SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, September 10, 1993
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Spartans prepare for season opener
Michigan State works to avoid first-game loss
By Matt Doyle
Kansan sportswriters
The season-opening football game has presented problems for Michigan State coach George Perles and his Spartans during the last five seasons
The Spartans have won only one of their last five openers, losing three and tying one. Central Michigan has defeated Michigan State in the Spartans' last two season openers.
The Chippewaw won 20-3 in 1991 and 24-20 last season. Those two losses started losing seasons for Michigan State, which went 3-8 in 1991 and 5-6 in 1992
Kansas, the Spartans' season-opening opponent this season, might provide Michigan State with a bigger challenge than Central Michigan The
two teams play at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in East Lansing, Mich.
"They have had a problem competing in the nonconference part of their schedule the last few years, but not in the Big Ten," said Kansas coach Glen Mason. "They have put a great deal of emphasis on the Kansas game this year."
The Spartans are 4-13-1 in nonconference games during the last five seasons, and two of those victories came in bowl games.
Perles said he was not making the Kansas game more important than any of the other 10 games on his schedule. But he knows the Jayhawks will present a formidable challenge to the Spartans.
"Don't be fooled by the Florida State score because they can do that to a lot of teams in this country," Perles said. "If Kansas had been able to take advantage of their early opportunities, it could have been a much closer game. I expect Kansas to be ready to play MSU on Sept. 11."
defensive sides of the football from the 5-6 team of a year ago.
Michigan State returns eight starters each on the offensive and
Junior wide receiver Mill Coleman is the Spartans' highlight performer on offense. Coleman made 37 passes for 586 yards and three touchdowns last year. He also saw time at quarterback, starting the final two games of last season at quarterback, replacing Jim Miller, who was injured.
Miller is healthy this season and will start at quarterback against the Jayhawks, but Perles said that Coleman also will see time at quarterback this season.
"We want Mill to get the ball either by returning kicks, running reverses, throwing passes off of the reverse or by catching it." Perles said. "He is the most versatile and smartest player I've ever coached."
The Spartans have an offensive line that averages 303 pounds per lineman to help protect Miller. Kansas senior defensive end Guy Howard said Michigan State's offensive line was similar to lines in the Big Eight Conference.
"Their offensive line compares a lot
Game 3
Head Coach: Glen Mason
2:30 p.m., Saturday Spartan Stadium, Lansing, MI ABC
Offense:
Michigan State
Spartans
(0-0-0)
Head Coach: George Perles
WR 84 Rodney Harris 6-6 210 Jr. WR 8 Napoleon Outlaw 5-10 160 So. Jr.
TE 1  Dwayne Chandler 6-2 235 Sr. WR 9 Bob Organ 6-3 265 So. TE
LT  4  James Hallam 6-4 295 So. LT  63 Shane Hannah 6-5 321 So. LG  66 Hessley Hempstead 6-2 295 So. LG  66 Colin Cohn 6-3 275 So. C  75 Dan Schmidt 6-2 285 Sr. C  57 Mark Birchmire 6-4 275 So. RG  69 John Jones 6-2 285 Sr. RG  79 Brian DeMarco 6-5 316 So. RT  78 Mark Allison 6-2 285 Sr. RT  79 Brian DeMarco 6-5 316 So. WR  78 Ashaunal Smith 6-5 155 So. WR  6 Mill Coleman 5-10 168 So. WR  61 Fred Thomas 6-5 180 Jr. OB  16 Jim Miller 6-4 208 So. OB  22 LT Levine 5-10 210 So. TB  33 Craig Thomas 6-0 194 So. TB  22 Rachel Goodo 5-10 212 So. FB  49 Brice Abrams 6-1 254 So. RB  33 Costello Good
Offense:
Defense:
Defense:
OLB 16 Keith Rodgers 5-11 190 So. OB LB 45 Matt Christensen 6-4 235 Jr.
LE 97 Kevin Penn 5-11 286 So. JE Juan Hammonds 6-4 241 Jr.
LT 72 Kevin Mumalangala 6-2 286 Sr. LT RD 23 Yakim Allen 6-2 276 Jr.
RT 61 Mike Steele 6-2 276 Sr. RT 23 Yakim Allen 6-2 276 Jr.
RE 90 Guy Howard 6-4 245 Sr. RE 63 Yakim Allen 6-4 269 Jr.
OLB 46 Ronnie Ward 6-4 245 Sr. OLB 83 Rob Frederickson 6-3 236 Jr.
MLM 32 Lennard 6-3 223 Sr. MLB 34 Greg Anderson 6-3 219 So.
CB 28 Tony Blevens 6-0 170 Fr. CB 29 Stan Callender 6-4 191 Jr.
FS 47 Clint Blowen 6-0 190 Sr. FS 37 Steve Wasyik 6-4 197 Jr.
SS 38 Robert Vaughn 6-0 188 Sr. SS 31 Dimitri Manson 6-2 202 Jr.
CB 3 Gerald McBurrows 5-11 188 Jr. CB 24 Myrrol Bell 6-1 203 Sr.
Despite returning eight starters, Perles said he was concerned about
like Nebraska's and Missouri's.' Howard said. "The Big Ten teams have a lot of size in their linemen, but I think the Big Eight linemen have more quickness."
his defense, specifically at the middle linebacker position.
"The middle linebacker is the nucleus of our defense since he makes all the defensive calls," he said. "We've always seemed to have to have a decent middle linebacker, and we're
Micah Leaker/KANSAN
Sophomore Greg Anderson will start at middle linebacker, but Perles said true freshman Reggie Garnett also would play at that position.
going to need one to cover the whole field against Kansas because they run and pass the ball effectively."
Oelschlager returns home after injury
Ron Oelschiager, Lawrence senior, swings his bat to hot up at Hoglund MaupinStadium. Oelschiager was out with injuries last year at Arizona.
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
The ball headed into left-center field, but center fielder Ron Oelschlager had called for it. Suddenly, as he dove head first to make the play, a blur entered the corner of his eye. It was his Arizona teammate, left fielder Ralph Lemonz.
Lemons, 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, tried to stop his dive in time, and he did just in time to plant his knee into Oelschlager's chest.
"I didn't see him until I knew we were going to hit," Oelschlaier said. "It took me four to five months to recover and just walk around."
The collision cost him his spleen, two-thirds of a kidney and part of his pancreas. He also broke six of his ribs. Now Owlschaler, a lawrence native, is back in town to play for the Kansas baseball team.
After recovering physically, Oelschlag decided it would be best to leave Arizona, where he went to get away from Lawrence.
Oelschlager said he called Kansas coach Dave Bingham to see if he could come back for his senior year to play baseball.
"When I first got a hold of him, I was afraid he would still hold a grudge for me not going to Kansas in the first place," Oelschlager said. "But he understood."
Oleigh Chambers, LLC
Although Arizona coach Jerry Kindall wanted Olechlager to stay at Arizona, he also understood his plight.
Oelschlager's injury occurred in an intrasquared game, which typifies the hard-working mind set Oelschlager has. Lawrence High School coach Lynn Harrod said.
he also dolesse him." Kindall said. "I tried to persuade him," Kindall said. "in the whole picture, with the injury and emotionally, I think it was for the best that he go back to KU. We're all pushing for him down here."
rod, who coached Oelschlager and Kansas center fielder Darryl Monroe in high school. "It shows how much effort he gives. He worked hard in practice and gave 100 percent in games."
"The best way to describe him is that the injury was in a practice," said Hargave Oelschlager came back to his family after the injury because he didn't know where he belonged, Harrod said.
"He has such a close-knut family," Harrod said. "It's great because he could come back home after the injury."
Oelschlager's family is full of past and present athletes. His father, Ron, was a Kansas running back from 1962 to 1964. His older sister, Jodi, was on the Karsas volleyball team from 1986 to 1989, and his younger sister, Jill, is starting on Iowa's volleyball team as a freshman.
"Early on, it was competitive." Oelschlager said. "Athletics was a huge part and still is a big part of my family. After my injury, it put athletics in perspective."
Harred said he thought it was great for Kaness to give Oelschlager a chance.
He has a chance to play outfield with Monroe, his high school and Babe Ruth league teammate.
"He's got to work hard, but for him that's not a change," Harrod said. "He and Darryl Monroe together will be fun for me to see."
Monroe said Oelschlager was working out with the team in informal practices, which are conducted without coaches.
"I've seen him in batting practice," Monroe said. "He has pop. He has more pop than in high school. He keeps himself in good shape and is better conditioned than most of the guys on the team."
Oelschlager said that he was confident he could contribute to the team and that he would enjoy the first game he played at Hogdunst-Maupin Stadium.
at Hoghill-Madison Park "It will be exciting to wear a Kansas jersey because the Arizona uniform just didn't feel right," he said. "I didn't come here to sit the bench. I'm here to contribute big time."
Baseball owners OK new playoff format
The Associated Press
BOSTON — Baseball owners broke tradition yesterday, voting to divide each league into three divisions starting next year.
next year.
The plan, subject to approval by the Major League Baseball Players' Association, would lead to an expansion of the playoffs from four to eight teams, beginning in 1994, and end the two-division setup that has existed in both leagues since 1969.
leagues since 1806.
With the new set up, six division winners and two wildcard teams will make the playoffs, which will expand to three rounds.
"I made my arguments and went down in flames," said Texas Rangers general partner George W. Bush, the leading opponent of the change. "History will prove me right."
National League president Bill White said the division makeups may be decided as early as next week.
The proposal originally won American League support Wednesday after Cleveland and Detroit agreed to shift divisions.
American League president Bobby Brown said Cleveland agreed to play in the AL Central instead of remaining in the East, and Detroit would stay in the East instead of moving to the Central.
"Those teams that would be in the Central have to vote to be in the Central." White said.
White said various alignments were under discussion Talks have involved Atlanta and Pittsburgh, which both prefer the East.
After Cleveland and Detroit agreed to switch, Brown said 12 American League teams indicated they favored the three-division plan as long as a balanced schedule was kept through at least 1997. Brown said the Rangers and Chicago White Sox opposed the plan.
Brown said he was opposed, but he didn't have a vote. "I a dinosaur," he said. "I don't like any of it."
The P
East — Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, New York Yankees,
Albertsport, Toronto
City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis
AL West — California, Oakland, Seattle, Texas
ROCK AL Central — Chicago White Sox, Cleveland, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minnesota
AL West - California, Oakland, Seattle;
NL East - Florida, Montreal, New York Mets.
Phoenix — Atlanta
NL Central — Atlanta, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati,
Houston St, Louis
NL West — Colorado, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco
Kansas runners set for Jayhawk Invitational
By Kent Hohlfeld
Kansan sportswriter
Challenging the No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks on one of the most difficult courses of the season is the task facing the women's cross country team this weekend at Rim Rock Farm, northwest of Lawrence. The Kansas men's and the Jayhawk invitational.
Guymon said the women's teams in the Invitational would present more of a challenge to the Jayhawks than Southern Illinois did last week, when Kansas runners swept the top five spots.
sab.
Although the Razorbacks will be the top name in the Invitational, other traditionally strong teams such as the Air Force Academy and Missouri will compete in the eight-team meet.
"It's one of the more difficult courses we'll run on this year," assistant cross country coach Steve Guymon said.
Ashl Mister, the top runner for Kansas last weekend, said the Southern Illinois meet had been a good tune-up for this week's competition.
Guymon said that Kansas could possibly defeat Arkansas, which beat the Jayhawks last season. But a loss to the Razorbacks would not devastate the team.
"Four years ago we couldn't compete with Arkansas," Guymon said. "When they lift up this year, they'll have a battle on their hands."
"We got the first-meet jitters out of us." Kloster said.
Guyman said Air Force and Missouri would field strong teams. He said the freshmen and sophomores, who make up a majority of the team, would run in a pack like they did last weekend.
While the women's team faces Arkansas, the men's team hopes to continue what Guyton said was an encouraging start to its season.
The team finished second last week end at Southern Illinois.
freshman runner Brian Schultz, Kansas's top finisher at third place last weekend, said he thought the tactic helped him. He said he was nervous going into his first meet and the strategy helped boost his confidence. Gummino said the teams were excited to meet him.
"In the past, our teams have been a little intimidated by the course," Guymon said. "This year, we told them to attack the course and have pride in our home course."
William Altx / KANSAN
Kansas' Eri Kramer, left, and Cindy Kanabel attempt to block a shot during a game against Wichita State.
Volleyball team sets great expectations for matches
Tournament provides opportunity for victory
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
Expectations are high for the Kansas volleyball team as they go into this weekend's Kansas Invitational. Coach Frankie Albitz said.
Kansas has won the invitational the past three years.
"We did goals during the season, and one of them was to win at least two tournaments," Albitz said.
The Jayhawks are 1-4 and have played in one tournament already this year. Albiz said one of the team's goals for the season was to win this particular tournament.
"I've seen us play at a high level," Albitz said. "These teams are not as tough as the teams we've played. Those two things together should mean we will do very well."
Southeast Missouri State, McNeese State, Northeastern Illinois and Tulsa are participating in the tournament. Kansas has a lifetime record of 19-5 against Tulsa and 1-0 against Northeastern Illinois. McNeese State and Southeastern Missouri State are new to the Kansas schedule
All four teams play before Kansas, which plays its first game at 3 p.m. today against 0-4 Tulsa. Albitz said that would give her a chance to do some much needed scouting.
Tulsa coach Dawn Colston said that she wanted her team to compete successfully but that being successful was not measured by victories and defeats.
"We'll be comparable to half of the teams in the tournament," Colston said. "Kansas will be the longest team we play. I am really excited to be in this tournament. I want to play this kind of competition."
With one senior, two juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen, Tulisa's roster is young.
Kansas freshman Katie Walsh might be a key player for the Jayhawks. Walsh is third on the team with 48 kills, and she has a team-high six service aces. If junior Janet Uher recoverts from her shoulder injury, there will be competition for the outside hitter position, Albizt said.
"She'll get a lot of playing time," Abbitz said of Walsh. "Whether she starts depends on if Janet can play. If she can, it really changes things."
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Walsh said that she wanted to do her best in this tournament and that the team wanted to win.
"We have tons of talent physically," Walsh said. "We need to develop more as a team mentaly because the mental part is killing us. We better win this one."