Wednesday, August 25, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard looks on during a team scrimmage. Bechard will begin his second year as the coach of the Jay-hawks one week from today. Photo by Eric Sahrmann/KANSAN
By Shawn Hutchinson sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
Bechard making progress
One week from the Jayhawks volleyball season opener against Missouri-Kansas City at the Horesei Family Athletics Center, Kansas coach Ray Bechard insists that his team is making progress.
Whether or not that progress results in more victories in the win-loss column this season for the Jayhawks and their second-year coach remains to be seen.
"Statistically, there are a lot of things we look for in making progress," Bechard said. "But the bottom line is people are going to look at our win-loss record. We feel like there are a lot of other areas you can look at, but obviously that's what we're going to be measured by."
Where and how the Jayhawks are measured is a task that falls to Bechard, who was hired as the sixth coach in the program's history on Jan. 29, 1998. Before coming to Lawrence, Bechard spent 13 years at Barton County
Community College in Great Bend, where he departed the school after having amassed an successful record.
Start off with winning 92 percent of his matches, equaling 716 wins. Then follow that up with the 128-straight home match winning streak he left behind, which at the time was the longest in the country. Finish it off with Beckhard's induction into the National Junior College Athletic Association Volleyball Hall of Fame last spring.
"We built obviously a pretty good (program)," Bechard said of his days at Barton County. "I would have been contented with coaching at Barton County for an extended period, but I am very excited about being here at Kansas."
That's where the Kansas volleyball program stands right now, in the hands of an NJCCA Hall-of-Fame coach looking to make a lasting impression on the Jayhawks.
"He not only knows the game, but is very personable," said senior outside hitter Tori
Holtmeier, who spent two years playing for Bechard at Barton County before transferring to Kansas. Bechard's first season as coach of the Jayhawks resulted in a six-win improvement in comparison to the previous season, including a 10-2 record in non-conference play. However, the team still finished tied for eighth in the Big 12 Conference with a 5-15 record.
Getting the Jayhawks turned in the right direction on the volleyball court is a tough task for Bechard, but he also said his responsibility as a coach entailed much more. Such as instilling into his players lessons that they can use for the rest of their lives.
"Somebody told me once that if you can get people to contribute more than they consume, then you really are on the right track. If you think about that, it's a good philosophy to have, he said."
And a philosophy that has served the Jayhawks second- year coach well.
Quarterback questions loom as season begins
Edited by Brad Hallier
By Michael T. Rigg
Kansan sportswriter
sports@kansan.com
Only two Big 12 Conference teams are in action this weekend — Kansas invades South Bend, Ind., to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Texas plays at home against North Carolina State in the Black Coaches Association Classic.
Texas coach Mack Brown is excited about the exposure and experience the game will generate for his team.
"We wanted to participate in a preseason game and this opportunity provides us the chance to play an additional haome game, gain some valuable national exposure, and support a special organization in the Black Coaches Association," Brown said. "It also pits us against a solid opponent in North
Carolina State."
The Wolfpack finished 7-5 last season and earned a trip to the Micron PC Bowl.
"I think the game will be an exciting start to our 1999 season." Brown said.
Saturday's game will give Texas fans their first chance in five seasons to see the Longhorns without 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams. The game is at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and can be seen on ESPN2.
With the season fast approaching, teams like Nebraska, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State are still looking at unsettled quarterback situations.
Of the above schools, K-State is the only one that has refused to platoon quarterbacks for the upcoming season.
"We're not going to use a two-quarterback system," said Wildcats coach Bill Snyder.
Instead, Snyder will decide between redshirt junior Jonathan Beasley or senior Adam Helm to replace 1998 Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Bishop.
Meanwhile in Lincoln, Neb., coach Frank Solich is reluctant to pin all his quarterback hopes on the oft-injured Bobby Newcombe, so Eric Crouch is also taking snaps in practice with the first team offense. While Newcombe will be the starter come the 'Huskers' season opener on Sept. 4, Solich is confident that Crouch can step up if Newcombe falters.
Missouri will test out two
"They both do a lot of good things when they're out there," Solich said.
quarterbacks this season, with both sophomore Jim Dougherty and redshirt freshman Kirk Farmer receiving an equal number of snaps.
"As far as the quarterbacks go, we plan on going with a two-quarterback system," said Missouri coach Larry Smith. "We don't have a number one and a number two guy, right now it is 1A and 1B. That's the way we'll go into the season."
Colorado received bad news last week when the Buffalofoes learned that preseason All-American offensive guard Ryan Johanningeier broke his wrist.
While Johanningmeier will be in a cast for up to six weeks, he only missed limited practice time and will play when the Buffaloes open their season Sept. 4 against
Edited by Matt James
Groups get crowd pumped up
Continued from page 1B
The 230 member Marching Band will learn at least seven half-time programs this year, one for each home game, and for the home opener on Sept. 11 the band will play at least 29 different songs or cheers.
"We generally arrive at the stadium four hours before a game to practice our routine," said Foster. "And on a good day 500 to 1,000 people will stay after the game and listen to us play. Kind of like a victory celebration."
The cheerleaders and Crimson Girls practices include putting in time at the weight room.
The 19-member cheerleading squad practices three times a
"It's a lot of work," said Alime Martinez, Lawrence junior, and three-year Crimson Girls member. "It's a lot more than just bouncing around in a short skirt like some people think."
week for two-and-a-half hours and has weight training during the evenings that usually last an hour Kristi Smith, Kansas City, Kan. junior, said.
The Crimson Girls have a similar practice schedule.
The hard work pays off though when game time comes around.
"I love KU," said Smith. "And this is something I can give back to KU to show my support."
"Running out onto the field during pregame is the most exciting thing," said Rahjes. "It's one of the reasons why I'm in the band."
There seems to be a give-and-take relationship between all parties involved and the fans, though. The band especially is influenced by the fans.
"People in the stands get the band excited and it psychs up our kids," said Foster. "It makes us want to do a good job for these people."
Edited by Jamie Knodel
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