Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday. April 14, 1998
Texas coach lays down law
AUSTIN, Texas — Before Rick Barnes attended his introductory news conference as the new basketball coach at Texas, he met with a disgruntled star player who is transferring and set out a
The Associated Press
new set of rules to a divided team.
It was not the typical beginning for a new coach.
But the former Clemson coach left no doubt that he was ready to take control of a team plagued by a player revolt that ultimately led to the resignation of Tom Penders, the coach with the most wins in Texas history.
Barnes: Takes charge of basket-ball team.
In a team meeting before being introduced as coach, Barnes imposed rules upon the Longhorns, including no facial hair, no earrings, no hats in buildings and no headphones on campus. The rules are effective immediately.
If anyone is late to a team meeting or workout, the entire team will run.
There will be mandatory team breakfasts throughout the season every day, not just game days.
"I was scared when he first started talking," said junior co-captain Chico Vazquez, a Penders supporter. "He started laying down all these rules. But discipline is what this team needs."
Barnes said he met yesterday with Luke Axtell, a key figure in the player revolt last month. Axtell told Barnes he was committed to transferring to Kansas.
"I respect Luke's decision," Barnes said.
barnes said his first goal at Texas was to build trust among the players. He said he would wait to evaluate the Longhorns' talent before deciding if the team would continue to run and play uptempo or change to a half-court game.
Four players, including Axtell, went to athletics director DeLoss Dodds on March 8 to complain about playing for Penders, starting a month of controversy that ultimately led to the coach's April 2 resignation.
Barres said he talked to Penders before deciding whether to take the Texan job.
Barnes' intensity was evident yesterday.
"When I'm on the court with the players, we have a job to do, and I'll be hard on them. But off the court we're going to have fun."
"I'm extremely competitive." Barnes said.
Axtell's attorney, Sherry Rasmus of Austin, said Axtell's decision to transfer was based, in part, on a possible backlash from Texas fans regarding a fire storm that began when the freshman was suspended by Penders March 17 for academic reasons.
Axtell fired back, saying he would leave Texas because Penders verbally abused him. Then, Penders assistant Eddie Oran took responsibility for releasing Axtell's grades to a radio station.
After a two-week investigation into the grade release, Penders resigned. Rasmus said Axtell and his family would not seek legal action against Texas about the grade matter because school officials had been cooperative since the incident.
She said Dodds already had requested the Big 12 waive a rule that would require Axell to lose a year of eligibility as a result of his transfer.
If the waiver is granted — a decision is likely to come in May — Axtell still would have to sit out next year but would be granted a fifth year of eligibility.
FOXBORO, Mass. — The board hanging in the New England Patriots draft headquarters lists hundreds of top college players. But there is one glaring omission.
That is because some don't think Randy Moss is nearly as good a person as he is a wide receiver.
The Associated Press
"We've had discussion, and Randy Macy is not on our draft board," Boby Grier, the Patriots vice president for player personnel, said yesterday. "Quite a few players are off
our board because of the character issue."
The Patriots' primary need in next weekend's draft is a running back to replace Curtis Martin, who signed with the New York Jets. And unless they trade to improve on their first pick, the 18th, Moss probably would not be available anyway.
He has a rare combination — size, speed, good hands and timing — that made him an outstanding receiver. He has had a less-desirable combination of off-field problems.
Adding a wide receiver, though, is one of their priorities, and Moss might be the best to come out of college this year.
Notre Dame revoked his scholarship after he was charged with attacking a student at his high school. He went to Florida State, where he was kicked off the team for violating probation by smoking marijuana.
He then moved to Marshall, where he had 29 touchdowns in leading the team to the 1996 Division I-A national title. And last season, the school's first in Division I-A, he caught 96 passes for 25 touchdowns and 1,820 yards.
The Patriots already stumbled once with a draft choice who had a troubled past. They took Nebraska defensive lineman Christian Peter in the fifth round in 1996, then relinquished their rights to him three days later.
Peter has pleaded no contest to third-degree assault of a former Miss Nebraska and to disturbing the peace in an incident in which he was charged with grabbing a woman by the neck. He played last season for the New York Giants.
On May 4, running back and kick returner Dave Meggett faces a court date in Toronto on charges of sexual assault and robbery.
Patriots coach Pete Carroll continued his policy yesterday of not commenting about Meggett's future with the team.
Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannsteen, who has the fifth pick, said Moss might be one of the first five players taken. New Orleans coach Mike Ditka said he would consider Moss if the receiver was available. But Grier made it clear that, when it comes to some players whose character the team is uncomfortable with, the Patriots don't reduce the grade those people receive on the team's draft board.
"We don't move them down," Grier said.
"We move them off."
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STUDENT SENATE IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING 1998-1999 POSITIONS
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