Section B·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, April 3, 1998
Baylor leads Big 12; South rules spring
The Associated Press
LUBBOCK, Texas — The Baylor Bears are exactly where coach Steve Smith hoped they'd be a year ago.
really knew it," Smith said of his Big 12 Conference leaders. "Our problem last year was we stumbled too many places along the way in places we should have won. We had seven one-run losses last year."
Not that last season was a disaster — the Bears finished fourth at 18-12 in league play. But Smith expected more, which is exactly what he's
getting now,
as the season's halfway
m a r k approaches.
He's got the league's best
hitter in
Charley
Carter, who's hitting. 490 with six homers in conference play to help Baylor (26-7, 10-3) stay a step ahead of Texas A&M (27-10, 15-5).
The Bears also might have the Big 12's most valuable player in Jason Jennings. Jennings is hitting .408 with 20 RBIs, and he's 5-0 with a 3.49 ERA on the mound, where he has struck out 35 Big 12 batteries in 38 2/3 outcourt.
If the season were to end today — "I wish it would," Smith quipped the second Big 12 tournament would look like the first, featuring Baylor, Texas A&M, Missouri (21-6, 6-2), Oklahoma (22-7, 6-4), Texas Tech (23-11, 6-5) and Oklahoma State (19-10, 5-5).
Except for Texas (13-17, 1-7), which has struggled during second-year coach Augie Garrido's youth movement, the also-rans come from the North. They are Kansas (16-13, 3-6), Kansas State (11-15, 3-7), Iowa State (7-13, 2-5) and Nebraska (12-10, 0-3).
Colorado does not play baseball.
Weather has been particularly devilish for Big 12 teams this season, especially those in the North. Nebraska has played just three league games, and postonements
have been a conferencewide problem.
A&M coach Mark Johnson admits that teams north of Oka.
homa are at a recruiting disadvantage because of the unpredictable and often chilly spring weather.
"The weather factor will always be there It's an easier recruiting venture for us to get a guy from California or Texas that Kansas or
someplace only because of weather." Johnson said. Johnson credits the comeback of pitcher Ryan Runge for the
Aggies' success so far. Rupe, who recovered from a blood clot operation, is 7-1 overall with a 2.09 ERA.
"He hasn't lost any velocity," said Johnson of the Aggies' two-time national player of the week. "He can stay out there and keep bringing it. He's had some games where he's flat-out dominated some pretty good offensive teams."
Speaking of good offensive teams, Oklahoma's bats have kept the Sooners in the hunt. They're averaging 12 runs a game, largely thanks to Casey Bookout's 15 home runs and 35 RBIs through last week, second only to Carter's 45.
Missouri pitcher Jay Bell has been dominant for the Tigers. Heading into this week, the Canadian senior had allowed just one earned run in a 31 2/3-inning stretch, including a 6-0 shutout in a non-conference game with Kansas two weeks ago.
Shane Wright has fared similarly for Tech. He owns a 6-1 record and 2.71 ERA.
Texas basketball coach to resign amid debate
Controversies regard released student records
The Associated Press
AUSTIN — Ton Penders, the win-
nest basketball coach in Univer-
forward. And there was a lot of pain involved."
sity of Texas history, will resign and receive a settlement of just under $1 million, according to a high rank.
"An agree upon settlement is the best way to go," the source said. "Tom goes out as the winningest coach in Texas history and pain stops going
ing university source.
The university scheduled a news conference for late afternoon.
The news conference follows nearly a month of controversy surrounding the Longhorn basketball program.
University officials have been conducting an investigation during the past two weeks into the release of basketball player Luke Astell's academic progress report to a radio station.
An assistant coach said he released the report the day after Penders suspended Axell for academic reasons.
Before that, Axtell and three other players had met with athletic director DeLoss Dodds to voice complaints about the program and Penders. Two of those players, Axtell and Gabe Muoneke, have said they intend to transfer.
Backup point guard Anthony Goode said before the end of the season he also plans to leave.
Dodds and Patricia Ohlendorf, the vice provost and Texas counsel to the president, were to announce the findings at yesterday's news conference.
Penders; to resign as head basketball coach at Texas.
"I think Tom and the university are doing the right thing. It will be a new start for the program, and I'm sure Tom will land on his feet very quickly."
Penders, who had a record of 208-110 at
Ates, averaged nearly 21 wins and
took the Longhorns to the NCAA
Tournament eight times in 10 seasons. He had four years remaining on a contract that pays him $550,000 per year.
The school investigated whether Penders had any involvement in Axtell's mid-semester grades being faxed to Austin radio station KVET-AM.
The unauthorized release would have violated the Buckley Amendment that protects the privacy of students' academic information.
After his suspension, Axtell then went public with his complaints and said his grades were not so bad he could not make them up.
Penders said he would accept reassignment but would sue if the university tried to fire him without paying him.
Another high-ranking university source said that Penders began falling out of favor with the school's administration last year, when he courteed the head coaching job at Rutgers.
Colorado linebacker leads team
The Associated Press
BOULDER, Colo. — Greg Biekert and Chad Brown came first, followed by Ted Johnson and Matt
Russell, to the defensive unit at Colorado. Now comes a 6-foot-3, 260 pound sophomore in the leadership role: Ty Gre
gorak.
shirt, but were actually thrown in there right away."
Every one of the five was an inside linebacker, and all were asked to take on leadership roles.
Cabral estimated Gregorak's progress put him on the same track as Johnson, a starting linebacker for the New England Patriots.
"What separates Gregorak is that he is being asked to accept it earlier than most of the others," Colorado linebacker coach Brian Cabral said. "Of the five, only Gregorak and Johnson didn't come in and red-
"At times I've been taken aback this spring when other players ask me what play is being run, but it's something that comes with leadership," Gregorak said. "I like what is being asked of me, and I accept the challenge."
Cabral said, "He is in a unique situation. We don't normally ask this much of a young player, but then it has been awhile since we've had a player come right in as a freshman and contribute the way he has."
nom.
Considered bright and a quick learner by the Colorado coaching staff, Gregorak was the beneficiary of advice from another nationally known freshman linebacker phe-
"I made one of my visits to Ohio State on the week of their game with Michigan and met with Andy Katzenmoyer," Gregorak said. "We didn't talk long, but he left me with the impression I could come in to Colorado and play right away as a freshman."
Although he didn't have the impact Katzenmoyer had as a freshman at Ohio State, Gregorak saw considerable playing time. He played in all 11 games and started the final three against Iowa State, Kansas State and Nebraska.
"He came here with the intent of wanting to play as a freshman and with the desire to learn and prepare himself to play," Cabral said. "What differentiated him from other freshmen is he came in physically capable of playing with all the physical tools as a freshman."
"I like what is being asked of me, and I accept the challenge."
Ty Gregorak
Colorado linebacker
There was no intimidation factor for Cabral to be worried about. For example, it was not the 106,474 fans at Michigan Stadium that concerned Gregorak.
"I loved the atmosphere and the challenge of playing a team that would eventually share the national championship," Gregorak said about the 23-7 loss to the Wolverines.
There is not even the concern on improving his individual statistics, which include 38 total tackles and a forced fumble.
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