2B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
— Abraham Lincoln
FACT OF THE DAY
At 7-1-1, soccer is off to its best start since 2004, when it began the season 8-1.
Kansas Athletics
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: Which player from that season owns school records for points, shots, goals and game-winning goals in a season?
A: Caroline Smith owns the record for points with 41 in 2003, goals in 2003 with 19, game-winners in 2003 with seven and shots with 98 in 2005.
FOOTBALL Wright and Biere to return from injuries
Kansas Athletics
Senior linebacker Arist Wright is recovering after playing sparingly against Duke last Saturday because of an undisclosed injury. Mangino said Wright "shows no signs of his injury," and that Kansas' starting linebacker should "be ready to go" against Southern Miss.
After suffering from an undisclosed illness the last two weeks, Mangino said sophomore tight end Tim Biere should play this week against Southern Miss.
"He started out Sunday running around and today I watched him and he looked pretty good," Mangino said. "He feels a lot better and he's getting his strength back. I think he'll be ready to go full speed come Saturday."
Jayson Jenks
ABE&JAKE'S
LANDSCAPE CONSULTING
Fans get a long overdue intro
MORNING BREW
Jayhawk sports fan, this is Kansas soccer. Kansas soccer, meet Jayhawk sports fan. This introduction is a bit overdue, but I really do hope you two hit it off all the same.
What's that, Jayhawk sports fan? You say you've been pressured into non-revenue sports relationships before, with less than sparkling results? Oh, I know, I know. Your trepidation is justified. But this is different, really.
Kansas soccer is a winner. It's ranked 20 in the nation according to the NSCAA/Adidas National Rankings, with a 7-1-1 record. It just dominated the Jayhawk Invitational last weekend, shutting out both San Diego and South Dakota State while netting nine goals of its own.
And that's another thing:
Kansas soccer plays the beautiful
game in a way that lives up to
the moniker. But don't worry,
Jayhawk sports fan, you don't
need to know your Inter from
your Arsenal to appreciate the
attacking flair of Kansas soccer. In nine games, the squad averages nearly two and a half goals on just over 17 shots per game. Of those 21 total goals, 18 came via an assist.
Now, Kansas soccer, I understand you've got some cause for hesitation, too. You're worried that Jayhawk sports fan's affection is fickle, that it's contingent on continued winning. What happens if you drop a game? Will Jayhawk sports fan bail? And isn't Jayhawk sports fan already committed to Kansas men's basketball anyway?
So you know Kansas soccer is unselfish. And with only four yellow cards this season, you know it's not prone to violent outbursts either.
Valid concerns all, but not cause for excessive worry. Sure Jayhawk sports fan wants to see wins. So does any fan base — that's how these relationships work. But Jayhawk sports fan is fiercely loyal once you prove yourself a consistent winner. Just ask Kansas football. It wasn't so long ago that it couldn't get a sideways glance from Jayhawk sports fan.
Kansas football can also attest to layhawk sports fans' ability to spread the love. There really is more than enough fan adulation for everyone. And if you want specific proof that men's basketball and soccer can successfully co-exist, look to North Carolina. North Carolina women's soccer, currently the nation's top-ranked team, has 19 national championships. North Carolina men's basketball does OK, too.
Unfortunately, we're going to have to keep this introduction brief. You see, Jayhawk sports fan, Kansas soccer begins Big 12 play tomorrow in Stillwater,
Okla., taking on the one-spot-from-being-ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Kansas soccer then plays three more road games — including a formidable test against No. 13 Texas A&M, the only Big 12 team ranked higher than Kansas — before returning home for an Oct. 9 date against Texas Tech.
And speaking of dates...
Jayhawk sports fan, it sure would be nice of you to join Kansas soccer for what promises to be a delightful afternoon on the pitch.
Edited by Brenna M. T. Daldorph
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
TODAY
No event scheduled
FRIDAY
Soccer
Oklahoma State,
7 p.m.
Stillwater, Okla.
Tennis
KU Tournament,
All Day
Lawrence
SATURDAY
Football
Southern Miss,
11 a.m.
Lawrence
Tennis
KU Tournament,
All Day
Lawrence
MEN'S GOLF
Volleyball
Baylor, 1 p.m.
Waco, Texas
Team finishes second at Colbert Intercollegiate
awituszynski@kansan.com
BY ANDREW WITUSZYNSKI
Third place has been a common finish for coach Kit Grove and his men's golf team in his three years at Kansas. That changed on Tuesday afternoon when the Jayhawks jumped over Illinois State and finished in second place at the Jim Colbert Intercollegiate in Manhattan. The second place finish is the best so far in Grove's tenure at Kansas.
Not only did Grove and the Jayhawks set a new team high, but Barbee had his best career finish as well coming in third place individually.
The host school for the tournament, Kansas State, came in first place.
"They played really well on their
home track and we just couldn't catch them," Nate Barbey, Dakota Dunes, S.D., junior, said.
"Like I say every week, Nate is our rock," Grove said.
Barbee, who chalked up a first round score of 69, was in first place after day one. The second day Barbee dropped a few spots, shooting a 73. Barbee missed second place by one stroke and missed first place by just two strokes.
"Nate is frustrated because he is so close. He keeps knocking on the door, though," Grove said.
First place was not far from Barbee's reach. With just three holes left, Barbee was tied for the lead, but a drive into the trees on hole 16 put him in a tough position.
"It was a disappointing finish, but also it is something that I can learn from," Barbee said. Grove
said he could feel Barbee's first win coming.
"That door is going to open soon," Grove said. "He is going to get a win for us."
Walk-on player and the newest addition to the team, Jeff Bell, Wichita freshman, did not crack the official five-man rotation, but he did play as an individual. Bell shot the low round on Tuesday for the entire field with a score of 69.
"As a walk-on, what more could you ask for?" Grove said about Bell's play.
"I was expecting to play well. Probably nobody else was though."
Bell just made the team as a walk-on a few weeks back by getting through a grueling six-day tryout. Now, all of his paper work is in, he has been practicing with the team and he is ready to compete.
Bell said.
Grove said he was impressed with Bell's play.
"That was a surprise for us," Grove said. "But now I think he has a chance get in the lineup and help the team."
Barbee echoed Grove's sentiments about Bell's performance.
"He did a great job and hopefully he can build on that from here," Barbee said.
This was Bell's first collegiate action and he finished fifth individually.
"I need to keep in mind that it is not going to be that easy all the time. I can't expect to finish topfive in every tournament; however, that is the goal." Bell said.
For most schools and for most college sports, walk-ons are just practice players to fill out the roster. That is not the case here.
"I wasn't just trying to make the team," Bell said. "If I'm going to be a part of this team, I want to play in tournaments. Being a walk-on means nothing once you're on the course."
Barbee said Bell's performance meant he would get more opportunities to compete.
"After that finish, you can't really keep him out of the lineup," Barbee said.
The layhawks will get a chance to play on their home course Monday and Tuesday at the Kansas Invitational at Alvamar.
"We'll have a nice home course advantage and we want to do a better job of defending it than we did last year," Grove said. "This time, I like our chances to win."
NFL
—Edited by Tim Burgess
Michael Vick will be ready if called to play against Chiefs
Philadelphia Eagles' Kevin Kolb gets ready to pass during against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 13. Kolb will make his second straight start for the Eagles if Donovan McNabb can't play against Kansas City. Coach Andy Reid isn't sure whether Jeff Garcia or Michael Vick would be the backup quarterback in that scenario.
BY ROB MAADDI Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Superman.
The Wildcat Originator. Michael Vick has the nicknames ready. All he needs is a chance to play.
After spending 18 months in federal prison and sitting out the first two games as the final league penalty for his role in a dogfighting ring, Vick is eligible to play his first regular-season game in 33 months when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback was so excited Wednesday he ran full speed in the morning walkthrough.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"I've been watching football from afar the last two years and this is a dream come true to me," Vick said.
His role is uncertain because the Eagles have a complicated situation at quarterback. Donovan McNabb did not practice Wednesday because of a broken rib that forced him to miss last Sunday's 48-22 loss to New Orleans.
Kevin Kolb would make his second straight start if McNabb, injured in the season opener at Carolina, can't play against the Chiefs. Kolb made his first NFL start against the Saints, throwing for 391 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Coach Andy Reid isn't sure whether Vick or Jeff Garcia would be the backup QB. Reid wouldn't even say that Vick is definitely playing against Kansas City.
Vick said he will be in uniform, so that means he'll at least serve as the No. 3 QB.
"One thing we do know is I'm going to be dressed up, so that's a great opportunity," Vick said. "This is Andy's team. He's a smart guy. He knows what to do and when he comes up with the game plan. If it doesn't include me, I'm cool. But, I will make sure that mentally I'm aware of what's going on and I'm ready in case something happens. You never know what can happen."
When he plays, Vick is expected to run Philadelphia's version of the
wildcat offense. The Eagles used that formation nine times against the Saints with three different players taking snaps. Wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin and running back Brian Westbrook took handles rolling the ball.
Vick is familiar with nontraditional offensive style. During his six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, he was more known for his running ability than his passing skills.
He holds several rushing records
for QBs, including most yards in a season (1,039) and most career 100-yard games (eight).
"I was the Wildcat originator, so it's not foreign territory to me." Vick said. "It's just about making the right decisions and just playing football. It's almost like backyard ball, but it's become quite immense in this league now. Everybody's doing it, so I'm excited about my role."
Vick feels his career has been rejuvenated. He certainly doesn't
take anything for granted anymore.
"My appreciation for the game has changed tremendously," Vick said. "I feel like I missed a lot of football. Me coming into a different system, a system I'm pretty familiar with but a lot of different concepts, I sit back and study harder, I try to watch more film and do all the things that are going to help me once I step out on the football field."