4B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY HAIRY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2009
SOCCER (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
to be as rewarding as the seniors might have hoped. The team is now entering the last game and holds few postseason hopes. This is a far cry from the beginning of the season when the team chanted its goal of "Big 12 Champs" after every practice. But the seniors aren't
dwelling on what could have been.
"You can sit here and say all the 'what its' and drive yourself crazy about it, and if you're not in the tournament it doesn't make any difference," said Hanley.
Johnson emphasized the positives.
are ready to end their careers and leave the team that has defined their college experience.
"I'm sure I'll probably cry because it's been the past four years of my life," McCabe added. "And now that it's over, it's kind of like 'what now?'"
"We're going to remember the times we had together, the crazy goals we scored and the relationships."
"This is the best team I've ever been on at Kansas for sure," said Johnson. "We've had some great players here like Holly Gault and Afton Saurer, but I'd say, as a team, this is the best team I've ever played on. It just sucks that little things have cost us games."
Boyer agrees.
SHANNON MCCABE senior forward
Whether the Jayhawks continue on to postseason or end up playing their last game this Friday, one thing is certain: None of the seniors
"It'll hit me when we're all done and I don't have to come to practice and meetings and have it be a part of every day of my life." she said.
Right now, the seniors post-graduation plans range from coaching to graduate school to professional
soccer, but each said they would be sure keep in touch with each other.
"When I look back on the whole experience, I'm not going to remember our record or anything like that," McCabe said. "We're going to remember the times we had together, the crazy goals we scored, and the relationships. That's really what it's about."
Edited by Brenna M. T. Daldorph
COMPARISON (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Despite all the comparisons, the Jayhawk know a championship in 2010 is merely a goal and they have a lot of progress to make to reach it. Sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor isn't ready to hang any banners just yet.
It has been awhile since junior center Cole Aldrich tasted the victory of the 2008 national championship. But those memories are the ones that keep him striving for excellence.
"I'm not saying that we are the best team in the country," Taylor said. "I'm not saying that we're going to be the national champions. I'm just saying if we come in here and we try to get better every year, I think we have all the right pieces that we could be a really elite team in college."
"It feels like a real long time but at the same time it feels like it was almost yesterday." Aldrich said. "Just thinking about the season coming up reminds us of how last year ended and the hunger that we have for having another successful year."
— Edited by Arthur Hur
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Mizzou leader remains optimistic
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, right, celebrates after stopping Nebraska running back Roy Helu Jr., left, Oct. 8, in Columbia. Weatherhead hasn't given up the idea that Missouri could win its third straight Big 12 North title.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Even the most loyal Missouri fan has probably written off the school's chances of winning a third straight Big 12 North championship.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Senior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon has not given up the dream. He believes the turnaround is just around the corner now that the toughest stretch of the season is over.
"He's trying to keep us positive and keep the spirits high," cornerback Kevin Rutland said. "He tells us that just because we lost three games, it's not over. We still have a chance to make a bowl game and get to the Big 12 championship game."
Losses to No. 3 Texas, No. 16 Oklahoma State and Nebraska the past three weeks have saddled Missouri with an 0-3 conference record for the first time since 2002. The last five games all appear winnable, as long as players don't lose hope.
Missouri (4-3, 0-3 Big 12) is a slight favorite to begin the climb out of the North cellar on Saturday at Colorado (2-5, 1-2). The rest of the schedule has no dominating teams with Baylor, surprising North leader Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas a combined 18-11 overall and 5-8 in conference play.
"With what's going on in the North right now it kind of motivates everybody," Weatherspoon said. "We know that there's a lot still out there. We've got five games left and we've just got to take care of business one game at a time."
Weatherspoon would likely have to be a major factor in a turnaround. A star since his sophomore season, he leads the team in tackles for the third straight season.
Weatherspoon was third in the Big 12 with 127 tackles in 2007. As a junior, he had 149 tackles while returning two interceptions for touchdowns to earn unanimous all-Big 12 honors, and this year he's fourth in the conference with 61 stops.
That total includes 11 tackles in last week's 41-7 loss to No. 3 Texas. Weatherspoon had an
interception in the blowout loss to Texas, a game that had the majority of a sellout homecoming crowd heading for the exits just after halftime.
"It's an attitude. You have to go and get the ball, it not just going to happen," he said. "That's why they call it creating takeaways."
Defensive coordinator Dave Steckel said Weatherspoon is the Tigers' undisputed leader on and off the field.
"He does everything he says he's going to do," Steckel said. "He does a great job both being vocal and leading by example to
educate and be a leader for our younger guys."
The glaring problem for the defense in Steckel's first season as coordinator has been a lack of big plays. The Tigers replaced seven starters from a 10-4 team and are 10th in the conference in third-down defense and last in both takeaways and red zone defense.
"I've had years where you have this," coach Gary Pinkel said. "All you can do is just keep working at it, working at it, working at it. We will persist and hopefully it will turn around."
MLB
Phillies dominate Yankees in Game 1
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Look out for Cliff Lee, Chase Utley and this New Red Machine.
Lee outdueled CC Sabathia, Utley homered twice and the Philadelphia Phillies kept rolling through October, beating the New York Yankees 6-1 on a misty Wednesday night in the World Series opener.
The defending champion Phillies shut down Alex Rodriguez & Co. in the first Series game at the new billion-dollar Yankee
Stadium. Trying to become the first NL team to repeat since Cincinnati in 1975-76, the Phils' 17-4 postseason run is the best in league history.
Big Red Machine, meet your match.
"We have confidence. We know we have a good team," Uiley said.
Game 2 is Thursday night, with wily Pedro Martinez pitching for the Phillies against jumpy A.J. Burnett.
Ryan Howard reprised his MVP performance, doubling twice and driving in the final run for the Phillies. Rodriguez, however, went
hitless and struck out three times in his Series debut.
Hardly looking like the 2-to-1 underdogs they are, the Phillies were in such control that many fans left before the final out.
Lee blanked the Yankees until a run scored on shortstop Jimmy Rollins' throwing error in the ninth inning.
Lee bamboozooled the Yankees with a spiked curveball, deceptive changeup and his usual pinpoint fastball, pitching a six-hitter while striking out 10 without a walk.
The lefty improved to 3-0 with an 0.54 ERA this postseason.
He really seemed to enjoy himself, too.
If Lee felt any anxiety in his Series debut, facing the team that led the majors in wins, homers and runs, it didn't show. And if the Phillies were supposed to be intimidated of the pictures of Babe Ruth and all the Yankees greats on the giant videoboard, it didn't happen.
"To be honest I really never have been nervous in the big leagues. This is what I wanted to do my whole life. This is what I take pride in. For me there is no reason, to be nervous," Lee said.