Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
What a difference the market makes. The Royals are going with a youth movement while the Mets are spending big bucks.See Page 4B
Big 12 Football
Texas running back Ricky Williams is closing in on the alltime Division I rushing record.
Tuesday
October 27, 1998
Section:
B
Page 1
Nation/ World
SEE PAGE 3B
The default rate on student loans fell to 9.6 percent, the first time it has been in single digits in years.
SEE PAGE 6B
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Jayhawk Football
Kansas inside linebacker Steve Bratten dives for a tackle during Saturday's game against Colorado. Although he has been injured, Bratten made an effort to play in the game that Kansas won 33-17. Photo by Dan Elvsky/KANSAN
Kansas State quarterback expected to play Saturday
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY. Mo. — Quarterback Michael Bishop, who was injured during fourth-ranked Kansas State's victory Saturday against Iowa State, will probably play this week against Kansas. Kansas State coach Bill Snider said yesterday.
Bishop, the Big 12's leader in total offense, limped to the sideline early in the second half Saturday with what
"We'll probably hold Michael out of practice) today," Snyder said during the Big 12's weekly teleconference yesterday. "I think Michael will be fine. We anticipate he'll play on Saturday." Bishop, a senior, had thrown three
touchdown passes and accumulated 270 yards in total offense before he left the game with 13 minutes remaining in the third period. The unbeaten Wildcats beat the Cyclones 52-7.
In six games, Bishop has thrown 15 touchdown passes and run for seven. Earlier this year, he became the school's all-time leading rusher as a quarterback.
Pick 'em games week 9:
October 31
Pick the winners in the Kansan contest. We'll print the names of the top pickers each week and list everyone who participates on the UDKi.
Submit your picks, your hometown and your year in school by 5 p.m. Friday.
You can e-mail them to the sports editor at mattf@ukans.edu or drop them off in the newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
Kansas State at Kansas Missouri at Texas Tech Texas at Nebraska Iowa State at Oklahoma Texas A&M at Oklahoma State Baylor at Notre Dame North Carolina at Florida State Florida at Georgia (in Jacksonville) Temple at Rutgers Washington State at Arizona State Houston at East Carolina Marshall at Bowling Green
Kristl Elliott / KANSAN
"We don't know how many more games he has in him." — Terry Allen
Braatten braves injuries to help 'Hawks win
By Jodi M. Smith
Kansan sportswriter
While being recruited during his senior year at Pomona High School in, Arvada, Colo., Kansas inside linebacker Steve Bratten was snubbed by the Colorado football program.
And he and fellow Coloradan Jeremy Hanak forced the fumble that gave Kansas its fourth touchdown of the game and blew the score wide open, 26-14.
They said he wasn't good enough.
Well, Bratten snubbed them right back Saturday night as the senior led his Jayhawks to a 33-17 dismalment of the Buffaloes.
"That was really cool, for two guys from Colorado, who Colorado snubbed basically and told us we weren't good enough for their program, to come back and make a big play on them and turn the game around." Bratten said.
And it was fitting that Bratten played such a huge role in the game, because it might have been the last game he plays.
Through much of his career at Kansas, Bratten has played on injured knees.
During the Baylor game he sprained the MCL, a ligament, in his left knee and sat out the Nebraska game as a result.
But there was nothing keeping him from playing against Colorado, despite his lack of practice time.
"I've really been struggling," Bratten said. "I haven't practiced in a good month. I come out and practice on Thursdays, and for me to keep on that pace, I don't know."
But he did it for the game that counted the most to him.
It's not the first time he has beaten Colorado, though.
During Bratten's redshirt freshman year, Kansas beat Colorado, 40-24, in Boulder.
But this one was a little sweeter.
"This win was equally as big for us, because we haven't won very many games, and they're a nationally ranked team, and we came out, and we dominated," he said.
Dominated, they did, and Bratten led them every step of the way.
Before the game, the seniors agreed to name Bratten an honorary captain for the night.
And the sentiment was all across Bratten's face
sentiment was all across Bratten's face
Bratten: Has struggled with injury all season.
after the game when he reflected on his teammates' decision to name him honorary captain.
"I really appreciate the program did that for me," he said.
"It means a lot to me."
And maybe Saturday's win was just the thing Bratten needed to help him finish out the season.
"We don't know how many more games he has in him," Allen said. "Maybe this one will get him over the hump and he can play a couple more."
Commentary
Thrill of Colorado game needed to spoil K-State
Now that's what I call fun!
And on that night the student body brought them down and hauled them off on a victory march. I was so excited I found myself sprinting to the south end zone with the rest of the crazed students, together as one, fighting toward a common goal — the posts must come down.
Last Saturday, those goal posts represented a season's worth of frustration.
For one weekend at least, we were a football school.
To the football team, thank you for the exciting victory, but the season isn't over yet.
It has to do with my first experience of the Sunflower Showdown and how I'm unable to forget the horrible events which transpired that evening. Coach Allen read carefully—the story will be very educational with respect to how much Jayhawks hate Wildcats.
Which brings me to a story I'd like to share with you about the 'Hawks next opponent.
The opponent: The hated K-State Wildcats. The game started out close, but in the second half the game got out of hand.
It was a nationally televised Thursday night game on ESPN.
a good start.
It was Thursday October 6, 1994.
The Wildcats embarrassed the Jayhawks on national television.
I was a freshman, a member of the marching band, and a cymbal player at that. Not
True, but I haven't reached the worst part of the story.
Midway through the fourth quarter things began to get usher.
Jayhawk fans had words with Wildeat fans. Did I mention some marketing genius decided to hand out Powerbars before the game?
Some may say, "So what. Blowouts happen all the time."
Who is going to eat a Powerbar at a football game? Besides they taste like poo.
Soon the Powerbars were being used as projectiles. The main target: The University of Kansas Marching Band and the fans.
The game ended, and the humiliation
continued.
Never have I wanted to clothesline somebody more than that night. I wanted to run out on the field and level the first two K-State hillbillies I saw, my arms spread out
The K-State fans stormed the field and took our goal posts.
like a soaring Jayhawk running full speed and connecting with their necks, sending their cowboy hats to the turf.
Fortunately for the Wildcat fans, I was in uniform, and I held my self under control.
To top it off, the ones who weren't carrying the goal post were throwing the Powerbells at the fane
Tony
Pacheco
Powerbars at the fans, as well as the band. For the first time all year, my fellow band member. Tom and I were actually happy to
be playing cymbals that night. We used the big metal circles as shields.
In the middle of a song we saw a brown stick, resembling Mr. Hanky flying our way. Up went the shields as if we were a couple of Captain Americas sending the concrete textured energy bars to the ground.
The crowd was angry that night my friends.
I hated that night, and I still can't help thinking about it.
Ever since the thousands of other seniors and I arrived at KU, we haven't beaten K-State.
This would be the best time to do it. We could ruin their chances of a national championship and keep our bowl prayers alive. The last thing I want to do is relive that horrible night. But how about reliving last Saturday? Now that's what I would call a fun weekend.
Pacheco is an Olathe senior in English.
Basketball poll salutes women in preseason
By Sam Mellinger
Kansan sportswriter
The poll was released yesterday and placed Kansas ahead of Texas Tech and Baylor in the team rankings. Kansas guard Lynn Pride was picked as Player of the Year.
"There have been high expectations put on us, and we put a lot on our
The University of Kansas is home to the Big 12's best women's basketball team and player, according to a preseason poll voted on by the league' head coaches.
selves," said Pride, who averaged 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season. "We think we're capable."
The announcement came as little surprise. The Jayhawks have been projected as high as No. 7 in the nation, and Pride received a nomination as a
Pride: Voted pre season player of the year.
National Player of the Year candidate.
Preseason accolades mean little, Washington said.
"She's one of the best players in this country, not just the conference." Washington said. "We're really pushing her this year."
"Ijust don't want to get caught up in the rankings," said Kansas coach Marian Washington. "Last year, we weren't picked, and that's a lot easier than being on top where everybody takes their best shot at you."
"We got the nod for whatever reason, but now we have to try to help the team keep their focus," she said.
Pride was joined on the preseason All-Big 12 team by Iowa State's Stacy Frese, Texas Tech's Angie Braziel, Baylor's Lara Webb and Oklahoma's Phylesha Whaley.
Pride's honor came as no surprise to Washington
Throughout the preseason, the Jayhawks have expressed indifference to praise. Pride echoed the company line yesterday when asked if the honor meant anything.
"Not to me," she said. "It's just a preseason prediction. I'm not focused in on individual things right now."
Pride said she was a little nervous about the selection.
"I guess it's good in some ways, but it puts some pressure on you." Pride said. "If you don't do what you're supposed to do, you feel like you let some people down."
Having the preseason Player of the Year doesn't make Kansas a onewoman team. In fact, depth may be one of the team's strengths with almost the entire team returning this season.
"They understand a lot better what it's going to take this year," Washington said.
Much of the team's improved depth lies in the hands of four freshman — 6-6 Kristin Geoffroy, 6-2 Katie Hannon, 5-6 Selena Scott and 5-9 Dameyla Stepney.
"We have a lot of young players who we need quality minutes from," Washington said. "All four (freshman) are (coming along well), but they can get lost, too."
Kansas plays their first exhibition game Nov. 4 at Allen Field House against Myjava of the Slovak Republic. Their regular season-opener will be Nov. 15 against North Carolina in the State Farm Tipoff Classic in West Lafayette, Ind.
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