SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
11
Tuesday, August 31, 1993
Chiefs trade running back to Minnesota
Kansas City gets '94 draft pick for Word
The Associated Press
back.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Kansas City Chiefs no longer needed former 1,000-yard rusher Barry Word, and the Minnesota Vikings, with Terry Allen sidelined for the season, desperately needed a quality running
So the Chiefs, whose new-look offense features Joe Montana directing a short-passing attack, sent Word to Minnesota for a 1994 fifth-round draft pick.
"I was just never convinced that you could be business-as-usual losing a player the quality of Terry Allen," Vikings coach Dennis Green said yesterday.
Robert Smith, the team's top draft choice in April, and Charles Evans, a 1992 draftee who missed all last season on injured reserve.
The Vikings were down to three backs. 33-year-old Roger Craig, who was used as a spot player last year to complement 1,200-yard-rusher Allen;
"We have a guy with speed outside like Robert Smith. We've got Roger, a great warrior who's been around for a long time. And Charles Evans, who can play halfback or fullback." Green said "The one thing we didn't have, that we probably need to make up for Terry, is a guy who can wear a defense down early in the game and late in the game.
"We really feel Barry Word fits in
with us."
The Chiefs obviously didn't feel that way. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Word battled Christian Okoye for playing time most of the 1990s.
Harvey Williams, the Chiefs' top draft choice in 1991, was added to the mix. And when Marcus Allen signed as a free agent in June, the backfield simply became too crowded.
Though Okoye will miss this season with an injury, Kansas City felt the 29-year-old Word was expendable.
"Once they drafted Harvey Williams in the first round two years ago, it's
been tough for him." Green said. "This was a chance for him to get more playing time.
"Kansas City got a fifth-round pick for a guy they felt they didn't have to have. And we only gave up a fifth for a guy who will make a big contribution."
Word contributed greatly to the Chiefs in 1990, gaining 1,015 yards. But he created ill will with a long hold-out the following season. He held out again this preseason — signing so late, in fact, that the Vikings won't be able to use him in Sunday's opener
against the Los Angeles Raiders.
In three seasons for Kansas City,
Word rushed for 2,306 yards.
Word has only 21 career receptions and probably won't be used in passing situations by the Vikings. Craig, once one of the league's top pass-catching backs, may handle that role.
Craig was one of 14 players Minnesota cut Monday. But while Green wouldn't say the 11th year veteran definitely would be re-signed today, the coach made several references to Craig playing against the Raiders.
Injuries hinder Jayhawk offense
Bv Matt Dovle
By Matt Doyle
Kansan sportswriter
Coach Glen Mason said throughout spring practice and preseason practice that this season's Jayhawk offensive line would the best in his six years at Kansas.
Saturday's contest against No. 1 Florida State was not the type of performance that Mason or his offensive linemen could look back at with pride.
The Seminoles sacked Jayhawk quarterbacks Fred Thomas and Asheki Preston five times. Last season, the Kansas offensive line allowed only 16 quarterback sacks.
Despite having 15 plays inside the Seminole 10-yard line in the first half, the Jayhawks could not put any points on the scoreboard, which left Mason frustrated.
"Be tell me you something, that was embarrassing." Mason said about Kansas' inability to score when it had eight consecutive plays inside the Florida State 2-yard line in the second quarter.
"I'm an old offensive-line coach, and offensive-linemen should live for moments like that."
"They are a good defense and you have to expect that a good team can stop your offense." Schmidt said. "We
Senior center Dan Schmidt lives for those moments as well. But a sprained left ankle suffered in presa-
sion practice kept Schmidt on the sidelines Saturday so he could only watch Florida State's goal-line stand.
need more work. That's all there is to it."
Sophomore Jared Smith replaced Schmidt in the lineup, but left in the second quarter with a sprained ankle, which moved sophomore Joe Hornback into the center position.
Schmidt was not the only starting member of the offensive line that was out of the game during Florida State's goal-line defense. Starting sophomore left tackle Rod Jones left in the second quarter with a sprained right knee.
Hornback earned praise from Mason for his effort against the Seminoles.
"He played darn well." Mason said. "He played better than some of the veterans we have on the line."
Schmidt thought he could play with the sprained ankle, but the coaches decided to hold him out of the game, which broke his string of 26 consecutive starting assignments.
"The ankle wasn't 100 percent, and I didn't think I would be able to give 110 percent." Schmidt said. "It gets frustrating missing the first game of the season, but I understand the coaches' perspective that the regular season is what is most important for us."
Mason said he expected Schmidt to return to the line-up for this Saturday's home opener against Western Carolina. Schmidt said that he hoped the offensive line could turn in a better effort this week against the Catamounts than it did against the Seminoles.
The Associated Press
Brewers take Royals in 9th
MILWAUKEE — Cal Alaukeed pitched a four-hitter and John Jaha doubled home the winning run in the ninth inning last night to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
With one out in the ninth, Kevin Reimer singled off the glove of first baseman Wally Joyner, Darryl Hamilton ran for Reimmer and Jaha hit a line drive off Tom Gordon (8-6). The ball skidded past shortstop Greg Gagne into shallow left. Hamilton came around from first, beating the throw to the plate.
The loss dropped the third-place Royals six games behind the AL West-leading Chicago White Sox, who beat Minnesota 4-1.
Eldred (15-12) took a two-hit
shutout into the ninth before allowing Joyner's one-out home run, his 14th, which tied it 1-1.
Eldred had retired 14 straight Royals after allowing consecutive two-out singles in the fourth inning to Gary Gaetti and Jose Lind. Eldred struck out seven and walked two for his sixth complete game. His previous best low-hit games were also four-hitters, achieved twice last season.
Milwaukee scored its first run off Gordon in the sixth innning. Robin Yount opened with a double to left-center and moved to third on Kevin Seitzer's infield single. Greg Vaughn followed with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Yount.
Gordon, making his eight start in 12 appearances, allowed seven hits in his first complete game of the season. He struck out eight and walked three.
Senior tennis player Abya Woods won a volley during a practice session; Woods received All-Big Eight honors for her doubles play last season.
Paul Kotz / KANSAN
Walking on air
Work ethic leads to tennis star's success
File Photo
By Anne Felstet
Kansan sportswriter
The smile on his face gave away Chuck Menzbach's opinion of Abby Woods before words were even spoken.
Woods' teammate and doubles partner last year, Kim Potter also trained Woods.
"When you think of Abby, you think of someone with a big heart." Roers said.
Merzbach, Kansas women's tennis coach, said Woods, the squad's captain, was a great leader. He served for last year. Kim
Prior to college, she said she had played just as much basketball at tennis. She said that she was not a ranked player in high school, and that coaches just did not look at unranked players.
Woods, in her fourth year as a Jajawk, said she had risen through the tennis ranks from the very bottom.
ion of Abby woods before words were ever spoken. Mertzbacher, Kansas women's tennis coach, said Woods
Kansas men's coach Michael Center, the women's coach when Woods came to Kansas, took a chance on her, she said.
"He knew I was a good athlete, and he knew I could develop
Last season. Woods played No. 4 singles and received first-place All-Right bipolar for No. 2 doubles.
Merczbacher said Woods was a self-made player who was still learning to play at the collegiate level.
Woods said she now understood what it took to be successful at tennis. When she arrived at Kansas she did not really have an understanding of the way college tennis was played.
Woods began competing in tennis when she was 14 years old. She said Vince Westbrook, the Tubsa tennis coach, saw her in a tournament and began coaching her. It seemed like a lot at first to drive an hour and a half for coaching, but now it was the best thing she could have done.
He took me from an athlete to a tennis player, "Woods said.
Now, as a Jayhawk, Woods said Merzhacher has helped her become an even better player. If she asked for help, he always puts in extra time.
"He keeps a fresh, positive attitude, and he gives me an extra sense of drive," she said. "He wants us to win for ourselves and for him."
serves and I will be grateful to you.
Noting her Kansas experience, Woods said she would always remember how she came in as a "nothing" in tennis and became a top college player.
"I'll always remember walking in my freshman year and not being ready to compete at a national level and four years later leaving Kansas knowing how much I improved as a person and a tennis player."
There are two main challenges to tennis, Woods said.
First, she said tennis was an endurance game where the player must be physically fit to play the way he or she wanted to play.
Second, she said tennis was a mental game. While she is playing, she also must have complete concentration on the match
"There is no better feeling than competing in one of those four-hour matches in 100-degree heat where you have to win for the team to win, and winning it," she said.
Merzbacher said he never would forget one of her matches last year.
"Woods was down 3-6, 2-5, and the match was not going her way, and we needed her to win." Mertzbacher said.
"That is one of the greatest comebacks I have ever encountered." Morzacher said.
Rogers, who also received first place Big Eight honors as Woods partner, said her teammate went after every ball, and that to Woods, the match is never over until the last point is played.
Lake practice boosts 'Hawk swim teams
By Kent Hohlfeld
Kansan sportswriter
While most people are just beginning their day, Kempf has his swimmers at Lone Star Lake, south of Lawrence, working on a variety of techniques for upcoming meets.
Most college swimming coaches don't worry about thunderstorms, weekend fishermen or other swimmers when they schedule practice. But those are a few of the things Kansas swimming coach Gary Kempf has had to schedule his practices around twice a week for the past three years.
Kempf started the tradition of having the team practice at the lake three years ago. He said bringing the team out to the lake kept practice from becoming tedious as well as it provided a good workout for his swimmers.
ed a good workout for the swimmers!
"I started bringing the team out to swim when we changed the program to more aerobics," Kempi said.
"There are no lines or clocks on here so they have to focus more on their stroke." Kempf said.
He said that bringing the team out to the lake for practice had a variety of benefits. He said the biggest benefits were that it put variation into the practice routine and that it gave the swimmers a better aerobic workout than ordinary pool work.
"With the clocks and lines at the pool, it lets me know my pace more than out here," said Hansen.
Frankie Hansen, junior distance swimmer, agreed that swimmers focus more in the lake than in the pool. Hansen said that although the lake trips did break up the boredom of practice, she still liked the pool workouts better.
"We spend seven or eight months a year in the pool. This really helps break up practice," Townsend said.
Scot Townsend, a senior sprint swimmer, said that he loved the weekly trips to the lake. He said lake swimming was excellent for building endurance.
Townsend said that given a choice, he would much rather swim in the lake than in the pools he normally swims.
Townsend's feelings are shared by sophomore distance swimmer Ryan Lowe. He said that the lake work helped the distance swimmers a lot. He said the lake allowed the swimmers to go further distances without having to turn around. Lowe said the lake forced swimmers to change their strokes to be effective.
"The lake allows you to go for a long time," Lowe said. "It also forces you to use a longer stroke."
Senior sprint swimmer Ronda Lasty said that besides adding variety to practice, the lake trips also added to the team's sense of unity.
"Being out here all together helps bring the distance and sprint swimmers closer," Lusty said.
Outdoor swimming is not just catching on at Kansas. The United States Swimming Corporation, the governing body for swimming in the United States, has recognized long-distance, open-water swimming as an official event. However, there are not many outdoor events at the collegiate level.
Kansas hopes to become one of the few schools to host an open-water meet in mid-September.
"All we're waiting for is clearance from the county commission for use of the lake." Kempf said.
He said that he expected that clearance to come sometime early this week.
Southern Illinois and Western Illinois will be the first two schools to send participants to what Kempf hopes will become an annual event.
Kempf said that he expected both the number and popularity of the outdoor events to grow. In the meantime, the Jayhawks will continue to practice at the lake as long as the weather permits.
if the weather stays like it is now, we'll be out here until early October," Kempf said.