10 Monday, November 30, 1992 SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Injury overshadows Chiefs 23-7 victory The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.β€”It was hardly surprising that their thoughts were not on football. The Kansas City Chiefs had won for the first time at Giants Stadium, beating the New York Jets 23-7 on Sunday. However, they asked for news on Jets defensive end Dennis Beyd, injured in a collision with his teammate, Scott Merserean, in the third quarter. The news wasn't good. Jets representative Frank Ramos said Byrd had fractured his C-5 vertebra. In layman's terms, that is a broken neck. "Nothing is changed in his paralysis," Ramos said last night. "He still has no use of his legs and partial use of his arms." "We're a fraternity, these players." Chiefs quarterback Dave Krieg said. "It's something you're always concerned about. Byrd was undergoing tests from the spinal surgeons Sunday night at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Ramos said a decision on whether to operate would be made today. Ramos said that it normally took 48 to 72 hours for doctors to assess damage and described the player as in stable condition. Ramos said no prognosis was available. "It was kind of scary. I hope he's OK. We're all in the same thing together and I feel for him." One play after Byrd was injured, the Chiefs hit their biggest offensive play, a 55-yard pass from Krieg to Willie Davis. Chiefs coach Marty Schottheimer seemed stunned when asked if his team took advantage of the Jets' emotional state with that play. "I don't really know you and I will apologize for this," he said to the questioner before pausing for several seconds. "I promise you something. I don't know the young man, but I feel as badly about it as anybody. "And the answer to your question is no." Indeed, the injury bothered everyone on both teams and made Kansas City's fourth consecutive victory almost secondary. "You never like to see something like that." Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas said. "Everyone is out there trying their best. You have to be compassionate in an instance like that, because it could be anybody at any given time." The Jets said Byrd, 29 and in his fourth NFL season, was undergoing CAT scan tests and was being treated by a team of spine and neck specialists. Merserean had no idea what hit him when he and Byrd collided. "I was coming from the outside on a stunt and I went to grab Krieg," he said. "As I stepped up, the next thing I know, I was hit in the sternum. At first I didn't even know who hit me. "The hit was hard enough to bend me over backward. When I found out it was Dennis β€” well, my thoughts, my heart and my prayers went out to "It's really hard to see something like that. You think about it and you think about it, then your competitive nature takes over." The competitive play was all on Kansas City's side. A stingy defense and ball control attack carried the Chiefs, lifting them to 8-4, good for first place in the AFC West, and broke an 0-6-1 slump at the home of the Giants and Jets. The Chiefs have won their last four games. Colorado, Nebraska advance to conference volleyball finals The Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. β€” Colorado and Nebraska advanced to the finals of the Big Eight Volleyball Tournament after defeating Iowa State and Oklahoma respectively on Friday. Colorado trailed Iowa State 4-1 in the first semifinal of the night before posing a 7-1 stretch to win game one. In game three, the Cyclones tied the contest 13-13 before the Bucks scored for a 15-13 win. The No. 7 Cornhuskers defeated the Sooners 11-15, 8-15, 1-14 and 15-7 while the No. 15 Buffaloes downed the Cyclones 15-9, 15-6 and 15-13. Colorado will be appearing in its third straight tournament final. "We have a string of being in the finals that we wanted to keep going," said Coloradar coach Brad Saidon. Karrie Downy led the Buffs in kills with 14, while teammate Jannine Zumerchik nailed 12 kills. Nicole Vranesh added 41 assists to her conference-leading total. The 'Huskers were minus the efforts of two-time Big Eight Player of the Year Stephanie Thater. Thater, who leads the conference in hitting percentage and blocking, injured her left ankle during warm-ups. The Sooners took two games from Nebraska before the 'Huskers regrouped, pushing the match to five games. Nebraska's Laura Luther doubled her personal best in kills with 26. Luther finished the match with a .362 hitting percentage. Nikki Striker led the team in that category with .556. Ellen Shannon had 19 kills. Nebraska owns 16 consecutive Big Eight tournament titles. Once we were organized, I think we outscored them 45-11 in the last three games," said Nebraska head coach Terry Pettit. "The issue is not strategy. It's if the players take charge." Gloria Holcomb sparked Oklahoma, totaling 21 kills on 47 attacks. Gretchen Anderson contributed 13 kills. Nebraska and Colorado battle it out Saturday night. The tournament winner receives an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.