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University Daily Kansan, October 6, 1980
KU makes it happen again far,far away from its home
By GENE MYERS Sports Editor
Sports Editor
The "Make It Happen at KU" Jayhawks need a new slogan.
At KU, the Jayhawks have done little. But at Memorial Stadium, the "Make It Happen on the Road!" Jayhawks are dynamite. And at Syracuse, the game over Syracuse Saturday in the Carrier Dome.
THE EMBRASSMENT from the previous
HARRASSMENT 10 hours to lose Louisville didn't vanish,
but it did.
The victory was Kanaas' first of the season and accompanied Kansas' first sign of an offense. offense piled up 450 yards, only 84 fewer yards than the team had gained in its first three games.
"I've never seen you take charge like that after the letdown and embarrassment from the Louville game," Head Coach Don Fambrough never been as proud of a team as I am of this one."
The turnabout came for reasons unknown.
"I wish I could tell you why." Fambrough said. I wish I could say that I was the genius who did it. I could say that I was the genius who did it.
The team did it with a fired-up offensive line and a firm defense. Syracuse's high-scoring offense, the 33-point average covers for its fragile defense, could not put the ball in the end zone. The Orangemen also had trouble keeping the ball long enough to punt. Six times, two fumbles and four interceptions, Syracuse handed KU the ball.
ON THE GROUND, Syracuse had 83 yards.
Joe Morris, the star back who sat out with a bruised shoulder, averages 163 yards a game and had 252 against KU last year.
"I was just happy not to see Joe Morris."
"Farmland said. I hope he cornback healthally "
"wouldn't get hurt."
"I knew what he could do. But he had a pretty good little back ourselves in Kerwin Bell. He's also got that.
KU's little back help get the offense going. Bell bounced through the Syracuse defense for 143 yards on 32 carries, his second consecutive 100-yard game.
The offense not only played like a different team, but its plays were like those of another team. After the Louisville loss, Fambrough and John Hadi, offensive coordinator, cut out pages from the game to amplify the offense. The fancy was foreseen by fans of the basic, ram-it-down-their-footballs football.
THE QUARTERBACK, Steve Smith, stayed in the pocket, throwing short or handing off. The running backs stayed between the offensive tackles.
"Simplifying the offense paid off," Fam-
raught said. "I kept it nice and simple, run-
ough."
"I had been getting all over the offensive line last week but they snapped it on today."
Bell had room to move because of the line, which included third-stringer Ed Bruce at the end for need to play when John Prater, the No. 2 center bunting for Bob Fiss, was hurt early in the game.
"The offensive line was fired up," Bell said. "I havent seen them that ready."
THE LINE ALSO gave protection to Smith, a starter-turned-reserve-turned-starter. He played the entire game completing 12-of-14 passes and passing down passes to All-Eirb Altier fanker David Verrer.
Even though the offense was simplified, it was also liberalized, abandoning the "going for one" approach. Several times KU gambled. The most successful team had been one-down from the Syracuse 18-yard line. KU led 3-0.
Instead of kicking the field goal, Fambrough went for it. So did Bell, who darted through the defensive stack all the way to the end zone. On the kickoff, Fambrough gambled again with an on-sides kick. KU recovered but a penalty nullified the recovery.
JAYHAWK NOTES: Kermin Bell gained 143 yards rushing but he wasn't the only back with a big day. Walter Mack, who lost his starting job to Bell on the third play of the season, had 10 carries, the most he has this season, for 63 yards, another season high. He had a 34-yard run.
Because speedy Joe Morris did not play, he failed to break the all-time Syracuse rushing record. He is 70 yards behind Larry Coska's record. He already has passed Flood Little, Bill Hurley, Ernie Davis, Jim Brown and Jim Nance on the all-time list. Morris' 222 yards rushing last year is the best any opponent has had against KU.
The only serious KU injury was to John Prater, a center. He suffered an elbow hypertension issue.
Royal pitching pulls together in finale
By MATT SEELEY
Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Kansas City's pitching, which has been ailing for two weeks, couldn't have picked a finer time to recover.
Roughed up on a recent seven-game road trip, Royal's pitching had lacked the brilliance that helped earn Kansas City its fourth division title in five years. The sparkle returned yesterday, though, as Paul Schmitt and Rich Gale combined for a one-hitter in a 40 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the regular season finale for both teams.
The American League playoffs begin Wednesday as the Royals take on the New York Yankees.
and had excellent control, but I've felt he's pitched very well the last five weeks.
"Split and Gale were very encouraging today. I feel a lot better than that." I split, "Gale felt very easy."
SPLITTORR PITCHED the first five innings, surrendering only a second-inning single to John Castino, to improve his record to 14-11. Gale four innings and earned four innings to earn his first save of the season.
"Rich also threw well. He threw harder. His control wasn't as good when he hated throwing it. He was a better player."
Gale has been a question mark because of an injury to his pitching arm. The winner of 11 straight during one stretch this season after a 1-6 start, Gale threw 54 pitches in his last outing and reported pain in his arm. But yesterday, Gale said he felt little pain.
KANSAS CITY PITCHING coach Billy Connors said that he wanted to get Gale in one more game before the playoffs.
"Rich did need the work and I'm really pleased with his performance," Connors said. After his first inning, he seemed to loosen up. Now he seems to wait and see how his arm feels tomorrow."
The Royals got all the offense they needed from the bat of designated hitter Hal McRae. McRae hit a three-run home run to right field in the third off eventual loser Darrrell Jackson. It was McRae's third homer in as many games, and his 14th of the season.
"I've been concentrating more and the games mean more," McRae said. "I said before we came back for this home stand that we all could pull together and start producing."
WILLIE WILSON drive in the Royals' fourth run in the seventh inning on a fielder's choice. He also sledged in the fifth to give him 280 hits for the second time in the record for switch hitters set by Pete Rose in 1973.
During Saturday night's 17-3 romp over the Iowa Hawkeyes in a game against the injury in history to record 700 official at-bats in a season.
George Brett did not play and finished the season with a .300 batting average, the highest ever for an American League third baseman and the highest in the majors since Ted Williams hit 406 in 1941. Brett won his second American League batting title in five years.
"I back-doored it all right," Brett said. "I think it was a little bit more enjoyable.
the man was made more enjoyable.
Frey said Brett knew his chances for .400 were
gone last week and just wanted to finish the
season at .390.
"I knew he wanted to hit .300. I sat him down because that's what he was hitting." Frey said.
DREWTORRES/Kansen staff
LA sweeps Houston to force playoff game
The Los Angeles Dodgers have sent the regular baseball into an extra day. At 3 p.m. this afternoon the Dodgers face the Houston Astros to win the champions of the National League West.
By United Press International
game. The Dodgers came from behind to win 4-3 yesterday.
The Astros led the Dodgers by three games before their weekend series in Los Angeles. But the Dodgers swept and forced today's playoff
The Astro-Dodger winner will face Philadelphia in the National League Championship Series. The Phillies clinched the NL East with a victory over Montreal on Saturday.
Willie Willey dofs his cap after setting one of several records this weekend. He became the first American League switch hitter to record 100 hits from both the right and left side, was the first player to have 700 at-bats and tied Pete Rene's record of most hits by a switch hitter with 230. He also set the American League record for most singles in a season and most runs scored by a switch hitter. Wilson led the American League in total hits and tied for the lead for most triples this season. He also finished second in stolen bases.
The series opens tomorrow night at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
The Yankees playoff at 2 p.m. on
Saturday against the Kansas City
Royals at Royals Stadium.
Yankees clinched the AL East on Saturday. They finished three games ahead of second-place Baltimore, last year's World Series run-up.
The Dodgers swept the Astros by scores of 3-2, 2-1 and 4-3. Home runs decided each game. Yesterday, Ron Cey hit a two-roman in the bottom of the eighth for the victory.
KC defense carries offense to season's first victory, 31-17
In the American League, the New York
OAKLAND (UPI)—The Kansas City Chiefs defended prove to be a good offense yesterday, scoring two touchdowns and setting up 10 more points in the fourth quarter this season, defeating the Oakland Raiders 8-7.
The Chiefs, losers of their first four games this season, scored all of their points in the first half and limited the Raiders to just one field goal in the first half. Oakland's record fell to 23.
Linebacker Gary Spani scored Kansas City's first touchdown when he ran 16 yards after recovering a fumble in the first quarter. The last touchdown was scored by another linebacker, Whitney Paul, on a 32-yard run after a fumble recovery.
In between those scores, the Chiefs' Ken Kremer recovered a fumble to set up a 35-yard field goal by Nick Lowery and Paul intercepted a pass that set up an Arnold Morgado touchdown.
The Raiders not only lost the game, but also won their backback The Dan, Pastoriin, possibly for the season.
The former Houston Oilers quarterback, acquired in an off-season trade for Ken Stabler, broke his right leg and suffered cartilage damage to his knee when he was sacked by defensive end Dave Lindstrom with 5:26 gone in the game.
Pastorini fumbled on the play. Spani recovered and ran for the Chiefs' first touchdown.
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