Sports
University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, November 6, 1990
11
Above: Tight end Pete Vang catches a 3-yard touchdown pass. The catch came in the third quarter of the Jayhaws' 31-10 victory against Oklahoma State on Saturday. Right: Wide receiver Rob Lucisir celebrates after catching a touchdown pass, bringing the Jayhaws within one point of Oklahoma State. The two-point conversion that followed gave the Jayhaws the lead late in the game.
KU receivers stage air show for Cowboys
By Rob Wheat
Kansan sportswriter
Receiver Kenny Drayton had a strange feeling days before the game that Kansas would beat the Cowboys on a two-point conversion play.
Football
Drayton even predicted the play the Jayhawks would run, although it was one the Jayhawks had never run through in practice.
The play was drawn up in the middle of the week, and the Kansas coaches were unable to try it in practice Friday because they would have revealed the play to Oklahoma State.
Drayton sensed the game would be won or lost with the decision to call the play because the coaches kept going over it during the game. How-ever, the coaches three timeouts to finally decide why that particular conversion play
True to Drayton's prediction, Kansas beat the Cowboys with that two-point play, and although it was a great victory for the Jayhawks, it was one of many triumphs for the Kansas "air force."
Drayton also had a 72-yard recep
tion in the third quarter. It was the longest play from scrimmage this season, it tied for the 17th longest play in the fourth longest non-scoring play.
Drayton said that from looking a films he knew that the Jayhawk aerial attack would work against the Cowboys.
"We knew that their cornerbacks played off the ball and that that would open our receivers a lot," Drayton said. "We have had success through the air in earlier games and we have also had confidence to throw the ball more."
Drayton had five catches for 111 yards. He has caught at least one pass in the last 20 games.
Drayton's 72-yard reception set the stage for the debut of tight end Pete Vang who had his first collegiate rebound on the next play, a 9-4 yard reception.
Vang said he didn't have time to be nervous because his number was called in the huddle, and he knew he had a chance to score.
"I just tried real hard to get into it," Vang said. "I saw it come my way, and I made sure it tucked it behind on to it as tight as it could."
Vang decided to try out for Kansas as a walk-in on April. He has an older brother who plays for the University of Iowa, and Vang said that he, too, had dreamed of playing college football
His main inspiration for trying out. Vang said, came from linebacker Curtis Moore, a walk-on in 1986.
"I lived a couple of blocks away from Curtis in Wichita, and he is a good friend of mine." Vang said. "I watched him walk on here at Kansas and make things happen, and that's what I wanted to do also."
Vang also had his first start Saturday after he replaced Chad Fette, who had an irregular heartbeat. Vang said he was eager to play Saturday but was concerned about Fette's health.
"I was glad I was able to play, but I also worried about about Chad." Vang said. "I know he was trying to find a way to play. Sometimes I'd like to challenge him for the starting position in the competition will make us both better."
Fette said he was feeling fine and hoped to be able to play against Nebraska.
Another injured Jayhawk who hopes to return to play against the
Cormuskers is receiver Jim New, who suffered a shoulder injury against Iowa State.
Quarterback Chip Hillcairn was top gun against the Kansas aerial attack. He passed for 221 yards last week against Kansas State and had a career high 250 yards passing against the Cowboys.
Hillery is approaching most of the Kansas top ten lists for rushing, passing and total offense. So far, he completed 59.7 percent of his passes.
The Kansas single-season records for percentage of passes completed is held by Morske Norsch, who commenced 56.9 percent of his passes in 1984.
But Hilleary said he didn't make individual goals for himself.
"As a sophomore, the only goals I make for myself are the ones that make the team win." Hilleary said. "I have to give a lot of credit to the players on my team, and to do well, and hopefully I can make good decisions against Nebraska."
Hillary said his day was made even more special by the presence of his mother, steptheater, and former Cowboy quarterback Ron Holiday.
from him in New Orleans, and he came up to watch me from Dallas." Hillary said. "He said that we looked really good and that we showed a lot of experience for such a young team."
"We used to live across the street
After gaining 116 yards on four catches against Kansas State, receiver Rob Liciuris had another great day against Oklahoma State after he gained 102 yards on nine receptions.
Licursi said he had never had a bigger reception in his entire college career than the one he scored on.
Kansas was trailing 23-30 when Lucasi made a 3-yard touchdown reception as Kansas was facing a fourth-down situation with 1:20 left to
Lciursi, who also scored his first collegiate touchdown Saturday, said that the past two weeks have given backpack air attack plenty of confidence.
"The last couple of weeks have proven to us that we can throw the ball and be successful." Licui斯 said. "We now feel that if we execute well, then we can make those big plays, but when the funality comes up more often for us,"
Browns coach fired after team loses 42-0
The Associated Press
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns, off to their worst start since 1984, fired coach Bud Carson yesterday, the day after their worst home win.
Owner Art Model, who promised last year that Carson would be his last coach, changed his mind after Sunday's 42-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
"It was an embarrassment for all of us," Modell said. "If I ever leave the game, I'm going to go out on top. I'm not going to go out as a
Carson, the first coaching casualty of the season, was replaced by first year offensive coordinator Jim Shofner.
The Browns, who have made the playoffs the past five years, are 2-2 and off to their worst start since 1984. The Rams record cost Sam Ratliff his job.
Modell asked Shofner to take charge for at least the rest of the season. He becomes the Brown's ninth coach. Carson was in the midst of contracting runs through 1991, and it will be honored, Modell said.
"I was hoping and praying that Bud wud it turn around," Modeli said. "I can't coach, but I have some instincts for the game. We had to stop the hemorrhaging. I'm looking for a performance."
"I'm not going to speculate beyond the end of this season." Modell said.
Carson said yesterday he had thought the Browns were back on track when they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in a last-strike victory.
"We expected to play last night and we did not do it," Carson said. "Not only did we not do it, we played as badly as we can play. The whole football team fell apart. The bottom line in this business, you've got to win, or what have you done for me lately?"
"We got in trouble early this season. There was some panic. That didn't help us. We dug ourselves a hole we never able to get out of."
Carson had gambled by starting Mike Pagle at quarterback against the Bills, instead of Bernie Kosar. Kosar will start when the brownies play again Nov. 18 against Houston, and The Browns have a bye this week.
Carson had indicated Sunday night that he might resign, but he did not leave voluntarily.
"I think Bernie is the guts of our football team," Shofer said. "I think Bernie is playing very well. It wasn't my decision (to bench him)."
"To his credit, he didn't want to go out on a losing note," Modell said.
Browns.
"I'm sorry, Transition is for Atlanta, Tampa Bay and a few others that I could model." Modell said. "We're not in a transition. We have an excellent of a fine football team. We've played the playoff five consecutive years."
Including playoff games, Carson was 12-14-1 with the Browns.
The Browns were 9-6-1 and AFC Central champions under Carson last year, making it to the AFC title game before losing to Denver. But 1990 has been a nightmare, with injuries, retirements and holdouts wiping out Cleveland's offensive line and fouling in the defense.
The 59-year-old Carson replaced Marty Schottenheimer as the Brown's coach Jan. 27, 1989, after Schottenheimer left in a dispute with Model over coaching styles. Schottenheimer, now at Kansas City, was 46-31 in four-plus seasons at Cleveland.
Five defensive starters were contract holdouts during the preseason. Two starting offensive linemen and two others were out with knee injuries.
"I don't feel Bud was given a fair shake," said Felix Wright, who stage a bitter preseason hold-out. "I am disappointed. Who knows
Those problems led some players to question Modell's decision yesterday.
what would have happened if we were all together during training camp, and happy?"
"I think it could have been solved after the season," defensive lineman Michael Dear Perry said. "To do it now, I think it's a raw deal. Bud's a tremendous defensive coach, one that we'll miss greatly."
Before coming to Cleveland, Carson was a defensive coordinator for five NFL teams, most recently the New York Jets.
He built Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense while serving as defensive coordinator of the Steelers from 1972-1977, when Pittsburgh went to the playoffs six straight seasons and won Super Bowls in 1974 and 1975.
In 1982, Carson was defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Colts under general manager Ernie Accursi, now the Brown's executive vice president. Accursi was instrumental in bringing Carson to Cleveland.
"It's a personal disappointment for me." Accursi said. "I'm the one who recommended him. I take personal responsibility for that. I was sure he was going to be a success. He didn't fail alone. We failed as an organization."
The 54-year-old Shofner rejoined the Browns this season after serving as an assistant with the Phoenix Cardinals from 1986-89. He has also worked for Dallas, Houston and San Francisco.
Players up for award
The Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. — Michael Stone-breaker of Notre Dame, Maurice Crum of Miami and Alfred Williams of Colorado were among five football players selected yesterday as finalists for the Bukus Award.
Darrick Bronlow of Illinois and Leven Kirkland of Cleveland also are finalists for the award, which is given to the top college linebacker in the United States by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando.
The winner will be announced Dec 4.
Stonebreaker, who sat out last season because of disciplinary problems, has 73 tackles, one fumble and two interceptions this season.
Crum, Miam's leading tackler for the past two seasons, helps lead one of the best rushing defenses in the league. With one interception and one sack.
Williams has 79 tackles, including 21 for losses, 12.5 sacks and one blocked kick.
Brownlow, a two-time, All-Big Ten selection, has 114 tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Kirkland, who anchors the nation's top defense, has 44 tackles, including nine for losses. He also has 14 sacks and a fumble recovery.
KU's defeat of Cowboys is euphoria
Brent Maycock Sports editor
There are so many words I can use to describe Kansas' 31-30 come from-behind victory Saturday against Oklahoma State.
However, there aren't enough words that could give the game the kind of justice it deserves.
ALL I can say is that it was simply incredible.
What's more, we dominated the crowd, even though we were extremely outnumbered.
Although there were roughly 250 Jayhawk fans in my section, it seemed as if the entire stadium was full of Kansas faithful. From the opening kickoff, I don't remember being out for more than 10 minutes during the entire game.
And the Jayhawks responded to our battle cries.
After completely outplaying the Cowboys in the first half, Kansas still trailed 13.9.
However, Kansas refused to get down in the mouth. Instead, the Jayhawks sucked it up and gave such a great performance that after the game, an Oklahoma State supporter came up to me and told me that Kansas had a fine football team and deserved to win. That was classy.
The entire game, the Jayhawks
sept coming back. Kansas had several
chances to give up, but it never
been so known ever so proud to be
1 Jayhawk.
The final drive was something special to watch. Every time it seemed that the Jayhawks would come up short, we would cheer louder and they would respond. When Kansas finally scored, it was unbelievable. Here a team we hadn't beat since 1972 and we were doing anything we wanted. The Jayhawks poured everything they had into getting into the end zone and for once their efforts were answered.
Not that the last series by Oklahoma State made it easy for the Javahaws to secure the victory.
First, the Cowboys returned the kickoff to the good field position. Then, a 10-yard gain on the next play. But when Lance Flaharsbach sacked Oklahoma State quarterback Earl Wheeler, putting the Cowboys back into a fourth-and-2) situation, we thought it was over.
However, Wheeler completed a 23 yard pass and put the Cowboys in field-goal range.
But the defense rose to the occasion and didn't allow Oklahoma State any more yardage, leaving them 27 points with a game-winning 51-yard field goal attempt.
As soon as the ball was kicked I thought, "Oh, no. Iowa State all over again." But the ball hit the upright and we had won.
Players were jumping up and down on the field. We were jumping up and down in the stands. It was euphoria
when the gun sounded, ending the game, the players ran over to meet the KU fans that were pouring out onto the field. An unknowing bystander would have thought we had just given our rights to go to the Orange Bowl.
After what seemed like an endless celebration on the middle of the Oklahoma State field, the players finally went to the locker room and we left the field. That is by far the most I have ever seen a baseball team in the field, victory, whether it be Kansas, Miami, Notre Dame or Nebraska.
I can think of only one moment since I have been at Kansas that can even come close to the kind of emotion and excitement I felt last Saturday when I won. Kansas won the 1988 National Championship in basketball.
For Kansas' football team this year, that game probably was its national championship. However, in years to come I expect the program to develop into one of the Big Eight's top teams, and hopefully we can celebrate a return to the Orange Bowl.
Brent Maycock is a Branson, Mo.. senior majoring in journalism.
Rugby Club team wins regional championship
The KU Rugby Club's club side claimed the Heart of America Rugby Union championship Saturday, defeating the Kansas City Blues 15-10 in the final Merit Table match of the fall.
The club avenged a loss to the Blues in last month's Heart of America tournament. The Blues defeated Kansas 18-6.
As Heart of America champions.
Kansas was led by Greg Javis, who scored one try and one penalty kick. Kever Harder and Bill Kirkle also scored tries for Kansas.
Sports briefs
the club qualifies for this spring's Western Territorial Rugby championship.
The club side is composed of players from the community, while the varsity side is reserved for KU students.
The varsity will play Kansas State for the varsity version of the Heart of
America championship Saturday. Kansas and K-State, each with one Merit Table loss, have not played each other this year.
Kansas' varsity is 8-3, with losses to the Springfield Rugby Club, the Omaha GOATS and defending champions Air Force Academy.
Hilleary gets Big Eight offensive player honor
Kansas quarterback Chip Hileary was selected Big Eight Conference offensive player of the week yesterday for his performance in the Jayhawks' weekend victory over Oklahoma State.
Hilleary, a sophomore from Westerville, Ohio, passed for a career-high 250 yards and completed 18 of 30 passes, another career high.
Hillary directed Kansas' winning drive on its final possession and completed a fourth and goal pass for the final touchdown with 1:20 remaining in the game.
*From staff and win reports.*
From staff and wire reports