Pro Soccer
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Kansas City midfielder Preki was named the 1997 Honda Most Valuable Player. Preki also led the MLS in scoring. Wizards midfielder Mark Chung received the league's Sportsmanship Award.
Pro Football
Green Bay improved its record to 6-2 by defeating New England 28-10 in a Super Bowl rematch last night. Both teams remain in contention for homefield advantage in the playoffs.
Tuesday
October 28,1997
Section:
A
Page 8
Pro Football
Page 8
In the other Monday night game, Chicago, 1-7, defeated Miami, 5-3, in overtime, 36-33. The game was played yesterday because of the World Series.
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In offense's dark times, bright spots keep shining
Defense gives fans something to cheer
Between midterm papers and examinations, I've been clued to the television watching college football and the World Series. I made these observations:
Top-ranked Nebraska did not have the appearance of a team above and beyond everyone in the polls. Yeah, the Cornhuskers held the Kansas offense to just four first
downs — but it was just the Kansas offense.
Six touchdowns have been produced by the Kansas offense, while the Jayhawks' defense and special teams have produced five this season. This list represents those who have played tremendous
Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher@kansan.com
roles in helping Kansas to a 4-4 record and an outside shot at a bowl bid despite anemic offensive showings.
3. Dean Royal, punter
1. Ron Warner, outside linebacker
2. Jason Thoren, inside linebacker
3. Dean Royal, punter
4. Maurice Gaddie, strong safety
5. Tony Plough, free safety
Here is my revised list of Heisman hopefuls:
2. Ryan Leaf, Washington State quarterback. The No. 10 Cougars are 7-0 and have a chance to make their first Rose Bowl appearance since a 24-0 loss against Alabama in 1931. Besides, the Cougars' promotion is a single leaf in an envelope — nothing else — addressed to Heisman voters.
1. Charles Woodson, Michigan defensive back, wide receiver and return man. The No. 4 Wolverines are undefeated and have the top-ranked defensive unit in the country. Woodson has five interceptions and is the best player and athlete, regardless of position, in college football.
3. Tim Couch, Kentucky quarterback. Impressive statistics — 68 percent passing, 2,830 yards and 30 touchdowns — for someone who plays on an average team is enough for me to give Couch some consideration.
4. Randy Moss, Marshall wide receiver. Moss remains the best offensive player not playing quarterback. He has 68 receptions, 1,127 yards and 18 touchdowns for a program that just moved to the Division I-A level this season.
5. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin running back. At 5-foot-10-inches and 261 pounds, he wears on opponents before stomping through them. Dayne has 1.271 vards and 15 touchdowns.
The Cleveland Browns had John Elway, the Drive, the Fumble, and owner Art Modell, who moved the team to Baltimore two years ago. The NBA Cavaliers have had Michael Jordan's game-winning shots during the plavoys.
■ Cleveland sports teams and their fans have had bad luck for some time now, and Game 7 of the World Series is the latest reminder of that fact.
Gallagher is an Olathe senior in journalism.
One of my friends, who is from Cleveland, sent me an e-mail message titled "@%$#&*!" yesterday morning as I thought about what to say in these paragraphs.
Sometimes it's hard being a fan. In the end, someday, the close calls and second-guessing will be forgotten in a championship celebration for some of us.
Until then, as Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams says, "Enjoy the journey."
Healthy knee key for player
Pruitt candidate for point guard
By Penny Walker sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Casey Pruitt hasn't played a basketball game in almost two years.
But when the Jayhawks take the court on Nov.11, she could be the starting point guard.
After losing All-America point guard Tamecka Dixon from last year's squad, Kansas has two candidates for the position freshman Jennifer Jackson and redshirt freshman Pruitt, who has torn her anterior cruciate ligament three times in the past two years.
Although she is no longer scared to be hit hard at practice, Pruitt said others were still concerned.
"Every time I fall or something, everybody just comes running over to me, picking me up, making sure I'm OK," said Pruitt, a native of Jonesboro, Ark.
Their concern is justified. Pruitt has used her redshirt year, which means another major injury could affect her eligibility. Yet she plays on.
When Pruitt first tore her ACL in high school, her family urged her to give up basketball. But she just couldn't leave the game.
Two years and two more ACL tears later, Pruitt still hasn't given up the goal of wearing a Kansas uniform.
"I love the game too much," Pruitt said. "It's always been my dream to play Division I basketball.
"I've worked so hard for 18 years to get where I am and then just to let two years of bad luck destroy it ... I didn't want to do that."
See PRUITT on page 6A
Redshirt freshman Casey Pritu pushes a coach during practice. Pritu has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee three times in the past two years. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Walk-on field pared to four men
Tryouts were held Oct. 19 and 20 in Allen Field House, and the short list of candidates was selected following those tryouts. Now the walk-on candidates will practice with the team, hoping to make the final cut.
Walk-on candidates include Tyrell Greenlee, Olathe freshman; Chris Harris, Bridgeton, Mo., freshman; James Lester, Denver junior; and Chris Martin, Overland Park junior.
The four walk-on candidates will practice this week, but there is no guarantee that any will make the team. Whether freshman center Jeff Carey redshirts this season may play
Walk-on candidates for the Kansas men's basketball team have been trimmed from 60 people to four as the search for the next potential members of the Jayhawks continues.
Two players on hold
Raef LaFrentz and Eric
Chenowith will both miss the next
two weeks of practice.
See page 6A
A decision to keep any of the walk-on candidates could be made by the Kansas coaching staff as soon as next week.
a major role in determining if anyone will be kept.
Assistant coach Matt
Doherty, who coordinated the walk-on tryouts, said he looked for specific qualities when evaluating prospects.
"One, who we choose depends on our needs." Doherty said. "Two, you must have some real ability. Three, you have to have character. They have to be able to work with the other members on the team and do what is asked of them so we can improve as a basketball team."
See WALK-ONS on page 6A
Preseason Big 12 Conference Coaches' Polls
By Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher@kansan.com
Associate sports editor
Men
Player of the year
■ Raef LaFrentz, Kansas
Freshman of the year
■ Ryan Humphrey, Oklahoma
Newcomer of the year
■ Albert White, Missouri
All-conference team
■ Cory Carr, Texas Tech
■ Raef LaFrentz, Kansas
■ Tyron Lue, Nebraska
Paul Pierce, Kansas
■ Brian Skinner, Baylor
Standings
1. Kansas
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Missouri
5. Nebraska
6. Iowa State
7. Oklahoma State
8. Texas Tech
9. Colorado
10. Baylor
11. Texas A&M
12. Kansas State
Women
Player of the year
■ Alicia Thompson, Texas Tech
Freshman of the year
■ Nikki Weddle, Colorado
Newcomer of the year
■ Lara Webb, Baylor
All-conference team
■ Anna DeForge, Nebraska
■ Jayme Olson, Iowa State
■ Lynn Pride, Kansas
■ Alicia Thompson, Texas Tech
■ Renee Roberts, Oklahoma State, and Angela Jackson, Texas (tie for fifth)
Standings
Standings
1. Texas Tech
2. Texas
3. Colorado
4. Kansas
5. Nebraska
6. Iowa State
7. Baylor
8. Oklahoma State
9. Kansas State
10. Texas A&M
11. Oklahoma
12. Missouri
Jayhawks hindered by injuries, lack of confidence
Offense dead last in national rankings
By Kelly Cannon
kcannon@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Eight games later, that infant offense is still learning to crawl. The Jayhawks rank 112th of 112 teams in offense nationally.
Before the 1997 season started, Kansas football coach Terry Allen expressed concern about his youthful, woefully inexperienced offense.
"That was one of our major concern," Allen said. "And it has been a big disappointment. We are concerned with our players' confidence level."
The offensive line has been a particular point of concern for Kansas, as well as the focus of many personnel moves. Right guard Justin Glasgow was moved from the tackle position before the Oklahoma game on Oct. 5. Left tackle Dan Dercher was moved from the defense before the Colorado game.
The Jayhawks also have been hampered by injuries.
Running back Eric Vann has been slowed by nagging back and shoulder injuries all season. David Winbush sprained his ankle against Oklahoma. He took the opening kickoff against Nebraska but was unable to play the rest of the game.
In the wide receiver corps, Eric Patterson missed two games because of a fractured rib. John Gordon wasn't given clearance to play this season because of sleep apnea and cardiomyopathy condition. Harrison Hill broke his ankle against Texas Christian on Sent. 6 and required surgery.
"He wasn't 100 percent," Allen said. "When you're 160 pounds, you want to be 100 percent."
Kansas quarterback Zac Wegner runs from Nebraska's Mike Rucker. Wegner was sacked four times for a loss of 35 yards in Saturday's game. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Quarterback Matt Johner broke the little finger of his throwing hand and had to miss the Texas Tech, Colorado and Nebraska games. Zac Wegner, who has been filling in as starter, will start against Iowa State on Saturday.
"With Matt's injury, Zac will be the starter," Allen said. "Hopefully, Matt will be ready to go in
as relief. We have to see at practice this week."
Tight end Jason Gulley, who also has had legal troubles this semester stemming from a fight after the Sept. 13 Missouri game, broke his foot against Oklahoma and required surgery.
Two defensive players also have been lost for the season - Dariss Lomax and Jeremy Hanak both have knee injuries.
The only Kansas offensive player to have a consistent level of success this year is punter Dean Royal. He is averaging more than 45 yards a punt, up from 38.4 yards last season.
The Jayhawks have been relying on their defense to win games. In the last five games, Kansas has scored four touchdowns: one by the offense — that 99-ry run by Eric Vann against Oklahoma — and the rest by the defense or special teams. In fact, five of Kansas' 11 touchdowns have come from the defense or special teams.
don't have any big backs to go in there and pound, pound, pound away."
Vann said he didn't realize it had been so long since the offense had scored a touchdown.
Kansas' next opponent is Iowa State, a team that just had its first win this season Saturday against Baylor. Allen said the Cyclones' troubles — an inept defense and a strong offense — contrasted with
"We're pathetic," he said. "We
Kansas'.
"This is as important a football game as we've played all year," he said. "We've lost three consecutive games. It's a team we're actually favored against, and it's our final home game. This game is definitely a hump game for our season."
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