SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9.1994
SECTION B
BIG 8 FOOTBALL
Nebraska survives injuries Coach believes adversity helps
The Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. — The No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers of this fall are better than the 1983 version that came within a point of winning the national championship, according to Turner Gill.
Gill was the quarterback of that 1983 squad that had supporting players such as Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mike Rozier, All-American receiver Irving Fryar and guard Dean Steinkuhler, winner of the Lombardi and Outland trophies. That team lost 31-30 to Miami in the Orange Bowl, its only blemish in a 12-1 season.
Gill also is the quarterback coach for the current Cornhuskers.
"This year's team is a better football team overall because of the defense," Gill said Monday at the Extra-Point Club luncheon in Lincoln. "Offensively there are some similarities, so I feel there's no doubt this is the better team when you put everything together."
Gill, Rozier and Fryar formed the offensive threat known as the "Triplets." Gill directed the nation's most potent offense in 1983, but the defense ranked 73rd nationally. This year's defense ranks 10th nationally.
In addition to a stronger defense, Gill said there was one intangible that made this year's team special.
"This team has been so focused," he said. "There has been a lot of adversity. But each individual guy — whether he's a starter, backup or scout-team guy — has helped to improve this football team."
The adversity centers around injuries that would have crippled other teams. Starting quarterback Tomnie Frazier was lost for the season after four games with a recurring blood clot. That was two games after the Huskers lost their defensive leader, safety Mike Minter, to a season-ending knee injury.
Frazier's replacement, Brook Berringer, suffered partial lung collapses in two midseason games. Sophomore quarterback Matt Turman, who started the Kansas State game, also suffered a deep shoulder bruise late in the Missouri game.
Lesser teams may have folded, Gill said. But the Huskers stand 10-0 and No.1 in both major polls with two regular-season games to play.
"I'm ecstatic everybody at quarterback has come together and really helped each other." Gill said.
Berringer has become an outstanding replacement, Gill said. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior from Goodland, Kan., has completed 63.6 percent of his passes (70 of 110) for 936 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. In the last three games, Berringer has hit 70.8 percent (34 of 48) for 561 yards, with six touchdowns and one interception.
"Brook is a very good passer—he's very efficient — and that may put more of a burden on some teams as far as stacking up against the run."
Volleyball team ready to see red
Large Nebraska turnout expected in 'Husker stands
By Chesley Dohl
Kansan sportswriter
Tonight the Kansas volleyball team will walk into The Coliseum, the home of the No. 1-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, greeted by a "sea of red" 3,000 fans strong. A one-word summary of that experience: Intimidating.
When it comes to motivating teams for competition against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Big Eight coaches handle it in different ways. Kansas State volleyball coach Jim Moore plainly told the Wildcats they didn't have a chance against the Cornhuskers.
"I told them the chance of beating this team (Nebraska) was almost none and to go out and have fun," Moore said. "We had a better chance of winning if we were having fun than if we weren't."
Kansas coach Karen Schonewise approaches this situation differently. When Kansas played Nebraska in Allen Field House on Oct. 19, Schonewise was
"Before we went out, she told us just to play our game," Kansas junior outside hitter Tracie Walt said. "She said, 'It's going to be a fun match. They're a fun team to play.'"
more enthusiastic than Moore.
Despite the optimistic approach, Kansas lost the match in three games to Nebraska, 6.15.21.5-21.5
Jayhawks in tonight's match, Schoonewis remains very positive, reinforcing her team.
Even with the odds stacked against the
"We treat every team the same going into competition," freshman outside hitter Kendra Khaler said.
Kansas will take its 2-6 conference record into Lincoln, Neb., against 23-0 Nebraska, and Schonewise said the Jayhawks were ready toUm a fight.
"It's a tremendous atmosphere to play in." Schonewise said. "It's a great facility. They have great fans. It's a tremendous place to play."
"Nebraska is a great team," she said. "And obviously we're the
Schonewise said Kansas had not developed an exact plan on what to do against the Cornhuskers.
underdog. It's a role we like at this point in the season."
"We haven't been working on anything too specific," she said.
Besides being underdogs, Schonewise said the Jayhawks would try to take advantage of adrenaline and the atmosphere of The Coliseum.
"I told them the chance of beating them was almost none and to go out and have fun."
Jim Moore Kansas State volleyball coach
"They have big blockers who can get their hands on it, so we plan to use their block."
Kansas will be most successful moving the ball and playing actively against the Cornhuskers.
One particular player the Jayhawks must key in on is Nebraska middle blocker Allison Weston, who led the 'Huskers with 14 kills in the two teams' last meeting.
was still deliberating on the best way to motivate the Jayhawks right before tonight's match.
"That's something to decide between now and game time." Schonewise said.
Schonewise said she
Kansas freshman middle blocker Kendra Kahier and junior outside hitter Tracie Walt combine to stop a Colorado spiker.
Sean Crosier / KANSAN
Valerie Crow / KANSAN
Chris Martin, Lenexa senior, works on his dives at Robinson Natatorium. The diving team, coached by Don Fonner, practices every weekday afternoon and on Saturday mornings.
Diving team enjoys splashing success
Teams' coach named Big Eight coach of year after successful season
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas men's and women's diving teams are making waves — tidal waves, actually.
Last season, the Jayhawks produced two Big Eight Champions, a first in the team's history. Tim Davidson, a senior last year, captured the conference titles on both the one-meter and three-meter boards, while junior Michelle Rojoh was the Big Eight Champion on the three-meter board.
"They made me look good," said Kansas diving coach Don Fearon.
Fearon looked good enough to be named the 1994 Men's and Women's Big Eight Diving Coach of the Year.
He said he experienced his best and most successful year last year, but his honor was closely tied to the divers.
"That's more of a credit to them than to me."
Fearon said. "A lot of the credit goes to them."
The diving team's success has not come easy. Fearon was a self-taught coach, and two of the team's top divers were practically unknown before coming to Kansas.
Fearon is used to dealing with difficulty. When he dove for Raytown South High School in Kansas City, Mo., his team had no coach. Fearon said divers coached each other and learned what they could through camps.
After graduating from Southwest Missouri State University, Fearon coached for his high school. His next job was at Kansas. In the six seasons Fearon has coached Kansas divers, much of his knowledge has come from talking with nationally-known diving coaches and reading a limited amount of diving literature, he said.
Kansas' unlikely success continues with senior Chris Martin and Rojohn. Martin was a
walk-on for the team for two years before earning a scholarship his junior year. This season, Fearon said Martin had been the team's best three-meter diver and would likely qualify for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
The Zone Championships are qualifying meets for the NCAA Championships next spring.
"He has stepped up his level of performance this year." Fearon said.
Martin said his role on the team has changed in the last three years. It broadened from a walk-on's roll to being one of the team leaders.
"It's my job to not only do well for myself but also for the team." Martin said.
Another diver who came out of nowhere was Rojohn. She originally wanted to compete in collegiate gymnastics.
However, because of a bad knee and the distance from her home to schools offering gymnastics. RoJohn choose diving.
"The only person I'd ever talked to about diving was Don," Rojohn said. "He's a really good coach. He has taught me pretty much everything I've ever known."
Now in her junior season, Rojohn has already qualified for the zone meet next spring. Divers must meet a scoring standard to qualify. In her 10 diving competitions this year, Rojohn met the qualifying standards each time. She also has nine first-place finishes and one second-place finish to her credit.
"She's very responsive," Fearon said. "She's just a lot of fun to coach."
Joining Rojohn in qualifying for the zone meet was junior Kris Hoffman and senior Erika Rasmusson.
Fearon said the Jayhawks had the potential to qualify an additional three or four divers for the competition. They also could send a male and female diver to the national competition, he said.
"Those are high goals, but I think they're possible." Fearon said.
To keep those ideals at the forefront, Fearon recently hung a large NCAA seal in Robinson Natatorium, the team's home pool.
"I didn't put that there for decoration," he said.
"That reminds you of where you want to go."
READER OPINION
Who is No.1 in college basketball?
The Kansan will publish a basketball preview section to tip off the men's and women's seasons. The section will run in the Nov. 17 paper.
The sports staff is asking readers to write letters between 100 to 150 words long predicting the outcome of the college basketball season.
Letters must be submitted no later than Nov. 10 with the author's name and phone number included. If that information is left off, the Kansas will not accept the submitted letter.
Readers should predict what team will win the NCAA championship. They also can pick the teams they consider overrated or dark horses.
Letters should be turned in to the Kansan newsroom, Room 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. A box for entered letters will be provided in the newsroom.
Any questions concerning reader's letters should be directed to Brian James, sports editor, or Gerry Fey, associate sports editor, at the Kansas, 864-4810.
Big Eight Leader Board
Total Offense — Team
plays vds vds-pg
Nebraska 750 4954 495.4
Colorado 626 4233 470.3
Kansas 613 3458 384.2
Oklahoma 681 3351 372.3
Kansas St. 557 2940 367.5
Oklahoma St. 624 3094 343.7
Iowa St. 630 3010 334.4
Missouri 605 2712 301.3
Total Defense — Team
plays vds vds-pg
Nebraska 659 2714 271.4
Oklahoma 577 2687 298.6
Kansas St. 540 2561 320.1
Colorado 627 3205 356.1
Oklahoma St. 650 3450 383.3
Kansas 630 3455 383.9
Missouri 663 3771 419.0
Iowa St. 629 4014 446.0
Leading Rushers
car vds avg vds-pg
Saleam,Colo 239 1564 6.5 173.7
Phillips,Neb 229 1489 6.5 148.9
J.Smith,KanSt 154 694 4.5 86.7
Thompson,OkiaSt 171 748 4.4 83.1
Hanley,Kansas 104 539 5.2 77.0
Moore,Okia 86 437 5.1 62.4
Richardson,OkiaSt 81 559 6.9 62.1
Levine,Kansas 87 532 6.1 59.1
Total Offense
yds avg vds-pg
Stewart,Colo 2176 7.3 241.7
May,KanSt 1858 5.8 232.2
McGee,Okia 1812 5.3 201.3
Salaam,Colo 1564 6.5 173.7
Handy,Mo 1435 5.0 159.4
T.Jones,OkiaSt 1393 4.9 154.7
Phillips,Neb 1489 6.4 148.9
Preston,Kansas 1117 5.9 139.6