smith coached seven years at Arizona.
"It think it would be fun, and it would really get the local community interested in the ballgame;" Copper Bowl representative Pete Dees said. "You always want to get teams that there would be a lot of excitement around and whose fans would want to come to a bowl game."
Again, Smith doesn't want to hear about it.
"The big thing we have to do is continue to win and then those things work themselves out."
"I'm coach of the football team, I'm not out contacting bowls," Smith said. "You've got to have six wins to qualify and even then that doesn't guarantee you anything.
That said, Smith is proud that the turnaround is all but accomplished. Missouri, after giving up a 30-7 second-half lead to Oklahoma State, refused to fold and won by stopping a two-point conversion in the second overtime.
"That game gave us tremendous impetus," Smith said. "What we did, we fought for each other. When you can get to that point, then you've got a real team."
Iowa State's victory ends losing streak; Cyclones reinvigorated
The Associated Press
AMES, Iowa — Heartened by a long-sought victory, Iowa State coach Dan McCarney was eager yesterday to get back to practice.
The only question was where.
Yesterday was the first time Iowa State practiced since breaking a 13-game losing streak with its 24-17 victory against Baylor. But snow covered the grass practice fields next to Jack Trice Stadium, and McCarney wasn't thrilled about practicing indoors because only half the team can work at a time.
He was looking for volunteers.
Workers were clearing the practice field as he spoke, but McCarney eventually
decided to go indoors. The situation reaffirmed for the Iowa State coach how nice it would be to have an indoor practice area strictly for football.
ation Athletic Facility for indoor practices, which also is used by the student body and other teams.
It's not big enough for a full-scale workout with the entire team, so the offense alternates their practices there with the defense.
McCarney said a building just for indoor football workouts would be one of the final links in giving the program everything that's needed to succeed.
"It's real important, in the Midwest especially," McCarney said. "It's not a necessity in the South. I don't think it's a necessity in Los Angeles for UCLA to
The Cyclones now use the Lied Recre-
have one. But it is in the Midwest, for these kind of things."
"Because here we are, mid-season, we've got a full month to go, you can still practice indoors over there, but you sure can't have a full, padded practice with a full football team," McCarney said.
Wherever the Cyclones practice this week, everyone should have a little more zip after their victory against Baylor. Iowa State (1-6), which plays at Kansas on Saturday, had not won since defeating Missouri on Sept. 28 of last year.
Because of their victory, the Cyclones
avoided the school's first season without a win or tie since the 1930 team went 0-9. At one point, though, with Iowa State getting blown out week after week and key players getting injured, 0-11 seemed possible.
McCarney, 6-23 as Iowa State's coach, said he never wavered in his conviction that the Cyclones eventually would win.
"You really believe that something good is going to happen," McCarney said. "I felt like if we could get some kids back healthy, we were going to be a different football team and more effective and more competitive."
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Willis A. Waas Memorial Scholarship for flight instruction
The Willis A. Waas Memorial Scholarship was established in 1990 to assist KU students in obtaining a private pilot license. One award of $500 is given in February every year to a KU student who meets all eligibility requirements and is chosen by a selection committee based upon the student's future plans and reasons for wanting to fly.
Deadline: November 21, 1997 Contact KU Aerospace Engineering Department 2004 Learned Hall.8:54 4267 for more information
LAWRENCE AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS
842-8665 2858 Four Wheel Dr.
WOMEN IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION
Date: November 4, 1997
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Place: Kansas Union
Facilitator: Ellen Sward, Professor, KU School of Law
Sponsored by the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, 115 Strong Hall University of Kansas. For more information contact Jennifer Joseph at 864-3524.
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