12A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2002
Truluck appeared in 38 games for Saskatchewan of the Canadian Football League in 1998-2000 and then went to the Arena Football League, where he was rookie of the year in 2001.
He was signed by the Chiefs last August and was cut on the final cutdown day and placed on the practice squad.
tunity. He's done a good job on our practice squad. He's done a very good job on our one-on-one pass protection, pass-rush drills.
Truluck to play Sunday
The Associated Press
The Kansas City Chiefs added the 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end to their 53-man roster Wednesday and will use him on Sunday against Seattle, giving the 28-year-old Brooklyn native the opportunity he's been dreaming of since he played college football at SUNY Cortland.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — R-Kal Truluck, who was almost killed while defending a teenage girl from a knife-wielding attacker, is finally getting a chance to play in the NFL.
"It feels good to have my chance, to have my opportunity," Truluck said Wednesday. "But regardless, I'm going to continue to work hard and do the things I need to do. I just want to come out and contribute and do whatever I can to make an impact."
made a detailed study of some of the game's greatest sack artists. Truluck was signed by the Chiefs last August and was placed on the practice squad after recording four sacks in the club's exhibition season.
A pass-rush specialist who's
Coach Dick Vermeil, whose defensive line has been depleted by injury, said Truluck will probably get 26-30 plays against Seattle.
"I'm not sure he's ready to step up. But he's the only available healthy defensive lineman we have to give us eight men to suit up and play on Sunday." Vermeil said.
"I think he deserves an oppor-
"He shows a very good initial burst. He shows a very good feel for the pass rush, good use of hands," Vermill said. "Now we want to see how he does against a quality football player in a game environment playing within the defensive scheme. If he does a good job, he's liable to stay on the active roster. If not, then when one of those (injured) guys come back, they'll replace him."
Butler County receives bowl invite
The Associated Press
An opening-season loss has come back to haunt Butler County, which recently watched its chance at a national championship slip away. But Jayhawk Community College Conference coaches are pleased that three of the conference's eight teams received bowl invitations for the second season in a row.
"It speaks volumes for the conference," Garden City coach Bob Larson said of the accomplishment. "We talk about having a tough conference but it is what we are all about."
which it lost to Georgia Military, 51-19.
Butler County, the No. 3 junior college team in the nation, lost to then-unranked Trinity Valley, Texas, on Aug. 31 in El Dorado The Grizzlies had their sights set on a rematch of last year's national championship game,
But Georgia Military (10-0), ranked No. 1 in this week's National Junior College Athletic Association poll, is expected to play No. 2 Joliet, Ill., (10-0) for the national title.
Butler County (10-1) will play No. 7 ranked Dixie State, Utah (9-2) in the Dixie-Rotary bowl in St. George, Utah, on Dec. 7. A pair of other JCCC schools, Coffeyville and Garden City, will also play in bowls.
No. 12 Coffeyville (8-3) will play at home against No. 4 Rochester, Minn. (11-0) in the first Dalton Defenders bowl on Dec. 1, and No. 14 Garden City will play No. 11 Glendale, Ariz. (8-2) in Glendale in the Valley of the Sun bowl on Dec. 7.
"Anytime youget consideration for a bowl let alone play in one you
have to consider your season a success." Coffeyville coach Jeff Lelker said. "It's a credit to our conference that we have three schools in bowl games."
Butler County coach Troy Morrell remains optimistic about his team's finish.
"We still have a chance to finish No. 2, depending on what we do in our game," he said. "The number of points that a team wins by in these bowls could figure into what happens."
Butler County wide receiver Tremel Guillory said the initial shock of not being able to play for a national championship was unsettling to the players.
"Coach and all of the players were real disappointed in what happened," said Guillory. "We were all down but we all know we still have a chance to make them not forget us."
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