THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FOOTBALL
PAGE 10A
Board scored
BY RVAN SCHNEIDER
rschneider@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Athletics Department to install new system
The Kansas Athletics Department will begin installation of a second scoreboard at the north end of Memorial Stadium next week, said Larry Keating, senior associate athletics director.
The new scoreboard will include basic game information, such as the score, time remaning, down and yards to go. Associate athletics director Jim Marchiony said the construction would also include two message boards.
board would be 30 feet wide by 6 feet high. It will be placed between the two flags at the top of the north end of Memorial Stadium.
On either side of the flags will be two boards that can display messages and other information or graphics throughout the game.
The supports for the board, which are attached to the outside of the stadium, are visible from the stadium. The message boards will be installed next week with the scoreboard.
Associate athletics director Sean Lester said the total cost of the project would be near $591,000.
Keating said that most Big 12 Conference schools had two scoreboards at their respective football stadiums.
"We thought it was strange not to have one," Keating said.
kansan.com
Marchiony said construction of the board was part of previously planned construction by the department.
"We talked about that with part of the Allen Fieldhouse scoreboard,"
EXCLUSIVE
Marchiony said in reference to the new video board that was installed earlier this month.
Students thought the addition of a second scoreboard would be a welcome addition to Memorial Stadium.
"I think the more scoreboards to show KU winning the better," Ben Myers, Topeka senior, said.
Tell us what you think about the new addition to Allen Fieldhouse by voting on our online poll at Kansan.com/sports
Marchiony said the board would be completed in time for the first home football game against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 3.
- Edited by Jon Ralston and Patrick Ross
Jayhawks kick off new season
SOCCER
Kansan file photo
Chris Marx, goalie for the KCFC U-15 club team, and Caroline Smith, then junior forward, collide while going for the ball during an exhibition match last spring at Jayhawk Soccer Complex. The Jayhawks play an exhibition game against Drake tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Not wasting any time, the Kansas soccer team opens its 2005 exhibition season two days after classes began.
Kansas will face Drake tomorrow at 1 p.m., at the Javawk Soccer Complex.
The exhibition game will serve as Kansas' first this fall. Kansas' previous game advanced them to the second round of the NCAA tournament to end last year's season.
Drake kicked off the fall at home with a 3-4 exhibition match loss to Cedar River Soccer Association U-15 Boys' Club.
Kansas soccer coach Mark Francis said he was excited to get back on the field, but had no idea what to expect out of the Bulldogs.
"We have no idea how they play," Coach Mark Francis said. "Typically, during the season we get scouting reports or get video. The first game of the season, you don't have that advantage. You
Led by 2004 Missouri Valley Co-Coach of the Year, Corbin Stone, the Bulldogs return six seniors, including senior forward and MVC player of the year Andrea Schmitz.
really just have to take care of what you're doing and hope that it's good enough."
On Tuesday, pre-season polls were released, revealing Kansas at No. 23 in the National Soccer Coaches Association/adidas poll, after an 18-5 season in 2004. Soccer Buzz Magazine* ranked Drake No. 13 in the Great Lakes Region.
For the second consecutive year the Bulldogs won the regular season Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
Kansas claimed its first conference championship last year, sharing with Texas A&M.
On the Jayhawk side of the ball, expect to see senior forward Caroline Smith controlling the offense. The Kansas all-time leading scorer sits at an even 100 points, and looks to add to that total starting
Missy Geha Freshman midfielder
"I'm excited, but I am more nervous. This is college level, D-I."
▼ HORN BORN, HAWK BRED
tomorrow.
Senior forward Jessica Smith will be leading the team as captain after scoring four goals last year and was named first team Academic All-Big 12.
Francis has said that a big part of repeating last year's success depends on the team's chemistry and how well his girls mesh together.
"That's always been a strength for us, the last couple of years especially. That makes a big difference," Francis said. "Especially when you get into tight games. If a team is close off the field, it shows on the field.
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 9A
TRAVIS ROBINETT
trobinett@kansan.com
Gordon a strong asset for Mangino
When college football experts discuss Jayhawk football, which happens about as often as the Kansas City Royals winning a baseball game, one name always seems to be mentioned — junior cornerback Charles Gordon.
He has stardom written all over his new brighter shade of blue jersey. Some of his accomplishments last season were outstanding.
As a cornerback last season, he was a third team All-American and a first-team all-Big 12 selection. As an all-purpose player and wide receiver, he was an honorable mention all-Big 12 selection. He has already been named to the Pre-Season all-Big 12 team this season, along with senior linebacker Nick Reid, by the Big 12 media.
While playing offense, he caught 15 passes for 150 yards, an average of a first down per reception, along with a pair of touchdowns. He even threw a 26-yard touchdown on a trick play to wide receiver Brandon Rideau against Texas Tech. Gordon is also only five yards away from becoming Kansas's all-time leader in punt return yards.
No wonder Pete Flutak of www.collegefootballnews.com wrote "while Miami's Devin Hester and Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. will get all the national publicity for their all-around abilities, KU's Charles Gordon could be the best player of the bunch, and is certainly the best defensive back of the three."
When www.collegefootballnews.com asked who should win the Thorpe award, given to the NCAA's best defensive back, Flutak wrote that Charles Gordon might deserve the award, but Jimmy Williams of Virginia Tech had the inside track.
Answering the same question, Richard Cirminiello picked Gordon as the third runner-up. He wrote that Gordon was the best all-around athlete that just about no one outside Lawrence knows about, and you could pencil him in for another seven interceptions.
Gordon is so good that nfldraft.scout.com claimed he would be a top-60 player in the NFL draft if he entered after this season. The Web site said Gordon was easily the top prospect on the team and the best one to come from the program in a long time. The Web site also complimented his "superior technique and ball skills."
This season, look for Gordon to continue doing what he does best. That is, playing on both sides of the ball.
"If we don't have some of the young kids ready to play at the receiver position, it's hard to ignore Charles as a playmaker on offense," Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said at the 2005 media day. "I think we have a dilemma; a good dilemma."
♦ Robinett is a Austin, Texas, junior in journalism.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball team to try its hand against alumni in exhibition
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Kansas unofficially opens its season Saturday night against a team of former Jayhawks in the Alumni Scrimmage. Coach Ray Bechard will use the match to take a look at as many possible lineups before the real competition begins in next weekend's State Farm Jayhawk Classic.
"We're going to put a lot of different people in a lot of different situations," Bechard said. "Obviously, we want to play well, but at the same time it's more important to get out in front of a few people in the stands."
Bechard said the newcomers will benefit the most from the scrimage, which will feature 10 recent graduates from past Kansas teams, including two male managers. It will give them a chance to adapt to the atmosphere of a match.
The moment of truth is rapidly approaching for the Kansas volleyball team.
"The closer you get to opening day, the anxiety tends to grow," he said. "You start two-a-days thinking you have a lot of time to get
Having only been in two-a-day practices for two weeks limited the time the team had to work on details. Bechard said that strain was just something that goes with the territory.
"It's one thing to practice,"
Bechard said. "Sometimes athletes rise to the occasion and sometimes they are a little intimidated in those situations initially."
athletes rise to the occasion and sometimes they are a little intimidated in those situations initially."
The season's beginning has jumped on the jahwahs quickly.
stuff in, but here we are a week away from starting the season."
Ray Bechard
Kansas volley coach
Despite the short time, Bechard said he noticed the women progressing on the court.
Correa fought injuries the past two seasons. This year, she is as healthy as she has ever been at KU.
He was especially pleased with the progress of the outside hitter corps,
which consisted of juniors Jana Correa and Megan Hill and senior Paula Caten.
"That whole group, I think, has done very well," Bechard said. "Paula has made a big jump from a community college transfer to figuring out Division I volleyball. Megan has been outstanding as well."
Experience has been an important aspect for the jahwaks as well. They return
something that will be a big boost this season.
players with at least two years experience at five positions on the floor, and two in their fourth season. Bechard said that would be invaluable when it came time for the regular season.
"We have more experience on the floor than we've had in some time."
The way the group has come together is another contributing factor to how the team can succeed this season. The players spent more time building chemistry with one another this past summer then they ever had before.
Bechard said. "That leads to a better understanding of what it's going to take to be successful in a very difficult pre-conference schedule and in the Big 12."
"We were all here in the offseason for conditioning together," Brown said.
"Building that bond during the summer really helped."
Admission is free
The scrimmage Saturday will begin at 7 p.m at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
"The camaraderie of the team has been great," Bechard said. "The team chemistry appears to be as good as it's been in a long time."
Bechard said a trip to Brazil was also an important part of the bonding process. Each of those factors has formed a closer team.
Edited by Patrick Ross
Kansan file photo
Jane Correa, then sophomore outside hitter, spikes the ball during a match against Oklahoma last season. The squad visited Brazil this summer and improved morale.
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