Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Friday September 17,1999
Kansas defensive end Jeremy Hanak will return to his home state when the Jayhawks play Colorado tomorrow.
Section:
Into the storm
SEE PAGE 5B
KANSAS
TENNIS
The Kansas men's tennis team will travel to a tournament in Baltimore despite torrential rain caused by Hurricane Floyd.
B
SEE PAGE 3B
Page 1
Change of heart
Nebraska I-back DeAngelo Evans told coach Frank Solich that he may return to the 'Huskers football team.
SEE PAGE 5B
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Contact the Kansam
(785) 864-4810
(785) 864-0391
sports@kansan.com
Sports Desk:
Sports Fax:
Sports e-mail:
Shedding the underdog tag
Jayhawks look to beat Buffs again
By Mike Miller
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Try as he might, coach Terry Allen is trying to ignore the revenge factor in the Colorado game tomorrow, but it's too big.
"We haven't had a lot of revenge games at Kansas," he said. "Hopefully, we can have some more of them in the future."
Allen would prefer the game just be a confidence builder for the Jayhawks, but last year's 33-17 victory just keeps coming up. The Jayhawks were underdogs in that game, and they're underdogs again 2:30 p.m. tomorrow at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. (ABC, channels 9 and 49; 105.9 FM, 1320 AM). But don't tell that to the players.
"I feel that we can win this game," said cornerback Andrew Davison. "We want to make a point that this isn't just a basketball school. It's a football school."
Tomorrow's game will be the second game the Jayhawks have played on national television this year, with at
al one more to come. Games against p 25 teams such as Nebraska, Texas &M and Kansas State give Kansas arque match-ups.
"We know that if we play as good as we did last year, we can get to a bowl game," said wide receiver Harrison Hill.
Playing well means starting with the Colorado game. The Buffaloes had a 63-35 win against San Jose State last weekend, racking up 767 yards of total offense. Colorado quarterback Mike Moschetti had one of the best games of his career, passing for 465 yards. But that doesn't scare Kansas.
"If teams try to pass on us, we can beat any team in the Big 12," Davison said. "As a collective group, we have one of the best secondaries in the Big 12."
Kansas will counter Colorado's offense with a two-quarterback attack
offense with a two-quarterback attack. Zac Wegner will start against Colorado, but Allen wants to keep using back-up quarterback Dylan Smith early and often in the game.
"We want both of them to get their feet wet and we'll see what happens," he said.
A believer in the one quarterback system, Allen has endorsed using two quarterbacks this year because of health reasons.
Both quarterbacks have performed
Who: Kansas at Colorado
When: 2:30 p.m. tomorrow
TV/Radio; ABC, channels 9 and 14/1059 FM and 1320 AM.
Where: Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
Records: Kansas and Colorado are both 1-1.
Last Meeting: A 17-ranked Colorado team was upset by the unranked Jayhawks 33-17 in Insurance on Oct. 24, 1998
All Time Series: Colorado leads 35
20-1. Kansas' last win in Boulder
was a 40-24 victory in 1995.
well this year. Wegner has completed 55 percent of his passes and thrown for two touchdowns. Smith has been slightly better, completing 70 percent, but in nine fewer attempts and three touchdowns. Their play has been shared because Allen doesn't want one to take most of the game snaps.
"If we get positive play out of both of them, then I see no reason to change," Allen said.
But it will be more than just the play of the quarterbacks that propels the 17-point underdogs to a win tomorrow. It has to be a team effort.
- Edited by Jennifer Roush
Kansas defensive back Chad Coellner tackles a Colorado receiver. The Jayhawks travel to Boulder tomorrow to play against the Buffaloes in their Big 12 Conference debut.
KANSAN file photo
Seeing double on Kansas softball diamond
Identical twins set chemistry for Kansas
Bv Joel Francis
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sports writer
This year's softball team will have fans seeing double — twice.
Identical twins Katie and Kelly Campbell, left, are Kansas softball teammates with identical twins Christi and Shelly Musser, right. The Campbell sisters pitch and catch, while the Musser sisters play左 and center field. Photo by Eric Schmann /Kansman
While many players claim that a team is like family, identical twins Katie and Kelly Campbell, and Christi and Shelly Musser take that literally. The Jayhawks are the only softball team in the country with two sets of identical twins.
The Mussers joined the team last year as freshmen, giving their teammates a year to distinguish between them before the Campbells transferred to Kansas this year.
"I still can't tell the Campbell twins apart," said coach Tracy Bunge.
The two sets of twins make the most of their relationships by playing next to each other; the Mussers in left and center field, and the Campbells at pitcher and catcher.
er so long, I know what plays she can get to."
"We have perfect chemistry," left healer Shelly Musser said. "We've played together
The Musssers grew up in an athletic family in Scottsdale, Ariz., with no other siblings.
"We did everything together," Shelly Musser said. "We played volleyball, basketball, swam — everthing."
They didn't realize how special their bond was until one summer when they
played on different teams.
"I realized we played best together and enjoyed playing together." Christi Musser said. "I look over to center field, and Shelly wasn't there; it was strange."
Shelly Musser agreed that her sister was the perfect complement on the field.
"I'm a better outfielder when we play together," she said. "I know I can be more aggressive, because she will back me up.
Everybody thinks we have ESP when we play. We've played next to each other so long, we know each other's capabilities." Their on-field chemistry transcends verbal communication.
"Sometimes they don't talk enough, they know each other so well," Bunge said. "They are both solid, but I think they have an inner rivalry that makes them better together."
Their closeness carries off the field as well. The sisters enjoy dancing, eating out, or just watching TV together.
"They are obviously best friends," said roommate and teammate Meagan Urquhart, Shawnee sophomore. "They live together and share a car so they go everywhere together."
The sisters' personalities make them a perfect match, Urquhart said.
"I am more laid-back and quiet," Christi Musser said. "I tend to keep to myself. Shelly is more aggressive and outgoing. She always tries to get me out of my shell." Fesh nigrax knows the other will be there
Each sister knows the other will be there for her at all times.
See TWINS on page 3A
Volleyball to dig in for tough competition
Bv Shawn Hutchinson
Fresh from knocking off the Wichita State Shockers on Wednesday night and improving to 6-2, the Kansas volleyball team heads to Knoxville, Tenn., this weekend to compete in the Tennessee Lady Vol Classic.
sports@kansancom
Kansan sportswriter
The Jayhawks open the roundrobin tournament against Leighh (Pa.) University at 5 tonight. Then they play Eastern Michigan at noon tomorrow and Tennessee at 7 p.m.
"I'm sure there will be good teams there, but we're a good team, too," said Kansas sophomore setter Molly LaMere. "I'm sure the competition level will be high."
Kansas' competition begins with the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, a team which enters the tournament with a 3-3 record. Last weekend, Lehigh beat Rider and Towson before dropping a five-game match to Cornell.
TENNESSEE LADY
VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC
Friday: Kansas vs. LeHigh, 5 p.m.
Where: Knoxville, Tenn.
kansas coach Ray Bechard said the biggest tests for his team would come tomorrow.
Michigan, noon. Kansas vs.
Tennessee, 7p.m.
Eastern Michigan's only defeat was against Indiana State at home, 3.2. The Eagles have lost only three games in seven matches this season, and they have defeated Georgia Southern, Middle Tennessee State and DePaul.
"Everybody's talking about Tennessee, but this Eastern Michigan team is 6-1," Bechard said. "I look for the two matches on Saturday to be very competitive."
Saturday: Kansas vs. Eastern
Michigan, noon. Kansas vs.
See JAYHAWKS on page 2B
Team to take shot at brick wall
Kansas builds new forward line to beat top goalie
By Chris Wristen
The Bulldogs, 5-0 and ranked 17th nationally, are led by the nation's top-ranked goalkeeper, junior Nicole Williams. Williams has yet to give up a goal this season, posting six shutouts. It's been more than 614 minutes of game time since she last gave up a goal. That streak is the 11th longest in NCAA history.
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Kicking shots against a solid brick wall might have been the best way for the Kansas women's soccer team to prepare for today's game against Georgia.
"Their defense is good," said coach Mark Francis. "It's going to be tough to score on them, but they've also stuck some in the net — so we've got to stop them from scoring first. I think we're going to
be able to do that."
By making some adjustments to its lineup, Kansas hopes to put an end to Williams's streak.
"(The change) has gone really well, and I think we're going to be a lot better off with the changes we made." Francis said.
Those changes included moving sophomore Natalie Hoogveld from defender to forward, junior Mehmann Haven from center-mid
field to forward and
sophomore
Melanie Schroeder
field to forward and
— who leads the team in scoring and shots taken — from forward to
midfield to utilize her speed.
"We've been working a lot on where to make our runs, so hopefully that will help us to (finish) better," Hoogveld said. "So maybe we can slow them down."
Georgia's offense has been consistent in all of its wins this season, too. Its attack is headed by freshman forward Beth Culver, who has scored four goals so far this season.
To help counter the Bulldog offensive charge, senior Lindsey Loeffler has made her return to the starting lineup at defender.
"Lindsey is a senior, and I know she's got some experience and played a lot since she's been here, so she's getting the job done for us." Francis said.
In addition to Loeffler, senior goalkeeper Betsy Pollard will need to make a strong showing. Pollard has a 1.77 goals against average this season and ranks 13th in the nation in saves per game.
Georgia is the second top 25 team Kansas will face this year, with five more looming ahead. A victory against a ranked team is just the thing the Jayhawks are seeking.
Edited by Mike Loader
"We know we're a good team with tons of potential, but until we show the ranked teams that we can play we're still going to be just Kansas soccer," Hoogveld said. "Our goal is to someday be ranked, too, because we don't always want to be the underdog — we want to dominate."
Alumni are 'real' fans of Jayhawks
Haven't heard of them?
I'd like to introduce you to the Vignotellis.
Didn't make it to football's equivalent of Late Night with Roy Williams? That's a shame.
You might have seen them Aug. 22 at the Get Ready Rally. They were all there — grandmother Joanie Vignotelli, her children Becky, Debbie, Pam and Brad, and all of her grandchildren, who were able to meet their Jayhawk football heroes and collect autographs.
Maybe you saw them at the Notre Dame game three weeks ago. They caught a flight to South Bend, Ind., to see their beloved Jayhawks battle the Irish. Didn't make it to that one? Me neither.
"It's kind of a family day," says daughter Debbie, who lives in Topeka.
I've got it. You've probably seen them at every home football game. They tailgate at Memorial Stadium for two hours before every home game, and usually don't leave until two hours after the game. They grill hot dogs and hamburgers, rain or shine, while the kids play catch and frolic on the hill.
In fact, all four of Joanie's kids graduated from Kansas, and they all have held season tickets
Kansas football tradition with the Vignotellis. Joanie the late husband Gene played football and ran track for Kansas from 1951-55. Her son Brad played on the 1981 Kansas football team that played in the Hall of Fame Bowl.
Matt James
sports
columnist
sports@kansan.com
for football and basketball since they graduated.
As you're walking down the Hill toward Memorial Stadium some time, to your left there is a tree and a bench placed in memory of Gene Vignotelli, who died just a year and a half ago. Sometimes after a game of catch on the Hill before a Jayhawk game, the kids will run to the memorial for a rest. They call it grandpa's bench.
You saw the video board, right? Well, the Vignotellis paid for that. Okay, so they didn't buy the entire thing, but the more than $10,000 they donate to the Williams Fund every year helped pay for it — as well as for other improvements and restorations across campus.
Still not ringing any bells?
Contributions to the Williams Fund provide 35 percent of the operating budget for the entire athletics department.
Maybe you don't go to many football games. That's all right You might have seen the Vignotellis at other Kansas sporting events.
They attend several women's basketball games and volleyball matches every year, and their grandkids participate in Junior Jayhawks, which gives them admittance to various games and clinics.
I think I know how you might know them. The Vignotellis are alumni. That's correct — the dreaded "A" word. Now I'm sure you know them.
They take the best parking spots at sporting events, they pack our restaurants and bars on game day and steal the seats on the sidelines at Allen Fieldhouse that rightfully belong to students — the "real" fans.
And sometimes, God forbid, they don't stand at basketball games, and they might leave a little early to beat traffic.
Just a little something to think about before basketball season gets here and students decide to become Jayhawk fans, and the inevitable moaning and whining commences.
A few years from now you will be gone, but the Vignotellis will still be here, getting sneered at by a entirely new group of "real" fans.
By the way, the football genie says Kansas 41, Colorado 24 — and the Vignotellis agree.
半
James is a Hugoton senior in journalism.