SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, November 12, 1993
Fans flock to matchup between top teams
3.
The Associated Press
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — It was a quiet morning on the Notre Dame campus yesterday. Then the Florida State fans showed up.
Driving motor homes and minivans, dripping garnet and gold and doing the chop, the brash Seminoles faithful awoke the sleepy campus where college football's game of the year was just two days away.
"I don't think they understand that we're not intimidated," said Jim Stripling of Hartford, Ala. "Heck, we go to Miami."
The rumble of anticipation spread $ ^{a} $quickly around 64-year-old Notre Dame Stadium, where No.1 Florida $ ^{b} $State and the second-ranked Fighting Irish play tomorrow.
Even before the first wave of out-of-town fans arrived, Notre Dame students were beginning to warm to the occasion. Conversations about the game could be heard all across campus, and banners adorned many residence hall windows that had been bare just a day earlier.
"I think the academics sort of over Shadowed the hoopla, until today," told Todd Aldrich, a Notre Dame student from Newport Beach, Calif.
While the campus has warmed slowly to the hype surrounding the first No.1 vs. No.2 matchup at Notre Dame in 25 years, the nation has salivated over the game for weeks.
The university's sports information department has issued nearly 800 media credentials, far surpassing the previous Notre Dame record of 650
for the 1988 Miami game. Notre Dame
won that game, 31-30 on the way to its
last national championship.
15 Nearly 50 media members will sit in the stands tomorrow, an unprecedented move.
Ticket agents say seats to the game are among the most coveted of any regular-season college football game. Solomon season dukes commanded
Holly McQueen / KANSAN
Freshman cornerback Tony Blevins makes a tackle during a game against Utah. The Jayhawk defense has been preparing to stop the Buffalooes' wide receiver Charles Johnson, who leads the Big Eight Conference in receptions.
better than $1,000 per ticket, with
rumors of prices of $10,000 and
above.
Dan McHugh, an Air Force staff sergeant from Grissom Air Force Kuwait, paid $450 apiece
Base near Kokomo, paid $450 apiece
for two tickets. A Notre Dame fan,
says.
McHugh used the Florida State weekend for a reunion with an Air Force buddy.
Notre Dame security were preparing for as many as 10,000 more fans than for a normal game.
Notre Dame fans from as far away as eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey cozied up to Florida State fans from Alabama and Florida in the parking lots throughout the day.
Parking lots across from the stadium began to fill with vans and mobile homes late yesterday morning.
Game 11
Kansas Jayhawks (4-5-0)
Head Coach: Glen Mason
Offense:
WR 83 Greg Ballard 6-3 195 Sr.
TE 1 Dwane Chandler 6-2 235 Sr.
LT 54 Rod Jones 6-4 285 So.
LG 66 Hessley Hempstead 6-1 295 Jr.
C 75 Dan Schmidt 6-2 265 Sr.
RG 69 John Jones 6-1 285 Jr.
RT 62 Chris Banks 6-2 270 So.
WR 7 Robert Reed 6-1 185 Jr.
QB 9 Asheki Preston 6-1 190 Jr.
RB 20 June Henley 6-1 190 Jr.
FB 32 Chris Powell 5-9 220 Jr.
Defense:
OLB 39 Don Davis 6-1 212 Jr.
RT 7 Chris Maumalanga 6-3 266 Sr.
LT 61 Mike Steele 6-3 176 Jr.
LE 90 Guy Howard 6-4 245 Sr.
OLB 46 Ronnie Ward 6-0 212 So.
ILB 35 Larry Thiel 6-3 223 Sr.
ILB 52 Steve Harvey 6-3 234 Sr.
CB 28 Tony Blevins 6-0 170 Fr.
SS 4 Marlin Blakeney 5-11 192 So.
FS 47 Clint Bowen 5-11 190 Sr.
CB 3 Gerald McCurrows 5-11 188 Jr.
Colorado Buffaloes (8-0-0)
Head Coach: Bill McCartney
Offense:
WR 9 Charles Johnson 6-1 185 Sr.
TE 86 Christian Faurie 6-4 235 Jr.
LT 60 Tony Barti 6-6 270 Jr.
LG 63 Heath Irwin 6-5 280 So.
C 64 Bryan Stoltenberg 6-2 260 So.
RG 70 Craig Anderson 6-4 275 Sr.
RT 72 Delak West 6-8 285 Jr.
WR 86 Brian Embrace 6-4 284 Sr.
QB 9 Michael Westbrook 6-4 210 Jr.
RB 20 Kordell Stewart 6-3 210 Jr.
FB 19 Rashaan Salaam 6-1 210 So.
Defense:
OLB 58 Ron Woolfork 6-4 240 Sr.
RT 92 Shawen Glavelle 6-4 270 Sr.
LT 92 Kerry Nicks 6-6 260 So.
LE 93 Darius Holland 6-5 285 Jr.
OLB 90 Sam Rogers 6-3 245 Sr.
ILB 16 Matt Russell 6-2 240 Fr.
ILB 48 Ted Johnson 6-4 235 Jr.
CB 7 Dalton Simmons 6-1 180 So.
SS 21 Dwayne Davis 6-1 210 Sr.
FS 47 Chris Hudson 5-11 190 Jr.
CB 22 Dennis Collier 6-9 190 Sr.
Micah Laaker/KANSAN
Source: KANSAN Staff Reports
Kansas must stop gifted Colorado receivers to win
Johnson poses threat for Jayhawk defense
By Matt Doyle
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas has faced many fine wide receivers this season. But none of the receivers that the Jayhawks have faced may be as good as Colorado senior Charles Johnson.
Johnson leads the Big Eight Conference in receptions with 47 and yardage with 889. He and junior wide receiver Michael Westbrook will present the Kansas secondary a formidable challenge in the contest between the Buffalooes and Jayhawks at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Folsom Field in Boulder.
"Charles Johnson, there's none better than that guy," said Kansas coach Glen Mason. "Besides being a heck of an athlete, he's a heck of a football player. He's awfully good, as is Westbrook."
Westbrook has 29 receptions for 430 yards this season, but the Buffaloes look for Johnson when they are in need of a big play. Big plays have become routine for Johnson this season.
Examples of Johnson's big play potential were demonstrated in Colorado's 31-14 victory at Oklahoma State last week. Johnson had touchdowns receptions of 26 and 54 yards and six catches for 121 yards.
However, the biggest play Johnson made that day was not on a reception but rather on an interception. Johnson stole the ball away from Oklahoma State strong safety Charles Verner. Verner intercepted a pass from Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart at the Colorado 15-yard line with the Buffaloes leading 17-7 in the third quarter.
Colorado then drove 88 yards for a touchdown, which was the 54-yard reception from Johnson, and a 24-7 lead.
"C.J.'s performance was remarkable," said Colorado coach Bill McCartney. "The pass in which they intercepted it and he stole the ball back was the biggest play of the game. That really settled the game."
Coaches from other Big Eight schools have been amazed by the performances that Johnson has turned in this season.
"He's a tremendous receiver and athlete," said Oklahoma coach Gary Gibbs. "He honestly thinks when the ball is in the air that it is his."
That type of attitude and determination will be another concern for Kansas defensive backs in defending the talented Johnson. Junior cornerback Gerald McBurrows said that Johnson would be one of the top receivers the Jayhawks have faced and that it would be difficult to stop him.
"He's a superb receiver and I give him a lot of credit for his success," McBurrows said. "We'll have to keep our focus, stay with what we have in the game plan and just play the ball. We have the athletes in the defensive backfield that can play with him."
William Alix / KANSAN
Freshman swimmer Eric Singer practices with the Kansas swimming and diving team at Robinson Natatorium. The team will face Southern Methodist University in Oklahoma City this weekend.
Swimmers set for rival SMU
Last year's victory sparks motivation
By Kent Hohlfeld
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's swimming and diving team hopes that history will repeat itself when it travels with the men's team to the Oklahoma City Community College Natoratolium to face Southern Methodist University on Saturday.
The women's team defeated Southern Methodist 152-148 last year in Lawrence. The women's meet last year was decided by the final race, the 400-yard freestyle relay. The then No. 11 Kansas women's team won the relay by less than one-tenth of a second, upsetting the then No. 5 Mustangs.
"It's definitely a big meet," senior swimmer Krista Cordsen said. "We can't go in with a laidback attitude and expect to win. It'll take a 100-percent effort from everyone."
The women's team is expecting another tough meet this year.
She said that being the underdog helped motivate the team to prove itself against the Mustangs.
"We know we have the strength and personnel to beat them," Cordsen said.
Kansas coach Gary Kempf said that Southern Methodist had a historically strong program. The Mustangs could add to that reputation this year.
The Mustangs were dominant in their first meet of the year, with both the men's and women's teams winning 11 of 13 events against Texas A&M. The Kansas women's team will enter the meet with a 24-dual-meet winning streak that was extended with victories against Colorado State and Missouri last weekend.
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SWIMMING
Kempf said that this was a big early season meet. He said that the Southern Methodist women's team was solid throughout its line up.
"They have good people at every event," Kempf said. "I don't think they're as deep as we are, though."
The Southern Methodist men's team appeared as dominant as the women's team, defeating Texas A&M 143.5-99.5.
The Mustangs defeated the Kansas men's team in a closely contested meet last year in Oklahoma City. The Jayhawks led the Mustangs throughout the morning session but fell in the afternoon session, losing the meet 181-157.
"We're really geared up to beat these guys," senior diver Tim Davison said. "We feel we have the talent to beat these guys."
He said that he expected a tight race between the two teams and that both clubs appeared to be equally talented.
"There is no question that it will be tight head-to-head competition," Davidson said.
He said he thought that competing against a strong team like Southern Methodist would give the team extra motivation.
"We were a little flat against Missouri," Davidson said. "We know we have to be ready at SMU."
Kansas last swam at Oklahoma City in lastyear's Big Eight Championships. Kansas won the women's meet and placed second in the men's meet. The Big Eight meet will be held there again this year.
"It's a great facility," Kempf said.
"It also gives our swimmers a chance to see the conference pool before the Big Eights."
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN READERS' POLL
Who is No.1 in college basketball?
The pollsters have had their chance. The coaches have had their say. The sportswriters think they know. Now it is your turn to tell the University Daily Kansan who you think is the top team in college basketball and why.
HERE IS WHAT TO DO:
In 200 words or less — printed or typed —answer all or some of the following:
— Who will surprise everyone and why?
■ Include your name, class, hometown and phone number (so we can verify your letter).
— Who is the top team and why?
- Who is overrated and why?
Submit the letter by 5 p.m. today to the Kansan business office, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, or the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint.
WE WILL PUBLISH THE LETTERS IN THE KANSAN'S NOV.17 KANSAD BASKETBALL PREVIEW. SPACE RESTRICTIONS MAY PREVENT SOME LETTERS FROM BEING PUBLISHED.
Kansas seeks revenge against Oklahoma
Bigger Sooners routed 'Hawks in first meeting
Rv Gerry Fav
By Gerry Fey Kansan sportswriter
Two matches remain for the Jayhawks, one against Oklahoma and one against Kansas State. Victories against both teams would help in obtaining a berth in the Big Eight tournament Nov. 26-27 in Omaha, Neb.
Kansas coach Frankie Albitz called the Oklahoma players possibly the tallest team in the nation. She said the Sooners had always been tall, but this year they were also good.
It comes down to this for the Kansas volleyball team:
Kansas plays Oklahoma at 1 p.m. Sunday at Allen Field House. The Sooners defeated Kansas 3-0 when the teams played earlier this season in Norman, Okla.
"They've definitely got the biggest team in the Big Eight," Albizt said. "This year, they're doing a little better job on digs and ball handling. They are more focused. Before, you didn't know what to expect when you played them."
Kansas is 15-11 overall and 4-6 in the conference, and Oklahoma is third in the conference with a 14-12 overall record and a 5-3 conference record.
Kansas is fifth in the conference, behind Iowa State. The Cyclones play Colorado and Nebraska, the top teams in the Big Eight. If both teams defeat Iowa State as they did earlier this season, Kansas would be alone in fourth place in the conference providing it defeats both Oldahoma and Kansas State.
Only the top four teams advance to the conference tournament, but all is not lost
VOLLEYBALL
if Oklahoma defeats Kansas. As long as the Jayhawks defeat Kansas State, they would be tied with Iowa State. Kansas freshman outside hitter Katie Walsh said she would like a victory against Oklahoma to avoid tying the Cyclones.
"Beating OU would help tremendously," she said. "It would take a lot of the pressure off. Every game helps us since we are tied with Iowa State."
Each game Kansas wins in a match will help because in a tie, the total winning percentage in all conference games determines who advances to the tournament. That makes the match important for both Oklahoma and Kansas, Oklahoma assistant coach Amy Farber said.
"Any match from here on out is important," she said. "We're going to be either second or third. If we lose to Kansas, it's going to put us in third place. You want to win and build momentum going into the tournament. It probably is more important to Kansas than us."
A bright spot that Kansas can focus on is Oklahoma's five-game defeat against seventh-place Missouri on Oct. 30. Looking at the records, Oklahoma should have defeated Missouri, Albizt said.
"Oklahoma may have a tendency to be hot and cold," Albiz said. "Either that or they have a let-down. Last match we tried some things that hurt us. We're not going to do that this time."
Walsh said Sunday's match would be nothing like what happened at Norman, Okla., earlier in the season.
"We can't do any worse than we did last match," she said. "We played terrible. I don't even want to compare that team then to our team now."
Melissa Lacey / KANBAN
Senior middle blocker Cyndee Kanabel watches as sophomore outside hitter Tracie Walt spikes a ball. Kansas will play Oklahoma at 1 p.m.
Sunday at Allen Field House.