Wednesday, September 20, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Atkinson defensive player of the week
By Allan Davis
By Allan Davis
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Algie Atkinson, Kansas junior outside linebacker, not only made an impression on the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers in Saturday night's 23-20 victory, he impressed the Big 12 Conference media panel that selects the Big 12 players of the week.
Atkinson, a junior, was named the Big 12 Defensive Football Player of the Week for games played on Sept. 16. Against the Blazers, Atkinson made a total of 10 tackles, eight unassisted, had two sacks for a loss of 17 yards and forced the UAB quarterback to fumble on the final play of the game as the Blazers tried desperately to get into position
for a game-tying field goal.
Kansas coach Terry Allen said Atkinson's performance merited the attention.
"Obviously, it was a nice honor for Algie." Allen said. "He must have been deserving or he wouldn't have gotten it. And he played a good football game. We proud to have him receive that award."
Atkinson, 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds,
was born in Jamaica but came to
the Jayhawks from Evanston
Township High School in Illinois.
He played defensive end in high
school.
Atkinson is a second-year starter at linebacker for the Jayhawks. Last season, he received credit for 6 sacks for a loss of 31 yards, seven tackles for losses, made six unassisted tackles and assisted on 31
Atkinson said he was pleased to receive the award, but he learned about it indirectly.
more.
"I saw it on the news last night, and a couple of people told me this morning in the training room," he said.
Despite his size. Atkinson is still fast, as demonstrated by his time in the 40-yard dash during practice.
"I clocked a 4.55 during the training this season — this semester," he said. A 40-yard-dash time of 4.55 is good for anyone and especially good for a linebacker.
Atkinson is an African Studies major and said he was interested in finding something he could do well in the future. The National Football League may eventually be an option for him, but he's not counting on
that. Atkinson said he might like to become a teacher.
Notes:
Sophomore left guard Kyle Grady, who started the first game of the season, probably will miss the next game while recovering from a dislocated kneecap.
Kansas' next opponent, Southern Illinois, is 12 and upset perennial Gateway Conference power Northern Iowa 34-14 on Saturday. Allen coached at Northern Iowa before coming to Kansas. Former Jayhawk assistant Jan Quarless coaches the Salukis.
Edited by Clay McCuistion
Tennis coach leaving Kansas for Pennsylvania
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
By Zac Hunter
Just when the University of Kansas Athletics Department thought all coaching changes and speculation were finished for the year, it was hit with a departure Monday.
Men's tennis coach Mark Riley resigned his position to become head coach at Pennsylvania.
Riley made the announcement after weeks of deliberation. He had told his team that he was considering the new position.
He informed his team of his final decision Sunday and said he was set to assume his duties as the Quakers head coach.
"It's been a tough few days," he said. "It's never a great time to be a coach when you have to leave, because you're leaving something you've built and
leaving people you care about."
Riley's decision to leave mostly was based on the opportunity Penn offered him to be close to his family. Riley also was an assistant at Penn for the 1992-93 seasons.
But despite his ties to Pennsylvania, Riley said his choice was not an easy one.
While at Kansas, Riley tallied a 53-44 record in his four seasons and helped three Jayhawks attain All-America status.
Riley: Resigned post at Kansas for job at Pennsylvania
However, Riley said he was most proud of how his players did in the classroom. Last year, his
players earned a 3.4 grade point average, which set a record for athletic teams at Kansas.
Filling the vacancy at head coach this season is assistant coach Ross Nwachukwu. Nwachukwu is being promoted after just one season as a Kansas assistant, but said he was confident that the upcoming season would be a positive one.
"I am excited to be able to carry on the Jayhawk tradition that Mark has continued for the last four years," he said. "I look forward to having a very successful year with a group of great student athletes."
Nwachukwu played his collegiate tennis at Drake between 1991-94, and was an assistant there in '95. Before taking the assistant's job at Kansas last year, Nwachukwu was a teaching professional at Village Glen Tennis Club in Buffalo, New York.
— Edited by Clay McCusinion
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