Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Tuesday April 20,1999
Columnist Spencer Duncan offers the Athletics Department tips to fill Memorial Stadium next football season.
Section:
SEE PAGE 3B
Chiefs Football
The Kansas City Chiefs signed Paola native Brian Shay, an undersized running back from Emporia State.
SEE PAGE 3B
B
Pro Hockey
Page 1
The Detroit Red Wings face the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the opening round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs tomorrow.
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Robertson signs with USBL team, leaves open NBA options
The Associated Press
SALINA — University of Kansas guard Ryan Robertson has signed to play with the Kansas Cagerz of the United States Basketball League, while keeping his eye on the National Basketball Association.
He signed his contract with the Salina-based team Sunday during halftime of an exhibition game featuring him and other seniors who have just finished their careers at Kansas.
"I'm excited, and I think it's going to
be a good opportunity for me," said Robertson, a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 12.8 points for the Jayhawks this season. "It's something when you play basketball growing up that you think about—having to get a real job. Hopefully I get to put it off for awher."
The Cagerz, who
Robertson: Will join the team after graduation.
"We're still waiting to find out what the full details are because of our commitment to Ryan academically." Cagerz coach Tom Hughes said. "What we've tried to do is work around his class schedule, his final exam schedule and graduation.
begain play April 30, start a weeklong training camp tomorrow, but Robertson won't join the team until after he finishes school at Kansas and gets his business administration degree next month. He'll begin play May 11 in the second home game against Atlanta.
"Because of that, we knew he would not be available all the time. He'll make the second road trip with us to Raleigh and Tampa Bay. Beyond that, what he does as far as travel will be influenced by his NBA workouts and the combine in Chicago."
Robertson said that flexibility was integral in his decision to sign with the team. Since the league concludes its season by the end of June, playing for the Cagerz won't interfere with Robertson's hopes for catching on with an NBA team.
"We think it's a great opportunity for him to showcase his talents," Hughes said. "Almost every games will have scouts from the NBA, CBA and IBA."
Billy Thomas, the hot-shooting guard who finished his career at Kansas a year ago, will also play for the Cagerz, who have exhibition games in Newton on Friday and McPherson on Saturday.
Edited by Jodi Smith
Chandler returns to field after getting doctor OK
Michael Chandler, Kansas City, Kan., senior, practices with the football team after recovering from a gunshot wound. Chandler was shot at his residence on Feb. 28. Photo by Aaron Lindberg/KANSAN
By Michael Rigg
mtrigg@ukans.edu
Kansas sportwriter
You can find Michael Chandler's name in the lower left-hand corner of the roster page of the spring press guide, under the heading "Injured Ruled out for contact in the spring."
But that's not the way Chandler works.
"The doctors are so conservative sometimes," Chandler said. "I just told them 'I'm all right to play.'"
able. While Chandler was rehabilitating a left ankle injury in late February, he was the victim of a gunshot wound.
Of course, if Chandler wasn't all right to play, it would be understand-
At 5 a.m. on Feb. 28, three men knocked on Chandler's apartment door and when he opened the door, they shot him in the groin.
His quick recovery has amazed Kansas coach Terry Allen.
"Isn't Michael Chandler something?" Allen said after Chandler hauled in a touchdown pass in Saturday's scrimage. "He is an inspiration in every sense of the word."
For Chandler, the chance to play at his familiar position of wide receiver during spring drills is the result of imploring team doctors for clearance to play.
"I just begged the doctors enough," Chandler said. "It feels good getting out there and playing again."
Chandler said he considered the football field a welcome break from the problems he encountered in the offseason.
"I worry about all that stuff when I "get home," Chandler said. "I had some tough times after the season, but it's great to get out there, run around and have fun. Everything else doesn't bother me on the field."
On the field, Chandler has been described as a "dependable possession receiver."
Chandler said that description of his game had a hidden meaning.
"It just means you're slow," Chandler said. "Am I slow? It depends on who you ask. We've got some guys that can really run, so compared to them I'm slow."
Allen has a similar assessment of Chandler's physical ability.
"He has limited ability, but he gets
"Isn't Michael Chandler something? He is an inspiration in every sense of the word."
Terry Allen Kansas football coach
the most out of it, and the guys just rally around him," Allen said. "He's a fun guy to be able to coach."
His ability is a non-issue to Chandler, who ranked third on the team last season with 21 catches for 236 yards and one touchdown. The lone touchdown came against in-state archival Kansas State.
Chandler said the game, unlike his life recently, seemed simple.
Spring Football Notes
"I guess I have enough speed to get open and do what I have to do," Chandler said.
The Jayhawks practice today and tomorrow at 3:20 p.m., and Allen will decide later in the week whether to hold the other practice on Thursday or Friday.
Edited by Nathan Willis
Club boosts support for non-basketball sports
Kansas will have three more practices this week before Saturday's spring game.
Rick Mullen, director of Promotions for Athletics, said that dur-
mjames@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
By Matt James
Cries for support of non-basketball sports are by no means new to Kansas. Students doing something about the anathy, however, is.
In an attempt to make "Rock Chalk"响 as loudly at Memorial Stadium as it does in Allen Fieldhouse, a group of nine student leaders have banded together to attack the problem head on.
The group, consisting of the student body vice president, a former Inter-fraternity Council officer, a non-traditional senator, business senator and several other campus leaders have formed the HAWK Club.
The HAWK Club - Helping Athletics Win at Kansas - will serve as the official student booster organization for KU athletics.
"We have an up-and-coming football team, an incredible women's basketball tradition and a strong women's volleyball team. However, outside of Allen Fieldhouse, we as a student population are letting our athletes down," said Michael Henry, founder of the HAWK Club.
A donation of $15 or more will give a student a one-year membership to the club and access to all its
ing its inaugural year of 1999-2000. the club would only be involved with football but would spill over into other sports as it became more established. The club has no plans to become involved in men's basketball, where the camping tradition is strong.
"TheHAWK Club is a revitalization of an old idea in student booster support here at Kansas." cold tears. HAWK Club.
president. "We are creating an organization for the rabid fan, the kind of fan that can change the outcome of a sporting event simply by their chants and screams."
Along with guaranteed seats, the Athletics Department will be providing other special events, such as Chalk Talks with coaches and game-day activities such as special tailgate parties just for members.
By joining the club, fans will receive a HAWK Club T-shirt, have access to a reserved group of the best seats available to KU students at each home football game and will receive an official club membership card.
benefits. Extra funds at the end of each year will be given to the Williams fund for student-athlete scholarships.
"As students, we want to give back to the athletes who work so hard, and this is a great way to do that." Henry said.
Club members also will receive weekly HAWK newsletters through e-mail with the inside
scoop on Kansas athletics and upcoming opponents, as well as promotional items and discounts from club sponsors and the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation.
The HAWK Club is accepting memberships at the ticket office and will have a promotional tailgate outside Memorial Stadium
with informa-
fliers and free food before Saturday's 1 p.m. spring game.
"We have a young and dedicated football team with some outstanding athletes," Mullen said. "With all of the changes in the Big 12, they have a real opportunity to surprise some people, and we hope to be the catalyst that builds school spirit around them."
The HAWK Club is based on similar booster organizations at other universities such as North Carolina, Indiana and rival Kansas
State, whose I-CAT Club has experienced tremendous growth in the last few years.
The club founders felt that it was not only a logical next step for Kansas athletics but a necessary addition to an already strong tradition.
when you go to a Kansas State football game or a women's volleyball match at Nebraska, all that you see are seas of school colors in the stands. Unfortunately, all our athletes see is row after row of gray fleece," said Scott Kaiser, student body vice president and vice president for the HAWK Club. "Our goal is not just to raise the spirits of our athletes but also the spirit of the University as a whole."
— Edited by Darrin Peschka
Kansas' overlooked offensive lineman signs with Carolina Panthers
By Chris Wristen
cwristen@ukans.edu
Kansas sportswriter
While Kansas' focus on this year's NFL draft rested with senior linemen Justin Glasgow and Dan Dercher, one name managed to slip through the cracks.
Following the conclusion of Sunday's draft, senior Michael Lies received a call he'd been hoping for. The Carolina Panthers called and offered him a free agent contract.
"Everybody dreams of being signed by the NFL, but you never really realize it until it happens," Lies said. "You can't get caught up in being in the NFL though, or
you won't be there very long."
Lies accepted.
Although he had hoped to be drafted, Lies was aware that he would most likely have to wait for the free agent signing period and that was fine with him.
Lies, at 6-2 and 300 pounds, played right tackle for the Jayhawks. The Panthers see his talent a little differently, though, and according to Lies, will most likely use him as a guard. He likes this opportunity of earning his place on the team.
"I'd been told I had a 50/50 chance of being drafted, so I kind of expected this." Lies said.
"Personally, I like my chances a lot, but you never can tell," Lies said. "You can never be sure about these things. You've just got
contract with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Dercher made his decision late Sunday evening as well, signing as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers.
to go in and do what you can."
Glasgow signed his free agent
"I really liked the hon-esty and personal attention they gave me," Dercher said. "（Coach）Bill Walsh called me three times and the offensive line
Lies: Was contacted after the draft by the Panthers.
coaches called me about fifteen times during the draft to talk to me."
Dercher had hoped to be drafted. The 49ers actually had intentions of drafting him and called Dercher, a 6-6, 285-pound offensive tackle, in the fifth round to inform him they were going to draft him. They ended up drafting a defensive player with their final pick.
Although disappointed at first, Dercher said he was probably better off not being draffed and feels he got a better deal as a free agent.
Another aspect of the 48ers that lured him was the opportunity to play right away. Because of salary cap regulations San Francisco is carrying a small squad of tackles and Dercher said he was told he would enter training camp as the second string left tackle.
"My agent called and said I got the most attention he's ever seen a free agent get. San Francisco gave me the highest signing bonus they've ever given a free agent," Dercher said. He would not disclose the amount.
Dercher is excited to have signed his contract and describes having a future in the NFL as a dream come true.
"They said if I came in weighing anywhere over 305 they'd kick my butt." Dercher said.
"When you grow up as a little kid
The aspect of Dercher which the 48ers liked the most was his body size, frame and overall athletic ability.
you want to be a professional football or baseball player," Dercher said. "I have the opportunity to do that and make some money doing it, so it's a dream come true."
Coach Terry Allen was pleased that his players were getting this opportunity and believed free agency was the best thing for them.
"I think they've all got the opportunity to make it," Allen said. "I think it's really beneficial to them to have been free agents rather than being chosen in the seventh round because free agency allows them to pick and choose a team that is in the most need position-wise."
Edited bv Jodi Smith