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MURPHY 2
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2007
ROYALS FEAR LAST PLACE PAGE 9A
》 COMMENTARY
PAGE 12A
It's time for this cowboy to hang up his spurs
Shawn Shroyer, baseball beat writer ana sports columnist, is writing a series of articles about his experience participating in open tryouts for the Kansas baseball team.
In the last year or so I've developed the theory that baseball players are the cowbobs of the 21st century.
I could picture Trevor Hoffman walking into a saloon, spurs jangling, and ordering a shot of whiskey just as easily as I could envision Clint Eastwood — in his prime — entering a game in the bottom of the ninth, AC/DC's "Hells Bells" blaring, and sealing a victory for the Padres.
Like cowboys, ballplayers have a walk an attitude and a look all their own. Suddenly it dawned on me why I'd had such a rough first week of baseball tryouts — I didn't look the part.
The whole first week I was trying to play ball in random T-shirts, ankle socks and mesh shorts with a clean-shaven face. What was I thinking? So, for the second week of tryouts I broke out my #17 Fort Scott Dragonoes (yes, Dragoons, not Dragons!) jersey and matching green, knee-high socks. To complete my uniform, coach Ritch Price was kind enough to lend me an official pair of Kansas baseball game pants. All of which complemented the week's worth of growth on my face.
With the look down, my play followed.
THE SCRIMMAGE
On the first day of week two, those of us who made the cut scrimmaged a handful of players on the Kansas roster. Although I was going to be playing against Division I ballplayers, I wasn't nearly as tense as I was the week before. When I didn't have any problems playing catch, I knew it was going to be a good game.
wishing to be a good game. Shortly before the scrimmage, coach Kevin Frady posted the lineup." 8) Shroyer, Shawn - 1B" it read, Whew, no pressure. And since I was at the bottom of the order, I also got to fill in left field for the opposing team. (Like I said, we played a handful of players on the Kansas roster.)
SEE SHROYER ON PAGE 10A
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Players in the thick of Self's boot camp
Making it through workouts is a mental test
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
mdent@kansan.com
Jeremy Case knows what to expect at boot camp these next two weeks. The fifth-year senior has participated in enough boot camps to become a Navy SEAL.
Each morning he'll roll out of bed at 5 like he has for the past four years in late September and walk to Allen Fieldhouse to start Bill Self's conditioning drills at 6.
Case may be accustomed to Self's preseason workouts, but that doesn't mean he's excited.
"I hate it," he said. "I hate boot camp."
Boot camp began Monday for the Jayhawks and continues every weekday until Oct. 5. Clearly these aren't the players' favorite days of the year.
"The hardest part is the 6 in the morning." Case said. "Nobody wants to be up walking over here when it's cold and still dark outside."
"We don't touch a ball the whole time
Once the Jayhawks reach Allen Fieldhouse, they'll do whatever Self has in store for them. That means a lot of running and drills. The players will do timed runs, defensive slides, backboard touches and anything else Self has planned.
we're doing boot camp," said junior guard Brandon Rush, who's been sprinting for nearly a month and will be able to participate in most drills.
The running at boot camp is always tough, but it can get worse. The veteran Case knows that all too well. One time during his career a former player, whom Case didn't want to name, overslept. Self wasn't too happy.
"You can't miss class," Case said, "you can't be late to tutoring, you can't miss anything or the whole team has to run. So when that happens and it's like five minutes 'til, we all get worried."
Worrying is something that senior Sasha Kaun won't do these next two weeks. He hates the running, the early wake-up call and the fatigue he'll feel throughout the rest of every day.
But Kaun plans to keep an open mind and make the best of the situation.
"If you say it's going to be hard," he said, "then yeah, it's going to be tough. But if you say I'm going to make it through and just be mentally tough, it will not be as bad."
Edited by Jeff Briscoe
Brandon Rush, junior guard, is participating in an intense two-week workout with the rest of the Kansas basketball team. Rush only recently recovered from a knee injury that required surgery over the summer.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Set it up, spike it down
Baldwin City freshman Cory Lauridsen, from left, Kansas City, Kan., freshman Elliot Wilson and St. Louis junior Brandon Hoelscher jump for the volleyball outside of Robinson Center on Monday.
Jessie Fetterling/KANSAN
COMMENTARY
Open week,offensive options should give KU mental edge against KSU
Junior defensive end Russell Brorsen is held back while trying to sack Florida International's Wayne Younger during the second half of Kansas' 55-3 victory Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
Anna Faltermeyer/KANSAN
Next week's game at No.7 Texas will complicate K-State's preparation
Keefer: The Jayhawks sent their fourth consecutive undermatched opponent away from Memorial Stadium Saturday looking like they met Mike Tyson in a back alley. After the game, coach Mark Mangino said his team would not use this open week to prepare for Kansas State. Is he joking? Someone should tell Mangino the last time the Jayhawks won in Manhattan, Bon Jovi's "I'll Be There For You" was all over the radio and "Driving Miss Daisy" won the Academy Award for best picture. I've never even heard of "Driving Miss Daisy."
BY CASE KEEFER AND ASHER FUSCO
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNISTS
CKEEFER@KANSAN.COM AFUSCORKANSAN.COM
Fusco: Mangino might not use this week to get ready for Kansas State, but the fans and media sure will be. With no opponent to focus on, the upcoming Sunflower Showdown should earn the undivided attention of talk radio hosts, sports writers and all followers of Kansas football. I wouldn't take Mangino's declaration at
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face value, however. It became clear that he was thinking about Kansas State when he inserted Kerry Meier as a receiver last Saturday. But hey, I'm all for it — there's nothing like mind games between rival coaches.
Keefer: Mangino should hold a definite advantage in the mind game department. And I don't mean that because he spends his free time filling out The Kansan's daily Sudoku. He might, but the rivalry
game hasn't even entered Wildcat coach Ron Prince's mind yet. That's because Prince's team travels to Texas this week. The Longhorns are chomping at the bit to avenge last year's season-ruining loss to the Wildcats.
Fusco: I certainly hope Prince is devoting every last bit of energy he has to scouting the Longhorns, because Texas is a pretty darn good football team. After a near-loss two weeks ago at Central Florida, the boys in burnt orange made the Big 12 proud this weekend, obliterating Rice by 44 points. The Owls aren't anything special defensively, but Texas quarterback Colt McCoy looked great last weekend, throwing for 333 yards. Speaking of great performances, how about Todd Reesing and his 368 passing yards last week?
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SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 10A