THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2006
SPORTS
VOLLEYBALL
11A
Injuries a bump in the road to season goals
Despite the loss of Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, leadership still a dominant quality
BY JEFF DETERS
Facing the KU alumni on Saturday, Correa played in her first game since the injury, and though it was just an exhibition, Correa said it was a good way for her to get back into game action before heading into the Crimson Tide Invitational.
Senior outside hitter Jana Correa suffered season-ending injuries in both her freshman and junior seasons, and following a torn ACL last October, she thought her career was finished.
"Last year when I got hurt I just thought 'Oh, I'll never play again,' Correa said. "So just having the chance to play one more season, I'm really happy."
"Our goal is to win the tournament. We
But the Jawhacks will have to overcome the loss of Big 12 Pre-season Newcomer of the Year Natalie Uhart, who is out for the season after injuring her knee during the alumni game.
expect to win," she said.
The injury came when Uhart struck referee's stand during the KU alumni game.
Though the effect caused by the loss of Uhart will be large, Correa said it has brought the team even closer.
the team even "Our team, I think it's even tighter right now just because we know that we lost a huge player," she said.
Correia has been talking to Uhart and encouraging her to keep her spirits high.
"I've been there. I told her you need to be strong, and it sucks," Correa said, referring to
the difficulties of being on crutches, wearing a brace and the months of rehab.
Correa said she felt additional responsibility to help make up for the loss of Uhart. But taking a leadership role is nothing new for Correa or junior Emily Brown, opposite hitter/setter.
"Now the pressure is even bigger for me and Emily and all the seniors, just because we need to step up and fill up the spot for her," Correa said.
Coach Ray Bechard is counting on them to lead the jayhawks back to the NCAA Tournament this season.
He said they have played at a high level, been a part of some of the biggest wins in the program's history and have a concept of what it takes to get to the NCAA Tournament
because they've been there before.
"I think they will be counted on heavily not only from a statistical standpoint, but from a standpoint of 'Here's how we need to do business here at Kansas to make this happen,'" Bechard said.
The team's task begins Friday when the Jayhawks play Alabama A&M. And if Correa's senior season is derailed by injuries, she will still lead the Jayhawks in any way she can.
"I've been in this position before," Correa said. "I'm excited to help this team as much as I can."
Kansan sportswriter Jeff Deters can be contacted at jdeters@kansan.com.
Edited by Travis Robinett
>> WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Former Kansas linebacker dreams of a call on NFL draft day
Playing arena ball poor substitute for big-time career
BY BRYAN CISLER
Back in 2002, before the bowl games, the torn-down goalposts and the attendance records, KU football fans saw nothing but trouble when Kansas finished 2-10 with no conference wins.
Freshmen, and future standout linebackers, Nick Reid, Brandon Perkins and Kevin Kane were struggling to understand the KU defense. Linebacker B floodman was out nursing a torn ACL.
On the other side of the ball, the first-year starter Bill Whitmore was struggling to make plays in a
depleted offense.
There were few bright spots in 2002, but one was senior linebacker Greg Cole.
While the fans were wondering what had gone wrong, Cole could already see the improvement that was made when Mark Mangino replaced former coach Terry Allen after the 2001 season.
"The entire attitude of the team changed," Cole said. "Terry Allen was a laid-back kind of guy, whereas Mangino was more of an in-your-face type of coach. We just wanted to get that winning mentality."
As captain, Cole had the responsibility to lead and mold the youngbut-talented set of linebackers. Even back then, Cole saw potential.
"I always knew those guys would be special players. I was happy for Nick Reid when he won the Big 12 defensive player of the year award,
but all those guys worked hard" he said. "They saw the positive things that were happening in the program."
Just three seasons later, those same players would lead one of Kansas' best defenses ever. In 2002, though, it was Cole who was doing most of the playmaking. Cole led the team in tackles that year with 106.
"I feel as though I have not gotten a fair shot because of the politics of the game," he said. "If you are not a big name or come from a big powerhouse football school, you are kind of left out."
Even after Cole left Kansas following the 2002 season, his passion for football never stopped. He spent time back in his hometown of Miami working as a substitute teacher at a local high school and training hard for a football comeback.
"Cole deserves to be at a higher level, but has yet to get an opportunity back up there," Richards said. "At the bare minimum Greg is a CFL-type player, he just needs to find the right scheme, and will be an asset for whatever team he plays for."
While Cole is enjoying his time with the Raptors, he wants one more shot with the NFL but thinks outside influences may limit his opportunity.
for a Roketa School.
In 2005, Cole began the next chapter of his football career by heading to Illinois to lace up his cleats for the Rock River Raptors in the startup United Indoor Football League. In their expansion season, the Raptors went 11-4 and made it all the way
to the semi-finals before falling to Lexington.
Rock River coach Rik Richards agrees.
Cole still takes time to follow the KU football team and loves the fact that Kansas got revenge on some the teams that embarrassed the Jayhawks in 2002. Cole's favorite was the 2004
K-State game, coming just two years after the Wildcats beat the Jayhawks 64-0 in Lawrence.
"It felt great to see the guys I played with finally end the streak, and to do it at home was great," he said. "I must have watched it on my computer five times. The fourth-quarter run by John Randle almost made me cry."
While the linebackers who Cole helped mentor are gone, Cole still likes the future of the team and thinks it will contend for a Big 12 title soon.
As for Cole's future, he wants to get into real estate after his playing days are through, but he isn't looking that far ahead just yet. He continues to work out, hoping to get his chance to play NFL football.
Kansan sportswriter Bryan Cisler can be contacted at bcisler@kansan.com.
Edited by Derek Korte
Soccer vs. Furnan, 5 p.m., Jayhawk Soccer Complex
ATHLETICS CALENDAR
Volleyball vs. Alabama A&M, 4:30 p.m., Crimson Tide Invitational, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
SATURDAY
Volleyball vs. Miami, 11 a.m., Crimson Tide Invitational, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
SUNDAY
Volleyball vs. Alabama, 7 p.m., Crimson Tide Invitational, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Soccer vs. Loyola Marymount, 1 p.m., Jayhawk Soccer Complex
FRIDAY
2006-2007 Women's basketball schedule
Nov. 1 — vs. Fort Hays State (Exh). 7 p.m.
Nov. 5 — vs. Washburn (Exh), 2 p.m.
Nov. 11 — vs. Seton Hall (WBCA Classic),
2 p.m.
Nov. 12 — vs, Iowa/Missouri St. (WBCA class), TBA
Nov. 16 — vs. UMKC, 7 p.m.
Nov. 20 — at Creighton, 7 p.m.
Nov. 26 — vs. TBA, 2 p.m.
Nov. 29 — vs. Western Illinois, 7 p.m.
Dec. 3 — at Wisconsin, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 6 — vs. South Dakota State, 7 p.m.
Dec. 10 — vs. California, 2 p.m.
Dec. 17 — vs. Santa Clara, 2 p.m.
Dec. 21 — at Indiana, 6 p.m.
Dec. 29 —Northern Illinois, 7 p.m.
Dec. 31 — vs.Xavier, 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 3 — at Iowa State, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 — vs.Baylor, 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 — at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m.
Jan. 13 — vs.Nebraska, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20 — vs.Iowa State, 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 — at Kansas State, TBA
Jan. 27 — at Nebraska, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 — vs.Texas Tech, 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 — at Texas A&M, TBA
Feb. 6 — vs.Colorado, 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 — at Texas, TBA
Feb. 14 — vs.Missouri, 7 p.m.
Feb. 18 — vs.Kansas State, 2 p.m.
Feb. 21 — vs.Oklahoma, 7 p.m.
Feb. 24 — at Colorado, 7 p.m.
March 1 — at Missouri, 6:30 p.m.
March 6-10 — Big 12 Championship,
Oklahoma City, Okla., TBA
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