SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, January 27.1993
11
Recruiting efforts pay off for 'Hawks
Recruits commit to Kansas
By Mark Button
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas football recruiting staff has corralled four more prospects for the 1993 season.
Topping the list of the new recruits is Jeff McCord, a kicker from Mesquite, Texas.
McCord, 5-foot-10, 210 pounds,
made 11 of 14 field goal attempts in his senior season. Eight of those 11 made were from more than 40 yards.
His junior year he set the school record for longest field goal by hitting a 53-yarder. He made two 52-yarders as a freshman, and missed a 60-yarder at a foot.
Mickey Delamar, Mesquite High School athletic director, said the persistence of Kansas coach Glen Mason and his staff was the main factor in McCord's decision to come to Kansas.
"Kansas was interested in him from day one." Delamar said. "They stayed in communication with him the whole way through."
Delamar expects great things out of McCord on the college level.
"He's the best kicker I've seen in the state of Texas in my 25 coaching years." he said.
Delamar said McCord not only picked Kansas instead of Nebraska, he declined the Huskers' invitation
to visit their campus.
Another determining factor in McCord's decision was the bond he made during his visit to Kansas with Jawhawk kicker Dan Ehlloff.
Eichloff also said the two of them had a good time and was happy McCord chose Kansas.
"It's good that we signed him," Eichloff said. "It will push me to do my job better."
Two of the other prospects that intend to play for Mason will transfer from Dodge City Community College.
Troy Chandler, a 6-5, 305 pound offensive lineman, and Darrin Simmons, a 6-3, 210 pound punter, will both sign national letters of intent after the Feb. 3 signing date.
Steve Simpson, coach of the Dodge City Conquistadors, said Kansas' victory in the Aloha Bowl was Chandler's deciding factor. He said Chandler would give the Jayhawks more size and quickness on the offensive line.
Simmons, who Simpson called a "Kansan at heart," had always wanted to be a Jayhawk.
Last year Simmons was a secondteam Junior College All-American. He averaged 44 yards on 62 punts, with a 74-yard as his longest.
Simmons is also an academic All American with a 3.69 grade point average.
Kansas also has received an oral commitment from a California quar-
KU football recruiting
Kansas has received seven commitments from high school or junior college football players. Feb. 3 is the first day athletes can sign letters of intent.
| name | position hometown |
| :--- | :--- |
| Charles Henley | running back Columbus, Ohio |
| Isaac Byrd | quarterback St. Louis |
| Matt Johner | quarterback Costa Mesa, Calif. |
| Derrick Chandler | offensive lineman Lymwood, Calif. |
| Jeff McCord | kicker Mesquite, Texas |
| Troy Chandler | offensive lineman Dodge City C.C. |
| Darrin Simmons | punter Dodge City C.C. |
Source: Staff reports
Dave Campbell/KANSAN
Matt Johnner, 6-1, 185 pounds, made the all-league squad in his junior and senior seasons for Estancia High School in Costa Mesa, Calif.
John Liebengood, Johner's coach at Estancia, said Johner was impressed with the overall atmosphere at Kansas and wanted to be a part of the improving program.
"They're in an upswing," Liebengood said. "If their coach can continue to recruit high-caliber players, they could be in the Orange Bowl in five years."
Johnner threw for 1,010 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He ran for an additional 600 yards and five touchdowns.
Prospects examine programs
By Matt Doyle
Kansan sportswriter
Appearances and victories in bowl games are great for the coaches, players and fans of a college football team.
But it does not help them much when it comes to recruiting high school and junior college football players to their schools.
That is the opinion of Allen Wallace, publisher and editor of Super Prep, a magazine devoted to national high school football recruiting.
He said Kansas' 23-20 victory against Brigham Young in the Aloha Bowl might entice some high school players to visit Lawrence, but the general direction that the program is heading is just one factor that a player bases his college choice on.
"An appearance in a bowl game and a victory in one is overrated." Wallace said. "Recruits look at the program over a longer stretch of time."
"Fresno State is doing well out in the West this year," he said. "Not because of their victory over Southern Cal in the Freedom Bowl but because of what they've done in the past few years."
The tradition of a program sometimes wins a player over. Such was the case for Chris Cleveenger, a tenure prospect from Wichita College.
giate High School.
Cleveren, regarded as the top prospect in the state by Super Prep, orally committed to Note Dame in mid-December.
"I talked with Chris a lot, and he kept telling me how much he loved his note to Note Dame," Wallace said. "There was nothing KU could do to change his mind."
Stanford coach Bill Walsh came to the Kansas City area last week and got commitments from wide receiver Leroy Pruitt of Blue Springs, Mo. and defensive back Brian Manning of Ruskin High School in Kansas City. Mo. Both players were considering Kansas.
"The key for Kansas is that they have to get the Kansas City area players," said Al Eschbach, who hosts a sports talk show on KCMO radio in Kansas City and covers Big Eight Conference recruiting for Super Prep.
Tony Blevins, a highly regarded defensive back from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., is still considering the Jayhawks as well as Stanford and UCLA.
"Getting a Tony Blevins would be a big feather in their cap for Kansas," Wallace said.
Wallace said it was too early to tell how Kansas' recruiting class would rank in comparison to other schools in the Big Eight. However, he likes Lynwood, Calif., offensive line prospect Derrick Chandler, who chose Kansas over Washington.
"I had Derrick underdrated at the beginning of the season, but he turned into a superior offensive line prospect," he said. "He needs to add some strength to his 6-foot-7, 280 pound frame, but I think he is an excellent offensive-line prospect for Coach Mason."
'Hawks hit basics following defeat
Players seek focus missing during loss to Long Beach State
By David Dorsey
Kansan sportswriter
Instead of intensive conditioning, as many players expected after losing 64-49 Monday night, Kansas coach Roy Williams gave his team the normal dose of layups, outlet passes, defensive positioning and shooting drills. Freshman guard/forward Sean
Less than 24 hours after its stunning loss to Long Beach State, the Kansas men's basketball team returned yesterday afternoon to Allen Field House for practice and went back to the basics.
Freshman guard/forward Sean Pearson was surmised.
"It was a lot easier than I thought," he said.
The dayhawks practiced for an hour and 15 minutes before leaving the court to watch the game film. After 45 minutes, they returned to shoot three-pointers and layups.
Kansas senior guard Rex Walters said that losing the game resulted from a lack of focus. He said he felt bad about letting down the fans.
Junior forward Darrin Hancock, the only player Williams praised after the game, ironically was the only player not at practice. Hancock, who set career highs against the 49ers with 16
"We lost on our own court," he said.
"We really didn't give them anything to cheer for. We didn't get any of the little things done right."
league overall W L W L
Kansas 4 0 12
Missouri 3 0 12
Kansas St. 3 1 14
Iowa St. 2 1 11
Oklahoma 1 2 12
Oklahoma St. 1 3 10
Nebraska 1 3 13
Colorado 0 4 8
Big Eight standings
Men
Women
league overall
W L W
Oklahoma St. 5 0 17 2
Colorado 4 1 16 1
Nebraska 4 2 13 4
Kansas 3 2 13 6
Oklahoma 2 3 8 7
Iowa St. 1 5 7 9
Kansas 1 5 6 7
points and 13 rebounds, did not attend practice because of an eye injury he suffered on Saturday against Colorado.
Assistant trainer Mark Carns said that Hancock's right eye, which was unintentionally elbowed by a Colorado player, was diagnosed as having multiple retinal tears. Since Saturday he has been suffering from blurry vision.
"He's going to have to play with some sort of protection, either goggles or glasses." Cairns said.
Richard Devink / KANSAN
Walters, who worked on his long-range jump shot for about 30 minutes after practice ended, said that Monday's upset might have given the team the challenge it needed.
More tests on the eye will be run tomorrow, and until then it is uncertain whether or not Hancock will play Saturday against Rollins College. The Jayhawks return to Big Eight Conference play Monday at home against Missouri.
"Last year the loss to Louisville kind of woke us up, and hopefully this game will do the same," he said.
"Both of those teams are very good teams," Walters said of the 49ers and Cardinals. "Even if we had played well against Long Beach, it still would have been a tough game to win because they were playing at such a high level. But if we play to our very best, we're going to win."
The 49ers spread the court on offense, allowing them to run down the clock and look for easy shots. They shot 75 percent from the field during the first half. But Walters said people were being misled about Kansas playing poorly against open-court offenses. The Jahyakwks were upset in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last March by the University of Texas-EI Paso, another team that spread out the offense.
Last year on Jan. 11, Louisville defeated Kansas 85-78 in the field house. Before Monday's loss the Jayhawks had won 14 consecutive home games.
"We were challenged, but mentally we just weren't prepared for it," he said. "I think that now we know it's so easy to get knocked off the mountain because everybody wants to get to the top. We've worked hard to get there, and once we got there, we got a little complacent. Now we have to climb back up."
The Jayhawks likely will lose their No. 1 ranking in next week's poll, but Walters hopes to learn from the loss to Long Beach State.
However, Walters said Kansas has also beaten teams that have spread the court, including Iowa State this season and Oklahoma State last year.
"Rollins will probably to do the same thing that Long Beach State did, and that's unread the court," he said.
Junior guard / forward Patrick Richey fights for a loose ball against Bryon Russell of Long Beach State. The Jawhaws went back to work in practice last night after Monday night's 64-49 loss, Kansas returns to action Saturday night against Rollins at Allen Field House.
The men's basketball team had won seven games in a row before losing to Long Beach State Monday. During the win streak, the Jayhawks
That's the way the ball bounces
opponent's score
Source: Kansas Sports Information
game (road games in italics)
Dan Schaper | KANGAN
Superfan ban was unjustified
It is not uncommon in the world of sports for heads to roll after a loss.
But usually it is the coach that gets the boot, not the fans. Unfortunately, that's what happened Monday night as the ax fell on one of the Jayhawks most loyal fanatics.
Kansas alumnus Joe Zielinski, but known as Captain Jaywalk within Allen Field House's once-friendly confines, was removed from the field house and banned for the season for what amounted to a harmless prank.
Zielinski is the ringleader of the fanatics that inhabit the bleachers behind the north basket. Captain Jayhawk can be easily spotted by his uniform, cape and helmet made from a basketball.
But Monday night was not a normal night at Allen Field House. Zielinski was not in his uniform, and the Jayhawks were a disgrace to theirs.
With four minutes left in the game, Kansas trailed Long Beach State by 21. The crowd was losing interest and leaving. The game was all but over.
Unfortunately, field house security was not amused.
"There were about four minutes left in the game, and it was pretty much hopeless by then." Zielinski said. "I just went over and slid Kansas out and switched them. The fans started chanting."
Zielinski was looking for something, anything, to keep the crowd in the game. He responded by moving to the scoreboard that hangs over the north court entrance. He switched the Kansas sign with the Guest sign to make it appear that the Jayhawks were winning.
"The cops thought it was funny too," he said. "I wasn't charged with anything."
But to a fan as loyal as Zielinski, who has missed few games in the last five years, banishment from the field house will be like doing hard time.
"I thought about the consequences before I did it," he said. "They have the big $250,000 scoreboard hanging over the court and the official scorekeepers. I didn't think the little scoreboard would make a big difference."
"Security—the little neon pink guys— are trying to kick me out for the season," he said. "I hope they think about it before they do it. I think it would be a big loss for the field house."
Zielinski isn't the only one who thinks his presence might make a difference.
"I could see why they wouldn't want him to do that, but I don't think it's fair," said Kansas cheerleader Tawnya Hall. "He's been very helpful to the team. We don't want to lose those people because they are a very loud support system."
The banishment seems even more ridiculous when weighed against what transpired at Kansas State last week. For the second year in a row at Bramlage Coliseum, a Kansas player was struck by an object thrown from the crowd.
What Zielinski did was innature, and perhaps he deserved to be escorted out of the field house. But banning a fan that has devoted as much time to the Jayhawks as Zielinski has was an act of utter stunts.
Someone somewhere must agree,
because Zielinski and his Superfan
cohorts have appeared in countess
Jayhawker yearbooks, two Final
Four videos and numerous ESPN
clips.
Ask the cheerleaders who are responsible for getting the crowd going, even when Kansas is losing
Ask the Crimson Girls whose van Zielinski drove back all the way from Indianapolis after they watched Kansas lose in the 1981 Final Four.
Better yet, ask the Jayhawks them selves what the student fans mean to the field house atmosphere.
In the days when Mark Randall was an All-Big Eight Conference forward, Zielinski was his friend and neighbor. Randall once said that the field house fans, particularly the fans in the north bleachers, were unparalleled.
"Our fans are on a different level," Randall said. "I've been fortunate enough to play around the world and places around the country. We have the best fans in the world."
Zeliski plans to appeal the ban, but for now, the biggest fan of the world's best fans has been relegated to Benchwarmers.
Sports editor David Mitchell in a DeBorte senior mentor in Journalism.