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Kansas forward Lester Earl has created quite a stir in the sports world. The NCAA's investigation of Earl's recruitment at Louisiana State University has sparked questions about that program's practices. If you have questions or comments concerning the Earl situation, e-mail the University Daily Kansan staff.
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In the pool
Kansas swimmer Tyler Painter returns from Australia with his eyes on the 2000 Olympics.
SEE PAGE 8B
Pro Football
Friday
January 23,1997
Section:
B
Page 1
Denver's Shannon Sharpe looks to pick up a win for his brother on Super Bowl Sunday.
SEE PAGE 8B
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'Hawks aim at history
Red Raiders threaten winning-streak record
Jy Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher @kanans.com
Kansas sportswriter
The return of forward Raef LaFrentz and a chance to streak past a school record will be in the spotlight when No. 3 Kansas plays host to Texas Tech tomorrow afternoon.
For the first time this season, Kansas coach Roy Williams will have an entire roster healthy and ready to play. LaFrentz will start against the Raid Raiders, assuming he is cleared by doctors this morning.
Kansas guard Ryan Robertson said he was eager to see LaFrentz return to the starting lineup.
"He hates to lose more than anyone else on this team, and you just cannot replace that," Robertson said. "Without Raef, that's 21 points and 11 rebounds that we've missed the last nine games. That's a lot to miss, but we're glad to have him back."
The Jayhawk aim to extend their 55 game homecourt winning streak, which ties the longest in school history. Kansas also owns the nation's longest current homecourt winning streak.
Williams said breaking this record would be special.
See SOLE on page 2B
The Starting Lineup
KANSAS
JAYHAWKS
5-1 Big 12, 21-3 overall
G RYAN RObertSON 6-5 JR.
G BILLY THOMAS 6-4 SR.
F PAUL PERCE 6-7 JR.
F RAFF LAFRENZT 6-1.1 Sr.
C LESTER EARL 6-8 So.
G CORY CARR 6-4 Sr.
STAN BONEVITZ 6-3 Jr.
F RAYDON YOUNG 5-11 So.
F CLIFF OWENS 6-8 So.
C JOHNNY PHILLIPS 6-8 Fr.
Radio: KLWN. 1320 AM
Kansas forward Raef LaFrentz dunks the ball over an Arizona defender. LaFrentz is expected to return tomorrow for the Jayhawks game against Texas Tech in Allen Field House. Photo by Steve Puppe/KANSAN
$1.6 million in improvements to Hoglund-Maupin Stadium will begin this summer. The improvements, sponsored by the stadium's name-sake, Forrest Hoglund, include a new press box and expanded seating, as well as a plaza entrance to the park.
$1.6 million in renovations funded by stadium namesake
By John Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
Hoglund-Maupin Stadium will rocket into the future this summer with more than $1.6 million in renovations planned.
The renovations will be made possible by private donations, led by 1956 Kansas graduate and three-year baseball letter winner Forrest Hogland, who donated more than $1 million. The stadium will be renamed Hoglund Ballpark in his honor and will be ready for the 1999 season.
"An elite school like KU should have a first-rate ballpark." Hoglund said, "I've always been interested in KU baseball, and this will help improve the program."
Coach Bobby Randall said the gift would enhance both the exterior and interior look and the functionality of the ballpark for years to come.
"We are getting exactly what we want and need," Randall said. "To recruit and be successful on the national level, we must have top-notch facilities."
Plans have been in the works for years, and construction began officially in October with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Improvements include increasing seating capacity from 1,300 to 2,000, adding more than 200 chair-back seats, building a plaza entrance highlighting former players and financial donors, and constructing additional rest room and locker room facilities and a press box.
Randall said the stadium helped the team's attitude and also helped recruit skilled players to the university.
"When this is done, the guys on the team will be able to take pride in stepping on the field at home," Randall said. "Even in recruiting students today, I can see faces light up when I show them the sketches of the new ballpark."
The firm of Glenn, Livingood, and Penzler Architects designed the improvement plan. Craig Penzler of this group was directly involved in the design and construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
"It's going to be a park that intertwines Kansas's baseball tradition with the history of the game in America," Randall said. "It will be a centerpiece in building a winning tradition in baseball at the University."
Williams: Earl treated unfairly
Kanson sportswriter
By Tommy Gallagher
Kansas coach Roy Williams spoke about forward Lester Earl's case for the last time yesterday at a press conference.
Williams said Earl had been treated unfairly by the media, partly because not enough blame for the alleged NCAA violations had been placed on the Louisiana State University basketball program, where Earl had played before coming to Kansas.
"He has, in some circles, been criticized for telling the truth," Williams said. "I just wish that we wouldn't be so quick to judge him. I have a great deal of confidence in the way we run our program, and we're going to do things the right way here at Kansas."
Before leaving, Williams said he had ordered his players and coaches not to talk any more about the Earl case.
Kansas guard Ryan Robertson said he was not sure whether Earl knew how publicized the issue has been.
"He has not read the newspapers or watched TV since all this happened," Robertson said. "It's disappointing to see him have to go through this because he's one of the more popular players in the locker room. He's a great guy."
Earl will not have to repay any of the money, allegedly between $9,400 and $10,600, that he is suspected to have received from people associated with the LSU program when he attended the school, said Steve Mallonee, NCAA director of membership services.
Reading rally
Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington speaks to New York Elementary School students about Kansas Read Week. The winners of a reading contest will be honored at the women's Feb. 7, game. Photo by Holly Groshong/KANSAN.
Jayhawks to wrangle with Raiders
Women to face No.5 Texas Tech
By Kevin C. Wilson
Korean poet writer
Kansan sportswriter
After dropping their first two Big 12 Conference games, the resurgent Jayhawks are looking forward to taking on Texas Tech at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Lubbock.
Four straight is great, but to win its fifth consecutive game the Kansas women's basketball team must trophy the fifth-ranked team in the nation this weekend.
The Jayhawks, 12-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference, are looking to tie for second place in the Big 12 conference. To achieve that feat, they will have to beat a talented team. Washington said.
"It's exciting for me and my ball club to go there,"said coach Marian Washington.
"I think they have all the pieces," she said. "Whether they can keep it together only time can tell."
Texas Tech, 12-3 overall and 5-1 in
the conference is led by preseason All-American Alicia Thompson, who averages 22.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Washington said Thompson was a tremendous candidate for the Big 12 Player of the Year.
Johnson: Will guard Texas Tech's All-American
"She's just explosive," Washington said. "She can step out to the 3 point line and hurt you, and she can certainly post-up and explode through you."
Forward Jaclyn Johnson, who will be one of the Jayhawks charged with guarding Thompson in the post, said she loved playing defense and she was excited to face such an accomplished player.
"It's a challenge for me because she's such an excellent player." Johnson said. "She's a very physical player, but I don't mind it. I'll just have to step up and play the game."
The Lady Raiders are not a one woman team — they have three other starters who average in double digits.
"Our defense has been pretty effective all season long," Washington said. "We're really going to need to call on it this weekend."
Center Angie Braziel, with 12.9 points per game, guard Julie Lake, with 10.9 points per game, and guard Rene Hanebutt, with 10.7 points per game, round out a well-balanced scoring attack.
"Next we've got Texas Tech," she said. "We've got to go out and play hard for the full 40 minutes."
Kansas is coming off a lackluster performance on Wednesday night in which they narrowly defeated Oklahoma State 56-51.
Guard Shandy Robbins said the Jayhawks didn't come out ready to play and they lacked intensity throughout the game. Robbins said she hoped her team had learned a lesson.
The Starting Lineup
KANSAS
JAYHAWKS
4-2 Big 12, 12-3 overall
G **JENNIFER JACKSON** 5-10 FR.
G **SUZI RAWANT** 5-11 JR.
F **Jaclyn Johnson** 6-1 FR.
F **LYNN PRIDE** 6-2 So.
NANA SANFORD 6-3 FR.
TEXAS TECH
RAIDERS
5-1 Big 12, 12-3 over
G MEILINA SCHUMUCKER 5-9 So.
G JULIE LAKE 5-9 Jr.
G RENE HANEBUTT 5-8 Sr.
G AURICIA THOMPSON 6-1 Sr.
C ANGIE BRAZIEL 6-3 Jr.
Lubbock Municipal Coliseum •
Lubbock Texas
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