6B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10,2006
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
NFL provides new challenges for former KU football player
Charles Gordon enjoys time with Minnesota Vikings despite his recent injury
BY BRYAN CISLER
While Aqib Talib, Anthony Webb, Blake Bueltel and the rest
of the Kansas football secondary are still trying to make a name for themselves, former jayhawk cornerback Charsles Gordon is continuing his football career;except now Gordon
is a defensive
one of the team's senior leaders this year if he had stayed, he doesn't have any doubts about his choice.
"I don't regret my decision," he
"I am very comfortable right now with where I am at, and each day on the field I get better and better."
sack on the practice squad for the Minnesota Vikings.
CHARLES GORDON Former KU football player
While Gordon would have been
said."Since I redshirted, I had already been there four years, so it would have been like having another year of high school."
standing stint at training camp for Minnesota until one wrong turn on the football field injured his knee
Gordon was having an out-
and also hurt his chances to make a significant impact this year for the Vikings.
"My goal was to come in, work hard and show the coaches what I got, and I thought I was playing pretty good until the injury." Gordon said.
The injury kept him from playing in the team's final preseason games, so he was unable to earn a spot on the 52-man active roster.
While Gordon was a two-time First Team All-Big 12 football player at Kansas, he is quickly learning that things are a little different in the NFL.
"The speed of the game is a lot faster than college," he said. "Also there are a lot more defensive schemes and they are a lot more complicated, too."
Although Gordon has been with
the Vikings less than half a season, he is already feeling like he has made progress.
"I am very comfortable right now with were I am at, and each day on the field I get better and better." he said.
Jayhawk fans may continue to dream about the impact he would have made for the crimson and blue this season, but Gordon said he didn't have time for second-guessing.
"I don't think about them," he said. "If I continue to do my best, I know I will make it."
Kansan sportswriter Bryan Cisler can be contacted at bcisler@kansan.com.
Edited by Nicole Kelley
Former KU football player Charles Gordon makes the best of his first year in the NFL, despite a knee injury that kept him off the Viking's active roster. Gordon said he was happy with his decision to leave the University early and said his game was improving every day.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
HINRICH (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and other household names dotted the roster, but Hinrich still stood out. He finished second on the team in three-point shots made and three-point shooting percentage, and fourth in assists.
None of Hinrich's achievements have been a surprise to his father and high school basketball coach Jim Hinrich. Jim said Kirk had progressed every year to become the player he was and that he wanted to win more than anything.
"Every level he's played at he's done a good job of making those around him better." Jim said. "He's the consummate team player."
Fans at Kansas saw just how much Kirk could help a team during his time as a jayhawk from 1999 to 2003. Kirk came in as the least-heralded of a recruiting class that included Nick Collison and Drew Gooden, but he ended up starting 13 games his freshman year and leading the team in assists.
Shaggy hair soon became synonymous with success as the mop-topped guard helped lead the team to a Final Four appearance and 16-0 record in the Big 12 during the 2001-2002 season. Kirk could have jumped to the NBA after that season but instead returned for his senior year to carry the Jayhawks to a spot
in the national championship game.
"Both he and Nick did a good job of leading inexperienced players that year," Jim said. "Their leadership led them to the Final Four."
The feeling will be different this time when Kirk steps onto James Naismith Court for the first time since that magical run. The hair is still the same. So is his signature teardrop runner.
Kirk will be taking the floor with players like Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni instead of former layhawks like Jeff Boschee and Nick Bradford. Perhaps the strangest difference will be seeing his close friend Collison as an opponent rather than a teammate
in the venue they called home for four years.
Even with the changes, Kirk said he couldn't wait to play in the Fieldhouse.
"It will be a little strange not wearing the uniform," Kirk said. "But Allen Fieldhouse is the best arena I've ever played in. I'm excited to play on there last time."
Kansan sportswriter Mark Dent can be contacted at mdent@kansan.com.
- Edited by Aly Barland
MEN'S GOLF Jayhawks finish second despite tough conditions
The Kansas men's golf team finished in second place at the Windon Memorial Classic this weekend. The Jayhawks' strong showing moved the team to 28th place in the Golfweek national rankings.
Despite tough weather conditions and a second round that carried over from Sunday to Monday because the sun set, the Jayhawks finished with an overall score of 895, 14 behind the tournament champion SMU.
Senior Gary Woodland and sophomore Zach Pederson led the
Jayhawks, finishing in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.
Pederson rocketed up the leaderboard with a third-round 66, the lowest single-round score by any competitor. Pederson's finish was his best as a Jayhawk, and his third round score was a career best.
Woodland played consistently as usual. His second-place finish continues his streak of three consecutive top-10 showings.
Senior Tyler Docking finished in a tie for 43rd and freshman Bobby Knowles finished tied for 49th.
Kansas will take part in the Prestige at PGA West on October 16-17 in La Quinta, Calif.
— Asher Fusco
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