Thursday, December 2. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Bears' Miller suspended for drugs
Quarterback says it was a mistake
The Associated Press
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears quarterback Jim Miller was suspended by the NFL yesterday for his team's final four games for violating league drug policy.
Miller said he had taken an over-the-counter nutritional supplement for four days in September, and he did not realize it contained the anabolic steroid mandrolone.
"This was an honest mistake," Miller said at a news conference at the Bears' practice center.
"I can't explain how disappointing this is ... Out of all people to let down a team, I thought I'd be the last one to do it."
The NFL said Miller broke the league policy on anabolic steroids and related substances, but it did
not identify the particular substance he is accused of using.
"No way was it done knowingly." Miller
said. "Anyone who knows me, knows I would never take steroids as a quarterback."
Mark Hatley, the Bears' vice president of player personnel, said Miller — who becomes a free agent at the end of this season — was still
in the team's plans for next year.
"I'm sure the players have learned from this," Hatley said.
This is the third NFL drug suspension in the last two weeks. The others, both for steroids, were to New York Giants rookie safety Lyle West and New York Jets tackle Jason Ferguson.
Miller's improbable rise from career third stringer to starting quarterback was one of the team's success stories this season.
Injuries to starting quarterback Shane Matthews and first-round draft choice Cade McNown gave Miller his opportunity, and he won the starting job with a solid second half in a victory against Green Bay.
Miller has been the Bears' starting quarterback the last three
games, averaging 327 yards a game. In a 27-24 overtime loss to Minnesota, Miller was 34-for-48 for 422 yards and three touchdowns. It was the biggest day for a Bears quarterback in more than 30 years. The Bears (5-7) recently signed former Tampa Bay quarterback Craig Erickson, and both Matthews and McNown should be ready for Sunday's game with Green Bay.
Miller, 28, was claimed off waivers in 1998, but did not play that year. He was drafted out of Michigan State by Pittsburgh in 1994 and spent that season with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League. He played with Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Jacksonville before joining the Bears.
Kansas State tries to reduce turnovers
The Associated Press
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Kansas State men's basketball team just can't cure themselves of playing giveaway.
The Wildcats have made a point of cutting down on their turnovers, but with each passing
game they have given the ball away more and more times.
The Wildcats had 26 turnovers just before Thanksgiving in a game they nearly lost to underdog Northwestern. State
"You'd think after a week of practice that we would be more solid," he said.
"You want to smack yourself in the head, because we emphasize that all year," forward Tony Kitt said of the turnovers. "That shouldn't count as a win. We should have won more convinc-
before pulling out a 76-71 victory.
Three of Kansas State's starters
— Josh Reid, Galen Morrison and Cortez Groves — combined for 14 turnovers.
ingly."
Coach Tom Asbury tried to emphasize holding on to the ball in practice, but the Wildcats had 27 turnovers in the next game against Texas-San Antonio. Kansas State won 86-75 despite the turnovers, but Asbury still wasn't happy.
Asbury says part of the problem is that Kansas State has only one point guard with Division I experience. "We may be tinkering for a long time at that position," he said. "They (point guards) have to stop turning the ball over."
"We may be tinkering for a long time at that position," he said. "They (point guards) have to stop turning the ball over."
Point guards Kenyatta Dix, Galen Morrison and Josh Kimm committed 13 turnovers against Texas-San Antonio in 40 minutes of play.
The Wildcats have an assist to turnover ratio of .57, a mark that ranks eleventh in the Big 12 Conference.
'Huskers set fumble record
Fans send gimmicks suggestions to coach
The Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Frank Solich said he had received plenty of suggestions and mimmicks to help the Cornhuskers solve their fumble problems.
While Solich appreciates most of the thoughts and can even laugh at a few, he and his staff still are working to come up with their own solution.
"We always want to approach it from a positive when we do talk about it rather that a negative," Solich said. "But there is not much talking left to do."
The No. 3 Cornhuskers (10-1 overall, 7-1 Big 12) have set a team record for fumbles this season with 47, breaking the mark set in 1967 when Nebraska put the ball on the ground 46 times. The 'Huskers have lost 23 fumbles, which is three shy of the team record set in 1954.
Solich doesn't want to see that record fall Saturday when Nebraska plays No. 12 Texas (9-3, 6-2) in the Big 12 championship game in San Antonio, Texas.
fumbled twice inside the Texas 20. including once at the goal-line in the 'huskers' only loss of the season.
Fumbles were especially costly for the 'Huskers when they lost to Texas 24-20 earlier in the season. Nebraska
Coughing the ball up nearly proved just as costly last week at Colorado when running back Dan Alexander couldn't handle an option pitch at the Buffaloes 16. Colorado recovered and drove for what was nearly a game-winning field goal that drifted wide.
Solich said fumbles always were a
battered and run risk when running the option, but a lot of 'Huskers' turnovers had come from players who just weren't hanging on to the bai.
He said fans had tried to help.
"We've gotten gloves. We've gotten glue." Solich said. "Somebody sent me a football with a handle on it when I was coaching backs. Over the years, if I had kept what I'd been sent I'd have a pretty good collection of things."
Solich, a former fullback with the Huskers in the 1960s, is confident the number of Nebraska fumbles eventually will come back to normal.
"As a staff, when we go over the tape, there have not been many chuckles whenever fumbles have occurred," he said. "Our players know how serious it is."
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