THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
SOCCER
Rylan Howe/KANSAN
Freshman Jayhawk midfielder and forward soccer player, Sara Rogers, battles Razorback Andrea Sparks to keep possession during the home game against Arkansas September 9. The Jayhawks face the Toreros today at their away game in California.
California dreaming
Team heads to San Diego to take on the Toreros
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Summer isn't over just yet for the women's soccer team.
The Jayhawks (2-1-1) flew out yesterday for a long weekend in San Diego, and a pair of tough West Coast Conference match ups in the adidas/Toreros Invitational.
Coming off two shutout wins at the hands of Missouri State and Arkansas, Kansas looks to extend its streak
The Toreros enter this weekend's invitational after competing in a similar setting last weekend.
while soaking up that California sun.
Wake Forest hosted an ACC/WCC tournament in which San Diego defeated Virginia Tech 2-1 before falling 1-5 against No. 8 Wake Forest.
"It'll be tough." Francis said about the weekend. "The
This road trip is the Jayhawks' first test away from the comforts of home, although the comforts of San Diego might just fill that void.
Tonight at 9:30, the women take on the University of San
Diego (2-2-0). The match was originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. kick-off, but Hurricane Katrina even left its mark on the soccer world; Tulane was forced to drop from the tournament.
"It's always fun to go somewhere different," Coach Mark Francis said. "A couple of the girls said they've never even been to California. So it's fun, but hopefully we'll go out there and win a couple soccer games."
competition may be a little tougher than the Michigan game."
With Tulane unable to make it, the game times were adjusted accordingly.
Leading the Toreros offensive effort is sophomore forward Amy Epstein. The 2004 WCC freshman of the year has two goals in the first four games of the season.
Sophomore midfielder Leigh Ann Robinson notched the game winner in overtime to top Virginia Tech last Friday.
Coached by Ada Greenwood, the Toreros lost to the Jayhawks 1-0 in the teams' last meeting in September of 2003.
A day of rest is all the Jay hawks will get before facing
SEE CALIFORNIA ON PAGE 4B
Visiting QB tough competition
FOOTBALL
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSEN SANOR SPORTWRITER
He has been in Sports Illustrated, shattered nearly every record in school history and is one of the best players at his position — but most college football fans have no idea who he is.
His name is Richie Williams. Williams is the starting quarterback for Division 1-AA Appalachian State and is finally getting the opportunity to prove himself against big-time competition tomorrow night when Appalachian State takes on Kansas.
"You got to handle it the same way you handle any game, but I know there is a little extra incentive this weekend," Williams
Last season, the senior quarterback threw for 3,109 yards and 24 touchdowns. Williams also ran for 284 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers led to him being named first team all Southern Conference by coaches and media last season.
This season, Williams is a leading candidate for the Walter Payton Award, which is the equivalent to the Heisman Trophy for Division 1-AA players.
said. "Going against a top-notch program like KU will be a real challenge, but I am looking forward to it."
In the first game of the season this year, Williams threw for 234 yards and generated two touchdowns, one in the air and one on the ground. He racked up 66 yards rushing in a 24-16 victory at Eastern Kentucky.
Williams' awards and accolades don't end there. Last season, Williams was named conference player of the week
they told me I was going to be in Sports Illustrated. But when I saw it for the first time, it was crazy."
Williams said he considered himself more of a passer than a runner, but had no problem doing both.
Those qualities have Kansas defenders comparing him to another quarterback in the Big 12 Conference.
three times and named consensus national player of the week following Appalachian State's 30-29 victory against then No. 2 Furman, of Greenville, S.C.
In the Furman game, Williams put up record-breaking numbers. He completed 40 of 45 passes for 413 yards and ran in the winning touchdown with 35 seconds left to propel Appalachian State to victory.
His 88.9 completion percentage for that game and 28 consecutive completions set two NCAA all-divisions records. For that performance, Williams will be featured in the next week's Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd."
"He is a great athlete," senior linebacker Kevin Kane said.
"That was the best game I ever played in," Williams said. "I didn't believe it at first when
SEE QB ON PAGE 3B
VIEW FROM PRESS ROW
Game's location not so horrible
Anyone upset about Kansas' home football game against Oklahoma being moved to Arrowhead Stadium need only look south to realize that not having one game at Memorial Stadium isn't worth complaining about.
While moving the game outside Lawrence is unsavory to local fans and businesses, all they are losing is the excitement and money generated from an on campus event. Besides, just about everyone who wants to watch the game can still make the short drive down I-70.
Fans in the gulf area aren't just losing a home football game. They're losing an opportunity, for a few hours, to escape from the real world and the horrors caused by Hurricane Katrina. This game
These inconveniences pale in comparison to the situation in Baton Rouge, La., where LSU decided to move tomorrow's regularly scheduled home game against Arizona State to Sun Devil stadium in Tempe. Ariz.
KELLIS ROBINETT
KROBINETT@KANSAN.COM
Playing football at a time of pain is not unprecedented. When 12 students died in the bonfire that collapsed at Texas A&M in 1999, College Station, Texas, was in a state of constant mourning. The school's most heralded tradition turned into its biggest disaster, and there was no escaping the tragedy.
was something that the entire community and much of the state could have rallied around.
But an interesting thing hap pened just a few days later. A record crowd packed Kyle Field to watch Texas A&M play Texas, and, for a few hours, College Station's emotions were focused on something other than its grief.
SEE ROBINETT ON PAGE 4B
VOLLEYBALL
Andi Rozum, senior Jayhawk setter, jumps up to set the ball as middle blocker Josi Lima, senior, prepares to spike it in the home game against Saint Louis University on September 7. At noon today the Jayhawks will play Virginia Commonwealth in the Pizza Hut Invitational at Horeisi Family Athletic Center.
Rylan Howe/KANSAN
Jayhawks strive to beat the Rams
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The Jayhawks will face their last test in preparation for the Big 12 Conference season today at 11 a.m. when they play host in the Pizza Hut Jayhawk Invitational.
Kansas (5-1) will look to build off its victory over Saint Louis Tuesday night after dropping its first match of the year against BYU. The Jayhawks dominated the Billikens, something that senior outside hitter Paula Caten said was pivotal going into the game against Saint Louis.
"We had to win," Caten said. "We had to do better with some tough matches coming up."
The Jayhawks will see if the momentum will carry when they take on the Rams of Virginia Common- on
VCU played Wichita State last night before making the trip to Lawrence and was 5-1 entering the match. The Rams will be anchored by VCU volleyball coach James Finley, who is in his first season at the Division I level.
Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard said he was impressed with the early season success of VCU and that it would be a tough challenge for his team.
wealth in the tournament's opener.
"Virginia Commonwealth is one of the biggest surprises," he said.
"They have a great chance to win their conference and go to the NCAA tournament."
Later tonight, Kansas will take on Michigan State. The Spartans are also no stranger to success this year after starting
SEE JAYHAWKS ON PAGE 2B