Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Monday
August 16, 1999
Section:
B
Page 1
During the second day of practice, the jayhawks' highly touted recruit suffered a knee injury.
SEE PAGE 4B
College Football
After last year's late-season collapse, Kansas State must regroup without many of their key players of 1998.
SEE PAGE 13B
Kansas Basketball
Basketball great Lynette Woodard returns to her alma mater as an assistant coach.
SEE PAGE 7B
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Contact the Kansan
Sports Desk: (785) 864-4810
Sports Fax: (785) 864-0391
Sports e-mail: sports@kansan.com
Kansas football sets bowl game as goal
Allen aims high for 1999 season
By Mike Miller
by Mike Miner
sportwriter@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
This is the year.
At least that's what Kansas football coach Terry Allen wants it to be.
"This is the year when we have to have success in the program," he said.
"We think we are a better football team than we have been the last two years. We want to be a bowl football team."
It's a reasonable goal for a team that has not been to a bowl game since the Aloha Bowl in 1995. But is it possible?
"It's realistic going into this season," Allen said. But any schedule that includes trips to play Notre Dame, Colorado, Kansas State and Texas A&M makes things tougher on a team that wants to play in December or January. Throw in a home game against Nebraska and there's little room for error.
"Much has been made about our schedule," he said. "It's tough, but
KANSAS QUICK FACTS
1998 Record: 4-7
Coach: Terry Allen
- Key Losses: OL Dan Dercher and Justin Glasaso
Key Returnees: C Chris Enneking, G Dameon Hunt, QB Zac Wegner, DL Dion Johnson
Outlook: Kansas has a shot at a bowl game this year if they bring their game to the next level.
Defending against the rush is the key to success this year.
if it comes down to it, I want to be playing for a bowl game at the end of the season."
To be a team with a winning record, much less a bowl team, the Jayhawks have to solve problems in three critical areas—the quarterback position, the offensive line and being able to stop the run or defense.
"Offensively we're going to be as good as our quarterback is going to be," Allen said.
"Can our offensive line play and can we stop the run? I don't know yet. But we better be able to stop the run."
At quarterback, Allen says incumbent senior quarterback Zac Wegner is the starter for now, but
will be pushed by junior college transfer Dylen (pronounced DIELen) Smith. He took more snaps than Wegner in the first scrimmage last Wednesday and had a little bit better day, completing a higher percentage of passes and throwing for more yards.
If Smith is the answer to the team's problems, Wegner said he could deal with that.
"I've learned to deal with all of it," Wegner said. "I don't see how things can get any harder."
Especially when it comes to the team aspect.
"My one wish is for this team to go to a bowl game," Wegner said. "I want the freshmen to experience the same thing I did as a freshman. Go to the Aloha Bowl was one of the best things I've ever been through."
It might be tough if he suffers another concussion this season.
Wegner's junior year ended with a brutal hit during the K-State game. Much of his spring semester was spent undergoing tests to determine if he was physically able to play.
The job of protecting him falls to an offensive line that remains a worry for Allen.
See OFFENSIVE on page 3B
Quarterback Zac Wegner plants as he passes the ball down field during a scrimmage on Saturday. Wegner is returning as the Jayhawks starting quarterback after suffering two concussions last season. Photo by Christina Neff (KANSAN
Kansas midfielder Johannno Larsson pushes off teammate Natalie Hoogveld during practice. The soccer team is preparing for its upcoming season under the new leadership of coach Mark Francis. Photo by Chad Cummings/KANSAN
Women's soccer ready to bid for playoff berth
By Chris Wristen
sportswriter@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Kansan sportswriter
After a hard off season of workouts, the Kansas women's soccer team was ready to get down to business as fall practice began last week.
"I think they're real positive," Coach Mark Francis said. "Most of them have come in pretty fit. They've followed the program, if not the whole way at least part of the way, so they're fit."
Senior midfielder Cynthia Dahle also was pleased with her teammates' work ethic.
"The returning players have worked our butts off this summer so we've been able to come in and set the pace right away for the newcomers," Dahle said. "It's been really intense and we want to win."
The team enters this season with a newfound confidence as well, which has Francis eager to get started.
"They're willing to learn," Francis said. "I think the success we had in the spring made them realize we can actually win some games. They seem willing to listen and buy into what we're doing, which is good."
Francis has been pleased with the overall effort of his team as it prepares to seek their first-ever Big 12 Conference tournament berth.
"They seem ready to do whatever it takes," Francis said. "The intensity level has been really good, and I told them we need to maintain that the whole time." Debby ground.
Dahle agreed.
"I think we need to keep working hard like we have been," Dahle said.
See RETURNEES on page 2B
Soccer recruits bring both youth and experience to field
Rv Chris Wristen
sportswriter@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
In his first recruiting class at Kansas, Coach Mark Francis has built a formidable group. Individually, each player has established their own impressive list of accomplishments, but put them together and they rank as the 24th-best recruiting class nationally according to Soccer Buzz.
Eight fresh faces donned Kansas jerseys for the first time Wednesday as the women's soccer team kicked off fall practice.
This much talent, matched with their ability to catch on fast, has Francis anxious to get the season underway.
"The young guys have done well," Francis said. "You see that even on the second day they already look more comfortable than they did the first day."
Like Valento, her freshman teammates are mostly defensive minded. Bridget Goyen and Nikki Wahle both play defense
Freshman defender Brianna Valento agreed.
agreed.
"I feel like I'm fitting in," Valento said.
"It's still going to take a little time, but overall it's been fun."
while Mervi Kuittinen and Lindsay Hunting are solid midfielders.
"The freshmen have all done well so far," Francis said. "There's positions up for grabs. There's some versatility with these guys that's going to enable them to get some playing time. We'll have to wait and see who's going to jump out."
Francis has been pleased with his freshmen and sees many opportunities for them to play this season.
"It's hard, but it's what I expected coming into a Division-I program," Valento said. "The speed of play is a lot faster. These girls are more experienced and they know a lot more about the game."
Although the adjustment to the college game has gone pretty smoothly it hasn't all been easy for the freshmen.
Senior Laura Rhode is utilizing her final year of eligibility to play backup goalkeeper after completing her volleyball career for Kansas.
Three upperclassmen round out the class and each is expected to make an impact for the Javhaws.
"She's a real competitor, doesn't like to lose, so I think she's going to bring that to us," Francis said. "It always helps to have
KU SOCCER TRANSFERS
Emma Dl Cesare, midfielder; Ontario;
Canada, junior transfer from South Alabama
Bridget Goyen, Defender; Katy, Texas fresh-
man
Lindsay Hunting, Midfield : Ontario,
Canada freshman
Mervi Kuittinen, Midfield: Jokikunta, Finland freshman
somebody else who's been around the Division-I college atmosphere and already experienced that, to bring that level of competition to our group."
Two junior transfers, Emma Di Cesare and Hilla Rantala, both of whom followed Francis from the University of South Alabama, round out the class.
Di Cesare is a versatile player who can play either midfield or defense and is expected to contribute right away.
"Emma will make an impact, whether we put her in midfield or in the back because she has experience and she's definitely a player who can play at this level." Francis said.
Francis has assembled a talented bunch, but Rantala is the cream of the crop from
Hilka Rantal, Forward: Vantaa, Finland
Junior transfer from South Alabama
Laura Rhode, Goalkeeper: Galesburg,
Michigan senior
Brianna Valento, Defender; Saint Paul, Minn. freshman
Nikki Wahle, Defender; Overland Park freshman
this year's class.
("Rantala's transfer to Kansas") is huge for us to get somebody that has her experience, both in college and also nationally." Francis said. "She's played in two under-20 world championships. You can't put a price on that kind of experience."
"I don't have any pressure on me," Rantala said. "I really want to go to the conference tournament. As for personal goals, I don't have any. I just want to do my best for the team."
Rantala will have the spotlight on her this season and be relied on to provide a powerful offense for the Jayhawks, but she doesn't feel pressured to perform.
--Edited by Chris Hutchison
Soccer team has beauty, more talent
Without a doubt, the ladies stole the show this summer.
Sure, there were other great sports stories: Lance Armstrong's triumph at the Tour de France after overcoming testicular cancer; Jean Van De Velde's tragic-comic collapse at the final hole of the British Open.
This team had it all—talent, determination, charisma and enthusiasm. They captured the hearts and imaginations of America, especially its young women; they set attendance records for women's sporting events at each stop
But those were just footnotes compared with the frenzy of attention and excitement surrounding the U.S. women's soccer team. Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain and company were as ubiquitous as the heat this summer.
on their journey;
and they came
through under
pressure when it
counted the most.
The drama of the
shootout victory in
the final was
enough to have
even the most
phlegmatic of fans
on the verge of
explosion.
Derek
Prater
columnist
sports@kansan.com
They received so much ink that you would think they
spent the summer as interns at the White House. They did, in fact, make it to the White House, but the only special favor they had to perform was a World Cup victory.
The unprecedented attention lavished upon these women and the nature of much of the fanfare brought a few questions to mind.
One recurring theme with respect to the women was the physical beauty of the players. David Letterman referred to the team as "soccer mamas" and "babe city." Chastain's removal of her jersey (revealing her sports bra) after her Cup-winning penalty kick made even more waves than when she posed nude in Gear Magazine (covered only by a strategically placed soccer ball).
Was there perhaps too much attention focused on the looks of these women? Does this kind of attention detract from these ladies' status as world-class athletes? Is this more evidence of the sexism that pervades our culture?
See WORLD CUP on page 3B
Kansas Relays set for 2000
The Kansas Relays will return in 2000, following a two-year hiatus because of renovations to Memorial Stadium.
The Relays were first run in 1923, and next year will mark the 73rd running.
They are are scheduled for April 19-22. The track at Memorial Stadium is scheduled for a Rekortan resurfacing, beginning in early October.
Bob Frederick, athletics director, said that he was pleased with the return of one of the richest traditions of KU sports.
"The Kansas Relays represents an important part of the history and tradition of the University of Kansas," he said. "It has always been our intention to bring it back."
The resurfacing project will take place during a three-week period in October. During that time, the Kansas football team will be on the road with games at Kansas State and Texas A&M.
KU officials said that the resurfacing project will cost $178,000 and the money will come from athletics department funds.
2.
+
—Kansan staff reports