THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2005
BUSINESS
Adidas gear arrives
Taylor Miller/KANSAN
New University of Kansas adidas apparel is already hitting stores across Lawrence. The Jock's Nitch has many shirts and jerseys available.
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
rschneider@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
When his first shipment of Kansas adidas merchandise arrived last week, Doug Dobbins wasn't excited about what he received.
"Honestly, I haven't been super impressed with it," Dobbins, D3 Sports owner, said. "It's been kind of bland."
Dobbins said the short amount of time available to create new products was the reason for the fairly simple designs. An adidas representative told Dobbins that because the contract was finalized late, there would only be a partial line of products for sale this year. Currently, D3 Sports, 2040 W. 31st St., is only carrying the new Kansas blue football jerseys and football practice shirts.
"It's going to come in stages," Ryan Owens, Jock's Nitch manager, said. "We're getting to the point where we're getting stuff on time."
Local sports apparel stores had anticipated having adidas products in early August; however, the first shipments didn't arrive until last week.
Previous shipments were delayed up to several weeks, leaving him without football apparel until mid-August. Owens said in previous years he had Nike products before the beginning of August.
Owens said he anticipated the authentic adidas gear, like those worn by coaches and athletes, to arrive sometime next month. Jock's Nitch currently carries jerseys, shirts, polos and shorts.
The adidas authentic gear collection will be called "Big Game," which is similar to Nike's "Elite" series of products.
"We're continuing to work feverishly. We're not concerned about the date, but about doing it right."
Jim Marchiony Associate athletics director
"We're continuing to work feverish," Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said. "We're not concerned about the date, but about doing it right."
While Dobbins wasn't impressed with his first shipment of adidas merchandise, he said that the University's contract with adidas might actually enable him to sell more Nike products.
"We anticipate it being a good thing for us that the University went with adidas," Dobbins said. "The only place you'll be able to get Nike will be downtown or here."
Even though Nike no longer has the rights to the authentic gear worn by athletes and coaches, the company will still be able to produce items such as shirts and hats.
Owens said that Jock's Nitch, 837 Massachusetts St., would still carry Kansas merchandise by Nike because it's such a high quality product.
Both Dobbins and Owens said it was too early to tell whether adidas products would match the popularity among fans that Nike once had.
"Ultimately the customers will tell us which they like and what's going to sell better," Dobbins said.
Edited by Tricia Masenthin
FOOTBALL
New legs kick off
BY RYAN COLAIANNI
rcolaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Graduated kicker Johnny Beck may have been the cause of ridicule during his time at the University of Kansas, but his powerful leg will be missed this season.
Beck finished tied for third in school history with 40 career field goals made, and his booming leg completed the second longest field goal in school history: a 59-yard field goal in 2001.
Kansas football coach Mark Mangino will look to sophomore kicker Scott Webb to replace him on the long field goals, which will be an adjustment, as Webb kicked only point after touchdowns and short field goals last season.
Webb's longest field goal last
Special teams prepare for year
He was perfect in his PAT's, hitting all 27.
Mangino said he was impressed with Webb's improved distance in the off season.
season was only 27 yards.
While it's unknown how much stronger Webb's leg has become, it's clear that he will not handle the kick-off duties. Those duties will go to punter Kyle Tucker.
"The good thing about Scott Webb is that he's so much stronger than he was a year ago," Mangino said. "He did a great job in the weight room. He is definitely the No. 1 guy kicking field goals and PAT's."
Tucker is even challenging Webb for the longer field goal attempts.
"Kyle Tucker has a live leg. He's booming the ball punting it. When he gets a little more control he'll be a factor." Mangino said.
Tucker's 'booming,' leg was apparent last season punting the football.
Tucker averaged 40.1 yards per punt and placed 15 punts inside the 20-yard line.
While junior cornerback Charles Gordon has been the focal point returning punts the past two season, some new faces may join him this year. Wide
It is clear that the punting job is Tucker's.
Punter Kyle Tucker works on his kick with the special teams punt unit at the football practice fields on Tuesday. Tucker took over the starting job last season.
SEE LEGS ON PAGE 4B
Inctin O'Neal/VANSCAN
Missy Geha battles midfielder and forward Jessica Bush for control of the ball in a scrimmage at practice Tuesday. The soccer team will host Drake in an exhibition game Saturday at 1 p.m.
Justin O'Neal/KANSAN
SOCCER
Young team ready to play
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
The problem with experienced, well-rounded teams is they must first be young and learn from their mistakes.
As the KU soccer team heads into its opening weekend against Drake, there is no doubt that it is young.
On a roster of 22 athletes, six will be freshmen, new to Division I and new to Coach Mark Francis' expectations and style of play. Thanks to a solid cast of returning players, the newcomers will have adequate help starting the season.
"When you come from playing
high school ball to playing college ball, it's like starting all over again," said Jessica Bush, freshman midfielder and forward. "You're at the bottom of the food chain and have to work yourself back up."
The Blue Springs, Mo., native was a three-time All-Metro and All-State selection. She also reigned as the 2003 Missouri offensive player of the year, 2004 Missouri high school player of the year, and the 2005 Metro Sports female athlete of the year. But that was high school.
Kansas may see its biggest change in goal this season. After Meghan Miller's four years as
TEXANS TWO-STEP
SEE YOUNG ON PAGE 4B
KELLIE ROBINETT AND
ERIC SORRENTINO
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sports coverage to adapt
The sports journalism world is always changing, and as sports editors we will do our best to change with it.
Several sports stories are now viewed to be as important as breaking news.
A story like this could be reported in several different ways.
When Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens got sent home from training camp, the media was so intrigued by the story that helicopters flew above his house and took pictures of him shooting a basketball in his backyard. Reporters then asked him questions about his training camp departure as he was doing sit-ups in his driveway.
It craves an editorial and also calls for pictures and video, but the sheer news factor is also important.
Here at the Kansan, we realize this, and with what happened last year in the world of Kansas athletics we understand that the opportunity to cover this type of event could occur this semester.
Though we weren't on campus this summer, we paid close attention to the events outside the Moon Bar. The self-imposed probation the University issued was another big story from the summer.
We learned from the mistakes other media outlets made, and hope to avoid them ourselves.
We will try to present both sides of every issue and give readers all the facts necessary to make their own judgements in every game recap, feature or hard-hitting sports news story we publish on every sports page of the Kansan.
But we also want to entertain.
Throughout the sports section, readers should expect to see the same great sports stories the Kansan has always offered, but with the addition of fun graphics that constantly accompany the stories.
SEE EDITORS ON PAGE 4B
FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL Basketball player narrows choices
Brandon Rush, a 6-foot-6 forward, visited the University of Kansas on Sunday, but is still making up his mind on where he wants to play college basketball.
Rush has reportedly narrowed his prospective schools to Kansas and Indiana.
The 13th-ranked basketball prospect from the class of 2005, according to recruiting Web site rivals.com, is thought to be the best unsigned player available
Rush could play for the Jayhawks this season if he decides to sign, as he recently removed his name from the NBA draft.
However, the big obstacle could be whether he is declared academically eligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Rush is expected to make a decision in the next few days.
— Kansan staff report