Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Monday
September 27, 1999
Section:
B
Page 1
More coverage and photos from the Jayhawks 41-13 loss to San Diego State
Volleyball
SEE PAGE 8B
The Kansas volleyball team came from behind and beat Missouri in five games, 3-2.
B
SEE PAGE 3B
Ryder Cup
The United States amazing comeback, first Ryder Cup since
capped an winning its 1993.
SEE PAGE 4B
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Football frustration hits Kansas
Coach apologizes after blowout loss to San Diego State
By Mike Miller sports@kansas.com Kansan sportwriter
The bad moon that rose over Memorial Stadium on Saturday night must have been an omen that things would not go well for the Kansas football team.
But omens usually indicate disasters — this one came two quarters too late.
By the time the moon rose over the east stands of the stadium, Kansas was down 31-7 and on its way to a 41-13 defeat against the San Diego State Aztecs.
The Jayhawks were blown away by an Aztec offense that racked up 572 yards — 413 in the first half. The loss dropped Kansas' record to 1-3.
Maybe the MegaVision malfunction late in the first quarter after San Diego State's second touchdown was another sign of things to come. That quarter might give coach Terry Allen nightmares for the rest of the year.
"In the second quarter the momentum and frustration started to mount and then the bottom fell out," Allen said. "There's a million things that were wrong."
The nightmare began in the first quarter when the Aztecs drove 80 yards, scored a
touchdown and then did the exact same thing seven minutes later. Both drives started with a large gain, had a methodical march down the field, alternated runs with the pass, and ended with the same result: seven points for San Diego State.
Then, Aztec quarterback Jack Howley started slicing apart the Kansas secondary with the precision of a neurosurgeon. Dresses of 94 yards, 85 yards and 48 yards
not only ripped through the defense, they demoralized Kansas.
"You feel like you're trying so hard to stop the ball, and they're just moving the ball at will. We didn't know what was going on," safety Greg Erb said.
Dylen Smith lead the Jayhawks on two scoring drives. One culminated with a 43-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Harrison Hill, the other on a 5-yard touchdown run by running back David Winbush.
"People are angry. People are pissed off. This is as big a loss as I can remember."
The Aztecs amassed 253 yards in the second quarter, mostly on Hawley's arm. He was eight of nine passing for 228 yards and two touchdowns in the second quarter — more yards and touchdowns than Kansas quarterbacks threw for in the entire game. It was a cool efficient performance from a guy who was starting the second game of his career and had been sharing time with the other Aztec quarterback.
But the scores came when the outcome was no longer in question.
The Aztecs' domination was clear from the start. They had more yards in the first
"He played the game of his life," Erb said. He should have been so lucky.
Harrison Hill
Kansas should have been so clever. Starter Zac Wegner didn't have much chance to throw the ball — he spent his time either handing off or running for his life from the Aztecs, who rushed only three or four linemen the whole game.
Kansas wide receiver
quarter alone than the Jayhawks had in the game.
"I don't know what's wrong with us — no clue," running back Mitch Bowles said. "I thought Colorado was bad last week. This is a new low." Evan, as the clock
ran out on the Aztecs in the first half, they still managed to gain yards and score points. Hawley wheyed a 49-yard pass that was caught as the first half ended. But a penalty was called on Kansas that gave San Diego State a free play. The Aztecs kicked a short field goal that made the score 31-0.
"They were doing everything right. Even when we stopped them, we really didn't stop them." Erb said.
stop them, or the frustration set in.
At that point the hir skeron said to "People are angry. People are pissed off," Hill said. "This is as big a loss as I can remember."
The loss left Allen wondering where his program stood. For a team that was trying
Kansas quarterback Dylen Smith, junior, is sacked in the backfield by San Diego State's Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in Saturday home loss. The Jayhawks were held scared until the third period. Photo by Chad Cummings/KANSAN
to rebound from a 51-17 blowout against Colorado, the loss was devastating, especially with Big 12 Conference play coming up.
"It's not a pretty time coming up for us. We have to reevaluate where we are," Allen said. "It's an embarrassment. I apologize to you and our fans and our loyal ones there tonight. What else can I say? I'm sorry."
Edited by Carl Kaminski
Kansas soccer shuts out Drury, Creighton
Senior defender Lindsey Loeffler, left, dribbles past her Drury College opponent in the opening round of the KU Credit Union Jayhawk Invitational last Friday. Photo by Chad Cummings/KANSAN
By Chris Wristen
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
The Kansas women's soccer team has run its streak to three.
"It feels great to have some wins under our belt when we go play some teams that are going to hopefully put us closer to our goal (of qualifying for the Big 12 Conference tournament)," senior goalkeeper Betsy Pollard said.
has put their streak to duty 3-0 on Friday afternoon, the Jayhawks captured the KU Credit Union Jayhawk Invitational Tournament title by shutting out Creighton 1-0 yesterday. The wins improved Kansas' record to 5-4, giving them their first winning record of the season and increasing its winning streak to three — something the team is excited to have heading back into conference play.
The game was a defensive battle. The Bluejays came out putting tight pressure on the Jayhawk offense. The close game came as no surprise to Francis.
"I think just winning three in a row has given them some confidence and made us realize we can play with good teams," Francis said. "We've just got to keep improving."
"I knew they were good," Francis said. "I know they battled to the end and didn't give up, but if we would've put our chances away I think it would have been over earlier."
Coach Mark Francis was pleased with the wins as well.
rne Kansas defense countered with a staunch performance of its own, limiting the Bluejays to nine shots.
Kansas fired 16 shots but only connected on one. One was all they needed. Junior Hilla Rantala took the ball down the left corner, beat three defenders down the goal line and slid the ball under Creighton goleeper Maggie Phelan, which put Kansas on top in the 21st minute of play.
The goal, Rantala's second of the weekend, didn't come as a surprise to Francis. He just pleased she's finally back from an ankle injury and starting to return to form.
"Today was her best game so far since she's been back," Francis said. "She's just now starting to get to where she's doing some of the things that I know she can do."
After Rantala's goal, the game remained deadlocked and the Jayhawks battled off some tough attacks by the Bluejays, including fending off six corner kicks, the biggest coming with four minutes remaining. Creighton sent a corner kick into the box, and the ball was jugged among a crowd of players. But Pollard pounced on it to preserve the shutout.
In addition, Francis credits four other players' work in the second half in fending off the Creighton attack. Juniors Katie Lents, Lindsey Horner, and freshmen Brianna Valento and Bridget Goyen sparked
Football fans flock to bars for Monday night games
See JAYHAWK on page 3B
Bv Matt Tait
By Matt Tait
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Weekends tend to be the big party days in college towns, but for students looking for a bargain, Monday Night Football specials have become a big hit in Lawrence.
The phenomenon of Monday Night Football is one that has grown in recent years. Once just a way to give a couple of NFL teams an extra day of rest and some time in the spotlight, it has become a convenient reason for students to go out on a Monday night, have
The game does Pimlico the first Monday Night game of the year between Denver and Miami at J.B. Stouts, 721 Wakarusa Dr., joins several other students around town on Monday nights watching the game and taking advantage of the drink specials.
Some students went out to root for a team, and some went to root against a team, but it's those like Noyce who the bars are counting on and catering to.
some drinks with friends and enjoy the game.
"The specials are great," said David Noyce, Edina, Minn., first year law student.
"The game doesn't matter — it's an oxymoron."
"Usually Monday Night Football draws a big crowd, especially if Green Bay or Denver is playing," said J.R. Sutton, general manager of J.B. Stouts.
"Normally Monday nights are slower so we're trying to get sure volume by lowering the prices and bringing in a lot of people."
J. B. Stouts, whose specials include $1.75 "fat boy" beers, 30-cent Buffalo wings, and half price nachos, is not alone in this methodology. Several other bars offer drink and food specials to attract those that enjoy football.
For example Henry's T, 3520 W. Sixth St.
offers two-for-one burger deals and sells its
"gusto" beers for $2.50. Sports Page Brewery, 3512 Clinton Parkway, offers $5 pitchers of beer and 25-cent chicken wings, and Old Chicago, 3239 Iowa St., offers $1.75 Miller Light draws. However at Old Chicago the biggest draw is its QB-1 interactive football game.
QB-1 is a way for customers to participate in the Monday night game and win prizes. When fans come into the restaurant they are handed a keypad controller
See MONDAY on page 5B
Kansas is paying for Coach Allen's blissful ignorance
The Jayhawk's 1-3 record is a profound result of their coach being ill-prepared for their competition. Botched names, blown scouting, bungled games.
Can Petty Answer the Hopefully, because the Kansas football coach has struggled saying all the other right words.
given to the press conference before the Colorado game. Allen asked the media for the names of a few Buffaloaes players. He asked reporters about Marcus "Siggers" and Marcus "Stinger," but he failed to ask for Marcus Stiggers, the Colorado speedster who eventually lit Kansas up like a candle. He is one of the nation's fastest wide receivers.
Can Terry Allen say 'uh-oh?'
Allen did the same buffoonery before the San Diego State game. He asked for the name and pronunciation of Aztecs defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. We'll spot Allen the tongue-twisting surname, but he again seemed unconcerned with a preseason All-American (in one publication) who could eventually be a high NFL draft pick. Gbaja-Biamila had three sacks against Kansas and was in its backfield more than any Jayhawk running back.
Kansas obviously had little knowl-
Besides the disinterest in Gbajai-Biamila, there's Allen's nonchalance in finding out about Jack Hawley. Reporters asked Dylen Smith about Hawley last Wednesday. As $ ^{i+} $
Kansas obviously a edge of two Aztec players Saturday, whose names eventually were learned because the P.A. announcer was calling them so often.
Jason
Franchuk
sports columnist
sports@kansan.com
Smith said that he was unaware if Hawley would start and that Hawley was not on the scouting board. Whoops, Hawley, who started the previous week at then-No. 17 Southern California, also did so against Kansas and enjoived a career game.
turns out, Smith played against Hawley twice in California junior college games. Allen did not know this. Couldn't this information, from at least a familiarity and scouting standpoint, have been useful? Allen must not have thought so.
Allen's lackadaisical attitude is not a good example for his team or any college student.
imagine going into a job interview illprepared. Bad news.
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Envision sending your resume to a Mr. Waters when it should have gone to a Ms. Walters. Success will not be had when the proper preparation is not done.
Allen is not a good role model right now. He is not doing his homework, and the Jayhawks are paying dearly for it on their Saturday tests.
When coaches do not know the names of other team's players, the opposition will — and should — take it as an insult. Kansas basketball fans, players and coaches would be livid if an opposing coach said, "We know a little something about Eric What'sHis-Name," and did not know his last name, Chenowith.
Most coaches will wax poetic about other teams. Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams is a poet laureate at it, a regular Boy Scout when it comes to saying the proper things about other teams — he will be prepared. It's no coincidence the team wins regularly when it is prepared for every situation and every press conference.
Now, Allen is faced with a team that is preparing to enter the tough part of its schedule. The Jayhawks have scouted poorly, and maybe now that will change as they face familiar Big 12 conference foes.
But they are porous on defense.
but they are porous on defense. Kansas cannot score right now and has no one worth mentioning.
Other teams know this.
They're paying attention.
Franchuk is a Boulder, Colo., junior in journalism.
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