THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
MORNING BREW | 8A
Tiger's surge Sunday fell flat
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011
The world was watching when Tiger Woods tied for the lead at the Master's on Sunday. But he quickly faded and wasn't a factor in the end, leaving fans wondering if Tiger is truly back.
COMMENTARY
Football looks to rebound next season
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 10A
BY KORY CARPENTER
kcarpenter@kansan.com
Football season is rapidly approaching, ladies and gentlemen. Spring practices have been underway for nearly two weeks, and players and coaches are likely eager to get the bitter taste of 3-9 out of their mouths. Here's what fans should expect in 2011:
MORE ATHLETICISM
The defensive line will feature a pair of former offensive standouts at both end positions with Toben Opurum, the former running back, and Julius Green, who played quarterback and tight end as well as defensive end in high school. Standing at 6 feet 7 inches, Green's athletic ability could be a potential nightmare for offensive linemen. In the secondary, you have Bradley McDougald, who started eight games at receiver in 2010 while returning kickoffs throughout the season. He was also recruited by Ohio State at safety, so the tools are most certainly there. McDougald is joined by another receiver-turned safety in Keeston, who was a highly coveted receiver in high school. Terry made the switch to defense before last season and was impressive before a week-three season-ending leg injury. He finished with 10 tackles and a forced fumble in three games
"I was pleased with myself," Terry said.of his freshman campaign. "When I had the opportunities to make plays, I feel like I did."
FEWER MENTAL MISTAKES BY PLAYERS AND COACHES
He's bigger than last year, and a year of studying the position will be a huge positive for the Kansas secondary. The running game could be great this year. Sophomore James Sims led the team with 742 rushing yards last year as a freshman. With freshman standout Darrian Miller, as well as the lightning-quick redshirt freshman Brandon Bourbon, it's safe to say the running game will excite fans in the fall.
Those adjustments are being made in the off-season now, not in the fall when the games count.
There were times last year when players weren't getting the right play call from the coaches before the snap. These things tend to happen under a new coaching staff. Coach Turner Gill has said he focused on getting his players mentally tough, repeating that sentiment more than once during spring practices. Things are getting easier in year two, though.
"I don't know if it's 100 percent different, but its definitely a difference because I understand where our team is at," Gill said. "Last year I really had no idea until we got to some football games, and then you're on the run trying to make those adjustments"
It's still early, obviously, and anything can change between now and August, but Webb looks to be the favorite to start in week one.
EXPECT JORDAN WEBB TO START AT QUARTERBACK
"It's a lot more comforting out there." Webb said. "You know what the 'fense is doing, and obviously you 'lot more comfortable with the dots.'"
Sophomore Jordan Webb started in seven games in 2010 and threw for 1,195 yards, second most all-time for a KU freshman. An injury in the team's week seven loss to Texas A&M sidelined him for three games, but he returned to start in the season finale against Missouri. Coach Gill said that while Webb and senior Quinn Mecham are both more poised this year, Webb has the small edge at this point.
Edited by Erin Wilbert
BY BLAKE SCHUSTER
bschuster@kansan.com
When Joy Bunting chose to attend the University of Kansas four years ago, there wasn't a doubt in her mind that she was making the right choice.
"The coaches were great, the team was great, and I just felt like this is where God wanted me to come,"
Bunting, the swimming star from Greeley, Colo., who was a big name on the recruiting board of Kansas coach Clark Campbell, thought after her recruitment trip to Kansas that she couldn't find anything better than Lawrence.
Bunting was a spring recruit in a sport dominated by the fall signing period, and one who Campbell wasn't sure if the Jayhawks would be able to sign. After visits to Northern Colorado, Nebraska, and Washington State, Bunting finally made her way to Kansas to see the Jayhawk team firsthand.
Bunting said.
Howard Ting/KANSAN
Early in her first season as a Jayhawk, Campbell had inklings that Bunting wasn't just a passionate swimmer and possessed an intangible quality that was worth far more than just her performances in the water.
"You could tell as soon as she got here that she was a natural leader," Campbell said.
Bunting immersed herself with Kansas swimming from the beginning, and while she did have some tough times, she always had her teammates to get her motivated to continue to push on.
"I remember one time I was struggling really bad when we were doing some dry land workouts, and one of my teammates just came up right next to me, and was like, 'come on we can do this together,'" Binting said. "The upperclassmen just encouraged the freshmen to just be a part of the team."
As Bunting's time at Kansas went on, her leadership qualities began to mature and flourish. She was become
ing one of the swim team's cornerstones, and one who was always willing to help. By her junior year, Campbell made the necessary move to promote her to captain.
"I was a little shocked." Bunting said. "I knew I was ready for it, but being able to be captain as a junior, it was a big thing."
Bunting wouldn't disappoint
Since she took over the team, Campbell has noticed a change in interactions between his athletes and said that the positive vibe stemming from the team has never been stronger.
"People feel good about being on the team, they have a tremendous amount respect for one another." Campbell said. "Joy led the way."
Campbell wasn't the only one to notice the effectiveness of Bunting's leadership, and on April 5, 2011, Bunting received the University of Kansas' 2011
SEE SWIMMER ON PAGE 8A
SOFTBALL
Jayhawks earn first conference win of season
hwise@kansan.com
BY HANNAH WISE
Kansas earned its first conference victory of the season with a comeback in the sixth inning against Texas Tech in the first game of the night. The offense rallied against a three-run deficit to score seven runs off five hits, winning 9-5.
Brad Tolleson|LA VENTANA YEARBOOK
Kansas outfielder Liz Kocon is met at home plate by her teammates after she hit a home run in the sixth inning during the 9-5 win against Texas Tech Wednesday in Lubbock, Texas.
On the night, four different Jayhawks tallied two hits apiece. The offense also tallied four home runs from senior Brittany Hile, juniors Marissa Ingle and Liz Kocon and sophomore Mariah Montgomery
"It was a shot," coach Megan Smith. "It was a sign that we weren't dying, that we are going to fight. I think it kind of put a boost of confidence in our team."
Brad Tollefson/LA VENTANA YEARBOON
Montgomery's homer put the Jayhawks on the board in the second inning and was immediately followed by Ingle's. The runs set the score at 4-2 in the Red Raider's favor.
In the sixth inning, freshman Laura Vickers hit a double to center field to plate two runners. Sophomore Alex Jones' slap hit then brought Vickers home after she had advanced to third off a single from freshman Ashley Newman. Sophomore Maggie Hull hit a pop fly to give Newman the opportunity to score, setting the score in Jayhawks' favor at 6-4.
Hile then hit a two-run home run followed by a home run from Kocon.
"Somebody got the spark on
"Julie Jenkins had an unbelievable catch in center field. We moved Alex Jones to pitch and we put Julie in centerfield and she robbed someone, Smith said.
The defense was also strong against the Red Raiders, especially considering that Texas Tech's offense is leading the Big 12.
them and we just kept rolling with it," Kocon said.
The nightcap was a complete reversal of the first contest. The Jayhawks were run-ruled 10-0 in five innings. Texas Tech pitcher Brittany Talley essentially shut down the offense, throwing four strikeouts and allowing only two
I really think that boosted our team."
Jones pitched the final three innings of the first game, allowing only one hit.
4
"We just never got in a groove." Smith said. "Kristin Martinez threw really well, but we had a bad play that cost us runs. We just never could recover and never could get clicking."
The Red Raiders recorded 11 hits in the contest. They scored all ten of their runs in the second, third and fourth innings.
Despite the loss, the team is
hits.
happy with the victory. "We got some breaks and hit the ball and we are really excited about it," Smith said.
The Jayhawks are now 1-11 in conference play and 28-15 overall. They will play a home weekend series against No.15/16 Baylor Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Edited by Jacque Weber
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