Section A·Page 6
Sports
Thursday, March 29, 2001
Allen considers quarterback spot
By Jeff Denton
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Zach Dyer threw only 12 passes last season, but the redshirt freshman from Oathe will be Kansas No. 1 quarterback as spring football practice kicks off this afternoon.
Dyer, 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, spent most of last season on the sideline as starter Dylan Smith's understudy. But seeing limited in big games has given coach Terry Allen the confidence to name Dyer as his number one guy—for now.
"We've got 15 days to find a quarter-back," Allen said, referring to the two-plus weeks of spring football practice. "Zach Dyer is the guy right now going in, but we are excited about the potential of the freshmen."
The freshmen battling for the vacant job are Ryan Long and Mario Kinsey. Also under consideration is redshirt sophomore Jonas Weatherbie
Allen loves Weatherbie's resiliency, Long's size, Kinsey's
Weatherbie is a coach's son.
Long runs a 4.7 yard-dash and has worked out with the Kansas track team, Kinsey can throw a football more than 70 yards from a stand-still, and Allen calls Dyer his most athletic quarterback.
arm strength and Dyer's athleticism.
The candidates know the situation — four guys for one spot — but competing to become the next starting quarterback at Kansas excites them.
"The competition is good for the team, it makes everyone perform at a higher level." Dyer said.
Long used his redshirt season to learn the nuances of the Kansas offense.
"Not competing was tough at first," said Long, 6-5 and 200 pounds. "But playing on the scout team, going up against our tough starting defense every day, has made me stronger as a player."
Dyer: enters spring practice as Kansas"
No. 1 quarterback
After leaving the basketball team in January, Kinsey is focused on football. He goes into spring practice behind Dyer and Long on the depth
Long: has been a member of the Kansas track team
chart, but is sure of his ability to perform well.
chart, but is
"I feel that I can be the No. I guy, that's just the confidence in me," Kinsey said.
Dyer, Long, Kinsey and Weatherbie know the next two weeks of competition will be crucial, but they vow not to let the position battle affect their friendships.
"There is more to life than a starting spot on the football team," Long said. "Each of us is going to push each other in a nonverbal way, but when the time comes next season, I think that the coaches will put the
Kinsley: former basketball player may rely on arm strength
Weatherbie: the sophomore has quarach hopes
right person out there." Football notes
- Ervin Holloman and De'Nard Whitfield, both slated as starters on the defensive line, have been suspended indefinitely from the team for academic reasons. They will not participate in spring practice.
Senior co-captain Nate Dwyer, who is recovering from off-season surgery on his left wrist, will be limited but will play in spring ball. The spring game will be at 7 p.m. April 21 at Memorial Stadium.
Edited by Megan Phelps
Golf team finds leadership in senior
By John Domoney sports@kansan.com Konson sportswriter
It's crunch time for the Kansas women's golf team.
The Jayhawks will compete in two more tournaments before heading to the Big 12 Championship at the end of April.
For a team with four sophomores and two freshman on its roster, the Jayhawks are in need of a leader as the end of the season approaches. And Ashley Bishop, the team's lone senior, is the obvious choice.
Franklin, Ind., which was highlighted by a three-year stint on the Indiana all-
Bishop came to Kansas after a successful high school career in
"Ashely Bishop is a good leader, and she shows a lot by her actions," head coach Nicole Hollingsworth said. "I've really relied on her to be vocal, and she's someone that helps me with the team."
A f t e r Bishop's first two years at Kansas, she was reunited with her former coach w h e Hollingsworth signed on in June 1999.
Bishop: is the only senior on the women's golf team
In her four years at
Kansas, Bishop has amassed an impressive resume. It includes a co-Most Improved Award for her play during her junior year and a spot on the Big 12 Commissioners Honor Roll each semester of her career.
"I think it's hard to balance golf and school and it's much harder when you're younger," Bishop said. "I know I can't give equal time to both, so when I study, I try to really work hard."
Hard work has defined her career, and she's gradually improved each year, which has been one of her goals.
"Probably my consistency this year is what I've been happiest about." Bishop said.
That consistency helped Bishop shoot a team-best 79 in the 'Hawks head-to-head match with the College of Charleston on March 22.
In the 18-hole match, the Jayhawks defeated the College of Charleston by 27 strokes and gained several days of precious practice time.
"It was a huge benefit for us to practice a lot in the mornings and
play 18 holes every day," Hollingsworth said. "It was the most fun I've had on a spring break."
But Bishop realizes that every tournament she competes in brings her closer to the end of her collegiate playing days.
"It would be fun to play a few more years," she said. "Once you get to be a certain age, you realize it's a lot more fun than when you first got here."
For the rest of the season, Bishop will continue her leadership role of steering Kansas toward a strong finish.
"We're halfway through it, and so far we get along real well and have a good time," Bishop said. "Right now we're all striving to play the best golf we can and encourage each other."
- Edited by Jacob Roddy