kansan.com
Volume 125 Issue 27
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Wednesday, October 3, 2012
COMMENTARY Weis must view K-State game as a learning experience
Kansas football: Success really isn't too far away from you. In fact, it's only 86 miles to the west.
Yes, that's the distance between Kansas' cozy corner, also known as Memorial Stadium, and Bill Snuder's house of terror.
Is this a problem for Kansas this year? Yes. Can it be a solution for Kansas in the future? Absolutely.
K-State may once again pull an Edward Norton this Saturday. The game is on Snyder's turf in Manhattan, and appears to be the best team he's coached since his return to K-State in the 2009 football season.
Still, that doesn't mean the game will be pretty.
However, Weis will learn from what happens on Saturday. It's a sneak peak for Weis to see and to experience first-hand what it takes to succeed in football in the state of Kansas.
"You can't go into a game saying. Well, we'll 1-3, they're 4-0, let's go in there and just try to keep it close." Weis said. "Id rather lose by 100 trying to win."
It almost certainly will not be 100,but it might be pretty darn close.
"I don't want every Kansas fan to be mad at me, but it's a pretty good role model," Weis said of Kansas State's success. "They're doing a lot of things right, so let's try to get to that level first."
Weis is right. K-State football should be the blueprint of success for the Jayhawks. Bill Snyder's long-term success and consistency should be a goal for every coach.
Edited by Lauren Shelly
Weis spoke candidly on Wednesday about how superior K-State's program is this season. He was even asked if K-State had "every single advantage in the book."
His answer; "Correct."
Like Kansas and K-State, it's not just that the Wildcats have been winning, it's how ruthlessly they've done it. The past two years — while playing in Lawrence, mind you — the combined score has been 118-28 in favor of Snyder's Wildcats.
Yes, when Kansas and K-State line up opposite each other on Saturday, the Jayhawks will be severely outmatched against a team that sure loves to pounce on Kansas. Remember the scene from "Fight Club" in which Edward Norton's character heats a man unconscious? That's how the fight between Kansas and K-State has gone the last two seasons.
The shocking part of the scene is not that Norton knocks the man out — it's how ruthlessly he launches his fist into his opponents face over and over again. It's gruesome and really, it's not pleasant to watch.
BYF-BYE BYE WEEK
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
THE COMING STORM
The Jayhawks took the bye week to prepare for a meeting with a stacked K-State offense
Sophomore quarterback Jordan Webb chases after the ball after fumbling it in the second half of last year's Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State. The fumble was one of many factors which contributed to the 21-59 defeat. Kansas has lost the Sunflower Showdown three years in a row.
FARZIN VOUSOUGHIAN
fvousoughian@kansan.com
During the bye week, Kansas football coach Charlie Weis didn't take any breaks while prepping his players for the Sunflower Showdown with a three-game losing streak in their rear-view.
Weis visited the history between Kansas and Kansas State with his players. He stressed the importance of this rivalry to give them pride going into Saturday's game. This was especially important to those who have never played in a Sunflower Showdown before — like quarterback Dayne Crist.
"We just went in-depth with a
tons of details and why this game is so important," Crist said. "I enjoyed that. I think the emphasis was more on Missouri in years past. I think that a lot of guys enjoyed what we did on Sunday."
Crist was motivated by what Weis showed the players to get them amped up before facing one of the best teams in the country. But Crist knows that the team can't play the same way they have been if they want a shot at beating K-State.
"You don't look at them and see a ton of flaws," Crist said. "They play very well together. They're a very cohesive unit and play well enough and don't make very many mistakes. You've really got to be
patient with a defense like that. You've got to elevate your game and play your best."
After the first four games of the season, Crist threw two touchdown passes and four interceptions. Kansas struggled holding on to a two-possession lead in the fourth quarter against Rice and Northern Illinois.
"You're practical with your analysis," Crist said. "But you're worried about the games to come. I just try to go back and revisit everything, but just figure out how I could get back to being more confident, going back to times where I was at my absolute best and what I did to get there. I'm just trying to implement some of those ideas again."
Weis, who wanted Crist to be more loose, said that he doesn't feel that his quarterback is down. All of his players, Crist included, continue to practice just as hard with the same amount of enthusiasm as they have all season.
Crist said the bye week came at a perfect time for him. He took the opportunity to stabilize himself. Crist and his teammates are prepared to work hard during their extra week of practice and are trying to put their three losses behind them.
tions for Crist remains the same every week.
Even though K-State has an advantage over Kansas in every aspect of the game, Weis' expecta-
"He can't worry about the games we played already," Weis said. "They are past-tense. All he can do is put us in the best position to beat K-State."
With Weis still confident in him, Crist has the support of his entire team.
"We all feel like, as an offense, we can do something better," said Daymond Patterson, senior wide receiver. "He's our quarterback. We know what he can do, and we know what he will do to help our team."
Edited by Lauren Shelly
VOLLEYBALL
Jayhawks to face 'charged up' West Virginia offense
Moutaineers may be young, but they're still formidable
gcalvert@kansan.com
Coach Ray Bechard isn't fooled by West Virginia's 8-9 record. The Mountaineers still pose a threat to the Jayhawks with a record of 7-2 at home, where they will host the Kansas volleyball team tonight at 5:30 p.m.
Bechard said along with their winning home record, the Mountaineers are also dangerous because they are excited about moving from the Big East to the Big 12.
"You can tell they're really charged up about being part of our conference and wanting to build a program there," Bechard said. "The Big 12 is probably a little more physical conference, the Big East probably a little more speed."
The Mountaineers are one of the youngest teams in the Big 12, with only one senior and seven freshmen. Bechard said West Virginia team members didn't have many expectations for the season because of their youth, but that also lets them play with very little pressure, making them a dangerous team.
One thing West Virginia does do well despite the team's youth is serving. The Mountaineers rank second in the Big 12 conference with 92 service aces, one behind TCU, and have an average of 1.44
"They think they need to take chances there to create opportunities offensively for them," Bechard said. "If you can push people off the net with your serve, it creates better opportunities for you to set up your defense, so I'm sure that's what they're trying to do."
Junior defensive specialist Jaime Mathieu said the Jayhawks will be fine as long as they serve aggressively, regardless if this results in a service ace or not. Defensively, Mathieu said the team works well together because every player knows her role and is executing it.
The Jayhawks have conceded a Big 12-low of 39 service aces this season while the Mountaineers have conceded 97. Conversely, the Jayhawks rank ninth out of nine teams in the Big 12 with 53 service aces scored.
aces per set. Texas is third in the Big 12 in service aces, but they only have 63 aces.
"Just as long as our game is completely in sync with serving and passing, I think we're going to do great." Mathieu said. "From a passer's standpoint, I think our passing's done really well. Our defensive mindset, even in the front row with block, is just phenomenal right now."
Playing West Virginia in a conference match isn't the only thing unfamiliar to the Jayhawks this
Sophomore outside hitter Sara McClinton said the Jayhawks could avoid a letdown against West Virginia by bringing the same intensity they showed last week against Iowa State. If Kansas beats the Mountaineers, it would be the first time in school history the team began conference play 3-0.
"I think it's better to be ranked Oct. 1 than Sept. 1," Bechard said.
"But it'd be far more important to be ranked Nov. 1 and Dec. 1."
week. The American Volleyball Coaches Association ranked the Jayhawks No. 24 in its latest poll after the team's victory against No. 19 Iowa State last week.
"We have to have the same attitude going into this West Virginia game as we did at the Iowa State game." McClinton said. "We have to have constant pressure on them at all times."
The layhawks did not play a match last weekend for the first time this season. Bechard said he gave the team the weekend off after intense practices late last week so they could recover from an already physical season.
"When you have a chance to recharge the batteries a little bit, not only physically but mentally, I think that's important," Bechard said.
Edited by Joanna Hlavacek
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Junior defensive specialist Brianna Piley drives for the ball during the first set against Iowa State on Sept. 26. Kansas won the set against Iowa 25-19.
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