Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Friday
October 22,1999
Section:
B
Page 1
After three losses, the Kansas volleyball team is looking to beat an unranked Iowa State team.
SEE PAGE 3B
Football picks
Go online to see which teams Kansan staff members think will win tomorrow's big college games.
SEE KANSAN.COM
Big 12 games
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Not every Big 12 Conference game tomorrow is as evenly matched as the Kansas-Missouri rivalry.
SEE PAGE 6B
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Kansas forward Lester Earl dunks the ball during warm-ups at Late Night with Roy Williams. Earl has recuperated from a knee injury that hampered his play last year. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Earl is back knees healed and jump shot near optimal
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
By Matt Tait
There were times he thought he'd never be the same. There are those who don't think he is the same. And still there are those who wonder just what will become of him.
Those have been the trials and tribulations of Lester Earl for the last two seasons.
tions of Lester Barr for the last two seasons. Since coming to Kansas, Earl, the Jayhawks' 6-foot-9 senior forward, has been plagued with injuries - injuries that have hampered his athletic ability
Despite the nay-sayers, Earl has convinced at least himself that this season, his last in college, perhaps his last in basketball, will be one to remember.
with the Tigers at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Memorial Stadium.
KANSAN file photo
"I have my goal this year not to miss a game due to injury, Earl said.
The work that Earl has done this summer has him convinced that his goal is a realistic one and in the process has convinced some others as well, including Kansas coach Roy Williams.
At the team's media day earlier this month, Williams spoke of the team's health in general and Lester Earl's health specifically.
"Les is not the same Les as two years ago," Williams said. "As a team, our health is as good as it has been in a long time."
Kansas versus Missouri
See EARL on page 2B
Kansas linebacker Dion Rayford sacks Missouri quarterback Corby Jones in Columbia, Mo., last year. The Jayhaws face off
Memorial stadium showdown
By Mike Miller
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Bring on the cliches and rowdy fans because Kansas plays Missouri tomorrow.
"Throw out the records when Kansas and Missouri play because oftentimes it's more than just a win, it's for a lot of pride," said Kansas coach Terry Allen.
During last year's game at Columbia, Mo., the band, the players and fans were pelted with trash, bottles and other projectiles, overshadowing a 41-23 Missouri win. Though the tension between the two schools might be the focus of the media and fans, tomorrow's game, which is at 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, is really a battle between two teams fighting for their lives — the loser sinks to last place in the Big 12 Conference.
When Kansas, 2-5 overall, 0-3 in conference play, plays Missouri, 3-overall, 0-3 in conference play, it will be a match between two teams who have similar defense problems.
"Nobody wants to be the doormat," said wide receiver Michael Chandler. "That's where we're at — the bottom of the league."
Kansas has tried to solve its big play deficiencies by switching things around in the defensive backfield.
Safety Carl Nesmith will replace Greg Erb as the starting strong safety, while Muhammad Abdul-Rahim will replace Quincy Roe at left cornerback.
"We'd like to take some of the pressure off the secondary," Allen said. "We've gave up three very big plays defensively and four individuals who were the culprits. It's not an individual thing; it's a team thing."
Nesmith, a converted wide receiver who split time with both Erb and strong safety Kareem High, is the type of player who creates plays in the secondary with his size and speed. He leads the team with three interceptions, is tied for second in passes broken up and is tied for third on the team in tackles.
But NeSmith was quick to point out that the change isn't necessarily because of Erb's play — he is second on the team in tackles — but because a change might do the defense some good.
Abdul-Rahim, who led the team in interceptions last season, has split time with both Roe and right cornerback Andrew Davison this year. Three inches taller and 5 pounds heavier, Abdul-Rahim should be able to play more physical pass defense. At least that's his defensive philosophy.
"Sometimes it's good to make a change," Nesmith said. "It's just like a rotation anyway. Everybody plays."
"If a player catches it, they should have to earn it," he said.
The changes on defense accompany
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI
Where: Memorial Stadium (50,250)
When: 1. p.m. tomorrow
Radio: 105.9 FM; 1320, 980 and 710 ACM
1V: tape-datatype reply at 10:30
p.m. on Sunflower Cable channel 6
TV: Tape-delayed replay at 10:30
a renewed offense philosophy that centers around quarterback Dylan Smith. The Jayhawks take advantage of Smith's mobility by running the option, quarterback draws and rollouts, which give them more options than a dropback passing game.
Mitch Bowles will start for the second straight game at running back, but David Winbush has almost fully recovered from ankle and knee injuries. Henri Childs also will play in his first game in three weeks, giving the Jayhawks depth at running back for the first time since the Kansas State game.
But it's the rivalry that will take center stage tomorrow. Though a win against Missouri is always welcomed by Kansas students and alumni, Allen said he didn't feel any added pressure from fans.
"They can't hang us in effigy," he said.
For Chandler, it will be his fifth time playing Missouri. After last year's loss, he wants a win to go out above .500 — and to keep the Tigers from talking too much trash.
"That's one thing they excel at," he said.
- Edited by Julia Nicholson
Soccer team to take field today with season on the line
It's do or die for the Kansas soccer team. When the Jayhawks (8-7, 3-5 in the Big 12 Conference) take on Texas (7-7, 4-4) at 3 p.m. today at Super Target Field, the fate of their season will be at stake.
By Chris Wristen
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
A win today and another again Texas A&M Sunday will put them in the Big 12 Conference tournament in San Antonio. If the Jayhawks lose, they will lose control of their own tournament destiny. If they lose both games, they're out.
"It's the biggest game because if we lose, we're out of (contention) for the conference tournament," said Cynthia Dahle, senior and team captain. "That's what our whole season has been leading toward, and that
was one of our goals from last spring. It's been our goal for the last four years, and it's definitely the way I want to go out."
"I think we've pulled together so much as a team this year that we want to go now
The Longhorns won't be easy to beat, though. Despite their record, Texas has an impressive win against Baylor under its belt.
The Longhorns also have had some big losses though, and have been shut out
"It all just depends on how bad we want it," said sophomore forward Natalie Hoovgel. "And I think we've got the heart to do it."
six times this season. They have
scored just 16 goals in their 14 games.
A win today and a trip to the conference tournament are both goals of the team, which has no intentions of waiting until next year to see the post-season.
and not wait until next year." Dahle said. "We want to do it now, so I'd say that the whole team has a sense of urgency that we want to prove ourselves now."
The regular season will conclude at 1 p.m. Sunday at Super Target Field when Kansas plays No. 12 Texas A&M (12-4, 5-3) in its final conference game of the season. It also will be Senior Day, and seniors Betsy Pollard, Laura Rohde, Lindsey Loeffler, Melissa Downing and Dahle will make their final home appearances in Kansas jerseys.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of my friends for the last time and playing on Super Target Field for the last time," Dahle said. "I've had a lot of good friends who have been there every game for the last four years, so I'm definitely looking forward to playing in front of them one last time."
POSTSEASON SCENARIOS
The Kansas soccer team will bat the for its postseason life this weekend. There are several scenarios that could put the Jayhawks in their first Big 12 Conference tournament in November in San Antonio:
Edited by Chris Hopkins
1. Kansas beats Texas and Texas A&M
3. Kansas loses to Texas and beats Texas A&M, and either Colorado loses to Texas Tech and Baylor, or Iowa State loses to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Nebraska.
2. Kansas beats Texas, loses to Texas A&M, and Texas loses to Missouri
Warrick shows that athletes get 'benefits'
Peter Warrick is the dumbest man on the face of the earth.
Arguably the most talented player in college football this year, the Florida State wide receiver's future eligibility, as of yesterday, was still in question.
Before friend and teammate Laveranues Cole and Warrick took advantage of what must have been double coupon day at a Dillard's department store — they paid $21.40 for more than $400 worth of clothing with the help of a store clerk — the senior star was the obvious choice for this year's
He would have juked and streaked to another spectacular season, possibly won a National Championship and most likely been a top-three pick in the NFL draft.
He was less than a year from being a multimillionaire, and he stole clothes from Dillard's. Dumbest man alive.
Because this wasn't Cole's first run-in with authorities, he was dismissed from the
Matt James sports columnist sports@kansan.com
Florida State team. Like my grade school teachers used to say: "Don't hang out with the bad kids. They'll just get you into trouble."
Even if he is cleared to play, Florida State president Sandy D'Alemberte has the final word as to whether Warrick will return to the playing field this year.
Warrick's plea agreement delay will continue until his lawyer reaches a deal with the Florida state attorney's office. Until a deal is reached, Warrick will not play.
The most recent plea discussions have him pleading to felony theft, finishing the season on the team and serving a month in jail after this semester.
Rest assured, Warrick will play again this season, but now he is labeled. He was a guaranteed NFL superstar. Now he is a risk.
Luckily for him, Randy Moss and NBA guards Allen Iverson and Jason Williams have proven that problem-athletes can mature and have successful careers. The tug label can be shed. Warrick still will become a millionaire. But why would he even risk losing it?
Anyone who thinks "special benefits" like Warrick's are isolated to the Florida States and Michigan of the world is naive.
It happens all of the time — even here at the University of Kansas. I've seen several underage basketball and football players at various bars drinking since I've been at Kansas. You think they have really good fake IDs? Of course not.
A Kansas alumnus paid for JaRon Rush to attend the prem Pembroke Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo. Just another benefit of being an athlete.
Kansas basketball was put on probation in 1960 when the NCAA questioned a car Wilt Chamberlain had driven while at Kansas. Chamberlain later admitted to New York reporters that he received $4,000 from "two or three godfathers."
I applaud coaches Terry Allen and Roy Williams for maintaining clean programs, but they cannot control outside forces.
Athletes are treated differently in many ways. In the last year, Lester Earl and I were each cited for traffic violations in separate incidents and had to appear in Douglas County Court. His mugshot appeared on the front of newspapers. Mine didn't. He was questioned by reporters. I paid my fine and left.
When Earl comes back to Kansas decades from now for older timer games, dads will point and say, "Look son, that's the guy who took money at LSU."
No matter how much I screw up in life, I will still be Matt James. No more. No less. No one will label me for the mistakes I made. I wouldn't want the high-profile athlete life.
I'm not saying what Warrick did was right. He was stupid because he had so much to lose. But most athletes aren't Warrick, and aren't headed for millions of dollars.
I
I get sick of hearing how easy athletes have it and how spoiled they are. It's not an easy life.
I know athletes get perks, but I'm sure not to go lose any sleep because of it.
James is a Hugoton senior in journalism.