Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday September 29,1999
Sports
Section:
Lindsey Loeffler, a senior defender for the Kansas soccer team battled injury to earn back her starting position.
Pro Football
B
Demitrius Underwood's mother blames his attempted suicide on a Michigan church.
SEE PAGE 3B
Page 1
SEE PAGE 6B
Pro Baseball
Sammy Sosa took the home run lead by hitting No. 62 as the Cubs defeated Philadelphia 8-2.
SEE PAGE 3B
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Kansas offense looking for quick relief
Receivers' return may be what the doctor ordered
Bv Mike Miller
By Mike Miller
sports@kansan.com
Kansas city writer
Kansan sportswriter
A cure for Kansas' offensive woes might come in the form of two fast-acting wide receivers. But only in over-the-counter form not prescription strength.
Junior Termaine Fulton might see some playing time this weekend against Southern Methodist while sophomore Byron Gasaway has begun practicing for the first time in more than two months. Their return would add depth, speed and big-play ability to the offense.
Fulton sprained his ankle during the California State-Northridge game and returned to practice yesterday. He leads the Jayhawks in yards per catch and is third on the team in receptions, despite playing in only half of Kansas' games this year.
"Fulton might be able to go on a limited basis," said coach Terry Allen. "He's not going to be 100 percent, but he could see some time during the game."
Gasaway might prove to be the team's biggest surprise of the year. One of the fastest and largest receivers on the team, he broke his jaw during the preseason when he
aropped more than 200 pounds of weights on his face. Allen had considered applying for a medical redshirt season for the receiver, but Gasaway's speedy recovery has given Allen a reason to smile during a season filled with frowns.
But Gasaway won't return without a little rust.
He ran some pass patterns and caught a couple of passes from quarterback Dylen Smith, which were a little more crisp than expected. "My hands are a little sore." Gasaway said. "He's got an arm."
Junior Eric Patterson, who started for Fulton during the Colorado game, sprained his ankle during the San Diego State game, adding to the list of limping Jayhawks.
Safety Chad Coellner is probable for Saturday's game after sitting out last week's game against San Diego State because of a groin pull.
Tight end Jason Gulley is doubtful for Saturday's game. He had his right knee scoped Monday and the swelling hasn't gone down as quickly as Allen had hoped.
Running back David Winbush, who sprained his ankle during the Colorado game, and left tackle John Oddonetto, who bruised his shoulder against the Buffaloes, will play Saturday.
Oddonetto said he couldn't wait to play it's the best he's felt all year.
Edited by Matt James
Defensive back Chad Coellner back pedals during drills at Anschutz Sports Pavilion. Coellner returned to practice yesterday after sitting out with a hamstring injury. Although the injury was still painful, Coellner said he was ready to get back into practices. Photo by Jay Sheperd/ KANSAN
Kansas setter LaMere sets the ball for middle blocker Amanda Reves in last week's game against Texas. LaMere, a Papillion, Neb., sophomore, will return to her native state today when the Jayhawks take on the Cornhuskers. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
'Hawks set to test No.8 Cornhuskers
By Shawn Hutchinson
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
When Molly LaMere and the Kansas volleyball team take on No. 8 Nebraska at 7 tonight in Lincoln, Neb., the Cornhuskers may find out what it has been missing.
been missing. LaMere, a sophomore setter, has had a breakthrough season after signing with Kansas out of Papillion-LaVista High School in Papillion, Neb., in 1998. Although LaMere played a limited role in her freshman campaign, she quickly has established herself this season as one of the premier setters in the Big 12 Conference.
Confidence LaMere is among the conference leaders with 677 assists and has helped lead the Jayhawks to a 10-3 record overall and a 1-1 record in the conference heading into tonight's match.
That may be true, but LaMere has been welcome relief to the Jayhawks, who were forced to replace four-year letter-winner Laura Rohde in the off season. Rohde left the program ranked second all-time in Kansas history with 3,646 assists, and second all-time in assists per game with 9.02.
LaMere, after tallying only 15 assists last season, was expected to split time this year with freshman Amy Billings, a highly-touted recruit from Portage, Mich. But Billings broke the patella in her right knee at Kansas' second practice of the season,and will be sidelined until at least next month.
"I've been having great passes all year," LaMere said. "Our hitters are really stepping it up, but all I've been doing is setting the ball up in the air."
Thus, the setting responsibilities fell directly to LaMere, and she has made the most of it.
"When Billings went down, Molly was very anxious and like, 'oh boy, here we go,' said Kansas coach Ray Bechard. "But Molly's responded well, and she's been getting in position. She's been getting after it and playing."
Through 42 games, LaMere ranked first in the Big 12 in assists and third in assists per game with 13.36. She had an 86-assist performance in a four-game loss to Auburn earlier this month, which ranked first in Kansas history and fifth all-time in NCAA history.
Couple that with a 77-assist performance in a five-game match against Tennessee, which also was a Kansas record, and LaMere has her name firmly etched in the record books.
elected in the county.
LaMere will try to add to her assist total tonight against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are 9-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference this season but are still reeling from a home loss to No.17 Kansas State last week. It was the first time Nebraska lost to a conference team in a regular-season home match since 1977.
Tegan Hawkins 7-0 away from home this season but only 1-61 all-time against Nebraska. The lone win against the Cornhuskers came in 1975 — five years before LaMere was born.
"It would be awesome to get a win just because we're underdogs and no one expects us to," LaMere said. "Even if we could play our butts off and just get a little respect from Nebraska, it would be great."
Teams to participate in inaugural coed tournament
— Edited by Brad Hallier
By Melinda Weaver
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas will be one of 16 top collegiate teams in the first coed intercollegiate tennis championships this weekend at Stanford.
The Wingspan.com World Team Tennis National Collegiate Tennis Championship format will consist of men's singles and doubles matches, women's singles and doubles matches and a mixed doubles match.
Each match is played to six games
attention to collegiate "I have dreamed about this since I was in college in the '60s, so this is very special to me," King said. "This could be a very positive addition to collegiate tennis. The nation tends to be more attuned to team situations."
Billie Jean King, one of the event's main promoters, said that one of the tournament's main goals was to attract more attention to collegiate tennis.
Games won and lost in each match are totaled after the five matches are played. The five matches are played consecutively to promote teamwork among the men's and women's teams.
KANSAS TENNIS
Kansas will send Alex Barragan, Rodrigo Echagaray, Julia Sidorova and Brooke Chiller to compete in the inaugural event.
Teams were selected by a combined men's and women's team rankings. Because the Kansas men's and women's teams both finished in the top three of Region V, they were selected to represent the central region.
Both teams are sending players to other
"I am sending Brooke and Julia, the two seniors," said Kansas women's coach Jenny Garrity. "Since this is the first year of this prestigious tournament, I gave them a choice of whether they wanted to go to this tournament or the Rice tournament. It is going to be a very social event and nationally televised, so since they have the most experience, I gave them their choice."
weekend tournaments, but both coaches said they thought they had made good choices.
See MEN on page 2B
So— be honest. How many classes have you skipped this week because of the rainy weather?
Columnist and coach request suggestions for intro music
Ive always thought that if I were a boxer, my intro music would have to be "Super Bon Bon" by Soul Coughing. Great bass line, the music pumps you up, and the line "Move aside, and let the man go through," applies so well.
apples I didn't suggest it to Coach Allen because I didn't want anyone playing my song.
If anyone would have shown up for the Hawk Club meeting last week, they would have heard Coach Terry Allen ask the members their opinions on what music should be played during the introduction of the Jayhawks
But I thought about it, and after watching the Jayhawks play Saturday, I've decided that the best song for the football team would be Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life." Cool tune, and the chorus applies. "Instead of treated, we get tricked. It's a hard knock life."
Time for another reader poll.
Send me your suggestions, serious or not, for the intro music. If I like it and print it, you get a Jonesey award. Extra credit if you remember what a Jonesey award is.
sports columnist
ports@kansan.com
■ I'll go on the record and say it here. Jayhawk vollebble—the
most entertaining KU sport to watch in the fall. Don't believe me? Go to a game. If you still aren't a believer, I'll refund your money. This offer good for KU students only.
I finally understand the alcohol policy at Memorial Stadium. If I'd paid roughly $7,000 to watch that San Diego State game, I'd need to get blasted myself.
Believe the hype. Soccer forward Hilla Rantala is for real. If someone would teach her how to be selfish, she'd score two or three goals a game.
Next time you're walking past Memorial Stadium, take a look at the top of the luxury suites. Is it just me, or does it look like Jabba the Hutt's floating lair in *Return of the Jedi*?
Still not convinced to go to a volleyball game? Here is another reason: No matter how poorly they play, they can't lose by any more than 15 points.
Back to music selection at Memorial. Maybe if we just played the new Lazer our opposition would get sick and go home. Of course, all the fans would be forced to leave a lot sooner than halftime. Or we could just have "Free Jayhawk Ear Plug Night" as a promotion.
Night as a play
■ Wanted: 3,000 students to contribute $10 each for a "scholarship suite" at local college football stadium. Benefits include the right to drink alcohol, a TV set that can be turned so you aren't forced to watch the game, nice comfortable seats with embroidered Jayhawks, and the chance to watch opposition run up the score from a great angle.
Athletics Director Bob Frederick says the reason for allowing alcohol in the scholarship suites is because it is necessary to have alcohol available to sell them.
At last count, I saw 10 scholarship suites sitting empty and collecting dust last game.
Maybe we can talk Frederick into adding strippers and slot machines in the scholarship boxes as well.
Do your mama proud—go to a couple classes this week regardless of what the weather is like.
Jones is a Mulvane senior in journalism.