Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Lindsay Davenport advanced to the women's semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament yesterday.
Thursday
September 9,1999
Section:
B
Page 1
Pro Football
Minnesota wide receiver Randy Moss says this year's Vikings aren't like the team that went 15-1 last season.
SEE PAGE 6B
SEE PAGE 4B
Pro Baseball
Colorado Rockies manager Jim Leyland, who won the 1997 World Series while managing the Florida Marlins, announced he will retire at the end of the season.
SEE PAGE 2B
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Javhawk athletics ranked 25th best in nation
By Michael T. Rigg
Kansan sportswriter
The Sporting News magazine has ranked Kansas the 25th best athletics program in the nation in its Sept. 13 issue.
The rankings, which take into account items such as winning percentage, student-athlete graduation rates, school spirit and sportsmanship, were compiled by a group of The Sporting News editors.
Kansas scored an A- in the "Do we win?" category, a C+ for graduation rates in the football and men's basketball programs, a B+ in the "Do we rock?" athletics department fan support category, and a C+ in the "Do we play fair?" sportsmanship category.
The marks averaged out to a 2.92 "grade point
'average,' which finished a full point behind Penn State, the top-ranked program in the article.
The Sporting News archivist Steve Gieschier, who wrote the article accompanying the rankings, said the categories took into account a number of factors to determine an athletics department's effectiveness.
"We wanted to look at what schools did off the field, and we also wanted to emphasize the two sports, which our magazines cover the most in, football and men's basketball." he said.
Graduation rate and athletics department fan support were the two items that hurt Kansas the most. Gieschler said.
"Kansas ranked 58th out of 112 schools in terms of graduation rate, so that definitely didn't help." he said. "Also, the overwhelming support for the men's basketball program at Kansas was almost canceled out by the lack of support of the football team."
Kansas ranked last in the Big 12 Conference last season in total home football attendance, and the support grade was based on compiled figures for men's basketball and football.
Kansas was the second-highest ranked Big 12 school; Nebraska had the Big 12's highest ranking at No.9.
Bob Frederick, athletics director, said he was happy with Kansas' ranking.
"To be only one of two big 12 schools in the top 25 is an honor, especially considering that the Big Ten Conference had 10 of its eleven schools in the top 25," he said.
"The graduation rate is definitely something we're looking to improve on," Frederick said. "We've set a graduation
Frederick said despite the positive ranking, there was still room to improve in his department and on the graduation rate.
TOP ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS
Rank School Score
1. Penn State 3.92
2. North Carolina 3.75
3. Notre Dame 3.67
4. Stanford 3.58
5. Florida 3.50
9. NEBRASKA 3.42
**25. KANSAS** **2.92**
28. IOWA STATE 2.83
35. TEXAS 2.67
However, Gietschier was impressed by Kansas' gender equity, which was determined by taking a ratio of female student-athletes to female students and school spirit.
43. MISSOURI 2.58
53. COLORADO 2.33
57. KANSAST STATE 2.25
63. TEXAS A&M 2.17
70. OKLAHOMA STATE 2.00
79. TEXAS TECH 1.67
80. OKLAHOMA 1.67
90. BAYLOR 1.33
rate goal of 75 percent for the future."
mostly because of an F grade in the "Do we play fair?" category. Both K-State's football and women's basketball teams have been the subjects of NCAA investigations, which Gleitschier said hurt the Wildcats' cause.
Source: The Sporting News
K-State finished 57th in the rankings
Senior leads volleyball team
Outside hitter has chance to top school kill record
—Edited by Kelly Clasen
By Shawn Hutchinson sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportwriter
Ask Mary Beth Albrecht about her favorite memory as a member of the Kansas volleyball team, and she will not hesitate
It seems a little premature to talk about Albrecht's departure from the volleyball team. Especially since the Jayhawks have opened their season with a 40 record, and Albrecht has played a major role in the team's success so far.
"I think when I leave here I'll remember all the teammates I've had," said Albrecht, a senior outside hitter. "Ever since I was recruited here I've been surrounded by great teammates, and it continues to be like that."
This season, Albrecht ranks third on the team in kills (33), second in total attacks (98), and second in digs (31).
"She does a lot of things for us," Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. "When you think of an outside attack, you think about somebody who's going to put the ball away. But she's one of our team leaders in kills and one of our very best passers."
Ah, yes, the kills. Entering the season, Albrecht ranked 10th on the Kansas all-time list with 837. Her total now stands at 870, but last weekend at the West Virginia Tournament in Morgantown,
W. Va., she was passed on the charts by teammate Amanda Reves. Even so, the school record of 1,146, set by Judy Desch in 1987, is within reasonable striking distance.
"I know that, but I don't think about it," Albrecht said. "I haven't thought about it the past three years that I've been here, and I guess I've made it. I figure if I just play the way I've been playing I'll be fine."
Albrecht's playing style has netted numerous awards for her trophy case. She was named to the 1999 West Virginia All-Tournament team, the 1998 Jayhawk Classic All-Tournament team and the 1996 Billiken Invite All-Tournament team. In the classroom, she was honorable mention Academic All-Big 12 Conference last year and was a Jayhawk scholar.
About the only thing missing from Albrecht's array of awards is an NCAA Tournament appearance, which has eluded the Jayhawks since the team's first season in 1975.
“It’s definitely in the back of our minds,” Albrecht said. “It would be one of the best ways to leave here. It’s not what we strive for every single day, but it’s in our heads that we definitely want to go.”
Albrecht and the rest of the Jayhawks will next be in action during the weekend when they play host to the Hampton Inn Jayhawk Classic at Horejsi Family Athletics Center. The team plays at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Friday against Chicago State and Texas Christian University, and at 2:30 p.m. Saturday against Auburn University.
— Edited by Chris Hutchison
Kansas outside hitter Mary Both Albrecht blocks an attempted spike during practice. Albrecht entered this season 10th on Kansas all-time kill list with 837. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Kansas coach
Terry Allen fumes
after a penalty is
called against his
team during the
game against
Notre Dame.
Allen, who
coached at a
Division I-AA
school before
coming to
Kansas, knows
his team cannot
slack off against
a smaller school
when it fits Cal
State Northridge
Saturday. Photo
by Matt J.
Daugherty/
KANSAN
Allen worried Jayhawks might overlook Cal State-Northridge
By Mike Miller
Traditionally, Division I-AA teams don't have the physical attributes to compete with a I-A team. But it's a classic cliche — overlooking a lesser opponent for a bigger game down the road, such as the 'Hawks game against Colorado Sept. 18 — that worries Allen.
Scheduling California State Northridge, a Division I-AA opponent, for the home season opener seems like a good thing for the Kansas football team, but coach Terry Allen knows better.
"I would rather not be playing a I-AA team at this particular iuncture." he said.
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
"Those Division I-AA schools have everything to gain and nothing to lose, while the I-A guys have everything to lose and virtually nothing to gain," he said.
Couple that with what Allen considers a dangerous team, and an easy win turns into a game that could be trouble.
"It falls at a particularly bad time for us mentally."
And Allen knows from experience.
As a coach at Division I-AA Northern Iowa, Allen was 3-5 against I-A schools, defeating
Two of Allen's assistant coaches, linebackers coach Mark Farley and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson, were at Northern Iowa when Allen's teams played against I-A schools. Farley was an assistant coach and Johnson was a quarterback from 1989-1992.
"You can be very wide open, scheme-wise, offensively and defensively," he said. "Those types of things can really propel you to victory."
Farley remembers that motivation played a huge role when I-AA teams played I-A teams.
"You give them a motivation factor and watch out," he said. "You use that to play strong football against a team that may have more physical talent than a smaller school."
And the motivational factor plays a role in I-A schools preparing for games against IAA teams as well. How does Allen motivate his players after playing against a top-ranked team such as Notre Dame?
Apparently, his players can motivate themselves.
"You don't want to lose any games, but to lose to a lower division would be worse," said offensive tackle John Oddonetto.
The fear of losing to an inferior opponent can motivate players, but winning the first game of the season also can motivate a team.
"We're trying to put a 'W' on the board," said defensive back Quincy Roe. "Have some fun this game and eliminate most of the mistakes and we'll be fine."
More than anything, Allen wants his team to minimize those mistakes and get the first win of the season.
"If we have the mistakes we had against Notre Dame, we could easily be upset," he said.
In the world of injuries, Bob Smith, reserve offensive tackle, is out for the season. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last spring and has reinjured it twice this fall. Allen said he probably would have corrective surgery.
Allen bemoaned the loss because Smith is a backup to starting right tackle Justin Hartwig and he said he couldn't afford to lose anyone off the offensive line. Allen said that Gabe Rosalis probably would step into Smith's spot.
"I just want to get the game played, and I want to get on the road to Boulder."
Edited by Chris Hutchison
By Joel Francis
New coaches bring energy to program
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
But the biggest changes for the team have been off the field...
If this year's softball team resembles the team that went 31-30 last year and finished fifth in the Big 12 Conference, it should. Nine starters return from last year's team.
Two new assistant coaches, Julie Wright and Drew Christmant, were hired to replace Marla Looper and Carla Marchetti, who both took other coaching jobs.
"The transition has been great," Coach Tracy Bunge said. "As much as I wasn't expecting Coach Looper to leave, on the other hand, having two new people brings a new perspective and positive energy."
Though it is her first year at Kansas, Wright is no stranger to Bunge's program. Wright was a
senior at Ohio when Bunge was a first year coach there.
"This is the woman who taught me the game," Wright said. "Coming back to
coach for her is like coming back to coach for a mentor."
"Drew's background in baseball brings us different things, fundamentally." Bunge said.
Christmon brings a unique perspective to the team. He played minor-league baseball for three years in the Detroit Tigers system.
Christmon hopes those different things will help the team.
"Baseball has been around longer, and some techniques are advanced and terminology is different," Christmun said. "Some players are more receptive to different things. The same thing said differently might click."
Bunge has high expectations for this season.
"Everybody has another year of experience under their belt," Bunge said. "I can't look at that any other way than positive. They know each other and the game better."
"Workman is the workhorse of the staff." Bunge said. "DeWinter has come a long way from last season. I'm expecting big things from her. If she can pick up where we left off last year she will do big things for us."
Starting pitchers Sarah Workman, 19-13 with a 1.29 earned run average last year, and Melanie DeWinter, 4-6, 2.63 ERA, will provide the team with veteran leadership, Bunge said.
Workman said she was happy to have most of last year's close-knit team back for her senior year.
I find a good ending last year, so considering
Although she is new to the team, freshman Leslie Sailor said she recognized how special the team's chemistry is.
We had a good ending last year, so considering start. "Workman said. 'We can only do better.'"
"If you can't get along, it's hard to work together on the field," Sailor said. "I think the strong point of this team is how motivational they are. Everyone, including the coaches, are so positive. They push you everyday."
Bunge hopes to push the team back to the NCAA regional and possibly to the College World Series this season.
"By no means do I believe we will go into the season a conference favorite," Bunge said. "We will have to prove it on the field; I think this team will rise to the challenge."
Bunge will find out when Kansas opens the fall season Sept. 18 at Iowa.
Edited by Allan Davis