2C SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1996
PROFILES
LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD
KU student athlete juggles demanding workouts, classes
- Student athletes have to be dedicated on and off the field.
BY MIKE GIROUX
BY MIKE GIROUX
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL-WORLD
When his alarm clock rang at 5:30 a.m., Kansas University senior defensive tackle Kevin Kopp knew he was in for a rough day. But then, that's true of most of his days.
Even when the football team is in the off-season, it has to juggle a demanding schedule.
"When I get up that early, I wonder if I ever went to sleep at all." Kodd said.
But whether or not he slept, he knew that he had to be down at Anschutz Sports Pavilion at 6 a.m. for the morning workout with the rest of Kansas
Jayhawk football team.
The life of a student athlete is not all glamour and rewards. A typical day in the life of Kevin Kopp proves that.
At Anschutz, Kopp and the team started off with some exercises and then headed to the weight room.
Kopp, looking a little more awake, started his workout with three sets of power cleans — weight repetitions that work the shoulders, back and legs — handling
immense amounts of weight
"Kevin does a great job in the weight room and has a very good work ethic," strength coach Fred Roll said. "He has a good influence on the other guys and really leads by example."
Some might think that lifting weights that early would make guys have a bad attitude, but Roll said that's not the case with Kopp.
"If he's in there (the weight room),he's always working hard." Roll said.
Workina it all out
"It's mornings like these that really make me feel good about myself, because I know that by eight in the morning, I've done more than some people do in an entire day."
While most of the student body still was in bed, Kopp, a business major, was ready to start his academic day. Knowing that he had to be at Summerfield Hall by 8 a.m. for his Quantitative Methods in Business course, Kopp got a quick shower and headed to the Burge Union for breakfast.
— KU senior
defensive tackle
Kevin Kopp
"It's mornings like these that really make me feel good about myself, because I know that by eight in the morning, I've done more than some people do in an entire day," Kopp said.
At 10:50 a.m., Kopp had to hike up the hill to Lindley Hall, where he had his Latin American History class at 11 a.m. After an hour and a half of notetaking, Kopp had to make the trip back down to Summerfield for his 12:30 p.m. Business Law class.
At 1.50 p.m., Kopp ended his academic day and went back to the Burge Union to eat two grilled chicken sandwiches, large fries
At 9:50 a.m, Kopp finally had an hour to himself. He went up to Howey Reading Room in Summerfield Hall, and while catching up on some of his notes, snacked on a bagel and a banana.
"Sometimes I wish there were one of those escalators like they have in the malls," Kopp said. "That hill can really wear you out!"
Kopp then headed back to his apartment to play pingpong with his buddies and catch a little shut-eve.
and a bowl of rice, washing it all down with a large Coke.
Junior quarterback Matt Johner said athletes don't have an easy life.
"I don't think the student body understands what we go through," Johner said. "They think everything is just handed to us."
The team ran an array of running drills that lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. They than completed a strenuous 10-minute abdominal session that led into a cool-down stretching period to finish.
"The grueling off-season schedule makes you stronger and helps you increase your speed," Kopp said. "It makes you work on the things you were having problems with in the past season."
"I'm anticipating that Kevin will be stronger and faster for next season because he really works hard this time of year," Gillespie said.
No easv task
Defensive line coach Dave Gillespie said he believed Kopp made the best of the off-season schedule.
Kopp awoke from his slumber at 4:10 p.m. because he and the rest of the team had to be back down at Anschutz for running exercises at 4:30 p.m.
Center comes to aid of troubled students
At 6 p.m. Kopp and the team showered in the Anschutz locker room. Then it was off to the Burge Union for a hearty dinner.
- From directions to one-to-one counseling, the Student Assistance Center is here to help Kansas University students.
BY TYLER JOHNSON
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL-WORLD
On his first day at Kansas University, Mike Giroux learned he wasn't enrolled in any classes.
A wave of panic went through Giroux's mind: "Where do I go? Who is going to help me?"
The Student Assistance Center was his savior.
The center helps students in a variety of ways, including one-to-one problem-solving like a guidance counselor.
"After going to the SAC, I was able to get re-enrolled in all of my original classes," said Giroux, Leawood junior. "They immediately helped me out, and without them I would have been lost."
In one-to-one consulting, the Student Assistance Center will help students in emergency situations as well as notify faculty about extended absences because of sickness or family problems.
"We will help with any type of problem at any time and if we do not have the answer, we will find it for you," said Marshall Jackson, administrative associate for the SAC.
"If a student is going to be away from classes for several days, we will send a letter to the teachers to help the students get exter
The center also offers workshops to help students toward academic success. The workshops range from time management to preparing for final exams.
The SAC has many other services for individuals. They include: a list of tutors for students; a liaison for gay, lesbian and bisexual students; and services for students with disabilities.
sions on his or her classwork and missed exams," Jackson said.
"I needed to find the scholarship office and they showed me the way," said Kel Corcoran, Toneka junior.
The center's primary mission is to provide services to students so they may benefit from the opportunities KU has to offer.
The SAC also does things as simple as pointing students in the right direction.
"When the students take advantage of our services, they are generally pleased with the results," Jackson said.
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EARL RICHARDSON/JOURNAL-WORLD PHOTO
Kansas University's Kevin Kodp works hard both on and off the football field
At 7 p.m., Kopp and some teammates went to the Hadl Achievement Center for a couple hours of study time.
"I'd like to see how it would be like to be a regular student," senior defensive tackle John Bukaty said. "What a dream to wake up at a decent hour and just go to a couple classes and then hang out."
Kopp was ready to go back to his apartment for the night. He ate a plain can of tuna and a bag of chips and then went back to his bedroom to read for his History 121 class.
Later, Kopp caught up on the day's sporting events with a little ESPN
"Is it 11:10?" Kopp asked. "I'm ate for my bedtime."
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