SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY AUGUST 22 1994
GERRY FEY
SECTION-B
This year, fans can put more stock in Mason
It arrives through the late evening breeze in August. It travels through the sound waves as the Kansas marching band practices its routine in Memorial Stadium. Its scent floats through the smoke of an open grill.
The college school year has started, but for me, there is something more important.
It seemed the season was exactly that — a plague. Although injuries are always scapegoat for coaches, in the Jayhawks' case, injuries tore the team apart. Not only would one player be lost from the offensive or defensive line, but an entire side of the line was wiped out at once. To Mason's dismay, players were moved and put in unfamiliar situations.
The season begins on Sunday when Nebraska faces West Virginia in the Kickoff Classic. This is the same season-opener the Jayhawks competed in last year when Florida State pasted them 42-0 and kicked off a so-season for Kansas football fans.
From that vantage point, I can see Kansas being much improved over last year. However, pardon me if I don't jump for joy from hearing Mason's comments.
Forget about classes resuming. College football is close — so close I can almost touch it.
Coach Glen Mason claims the outlook is different this year. The team's attitude is optimistic, and the past seems to be forgotten. Kansas ended last season a dismal 5-7, but injuries continually plagued the Jayhawks.
FLASHBACK TO THREE YEARS AGO — my freshman year. As I make my way from Omaha, Neb., to Lawrence with my parents, we are able to catch 105.9 the Lazer on the FM dial. A commercial comes over the radio promoting Kansas football, and it gets me psyched for the season. The announcement ends with the comment, "Track the Jayhawks all the way to the Big Eight Championship." My dad and I have a good laugh, and I wonder if Kansas really does have a shot at a title usually reserved for Nebraska or Oklahoma. They didn't, but the season did end with a 6-5 record.
I could understand the promotion because the program was looking for a boost. Attendance was down and the usual questions at football games were, "Where is the pizza stand?" and "When does basketball start?"
Since I am a Nebraska native and I like the Cornhuskers, I usually gauge the Kansas season on how well they do against Nebraska each year. This is one of the reasons I am putting a little more stock in Mason's predictions. My first year of being exposed to Kansas football, the Jayhawks took a 17-0 lead against Nebraska after the first quarter. I looked through the crowd hoping to see a friendly face, but I was in my Cornhusker attire. I looked toward the north end zone and found about 14,000 friendly faces.
I heard a comment over my shoulder, "God, I wish those Nebraska fans would stay in their own state." What this student did not know was that the fan support is a huge part of what makes a good football program. The only reason the entire end zone was a sea of red was because the Kansas fans did not buy the tickets. Rather than have empty seats, the Nebraska crowd almost turned Memorial Stadium into a sell-out.
Needless to say, the Jayhawks could not hold onto the lead, and Nebraska left Lawrence with a 59-23 victory.
Kansas has facts instead of fiction to back up their optimism. The facts include 14 returning starters, a proven quarterback in senior Asheikh Preston, the conference's best running back in sophomore June Henley, and a decent player at each position.
After that game I have been skeptical, at best, when talk surfaces about Kansas football success. But I still enjoy college game day.
Maybe Glen is speaking the truth this time. I hope so, because I am a Jayhawk fan, and I want them to do well this season — except when they play the Cornhuskers on Nov. 5 in Lincoln, Neb.
And maybe it's that feeling and my school spirit that gives me hope for the Jayhawks this season. It's more than that, though.
Gerry Fey is an Omaha, Neb., senior in journalism.
Gators savor No.1 in preseason poll
1993 Final Top 25
The Top 25 teams in the final 1993 Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, season records, total points based on 25 points for a first place vote through one point for a 25th place vote, and previous ranking:
| | Record | Pts | Pts |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1. Florida St.(46) | 12-1·0 | 1,532 | 1 |
| 2. Notre Dame (12) | 11-1·1 | 1,478 | 4 |
| 3. Nebraska | 11-1·1 | 1,478 | 1 |
| 4. Autumn (4) | 11-0·0 | 1,375 | 5 |
| 5. Florida | 11-2·0 | 1,307 | 8 |
| 6. Wisconsin | 10-1·1 | 1,228 | 9 |
| 7. West Virginia | 11-1·0 | 1,090 | 3 |
| 8. Penn St. | 10-2·0 | 1,074 | 13 |
| 9. Texas AAM | 10-2·0 | 1,043 | 7 |
| 10. Arizona | 10-2·0 | 992 | 16 |
| 11. Ohio St. | 10-2·0 | 971 | 11 |
| 12. Tennessee | 9-2·1 | 870 | 6 |
| 13. Boston College | 9-3·0 | 817 | 15 |
| 14. Alabama | 9-3·1 | 685 | 18 |
| 15. Miami | 9-3·0 | 611 | 10 |
| 16. Colorado | 9-3·1 | 574 | 17 |
| 17. Oldhamia | 9-3·1 | 521 | 19 |
| 18. UCLA | 8-4·0 | 460 | 14 |
| 19. North Carolina | 10-3·0 | 447 | 12 |
| 20. Kansas St. | 9-2·1 | 444 | 20 |
| 21. Michigan | 8-4·0 | 397 | 23 |
| 22. Virginia Tech | 9-3·0 | 321 | 22 |
| 23. Clemson | 9-3·0 | 184 | 24 |
| 24. Louisville | 9-3·0 | 159 | 25 |
| 25. California | 9-4·0 | — | — |
ProseasonTop25
The Top 25 teams in the pressure 1994
Associated Press college football poll, with first place wins in parenthesis, 1993
records, total points based on 25 points for a first place vote through one point for a
25th place vote, and 1993 final ranking:
Source: The Associated Press KANSAN
| | Record | Pts | Pts |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1. Florida (15) | 11-2-0 | 1,416 | 5 |
| 2. Notre Dame (13) | 11-1-0 | 1,414 | 2 |
| 3. St. Louis (10) | 12-1-0 | 1,407 | 1 |
| 4. Nebraska (18) | 11-1-0 | 1,398 | 3 |
| 5. Michigan (2) | 8-4-0 | 1,283 | 21 |
| 6. Miami (1) | 9-3-0 | 1,190 | 15 |
| 7. Arizona (2) | 10-2-0 | 1,070 | 10 |
| 8. Colorado | 8-3-1 | 1,057 | 16 |
| 9. Penn St. | 10-2-0 | 1,012 | 8 |
| 10. Wisconsin | 10-1-1 | 932 | 6 |
| 11. Autumn | 11-0-0 | 924 | 4 |
| 12. Alabama (1) | 9-3-1 | 923 | 14 |
| 13. Tennessee | 9-2-1 | 793 | 12 |
| 14. UCLA | 8-4-0 | 661 | 18 |
| 15. Texas A&M | 10-2-0 | 603 | 9 |
| 16. Oklahoma | 9-3-0 | 560 | 17 |
| 17. Southern California | 8-5-0 | 557 | — |
| 18. Texas | 5-5-1 | 527 | — |
| 19. North Carolina | 10-3-0 | 526 | 19 |
| 20. Ohio St. | 10-1-1 | 320 | 11 |
| 21. Illinois | 5-6-0 | 249 | — |
| 22. Virginia Tech | 9-3-0 | 235 | 22 |
| 23. Washington | 7-4-0 | 181 | — |
| 24. West Virginia | 11-1-0 | 121 | 7 |
| 25. Clemson | 9-3-0 | 113 | 23 |
Notre Dame gets 13 first-place votes in opening ranking
Source: The Associated Press KANSAN
The Associated Press
The Florida Gators, No. 3 in their own state for the past decade, are now No.1 in the nation.
Long overshadowed by Florida State and Miami, the Gators are the preseason pick as college football's top team in The Associated Press poll.
"We're certainly honored," coach Steve Spurrier said. "Being No. 1 is very special to me, my players and all Gator fans."
Florida edged Notre Dame by two points, the narrowest margin since the preseason poll began in 1960.
Spurrier, whose team won a schoolrecord 11 games last season, said he's not worried about the pressure that
The Gators received 15 first-place votes and, 1,416 points from a nationwide media panel, while the Irish got 13 first-place votes and, 1,414 points.
"I'm glad I'm No. 1 sometime in my life," said Spurrier, a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Florida in 1966. "It's better than never being No. 1."
comes with being No.1.
Although Florida is the largest university in the state, Florida State and Miami have been more prominent in football.
Miami has won four national championships since 1983 and compiled the best record in the country over that span.
Florida State has finished in the top four for seven straight years, culminating with its first national title last season.
It's only the second time Florida has been ranked No. 1. The Gators topped the poll for one week in 1985 before losing to Georgia 24-3.
Now, Florida is ranked ahead of both teams. Florida State is No. 3 in the preseason poll, and Miami is No. 6.
Twelve starters return from last year's Florida team, which pounded previously unbeaten West Virginia
The Gators must replace career rushing leader Errict Rhett, but quarterbacks Terry Dean and Danny Wuerffel are back to direct the explosive "Fun N' Gun" offense.
41-7 in the Sugar Bowl.
The most important newcomer on defense may be coordinator Bob Prauett, brought in to shake up a pass defense that finished last in the Southeastern Conference.
Notre Game, which finished No. 2 last season, is starting in the same spot this season.
"People have as much business picking us No.2 in the preseason this year as they did picking us No.2 at the end of last year," Holtz said. "Neither one of them makes sense to me."
Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz thought his team was ranked too low at the end of last season. Now he thinks they're ranked too high.
Nebraska, which finished third last season after losing to Florida State 18-16 in the Orange Bowl, is fourth in the preseason poll despite getting more first-place votes (18) than any other team.
PROFILE
Richard Devinki / KANSAN
Kansas volleyball coach Karen Schonewise gives instructions during a practice at Robinson Gymnasium. Schonewise replaced former coach Frankie Albritz, who had been with the Kansas program for eight years.
Setting up success aim of new coach
Bv Cheslev Dohl
The whistle and schedule are the only tell-tale signs of her title as "coach."
Kansan staff writer
Tall, lanky, athletic and young, she blends in with the athletes she coaches
Karen Schonewise, the new Kansas volleyball coach, makes her rounds on the practice court — whistle hanging from her neck and practice schedule in hand.
"As a player I never thought I'd end up coaching," said Schonewale, 30. "But I worked at a few camps, and after working with athletes I realized how much I enjoyed giving something back to the sport."
numerous awards at Nebraska, she was the number one draft pick in the first year of professional women's volleyball.
Schonewise played volleyball at Nebraska where she was an athletic and academic All-American. In addition to earning
and with good reason: Only eight years ago she was a student-athlete at Nebraska.
Schonewise said she realized she couldn't play forever. So the next logical step in continuing her love for the sport, she said, would be through coaching.
BRIEF
"I like the challenge of evaluating the talent we have and putting the strongest team
See NEW COACH, Page 4.
Kansan staff report
Kansan tennis player to receive top honor
After a year that culminated in an NCAA Division I Tennis Doubles Championship, Jayhawk Nora Koves continues to add to her honors by being named a member of the 1994 Rolex Collegiate All-Star Team.
Koves, who is a resident of Budapest, Hungary, will receive the award on Friday in New York. The 24-member team is selected annually by TENNIS magazine and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Members of the team represent the nation's top men and women from the college ranks.
junior middle linebacker Nathan Penny runs a drill during
practice at Memorial Stadium. See **NOTBOOK**, Page 3.
Sophomores Jon Nygard and Will Stelle struggle for a ball in an intrasquad soccer game. Members of the Kansas men's soccer team planned the game as a final warmup for the regular season.
Yumi Chikamori / KANSAN
Soccer team sets sights on nationals
By Kent Hohfeld
Kansan sportswriter
Saturday's intra-squad scrimmage at Robinson Gymnastics the east field gave the men's soccer team its first chance to see some of the talent that will be available for the upcoming season.
Last year's team finished with a 11-3-2 record and went to the 16-team National Collegiate Club Soccer Association Championships in Phoenix Arizona.
This year's team will be trying to continue to build on the success that the soccer program has enjoyed in the past five years.
Last season ended for Kansas when they failed to advance out of first-round play play. Advancing beyond the first round of play is a major goal for this year's team, said second-year coach Mark Salisbury.
"The first round of the championships is round-robin play," he said. "The rest is single elimination, so if you get past the first round anything can happen."
The teams that annually compete for the
Before they get to the tournament the team will have to get through a regular-season schedule that, while not the toughest in the nation, should provide a challenge for the team.
national title are from Texas and Utah. Brigham Young University is the NCCSA's defending national champion.
Kansas plays in the southern division of the NCCSA Plains conference. The division includes Kansas State, Emporia State, Wichita State and Oklahoma. The division winners meet in a conference playoff to determine a champion.
"I think we have the talent to win our division and possibly the conference," Sailswirl said.
Winning the division would give Kansas an automatic bid to the tournament. Last season the team finished second in the division and had to wait for an at-large bid.
Matt Jones, a fifth-year engineering student, has witnessed the progress that the team has made in the last five years.
"My freshman year we went to the semi's at the national tournament," Jones said. "We're usually one of the best teams in the tournament."
Jones credited the team's organization and experience as key components of its success.
"We've always been one of the better organized teams and that really helps to prepare us when we get to tournament play," Jones said. "We have people who knows what it takes to be successful."
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