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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 alumni-versus faculty issue. It was an issue of progress of the football team on the field. In the last two years there hadn't been an improvement."
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 Fredrick said, "I respect his opinion and his decision to do so if that's what he feels like he should do. He's given
In a prepared statement, Redwood said that during the past decade, Kansas football had a history of revolving coaches and a quick-tix 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," Redmondente'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, Red Schoenfeld said the board should have been involved.
"I would have liked Bob Frederick to preferably have discussed it with the board last week when it was at issue." Redwood said. "If that was
WOMEN FACING A TIGHT BIG EIGHT RACE
Stories by Robert Whitman Photo by Chad DeShazo
Since the first conference championship for women's basketball was handed out in 1976, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri have won or shared all but one of the 12 championships.
That trio shared the conference crown last year, but the other conference teams are gaining. Only three games separated the first seven teams. Only this weekend might this year's race would be tight.
"I think a 14-2 record will definitely win it, 9-10 for it last year," said Oklahoma State coach Dick Halterman.
The Jayhawks tied for the regular season title after winning only four of their first nine conference games last year.
Kansas was a balanced scoring team last year and lost only one senior starter. Of the returns, senior forward Jackie Martin and senior guard Lisa Dougherty both averaged just more than 10 points a game last year, and senior forward Sandy Shaw had 8.3 a game.
Kansas coach Marian Washington said, "I never have coached a team that I felt wasn't capable. I don't believe in doing a lot of talking. They had us eight last year (in a pre-season poll). Even when we were 4-5 in the conference, nine games into the conference season, I still believed they could win it, and they heard that time and time again."
Sophomore point guard Lisa Braddy, last year's conference newcomer-of-the-year, was the only Jayhawk to start all 33 games last year. She averaged 9.4 points and 4.2 assists and 2.4 steals a game.
One of Kansas' top recruits is Deborah Richardson, a 64 center, and junior college transfer who attended Kickens (Texas) Junior College. Another is LaTanya Nelson, a 5-9 forward from Landover, Md., was a high school All-America selection last year.
"Now that we have some big players, they're putting me out on the wing, a place I haven't played since my freshman year," the 6-0 Shaw
"We have a lot of people who have the opportunity to start." Martin said, "It's good to be in that situation, though."
"I think it'll be more challenging to, 'number one, have the Big Eight title again and, number two, go farther in the NCAA tournament than we did last year," Shaw said. "It 's there and possibly be in the Final Four."
The players seem to be confident that they can repeat, and even improve, their success, but they aren't predicting how well they will play.
Dougherty said, "We have the ability, no doubt about it. In my mind, as long as we keep our mental attitude, we'll do well."
"I think we can, I believe we can." But the Jayhawks will have to contend with the Big Eight teams first, and the race could be close.
"I still contend the edge is to Oklahoma State." Washington said. "Here's a team that had a really good recruiting effort. They didn't lose any players, and they went overseas and played together for a month. They have all the incentive
ssible, then at least he should
token to the assembled board
time the decision was
d."
The 1986-87 Kansas women's basketball team captured the Big Eight Conference championship with a 85-51 out of Kansas State last season. Marian Washington and her team are hoping to repeat last year's command performance.
"Every third year, it appears that there is one who has moved up. There's only one team that tends to be questionable. Even though they didn't win as many ball games, I never, ever thought Iowa State wasn't capable. For women in the Big Eight, any team is capable."
Washington also said Colorado should be in the running for the championship because of its recruited players and strong outside shooting.
Halterman said he thought his team was in the running but needed to prove itself.
"We'd like to think we are (in the running). There are several people I've heard there have mentioned us, KU and Colorado," he said. "It's hard to understand why they are picking us. We did return a lot of people, but we finished fifth in the conference. I think they're saying that because we have more of chance than ever. We did have 11 players return, and we had a good recruiting year."
The Cowboys, who had a 7-1 conference record last season, return 6-0 all-Big Eight forward Chelsea Jones, who was second in the conference in scoring with a 21.1 average with in rebounding with 7.8 a game.
Oklahoma State's other big name is 6-4 guard Jamie Siess, a second team all-Big Eight selection.
"I feel like those two are two of the top players in the Big Eight," Halterma said. "I think Clinete has a good team, who named Big Eight player of the year."
Colorado is another team Washington is picking to finish high in the conference. The Buffaloes return two secondteam all-Big Eight performers — forward Tracy Tripp and guard Bridget Turner, both juniors.
"Offensively, we're not going to have any trouble scouring. We didn't have any trouble last year," Barry said. "We're not as strong defensively or a strong rebounding team. We started three guards last year, and we were not as strong in the paint as I wanted to be."
Ivy, a 9-9 senior forward, was the second leading scorer in the conference last year with 23.3 points a game.
"I think those two are the backbone of our team," Coach coach Ceal Barry said. "Erin Carson is one of our seniors, and she's one of the best three-point shooters in the conference.
Whatever the outcome of the conference race, Washington said, it would be won on the court and not before the season started.
Offense is Colorado's strength. It was one of only two conference teams to crack the 100-point mark in a game 'ast year.
NSAN BASKETBALL PREVIEW November 23,1987
"It's easy to talk a good game," Washington said, "but we've got to go out and do it."
"Nebraska has the best player in the conference in Maurice Ivy," she said. "It's tough to pick one team. No team is really pro this year."
In addition to Oklahoma State and Kansas, Barry said she liked Nebraska's chances of finishing well in the conference.
"I think we're optimistic. We've got a good chance of being in the top four."
SENIORITY RULES FOR JAYHAWKS
If there is no substitute for experience, the Kansas women's basketball team should not be problem in that area this season.
Five seniors are on the 12-player roster, and they have all seen playin time in varying degrees during their careers at Kangas.
"It is one of my larger senior classes," said Kansas coach Marian Washington.
四 seniors — Lisa Dougherty, Jackie Martin, Sandy Shaw and Mesho Stroughter — are starting their fourth year in the Jayhawk team, a college transfer. She is a junior college transfer from Seminole (Oklahoma). Jr College
Martin, a 5-foot-11 forward, has started 72 of the 90 Kansas games she played during her first three years, the most starts of any senior.
None of the other seniors have started more than 25 games in their career at Kansas. Baker started 11 games last year.
Dougherty has started only 21 of 90 games. But she has averaged 9.0 points a game over her career, which is far better than KU's 81% substitute off the bench.
Leadership was more important than playing time. Washington said.
"I play a lot of players. It is rare to player who has started one game assume that they are going to start the next," Washington said. "There are those who wish they had more playing time, but I don't think they should complain about playing time too much." That comes off the bench, what I expect of them is no different than if they start."
Being an example for the younger players on the team is one of the seniors' duties, Baker said.
"You have to have more enthusiasm and bring people up for practice," she said. "When you see them down, you have to bring them up."
Martin said, "It's a big responsibility. But having experience on the court, we know the game is played. You see the problems with the freshmen. They have their own personal challenges. I look back and remember I used to be exactly like Nelson (Nelson, a freshman) that probably she'll be telling a freshman the same thing when she's a senior."
The seniors have an immediate personal challenge: graduating
"It has its ups and downs," Dough
erty said about her major, human biology. "I'm going to try to get into physical therapy at the KU Medical Center."
After her eligibility is used up. Shaw said she might take up another sport.
"I know, for women, there's no place to play after college," she said. "So I want to savor this year. I'll still play (basketball) somewhere."
With five seniors this year, next year's Jayhawk team will have a lot less experience. Only one junior, Deborah Richardson, is on this year's team. The rest comprises threeophomons and three freshmen.
"They have to make an adjustment and have to learn things." Stroughter said. "It's an advanced level of work, but it is hard." The college level is a big difference."
So this year's shepherds of the team, the seniors, have a flock to help.
"Some of the freshmen are a long way from home," Martin said. "You have to remind each other that we're in Georgia, and we're family here."
erick said, "From individual sations and from letters, I feel now where most of the people board stood on the issue."
nt board member Sue Glitter
No students were consulted.
"I seek out student opinion."
"she has three student rep-
dients."
good praised Valente's学生 to recruiting freshmen foot- boyers who were capable stu-
diar said that Frederick didn't efficient consideration to Val- attention to academics.
rick said, "We're coming situation where the previous ad academic difficulties. Bob hard to gain the respect of
See KUAC, p. 12, col. 5
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