Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
Friday April 24,1998 Section: B
This weekend the softball team will recognize its six seniors, including shortstop and Kansas native Michelle Hubler.
After losing three games to Texas this week, the Kansas baseball team will to meet Texas A&M.
Kansas baseball
SEE PAGE 4B
Page 1
Manning honored
Kansas great Danny Manning, who is now with the Phoenix Suns, won the NBA's Sixth Man Award.
SEE PAGE 6B
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Scrimmage prepares team for new season
By Kevin C. Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
Head football coach Terry Allen said the main goal he hoped to accomplish in the annual Blue-White scrimmage was simple.
Allen has reason to be concerned with the health of his team — 17 of his players will be held out of the full-contact scrimmage, which begins at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Haskell Indian Nations University.
"I just hope nobody gets hurt." Allen said.
Allen said none of the 17 were seriously injured during spring practice, but rather were trying to overcome lingering ailments. He said he expected all of his players to be 100 percent by the fall.
The format for the Blue-White game will be different from any of the scrimmages the Jayhawks have participated in during the spring, Allen said. The first-team offense and the first-team defense will compete together as a cohesive unit against the rest of the football team.
"Situations arise in a game that you can't prepare for in a scrimmage." Allen said. "Sometimes you have a turnover or a penalty that leads to a touchdown. You need to prepare for those game-tvne situations."
Allen said this was important because he wanted to prepare his team for actual game experience.
Senior offensive lineman Justin Glasgow said the game would give the team a chance to improve on its performance in previous scrimmages.
"We need to come together and all play on the same page," Glasgow said. "In the past we all haven't been there, and it shows. We have to play as a team."
Allen said the scrimmage would be conducted as if it were a real game, except the quarterbacks would be offlimits. He said the scrimmage would be a test of his players' abilities and composure.
"After all of the practices, you get out there by yourself without any coaches telling you what to do and the cream tends to rise to the top." Allen said. "We still have some areas where we need to answer some questions."
Overall, Allen said he was pleased with what his team had accomplished during the spring session, and the Jayhawks already were much further ahead than last year's team.
"I've really liked the progress of Zac Wegner," Allen said. "This spring he's got a better handle on what we expect out of the quarterback position. I also like the changes we have made with our schemes."
The end of spring practice is a relief for some members of the Kansas football team, but for others it is their last hurrah.
"It's bittersweet in a way," Glasgow said. "It's my last round of spring ball, and Saturday is my last spring scrimmage. It gives us a chance to get started in the offseason with getting stronger and that stuff, but it all goes by so fast."
Above: Linebacker Hanson Caston performs a drill during football practice. Left: Head coach Terry Allen watches as the Jayhawks work on the practice fields next to Anschutz Sports Pavilion. The Jayhawks will have their spring scrimmage at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Haskell Stadium. Photos by Steve Puppe/KANSAN
More information
Check out the two-deep roster for the spring game and the progress of junior college transfers.
See page 5B
Senior Scott Marshall serves during a game against Missouri earlier this season. The Big 12 Conference tennis tournament takes place this weekend. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Tennis begins tourney play
Women face K-State rematch; men take on Oklahoma State
By Erin Thompson
Kansan sportswriter
"It's going to be tough," said Kansas coach Roland Thorquvist. "We played in Manhattan three weeks ago, and they played us awfully close. They played without their No. 5 singles — throw her in and it'll be even closer."
The Kansas men's and women's tennis teams begin play at the Big 12 Conference tournament today.
The No. 2-seeded women will face will face Kansas State, which defeated Oklahoma State 5-1 in the first round yesterday.
The Jayhawks are coming off a disappointing weekend trip to Texas. They lost two matches in Texas, one to Texas A&M and one to fifth-ranked Texas.
"We played very well and consistently the whole year," he said. "We had injuries and overcame them. The regular season may not have ended the way we wanted it to but we feel good going into the Big 12 Championships."
Although the Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats 9-1 earlier this season, the Kansas women are not expecting an easy match against K-State.
Thornqvist said despite the losses he was pleased with the team's performance this season.
The trip allowed Kansas to see Texas' capabilities and Thornqvist said he thought his team would be able to defeat the Longhorns
"I'm very confident in my team." he said. "They've
shown great character all season in coming back from adversity. They learn a lot about what we are capable of."
Kansas will have the help of its top singles player, Kylie Hunt, this weekend. Hunt returned last Sunday after missing several matches because of an infected lung.
Thornqvist said although Hunt would return, she might not be 100 percent
"She's going to play. As far as her status — it's about 90 percent," he said. "The only issue will be if she can hit her first serve."
The Jayhawks will try not to overlook K-State or anyone else they play before the championship.
"That may have been part of the reason we lost against A&M last Saturday," Thornqvist said. "We were looking to the match on Sunday. We have to do a better job of focusing."
The men's tennis team, the No. 6 seed, will face third-seeded Oklahoma State today.
The 45th-ranked Jayhawks dropped a match against Oklahoma State 5-2 on March 1 at Alvamar Racquet Club.
The Jayhawks will have their work cut out for them. The 25th-ranked Oklahoma State has the top singles player in the nation, Pavel Kudrnac, and the top doubles team, Kudrnc and Martin Dvoreck.
The bracket Kansas is competing in could set up some close competition.
"The half Kansas is competing in should be close," said Texas coach Dave Snyder. "Oklahoma State, A&M, and Kansas are all good teams."
After finishing the regular season 8-13 overall and 4-5 in the Big 12, the Jayhawks see this weekend as an opportunity to redeem themselves, said coach Mark Riley.
Athletes can now hold jobs and play
Some fear doing both will take too much time
By Erin Thompson Kansan sportswriter
Student-athletes already feeling the time crunch of balancing school and practice can add finding time to work at a part-time job to that crunch.
Athletes will be able to work during their sports season, and the job can be arranged by the athletic department or by boosters.
The NCAA ruled Wednesday that athletes who have been enrolled for one year at a Division I university will be able to hold jobs and earn up to $2,000 a year.
Athletes can find jobs in the school's recreation department as long as the department's budget is separate from the athletic department's budget.
Kristina Johnson, a softball player, said she was pleased with the ruling and thought it would help with the cost of living.
"I think
anything that would help the student- athlete is good," she said.
"I'm for any rule that helps a student," he said. "In some cases this might help. But I'm also fearful there is not enough time in a day during the season to work and to get an education."
Kansas football coach Terry Allen said he agreed that in some cases, such as if a student-athlete is married, this rule could help. But he said he thought it would require more time than a student may have.
For some student-athletes who do not receive aid from their parents or other sources, money is a problem, and they could benefit from the new rule, Johnson said.
But between balancing practice, school, and road trips, Johnson said she did not see how it would be possible to have a job.
"We spend a lot of time practicing and working with the sport during the season," she said. "I don't see how anyone could possibly make time for work. It's hard enough now with being on the road all the time."
One problem coaches face is the possibility boosters could see this rule as an opportunity to give athletes incentives to attend a certain school.
"Unintentionally, it has created a situation in which we're involving alumni where we've worked so hard to eliminate它," said Kansas athletic director Bob Frederick. "When they are providing the jobs, there is the potential for abuse."
In a football program that has up to 300 athletes, it would be difficult for the head coach and the administration to monitor all the athletes, Allen said.
Another problem that could arise from the new rule is the possibility recruits would demand a job from a coach or boosters before agreeing to attend an university. Allen said.
Also, the new rule creates an advantage for schools in a larger job market.
"For a school in the heartland like the University of Kansas, there could be an unlevel playing field," Frederick said. "A job that pays $6 an hour here could pay $10-12 in Los Angeles."
Whether an athlete can balance the time between practice, school and work would likely depend on the individual.
"I don't know if a lot of athletes will search for jobs," Johnson said. "It would be hard, depending on how much time they feel they have to spend working and if they can handle it."
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