O
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, August 23, 1993
11
Pac-10 places Washington on probation
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Washington's Don James, one of the nation's most successful college football coaches, resigned yesterday after his team was severely penalized by the Pacific-10 Conference for violating NCAA rules.
He quit hours after the football program was placed on probation, banned from postseason play for two years, forced to give up scholarships and $1.4 million in television revenue.
James' letter of resignation was read by athletic director Barbara Hedges at a news conference.
"I have decided I can no longer
coach in a conference that treats its players and coaches so unfairly," the letter said.
James, who did not attend the news conference, said he was displeased there was no chance to cross-examine those players and recruits whose allegations contributed to the sanctions.
James, 60, has won more Pac-10 games than any coach in league history. He led the Huskers to a 12-0 record and a share of the 1991 National Championship. He is the winningest coach in Washington history with a 153-57-2 record in 18 seasons, leading the school to 13 bowls in the last 14
The Huskies, who have appeared in three straight Rose Bowls, will have the chance to go to Pasadena this season because of the Pac-10 penalties announced yesterday outside of San Francisco. Washington will not be eligible for the conference title following the 1993 and 1994 seasons.
years.
The Huskies remain eligible for national championship consideration in The Associated Press media poll but not in the CNN-USA Today coaches' poll. Washington is ranked 12th in preseason by the AP.
Washington is the second major football program to be placed on probation in the last week. Auburn was hit with a two-year probation and one-year television ban by the NCAA Wednesday.
The Pac-10 also limited Washington's football scholarships and
Four Washington boosters will be ordered to disassociate themselves from the Husky program, and three players, including senior tailback Beno Bryant, will lose their eligibility.
recruiting visits, and prohibited the university from sharing in 1983 television rights fees.
Among the violations found by the Pac-10 were improper loans to athletes, free meals provided to recruits
and improper employment of athletes by boosters. The conference also cited a lack of institutional control of funds provided to students hosting recruits.
Despite the severe penalties, Pac-10 representatives refused to characterize Washington as an "outlaw" program.
"There is no evidence the University of Washington set out to accomplish the achievement of a competitive advantage," said James O'Fallon, faculty representative at Oregon and head of the conference's compliance committee. "We have not found the University of Washington guilty in
that sense."
Gregory
The Pac-10, the only major athletic conference that conducts its own compliance investigations, will report the penalties to the NCAA, which can decide to levy more severe sanctions. The NCAA can not reverse or lessen the Pac-10's imposed penalties.
Hedges criticized the conference for what she said was disregard for the university's thorough in-house investigation and its cooperation.
"The university left no stone unturned in conducting the investigation into our football program," she said.
Player focused for season
Nebraska native ready to step up
Sophomore Jenny Larson spikes a ball during a team practice at Robinson Gymnasium.
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswrite
Another hot morning without air conditioning begins in Robinson Center for the Kansas volleyball team. As volleyballs sail over the net, players slide to make saves
Kip Chin/KANSAN
One player seen sliding most to get a tough dig is so home.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Jenny Larson. It is only a practice, but she isn't letting up.
"The practices are really important," Larson said. "Any athlete will say some days, 'I don't feel like practicing today.' This year I want to work on my focus for practices."
Kansas coach Frankie Albitz said Larson always worked hard in practice. "She is a tremendous athlete," Albitz said. "Practice is important. If someone looks good in practice, then she may start the next game."
Because of that policy, Larson might see a lot of playing time. Albitz said. Last year, as a freshman, Larson was placed right in the action.
"She is really versatile," Albizt said. "She played different positions for us last year. She has done everything except play setter."
Larson said she had enjoyed playing different positions. But this year she would prefer to focus on playing only a few positions.
"It was fun to know what each position is like so you can jump in easily," Larson said. "I got a lot of playing time last year. There are a lot of skills involved in volleyball. To be a great player you have to know them all."
For the volleyball team to have a good season, Albitz said Larson needed to play a larger role.
"Everyone is going to do well for us to be successful. "Albitz said. "If she can step up it will help because she is one of our powerful players."
Larson, a 5-foot-9 middle and right side player, said she is ready to step up and take control.
"I would like to be a leader," Larson said. "Any athlete would like to be a leader on the team."
Larson is an Omaha, Neb. native, but Kansas was able to recruit her away from Nebraska, perennial Big Eight volleyball champions, Albizt said Larson's quiet personality may have kept her from being notice by Cormushaker coach Terry Petit.
said. "She needed a little time, so they may have overlooked her. I don't know how though."
Larson said Nebraska asked her to walk on, but Kansas offered a scholarship, although that was not the only reason she came to Lawrence.
"Everyone from Omaha goes down to
Larson said. I wanted a change,
something."
"She might have been a sleeper," Albita
saturday, the team finished its two-a-day practices. They focused on the players physical training. Larson said. Now she is
ready to mentally prepare for the season.
"This week we need to work on the mental part of the game," Larson said. "We'll work on the determination and other things you need when you meet an opponent."
ready to mentally prepare for the season.
Larson said she was looking forward to this season. The team's first game is Sept. 1 against Wichita State, and that will begin a schedule with few slouched opponents.
"I am really excited about our schedule," Larson said. "Now, I know what to expect with one year of experience."
By Anne Felstet
Kansan sportswriter
With last season's 7-0 Big Eight Conference record and a second consecutive Big Eight Championship behind them, women's tennis looks toward a productive fall season.
During head coach Chuck Merzbacher's tenure the
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Brebcca Jensen, Ludington, Mich., junior, is the first tennis player in Kansas history to receive All-America honors in singles and doubles play in the same season.
team was ranked 17th in the nation, and two players were named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-America team.
Last year in singles, Jensen was ranked No. 17 in the nation. With doubles partner Nora Kovez, Budapest, Hungary, junior, she was ranked No. 5 in the nation
All three Kansas doubles spots won All-Big Eight honors.
Kansas retained six players from last season's team, all of whom went to the NCAA Championships, and three new players have signed on.
"The three new players coming in have a chance to make the line-up." Mindy Weiner, Morton Grove, ill, senior, said. "That can only help us; it definitely won't hurt us."
Merzbacher said the team's strengths were its depth and its experience. Three seniors will lead the team, and Merzbacher said he would have to do some serious recruiting next year to replace them.
For now, the fall season will provide time for the team to regroup.
Weiner said the fall season was an adaptation time so the freshman could mesh with the team and the rest of the team could find unity.
Weiner said the team lost some of its togetherness over the summer.
Merbach said the fall season gave the top players an opportunity to position themselves nationally, and the new players had time to gain experience.
"I really looking forward to playing." Amy Trytek, Bradenton, Fla., freshman said. "I came to KU because I really liked the coach. I thought he would be the best coach to play for."
This will be Merzbacher's second season as head coach for the Jayhawks. He came from the Northern Illinois men's tennis program where he led the team to a 50-34 record. In his first season with the Jayhawks, Merzbacher was named 1989 Big Eight Coach of the Year.
For the last two seasons, the Jayhawks have made it to the NCAA Championships. All returning players have experience playing in NCAA Championship tournament.
Weiner said it was helpful to have experience in that tournament, because the first time, it was overwhelming.
He said the fall season was individualized and helped with rankings for the spring.
During the fall season, the team has scheduled six tournaments. Weiner and Merzbacher said that these tournaments were mostly for individuals and that team play would come in the spring.
"It's like being a rookie in football, or walking into the stadium and seeing that you have to play Michael Jordan." Weiner said.
All fall tournaments will be played on the road, the closest one being played at Kansas State.
Despite turnovers,Chiefs claim victory
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Joe Montana aside, the Kansas City Chiefs are going to have to do something about turnovers.
Montana played the first half against Minnesota on Saturday and directed two long drives, which left the Chiefs with a 10-0 lead. Kansas City led 20-6 early in the third quarter after the Vikings' Roger Craig fumbled away two balls early in the period.
"There is no excuse. None."
But then the Chiefs started turning over the ball. Krieg was intercepted twice on badly overthrown passes, and Mike Dual dugelfilled giving Kansas City four turnovers in the game. Minnesota pulled to a 20-20 tie.
The Chiefs, who eventually pulled out a 27-20 victory, have turned the ball over 11 times in two games.
"It's awful," Chiefs coach Marty Schotten-heiser said. "You can not turn over the football if you want to win in this league. It makes it a little bit easier for the other guy."
It was the second straight week that Montana had executed flawlessly, and the Chiefs had somehow forgotten how to hold onto the ball once his scheduled duty was up.
Montana played one quarter last week and took the Chiefs on a long drive to the one-vard line, but the Chiefs failed to score. The Chiefs turned the ball over seven times in a loss to Bufalo.
Montana then took the Chiefs on a nine-play drive that ended in a 38-yard field goal by Nick Lowery, which gave the Chiefs a 10-0 lead.
This time. Montana worked the short passing game to perfection and ate up more than nine minutes of the first quarter before throwing a four-yard touchdown pass to Dyal.
He finished that drive having completed 11 of 14 passes for 93 yards.
Associated Press top 25
Three Big Eight teams are ranked in the Big Ten basketball poll. Kansas was 26th in the yotink
Rank School '92 Record Votes '92 Poll
1. Florida St. (42) 11-1-1 1,522 2
2. Alabama (14) 13-0-0 1,472 1
3. Michigan (3) 9-0-3 1,413 5
4. Texas A&M 12-1-0 1,261 7
5. Miami 11-1-0 1,245 3
6. Syracuse (2) 10-2-0 1,180 6
7. Notre Dame 10-1-1 1,137 4
**8. Nebraska** 9-3-0 1,050 14
9. Florida 9-4-0 998 10
10. Tennessee 9-3-0 976 12
**11. Colorado** 9-2-1 961 13
12. Washington 9-3-0 890 11
13. Georgia 10-2-0 725 8
14. Arizona 6-5-1 695 -
15. Stanford 10-3-0 660 9
16. Penn State 7-5-0 598 -
17. Ohio State 8-3-1 470 18
18. Southern Cal 6-5-1 436 -
19. Brigham Young 8-5-0 323 -
20. North Carolina 9-3-0 322 19
21. Boston College 8-3-1 299 21
**22. Oklahoma** 5-4-2 269 -
23. Clemson 5-6-0 262 -
24. Mississippi State 7-5-0 165 23
25. North Carolina St. 9-3-1 162 17
Cross country runner expects fruitful season
By Kent Hohlfeld
Kansan sportswriter
Four years ago, senior cross country runner Julia Saul was a determined but lightly recruited high school runner from Lawrence. She took that determination to the University of Oregon where she placed third in the 10,000-meter race at the Pacific 10 Outdoor Conference Championships in 1990 and 1991.
Her decision two years ago to leave Oregon for Kansas was prompted by Oregon's cutbacks in the program that she was studying.
"They cut my program back and I was ready for a change." Saul said.
Saul, a solid runner at Oregon, blossomed into one of the nation's elite runners once she came to Kansas.
"When I got here it kind of freed me up," Saul said. "I was used to running behind the runners at Oregon, and when I got here I didn't have anyone that I expected to run behind."
That freedom resulted in Saul becoming the top Jayhawk women's cross country runner and the first All-American in team history.
Valerie Bontrager / KANSAN
Julia Saul, Lawrence senior, stretches and gets ready for an early morning practice with the cross country team.
"She has gone from a little above average runner to one of the elite runners in the country," said Steve Guymon, assistant cross country coach.
"She is an extremely dedicated and capable runner who knows what it takes to succeed." Guymon said.
Steve Sublett, Saul's Lawrence High School coach, recognized Saul's dedication early in her career and said she was a quietly determined student and athlete.
Her coaches said they were hoping to see more of the same from Saul this year and she would be a major component in what could be a Big Eight title-contending team.
She said that she thought the depth the team had acquired with its fresh recruiting class and the talents of the staff.
"We'll definitely contend for the Big Eight title," Saul said.