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KANSAS SWIMMING The No.20 men's team is ready to face No.16 Iowa tomorrow in their final dual meet of the season. Page 4.
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 2, 1996
Students deserve good seats
SECTION B
Although by reading this column you may not think so, I have the utmost respect for the Kansas athletic department.
How couldn't I? They have classy coaches in nearly every sport and run a squeaky-clean program.
"Now as the late singer Jeff Garcia said, "Every silver lining has a touch of gray." And it's that touch of gray I'm going to direct my attention upon.
During a Saturday afternoon
broadcast of college basketball earlier this season, Billy Packer said something that I can't get out of my head. The game was at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium and it pitted the Blue Devils against a hapless preseason opponent.
ASSOCIATE
SPORTS
EDITOR
Following a timeout caused by an intense
Maybe this is a good place to stop and say why this comment cut so deeply.
Blue Devil defensive stand, Packer turned to Jim Nance and said, "Ya know, Jim, you can't find fans like this anywhere!"
I hate Duke with the angry intensity of 100 Bobby Knights. As a lifelong Jayhawk fan, I died a little when the Blue Devils beat us in the 1986 Final Four and died a lot when Duke topped Kansas in the 1991 Championship game.
Fact is, Billy, you can find fans like the ones in Durham, N.C., right here. You can't look across you announcers' table to the fans, though. Try looking behind the baskets and in the corners at Allen Field House — that's where you'll find the fans.
Back to the story.
SUNFLOWER SHOWDOWN
Unlike Cameron, where the students are given the best seats in the house, Kansas gives the students the leftovers. It's those who graduated in the 1940s and 1950s, or those who forked over a killing in donations to the Williams Educational Fund that get the choice courtside seats.
Courtside seating is crucial for the image of an arena.
During a Duke basketball game, the camera follows the ball and students can be seen jumping, chanting and clapping in the background. However, the background at a Kansas basketball game resembles a tennis match, with those on the courtside sitting down and politely clapping. The cameras don't show behind the goals and in the corners where students can be found doing everything the Blue Devil fans do.
in the sporting world this is nothing new. Fan loyalty means little when it is put up against the almighty dollar. I've never seen any of the alumni that sit courtside camping out for weeks to get good seats.
Heck, one fat check with a lot of zero's covers that!
In a phone conversation, Kansas athletic director Bob Frederick told me that students sitting court side is ideal, but speaking practically, it can't be done. He said that the athletic department depends heavily on private contributions.
Let me see — shoe contracts, TV contracts, $20 adult general admission tickets for men's basketball, and private contributions are the backbone of our athletic department?
I'm not asking to kick the alumni and high rollers out of Allen Field House. Just ask them to take alternate seating — like behind he goals and in the corners. If they can't accept that, there's plenty of people who would gladly take their spot.
For as much hatred as I hold against Duke, the fact is they do student seating right. The students are the ones who attend the school, their classmates are members of the team, and they are the ones who get the best seats.
Frederick did mention that student seating might be a different story if a new arena was built and they could start from scratch.
But until then, and until the students sit courtside, it looks Billy Packer is right, and the Blue Devils beat us again.
Jayhawks ready for hot Wildcats
Kansas State wants to avenge recent losses
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
if the rivalry and Big Eight Conference standings aren't enough motivation, Kansas State need only look back to last season.
The Kansas men's basketball team, which defeated K-State three times last year, ended the Wildcats' season with a 90-45 drubbing in the Big Eight tournament.
"They've probably had that put up on their board all off season and the whole summer," Kansas sophomore guard Billy Thomas said. "Those guys are definitely going to be fired up."
However, Kansas State sophomore guard Mark Young said last season's loss won't be much of a factor when the Wildcats travel to Allen Field House for a 12:05 p.m. tinoff Sunday.
"They came out and killed us. Killed us inside, outside, wherever they wanted to kill us, we told them," Young said. "But it's another season with another team. It's in the back of our mind, but this is the season we're concerned with."
The level of concern has shown. Led by seniors Elliot Hatcher and Tyrone Davis, the Wildcats are third in the conference after going 5-2 and 14-5 overall.
The rivalry has remained strong even though neither team is dominated by in-state players. Four Wildcats hail from Kansas as do three Jayhawks — junior forward B.J. Williams, Wichita; sophomore guard C.B. McGrath, Topelta; and redshirt Travis Williams, Rozel.
With a Jayhawk loss, K-State could narrow the gap between itself and Kansas. The Jayhawks lead the Big Eight and are 5-0 and 17-1 overall after an 84-66 victory against Oklahoma State on Wednesday.
teams out there that are going to play their hearts out."
Despite the rivalry's impact on the state, it wasn't a big deal for B.J. Williams when he was growing up.
"The whole state follows the game," said Kansas sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz. "It's really lots of fun to play in. You have two
"In high school, the only reason I watched KU was because 'Steve was here,' he said of former Wichita So High School teammate Steve Woodberry.
It was during Woodberry's last season that Kansas won the first two games of its current five game winning streak against the Wildcats.
Kansas State men's basketball coach Tom Asbury said his team would need a great effort to break the streak because the Jayhawks have proven they are multi-dimensional. They are able to pound the ball inside or hit perimeter shots.
"We'll need to play an excellent basketball game to stay on the court," Asbury said. "I think we're capable of doing that, but we're going to have to play very, very, very well."
That will likely start on the defensive end, where the Wildcats have improved the most, said Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams. K-
State is only allowing opponents a 39.2 field goal percentage, just lower than Kansas' 39.5 percent.
"I don't see them trying to do things they cannot do," he said. "I see much more of a team this year. I'm not trying to do this to build them up; their record should build them up."
Richard Devinki / KANSAN
The intrastate battle between Kansas and Kansas State begins another chapter Sunday when the No. 3 Jayhawks meet the Wildcats in Allen Field House.
Hard trip lies ahead for women's basketball
Kansas will travel to Colorado and Missouri
Kansan sportswriter
By Evan Blackwell Kansas sportswriter
Not only does the Kansas women's basketball team face its nemesis this weekend in No. 16 Colorado, but the Jayhawks are also embarking on their toughest swing of the season.
After taking on the Buffaloores tonight in Boulder, Kansas will take a flight to Columbia to play Missouri on Sunday afternoon. Marian Washington, Kansas women's basketball
"This swing itself is the most challenging, because of the distance between the two schools," Washington said.
coach, said this trip is the toughest of the conference season.
The Jayhawks are 12-7 overall and 5-2 in the Big Eight Conference. Kansas is in a three-way tie for first place with Colorado and Oklahoma State. The Buffalooes, 18-5 overall, have won the Big Eight championship the last three seasons.
Colorado defeated Kansas 60-59 earlier this season at Allen Field House. The game was a tight, defensive struggle. Washington said more of the same should be expected tonight.
"The advantage will be theirs at home," Washington said. "We're going to have to play
with a great deal of intensity."
Washington said transition defense will be the key to stopping Colorado this time around.
"In that game (earlier this season), they got some long passes out against us," Washington said. "We have to get back on defense."
Kansas junior guard Tamecka Dixon said the team is aware of the opportunity for the Jayhawks this weekend.
"Colorado is a great team," Dixon said. "We want the Big Eight championship, and we know how important this weekend is."
While Colorado has been a known power in the Big Eight, Missouri has been inconsistent. Despite struggling on the road, the Tigers have snuck up on several opponents this season in Columbia. The Tigers are 10-2 at home this
year, including a 72-61 win over Colorado last month.
On the road, Missouri made a strong showing in Lawrence earlier this season in 66-64 loss to the Jayhawks. Washington said Kansas remembers the problems the Tigers presented in the previous meeting.
"They did a good job of surprising us with their lineup last time," Washington said. "They went more with a perimeter, offensive team, and we had not anticipated that."
Dixon said that Kansas wouldn't be taking Missouri for granted Sunday, no matter what the outcome is tonight against Colorado.
"They've upset some people this year, and I know it would make their year to upset us," Dixon said. "We can't underestimate anyone."
Galbreath jumps hurdles to compete in two sports
By Adam Herschman Kansan sportswriter
Kansas sophomore running back Eric Galbreath seemed at ease, listening to his headphones in the almost empty stands of the Ahearn Center Saturday.
For the last three years he has spent most of his time on the football team adjusting to a new position and as a special teams player.
"I'm a competitor," Galbreath said. "i mean I really prayed about it. I wanted to run track this year. Whatever college I went to I wanted to do both, and Kansas was one of those schools that said I could."
At about 4:45 p.m., Galbreath stood up in his uniform and set his sweats down — they read Kansas Track and Field.
Finally, he would individually get his chance to compete.
Galbreath signed to play football for Kansas, but at the same time was recruited by the Kansas track and field team.
In his first track and field meet in over three years Galbreath finished sixth in the 55-meter dash in 6.66 seconds, and he finished the 200-meter dash in ninth place.
"I think I did OK, considering I just started practice last Wednesday," Galbreath said after the race. "The 200 was just a lack of conditioning; I got tight and tense. I didn't have the technique around the curb, so I was really out of control."
Kansas assistant track and field coach Theo Hamilton said that he did not expect any miracles from Galbreath in his first performance.
"For a first meet, I thought Eric had a good meet," Hamilton said. "We have a lot of work to do, first of all, but he has a lot of potential."
Galbreath did not seem to be expecting any miracles either. He said he was just happy the coaches gave him a chance to compete.
"Just being able to be out here is a victory," Galbreath said. "Today, I'm not really upset. I know that a lot of people may have beaten me today, but give me a month or so. I'll get them back," he said.
During the football season Galbreath rarely carried the ball this year. Since the team had an abundance of running backs, Galbreath only carried the ball once in the last five games.
While backing up L.T. Levine, Galbreath carried the ball 11 times for 54 yards, and also caught two passes for 17 yards. With the graduation of Levine, Galbreath wants to make the most of next year.
"Whatatever opportunity I get, I'm going to take advantage of it." "Galbreth said.
Kansas track and field coach Gary Schwartz said that the training Galbreath does will help his football skills.
"We're happy to have him," Schwartz said.
"At the very least he's going to make himself a better football player. Working on the flexibility and speed, how can you go wrong?"
Darcy Coles / KAMSAM
Kansas harder Eric Galbreth, who is also a member of the football team, will compete in the 55-meter hurdles at the Jawahir Invittional tomorrow in Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
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