Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Wednesday
October 20,1999
Section:
B
Page 1
Iowa State's Darren Davis will try to lead the Cyclones to their first football victory against Colorado since 1983.
Players suspended
Fifteen Olathe East football players were suspended for one game taking a dietary supplement.
SEE PAGE 3B
SEE PAGE 2B
Series bound
The Atlanta Braves won the National League pennant last night against the New York Mets with a 10-9 score in 11 innings.
SEE PAGE 4B
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Volleyball team hopes to beat odds
Kansas outside hitter Nancy Bell kneels for a bump. The Jayhawks will take on the Colorado Buffaloa at 7 tonight in Boulder. The Jayhawks haven't beaten Colorado since 1987. Photo by Chad Cummings/KANSAN
Players look to grab win,turn around losing-streak woes
By Shawn Hutchinson sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
The Jayhawks will take on the No. 21 Colorado Buffaloes at 7 tonight in Boulder, Colo., concluding a three-match streak in which Kansas has faced three nationally ranked teams.
That stretch includes a loss last week at then No. 13 Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., and a loss to No. 16 Texas A&M on Friday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
The Kansas volleyball team has had its fair share of ranked opposition lately.
Now comes the match against Colorado — a team the Jayhawks haven't beaten since 1987 and haven't taken a game from since 1995.
"They play really well at home, and they are a combination of maturity and youthfulness," said Kansas coach Ray Bechard. "They've got two freshmen in the lineup, and they've got three
That loss could be blamed on a lack of rest for the Jayhawks. The match against the Aggies was their second in three days, and the Jayhawks' tired play may have been a result.
"We thought we needed that," Bechard said. "We're fighting a lot of stuff and it's a busy time of year. The teams that can manage all that and get better are the teams that can move forward."
The team has since taken Saturday and Sunday off and regrouped with practices Monday and yesterday.
The Jayhawks have hit a bump in the road themselves. They are mired in a two-match losing streak, which has dropped their overall record to 13-6 and dropped their Big 12 Conference record to 4-4. Kansas fought hard in the 3-1 loss to K-State but was shackled in the 3-0 loss to Texas A&M.
The Jayhawks hope to move forward against a Colorado team that comes into the match 11-6 overall and 5-3 in the Big 12. The Buffaloes were swept on the road by No. 10 Texas Oct.13. They then rebounded with a sweep of their own against Missouri on Saturday in
seniors. They will play well for an extended period of time, and then they'll have a little bit of a bump in the road because there is some youth involved."
"We're fighting a lot of stuff and it's a busy time of year. The teams that can manage all that and get better are the teams that can move forward."
Ray Bechard Kansas volleyball coach
Boulder.
Buffaloes outside hitter Sonja Nielsen leads the team in both kills (231), and digs (215). Setter Kelly Campbell paces the team with 826 assists.
Historically speaking, a Jayhawk win isn't likely. Kansas never has beaten a ranked opponent, and has knocked-off the Buffaloes only twice in 26 attempts.
But the Jayhawks know anything is possible.
"We can compete with anybody in the league," said Kansas middle blocker Annie Kreimer. "But we have to go out there with a positive attitude and with winning in mind."
— Edited by Julia Nicholson
Top recruit verbally commits to Kansas
Stevenson impressed with Late Night visit
Rv Matt Tait
Kansas forward Nick Bradford, left, talks to Kansas recruits DeShawn Stevenson and Travon Bryant during Late Night with Roy Williams. Stevenson gave the Jayhawks a verbal commitment to attend Kansas Monday night. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas coach Roy Williams has labeled this year's recruiting as a nonnecessity, but it may be a year remembered for exactly that.
"Stevenson is a sensational athlete, and a superb three-point shooter."
Monday night, the Jayhawks received a verbal commitment from DeShawn Stevenson, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Fresno, Calif., who has been in most recruiting analysts' top-five list of prospects.
recruiting expert Bob Gibbons wrote on his Web site www.allstarreport.com. "He will be an impact player at Kansas as a freshman."
Stevenson, who previously had said that he would wait until the spring signing period to commit to a school, apparently has gone back on his word and given it to Kansas
encouraging, the commitment remains verbal, meaning that Stevenson is not vet tied down to anything.
However, he also told Caywood that he planned to sign during the early signing period that begins November 10 which means his verbal commitment should be solid.
At Friday's Late Night with Roy Williams, Kansas' opening practice of the season, the efforts to recruit both Stevenson and Travon Bryant, a 6-foot-9 forward from Long Beach, Calif., who were in attendance, kicked into high gear.
The players strolled in, Stevenson in a red football jersey bearing the number 72 with a gold chain around his neck and Bryant in an all-gray sweat suit. As they took their spots at half-court on Allen Fieldhouse's west side, the antics
According to reports,
"Stevenson is a sensational athlete, and a superb three-point shooter. He will be an impact player at Kansas as a freshman."
Bob Gibbons Recruiting expert
the news of Stevenson's intention broke during a telephone interview with Kurt Caywood of the Topeka-Capitol Journal. Caywood contacted Stevenson inquiring about his impressions of Late Night, which he visited Friday. It was during that call that Stevenson said that he would call Williams Monday night and tell him he was committing to Kansas.
began.
As the high schoolers waited for the festivities to begin, along with about 16,300 other fans, two members of Kansas' spirit squad scurried onto the court and proceeded to take a lap around the perimeter holding homemade, 10-foot-square jerseys that resembled Kansas' and had Stevenson's name and number 0 on
Although Stevenson's intentions are
During one of the skits in which Kansas freshman point guard Kirk Hinrich posed as David Letterman, Hinrich's Top 10 list included a reference to the recruits.
one and Bryant's name and number 45 on the other.
"Number 6: Kansas will still be the best place for recruits." Hinrich said as the spotlight shifted to Stevenson and Bryant at center court and the crowd
went nuts.
The gestures at Late Night did impress Stevenson. Although he said that Late Night was great, the decision came down to Kansas being the right place for him.
"It was fun," he said. "Everything about it was great. Midnight Madness was pretty fun. My mom, stepdad and little brother all went. We had a great time.
school and great choice."
According to Gibbons' Web site, Bryant loved what he saw at Late Night and has Kansas at the top of his list. However, he also said that he would still visit the other schools recruiting him — Missouri, California and possibly Kentucky. Bryant also is expected to sign during the early November signing period.
"I picked Kansas because of the great coach and great tradition," he said. "I see myself fitting in well at Kansas. It's the place for me. Everybody in my family is happy. They think it's a great
Kentucky's visit depends on what it does with other recruits it is pursuing. Bryant has said that if Kentucky signed one of its other recruits he will not visit its campus.
Francis finds time for family and Jayhawk soccer
- Edited by Matt James
Bv Chris Wristen
sports @ kansancom
Kansan sportswriter
This season's success already includes a school record for wins, and four regular season games still remain. Within the team's success has been a close-knit family concept that has encompassed the team since coach Mark Francis arrived in Lawrence last December.
For the Kansas soccer team, success runs in the family.
The Jayhawks have basic comparisons to family that many sport teams possess. They travel together, practice together and eat team dinners together.
It begins with Francis and carries down through his players. In his media guide profile, Francis said his worst fear was "when I die, looking back and regretting not spending more time with my family." His solution to this concern has been making the family a part of all he does, and in the process that has helped his team grow.
Francis' wife, Tiffany, and children Carlin, 7, Hayley, 6, and Caleb, 4, come to the end of practices a few days a week just to spend time with their dad. He also brought them on the trip to
But for this team, the concept of family goes much deeper.
Nebraska and Iowa State last weekend.
"They loved it," Francis said. "Other than losing both games they had a great time. It wasn't detrimental to the team and was probably good for the team to have them around."
Francis's children got to spend time with 19 of their "older sisters" on the Kansas soccer team. Amid watching movies, studying and listening to music on the bus, Francis's children played cards with freshmen Bridget Goyen and Brianna Valento, climbed on seniors Laura Rohde and Lindsey Loeffler and iked with junior Johanna Larsson.
After being cared for by their mother
during the pregame practice at Nebraska Thursday evening, Francis stayed around afterward to work on Caleb's goalkeeping skills.
They played with sophomore Allie Heyworth and junior Katie Lents, too. Heyworth chased them and played tag before leaving the hotel for Iowa State. While stopped for lunch in Iowa, Lents window-shopped with Tiffany Francis and carried Hayley on her back.
Francis said that he believed the presence of his children had benefited his players.
See FRANCIS on page 2B
Fun in games and winning go together
Deep down it's all about having fun.
Senior wide receiver Michael Chandler, after a frustrating loss to Texas A&M, said "..all I care about is winning, and we're 2-5. I've never felt this bad. It's horrible."
Junior Kenny Gregory said about last season, "Basketball at one point became something I had to do, not something I wanted to do."
These guys weren't having fun.
I just returned from the University of Indiana yesterday. I was there with fellow School of Journalism student Liz Wristen accepting a scholarship from the Roy W. Howard National Reporting Competition. According to scholarship money in fun.
While we were there, we got to meet Tom French, reporter at the St. Petersburg Times and Pulitzer Prize win.
ner. He talked to us about having fun.
I imagine that winning a Pulitzer is fun.
I thought about how fun must apply to athletes. You always hear about the "Love for the game," but how important is having fun on the sports field? Can teams win
Seth Jones sports columnist sportss@kansan.com
"Fun is an underrated thing in what we do today," Tom said to us. "Having fun is important."
I watched a little of the Kansas women's soccer practice the other day. They have fun. When jogging from one field to the other, several ambush-style piggyback rides were in effect. Players running with soccer balls are susceptible to getting the ball kicked off their foot. The volume of the team is cheerful.
in a sheer business-like fashion? Did John Wooden ever smile as he won national championship after national championship?
"We know when to have fun and when to be serious." Bridget told me.
Everyone on the team has a nickname. During a game, when the team is down, rally caps are worn on the sideline. The caps consist of T-shirts worn inside on their heads. Dying their hair outrageous colors is considered simply a way of showing dedication.
When team sports become work, the desire to win is lost in the effort. It's like Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire. It's all about "Showin' you the money," Tom Cruise warned. When the enjoyment is lost, so is the game.
Do the players on the Jayhawk secondary enjoy Saturday games? I wonder if they're happy with each other. They've been getting burned so often lately that the only type of Jayhawk available is the extra-crispy kind. Honey-smoked Jayhawk ran out three weeks ago.
Of course, the fun police can't have fun when the coach is yelling at them.
I'd consider the soccer team the fun police of Kamas.
You remember the fun police, don't you? NBA stars running around, making sure everyone was having fun. Kevin Garnett checks into a slow-paced junior high game and livens it up with some monster dunks. Damon Stoudamire tries to convince a young ball hog to pass the ball while his parents look on. Gary Peyton tries to teach little kids the proper method of trash talk.
I sat down and talked with Bridget Goyen, freshman midfielder for the women's soccer team. Bridget told me how important fun is to this team.
"Our team is all about having fun," she said. "You've got to have fun, or you're not playing for the right reason."
This upcoming weekend involves a lot of Kansas sporting events. From soccer to rowing, football to swimming, many Javahawk athletes will be in action.
I ask those teams to heed the words of Pulitzer Prize winner Tom French by remembering to have fun.
Ultimately, the goal is to win. And winning is fun.
Jones is a Mulvane senior in journalism.