Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
The Kansas State men's basketball team begins the season without important players from last season. The women have added height. See page 3B
Commentary
Columnist Tony Pacheco grades the Kansas football team on its performance this season.
Tuesday
November 24,1998
Section:
B
Page 1
SEE PAGE 3B
Big 12 Football
Big 12 football coaches respond to Oklahoma's firing of coach John Blake after a losing season.
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Commentary Spirits, support high for runners in NCAA race championship
I knew that we were headed to a sport with a different following yesterday morning as we drove to Rim Rock Farm for the NCAA Division I and II Cross Country National Championships.
Tired of waiting and afraid they might miss part of the races, people were jumping out of their cars, which had backed up for a couple of miles, and running toward the course.
At times, it looked as if the fans from Stanford, Arkansas, Michigan State and all parts in between were running more
than the men and women participating in the championships.
Perch atop the hill overlooking the starting line, then sprint through the grass to watch the runners loop around the pond, crash through the trees to watch the leaders on the back side of the course and end panting
Matt Friedrichs
sports@kansan.com
They were vocal and visual in their support of their runners.
near the runners crossing the finish line. The crowd, populated with people in school colors, sweatshirts and warmups, was not the placid, solitary group of people you would expect to be chasing a group of runners.
Dave Loughran, Lake Stockdreher, Zeke Austin and Will Short were at the meet supporting their James Madison teammates. The four are members of the team but were not among the five runners who qualified for the championships.
"Most times people just stand around and scream at cross country meets," Loughran said.
Loughran and Short ran around the course screaming, carrying their flags, and Austin showed his team spirit with a sparkly, gold wig, blue and yellow face paint, and two foam hands, proclaiming James Madison as the No.1 university.
But he and his friends crafted two giant flags and attached them to PVC pipe. One flag had the school's initials, "JMU," and the other blue and gold banner had the school's mascot. "Dukes."
"I'm the superfan," Austin said.
While the four young men weren't the only fans who painted their faces, dressed to kill and ran screaming across the course, other fans were just as vocal but more subdued in their appearance.
Kathleen Ripley Loe wore Michigan State sweatshirt to support her son. Joel Leo.
She, her husband and another son toured the Rim Rock course Saturday. She said the family followed Joel to races across the country but she was impressed by the attendance and the course.
"I can't believe there are so many people here." Lea said.
The only disappointment of the beautiful day for me and other Kansas faithful was that Brian Jensen was the only Kansas runner in the field.
Kansas cross country greats, including former coach Bob Timmons who designed and maintains Rim Rock, Olympic 10,000 meter gold medalist Billy Mills and 1954 NCAA cross country national champion AI Frame had returned for a reunion and the meet.
Frame was impressed by the course, race and the crowd but not by the Kansas showing.
"The current state of the Kansas track program leaves a lot to be desired," he said. A competitive team shouldn't be too much to ask of a school that boasts distance alumni like Glen Cunningham, Frame, John Lawson, Mills, Wes Santee and Herb Semper.
Make no mistake, Saturday was a beautiful day. The fans ran joyously across the course chasing their runners. Maybe the Kansas fans will be able to do the same soon.
Fredrichs is a Bremen graduate student journalism.
NCAA Championships
Kansas runner takes the solo route against 247 competitors...
Top left: Women running in the NCAA Cross Country Championships race past one of many silhouettes along the course at Rim Rock Farm. Photo by Graham K. Johnson/KANSAN Above: Brian Jensen, junior, keeps up with the middle of the pack. Jennen finished 50th out of 247 finishers yesterday in the race. Photo by Augustus Anthony Piazza/KANSAN
Rocky road slows 'Hawks early in championships
By Brad Hallier
Kansan sportswriter
It wasn't the finish that he had hoped for, but Brian Jensen will take it.
Jensen was Kansas' only representative at yesterday's NCAA Cross Country Championships at Rim Rock Farm. Despite a slow start, Jensen recovered to finish 50th out of 247 finishers with a time of 31:24.8, nearly two minutes behind the champion, Adam Goucher of Colorado.
"I started a little slow and was locked in for a long time, and I had a hard time getting out," he said. "There was a lot of pushing and shoving going on. Someone kicked my knee real hard, and I had pain for a little while. Once I started moving up and there was more room, I could concentrate on running more.
Jensen finished 10th out of all the unattached runners.
Overall in his satisfaction:
It was Jensen's worst finish of the season and his best time, but the course at Rim Rock had
"Overall, I'm satisfied."
"It was the first time in a long time that I've run in such a big race, and I didn't really know what to do," he said. "I had a lot of pressure on me. There were a lot of people coming out just to watch me. I don't like all that pressure."
Jensen finished 37th at the NCAA Pre-National meet on Oct. 10, also held at Rim Rock Farm. This time, Jensen said there was added pressure because he was the only Kansas runner, and he was on his home course.
"This is a very tough course to run on," he said. "It's the same for everyone though, so I'm not complaining. It's just as tough physically as it is mentally."
plenty to do with that.
Jensen easily finished ahead of the runner that defeated him by two seconds at the Midwest Regional. Illinois State's Chris Bailey finished a distant 83rd, more than 30 seconds behind Jensen.
Kansas coach Gary Schwartz said he was happy with Jensen's performance yesterday.
"He recovered well after a slow
start," Schwartz said. "He's savvy enough to realize what he needs to do. He fell behind early, and he started working his way up when he could."
Schwartz said that it was difficult to qualify a full team for the national championships and that it was a great accomplishment for Jensen to qualify for the championships and be able to place in the top 50.
"I would have loved to have a team here," Schwartz said. "Many people don't realize how difficult it is for an individual to qualify for the championships. Only 38 individuals out of thousands make it. We had participation in the national championships. It would have been no fun without anyone participating."
More information
Complete coverage of the NCAA Division I and II Cross Country Championships.
See page 88
'Hawks won't rest during holiday, face tough teams
By Erin Thompson Kansan sportswriter
Kansan sportswriter
Days of rest and relaxation await most students after today but not for 15 of some of the most prominent students on campus.
The No. 8 Kansas men's basketball team has only three days to ready for a tough game against UNL V Friday.
"I think we're going to have a good week of practice and come out hard against UNLV," said center Eric Chenowith.
After a dismal performance against Fort Hays State Saturday, the Jayhawks travel to Springfield, Mass., for the Tip-Off Classic. They doubt if they are ready for the level of skill they will face there and in Chicago at the Great Eight against No. 4 Kentucky next week.
"Hopefully with four good days of practice we'll get more ready," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "We're not ready to play against the level we're going to face the next seven games. Our people have to understand that and our players have to understand that."
UNLV is led by sophomore Kaspars Kambala, a 6-9 forward from Riga, Latvia. He was named the WAC Mountain Division Freshman of the Year and named to the All-Newcomer team. He was the team leader with nine double-doubles after averaging 11.6 points and 7.4 rebounds last season.
The Jayhawks are hoping T.J. Pugh will return to counter Kambala's height. Two weeks ago, Williams was hopeful Pugh would be able to play as early as last Saturday. But after
men's BASKETBALL
practicing a week ago, Pugh's foot swelled and an early return is doubtful.
The Jayhawks are missing the size the 6-8 forward brings to the lineup as well as Pugh's defensive consistency.
The injury bug continued to bite Kansas Saturday. Although there were no serious injuries, Chenwith received 11 stitches after taking a blow to the head, and Nick Bradford broke his big toenail in half after running into the press table.
Bradford said his toe was just a little sore but should be fine.
Junior forward Lester Earl's knee continues to swell after off-season surgery. Saturday, Earl looked as if his athletic abilities were making a comeback, but Williams warned fans not to get too excited and continued to limit the minutes Earl played.
Ed said better better Saturday:
"My strength is coming back."
Earl said. "I jumped unbelievably well (Saturday). Those are things that I think are the signs of getting stronger."
The Jayhawks have not put together 40 minutes of consistent play yet this season and hope to turn things around.
"We have to be mentally tough and go out and play 40 minutes," Bradford said. "We haven't put a 40-minute game up yet."
The Starting Lineup
Women's basketball team tries to handle loss of starter
By Sam Mellinger
Kansan sportswriter
With the return of Suzi Raymont questionable after a knee injury this weekend in Hawaii, the No. 17 Kansas women's basketball team must go on.
For now, going on means heading to Los Angeles for the Loyola Marymount Thanksgiving Classic this weekend. The Jayhawks headed straight from Honolulu to Los Angeles yesterday in preparation for two games this weekend.
Kansas (2-2) takes on Austin Peay (0-2) Friday, then either LMU or Denver on Saturday.
The loss of the Jayhawks' senior co-captain moves Shandy Robbins into a starting role and means others will have to help fill
the void. In the first game without Raymant on Sunday, Kansas lost to Hawaii, 51-47. The team will not get official word on Raymant's availability for the rest of the season until it returns to Lawrence next week.
Austin Peay enters the game against Kansas after being on the short end of two blowouts. The Lady Govs lost their season opener, 88-71, to Kentucky on Nov. 15 despite 27 points from 6-1 center Quin Sullivan. Candie Smith, a 6-0 forward, added 12 points.
The Kentucky loss was close compared to the 94-53 beating the Lady Govs took from Western Kentucky Nov. 19.
Austin Peay is located in Clarksville, Tenn., and plays in the Ohio Valley Conference. Susie Gardner, who has compiled a
women's BASKETBALL
28-29 record in two seasons, including an 11-16 mark in 1997-98, coaches Ainley Peay.
As for Saturday's possible opponents, the Lions went 3-24 last season under Julie Wilhoit, who is in her fourth season at LMU. Sharmayne Murphy, a 5-8 senior guard, is the Lions' leading returning scorer after averaging 8.6 points per game last season.
Denver was 12-15 last season under Fam Tanner, who is in her fourth season with the Pioneers. Emily Freeze, a 5-7 senior guard, is Denver's leading returning scorer. She averaged 8.2 points per game
One thing Kansas coach Marian Washington is sure to focus on this weekend is a quick start. The Jayhawks were notorious for their slow starts and strong finishes last season and have continued that trend this season.
last season.
Kansas fell behind early and trailed at halftime of two of three games in Hawaii. The Jayhawks were able to overcome a 25-14 deficit at the half against Minnesota.
Kansas couldn't overcome a slow start Sunday against Hawaii as a 32-18 halftime deficit was too much.
Going from Honolulu to Los Angeles for the last week won't affect the team's studies.
"We've got a great staff of people who make sure our student athletes get their homework done." Washington said. "That's always a priority."
A