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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
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
KUAC's chairman resigns in protest
By MIKE CONSIDINE Staff writer
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 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-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 insets his 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, Redmond should be involved. 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
On its way up
Smart promotion and success boosts the popularity of women's basketball at Kansas and around the Big Eight
T The bicentennial Center in Salina was packed March 2.1887 with 6,000 wild fans who were jumping, waving and cheering in anticipation of the Kansas-Kansas State match.
But this wasn't a men's game.
Instead, it was the women's Big Eight Tournament Championship game, and the featured matchup was K-State's center Sue Lieding against Kansas' center Jackie Martin.
The center resembled Allen Field House, and the scene could have easily been mistaken for a home matchup of Kansas vs. Missouri with Danny Manning pitted against Derrick Chievous.
Each team owned a win against the other, and the anticipation was there to discover which team was the best in the conference and in the state.
In simple terms, the tournament demonstrated the kind of popularity the women's game can generate when promoted properly.
All the ingredients for a capacity crowd were there. As it turned out, it was the largest of any previous Big Bowl conference tournament last year.
"The build up was super," said Kansas assistant coach Kevin Cook, who is starting his fifth season with the team. "I know he's a star; there was almost like a men's game."
Cook, who describes himself as a "reformed chauvinistic pig," said the popularity of women's basketball was on the rise. Women's coach Marian Washington and assistant coach Julia Yelie expressed the same sentiments, but all agreed that it was not increasing fast enough.
All three coaches, though, are encouraged by what happened in Salina.
"It's encouraging that the tournament sold without having to play before the men," Cook said. "It just works." When the game is promoted right, "the game is promoted right."
Kansas, which finished 49th in the country in attendance with an average of 64%, has already seen improvements.
"More people are asking me how the team is doing than at any time before," Yeater said. "One guy said he had been to only a couple of women's games, but after Salina, he was going to come all the time."
The three coaches said that in order for the women's game to become popular, it needed commitment, everyone, especially the administration.
"It's been only seven years that the NCAA has been involved with women's basketball, and that's not that long. "Washington said. "If you win that game, then men's basketball, you will find that the game was not that popular."
Washington said Louisiana Tech, Texas and Iowa were examples of what women's basketball could be if they didn't come from the administration and the fans.
"A few years ago, Iowa had more than 27,000 fans for a game and had to turn people away," she said.
Last year, Texas led the nation in women's basketball attendance, averaging 6.639 a game. Tennessee was second with an average of 4.303, and Louisiana Tech was third with an average of 3.809.
Washington, Yeater and Cook said that once fans came and watched the game with an open mind, they were usually attracted to it.
Wille Vaughn junior wide receiver for the Kansas football team, said he was shocked by the women's upward trajectory of the ball saw the women play three years ago.
"It was that style that attracted me to the game," Vaughn said. "I think a lot of people like the men's game because of the slam dunks, and women can't do that. But they can do things that men can't do."
Washington said women might be better outside shooters.
"If you take a woman who can really shoot, then I think her shot is better than most men."
"I like college basketball much better, because more defense is played, and it takes a team effort to perform well," she said. "In women's basketball, even more equipment and it takes a total team effort."
Tough defense and team play should also attract fans, Washington said. She compared men's college basketball to the NBA.
"A lot of people don't like to see women involved in sports," he said. "In Oklahoma, they are still playing half-court basketball in high school
Cook, the reformed chauvinist,
said he started appreciating the
women's game when he coached high
school girls.
He said many barriers were being broken, in some cases by Kansas people. Lynette Woodard's becoming the first woman to play for the Harlem Globetrotters is one example.
Cook also thinks that the media can play a crucial part in an increase in the popularity of women's basketball.
Cook said the women were still battling against some old-fashioned thinking.
"I saw how much desire they had, and everyone should have their efforts appreciated." Cook said.
"The more that's written about it, the more interest is generated," he said. "There are a lot of people who would like to read about it."
Story by David Boyce
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sible, then at least he should
poken to the assembled board
time the decision was
d" .
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KANSAN BASKETBALL PREVIEW November 23,1987 9
ut board member Sue Glutter
'No students were consulted.
'n't see out student opinion'
'a has three student rep-
tectives.
erick said, "From individual sations and from letters, I feel now where most of the people board stood on the issue."
good praised Valesente's comit to recruiting fresh foot-oyers who were capable stu-
ble said that Frederick didn't sufficient consideration to Val-
tation 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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