4B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2004
Trek to Topeka for championship Cross Country coach encourages students to attend Big 12 title races
BY JENNIFER SHER
jsher@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Editor's note: Each Thursday Kansan sportswriter Jennifer Sher will profile a recreational hot spot. If you know of a fun or interestin place or activity, email jsher@kansan.com.
This week started out big for the men's and women's cross country teams, and if all goes well it will end the same way.
On Tuesday, seven members from the cross country teams were named to the to the 125member 2004 Men's and Women's Cross Country Academic All-Big 12 teams. This weekend the teams hope to be crowned league champions.
Coming off a strong showing at NCAA Pre Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., last weekend, the teams will travel to Topeka this Saturday for the Big 12 Conference men's and women's
GETTING THERE
I-70 West to MacVicar Avenue, exit 359
Left onto MacVicar Avenue, under the bridge
Right onto 6th Avenue
Right onto Oakley Avenue
Source: Coach Stanley Redwine
cross country championship.
The team would benefit from student support, said coach Stanley Redwine, making the Statetland Cross Country Course in Topeka the hot spot of the week.
The team put on a decent showing at the Big 12 meet last year, when the men placed fourth and the women placed 10th.
But Redwine is confident his crew will perform better this year.
"The majority of the team is much more mature, they have experience from last year," Redwine said. "They know what to expect and can take that experience and help them."
Redwine said one of the most important factors in the meet wouldn't come from practice or teaching.
telling, "I would love, just love, to have more fans out there rooting us on in the stands," Redwine said. "It would be great for the confidence of the team."
With Topeka an easy 30 minute drive away, it is reasonable for Kansas students to support their cross country teams.
A simple drive down Interstate Highway 70 could be a fun Saturday afternoon road trip.
Lawrence resident Melanie Tuffley, who is from Topeka, agrees.
"I make the drive about once a week, and it is really not bad," Tuffley said. She is taking the semester off from KU classes.
Tuffley said Topeka gets a bad rap, but she said the city has restaurants and activities that Lawrence does not.
"There are some restaurants and a mall with some different options that Lawrence does not offer." Tuffley said.
There are popular restaurant choices, including an Olive Garden and a Red Lobster.
The meet carries the potential for 15 individual Big 12 medallions, along with a league champion.
the cross country action begins Saturday when the women start at 10 a.m. The men will run at 11 a.m.
The drive to our state's capital is a great option for students looking for something to do and a way to support Kansas athletics.
"It would be be a great motivator to get the students and the community to this competition on Saturday." Redwine said.
Edited by Janette Crawford
Manning looks to crack KC defense
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning is pulling everything out this week.
Old notebooks, old tapes, anything that might give him a hint about how to beat the Kansas City Chiefs' revamped defense — again.
"They're very aggressive, they get a lot of sacks," Manning said yesterday. "They're an excellent, excellent football team."
Championship game.
The last time Manning faced the Chiefs, he had one of the best days of his career.
Manning completed 22 of 30 passes for 304 yards with three touchdowns in a 38-31 playoff victory.
His quarterback rating was 138.8 and the Colts never puntered as they advanced to the AFC
Two days later, Kansas City defensive coordinator Greg Robinson resigned.
The Chiefs replaced him with Gunther Cunningham, who served in the same capacity with the Chiefs from 1995-98 before taking over for two seasons as the Chiefs head coach in 1999.
Kansas City made few other changes, but Cunningham's more aggressive approach has given the Chiefs (2-4) a different look and is forcing the Colts to adjust.
"They're a lot different," coach Tony Dungy said. "So today was more of a learning and recognition day."
Manning and the Colts have other issues to resolve this week, too.
The defense struggled to get
off the field against Jacksonville, and the offense was set back by two turnovers and uncharacteristic penalties.
Even the special teams had an off-day last week, which resulted in consistently poor field position.
In the final minute, Manning and wide receiver Reggie Wayne even got into a shouting match.
Then Wayne shoved Manning. Afterward, Wayne denied the confrontation although it was shown on television. Wayne has not been available for questions since then.
They'll give you some looks that force you to throw and having Marvin and Reggie outside, that will be the challenge."
Manning, meanwhile, downplayed the incident yesterday.
"That's such a non-issue," he said. "Reggie is going to play a huge role in this game because they play a ton of man-to-man.
The Colts also are dealing with a new round of injuries.
Four players, including starting cornerback Nick Harper and starting guard Tupe Peko, are listed as questionable. Harper played last week with a brace on his injured left elbow, but this week, the Colts have listed him on the injury report with a shoulder injury. Peko has had back spasms and didn't practice yesterday.
Indianapolis also could be without safety Cory Bird, who hasn't practiced since hurting his calf against Jacksonville, and kick returner Brad Pyatt, who sprained his right ankle in practice last week.
'Hawks face solid Cyclone defense
BY RYAN COLAIANNI
coliainni@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWITER
TH
Last season, the Iowa State defense struggled, giving up more than 216 yards per game against the run, including 180 yards in a 36-7 defeat to Kansas.
This year, the unit is much improved and the run defense is off to its best start since 1982.
It is only giving up 124.3 yards per game.
The run-stopping unit is led by linebacker Brandon Brown. Brown is second on the team in tackles with 53.
Last week against Baylor, Brown had 13 tackles, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and had a sack.
Linebacker Tim Dobbins has 39 tackles and an interception so far this season.
"I really like the linebackers that they have," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "Iowa State has been playing good defense for most of the season and they have some talented kids."
The Iowa State defense could pose a problem for the Jayhawk running attack because both of Kansas' running backs are nursing injuries.
Junior running back Clark Green has a nagging groin injury and sophomore running back John Randle suffered an apparent ankle injury against Oklahoma.
It has lowered their number of yards allowed per game from about 450 yards per game to just more than 332.
The Cyclone defense has not just improved in its run defense.
"They're a good defense, they have held a lot of good teams to few points," junior offensive lineman Matt Thompson said.
The Cyclones are allowing about 24 points per
game, and will likely be a challenge for the Jayhawk offense, which struggled last week against the Sooners.
The Cyclones rank fifth in the conference in rushing defense and total defense.
"Up front, we just need to keep on improving." he said.
The Cyclones are allowing about 24 points per game, and will likely be a challenge for the Jayhawk offense, which struggled last week against the Sooners.
The Cyclones rank fifth in the conference in rushing defense and total defense.
"They are like us in a lot of ways, we play hard, they play hard." Mangino said.
While the Cyclone defense has been solid this year, its offense has struggled.
It is averaging about 305 yards of total offense per game.
Iowa State has struggled running the football, averaging fewer than three yards per carry.
At wide receiver the Cyclones are led by Todd Blythe.
Blythe has caught eight of the teams nine touchdown passes.
Cyclone quarterback Bret Meyer has 976 passing yards.
He has six touchdowns to go with 95 rushing yards.
Edited by Jon Ralston
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