2B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
INSIDE SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2004
Higher and higher
Josh McBeth,
Oklahoma City senior, climbs a wall at the Student Fitness Recreation Center. The center is open 6 a.m. to midnight on weekdays.
LSU coach minimalizes job pressure
BY TABRY SOIGNIER
The Reveille, Louisiana State University
U.S. A-11-WRIE
VIA U-WIRE
BATON ROUGE, La. — The news of the firing of Florida coach Ron Zook made headlines Monday. After going 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the Southeastern Conference, Zook could not compare to the success of former coach Steve Spurrier, who led Florida to SEC domination in the 1990s. One of Zook's bigger successes was beating LSU during its national championship run last season, but the expectations that came after replacing Spurrier were high.
LSU is experiencing some of the same high expectations that Zook was faced with. The Tigers are coming off a championship season and fans find it easy to expect no less.
"Anything less than a national championship and everyone is disappointed," said coach Nick Saban. "Last year's accomplishments are this year's expectations."
Those expectations that booing fans have developed does not put pressure on Saban or his team, he said.
"Where this team is and where we want to take them is the pressure I put on us." Saban said. "I don't feel any pressure. I'm going to do this job as well as I can do it and for as long as I can do it."
One reason pressure is not on Saban is because he said he feels there are a lot more important things in his life and in the world.
"There are bad things that happen every day to people all over the place that are a lot more important than this football game." Saban said. "We should all have some gratitude and love in our heart from some of those things."
some of those things. Saban may find other things in life more important, but he said his focus is
concentrating on the team's performance.
"How anyone can think what's happening with our team — our team, our coaches, myself and anybody on our staff doesn't feel more so — that's what you call being self absorbed," Saban said. "I understand why everyone is frustrated, but we aren't happy about it."
Saban said the standards of last year's team are still there, but players and the maturity level from last year is not. Players are aware of their position, but said they do not feel pressure that their performance will affect Saban's coaching position at LSU.
["Saban's success"] is something you're aware of, but you can't worry about," said junior offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth. "You can't worry about the coaching situation. When you're recruited, you are reminded not to go somewhere for a coach because you
never know when they will leave and you can't worry about that. You have to focus on your teammates."
Players may not be concerned with Saban's future plans, but they said the team does not see a reason to worry just vet.
"We're still winning — not every team is the same," said junior tight end David Jones. "A few years back Miami won the national championship and the next year they lost two games and still had a great season. We're still on the verge of having a great season."
A repeat of a national championship may be out of the question, but players said they still have confidence in another one and believe Saban is still the man to lead them there.
"I don't see him going anywhere anytime soon." Jones said. "We may pull out of another championship in a few years. We got a lot of great young core players."
As weather changes, season sports do too
BY CYNTHIA COX
The Voice. Washtenaw Community College
VIA U-WIRE
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Autumn brings on many changes. Daylight is shorter. Temperatures are cooler. There are wonderful benefits such as fewer mosquitoes after the first frost and no dustbowl at the baseball diamond after a drenching rain.
On the downside is the need for jackets, which inhibit the swing of a bat or golf club. Players and fans alike adjust by bringing thermoses of hot chocolate or cider, warm blankets and knitted hats and gloves. The Washtenaw Community College club golf team had
one last hurrah at the Longest Drive Contest, which was won by Scott Gosselin with a 281-yard drive.
The club now goes dormant until next spring. The softball and baseball clubs hope to wrap up their seasons in the fourth week of October. With games ending at 11 p.m. or later and temperatures in the 40s, the crack of the bat on ball is beginning to sting.
Both teams were going into position play in second place with great hopes pinned on each winning another championship.
Fall weather is perfect for road races whether they're 5Ks or marathon relays. Runners solve the problem of cold weather with polyprophylene, a lightweight fabric that wicks the moisture away and retains warmth.
Club volleyball has already moved to indoor games and is sponsoring two teams in the Ann Arbor Recreation League. The Women's A team is 13-2. The outdoor sand pit is now mostly quiet except for occasional forays by the softball club.
Outdoor soccer is winding down for both the men's and women's teams. They've been fortunate to have clear, crisp afternoons for their games. Practices move indoors Nov. 9.
The biggest change for fall is under way with club hockey. With only four returning players, there's a whole new look for the team. The first game was close until the last half of the third period. WCC pulled out the victory with goals to spare winning 7-3 over Zells.
Three weeks of tryouts start for both the men's and women's basketball teams on Oct. 24 and subsequent Saturdays.
The second game against Bridgeland was a 15-1 blowout. The three Warrior goalies — Ryan Ebright, Sean Farrell and Andy Mossburg — rotated through the position and had little to do thanks to the offense and defense. Coaches Dan Midura, Brad Bellaire and Jim Teevens are looking forward to another championship season.
Kansas athletics calendar
Today
Volleyball vs. Iowa State, 7 p.m., home
Soccer vs. Iowa State, 3 p.m., home
Swimming at Southwest Missouri State, 6 p.m.
Springfield, Mo.
FRIDAY
TODAY
Monday's intramural scores
FLOOR HOCKEY
**Men:**
Nimrod def. KU Hockey (9-2)
Fiji 1 def. Kip Kappe Ththeta (8-2)
VOLLEYBALL
Women:
*Hawks def. Chi Omega 1 (21-5, 21-10)
Lady Jayhawks def. Chi Omega 2 (21-5, 21-3)
CORec:
AK Ps def. Llamas (23-21, 21-12)
Hawks def. Groove (21-19, 14-21, 15-13)
Men:
LCA 3 def. LCA 4 (21-1, 15-21, 15-12)
Country Time def. Ballerskeen (21-11, 21-16)
Pearson def. Beta A 2-21(12, 16-15)⁻¹
Filz def. Beta A 2-15(12, 17-15)⁻²
Filz def. Beta A 15(21-1, 15-21, 17-15)
Men:
BASKETBALL
Oklahoma forward Taj Gray received the Preseason Newcomer of the Year Award, while Texas guard Daniel Gibson received the Freshman of the Year honor.
— Jesse Neweli
Jayhawk men awarded top preseason basketball honors
Big 12 coaches selected Kansas forward Wayne Simien as preseason Big 12 Player of the Year in a vote released yesterday.
Simien, a 6-foot-9 senior from Leavenworth, received third team All-American honors last year after averaging 17.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Kansas senior guard Aaron Miles and sophomore guard J.R. Giddens were awarded honorable mention with six other conference players.
He has also been named to this year's Preseason Wooden Award Top 50.
Langford, who is 6 foot 4, was named to the All-Big 12 second team last season after averaging 15.5 points per game.
Oklahoma State seniors Joey Graham and John Lucas and Iowa State's Curtis Stinson complete the Big 12 first team.
Senior guard Keith Langford joined Simien on the Big 12 first team list
--student union activities
The University of Kansas
Level 4. Kansas union
www.uak.edu/
www.uaevents.com
Backed by the surprising show of defense, Boston cruised past St. Louis 4-1 Tuesday night for a 3-0 lead and left a crowd that loves its Cardinals booing the team home.
ST. LOUIS — Get ready, Boston. There's no other outcome now: Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez and the Red Sox will either win the World Series or add another historic collapse to their legend.
BASEBALL
The Associated Press
They'll either reverse The Curse that's plagued the team since 1918 or they'll fall apart, just as they did the last four times they got this close.
Boston poised on the edge of victory or crushing defeat
COLLEGE BOWL
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13,2004 Registration Deadline: October 29,2004 Cost: $30.00 per team
TALK TO US
Tell us your news. Contact Danielle Hillix or Joe Bant at 864-4858 or sports@kanss.com
The College Boul trivia tournament is here and we want you and your team to register! College Boul will start with a Round Robin followed by Double Elimination format in the later rounds. To register your team of 4-5 KU students, go to the SUA box
office, Level 4, Kansas Union.
WE
Free Trade, Agriculture & Global Development
Please join us for the 2004 Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy Symposium, in which international experts will discuss the influence of shrinking barriers to international economic transactions.
Kevin C. Kennedy
Jane Kelsey
Gerrit Mester
Eduardo Nuñez
Hilary Josephs
John A Ragosta
Thursday's Featured Speakers Includes
Kansas Journal of Law & Kansas Economic Public Policy Symposium Policy Conference
The symposium is free of charge, but we do request that all attendees register in advance 785-864-3333
Thursday October 28,7:30 PM
Friday's Events Include:
Roundtable: Who Decides Our Economic Future? World Trade Negotiations and Economic Sovereignty
We request that you register in advance.The conference registration fee of $140 includes continental breakfast, luncheon, refreshments and conference materials.
Luncheon Keynote Address Christopher A. Padilla
Panel Session 1: It's a Small World After All:
Kansans and the Global Economy
Panel Session 2: What's Trade Got to Do with It?Assessing the Influence of International Trade on Kansas
Featured Speaker, David Brooks, New York Times columnist Free & Open to the Public Budig Hall. Rm 120
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