6B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9,2004
Utah struggles to make it to Bowl Championships
Utes, Longhorns battling for No. 6 ranking, bowl play
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A perfect record probably isn't going to be enough to get Utah into the Bowl Championship Series. The undefeated Utes slipped one spot to seventh in the BCS standings yesterday, a drop that could cost them a berth in one of the four big-money bowl games.
The top five in the BCS stayed the same with Southern California, Oklahoma and Auburn leading the way, followed by California and Wisconsin.
Utah is trying to become the first team from a non-BCS conference (Mountain West) to play in a BCS game. The Utes can guarantee a spot in what probably would be the Fiesta Bowl — which delivers a payout of about $14 million — by finishing in the top six. A top-12 finish makes the Utes eligible for consideration, but guarantees nothing.
The top two teams in the final standings will play in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 for the BCS national title.
Texas jumped over Utah this week into sixth place.
just like two weeks ago when Utah moved up to sixth, Utes coach Urban Meyer found out from his wife that the team had dropped.
"She had a little reaction. I won't use the language she did," he said. "In three weeks we'll have a reaction. There's too
"She had a little reaction
won't use the language she did. In three weeks we'll have a reaction. There's too much football to be played yet."
Urban Meyer Utah coach
much football to be played yet."
much football to be played yet.
Meyer tried to be diplomatic,
but asked if the BCS system
should be changed, he said. "...
Is the sky blue? Absolutely. And
it will happen. Logical thinking
will eventually take over."
Texas '56-35 comeback victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday boosted its BCS grade to .7904.
The Utes aren't getting enough bounce in the polls and computer rankings out of their lopsided victories over conference opponents. Their grade (.7511) went up slightly after a 63-31 victory over Colorado State.
Utah maintained its positions in both The Associated Press Top 25 (seventh) and coaches poll (eighth) this week, but the Utes dropped in the computer rankings from sixth to eighth, while the Longhorns moved up to No. 5 in that category.
Utah finishes its season with games at Wyoming on Saturday and at home against BYU the next week. Two victories would ensure a second straight MWC
title. The league champ gets a Liberty Bowl berth, which pays $1.35 million.
But how the races play out in the Big 12, Pac-10, Southeastern Conference and Big Ten will have as much to do with where the Utes play in the postseason as their own games.
And with Georgia and Michigan right behind Utah, the Utes may be in danger of getting caught again.
The AP media poll and ESPN/USA Today poll each account for one-third of a team's BCS grade. A compilation of six computer rankings make up the other third.
Despite being one of the winningest teams in the country in recent years, the Longhorns have never reached the BCS, which was created in 1998 and includes the Sugar, Rose, Orange and Fiesta bowls.
Texas is ahead of Utah in both polls, sixth in the AP and seventh in the coaches.
Last season Texas was in line to grab one of the BCS's two atlarge bids when Kansas State knocked off Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game. That gave the Wildcats the automatic berth as league champ and made the Sooners an at-large team playing for the national title.
For Texas, it was back to the Holiday Bowl for the third time since 2000.
Recent disappointments tempered yesterday's good news in Austin.
Utah is one of six undefeated teams in Division I-A, along with USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Wisconsin and Boise State.
Busy bees
Chris Miller/KANSAN
Mike Khadavi, Overland Park senior, passes the Frisbee as Josh Millstein, KU alumnus, tries to defend in a game of ultimate Frisbee Sunday in the field next to the Student Fitness Recreation Center. Khadavi and Millstein were among other ultimate Frisbee enthusiasts who come out every Sunday to beef up their skills.
Networks, NFL agree to extension
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — The NFL agreed yesterday to $8 billion in contract extensions with Fox and CBS to televise Sunday afternoon games for six more years, deals that would also allow the league to show better matchups late in the season in prime time.
billion, including the Sunday night (on ESPN) and Monday night (on ABC) packages. The extensions will run through 2011 and represent a 25 percent increase in rights fees.
The current eight-year contract, which expires after the 2005 season, was worth $17.6
The league still is in talks for the prime-time packages. The exclusive negotiating period for ABC/ESPN extends for nearly another year.
Monday night to feature more attractive matchups, according to an official within the league who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The deals give the NFL the option to move seven late-season games from Sunday to
The NFL also can develop late-season prime-time satellite or cable packages of eight games, which would be televised on Thursdays and Saturdays. Or the league could take those eight games and show them regionally in prime-time telecasts on Sundays and Mondays.
Holmes' status uncertain for Sunday's game
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — NFL rushing and scoring leader Priest Holmes has strained right knee ligaments and his status is unclear, Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil said yesterday.
Holmes, on pace to erase the NFL touchdown record he set in 2003, left Sunday's game against Tampa Bay with about four minutes left in the third quarter. The injury was first said to be a knee contusion.
"Priest has a strained MCL. The extent of the strain will only be known after a period of days," Vermeil said.
"We'll go ahead and prepare as if he's not going to be there," Vermeil said, adding that Holmes will be evaluated each day and was "a little better" yesterday.
Holmes, 31, leads the NFL with 892 yards rushing and 90 points despite being dogged much of the season with nagging injuries.
He underwent hip surgery following the 2002 season and bounced back, scoring a leaguerecord 27 touchdowns in 2003.
He scored his 14th touchdown of this season in Kansas City's 34-31 defeat to Tampa Bay before leaving after a 13-yard run around left end.
Vermeil, pressed on how long his three-time Pro Bowl running
back might be out, threw up his hands.
"I can't make that determination right now. Nor can the doctors. Nor can Priest right now," he said. "Of course, Priest is always optimistic. And he surprises us all the time by doing what he does and how he does it.
"We'll just play it by ear."
The news about linebacker Shawn Barber's knee injury was worse. Vermeil said Barber could possible be out the rest of the year. He'll be examined this week by a specialist in Birmingham, Ala., Vermeil said.
"We'll know more later," Vermeil said, adding that it was "very possible" the seven-year veteran would not return this season.
The Chiefs (3-5) are hopeful of getting backup running back Derrick Blaylock on the practice field this week as they prepare for Sunday's game at New Orleans.
Blaylock, who was out last week with a thigh bruise, scored four rushing touchdowns against Atlanta on Oct. 24 as he and Holmes combined to score an NFL-record eight touchdowns.
Former No. 1 draft pick Larry Johnson, who has publicly lobbied for more playing time, had 21 yards on 10 carries in relief of Holmes against Tampa Bay.
He also had four catches for 38 yards. But he failed twice on short goal line runs, where Holmes the past three years has been almost unstoppable.
WEINSTEIN: Jayhawks play in midseason form in exhibition
CONTINUED FROM 1B
combined for 12 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots in 30 minutes.
They appeared to be a good combination to give Simien a break.
Sasha Kaun, on the other hand, wasn't as impressive. I know he hasn't been playing basketball all that long, and he is a very raw talent, but the only improvement I saw in his game from the preseason team scrimmage to Sunday night was the size of his biceps. It looks like he's bulked up in the last two months.
His game still needs a lot of work. To me, he looked lethargic going for rebounds, and his
defense was sluggish. The only time he seemed aggressive was on offense when he called for the ball, even when he wasn't open. The way Kaun played Sunday night, I can't imagine how much of an impact he'll make this season.
It's ridiculous to say the 'Hawks played in midseason form the other night. We don't know yet the full extent of what these guys are capable of. Nevertheless, Sunday night the Jayhawks looked scary-good, and the game should serve notice to the rest of the nation that Kansas basketball isn't messing around.
Weinstein is an Overland Park senior in English
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