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KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, FEB. 9, 2017
Kansas earns second Big 12 win over OSU
Caitlynn Salazar/KANSAN
Sophomore guard Aisia Robertson played 25 minutes in Kansas' game against Oklahoma State
JARED ANDERSON
@IAnderson_383
Two weeks ago, after Kansas' narrow 74-70 loss to Oklahoma State, Jayhawks coach Brandon Schneider said that, eventually, the team would turn some of its losses on the road in to wins at home.
Wednesday night inside Allen Fieldhouse, Schneider's prediction turned in to a reality.
Kansas (8-16, Big 12 2-11) defeated Oklahoma State, 67-49, picking up its second Big 12 win this season.
In the first quarter, the Jayhawks swiftly established their determination for a victory, going on an 8-0 run in the game's opening minutes. Kansas continued its dominance for the rest of the half entered the locker room up 29-15.
The Jayhawks would go on to hold the lead throughout the entirety of the match, picking up a memorable victory.
Kansas' triumph was fueled by a valiant effort from the bench.
Sophomore guard Aisia Robertson paved the way with her 14-point, six-rebound showing, while senior guard Timeka O'Neal added 13 points and two boards. Redshirt-junior guard Jessica Washington also added 12 points, two rebounds and four assists in the win.
"They were terrific," Schneider said. "It's nice to see Aisia be aggressive and (Timeke) continues to do what we all expect her to do. We trust her three-point shot so much, especially when she catches it in rhythm."
Despite Oklahoma State's (13-10, Big 12 3-9) loss, one player who provided the team with some fire in the first half, was junior center Kaylee Jensen. However, her contributions came to a halt after she picked up her fourth personal foul with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Jensen — who currently leads the Big 12 in points (19) and rebounds (10.6) per game — notched 11 points and nine rebounds in her outing, fouling out
with 5 minutes and 49 seconds remaining in the fourth.
"She gave in too much, coming out and wanting to settle for perimeter shots, three's and 15-footers," Oklahoma State coach Jim Littell said. "Her strength is on the block."
The Jayhawks forced 25 turnovers on the night and
Kansas also was able to out-rebound Oklahoma State - a team that holds the fourth-best rebounding margin in the conference 43-42.
held the Cowgirls to a 30.8 percent field goal percentage.
be in the neighborhood of the rebounding battle with these guys, is something that I was really proud of."
"I thought our team showed a lot of toughness," Schneider said. "To even
Kansas will look to build off its momentum at home this Saturday against No. 11 Texas. Tip-off is at 1:30 p.m.
KU promotes Tony Hull to associate head coach
▶ WESLEY DOTSON
@WesDotsonUDK
After one lone season on the Kansas football coaching staff, Tony Hull is already moving up the ranks.
The running backs coach was promoted to associate head coach on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Kansas coach David Beaty announced the promotion on Twitter.
"Tony's recruiting prowess speaks for itself, but he is more than just a dynamic recruiter," Beaty said in the post. "Tony is a great football coach and his positive impact on this team is felt on a daily basis."
Hull joined the Kansas staff from the Louisiana high school ranks, where he most recently served as the head coach and offensive coordinator of Warren Easton High School in New Orleans. Before his coaching career, Hull was an engineer at NASA.
Hull's promotion is likely due to the success he's had in recruiting in his home state of Louisiana.
Notable Kansas players recruited from Louisiana include freshman safety Mike Lee, a trio of four-star recruits in Devonta Jason, Corione Harris and JaMarr Chase, as well as three-star recruits Travis Jordan and Takulve Williams.
Because of Hull's recruiting pipeline in Louisiana, Kansas is ranked in the top 10 in 247Sports' 2018 recruiting class rankings.
Hull responded to the promotion on Twitter.
"Thank you #RockChalk family 4 believing in me & embracing the state of Louisiana."
Brew: NFL agent creates new developmental league
Associtated Press
Ohio State running back Bri'onte Dunn warms up before an college football game against Illinois on Nov. 14, 2015.
Associated Press
RAELEY YOUNGS
@raeleyy
Numerous professional football leagues have been constructed in the past as an attempt to rival the powerhouse, the NFL, but it has been difficult to break the stigma of failure they have developed.
Don Yee, a sports agent most notably known for representing Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Saints coach Sean Payton, has proposed a plan to do just that by creating a new organization named the Pacific Pro Football League.
Before this proposal was made public, Yee had openly supported the argument to pay collegiate football players for quite some time. As stated in an editorial he wrote for the Washington Post over six years ago, he referred to the NCAA's strict rules on amateurism and payment as "terribly unnecessary—particularly when better alternatives exist."
Years later, those alternative ideas have come to the forefront.
In its simplest form, this new league has been created as a way to more or less cooperate with the NFL and NCAA rather than become a direct competitor. A recent New York Times article stated that the league would be for 18-to-21-year-olds and have a six-game schedule plus playoffs. The season will begin during the summer and finish before both the college and NFL seasons start, with the first being planned for 2018.
Additionally, the league would be comprised of four teams based in Southern California, both to reduce expenses and because those regions have so many young talented players.
This is the opportunity many players have been waiting for: a chance to profit from their athletic talents immediately out of high school. According to the NFL, to be eligible for the draft, players must be out of high school for at least three years and must have used up their college eligibility before the start of the next college football season. Underclassmen and
players who have graduated before using all their college eligibility may request the league's approval to enter the draft early.
The current rules leave top football prospects with very limited options coming out of high school. They would either have to commit to playing college football for at least three years or try their hand at a smaller league like the Arena Football League until becoming eligible for the NFL.
Neither of these options provides security to players. As a college athlete, there is the possibility of sustaining a career-ending injury before even getting paid to play, as well as the issue of not receiving sufficient funds for basic needs throughout college — something many college athletes have already spoken out
Of course, the ultimate goal is to make it to the NFL,and Yee does not want to interfere with that,rather just assist in the process.
about . Though they would be paid if they played in the Arena Football League, varying rules, contracts, and publicity that is incomparable to that of the NFL or NCAA still leave the AFL looking less than desirable.
In an attempt to match
As great as it may seem to young players with monetary motivations, would the new league truly be the better alternative for young players? Those who choose to join the Pacific Pro Football League would be compensated directly, but there's still something to be said for the perks of the NCAA. The extreme exposure that television broadcasts bring to college football is something that may take the Pacific Pro League years to match.
the appeal of becoming a NCAA athlete during the period of NFL ineligibility. Yee has stated that players in his league would be paid an average of $50,000 in salary and benefits, including workers' compensation, a 401(k) plan and free community college tuition.
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This league proposal isn't perfect, nor is it going to be a completely revolutionary change for football, but Yee is starting to move in the right direction by providing something simple that past football players have never had before: a choice.
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