University Daily Kansan / Friday, November 6, 1987
Sports
11
Intrastate football showdown is significant only to Kansans
By CRAIG ANDERSON
Staff writer
This year's version of the Sunflower State football showdown may not have much significance for anyone outside the borders of Kansas, but it will be plenty important for the players and coaches who take the field tomorrow in Manhattan.
Kansas and Kansas State have a combined 1-15 record this season, but for at least this weekend, past results will go out the window. Jayhawk junior running back Arnold Snell, who leads the team in rushing with 441 yards, said there is no understating the importance of tomorrow's game.
"The Kansas State game is like a bowl game to us," he said. "We want to go down there and beat them in their town."
Last year in the Wildcats' town, Kansas State jumped all over the Jayhawks and rolled to a 29-12 victory. Kansas State played the game on an emotional high throughout the contest, while the Jayhawks never got off the ground. After the game, Kansas coach Bob Valentese was questioned by media and alumni about his decision to treat the intrassite rivalry as just another game.
Valesente has taken a different approach this season. He posted newspaper articles about last year's debacle in Manhattan throughout the Jayhawk locker room. Kansas State coach Stan Parrish's quote about the Wildcats needing only 11 healthy players to beat Kansas is plastered on the walls without the Kansas dressing room.
"I'm certainly obsessed with rivalries." Valesen said. "They're what college football is all about. The (Kansas State) game should be treated as THE game."
Jayhawk senior offensive guard Bryan Howard said he really didn't understand the intensity involved in a Kansas-Kansas State game when he transferred from Pierce Junior College in Woodland Hills (Calif.) two years ago.
"I didn't realize what kind of game it was until I saw guys like Sylvester Byrd and Phil Forte (former Kansas players) playing like they did." he said. "I could see just how important it was for them to beat Kansas State. I learned a lot from them."
Jayhawk senior wide receiver Ronnie Caldwell said Kansas would react to Parish's quotes on the field tomorrow.
"We've just got to think that talk is cheap."
T
The Kansas State game is like a bowl game to us. We want to go down there and beat them in their town.
Arnold Snell
KU running back
Caldwell said. "He's going to help us get pumped up for playing them."
Kansas junior free safety Rob Newson said he wouldn't have any trouble fired up his equipment.
"The main thing that's pushing me right now is (Parrish's) comments," he said. "I know a lot of people who go to K-State, so I want to play well."
Kansas hasn't played well in its last three games in Manhattan and has lost all three. The Wildcats have outscored the Jayhawks 99-26 in those games. Valesente said he was glad to be able to play in Manhattan this year.
"It gives us a chance to go back and prove we're a better football team than last year," he said. "We're taking the approach that this is a key, critical football game."
On the field and away from the media attention, Kansas State has proven that it can score well at times, having scored 22 points against Austin Peay and 25 against Tulsa, despite the fact that Kansas State dropped both games. Wildcat quarterback Gary Swim ranks third in the Big Eight with 920 yards passing.
Jayhawk cornerback Rodney Harris said he wasn't worried about having to defend against
"He's real mechanical in the way he throws," he said. "He only looks at the receiver he's going to throw to. He's real easy to read."
Newson said Swim had a good arm and didn't throw many interceptions.
"He doesn't force anything because he just throws the ball out of bounds if there's any chance it will be intercepted," he said. "He can hit open receivers, but at this level of football, anyone can do that."
Valesente said he was concerned with the size and ability of the starting Wildcat running backs. Six-foot-three, 220 pound tailback Tony Jordan has rushed for 392 yards this season. Six-foot-two, 225 pound fullback Rick Lewis is averaging four yards a carry.
"They're two of the biggest backs in the league," Valesente said. "They couldcreate tremendous problems for us. Tony Jordan is an outstanding running back."
Kansas has shown that it has the ability to run the ball with success against Big Eight teams. Last week against top-ranked Oklahoma, the Jayhawks were able to control the ball for over half of the game. Valesente said he had seen improvement in the Kansas running game.
"We plan all year has been to be able have a ball control type of offense," he said. "We did some great things on offense against the much which has the finest defense in the country."
Snell has been the biggest part in the Jayhawks recent rushing success. In Kansas last three games, Snell has rushed for 291 yards on 73 carries and scored two touchdowns. Valente said Snell had been running the ball well recently.
The latest edition of the Jayhawk's revolving quarterback position hit the charts this week when Valesente announced that freshman Kevin Verdugo would replace sophomore Kelly Dohoeh. The two young signal-callers have combined to throw three touchdowns and 14 interceptions this season.
Valesente said the Jayhawks would have to avoid the turnovers and penalties that have hampered them for much of the year if they had a chance to defeat the wildcats.
The turnovers will be a key thing in the ballgame," he said. "We're a young team and we've self-destructed at some key points in games this year. Emotion will also be a key factor. If the players can't focus on the game, it'll be an awfully long game."
Kansas Jayhawks
Coach Bob Valesente
Record: 1-7/7 0-4
Game 9
Last Week: The Oklahoma Sooners set a record for the most points scored against KU in a 71-10 rout.
Kansas State
Wildcats
Coach Jim Walden
Record: 0-8/0-4
WR - 2填小Smith, 5-11, 175, ls-
LT - 70汀 Davis, 6-280, Sr.
LG - 68 Jay Alen, 6-235, Jr.
LG - 88 Budde, 6-226, Jr.
RT - 71 Bob Pape, 6-280, Sr.
RT - 86 John Baker, 6-230, Sr.
OB - 13 Kevin Verdugo, 6-255, Fr.
TB - 22 Amelia Snell, 6-200, Jr.
TB - 12 Ronnie Snell, 6-200, Fr.
FL - 34 Ronnie Chelmnt, 6-190, ls-
PK - 29 Louis Kemp, 6-150, Ss
ST - 39 Stacy Hensen, 6, 10; 230, 28
LT - 19 Eldridge Avery, 8, 235, 26
RT - 97 David White, 6, 245, 28
LB - 106 Kyle Schreiber, 8, 215
LB- MU 19 Curts Moore, 6, 121, 20
RLB - 25 Bradenedes, 6, 120, 29
RG-B 80 Rodney Harris, 5, 111, 180
RG-B 16 Mill Garner, 5, 100, 200
RG-B 16 Mitchell Huff, 5, 100, 200
MS - 32 Marvin Matson, 8, 41, 20
P - 47 John Bromh, 6, 181, 28
Last Week: The Wildcats threw five interceptions in a 56-7 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater, Okla.
Probable Starters:
WR-83 Dam Hughes, 5, 91; 79, 10
OT-64 Russ Strange, 6, 290, 18
OG-76 Eric Zabelle, 6, 171, 25
OG-76 Chad Faukner, 6, 220, 17
OG-76 Will McCain, 6, 42, 200
TE-80 Kent Dean, 6, 424, 25
IO-15 Gary Swim, 6, 230, 10
TB-29 Tony Jordan, 6, 320, 120
TB-29 John Williams, 6, 320, 120
FB-68 John Williams, 6, 180, 180
PK-1 Marian Porter, 6, 180, 180
Defense:
DBL 54 Alan Smith, 6,3-210, Soe
DLT - 78 Jim Delm, 6,3-245, Jyr.
NGR - 45 Dan Goldner, 6,4-235, Srt.
DTB 58 Tim McDonald, 6,2-70, Srt.
LGR - 45 Lars Gröhnke, 6,2-70,
IBR - 49 Lore White, 6,2-200, Srt.
IBL - 59 Walter Wallester, 5-10,230, Src.
RCBL 16 Marcus Miller, 5-10,175, Srs.
RCBL 4 Brad Lambert, 5-10,180, Srs.
FS - 20 Robert Easternwood, 6,2-185, Jyr.
SF - 2 ShapeFan, 6,10-185, Jyr.
Series:The Jayhawks have a 57-23-4 record against their cross-state rivals. Kansas has a 28-12-2 record against the Wildcats in games played in Manhattan, but were beaten 29-12 in last year's game in KSU Stadium.
History: The Jayhawks won the first matchup of the schools in 1902 by a score o 16-0. This year's game carries special meaning to both schools as they fight for their first conference victory and the Wildcats for their first victory of the year.
Coverage: The Kansas-Kansas Stategame will be carried locally by the Kansas Jayhawk Network. The game can be heard in the Lawrence area on KLZR (106 FM) and KLWN (1320 AM). Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in KSU Stadium. Radio station JKHK (90.7 FM) also will provide coverage of the game.
Newcomers learn to adjust to Brown's style
KANSAN graphic
By DARRIN STINEMAN Staff writer
Making the transition from a high school or junior college basketball program to a major college program can be a difficult one, especially when the major college coach is Larry Brown.
Brown, who is entering his fifth year at Kansas, admits to being one of the more demanding coaches in the country. For a new recruit adjusting to his system, the culture shock can be tremendous.
Freshman forward Mike Maddox is one of five newcomers to basketball coach Larry Brown's program. Scott Carpenter/KANSAT
Mike Maddox, freshman forward from Oklahoma City, is one of the new Jayhawks trying to get used to Brown Ball.
"It's been tough," he said.
"Practices are a lot more intense than they are in high school. I'm trying to learn a lot of new stuff right now and get adjusted to the system. I'm starting to feel more comfortable."
It's a shock coming in, because some guys aren't used to having someone yell at them as much as coach Brown does. A lot of times, if you're not ready for it, it's a shock, but it helps in the long run. It makes you grow up quick.'
— Chris Piper KU basketball player
Maddox, an earlyiese, chose Kansas over Wichita State and Arizona. He was named the Oklahoma prep Player of the Year and averaged 25.6 points a game and 10.1 rebounds a game as a senior
Guard Lincoln Minor, a transfer from Midland (Texas) Junior College, said practices were longer and harder at Kansas.
"You've got to come out and learn something new every day," he said. "He just expects a lot out of us."
A two-year starter for Midland, Minor averaged 16.1 points a game and played on teams that had a cumulative mark of 68-5. Minor can play the point guard and the off guard positions and chose to play the period over Oklahoma, Minnesota and the University of Miami (Fla.).
Another newly arrived transfer, Otis Livingston, said he expected practices to be more difficult here and was fairly well prepared for it. He said his coach at San Jacinto (Calif.) Junior College, Paul Landreaux, demanded a lot from his players.
"Here, you have to concentrate a lot every time down the floor."
livingston, who chose Kansas over seton Hall, California State Fullerleton, Clemson and Utah. "It's been a learning experience. I'm learning new things every day with coach Brown."
Like Livingston, freshman center Mike Mascicci said he has made the transition to major college basketball smoothly.
said Maucci, who played only 1½ years of high school basketball at Grandview, Mo., High School and was recruited by Missouri and St John's. "But sometimes you just feel a little out of place. The only thing you have to adjust to is having (Brown) get on you."
Brown getting on his players can be a hard thing to adjust to, but it is his players who benefit from it.
senior forward Chris Piper said.
"It's a shock coming in, because you're guys aren't used to having someone yell at them as much as coach Brown does," said Piper, who is in his fifth season with the Jayhawks after redshirting his freshman year. "A lot of times, if you're not ready for it, it's a shock, but it helps in the long run. It makes you grow up quick."
Vikings sign Scribner; Oswald, Peete waived
By a Kansan reporter
All was not good news for former Jayhawk football players, however, as the New York Jets waived wide receiver Skip Peeet yesterday. Peeet was on the Jets injured reserve list during his stay with the team this season. He played the 1984 and 1965
The Minnesota Vikings announced yesterday that they had signed former Kansas punter Bucky Scribbler. Scribner played for the Green Bay Packers from 1983 to 1985. He played at Kansas from 1980 to 1982, and set a Kansas record with a three-year punting average of 44.6 yards.
seasons for the Jayhawks after transferring from Arizona. During his two years at Kansas, Peete caught 46 passes for 358 yards. He missed most of his senior season because of a leg injury.
The Pittsburgh Steelers cut former Jayhawk center Paul Oswald, who had been an 11th-round draft pick last spring. Oswald made the Steelers opening-day roster and went on strike with his teammates during the National Football League's player strike last month. Oswald played at Kansas from 1982 to 1983 and was a four-year letterman. He was a red-shirt during the 1982 season.
TOPEKA — Clyde W. Thompson Jr., the brother of former Kansas basketball player Calvin Thompson, was shot to death outside a Topeka club early yesterday, police said.
The Associated Press
Ex-Jayhawk's brother killed outside of club
Thompson, 25, who listed addresses in Kansas City, Kan., and Topeka, was found dead near the disc jockey's booth in the private club. He did not he was shot outside and staggered back in the club before he collapsed.
Police Sgt. Eldon Wilson, said there were 10 to 15 people at the club when the shooting occurred about 2
Wilson said health department officials closed the club later because it did not have a food and beverage license.
a. m. There had been no arrests late this morning, and Wilson said authorities were still following leads. An autopsy was planned.
The victim's brother, Calvin Thompson, played basketball at KU from 1983 to 1986 and is now a member of the Topeka Sizzlers of the Continental Basketball Association. Thompson's father collapsed and died of an attack in the stands during Thompson's first college game at KU.
Robinson to sign with Spurs today
The Associated Press
Robinson, the Spurs' No. 1 draft choice, still has a two-year commitment to Navy, but the Spurs eagerly await his help for the future.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Former Navy center David Robinson, who has kept mum his NBA plans for six months, will sign with the San Antonio Spurs today, team officials said.
Spurs Chairman Angelo Drossos said Robinson's signing will be at 10:30 a.m. today in the Convention Arena and will be open to the public.
"It's all just falling into place," said Drossos, who has been talking with Robinson and his agent for the last 10 days.
Coach Bob Weiss said he spoke with Robinson in September when the 7-foot-1 All-American and his family received a red-carpet tour of San Antonio. Robinson, The Associated Press' College Player of the Year last season, had not committed to the Spurs at that time, but Weis thought then that Robinson could be
signed.
Weiss said, "When he did leave, I felt he was open-minded. And if he was open-minded, I knew Angelo could get it done.
"Some people could have come here and it didn't matter what you did you couldn't sign them."
The first news of Robinson agreeing to sign with the Spurs came from the San Antonio Express-News, which quoted Robinson's best friend and former Navy roommate, Carl Liebert.
"David called me tonight and told me he will be wearing the black and silver of the Spurs," Liebert said. "David told me, 'They have done everything to make me happy. How can I turn down a situation like that?'
Terms of the contract were not disclosed to Johnson was demanded as being
The Spurs are coming off their worst season at 24-58 and see Robinson as a positive addition to the current stock of young players.