SPORTS
A. R. S.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
REDWINE'S RUNNERS PAGE 3B
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It's all downhill from here
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2007
PAGE 1B
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Chelsea Hartling, Parker, Colo., freshman, twists into a dive during practice on Thursday. The swimming anddiving team starts its season on Oct. 19 at the Rin 12 Relay.
Mangino forced to fill in gaps
FOOTBALL
Team relies on depth to replace graduates, those injured early on
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
Aqib Talib earned All-Big 12 First Team and second-team All-America honors in 2006, yet the Kansas secondary as a whole earned the distinction of worst in the nation, finishing the season ranked 119th out of 119 teams in passing yards allowed per game.
Granted, Kansas' weak pass-rush frequently left inexperienced cornerbacks and safeties to fend for themselves against some of the nation's elite receivers. But the blame for several of last year's close losses rests
squarely on the secondary — a unit that is older, wiser and healthier than it was one year ago.
"Last season we went through a lot of adversity because there were a lot of different injuries and a lot of changes that went on in our defense," sophomore Darrell Stuckey said. "But now a lot of us are jelling. We have a lot more experience and more comfort out on the field. It feels a lot better."
Kansas City native, described by teammates as a hard-hitter, has a lock on the free safety job as long as he stays healthy.
Stuckey, Kansas' starting free safety, endured his fair share of adversity last season. He missed the first five games of the season due to injury and failed to get up to speed in the seven games he played. The
At strong safety Kansas will replace Jerome Kemp, who exhausted his eligibility after last season. Though the potential replacements are untested, they could be an improvement. Juniors Tang Bacheyie and Patrick Resby are the top two options.
Bacheyie, a converted running back, has had the upper hand through the preseason, but Resby could see quite a bit of playing
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 4B
RING OF HONOR
Legendary back will be honored at stadium
BY THOR NYSTROM
tnystrom@kansan.com
He will be the second Jayhawk honored this season. Former linebacker Willie Pless will have his name added in the season opener against Central Michigan on Sept. 1.
Former Kansas running back John Riggins will become the 15th player added to the Memorial Stadium Ring of Honor during the Oct. 13 game against Bavlor.
Riggins, known during his NFL days as "The Diesel," will be in attendance to participate in a halftime ceremony.
Riggins was born in Seneca, Kan., in 1949. He attended Centralia High School 12 miles away. The street where the school is located is now called John Riggins Avenue.
Riggins amassed 2,659 career yards in his career. He was twice named an All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection.
He led Kansas in rushing in each of his three seasons (1968-1970) with the team. In 1968, Riggins propelled Kansas to a share of the Big Eight Championship and a trip
The New York Jets drafted the Jayhawk great in the first round with the sixth overall pick in the 1971 NFL draft. He later signed as a free agent with the Washington
to the Orange Bowl. The Jayhawks finished 9-2 that year after falling to Penn State in the bowl game, 15-14.
Scoreed 14 touchdowns with 1,131 yards in 1970
» Sixth overall pick by New York Jets in 1971
Known as "The Diesel"
Fifth all-time on KU rushing list
2,659 yards total at KU
career highlights
Redskins.
Led KU in rushing from 1968-70
Led Washington to three Super Bowls
Joined the Redskins in 1976
Super XVII Most Valuable Player
His illustrious NFL career ended with 11,352 yards, 13th in NFL history, and 116 touchdowns, eighth all-time, while with the jets from 1971-1975 and the Redskins from 1976-79 and 1981-1985.
Super XVII Most Valuable Player
Inducted Into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992
Riggins was the MVP of Super Bowl XVII when he rushed for 166 yards, which was a Super Bowl record at the time. He scored the winning touchdown on a 43-yard run in the fourth quarter as the Redskins defeated the Dolphins 27-17 in 1983.
Riggins was named to the 1980s NFL All-Decade team. He still ranks as the Redskins' career rushing leader.
Riggins was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1992. He became the third Jayhawk to be honored, joining Sayers and Mike McCormack.
"I think John Riggins plain and simple was one of the best players ever to play at Kansas," Associate Athletic Director Jim Marchionty said. "And it wasn't just college. His name is all over the NFL record
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SEE RIGGINS ON PAGE 4B
Women ready to start new season
First games part of Oregon Invitational
VOLLEYBALL
BY RUSTIN DODD rdodd@kansan.com
Following 16 days of practice, the Kansas volleyball team begins its season at 6:30 tonight against Cal State Bakersfield. Count junior middle blocker Natalie Uhart among those pleased with the end of preseason practice. "We've been practicing a lot," she said. "We're finalizing our lineup, and now we just need to get rid of our first game ittters."
The opener is the first of three games that are part of the Oregon Invitational in Eugene, Ore. Kansas will play Idaho State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and home team, Oregon, at 9 p.m.
The preseason is over. Finally.
"Players probably always think they are ready to go before the coaching staff," Bechard said. "I think everybody across the country would like to have another week to prepare, but I think we're all in the same boat. I think there will be a certain anxiety level going out for the first time when it really counts, but I think our team will be ready to do that."
The team is ready to get started, but coach Ray Bechard said on Tuesday that he was a little more hesitant.
Kansas is coming off a 10-19 season, and its first season without an NCAA tournament berth since 2002. But Kansas finished 7-2 last season during the nonconference portion of its schedule, including a win against No. 16 BYU, Natalie Uhart said that the win against BYU helped the team tremendously and that getting out to a strong start in the nonconference was important again this year.
Bechard said that defining roles for everybody on the team was one of the goals of the tournament. "We have a lot of positions still up for competition, but our goal is to go out and compete favorably and have an opportunity to win the tournament," he said.
A host of other players will vie for the remaining spots, including freshmen Melissa Manda, Karina Garlington and Jenna Kaiser. Manda has the added advantage of playing libero, a position without much competition. A libero is a player who specializes in defense.
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 4B
Uhart is playing her first competitive college volleyball game since 2005, when she was at her former school, Long Beach State. Uhart said she had experience playing against Oregon from her time there. Uhart said that playing against three unfamiliar teams could prove beneficial to the team. Uhart returns from a knee injury and will most likely join returning starters senior Emily Brown, junior Savannah Noyes, sophomore Brittany Williams and sophomore Katie Martinicch in the starting lineup.
In the midst of making the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, 11th-year coach John Price returns a team that finished 4-16 last season. Senior outside hitter Sarah Warner is the top returning offensive player for the Roadrunners. Warner averaged more than 3 kills per game last season.
Brown, a Baldwin City native, is the top returning offensive player for Kansas. Brown had 336 kills in 28 matches last season. Noyes and Williams bring depth to the front line, and Martinicch will run the offense from the setter position. Martinicch averaged more than 11 assists a game last season.
CAL-STATE BAKERSFIELD
opponents at a glance
IDAHO STATE
In addition to being able to claim Kansas City Chief Jared Allen as an alum, Idaho State has five starters and seven letter-winners returning to a team that was picked to finish seventh in the Big Sky Conference. Jessica Gurney is the only senior on a team that finished 10-20 last season. Edgson had 165 kills and 228 digs last year. Sophomore Christine Van Orden led the Bengals last season with 774 assists.
OREGON
After finishing 17-12 last season. Its best record in two decades, Oregon returns four starters, including sophomore Sonja Newcombe. Newcombe was named to the All Pac-10 Freshman team last season. Senior Karen Wadington, who averaged 1.32 blocks per game in 2006, and sophomores Nevena Djordiev and Neticia Enesi are also back in the starting line-up.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Middle blocker Savannah Noyes is among returning starters Emily Brown, Brittany Williams and Katie Martincich. Natalia Uhart will resume competitive college play for the first time since she transferred from Long Beach State.