Splish splash
Details page 6
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.
decreme the story
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 Friedman said, "I respect his opinion and his decision to do so if that's what he feels like he should do. He's given me the opportunity."
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.
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.
"He should have been kept on at least for another year but preferably for the length of his contract," Redwood said. Valente's contract lasts two more years.
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.
Manning leading the charge to the Final Four
"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 not possible, then at least he should
Danny Manning almost decided to forego his senior year at Kennesaw in favor of the NBA. But he didn't.
Kansas boasts four seniors this season who have seen major roles either as starters or off the bench for the Jayhawks. They are Danny Manning (25), Chris Piper (24), Archie Marshall (23) and Sean Alvarado (52).
*poken to the assembled board
But he didn't the hopes of the Final Four-infected
"Yeah, I'm really happy to be back," Manning said. "I love playing in Allen Field House. I love Coach (Larry) Brown, and this is a good school."
This is the year, the fans keep telling themselves. This is the year KU wins the national championship. With Danny back, KU just can't lose.
With Danny back, Heckers. That's a lot of pressure to put on the shoulders of one 6-foot-10, 230-pound senior, even if he is a consensus All-American and ranks first in career scoring on the all-time Kansas list, with a year of eligibility left, no less.
But Manning knows he'll have four more teammates on the court and several others waiting on the bench to help him reach the goal that belongs both to him and the fans who cram into Allen Field House for each game.
"It's gonna be a lot of fun this year," Manning said. "This team has more talent than any team I've ever played on in terms of athletic ability."
y"
Cedric Hunter, Kansas' all-time assist leader and now a guard with the Topeka Sizzlers, agreed with Manning's summation of this season's team.
son's team.
"I think they should be a lot more confident, said comparing this year's team to the 1985-86 team that went to the Final Four. "They're kind of young, but they've got a lot of talent. There's more talent now than what's been there in a long time, at least in the four years I was there
"The regular games mean something, but you go for the end. Kemper (the site of the 1988 Final Four games) will help. Coach Brown will make them work hard and he and Danny will find a way to be there."
Dahny.
It always goes back to Manning, the one who is supposed to make the difference. The one whose face and name recognition may be surpassed only by his coach, Larry Brown, and even that is doubtful. It's easier to spot Manning, as heowers over just about everyone on campus except teammates Mike Masucci, Marvin Branch and Sean Alvarado.
I just expect the recognition isn't necessarily detrimental. His on-court abilities brought him to the notice of recruiters and sportswriters long before he graduated from high school. And now that he's entered his senior year in college, he has jumped to the attention of coaches and the media more than ever before. Manning has been the preseason pick for player-of-the-year by everybody who's anybody, an honor that could lead to a swelled head, but not Manning.
Branch didn't get it. "I got tired of it sometimes. It gets tired of it." Manning said of always being recognized. "Sometimes I'm not able to go to a public place and just relax. But it comes with the territory, so I just expect it."
"poken to the assembled board time the decision was
"It's definitely an honor, but all the credit goes to Coach Brown and the team. They really help me out," he said. "But I have to put out of my mind everyone else's expectations. The only people I have to please are myself and Coach Brown."
Manning is as selfless on the court as he is off. Kansas' career high scorer, 2,099 at the end of last season) also ranks seventh in career
Story by Anne Luscombe Photos by Joe Wilkins III
assists with 265.
Manning looks to pass the ball to his teammates when he's not open. Still, the ball consistently finds its way into Manning's hands because his team and coach have faith in its sure-flight path to the basket.
The unexpected extra year has given Marshall more time to adapt to Brown's program. But it also has kept him in college longer than he had planned. Marshall transferred to Kansas in 1985 from Seminole (Okla). Junior College. In his first season with the 'Hawks he played in all 39 games and was dubbed the Jayhawks' top sub. But that could change if the senior snares one of the starting spots.
suitable injury.
Manning is, without a doubt, the superstar of the team, but his supporting role of seniors can't go with him. Manning wouldn't let that happen anyway. He is especially excited about the return of Archie Marshall, who sat out last season after undergoing knee surgery.
you'll see the AFC. Marshall was a medical redshirt last season as he be rehabilitated from a knee injury in suffered in Kansas' lone loss in the Duke 1968 Final Four game. The injury, although Marshal swears it's not an issue anymore, is an integral part to one of his goals for the season.
after undergoing knee surgery,
"I'm looking forward to 'having
Archie back,'" Manning said. "It was
hard looking and seeing him sit out.
He's at 90 percent right now, not
quite 100 percent yet, but after the
first couple of games under his肚
you'll see the Arche of old."
"to seasb
want to remain healthy.",
Marshall said.
"That's important in order for me to be part of the team and to be successful."
Despite Marshall's preseason wish, he broke a finger during practice a few weeks ago, which may have hampered his performance a little in the exhibition game against the Italian National team.
be stronger.
Marshall, who can play both guard or small forward, became a valuable addition to the team, scoring 272 points his first season with he. Like all the players that have stepped foot on Allen Field House's court in the last three years, has never experienced, nor witnessed, a loss at home as a Jayhawk.
"I'm excited about the season," he said. "I've been in college for a long time, and I want to make my last year here the best possible. As a senior, I'm accepting more responsibilities, and I'm not going to let those unfortunate things that appeared in the past happen again. I'm going to evaluate my past, analyze it and then be stronger."
4. KANSAN BASKETBALL PREVIEW November 23, 1987
JayHawk.
"There is some pressure when you go out on the court. One of our goals is to lose at Allen Field House." Marshall said of the 48-game winstreak Kansas has accumulated at home. "You can't help but be aware of it. To go undefeated and win the national championship would be the best feeling in the world. I couldn't even imagine it."
Fifth-year senior Chris Piper has been watching Kansas go through transition periods for a long time. Lawrence native, was a member of Brown's first recruiting class and remembers when Kansas was not the powerhouse it has built itself into Brown's arrival.
"At the time I came to KU, KU was struggling," Piper said. "I didn't forsee the things that have happened since then, but it was never out of the possibilities to accomplish them. It's
special for me to be a part of this
become 'I'm from Lawrence.
It's a different feeling able to
play for play."
Piper, like Manning and Marshall, has never lost a contest in Allen Field House, although Kansas was 12-3 at home during his freshman redshirt season.
"I haven't thought about (the winning streak) in the past. I just take it for granted that we're going win here," Piper said. "It's a big response."
sibility to keep it going, and no one wants to be on the team to end the streak."
streak."
Since signing with Kansas in 1984, Kansas improved dramatically. In his first season of action, he played in 20 of Kansas' 34 games and averaged less than one point a game. As a sophomore, Piper played in all of the Jayhawks' 39 games, but never started. He averaged 2.0 points a game and was used primarily as a substitute forward and center.
erick said, "From individual sations and from letters, I feel now where most of the people board stood on the issue."
ent board member Sue Glatter
'No students were consulted.
n't seek out student opinion.'
card has three student repatives.
erick said, "We're coming situation where the previous had academic difficulties. Bob I hard to gain the respect of
wood praised Valesete's coment to recruiting fresh foot-ayers who were capable stub. He said that Frederick didn't efficient consideration to Val's attention to academics.
See KUAC, p. 12, col. 5
when students did not lock tally that is when students are s.
joe Wiltkins II/Special to the KANSAN's a news conference with his stions about his firing.
nieves
ables, such as a stereo, from a an overreaction. Fliaig said. students' valuables were safe worth the effort of loading and
and, that auto burglaries and quently when students were ing their cars. Every time ip to load valuables in their the car afterward, he said. students should never load the they go home.
ing travel
ntral Nebraska and western now today.
w, but a couple of inches of (he
question," said John
Kan., senior, a member of
Louis area, the panhandle of hern Texas were expecting
st is uncertain, Dolusic said,
that snow will fall in central
of showers developing in the
weather service operates a
1300.
I already made their reservation
Travel Service representative
are mostly gone," she said, left, but they're more expen-
.