"We're a much better team when we're angry." Philadelphia Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock
2B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Inside Sports
Fighting Illini name successor for Bill Self
Southern Illinois coach returns to Big Ten roots
The Associated Press
CARBONDALE, III. — Bruce Weber, who led Southern Illinois to NCAA Tournament appearances the last two seasons, confirmed last night he will be the next basketball coach at Illinois.
"Yes," Weber responded when asked by a reporter if he was taking the Illinois job. He declined to say anything more
as he closed the door to his rural Carbondale home.
Weber, 46, told the Southern Illinois players of his decision last night.
staying at his office past 10 p.m.
"Coach Weber's a good coach," SIU redshirt freshman Ryan Walker said. "He's moving on to bigger and better things. You can't turn down an offer from U of L. It gives credit to our program too."
Illinois sports information director Kent Brown would neither confirm nor
deny the hiring and said last night that no news conference had been scheduled.
Weber will replace Bill Self, who left 10 days ago to become head coach at Kansas.
Self, who had a 78-24 record and three NCAA tournament appearances in as many seasons at Illinois, was given a five-year contract extension in December worth $900,000 per year.
When Self left to succeed Roy Williams at Kansas, Marquette's Tom Crean was considered a front-runner for the Illinois job. Crean, who led the Golden Eagles to their first Final Four appearance in 26
years this season, instead agreed to an extension with Marquette.
Weber was 103-54 in five seasons at Southern Illinois and took the Salukis to the NCAA Tournament round of 16 in 2002.
The Salukis were 24-7 last season and won the regular season Missouri Valley Conference championship before losing to Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournev.
Weber has Big Ten roots. He spent 18 seasons as an assistant under Gene Keady at Purdue before going to Southern Illinois in 1998.
Cyclones players show support for Eustachy
The Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa State's basketball players went to the university's president and athletic director yesterday, urging them to keep embattled coach Larry Eustachy.
They also said Eustachy apologized by telephone for any embarrassment he had caused them from the publication of photographs that show him partying with college students in Missouri and kissing young women.
The photographs, printed in the Des Moines Register on Monday, have touched off a national buzz and prompted calls for Eustachy's dismissal or resignation.
"I'm behind coach Eustachy 100 per cent, as I know he would be for each and every one of us," forward Jackson Vroman said.
Iowa State officials are considering dis
Eustachy's behavior was a hot topic on radio talk shows, both local and national. The Register said in an editorial that Eustachy "has to go."The father of Iowa State player Jake Sullivan agreed, but an ISU booster said Eustachy has indicated a willingness to change his behavior and should be given that chance.
cipilinary action against Eustachy, who is under contract through the 2010-11 season and is paid more than $1
million a year, but nothing has been decided.
"Bruce Van De Velde told us he would do what is best for the university and the basketball program," said Vroman, who will be a senior next season. "We want them to do what's best for the basketball team and that's to keep coach Eustachy."
Vroman said the players told university President Gregory Geoffroy and athletic director Bruce Van De Velde that they supported Eustachy and wanted him to be their coach.
Vroman and center Jared Homan, who will be a junior, said they would seriously consider leaving if Eustachy was not the coach.
"Basically, he's treated me like a son," said Homan, who was charged with public intoxication last month. "He always looked out for me and has been there when I needed him. I feel this time I need to be there for him."
Vroman said he thought the photos
Eustachy, 47, is holding a can of beer in the photos, taken at an apartment party in Columbia, Mo., in the morning hours of Jan. 22, after Iowa State lost to Missouri 64-59. In some photos, Eustachy is kissing young women on the cheek or is being kissed on the cheek.
made Eustachy "look bad," but added, "I don't think it portrayed him as who he is at all."
"A lot of them look like they were staged," Homan said. "He's drinking, but he's 47 and has that right. As far as being kissed on the cheek, I don't know if you've seen The Price is Right with Bob Barker, but he has that happen all the time."
Bill Sullivan, whose son Jake was the Cyclones' leading scorer last season, said Eustachy should resign.
"Coach has always purported himself to be an honorable person," Sullivan said. "If in fact he violated a conduct clause in his contract, an honorable person would step down and save the university from any embarrassment."
Jake Sullivan, who will be a senior, said the photos were a "terrible" blow to the school's image. But Sullivan said he would support Eustachy if the coach changed his drinking habits.
"My dad has his opinions and he says
WEDNESDAY,APRIL30,2003
what he wants to say," Jake Sullivan said. "My thing is I'm willing to forgive as long as the person is willing to change and dedicate himself to what we're trying to do.
"I give every ounce I have to this community and this university and want the same in return from my coach."
Eustachy, who is married and has two children, said Monday that alcohol was a factor in his behavior and he would deal with that. "I hope to be measured by my future conduct," he said.
ISU booster Bob Gitchell said he can't justify what Eustachy did but said it did not warrant his dismissal.
"Unless it's really, really bad, I don't think a life should be destroyed because of what one percent of your behavior may be," Gitchell said. "I think this is a time when maybe Larry needs saving.
"I've watched him save a lot of kids from the streets, from the gutter. I know personally several kids that would have no chance to be where they are today if it wasn't for his influence. I think that part of him still exists." Gitchell said.
Vroman said he was not sure if Eustachy would be able to keep his job.
"I don't think all of the administration here wants him around as badly as I do and most of the team does," Vroman said.
Couples wins Houston Open after losing streak
The Associated Press
Fred Couples rediscovered his place in golf.
"He's never done that in his life," Harmon said.
The search started almost three months ago on the practice range at Pebble Beach, when he beat balls for six hours with Butch Harmon at his side.
It ended late Sunday afternoon at the Houston Open when Couples was flawless over the final five holes and wound up with a four-stroke victory, his first on the PGA Tour in five years and 87 tournaments.
He raised his putter in triumph. He smiled to an adoring legion of fans. He slapped hands with Mark Calcavecchia as if they had just won the Shark Shootout.
What followed made it clear there was nothing silly about this victory.
The happy-go-lucky Couples was so
overwhelmed that he broke down on national television; tugged the visor over his eyes and walked away.
"I haven't won in five years. I haven't played really well in five years." Couples said.
Players in his age bracket (43) with far less ability have been winning their share of tournaments the last five years.
Couples was looking for the easy way out last year when he got behind a failed proposal to start a Major Champions Tour — eight events on classic courses for players between the ages of 37 and 55 who had won a major.
"I have been practicing," Couples said. "I never really thought I'd win this quickly, but I thought I could win again if I practiced and played."
"If I play like I did last year and keep deteriorating, and the PGA Tour is tough," Couples said at the time, "there's nowhere for me to play golf."
The solution wasn't a gimmick tour
with guaranteed money.
"He hadn't worked hard," Harmon said. "He had been fooling himself."
A desperate Couples hooked up with Harmon during the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Couples told him how terrible he had been swinging, and Harmon didn't believe it until they got to the practice range the next day.
Couples hit a few 9-irons.
Harmon's time already is cut thin. He still works occasionally with Woods, and his clientele includes Calcavecchia, Darren Clarke, Adam Scott, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink, Jose Maria Olazabal and Ben Crane.
"It's worse than you said," Harmon told him.
onship — even though he wasn't playing—and worked with Harmon at the TaylorMade test center.
His deal with Couples: You put in the time. I'll make the time.
"That's when I knew he was serious," Harmon said. "He's worked his tail off ever since."
Not only did they spend six hours on the range, Couples went to Carlsbad, Calif., during the Match Play Champi-
They essentially shortened his swing, taking undue pressure off Couples' already sensitive back.
"What I had him visualize was to feel like he was coming over the top to hit a pull hook," Harmon said. "He had to get his arms in front of his body coming down."
His victory in Houston moved him to No. 29 in the world ranking, which assures him of returning to the U.S. Open and likely will get him into the World Golf Championships for the first time in three years.
"A lot of people think Freddie doesn't care," Harmon said. "I think he showed how much it meant to him. Very seldom do you see him that emotional."
need in an Athletic Director?
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kansan.com What does the University of Kansas
Afundraiser.
- Someone who treats all sports fairly.
money is football and basketball.
An AD who knows where the
Most important is a person who has a good relationship with Mark Mangino and Bill Self.
Log on to www.kansan.com to cast your vote.
Kansas Athletics Calendar
TOMORROW
FRIDAY
Softball at Big 12 Tournament Oklahoma City
Baseball vs. Texas, 7 p.m., Hoglund Ballpark
Softball at Big 12 Tournament, Oklahoma City
SATURDAY
Rowing, Big 12 Regatta, all day
Track at Ward Haylett Invitational, all day, Manhattan
Softball at Big 12 Tournament, Oklahoma City
Baseball vs. Texas, 2 p.m., Hoglund Ballpark
SUNDAY
Softball at Big 12 Tournament, Oklahoma City
Baseball vs. Texas, 1 p.m., Hoglund Ball park
Free forAll
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Sweet, even Larry Eustachy thinks that KU has hotter girls than K-State.
Does Ryan Greene write about sports or about himself? That's my question.
If Larry Eustachy wants to come party with you next year, just say no.
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At least Roy didn't pull a Larry Eustachy.
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Larry Eustachy are: KU girls are way hotter than K-State girls.
I want to party with Larry Eustachy.
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Nick Collison made my day when he smiled at me. You're a badass man, thanks.
If gamecocks can't be taken across state lines, what's South Carolina gonna do when it has to go play North Carolina or Georgia, or any other team outside the state?
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