THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3B
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2004
SPORTS
er ns
Pippen netball's ship the in NBA 90s.
an end s retire-
league.
standing
ship tro-
look back,
had any
but me,"
relationship
ar when seasons their first
had never
kissing back
over the
els.
ue of the 1996 for
nursery, was
y — espe-
at 6-foot-
best scor-
$\alpha$ directed
dense with
an to retire
Older players play in NCAA
alls, Pippen and played our more in
VIA U-WIRE
ership, the last season am. But he member and is the Bulls
BY JONATHAN WALL
The Battalion,
Texas A&M University
COLLEGE STATION, Texas
— The sweat pours off the face of University of South Carolina wide receiver Tim "Pops" Frisby
— it's another hot day at the Gamecocks practice facility, and he's enjoying every minute of it.
Frisby gets the call and plants off his left foot, running a perfect route and watching the ball fall right into his hands, protecting the ball like it is a child.
it is a child.
Frisby is just another freshman wide receiver at South Carolina. He goes to school, studies hard and plays the sport he loves. However, Frisby isn't an average collegiate football player. At the age of 39 and with six kids, Frisby is the oldest freshman player in the NCAA.
Players like Frisby have become recognizable over the past few years as older players have come back to school after professional baseball careers or in Frisby's case, military time, to play a sport they love.
Names like Mark Farris of Texas A&M and Chris Weinke of Florida State come to mind when people talk about older players who took the time out to come back to the collegiate game. While some people still contest that the older players are a gimmick to get fans out to watch the "old guy," players like Frisby deserve the chance to play even if they aren't in the same physical shape as a 20-year-old player.
"In life it's easy to say these are things I could've done," Frisby said. "It's a lot harder to say I did them."
high school, all three went on to pursue different dreams. Farris and Weinke went on to play professional baseball, and Frisby spent 20 years in the military. Yet, all three found themselves back full circle to the game they loved.
When Farris, Weinke and Frisby were recruited out of
South Carolina coach Lou Holtz, considered by most to be one of the greatest collegiate coaches of all time, backs Frisby and his chance to play collegiate football.
"I think it's great in this country that everyone has the opportunity to pursue their dream," Holtz said. "Tim has this dream and he wants to play football, and I say God bless you, Pops."
you! Pops!
It's rare in today's society to see someone like Frisby live out a lifelong dream when so many people today rest on their laurels and go through life living each day with "what its." Players like Frisby make collegiate football the game it is today — a chance to live out a dream without regard to age.
regard to age.
Over the years, players like Farris and Weinie proved that age was only a number, as both went on to start at quarterback at their respective schools, and just last week. Frisby got the chance to play in his first collegiate game.
"I never gave up on my dreams," Frisby said. "These were dreams that started 20 or 30 years ago; I never gave up on them."
The burning desire to succeed is what drives these players to come back, not the publicity and fame. It's the friendships and camaraderie that they feel walking through the tunnel on Saturdays to a crowd of 80,000 screaming fans. In the end, the players are all equal no matter their age. All of them are working toward the same goal — to be successful.
Men's golf struggles, finishes 10th
BY ERIC SORMENTINO
esorrentino@kansan.com
KANAND'S SPORTSWINTER
The No. 17 Kansas men's golf team finished tenth in an 18-team field at the Windsor Memorial Intercollegiate at Lake Forest, ill., on Tuesday.
The Jayhawks played two rounds on Monday and finished out the tournament yesterday. Kansas' final two holes of Monday's second round were called because of darkness.
The Jayhawks finished the two holes before final round action yesterday. Kansas shot 305, 296 and 293 over the three days, giving it a three-round
"We had all kinds of trouble in the morning round," said coach Ross Randall. "We had players lose golf balls, and the temperature was in the 40s with a gusty wind."
total of 894.
Sophomore Barrett Martens was the bright spot of the tournament for Kansas. Martens led the team with a 220 three-round total and finished in a tie for 19th. Martens' tournament was highlighted by his second round, two-under par 70 in the windy Illinois conditions.
three-round total of 228 to place in a tie for 55th. Sophomore
Senior Kevin Ward finished the tournament in a tie for 26th place after posting a three- round total of 221.
Senior Andrew Price shot a
Tyler Docking placed in a tie for 64th after shooting a three-round total of 230.
Junior Ryan Rainer got to start this week in place of the injured sophomore Gary Woodland. Rainer finished in a tie for 70th place with a three-round total of 231.
Northwestern hosted and won the tournament, finishing with an 865 three-round total. Duke placed second with a three-round total of 869, while Purdue and Kent State tied for third with three-round totals of 870.
Purdue sophomore Peter
Richardson took individual honors with a 212 total. Richardson fired a 68 in the second round of the tournament.
Four golfers finished in a tie for second place individually with three-round totals of 214.
Duke junior Ryan Blum, Kent State senior Peter Laws, North Florida sophomore Tyler Brown and Minnesota junior Josh Persons finished in a tie for second place individually.
alty:
The Jayhawks are off until Oct. 22, when they play in the three-day Nelson-Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif.
— Edited by Ryan Greene
OFFENSE: Team scoring potency diminished from last year
CONTINUED FROM 1B
As far as total yards passing, Whittimore averaged 238.5 yards per game, while Barmann averages 225.4. Once again, if you take out the lopsided Toledo game, the average is just 205.5 yards per game. In the grand scheme of things, however, Whittimore and Barmann have posted relatively similar number in passing.
Last season the Jayhawks ran up large point totals and relied on outscoring opponents to win games. Last season, the team averaged 29.5 points per game, while this season the team averages only 27.8. Take out the Jayhawks' lopsided 63-14 victory over Toledo, and the team is averages only 19 points per game.
Part of this can be attributed to a team that has thrown fewer deep balls, and also to the fact that the kicking situation has been a bit of a mess this season.
Last season, the Kansas kickers went 14-21. So far this season they are only 6-13. Not only does this keep points off the board for Kansas, but it gives
opponents good starting field position.
position.
Kansas coach Mark Mangino said the Jayhawks success this season would probably depend a lot on their ability to continue posting those kinds of yards passing and further developing the run.
Barmann is still young and has a couple years to evolve into the type of player that Whittemore was. Mangino compared Barmann's situation to that of the quarterback of Kansas' next opponent, Kansas State sophomore Dylan Meier.
"Right now, any win I go home happy with," Randle said.
"They're learning on the job," he said,
he said.
Barmann's learning curve may prove to be the key in the Jayhawks' efforts to field a potent offense that can run and pass effectively and ultimately compete for a Big 12 Championship. In the meantime, the 'Hawks will settle for the victories they can get.
Football Notebook
At yesterday's weekly press
Football Notebook
THEN AND NOW
The Kansas football team's offensive output
| | 2003 | 2004 |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Passing (yards/game) | 255.9 | 235.8 |
| Rushing (yards/game) | 165.5 | 102.8 |
| Points (average/game) | 29.5 | 27.8 |
| TDs (average/game) | 3.8 | 3.4 |
| FGs (made-attempts) | 14-21 | 6-13 |
Source: www.kuathletics.com
As of Tuesday morning, 38,000 tickets had been sold for Saturday's game against Kansas State. While this is the sixth straight year the match has not been televised, this is the first
time that Kansas has substantially increased ticket prices for the game. Students who have parents who will be attending the game can purchase tickets with a $20 discount. Students must make the purchase with their KUID.
conference. Mangino announced that Randle was the offensive player of the week. Randle notched 105 yards rushing against Nebraska. Sophomore cornerback Charles Gordon was the defensive player of the week, recording two picks and a fumble recovery. Senior kicker Johnny Beck went 2-2 on field goals in his return from the bench.
Senior safety Tony Stubbs was held out of last week's game against Nebraska because of an injury suffered the week before. He took part in only light exercises in practice on Monday, but Mangino said he was still fairly confident that he would be ready for Saturday's game.
Edited by Paige Worthy