THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2006
SPORTS
ATHLETICS CALENDAR
9A
FRIDAY
Soccer exhibition vs. Furman, 5 p.m., Jayhawk Soccer: Complex
Women's Volleyball vs. Alabama A&M, 4:30 p.m., Crimson Tide Invitational, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Women's Volleyball vs. Miami,
1 a.m., Crimson Tide Invitational,
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
SATURDAY
Women's Volleyball vs. Alabama 7 p.m., Crimson Tide Invitational, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
SUNDAY
Soccer vs. Loyola Marymount, 1 p.m., Jayhawk Soccer Complex
LINEUP (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
With the starters out of practice, Mangino has pieced together line-ups with younger players, including freshman Olaitan Oguntodu and redshirt-freshman Justin Thornton seeing significant repetitions in practice.
“Any time you have people that you're counting on lining up that are not out there getting repetitions, it's a little bit concerning,” Mangino said. “But I think we've got some really talented kids out there, so it's just a matter of them learning.”
Sophomore Aqib Talib, who's also seen time at punt returner in practice, has looked the best among
returning cornerbacks. At Friday's practice, Talib intercepted one pass by redshirt-freshman quarterback Kerry Meier and nearly picked off another.
Fan Day Wednesday:
The Kansas football program will host its annual Fan Day Wednesday night at Memorial Stadium. Fans will be invited into the stadium at 5:30 p.m. to watch the conclusion of practice. Players and coaches will be available for autographs on the field after practice.
Kansan senior sportswriter Ryan Schneider can be contacted at rschneider@kansan.com.
Edited by Aly Barland
CYCLONES (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
Behind him, Hicks is looking to return to 2004 form, when he rushed for 1.062 yards and five touchdowns. Hicks battled a groin injury last season, missing three games and rushing for 545 yards and four touchdowns.
At the receiver and tight end positions, Meyer will have no shortage of options as his top six receivers from 2005 are back this year. Most notably is preseason first-team All-Big 12 selection junior wide receiver Todd Blythe, who racked up 1,000 receiving yards along with nine touchdowns.
Other receivers that should crack the starting lineup are seniors Austin Flynn and Jon Davis, who combined for more than 900 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Ben Barkema and senior Walter Nickel should split action at the tight end position.
On the line, tackles Scott Fisher and Aaron Brant, guards Seth Zehr and Paul Fisher and center Stephenson construct an all-senior barrier for opposing defenses.
Compared to the offense, the defense returns a fraction of the experience, featuring seven fresh starters. However, senior cornerback DeAndre Jackson said that this is the best defensive unit he's ever been on at Iowa State.
Jackson said those who thought
"If people say they have to carry us, we take that and we're going to build on it," Jackson said. "We use that as motivation because we want to carry the team."
the offense would have to win games for the Cyclones are in for a surprise.
Preseason first-team All-Big 12 selection senior Brent Curvey will anchor the defensive line at the defensive tackle spot. Joining him will be senior defensive end Shawn Moorehead, junior end Kurtis Taylor and junior nose guard Bryce Braaksma.
Sophomore Adam Carper is Iowa State's lone returning starter at linebacker after recording 41 tackles in 2005. Junior Alvin Bowen and sophomore Tyrone McKenzie should fill the remaining linebacker spots.
The secondary features Iowa State's final first-team Big-12 player, Jackson, who was selected as a cornerback and a kick returner. Despite the youth of the rest of the defense, Jackson said he doesn't plan to cut back on his returning duties to focus on defense.
Sophomore Chris Singleton should take the other cornerback spot and freshman James Smith and junior Jon Banks should occupy the two safety positions. Only Singleton and Banks recorded any tackles in 2005, combining for 15.
With an offense as potentially potent at Iowa State's and a defense that believes in itself, the Big 12 North title is certainly within reach
schedule
Aug. 31 - vs. Toledo
Sept. 9 - vs. UNLV
Sept. 16 - at Iowa
Sept. 23 - at Texas
Sept. 30 - vs. Northern Iowa
Oct. 7 - vs. Nebraska
Oct. 14 - at Oklahoma
Oct. 21 - vs. Texas Tech (Homecoming)
Oct. 28 - at Kansas State
Nov. 4 - vs. Kansas
Nov. 11 - at Colorado
Nov. 18 - vs. Missouri
Source: Iowa State athletics department
for the Cyclones.
At the same time, their big 12 title hopes could vanish if they don't survive their early conference schedule. Some players might prefer such a hard stretch of games be spread out over the season, but not the Cyclones' leader on offense: Bret Meyer.
"We might as well have them all together," Meyer said. "I'm not going to say I'd like to have an easier schedule because that's not being a competitor. If that's the way you feel, then don't come play."
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@ kansan.com.
Edited by Nicole Kelley
BIG 12 BASKETBALL
Huggins fills coaching staff with former player
MANHATTAN — Kansas State men's basketball coach Bob Huggins completed his staff on Monday, hiring former player Erik Martin to be an assistant coach. Martin, 35, was part of Huggins' team at Cincinnati in the 1990s.
"He is familiar with the style of play that I want to run at K-State," Huggins said in a written statement.
The Wildcats will open their 2006-07 season on Nov. 11.
Associated Press
FATE (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
Most programs at the University have been on the way up with the football team, which probably isn't a coincidence. Football makes money that helps the entire department.
Don't be too worried, though, because the NCAA has recently been reluctant to hand out bowl bans, a fact that bodes well for Kansas. So far this decade only Alabama has received one, and that was a situation involving players being paid. In the 1990s, Mississippi, Auburn and
Washington were the only three. Each received a two-year ban. Compare that to the 1970s and 1980s when the NCAA handed out a total of 24 bans and you'll notice how inconsistent the NCAA has been.
The truth is, the NCAA works in mysterious ways and all this is purely speculation. So even though a bowl ban isn't a good possibility, brace for it and you won't be surprised, because the NCAA can be very unpredictable.
Kansan columnist Travis Robinett can be contacted at trobinett@kansan.com.
Edited by Natalie Johnson
UNIVERSITY DANCE COMPANY
Wednesday, August 23
7:00 pm
Studio 242
Robinson Center
NO SOLO MATERIAL REQUIRED
YOUR SOCIAL LIFE IN ONE HAND
sidekick3
1. 3 Megapixel Camera MP3 Player Real Web Browsing AOL Instant Messenger Organizer
Simply Wireless
$279.99
after $70 In-Store Rebate; MSRP $349.99
2540 Iowa...842-5200
4651 W 6th...749-1850
T. ···Mobile·exclusive dealer
Additional restrictions apply; see printed materials and 1-Mobile Terms and Conditions, viewable at www.mobile.tncc.org, for details. Limited time offer and subject to change without notice. 1-Mobile is a federally registered trademark, and the magazine offers a variety of Deutsche Telekom N.C. © 2015 Deutsche Telekom, Inc.
CASH IN YOUR OLD, DUSTY BOOKS!
For Any Reason!
Jayhawk Bookstore home grown & owned ...at the top of the hill Voted Best Bookstore by KU students