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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday November 24,1987 Vol.98,No.67
Published since 1889 by the students of the University of Kansas
(USPS 650-640)
Valesente fired as Kansas football coach
Frederick says team must make progress
By CRAIG ANDERSON
Staff writer
Kansas football coach Bob Valesente was fired yesterday by Athletic Director Bob Frederick. Valesente was offered a position as an associate athletic director, but he declined the offer.
Frederick said that he made the decision Sunday night after many weeks of deliberation.
See related stories p. 9 and 12.
"It was not an easy decision to make," he said at a news conference. "In recent days some have said this is an academic issue or an alumnus-versus-faculty issue. It is an issue of progress of the football team on th
KUAC's chairman resigns in protest
By MIKE CONSIDINE
Staff writer
Anthony Redwood, chairman of the Kansas University Athletic Corporation for the last five years, announced his intention to resign yesterday to protest the firing of football coach Bob Valesente.
"It was an unprincipled decision, and I'm protesting it the only way I can," Redwood said. "I feel the integrity of the University itself is at stake. This is one aspect of the athletic program I feel I can't live with."
At a news conference in Summerfield Hall, Redwood announced that he had called an emergency meeting of the KUAC board at 3 p.m. today in the Phillips Room of the Adams Alumni Center. Redwood said that his resignation would be formally announced at that time.
Kansas Athletic Director Bob Friedrick said, "I respect his opinion and his decision to do so if that's what he feels like."
In a prepared statement, Redwood said that during the past decade, Kansas football had a history of revolving coaches and a quick-fix philosophy. He said that Valesente was denied the opportunity to see his program through to success.
"He should have been kept on at least for another year but preferably for the length of his contract," Redwood said. Valeente's contract lasts two more years.
Redwood said that Frederick told him of the decision at 8 p.m. Sunday. Redwood said that he phoned the KUAC board to call the meeting after a second conversation with Frederick.
Although KUAC by-laws state that the decision to hire and fire coaches belongs to the athletic director, Redwood said that he thought the board should have been involved.
Sophs learned while they played last season
Story by David Boyce Photos by Stephen Wade
Kevin Pritchard is one of a crop of sophomores who saw extensive action for the Jayhawks last year.
ve liked Bob Frederick
"assisted it with
board last week when it was at
"Redwood said. "If that was
assible, then at least he should
en to the assembled board
time the decision w
U unless a freshman comes in touted as the next Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Wilt Chamberlain, he usually expects to spend his first season on the bench watching and learning.
Two years ago, Kansas eligibility ran out on Greg Dreiling, Ron Kellogg and Calvin Thompson, and a knee injury forced Archie Marshall out for the season. Coach Larry Brown realized he had to count more on last year's freshman class than at any previous time at Kansas.
And although four Kansas freshmen spent the on bench last year, each got the chance to contribute to the team.
only previous year.
Kevin Pritchard, Keith Harris,
Mark Randall and Jeff Gueldner
responded to that challenge with
mixed results. All four return this
season, and they are eagerly awaiting
the chance to utilize what they
learned last year.
Pritchard saw the most action last season, starting 39 of 36 games, and was third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.6 points a game.
Pritchard said he didn't feel much pressure playing in Allen Field House, but the only time he was really nervous was in the opening exhibition game against the Soviet Union.
"I was so nervous that the first time I had the ball, I just threw it in a Soviet player's hand," Pritchard said. "The second time I had the ball, I turned it over. The third time, I dropped a pass for an easy layup."
But Pritchard recovered from early game jitters and went on to score 12 points.
"When I came in I didn't know what to expect of college basketball." he said. "But playing against the top of the players in the Big Eight, like (former Oklahoma guard) Tim McCalister, really helped me. I grew up a lot my first year."
year Pritchard hasn't set any personal goals for this season because he said
12 points.
Despite starting most of the games last season, Pritchard said his freshman year was tough.
he didn't believe in them.
"I would like to step out on the court and improve each time," he said.
During the summer Pritchard played for Brown on the Junior World Team, and he said he learned a lot.
Part of what he learned was how to play the point guard position. Pritchard played the off-guard position last season, and he expects to play the same position this year.
As for playing with the other three sophomores, Pritchard said, "Not only are we walted; we are friends. The most important part of a team is to become friends, and we already have that."
Randall, a highly recruited forward from Englewood, Cole, helped the Jayhawks during the first few games last year.
In the first game against Tennessee-Martin, he scored 10 points and pulled down four rebounds.
The second game against Southern, he scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds; and, in the third game against Washington he scored 12 points with six rebounds. All three games were played at the field house.
games we play. All told, in the first six games for Kansas, Randall averaged 11.8 points a game and five rebounds and appeared to have earned a starting position. He started four consecutive games but then suddenly was benched.
With the loss of forward-center Mark Pellock, Randall will be counted on to contribute more from the forward position.
been.
It occurred at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. Although Randall started the first game against Pittsburgh, it would be his last start for the season. From that point on, Randall reached double figures just once.
Randall said he knew why his playing time dwindled after the Rainbow Classic, but he didn't want to talk about it.
expected.
"When you are coming into big-time college basketball it takes a lot of learning."
During the summer, Randall worked on his strength and quickness to help with rebounding. He played in a summer league in Denver and said that experience helped build up his confidence.
"I learned a lot last year," he said.
"College basketball was a lot bigger than I expected.
said he was happy with hat he accomplished.
"I think we are going to have a really good team," Randall said. "Now is just a time to mold it together."
or learning.
Despite the troubles Randall encountered during the season, he
He said the learning experience that he and the other three sophomores went through last year could only help this season.
myself better," Randall said. "I like to think of myself as an unselfish, team player."
"I just want to go in and make
together.
About the time Randall's playing time decreased, forward Keith Har-
caused his coaches. "I had a small injury that I let
But just when it appeared that Harris would hold a key role for the Jahyahs down the stretch, a slow-healing injury hampered the remainder of his season and displeased his coaches.
ris assumed more responsibilities.
He scored 11 points against Wichita State, the first game after the Rainbow Classic.
See SOPHOMORES, p. 25, col. 1
Former Oklahoma Player of the Year, Mike Maddox, helped make this year's crop of incoming players for Kansas one of the best in the nation.
Talented players come with success
12. KANSAN BASKETBALL PREVIEW November 73, 1987
But nowhere will the benefits of a consistently winning program be more evident this season than in the new of players for the Jay-awks.
Story by Brian Kaberline
have shown up in increased national exposure and in the rabid following it has attracted
T
he success that the Kansas men's basketball team has enjoyed since coach Larry Brown's arrival in 1983
The success of the team and especially the reputation of Brown helped Kansas collect one of the nation's top recruiting classes last year. It is a class that should boost the team this year, as well as set the stage for the Don-Danny Manning era.
"As a class — all five of them — I think they're really going to help us, not just this year, but in the future," said Kansas coach Larry Brown.
Perhaps the biggest name in the group is 6-foot-10 junior Marvin Branch. At Barton County Communi
ty College last year. Branch averaged almost 16 points and 10 rebounds a game. For play, he named Jayhawk Junior College All-Conference and to the National Junior College Collegiate Athletic Association All-American second team.
team. Branch, who originally signed with Pittsburgh before coming to Kansas, is expected to give the Jayhawks aggressive rebounding and muscle inside to take some of the heat off All-America forward Manning.
Livingston, who played at El Camino Junior College in Torrance, Calif., was voted all-South Coast Conference last year. He averaged 8.3 points and 12.5 assists a game last season, and he said he hoped to fill the void left by the graduation of Cedric Hunter and Mark Turgeon.
Branch, Residency desk Besides the highly touted Branch other junior college transfers include
a pair of point guard candidates, Livington and Lincoln Minor, and forward Joe Young. Young was redshirted after being declared academically ineligible because of some junior college credits that didn't transfer to KU.
Minor should be used to the pressure of playing for a nationally ranked team. In his two years at Midland (Texas) Junior College, he was named NCAA champion, won the NICAA championship his freshman year and placed second last year.
Former Kansas forward Ron Kelogg, a member of the 1986 Final Four team, was impressed with the Jawhak recruits.
"They've got a lot of talent, especially in point guard with Otis Livingston. And center (mike) Masucci. But the big guy that's gonna help them a lot is Marvin Branch." Kellogg said.
The 6-3 Minor played the off-guard position last year, but with a 51.7
See NEWCOMERS, p. 25, col. 1
ck said, "From individual ions and from letters, I feel w where most of the people rd stood on the issue."
board member Sue Glutter
* students were consulted.
seek out student opinion."
has three student rep-
ports.
old praised Valesente's com-
recruiting fresh footmen who were capable stu-
said that Frederick didn't ti-
cient consideration to Valt-
tention to academics
ck said, "We're coming
tuation where the previous
academic difficulties. Bob
aid to gain the respect of
See KUAC, p. 12, col. 5
students did not lock it is when students are
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