wednesday, December 1, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 11
Hall-of-Famer Sayers developed mystique in just 64 professional football appearances
Continued from page 8A
Though still effective, Sayers was never the same after the knee troubles. When he hurt his left knee in 1970, the injury virtually ended his career. Sayers would play only four more regular season games before he retired in 1972 with 4,956 yards rushing. When he retired, Sayers ranked first all-time in the NFL for punt returns, second in kickoff returns and third in rushing.
All in 64 games.
"It was definitely shorter than I'd like, but I loved the time I had," Sayers said. "I can't do anything about the injuries, so I don't think about it. If I'd have played 10 years, 15 years, sure, I'd probably have a few more records; I couldn't receive any more recognition than I've had." Sayers played in five Pro Bowls and won the MVP in the last.
Sayers played in five Pro Bowls and was the MVP in three of those games.
He also was named to the league's 50-year team, this after Sayers had been in the league for just three seasons. One year later, in 1969, he was named the NFL's all-time halfback. In 1977, he was named to both the NCAA and NFAL hall of fames. At 34, Sayers is the youngest person ever inducted in the NFL Hall of Fame.
His legend lasted long enough to be named to the league's 75-year team In 1993.
The legend surrounding Sayers was magnified by perhaps the most impressive of his accomplishments: six touchdowns in one game. It included one reception for 80 yards, runs of 21, 7, 50 and 1 yards, and an 85-yard punt return. The scores tied an NFL mark.
"The greatest feat I have ever witnessed," described Donald Makin of The Coffin Corner.
Sayers probably could have scored
even more on that muddy December day had he played more of the Bears' 61-20 blowout of San Francisco.
"I really think I could have scored nine touchdowns that day," Sayers said. "Back then we weren't concerned with records, we were concerned with winning ball games. Nowadays, you've got teams with record books on the sidelines saying 'we need one more yard for this.' But that day it was very wet and there was bad footing on the field. I didn't have much trouble staying up."
Performances such as that only feed Sayers' legend. Like Michael Jordan after him, Sayers left the game before talent left his body.
"You hear people talk about that, about how many yards or touchdowns or whatever I would have had with a full career," he said. "If Barry Sanders doesn't comeback they'll say the same things about him. It definitely adds to your mark, it gives you a little mystique."
After he left football, Sayers served as assistant athletics director from 1973-76 at Kansas, where he earned a master's degree in educational administration. After earning his degree, Sayers left Kansas to become athletics director at Southern Illinois, where he held the position from 1976-81.
In 1982, he started Sayers Computer Source in Chicago and he still runs the business today. In 1999, he gave back to the University where he got his start, donating $75,000 towards the Gale Sayers Microcomputer Center. The lab will be included in the renovations of Joseph R. Pearson Hall, which is being turned into the new School of Education.
Getting into the basketball spirit
By Jason Walker
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
It might not be March Madness, but intramural basketball is getting University of Kansas students into the right state of mind.
The pre-holiday tournament began Monday and will continue until next Tuesday with the finals of each of the three divisions
There are 87 teams participating in three divisions: 69 men's, 11 women's and seven co-recreational. This format is different from the regular intramural season, in which there are eight divisions including men's and
women's open, residence hall and greek, men's law and corecreational.
The tournament isn't divided like the normal season because the goals of the tournament are different. Tom Nienke, Mulvane senior and program assistant, said that no hill points were awarded to the greek teams during the pre-holiday tournament, and the main reason the format was different was because the main goal of the tournament was to train officials for the regular season.
Brad Bolyard, Olathe junior and intramural supervisor, said that he had watched the first night of competition Monday and said so far the play looked a little rough.
"It looks like a lot of people are still out of shape," he said. "Or at least not in basketball shape yet. That causes a lot of fouls."
Jeremy Arthur, Erie junior, said he thought the tournament was good because it gave his team an opportunity to play together before the regular season began.
"You've got teams walking out and half of the team is loose," he said. "This way we can get practice playing together."
Arthur also said that he was impressed with the talent he saw so far. He said the tournament was tougher than the regular season because of the combined brackets.
"It's a lot better than I
expected," he said. "It's a lot harder when you throw in all of the greek teams."
Bolyard said that the tournament was a good way for students to be exposed to the different rules of intramural basketball — which is played with a running clock. Also, intramural players must stay out of the lane during freethrow attempts until the ball touches the rim.
Bolyard also said that he hoped students had a good time in the tournament.
"It's a good opportunity to relieve stress before finals," he said. "You get to socialize with new people and get some exercise before the holidays."
- Edited by Chris Hopkins
Sigma Nu,
seen here in
the dark jersey's,
played in the second day of the intermural Holiday tournament.
Sigma Nu won their game against Battenfield Scholarship Hall in double overtime.
Photo by Shelly Smith/KANSAN
New Mexico State coach interviews for Texas Tech position
LUBBOCK, Texas — New Mexico State Aggies coach Tony Samuel, who this year led his team to only its third winning season since 1967, interviewed yesterday for the vacant job at Texas Tech officials said
Myers is seeking a replacement for longtime Red Raiders coach Spike Dykes, who resigned at the end of the season. The Red Raiders were 5-3 in the Big 12 Conference and 6-5 overall.
Gerald Myers, Texas Tech athletics director met in El Paso with Samuel, 44, a former player and assistant coach at Nebraska.
The Associated Press
"He took over a pro program that was pretty low," Myers said. "I think the fact had a
winning year his third year is a pretty good accomplishment."
control, his 11-22 record since 1997 will not be held against him. The Aggies were 6-5 this year.
Myers said that because New Mexico State was mired in a string of four consecutive losing seasons when Samuel took
Any coaching candidate would have to present a convincing case that he could add life to the Red Raiders' offense, Myers said. In 1998, Samuel's team averaged 462.2 yards per game, which ranked 13th nationally.
New Mexico State led the Big West Conference in rushing offense in 1997 and 1998, and had an 1,800-yard passer this season in K.C. Enzinger.
Samuel, a native of Trinidad, West Indies, moved to New Jersey at age 10 and played defensive end at Nebraska from 1974 to 1977. He coached Nebraska's rush ends and outside linebackers from 1986 tr
1996.
Samuel was the second candidate to be granted a formal interview for the job since Dykes announced his retirement Nov. 20.
Clemson assistant coach and offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez, 36, visited Lubbock twice last week and also said he met with university representatives in Dallas.
However, Myers said he still wanted to discuss the Texas Tech opening with Oklahoma offensive coordinator Mike Leach, 38.
Rose struggles to be allowed into baseball
The Associated Press
Rose: trying to work his way back into baseball
NEW YORK — Pete Rose stepped up his efforts yesterday to get back into baseball, saying he had handwriting and fingerprint evidence to bolster his case.
Rose said one of his lawyers, Roger Makley, will meet in December or January with baseball's top lawyer Bob
"The last 10 years have been hell for me," Rose said at a news conference to launch an Internet petition drive. "I survived because I'm a survivor."
DuPuy, which Rose termed the start of a dialogue to end his lifetime ban from the sport.
Following an investigation of his gambling, baseball's career hits leader agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989.
"Mr. Rose's attorney has written me a letter. I read it very thoughtfully, very carefully, and turned it over to Mr. DuPuy. There's nothing more involved right now than that, nor should there be any more read into it," Selig said at an owners' meeting in Irving, Texas.
While Rose was hopeful the meeting with DuPuy is the first step on the road to restatement, commissioner Bud Selig played down the development.
DuPuy described the meeting more as of a courtesy in which he would listen to what Rose's side had to say and pass it along to Selig.
"About 10 days ago, they asked to meet with commissioner Selig and myself. Bud asked me to meet with them," DuPuy said. "We're always amenable to discussing matters with people."
Rose twice said that baseball had approached him about a meeting, a claim denied by DuPuy and Selig representative Rich Levin. Rose's business manager, Warren Greene, said he had been dealing with DuPuy on a daily basis, but DuPuy said he had spoken with Greene just once
DuPuy said Selig would not be part of the meeting and that he would update Selig, who has said many times that he has seen no new evidence that would cause him to alter the ban
"After we meet with them and see what they've got, he'll make a determination and we'll see from there," DuPuy said, adding that Selig did not set any timetable.
The 58-year-old Rose has been in the headlines repeatedly in recent weeks. First, he was among the 25 players elected to baseball's All-Century team. Then, he received the largest ovation among the All-Century players introduced before Game 2 of the World Series at Atlanta's Turner Field.
"That's like outdoing God in heaven," Rose said.
He also got a surge of support from the public after NBC reporter Jim Gray questioned him sharply about gambling immediately after the on-field ceremony.
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