2B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
INSIDE SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2004
Soccer raking in preseason accolades
BY JASON ELMOUISI
jqlmuestk@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWOMEN
Kansan File Photo
Consider it a snowball effect for the Kansas women's soccer team.
University of Kansas forward Caroline Smith, junior, in action during last season. Smith was named all-Bio 12.
Kansas women's soccer Following last season's stellar finish, the Jayhawks sport a top-notch recruiting class, a top-25 ranking and two players on the preseason All-Big 12 team. To boot, junior Caroline Smith is on the preseason watch list for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, awarded at the end of the season to the nation's top player.
so far that he won.
"The fact that we got ranked preseason in the top-20 is really good because it helps our recruiting," said Coach Mark Francis. "Other than that, it's why you play the game."
why you play the game.
Kansas finished last season ranked 11th in the country and re-claimed that spot this year on the SoccerBuzz preseason top-30 list. The Jayhawks are the third highest of five Big 12 teams on the list. Texas A&M, the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 title, is ranked fourth in the nation, and Texas is eighth.
ranked Big 12 team. The team received slightly less hype in the Big 12 coaches poll. Despite last year's success and the return of nine starters, the Jayhawks were picked to finish fifth in that poll, but Francis is not worried about being underestimated.
fifth because it's going to motivate these guys," Francis said.
is eighth. The Soccer America Preseason Top 25 list also has the team ranked. In that poll, Kansas is listed at the 19th spot behind three Big 12 teams; Texas A&M, Texas and Colorado. In the NSCA/A/Adidas Preseason Top 25, released yesterday, the team was ranked 17th and was the third highest ranked Big 12 team.
The team definitely has the opportunity to test itself, playing a schedule littered with top preseason teams.
the SoccerBuzz poll, and Auburn, ranked 23rd in the Soccer America poll. Of the seven games against ranked teams, only the contests against Nebraska and Colorado are going to be played in Lawrence. Kansas also plays Mississippi at home, a team that is not in any of the rankings but that did receive votes.
tered with top players.
Besides the four ranked Big 12 teams, the Jayhawks will also face Clemson, ranked 12th in the Soccer America poll, Illinois, ranked 19th in
"I think it's great that they picked us
As far as individual accolades, junior forward Caroline Smith and sophomore defender Holly Gault were voted onto the preseason All-Big 12 team. For Smith, this is her second consecutive appearance on the preseason All-Conference squad.
— Edited by Ryan Greene
Falcons QB Vick returns to practice
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Vick returned to practice after missing a day with tightness in his right hamstring.
Atlanta's quarterback participated in the full workout, which lasted over two hours, and reported no problems. He first tweaked the hamstring in practice on Aug. 5 before irritating it in the second quarter of last week's preseason win over Minnesota.
Also, defensive end Brady Smith returned from a bruised left knee and practiced for just the second time in three weeks.
Rookie quarterback J.P. Losman broke his left leg during practice and will be out indefinitely.
The Bills must now decide whether to place Losman on injured reserve, a move that would sideline him for the season.
season.
Losman, the second of Buffalo's two first-round picks, was hurt an hour into practice as he finished a run. As Losman was pulling up, cornerback Troy Vincent laid a shoulder into his upper body, knocking the quarterback over.
Losman immediately started limping and fell to the ground. Trainers attended to him for about five minutes on the
field, and Vincent came over and shook his hand.
Losman needed help getting up and was unable to put any weight on the injured leg. He was taken to the locker room on a cart. Vikins
Cornerback Derek Ross, who tied for the NFL rookie lead in interceptions two years ago, was signed Tuesday by Minnesota.
Tuesday by mimics:
"We have (Ross)'s rights," Tice said after the morning practice, which Ross missed while taking a physical. ("But) I don't know if he'll ever see the field."
New Orleans was the latest team to waive Ross, a third-round pick by Dallas in 2002. Ross started nine games that season and had five interceptions. He also returned kicks.
With starting cornerback Brian Williams out for at least another week and a young, inconsistent group of backups behind him, the Vikings needed a veteran corner to stabilize the unit.
But Ross' own stability health and otherwise has caused three teams to release him in less than nine months, including two in the past week.
The Saints let the former Ohio State player go after he missed a plane and failed to report on time.
OLYMPICS
THESSALONIKI, Greece —The Iraqi soccer team's improbable run at an Olympic gold medal ended Tuesday night with a 3-1 semifinal loss to Paraguay.
Loss to Paraguay ends Iraqi soccer team's gold hopes
Garagehy The Iraqis still have a chance for a bronze, which would be their war- weary nation's first medal in 44 years.
Paraguay made history of its own, getting two goals from Jose Cardozo and one from Fredy Bareiro to advance to Saturday's gold-medal game against Argentina, a 3-0 winner over Italy. Gold or silver, it will be the first Olympic medal of any sort for Paraguay.
Iraq and Italy will play for the bronze Friday night.
Just qualifying for the Olympics was a feat for the Iraqi, who have been unable to play home games since war began in March 2003.
The team's first-round victories over Portugal and Costa Rica and quarterfinal win over Australia enchanted fans worldwide and gave beleaguered Iraqi citizens a rare cause for unified jubilation.
They clinched a berth in May, just three months after their country was reinstated by the International Olympic Committee.
Players said they were inspired by the support from home, but also sobered by knowledge of their compatriots' hardships.
The Associated Press
Free for All
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
Call 864-0500
Has anybody told Ryan Greene that journalistic integrity isn't just innate, you actually have to do research for it? Crystal Pepsi, Pepsi One. Clear Pepsi is just a description. Try some research.
--b. Language
■ Tuesday's University Daily Kansan contained an error. In the article,
"Safety to make switch to other side of ball," Adam Barmann's name was misspelled.
Ryan Greene got rid of his jean shorts and his afro, and he still isn't cool. And that's just sad.
Hey, Ryan Greene; Jean shorts went out of style as soon as you put them on. And the worst invention besides computers and Clear Pepsi is jean shorts.
■ Tuesday's University Daily Kansan contained an error. The article "Hawkins suspended indefinitely" stated that senior men's basketball guard Keith Langford was suspended. Langford was not suspended.
CORRECTIONS
Tuesday's University Daily Kansan contained an error. A photo identified men's basketball forward Moulaye Niang as a sophomore and guard Nick Bahe as a freshman. Niang is a junior and Bahe is a sophomore.
BASKETBALL
Hansbrough passes up Hawks, Tigers and Wildcats
Tyler Hansbrough, a 6'9" forward from Poplar Bluff, Mo., chose North Carolina over Kansas, Kentucky arid Missouri at a press conference Monday.
Hansbrough, ranked the eighth-best basketball recruit by Rivals.com, orally committed to the Tareheels but still has the option of entering the NBA draft after this season.
Jesse Newell
The University of Kansas has hired Bill Dent as director of sports medicine. Dent, who will oversee all issues related to sports medicine and serve as the athletic trainer for the men's and women's golf teams, officially started at the position on Aug. 1.
Trainer leaves California for KU sports medicine job
Golf
Dent has spent the last two years as the rehabilitation coordinator and athletic trainer for men's basketball at the University of California-Berkley. Before Berkeley, Dent was the athletic trainer for the men's basketball team at the University of California-Irvine. He has also served as the assistant director of physical therapy with Purdue University, where he worked with the football and baseball teams.
Dent has a master's of physical therapy degree from Loma Linda University.
Miranda Lenning FOOTBALL
Former Cowboy quarterback Carter signs with NY Jets
Quincy Carter ended up replacing the quarterback who took his spot in Dallas.
In an odd switch, the quarterback cut by the Cowboys signed with the New York Jets yesterday and will back up Chad Pennington. Pennington's backup last season was 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde, who was released by the Jets in June and became the Cowboys' starter when Carter was let go.
WE
Carter, who started every game for the Cowboys last season, was released suddenly on Aug. 4. Reports said he failed a drug test, and the NFL Players Association has filed a request for arbitration in the case.
The Associated Press
TALK TO US
Tell us your news. Contact Danielle Hillix or Joe Bant at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
THIS SEMESTER
YOU MUST LIVE IN THE DORMS AND EAT AT MRS.E'S
TO APPLY ONLINE AND FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.ebl.ku.edu/
OR
OR
Email: Smithbr@ku.edu ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED. APPLY TODAY!