THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan and Nike announce plans for a clothing line called Brand Jordan, which Jordan will help promote.
College Football
SEE PAGE 3B
Big 12 football coaches preview this week's games, including Kansas vs. Missouri.
Wednesday
September 10, 1997
Section:
B
Page 1
Pro Football
The Oakland Raiders described their last-minute loss to the Kansas City Chiefs as devastating.
SEE PAGE 6B
WWW.KANSAN.COM/NEWS/SPORTS
Contact the Kansan
Sports Desk: (785) 864-4810
Sports Fax: (785) 864-5261
Sports e-mail: sports@kansan.com
Sports Forum: sptforum@kansan.com
'Hawks should skewer Mizzou
Football team needs fan support to grab Tigers by their tails
I do not care for the University of Missouri. I don't like Missouri's colors, mascot, athletes, coaches and most of all I don't like Missouri's fans. I hate Missouri.
When I arrived on the Hill in the fall of 1994, I thought of Missouri as any other conference school and didn't understand how big the rivalry actually was.
I got my first taste of the rivalry during a home basketball game my freshman year when Jason Sutherland undercut Jerod Haase. The alumni reaction to this dirty play told me that this game meant more than most.
Carcaran is a Topeka senior in biol-ogy.
I saw a similar reaction by the Miz zou faith when the Jayhawks pounded the Tigers in Memorial Stadium. Kansas tacked on an unnecessary late touchdown after the outcome of the game already had been
decided, which infuriated Missouri's head coach Larry Smith and helped fuel the rivalry's fire.
My perception of the rivalry became complete when I traveled to Columbia my sophomore year to attend the Kansas-Missouri basketball game. My friends and I
Scott Corcoran
sports@kansan.co
were harassed by nearly every Mizzou fan in the arena as Missouri handed Kansas its first loss of the season. After the game, screams of "M-I-Z-F-K" filled the campus air instead of the usual cheer after victories. "M-I-Z-O-U."
I then realized that Missouri fans would be satisfied to win only one football game and two basketball games a year as long as those games were against Kansas.
This belief was strengthened last year as I witnessed Missouri fans tearing down the goalposts after Missouri beat a 4-7 Kansas team.
I heard several Mizzou fans say that they wouldn't mind if Kansas won the national championship in basketball.
This way, they could say that Missouri alone was responsible for ruining the Jayhawks' perfect season. Clearly, Missouri fans judge their teams' season on how the teams fare against Kansas.
It is now our turn as loyal Jayhawks fans to continue this rivalry. We need to help Terry Allen and his squad ruin Missouri's season and strengthen Kansas's chances for a bowl.
For the first two games, the crowd has been extremely quiet, but it is time to break the silence and help cheer the Jayhawks to victory.
With that in mind, I hope to see a large number of you at the pep rally Friday evening and on the Hill Saturday morning as the Jayhawks prepare to bring the rivalry's bragging rights back to Kansas.
With a large and bolsterous crowd behind them on Saturday, the Jayhawks will crush the Tigers.
It is impossible to understate how crucial fan support is to the Jayhawks' success.
Allen sacks quarterback query
Johner to start but Wegner likely to play
Kansan staff report
Kansas football coach Terry Allen maintains that there is not a quarterback controversy, although Matt Johner will start and Zac Wegner probably will play against Missouri on Saturday.
"Who plays at quarterback will depend on what Missouri does (on defense)," Allen said. "There's certain things that Matt does that Zac does a little bit better. Only because of the situation, I cannot disclose that information at this time."
Allen's decision comes on the heels of an unimpressive offensive performance in a 17-10 victory against Texas Christian last Saturday.
Johner completed three of 13 passes for 18 yards through two quarters of play. He had been sick last week and left the game because of dizziness in the third quarter.
Wegner replaced Johner to start
the second drive of the third quarter. Wegner completed five of six passes for 108 yards and the game-winning touchdown, a 60-yard pass to wide receiver Termaine Fulton with 6:15 left to play.
Outside linebacker Victor Bullock pushes center ticipating in a drill at yesterday's practice. Photo Bob Schmidt into the ground. The two were par- by Geoff Krieger (KANSAN)
Johner said that he trusted Wegner should the situation arise again.
"The reason why I came out of the game last week was because I was feeling bad, because I was feeling sick," Johner said. "If it happens that I need to come out again, I'm as confident in Zac as I am in myself. On Saturday he showed that he can step up and play for us when we need him."
Wegner said he would love to be the starter but acknowledged that he knew what his role on the team was.
"I love coming off the bench because there's no pressure on you like there is a starter," Wegner said. "I really don't mind be back right now. I'll have two years left after this season and I'm sure that I'll get my chance in the future."
Allen said that Johner was a team leader, and for that reason, he will continue to be the starter.
"We judged throughout the spring and the preseason, and we thought that Matt was our starter." Allen said. "Then you
get into a situation in a game when Matt steps forward and says, 'Coach, I can't go.' That speaks volumes as far as some of the things we try to teach about
(being a) team."
As for Wegner, Allen said he has played well enough to play in this week's game."
"I've been pleased with the play
of Zac in both games that we've played," Allen said. "I told him the other day that we could very easily play both of them, but Matt is our starter."
Hummer jaunt showcases campus
KU student is co-host of 2-minute TV spot presented by Gatorade
By Kristine Blasi
kblasi@kansan.com
Kansan sports editor
Big 12 showcase
The answers to three simple questions got Liz Fanska, Spring Hill sophomore, her first television gig.
Fanska was selected from about 20 student applicants to be the Kansas co-host for Fox Sports Net's "Big 12 Showcase."
A photo also was required, and a phone interview of the five finalists decided the winner.
Knowledge about campus interests, why the applicant wanted to represent his or her school, athletic participation and hobbies were included in the application.
The "Big 12 Showcase," including a two-minute tour of the Kansas campus, is scheduled to air at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday on Channel 45, Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
The two-minute showcase will air twice this week.
The program's purpose is to tell the national television audience what is popular at the University and what landmarks make the Lawrence campus unique.
"We're not going to go into the library or hang out in the union," said Jeff Fagel, Gatorade representative. "We scout each location and make suggestions, but the student co-host also has imput."
The permanent co-host for the eight programs scheduled this season is sophomore Mike Drake from the University of
The Kansas-Missouri football game are
at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 13, WBW.
Liz Fanska, Spring Hill sophomore, dances with Baby Jay, played by Tabby Anderson, Atchison sophomore. Fanska, Baby Jay and the Gatorade Hummer were part of a Gatorade spotlight for the "Big 12 Showcase" on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Texas, who said that he did not enroll in classes this semester so he could participate in the tour.
Fanska and Drake started their tour of campus at midcourt in Allen Field House and also planned to record film at Wescoe Beach, the Campanile and Memorial Stadium.
"I get to go to Big 12 schools and see what's out there," Drake said. "We will be finished Dec. 6 after the Big 12 Championship game, so I'll be back in school next semester."
"I'm supposed to show them what is happening on campus," Fanska said. "They just kind of wanted to some history and tradition and where people hang out. I'm bad at keeping up with the traditions, but they made me feel comfortable."
Drake drove his co-host and the two Jayhawk mascots around campus in the Gatorade Hummer, an all-terrain vehicle with the Gatorade logo painted on its doors. It is one of 10 Hummers owned by Gatorade.
"That was the best part," Fanska said.
"It was fun to ride around in because it
was an attention-getter. We got a lot of stares."
Despite the props and hype, the organizers said their goal was for a true picture of campus life.
"Most of it is ad-lib and off-the-cuff," Fagel said. "Judging from last week at Oklahoma, it changed throughout even though we have an outline. We want it to be as natural as possible."
Fanska said she would receive a tape of
the showcase segment, which took about three hours to film.
"I don't know if I can handle watching it," she said. "There's something weird about watching yourself on TV. But I'd do it again."
Kansas is one of eight stops on the tour. In addition to Oklahoma, the other schools are Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Texas, Colorado, Texas A&M and Nebraska.
Each school has a contract with Gatorade as its official sports beverages.
Tennis works through assistant's departure
By Jason Franchuk
sports@kansan.com
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Assistant tennis coach Frank Polito announced that he has accepted the women's head coaching position at the University of Akron.
"This was a blow to the program," said Riley, who expects to have a new assistant within the next month. "But that's what you want — your assistants to become head coaches."
The decision has surprised head coach Mark Riley and now he will have to handle the program without a sidekick.
"He is going to dc a great job at Akron," he said.
Polito grew up in Lorain, Ohio, where his high school was a tennis rival of former KU women's coach Chuck Merzbacher's high school.
Merzbacher, who is now at Ohio State, helped Polito get the job.
"Merz has been great," said Polito, who was beginning his ird year, with
Polito: Accepted head coaching position in Ohio.
Kansas tennis and first with the men's program. "We grew up together and it seems like I've followed him everywhere."
Riley said his team would not participate in this weekend's Wichita State Shocker Classic.
Riley attributed the decision to lack of practice (the team began formal practices Monday) and Polito's departure.
"He's a great coach and friend, and none of that is going to change." Riley said. "We just won't be able to reap the benefits of this program's success together."
Riley said that he did not have an assistant coach last fall, so the added responsibilities would not be a shock.
Riley will instead focus on preparing four players for the National Clay Court Championships on Sept. 20-28 in Baltimore.
Riley must take the players to Kansas City to practice on a soft surface. The traveling will inhibit practice time with his entire squad.
"Right now we're trying to get these guys ready for this national tournament," said Riley. "It's definitely a struggle getting everyone together."
Riley elected to send seniors Enrique Abaroa, Trent Tucker and Xavier Avila and junior Luis Uribe to the tournament. All four will play singles, but Tucker and Uribe must play qualifying rounds.
Abaroa and Avila are exempt from qualifying rounds because of their performance at the tournament last year.
X7
Abaroa and Avila also will play doubles together, as will Uribe and Tucker.
1