Wednesday, September 22, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
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Coach Allen thanks Hawk Club
Members get game day info
By Jason Walker
sports@kansas.com
Kansan Sportswriter
The University of Kansas Hawk Club received a first-hand look at Kansas football last night.
Coach Terry Allen spoke to about 25 club members in Hadl Auditorium last night to give members a chance to ask questions and get acquainted with him and the way the team works. He also thanked the club for all their support and dedication to Jayhawk football.
"It means a lot to me and to the program," he said. "We've never seen anything like this here."
Kansas coach Terry Allen ponders a question presented by a Hawk Club member lastnight in Haddl Auditorium during a special club meeting called Chalk Talk. The meeting gave club members a chance to speak with Allen about upcoming games, previous strategies and ideas on how to get the student body involved in Kansas football. Photo by Chad Cummings/KANSAN.
Allen talked about Saturday's game with San Diego State and the recent renovations to Memorial Stadium. He said that he hoped the renovations would bring more people to the games and give Kansas more of a home-field advantage.
Justin Mettien, Raytown, Mo,
sophomore, said he thought
Coach Allen was genuinely interested in the opinions of University students.
"He is good at generating support for the football team," he said. "I think he has done a pretty good job overall with the team and connecting with students."
One way Allen has connected with students is through what he calls the "Coach's Pipeline." Michael Henry, Overland Park senior, and founder of Hawk Club, said that either Allen or one of his coaches sent an e-mail to members of the club each week.
Mettlen said the e-mail from a coach made him pay more attention to the games on Saturday.
"It's pretty interesting to see what he thinks the team needs to do to win." he said.
"It's usually about what to look for in that Saturday's game," he said. "Like about what they're going to do on offense or defense."
Henry said he hoped the students who attended the meeting would feel closer to the team after having personal contact with Allen.
"We want them to feel like they have an investment in the team," he said. "Not that they just see the
football players in class."
Henry also said that previously, students had little interaction with the coaches or with the team.
"They have never had an outlet for students before," he said. "Coach is trying to make this club really special."
Allen said that the most important thing was for students to enjoy themselves at the Jayhawks' games.
"We want students to have fun with college football," he said.
Edited by Matt James
Volleyball team to battle against Texas Longhorns
By Shawn Hutchinson
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Now the real test begins.
The Kansas volleyball team, after compiling a 9-2 non-conference record to start the season, faces its first ranked opponent tonight when the No. 8 Texas Longhorns come to Lawrence. The match begins at 7 p.m. at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center and is the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.
Kansas coach Ray Bechard said that Texas would be by far the toughest team the Jayhawks had faced this season, and it's easy to see why. The Longhorns are 16-1 all-time in conference openers, have been ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll for 224 consecutive weeks, and are 9-0 all-time against the Jayhawks.
"We have to play extremely well and hope they're not on the top of their game," Bechard said. "Texas will be extremely physical."
Texas was physical enough to sweep Kansas twice last year, but that was before the
Longhorns suffered two big losses in the off season. Texas lost outside hitter Katie Austin, a 1998 Volleyball Magazine third team All-American, and outside hitter Demetria Sance, a four-time AVCA All-American and the Longhorns' all-time leader in kills and attacks.
Yet, the cupboard is anything but bare for the Longhorns. Texas returns senior Erin Aldrich, the 1998 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and Jill Gremmell, a junior setter who averaged 12.65 assists per game last season. Both played a significant role earlier this season when the Longhorns beat Pac 10 Conference powerhouse Stanford, which at the time was ranked second in the nation.
The Jayhawks counter with an array of players who have had stellar seasons. Junior outside hitter Amy Myatt has emerged as a go-to player by leading the team with 161 kills and setting a school record with 30 kills in a four-game match against Auburn.
Senior middle blocker Amanda Reves, an All-Big 12 performer last season, is second on the team with 141 kills, and sophomore setter Molly LaMere leads the team with 561 assists.
If the Jayhawks are to pull an upset tonight, momentum is clearly in their favor. Kansas has won four straight matches, including a win last week at home against Wichita State, and three tournament wins last weekend at the Tennessee Lady Vol Classic in Knoxville, Tenn.
Kansas senior outside hitter, Mary Beth Albrecht was named the most valuable player of the tournament after the Jayhawks swept Lehigh (Pa.) then won two five-game matches against both Eastern Michigan and Tennessee.
"That was a good win, and we fought hard," Albrecht said. "It gives us good momentum, but we're ready for conference now."
Texas could be thinking the same thing after suffering two losses last weekend at No. 2 Penn State. The Longhorns are in the midst of a two-match losing streak after opening the season with six straight wins.
"Texas is a solid team and always plays competitive," Reves said. "They're definitely comparable with some of the toughest teams we've faced."
Edited by Brad Hallier
Commentary
Local, national sports play vital role in culture
I have a friend at the University of Texas. I remember talking to him after he had experienced something very alarming.
He told me he had been walking down the street when he noticed a commotion. Cars were honking, and people were waving the "hook em 'Horns" hand sign out their windows. My poor friend thought it was some sort of madcap riot, until he found out that some guy from some team won some trophy. (For those of you who don't know, this would be when Ricky Williams won the Heisman.)
It is hard for me to imagine being oblivious to the goings on of the sports world. Sports are a valuable part of culture, whether it be the culture of a university or the culture of a nation.
I spent last summer in Guadalajara, Mexico. In Mexico they like a lot of sports, but soccer is their passion. I got to experience this part of their culture firsthand, and much to my surprise, I enjoyed it.
I will admit that I have never liked soccer very much. I never understood the incredible passion that it seems to invoke in so many people worldwide, with the people in the United States being among the exceptions. I was a little reluctant when one of the Mexican families invited us to a bar to watch the big game. Atlas was their team of choice, and since I had no real interest, I rooted for Atlas along with them.
It did not take very long before I was caught in the action. I learned the cheers. I memorized the commercials (My personal favorite: "Live football, dream football, drink Coca-Cola."). The game ended in a tie. The bar celebrated afterward, and all the Americans looked at one other, wondering if the people
understood Atlas had not won. The next week, Atlas played their biggest game of the season and lost, which set up one very bizarre night.
A group of us had gone to dinner for some real American food at Chill's. My friends, Scott and Laura and I took off on our walk home. We got a little lost on the way back. At one point Scott assured us that he knew we were going either north or south. After wandering aimlessly for about a half an hour, we saw a crowd similar to the one that had alarmed my friend in Texas.
Then we saw the Atlas flags, heard the Atlas cheers and saw the man selling Atlas hats, which of course we bought. We could not resist the jester hats with bells on them. We were having so much fun that we actually looked like we had planned to attend the rally. When we heard the sound of our favorite chant, we sang along and impressed all the people who thought we could not speak Spanish. The fact that we had no idea what we were saying did not matter — we had blended into the culture. We also were a little frightened by how crazy things would have been had Atlas actually won.
I am now the proud owner of an Atlas shirt, two shot glasses and the aforementioned jester hat.
I think the whole experience reminded me of a big part of the reason I am a sports fan. It helps a person feel connected to something, whether it is their city, country or school. I am glad that I would not fear my life if the Kansas basketball team won the NCAA tournament. I hate to think that there are people who would say that some team won some tournament.
Haverkamp is a Leawood sophomore in journalism and political science.
Hey Students...
I want YOU to join HAWK Club and help us establish a home field advantage!
Be a part of the NEW Tradition... HAWK Club...
Be a part of the NEW tradition... HAWK CLUB...
the official student booster organization that's Helping Athletics Win at Kansas!
Sign up at the KU Athletics Ticket Office in Allen Fieldhouse.
HAWK Club Members' Calendar
Say more with less
Sat., Sept. 25 (KU vs. San Diego St.) • 6 PM
Come to the HAWK Club table at the base of the MegaVision video board to pick up your official club t-shirt and membership card. Bring your KUID to verify you are in the
Use white space to your advantage when designing your ad, it's an attention getter.
club. Then, get ready to sit in "The Nest"
Get off the couch and look at the chart to see if you qualify
Heigh
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5'2"
5'3"
5'4"
5'5"
5'6"
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Weight Height Weight
137-178 5'8" 171-217
142-184 5'9" 176-223
146-189 5'10" 181-227
151-194 5'11" 186-235
156-200 6'0" 191-241
161-206 6'1" 197-247
166-211 6'2" 202-253
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