SPORTS
SWEET SIXTEEN SHOWDOWN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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WWW.KANSAN.COM
JAYHAWKS STAY STRONG IN WNIT PAGE 8B
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008
PROFILE
PAGE 1B
Former KU all-star makes viking-sized return
Vikings cornerback Charles Gordon played for Kansas in 2003 to 2005 before declaring for the 2006 NFL draft. Gordon said that his career has always been about proving himself season after season.
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
BY MATT LINDBERG
mlindberg@kansan.com
While most Minnesota Vikings tans may have forgotten Dec. 31, 2006, it will always stick out for Charles Gordon. For Gordon, a former KU football multi-position standout, the last day of 2006 was the day his childhood dream came full circle, starting in an NFL game.
Gordon started at cornerback for the Vikings in their final game of the season against the St. Louis Rams, but it wasn't a great day to be a Vikings fan. The Vikings No. 1 ranked defense had its problems during the game, allowing the Rams to carry the ball 36 times for 168 yards and complete 19 of 31 passes total in the game. The Rams won 41 to 21 against the Vikings in Minnesota, but Gordon calls the loss an exciting learning experience.
"I'll never forget that day because I was lined up against Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt." Gordon said. "I couldn't have asked for a better situation than that.
"They were veteran receivers, so they used their tricks on me, but I learned from it and it made me a better player," Gordon said.
Facing difficulty is nothing new to Gordon, who said his career has always been about proving himself to everyone around him. He was recruited to the University as a wide receiver and debuted as a redshirt freshman in 2003. Gordon said he never thought he was considered a top recruit when he came to the University and that his goal was to move up in the depth chart when he first arrived.
By his junior year, Gordon had made a name for himself by earning starting positions at cornerback, punt returner and wide receiver, as well as All-Big 12 and All-American honors. He became a crowd favorite with his name being chanted throughout Memorial Stadium every time he came on to Kivisto Field.
Jayhawk football was beginning to turn around and earn some credibility as a
legitimate football program, when Gordon shocked most Jayhawk fans and declared for the 2006 NFL draft. Gordon said while he might have surprised Jayhawk fans, he made a difficult yet good decision.
"I debated back and forth and finally decided I was ready for the next level."
Gordon said.
He said frequent injuries he faced at the time were a major factor in his decision to move forward with his football career. Gordon had no big expectations when it came to draft day, as he had got all kinds of grades from different teams who were
interested in his services and specifically what he could run.
Gordon went undrafted and while some might think he wished he hadn't forgone his senior season, Gordon said that was never the case.
"I never regretted it. The goal was
to get drafted and it hurt that I wasn't," Gordon said. "But it really made me recommit to getting better and focusing in on the little things that are important in football."
SEE GORDON ON PAGE 4B
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Senior forward Darnell Jackson, junior guard Mario Chalmers, senior guard Russell Robinson and sophomore guard Brady Morningstar celebrate after Kansas defeated Texas to win the Big 12 championship March 16. Senior guard Rodrick Stewart said good team chemistry has been important for the team's success this year.
Jayhawks of a feather Chemistry between Kansas team members present on,off court
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
The shining lights and buzzing microphones of enough TV cameras to fill the set of a Steven Spielberg movie focus in on Brandon Rush. He's sitting in front of his locker in the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., a day before the Jayhawks beat UNLV to advance to the Sweet 16.
It's time for Rush to be the star,to say all the right things.
"We're the No.1 seed," he says, "we have the targets on our back..."
He doesn't finish the thought. Mario Chalmers won't let him.
Rush turns away from the cameras to shout at Chalmers.
"Stuttering Stanley," Chalmers says in his ear.
"C'mon brotha," he says, "let me talk. While Rush and Chalmers banter with each other, their teammates watch NCAA
"C'mon brotha," he says, "let me talk."
Michael Lee, a graduate assistant coach and former KU player, stands in his suit away from all the locker room madness. He's a coach now, but a few years ago he was in the same position as Rush, Chalmers and all the other players, trying to win a national championship. Lee came close twice, making the Final Four in 2002 and the championship game in 2003. The teams he was on had strong senior leaders and more than anything, good chemistry.
Junior first baseman Preston Land takes it upon himself to get the third out after fielding the ball in the bottom of the third inning. Land was 2-3 at bat through the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday night against Benedicte College. Kansas' next home game is Friday, against Texas A&M. The first pitch is set to be thrown at 6 p.m.
Tournament games and talk about the shot Western Kentucky made to beat Drake. Almost every one of them is smiling and laughing. All the players, or as Sherron Collins calls them, brothers, are close, something that should benefit them as they try to make the Final Four this weekend.
"You have to have a close-knit group," Lee said noting that this year's team is similar to the ones he played on.
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 4B
BASEBALL
Weston White/KANSAN
Jayhawks overcome rough start
KU offense makes adjustments from first few innings to defeat Benedictine
BY TYLER PASSAMORE
tpassamore@kansan.com
It was a dreary evening as the Jayhawks started their game against Benedictine College Wednesday night. Much like the weather, the Jayhawks came out with a dismal start and found themselves down two in the top of the first.
The game started when Benedictine's center fielder Michael Marx reached base on a error by freshman third basemen Tony Thompson. The Benedictine College Ravens (9-8) followed with a single and then a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third with no outs. When the top of the first inning was over, the Ravens had scored two runs on three hits.
The Jayhawks' bats were silenced until the third inning when the Ravens' defense allowed the Hawks to climb back in the game. Senior left fielder John Allman hit a ground ball to Benedictine's second baseman Brett Miller, who threw the ball away, allowing Thompson and junior center fielder Nick Faunce to score. Allman's average continued to climb to .369 on the day, despite the error.
"I think we have been swinging the bats well," Allman said. "Coming out here and seeing slower velocity, hitters had to make some adjustments and it took a couple innings to get those adjustments."
The Jayhawks scored two runs off of one hit and two errors. After two unearned runs, the Jayhawks tied the score at 2-2 and remained in a dogfight until the sixth inning. The Jayhawks started the sixth inning off with back-to-back walks by senior designated hitter Casey Larson and senior right fielder Ryne Price.
With runners on first and second, senior shortstop Erik Morrison's line drive back up the middle brought Larson in to score. Following the base hit, the Jayhawks executed a double steal, moving the runners to second and third.
After going 2-2 in the first game of the day, junior first baseman Preston Land continued his success hitting a deep fly ball to centerfield that brought Ryne Price in for a RBI and the second run of the inning. Land has come on strong as of late and raised his average from .237 to .271
on the day.
"I talked to my hitting coach and it was more of the mental approach than mechanical," Land said. "Anytime you can string along four or five hits, it really helps your confidence and the ball starts to really
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 7B
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