Tonight's Game
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
The Kansas football team will play its first game of the season at 7 tonight against Alabama-Birmingham in Memorial Stadium.
Pro Basketball
SEE PAGE 2B
Thursday
August 28,1997
Section:
B
Page 1
Cynthia Cooper, who led the WNBA's Houson Comets to the league's best record was named
College Football
Page 1
Texas Tech senior quarterback Zebbie Lethridge will face the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday.
SEE PAGE 4B
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Early season games look promising for'Hawks
Allen begins tenure with easy schedule
Terry Allen's tenure at the University of Kansas officially begins tonight. Although he was hired eight months ago to be the Jayhawks' new head man, this
evening is the first real chance for fans to see Glen Maso n's replacement in action. Allen's team returns 11 starters (eight defensive and three offensive) from a team that crumbled down the stretch and finished 4-7 last fall
Scott Corcoran
sports@kansan.com
In addition, he inherits a nonconference schedule that includes three very winable games.
The Kansas football team runs through plays yesterday in Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks begin their season at 7 tonight at Memorial Stadium against the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
UAB, which has seven players left from that team, barely resembles the team that took the field here in 1994.
The first of those games is at 7 tonight at home against Alabama-Birmingham. Three years ago, Kansas pounded the Blazers 72-0. I did so much wheat waving that Saturday afternoon that I could barely lift my milk glass to my mouth the following morning.
Prediction: Kansas 34. UAB 10.
The Blazers are in their third year of playing Division-I football and are coming off an impressive 5-6 season. Although the Blazers have made great strides in the past three years, they are still no match for Kansas. Look for Allen to become only the second coach in school history to win his first game.
Fredrickson Kansas 54, OR 10
In the second game of the year, Kansas plays host to Texas Christian University. Kansas has smashed TCU the past two seasons, after losing to the Horned Frogs in 1994. TCU slumped last year and there is no reason to believe they will have snapped out of it by the time they visit Lawrence. On Sept. 6, the Jayhawks will make it three in a row against TCU.
I hope that my crimson and blue shaded glasses aren't cloudying my logic and my predictions are well-founded and correct. If the Jay Hawks do succeed in winning all three of their nonconference games, they have a great shot at attaining a winning record.
Prediction: Kansas 27, TCU 9.
Prediction: Kansas 17, Cincinnati 13.
After taking on Missouri in the third week of the season, Kansas completes its nonconference slate by traveling to Cincinnati to battle the Bearcats.
After barely losing to both Kansas and Kansas State in 1995, the Bearcats finished last season with a 6-5 record. This year, Cincinnati has its eyes on the Conference USA crown and hopes a nonconference victory against Kansas will propel them toward the title. With three home games under their belts, the Jayhawk offensive line and receiving corps should be experienced enough to brave the hostile environment they will face in Cincinnati.
By finishing with a winning record, the Hawks could find themselves playing another non-conference game in December.
'Hawks set to battle Blazers
Corcoran is a Topeka senior in biology.
New era begins as Allen steps on field tonight
By Kelly Cannon
kcannon@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
When the Kansas football team last met Alabama-Birmingham, the Jayhawks won 72-0.
That was in 1994. Since then, Kansas has acquired a new head coach and coaching staff that will make their debut at 7 tonight under the lights of Memorial Stadium. No Kansas coach since Don Fambrough in 1971 has won his first game in Lawrence, a streak of 12 coaches.
UAB, a Division I-AA team in 1994, is beginning its second season of Division I-A football. Kansas finished 4-7 last season, while UAB was 5-6.
Just because UAB has only seven years of NCAA-sanctioned competition doesn't mean Kansas head coach Terry Allen is taking the game lightly.
"The similarities between our teams are amazing," Allen said. "They're strong on the defensive side of the ball. The strength of our team is our defense. We can put pressure on the offense and not gamble one-on-one."
Kansas' defensive depth relies on four returning starters in the secondary - Tony Blevins, Jamie Harris, Jason Harris and Maurice Gaddie; and four other returning defensive starters including nose tackle Bret McGraw, linebackers Jason Thoren and Pat Brown and defensive end Dewey Houston III.
McGraw said the experience of Kansas' starters would be an advantage.
"Most of us have been playing three years," McGraw said. "We know our styles and we enjoy playing with each other."
Allen said because Kansas and UAB were so similar, the deciding factor in the game could be the special teams.
"In a defensive struggle, special teams could play a larger role in the game," Allen said. "Your kicker could play a large role in the outcome. And since we have a freshman at kicker, it's somewhat of a concern for us."
Freshman place-kicker Joe Garcia will play in his first college game tonight. Garcia is the first freshman to start in that
DEPTH CHART: A full listing of Kansas football players and their positions for tonight's game. Page 3B
position since Dan Eichloff in 1990.
Freshman wide receiver Harrison Hill will also see significant playing time.
"I didn't want to come in expecting to be a starter," Hill said. "I would have much rather sat back and learned the offense. I am surprised, amazed and giddy to have the chance to play."
Kansas has a slight advantage at the quarterback position. Senior quarterback Matt Johner started in the Jayhawks' season opener last season.
UAB's starting quarterback is redshirt freshman Lee Jolly. Seven players have started at quarterback for UAB since 1991. Kansas has had five since then.
"I'm not sure we can measure this season in wins and losses," he said. "We are coming together as a football team."
Despite the possibility of winning tonight's game, Allen said he remained cautiously optimistic about the season.
Team begins new tradition on the Hill at home games
By Kelly Cannon
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas graduates began walking Campanile Hill in 1924 for commencement. Kansas football players and coaches will begin a similar tradition this year, and they hope their walk will be just as longstanding.
Beginning tonight, the team and coaches will walk from the Campanile to their locker room in Memorial Stadium before every home game.
"The players will have their shoes on and taped, their pants and jerseys," said Rick Mullen, director of promotions. "They will put on their pads and helmets after the walk."
The idea of walking the hill was new head coach Terry Allen's and came directly from Kansas' commencement exercises in Mav.
"I saw a picture in the academic center of people walking down the hill at graduation," Allen said. "It was natural for us to walk down the hill to get people to the games early and to get people to be excited about the team."
Allen said even though the walk was aimed at increasing excitement for the fans, there was another motive.
"We want to make the statement that not only do we want to walk down the hill on Sundays for games, but we want to walk down the hill on Sundays for graduation as well." Allen said.
The walk will take place one hour and 20 minutes before kickoff. Fans will not be able to directly interact with players, but can stand close to the sidewalk and cheer.
"It's more symbolic for the fans to line up and cheer the team on," Mullen said. "They can slap the players on the
shoulder. It's a way for the fans to rally around the team. Graduation is a focus of longstanding tradition. This is something the team has never done before."
Tennis schedules
Men's tennis
Sept 12-14 Shocker Classic in Wichita
Sept. 20-28 National Clay Court Championships in Baltimore
Oct. 3-5 Tulsa Invitational in Tulsa, Okla.
pionships in Baltimore
Oct. 11-19 All-America Championships in Austin, Texas
Women's tennis
Sept. 19-21 William & Mary Invitation in Williamsburg, Va.
Region V Rolex Championships in Wichita
Returning seniors strengthen tennis teams
Oct. 2-5 National Clay Court Championships in Orlando, Flg.
Oct 24.36
Oct. 10-13 Ohio State Invitational in Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 24-26 Washington Invitational in Seattle
Oct. 29 - Nov. 1 Central Region Rolex Championships in Omaha, Neb.
By Jason Franchuk
sports@kansan.com
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
With both Kansas tennis programs unaffected by graduation departures, the men and women's teams expect to return — not to mention serve and volley — to national prominence after promising 1996-97 finales.
Senior and No.1 singles player Kylie Hunt returns to the women's team for the fall season. The Jayhawks finished the spring season 15-14 (9-2 in the Big 12) and placed second in the conference tournament.
Hunt, a 1996 transfer from North Carolina State, will be allowed to compete as a senior despite sitting out her true senior year due to a knee injury. As a junior, Hunt won the national championships and placed second at the national claycourt tournament. However, she was granted another season of
"She is by far one of the top players in the country," said second-year coach Roland Thornqvist. "She is the most dedicated athlete I have ever been around."
Senior Christie Sim, who filled the No. 1 singles void during Hunt's absence, will contend for the top spot again.
Thornqvist said he rated Texas as the Big 12 favorite said, "We'll give them a run for their money. We have a good group here, too."
"In my mind, Sim will be battling for the top spot," Thornqvist said. "She grew into the role very well last year and has continued to improve."
The men, who started preseason conditioning yesterday, have a Big 12 title in their sights as well, said second-year coach Mark Rilev.
eligibility.
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"The guys have been really committed to summer tournaments," said Riley, who led last year's squad to a 19-8 record overall (8-1, Big 12) and a fourth place
finish at the conference tournament. "There's a lot of pride in how this team competes, and these guys are coming out ready to play."
The men are bolstered by the addition of junior Georgia Tech transfer Kenny Powell. Powell did not have to redshift this season as per NCAA transfer rules because his departure landed him in another conference.
"This is a great program to be a part of," said Powell. "They have a great coach and a bunch of guys who are very competitive."
Riley agreed with his new player's assessment.
"Teams will have to be wary of anyone in our lineup," Riley said. Two All-American seniors, Enrique Abaroa and Xavier Avila, also return to the souad.
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“This year we have everybody coming back,” Riley said. “Our goal is to win the Big 12, and we think that is it very possible to accomplish that feat.”
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