Sports
University Daily Kansan / Thursday, September 18, 1986
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Injuries force backup quarterback to change positions
By ANNE LUSCOMBE
Sports writer
He looked tired, but Tom Quick's eyes were bright when he smiled. He had just finished practice, which ended with a mile-long jog around the track at Memorial Stadium.
He was eagerly awaiting a chance to sit down and rest after the day's practice. Although he was physically worn out, Quick was still excited about football and the Jayhawks.
"I think we have a great chance to beat Utah State," he said yesterday. "We are hungry for a win."
In 1984, he began the season as a quarterback but moved to wide receiver to provide depth. He had eight receptions for 163 yards and his 54-yard reception was instrumental in Kansas' 28-11 upset of Oklahoma.
The Kansas offense has had to shuffle its players because of a recent overload of injuries. Quick is one of the players to feel the effects of that shuffle.
Last season, Quick's versatility earned him rotating positions of reserve quarterback and, like this year, wide receiver, when injuries mounted. He connected on eight of 17 passing attempts for 62 yards and caught two passes for 21 vards.
He will assume a dual role, that of wide receiver and reserve quarterback. Both are positions he knows well.
The Jayhawks lose wide receivers every year. Quick said.
Player Quick to assume dual role to help out team
"They always tell me I'm not going to play wide receiver, but I know in the back of my mind that a couple
To him, the position he plays is unimportant. Both positions have advantages, and he enjoys both. Playing receiver enables him to tackle, something he can't often do as quarterback. However, quarterback is a position that demands respect, he said.
receivers will probably go down, and I'll have to get ready to play," he said.
Quick's idol is Jim Jensen, Miami Dolphins wide receiver and back-up quarterback. The players have two things in common: versatility and the No.11 on their jerseys. Although Quick greatly admires Jensen, especially the way he hits, the Jayhawk said he doesn't pattern his life or playing techniques after the Dolphin.
"I just want to do whatever I can to help the team," he said. "It's every day."
"His lifestyle as a professional athlete is totally different from mine I just try to contribute to the team.
'It's every kid's dream to play quarterback, but if that's not for me to play that day and wide receiver is, well, that's okay, too.'
-Tom Quick
KU reserve quarterback, wide receiver
kid's dream to play quarterback, but if that's not for me to play that day and wide receiver is, well, that's okay, too."
It's that giving nature that head coach Bob Valesente respects most about Quick.
just like he does," Quick said.
"Tommy is one of those special people who has a personality that is truly unselfish. Teamwise, I wish he had a lot of Tommy Quick's, and in a way, I think I do." Valesente said. "He has a unique talent that enables him to play both quarterback and receiver. He's a very bright kid."
After graduation in May, Quick plans to attend graduate school. Aspirations of a professional football career are far down on his list of plans for the future.
He has had a couple of surgeries and feels his body has taken enough of a beating. Football careers last only a short time, and his is almost finished.
"I don't think pro football is for me. You have to be a really gifted athlete, and even though I don't think Ive reached my potential, this is it for
However, that attitude will not interfere with his performance this season. He is ready to go. Granted, the Jayhawk offense needs some polishing, Valesse said, but Quick thinks that will happen soon.
me." he said
Kansas has proved it has good running backs and receivers who can catch the ball. Quick said. The team just needs to make some adaptations.
After the disappointing and scoreless North Carolina game, the Kansas offense could be suffering from bruised eggs and lack of confidence. But, according to Quick, that's not the case.
"We have to take the plan the coaches give us and put our own personalities in it," Quick said.
Because of the low expectations for Kansas this season — the Jayhawks were predicted to finish seventh or eighth in the Big Eight Conference summer football poll — the pressure is less intense, and the players can focus more on improving than impressing. The Jayhawks intend to prove the pessimists wrong and have a better season than expected, Quick said.
"We're great between the 20's, but we don't have the killer instinct to get past the goal line," he said. "That's got to come from everybody. It comes from within. North Carolina didn't beat us. We beat ourselves. If we all do our jobs, we'll win. We have a great team."
?
Senior Tom Quick takes a break during practice. Quick usually the Jayhawks backup quarterback, has been moved to wide receiver to fill holes left by injured teammates.
Mets beat Chicago, clinching NL East
United Press International
NEW YORK — The New York Mets, certifying what others had long ago conceded, last night clinched the National League Eastern Division title with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Dwight Gooden pitched a six-hitter and Dave Magadan went 3-for-4, giving the Mets 95 victories — more than the second-place Phillies could achieve even by winning the rest of their games.
with a crowd of 47,823 cheering under a full moon. Gooden raised his record to 15-6. Dennis Eckersley, 6-10, took the loss as the Mets finally wrapped up a title they could have clinched five days ago.
Magadan, a late replacement for virus-ridden first baseman Keith Hernandez, produced his first major-league RBI with third and fifth-inning singles. Gooden lacked his best stuff but struck out seven and walked four in his 11th complete game of the season.
The enthusiasm of the fans began building with nine outs to go and reached a crescendo with one out to go when the fans began chanting, No. 1.
When Gooden, who struck out eight, retired Chico Walker for the last out, the crowd erupted into a
frenzy. Many of the fans had descended onto the field in fair territory before the final out and as many as 5,000 people were on the field as soon as second baseman Wally Backman threw to first baseman Keith Hernandez for the final out.
No other NL East team had ever clinched the title as early. The 1972 Pirates fitted it up on Sept. 21, but
See baseball results p. 12.
JV games canceled for lack of players
Occasionally blowing his right hand against a slight chill, Gooden contended with baserunners in almost every inning. He made enough big pitches to carry a 3-0 lead into the seventh, leaving little doubt a celebration would soon take place.
they needed only 144 games, opposed to New York's 145. With their third division title, the Mets earned the right to oppose the West Division champions in the NL playoffs.
New York took a 2-0 lead in the third. Len Dykstra, Wally Backman and Magadan singled for one run. One out later, Darryl Strawberry singled home Backman.
in the fifth, Dykstra doubled and reached third when Eckersley bobbed Backman's sacrifice for an error.
Magadan then delivered his third single of the game, raising the lead to 3-0.
By BRIAN SNYDER
Sports writer.
Playing time for junior varsity football players is at a premium this year since the junior varsity schedule was shortened from five games to two.
Games against William Jewell, Baker and Kansas Wesleyan have been called off. Kansas will play Fort Scott Junior College Sept. 22 and Butler County Community College Oct. 31.
Kansas did not have enough players to fill a junior varsity team because of the number of freshmen being red-shirted. Games with junior colleges weren't canceled because they were part of those schools' regular schedules, he said.
Head football coach Bob Valesente said yesterday that
"We're trying to build depth." Valesente said. "We're asking freshmen if they want to red-shirt this year."
The coaches don't know yet how many players will be red-shirted for the season. There were 20
freshmen and transfers who joined the Javhawks this year.
The lack of playing time limits the players' chances to prove themselves to the coaches in game situations. Some players seemed to take the matter in stride.
"Sure, I'm disappointed," sophomore quarterback Jeff Rank said, "but the junior varsity games are secondary to the varsity games.
"Right now, we have no depth. I think the rest of the team feels the same way."
The Kansas players aren't the only people affected by the game cancellations. Three other schools now have open dates in their schedules.
"They told us that they didn't have enough people," William Jewell head football coach Vic Wallace said. "I can understand that. But there wasn't enough time to schedule another game.
"We might want to get some kind of guarantee before we schedule another game."
Quarterback Club
Jayhawk coach starts group for area fans
By NICOLE SAUZEK
Sports writer
If the view from the stands during Saturday's home football game doesn't quite fulfil that desire to see it all, Monday afternoons could be the answer.
Football head coach Bob Valenteş has come up with a way to get around the questions that arise when the kid down the aisle wants out to get a drink, blocking the view of the field.
The Quarterback Club.
"We want to be as much a part of the community and University as we can," said Valeseste of the team and coaching staff. "Showing the films will provide some insight on what we're doing on the field during games."
Valesente, who sees the game film five or six times before the club meets, will comment on game strategy and errors and provide a basic overview of the game.
Every Monday at noon in the Adams Alumni Center, Valesente will show game films complete with comments and critique for anyone who is interested in becoming one of KU's first Quarterback Club members.
Coverage of upcoming games will also be included in the noon sessions. What to expect on offense and defense from the Jayhawk's next opponent will be explained by Valesente, along with Kansas' plan of attack.
"I think there are a lot of people interested in what the kids are doing on the game field."
Valesente coached at Cornell from 1964 to 1974. He was defensive coordinator for six years and secondary coach for four years.
Valesente said. "We tried this at Cornell University and had quite a few people interested. So, I thought we'd try it here."
"This is a good opportunity for people to meet Coach Val and see and learn what's happening out there," said Richard Konzem, assistant athletic director.
Though the attendance at last week's club meeting was low, Konzem thought a lack of communication was the problem.
A buffet will be available during the meetings for $4, or a member may bring a sack lunch.
Manlese Cortner, Overland Park freshman, practices synchronized swimming at Robinson Center. Cortner is a member of the Kansas City Sea Sprites synchronized swimming team.
Margie Chambers/KANSAN
Sync or swim
Val suspends starting player
By FRANK HANSEL
Sports editor
If people doubted Kansas head coach Bob Valesente's commitment to academics, they shouldn't any more.
Valesente suspended starting defensive tackle Eldridge Avery for one week for missing class. The junior from Carson, Calif., will not be in uniform Saturday when the Jayhawks play the Utah State Aggies. He will practice with the scout squad for the duration of the suspension.
Last year Avery finished fifth on the Jayhawk team with 64 tackles. He also had five quarterback sacks.
Valesente announced a policy at the start of this season that any player who missed a class would be
suspended for a week. The first-year head coach has taken a tough stand on academics after the Jayhawks had 18 players declared academically ineligible in the last two years.
"As long as he goes to class he'll be OK, and he'll be right back where he was." Valesente said yesterday.
Valesente will start junior David White in place of Avery against Utah State. Junior Mitch Gaffen has been moved up to second string behind White.
Scoring, which has been the team's theme this week, was once again emphasized in practice.
The beleaguered wide receiver
corps still is in question for Saturday's game. Sophomore Willie Vaughn stayed in the training room yesterday and underwent treatment for a strained right quadriceps muscle.
Defensive tackle Guy Gamble suffered a brussed ankle when a teammate's helmet hit him during a drill. Valente said gamble should be able to play Saturday against the Aggies.
The University still has not received the American College Test scores for freshman wide receiver Quintin Smith. Valesente last week named Smith a starter ahead of junior Ronnie Caldwell, but until the scores are received, Valesente will not allow Smith to play.
Kirk fired from Memphis post
United Press International
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis State basketball coach Dana Kirk was fired yesterday, one year after a grand jury began an investigation into his personal finances and five months after the National College Athletic Association placed his team on probation.
Memphis State President Thomas Carpenter announced Kirk's dismissal in a brief statement, but gave no reason for the decision.
"It's a sad moment for me," said Larry Finch, an assistant under Kirk, who was named interim head coach until a permanent successor is selected.
Kirk, 51, had won more games than any other Memphis State coach, compiling a 158-58 record since 1979 and leading the team to three Metro Conference championships.
But he has been under fire the past year.
Kirk's personal finances have been
under federal investigation, and he appeared in September before a grand jury investigating sports gambling. That investigation still is under way.
Memphis State also was placed on two-year probation by the NCAA in May for violations involving recruiting and student aid to athletes. As a result, the basketball team will not be allowed to participate in the 1987 NCAA playoffs.
"I am advised by my attorneys that I should not publicly comment on this investigation other than to say that all of my earnings and income
Kirk, who could not be reached yesterday for comment, has refused to discuss his legal troubles except to issue a brief written statement following his grand jury appearance. It read in part:
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"I will confirm that my financial affairs and tax liabilities are being reviewed. I am comfortable that there will be no finding of illegal conduct in connection with this.
are from proper sources. Nothing will be discovered that I am ashamed of."
Finch said he was interested in the head coaching job, but added he had no idea who the university would select.
Kirk was one of the Metro Conference's most controversial figures. He had a reputation for being volatile and sensitive to criticism. He was involved in frequent shouting matches with referees.
He also was one of the most recognizable personalities in Memphis because of his frequent television appearances and his work with charity.
Last year, his team went 28-6 and lost to Louisiana State in the second round of the NCAA tournament.