Other schools' columists comment on the Big 12 conference and at their own football teams.
F
5B
The volleyball team is prepared to meet Aggies despite three straight losses, inconsistent record. 3B
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 1B
ATHLETICS
Graduation statistics released
The Kansas Athletics Department released its annual graduation report Tuesday, and student athlete graduation rates are up slightly from last year.
The University's Student- Athlete Graduation Success Rate
The Athlete Graf (G S R) , which is a formula the NCAA uses to evaluate an athletics department graduation rate, was 70 percent, as opposed to last year's 68 percent.
"The goal is 100 percent and then you work from there."
JIM MARCHIONY Associate Athletics Director
This year's statistics are
from the class that came in as freshman in 1999. Only athletes who receive an athletic scholarship from the time they enroll are counted. For example, former men's basketball player Christian Moody will not factor into the rate because he was not on an athletic scholarship when he initially enrolled.
The federal graduation rate for Kansas athletes who enrolled in the 1999-00 academic year was 60 percent, which is almost identical to the 59 percent University graduation rate.
"The goal is 100 percent and then you work from there." Marchiony said. "We're pleased with the progress they're making. We're never satisfied with the progress."
Earlier this month, NCAA president Myles Brand said he would like to see an 80 percent graduation rate for Division I athletes. At Kansas, Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director has higher aspirations.
— C.J. Moore
The stats
The Student-Athlete Graduation Success Rate (GSR) is a formula the NCAA came up with to determine an institution's graduation rates in athletics and is expressed as a percent. The figure factors in if an athlete transferred from an institution and does not count against a school's GSR. This year's GSR comes from the incoming freshmen class of the 1999-2000 academic year.
Men's Sports GSR
Baseball 55
Basketball 45
CC/Track 60
Football 51
Golf 67
*Swimming 71
*Tennis 100
(These sports have been eliminated)
Women's sports GSR
Basketball 69
CC/Track 89
Crew/Rowing 85
Golf 100
Soccer 82
Softball 80
Swimming 91
Tennis 86
Volleyball 91
Gary Woodland, Topeka senior, leads the men's golf team to victory on the second day of the Kansas Invitational golf tournament.
Ryan McGeeneev/KANSAN
MEN'S GOLF
Jayhawks take first at Alvamar
Team wins Kansas Invitational by 20 strokes; all five players perform well
BY ASHER FUSCO
The hopes of the Kansas men's golf team have all too often rested squarely on the shoulders of senior Gary Woodland in recent years.
A strong effort from his teammates in Tuesday's final round of the Kansas Invitational has undoubtedly helped lift some of the weight from Woodland's weary back.
The Jayhawks made use of contributions from all five members of the team to take home the first place trophy from Alvamar Golf Club on
Tuesday afternoon. The steady play of senior Tyler Docking and the resilience of senior Barrett Martens allowed Kansas to leave the field behind despite an unspectacular
"This is the kind of margin of victory you like to see," coach Ross Randall said. "Eight-hundred-sixty-two is a good score to shoot at Alvamar with some tough wind and fast greens."
Docking shot a 72 on Tuesday to finish at par and end in a tie for fourth place, and sophomore Zach Pederson shot a 73 to finish tied for 20th place.
"This is the kind of margin of victory you like to see."
Inexperience caught up to freshman Bobby Knowles, who fought his way to 77 in the third round but placed 23rd overall.
lar third round from Woodland.
ROSS RANDALL Coach
all three rounds from Woodland. Woodland shot an even-par 72 to hold onto his lead and finish first, but seemed just as pleased with his team's performance as his own.
"The team is definitely off to a good start." Woodland said. "We're well on our way."
Consistency was the name of the game for Kansas on Tuesday, as no individual posted a score over 77 on the way to an overall team score of 862 and a 20-stroke advantage over second-place Nebraska.
Tuesday's unseasonably cool temperatures and gusting winds presented problems for many of the teams, but the Jayhawks were able to use their familiarity with the course to their advantage.
Martens was the Jayhawks' unlikely hero Tuesday. After struggling through his first two rounds on Monday, Martens sat far off the pace, in a tie for 85th. On
Tuesday, Martens vaulted himself into a tie for 55th with a one-under 71. Martens' performance was the Jayhawks' best Tuesday, and helped ensure that the first place trophy would stay in Lawrence for the third consecutive year.
"I didn't do anything different physically," Martens said. "But after being so frustrated yesterday I knew I had to play well today."
Coach Randall, while proud of his entire team, was especially pleased that the seniors enjoyed so much success in the final home tournament of their collegiate careers.
Nebraska and Iowa State both posted overall scores of 882 but
SEE GOLF ON PAGE 6B
FOOTBALL
Quarterback's status tentative after Friday's injury
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
Nearly five days after suffering an undisclosed arm injury, Kerry Meier's status for Saturday's game is still unknown.
Kansas coach Mark Mangino said team doctors reexamined the right arm of his freshman quarterback on Tuesday.
"If he's injured, he doesn't play," Mangino said. "All the information I have to this point is that it looks to be fine."
In his three starts this season, Meier is 47 of 86 passing for 538 yards, with six touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is also averaging nearly 50 yards per game rushing, with four touchdowns. Meier currently ranks sixth in the Big 12 Conference, averaging near-
Earlier this week, Mangino said Meier was
"If he's injured, he doesn't play. All the information I have to this point is that it looks to be fine."
status again after tonight's practice.
injured early in the fourth quarter of Friday's loss at Toledo while rushing the football.
Mangino said he would make the decision whether to play Meier on Saturday based on his talks with team doctors and whether the injury would limit his ability to throw the football.
If Meier isn't able to play Saturday against South Florida, it's likely that backup senior Adam Barmann will get the start.
"I just want to be sure, be careful," he said. "We'll wait and make sure everything is perfect before we do anything."
Mangino will update Meier's
MARK MANGINO
Kansas football coach
one game in each of his three seasons. He took a redshirt his freshman year, but it was stripped following an injury to former Jayhawk Bill Whittemore. His last start came in the opener last season against Florida Atlantic. If Barmann were to start, it would make him a four-year starter.
ly 230 yards of total offense.
Barmann has started at least
Mangino said he didn't realize the effect of Meier's injury until he watched tape of the game. Receivers also said they didn't immediately notice the effects.
"Being a competitor, you want to be out there on the field," Murph said. "I don't fault him for that at all."
Senior wide receiver Brian Murph said he saw Meier's injury and respected his decision to remain on the field.
—Despite Meier's four-interception performance in Friday's loss, offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro said Meier is on the right track.
Football Notes:
"I think he's on target," Quartaro said. "I'm still very upbeat and confident, as he is. Sure there's a mistake here or there, but by the same token, all 11 positions have a breakdown here or there."
While Meier threw some interceptions at critical times, he also lead the offense on several long scoring drives, including diving for the game-tying score late in the fourth quarter.
Junior punter Kyle Tucker acknowledged Tuesday that his season hasn't gone exactly as planned. He had a punt blocked and mishandled another in the season-opener against Northwestern State. He also shanked a punt late in the fourth quarter of Friday's game.
Tucker's punts have started to improve, though. He nailed several inside the 5-yard line Friday night.
During the summer, Tucker was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list, the post-season award
given to the best punter in college football. He currently ranks ninth in the Big 12, averaging more than 38 yards per punt.
Kansan senior sportswriter Ryan Schneider can be contacted at rschneider@kansan.com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
"I've got to step it up." Tucker said. "I may have been just thinking too much."
Players of the Week
Each week, Kansas football coach Mark Mangino and his staff select a player of the week for offense, defense and special teams." Here are their selections from the loss to Toledo.
4
*No special teams selection was made this week.
O
1