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Monday, September 14, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
SportsMonday
KU student enjoys playing prisoners in softball games
By DAVID BOYCE
Assistant sports editor
Editor's note: Assistant sports editor David Boyce wrote this article based on his experience as a member of the intramural softball team, the Lawmen, who played the prisoners.
LANSING — The idea of playing softball against inmates at Kansas State Penitentiary appealed to Jerry Heuer two weeks before the actual game. But on Saturday, just before entering the maximum security prison, Heuer was nervous.
Who could blame him? A mite before entering the state penitentiary, Heuer nervously laughed at a sign that he'd "do not pick up hitchhikers."
"I don't know what to expect," Heuer said before reaching the prison. "From what I've seen on television, convicts are 7-foot, muscular men."
The sign is intended for motorists not aware that a state penitentiary is just up the road, and occasionally, prisoners do escape.
Heuer, along with 10 teammates from the University of Kansas, traveled 30 miles for an experience many said they would not forget.
Besides the initial terror of going inside the prison, Heuer also wondered about the level of competition.
"All they do in there is lift weights and play ball, but I'm excited to play," he said.
Before Heuer's team could go inside the prison, they waited about 30 minutes in the visiting room for security clearance from Lansing prison athletic therapist, Kenneth Clay. Clay would also escort the team throughout the prison.
While waiting, a receptionist
asked for the team's name. The team manager said Lawmen, and laughs could be heard from prison guards. The name was Heuer's idea.
Heuer's first impression of the prison was its size. He said it was a lot bigger than he had thought. The people in the visiting room also made an impression on him.
"It's kind of sad to see a young woman with many kids waiting to visit a relative," Heuer said. "It's another world."
And that impression came before he actually entered the prison.
Before the Lawmen could get in, they gave Clay their billfolds, watches and keys. Clay then told the team not to give the prisoners anything.
"They will ask for your hats, warm-ups and shirts," he said. "Don't give it to them!"
After that small lecture, the team went through several gates, and were 13.0ed with a metal wheelchair. The pump was placed on their left hand.
Once Heuer and his 10 teammates passed security clearance, they walked through an old building and into an open courtyard
"This place sort of reminds me of the dorms," said one teammate. "I bet they have better food."
The Lawmen were now completely inside the big house.
After trading a few jokes comparing the prison to KU's residence halls, the Lawmen got first taste of what prison life is like.
Walking to the field. Heuer and the rest of the team passed by inmates who whistled, tried to intimidate the players and, as Clay asked, asked for clothing items.
See HEUER. p. 13. col. 1
Gloomy prision life intrigues Lawmen softball team
By DAVID BOYCE
Assistant sports editor
In fact, every step inside the Kansas State Penitentiary, barbed wires and concrete walls were the main attraction.
LANSING — An upward view revealed vispy white clouds, the top three feet of trees and a guard tower. When looking straight ahead the eyes could only see barbed walls, old buildings and a 30-foot concrete wall.
This is what two KU intramural teams, the Lawmen and Johnny's Scum, saw Saturday morning and afternoon when they played the Lansing inmates in some friendly, vet competitive, softball games
The games were set up by Lansing athletic therapist Kenneth Clay, and are designed to give some Lansing inmates a break
during the weekend from the monotonous prison life.
In order for the inmates to tryout for the team, they must work or go to school. They also must show they can behave around people outside the prison walls, said Clay.
Clay said about 60 players tried out for the team in the early spring and he kent about 18 players.
"It gives us something to look forward to during the weekends," said Lansing right fielder Tom Bird.
Bird is serving a life sentence after being found guilty of killing his wife. Bird's lover, Lorna Anderson Eldridge, was found guilty of murdering her husband.
Bird is called "Reverend" by his teammates because before being sentenced to prison he was a clerkvman.
The murder trial was the subject of the made-for-television movie "Murder Ordained."
Once the Lawmen discovered Bird's identity, he quickly became the most intriguing of all the inmates. Although none would question him directly about his reason for being in prison, many approached him to talk about softball.
"I'm trying to make the best out of a bad situation," Bird said.
Bird said he enjoyed playing the Lawmen and Johnny's Scum because of the competition.
The Lawmen were trounced 17-0 but Johnny's Scum were more competitive losing 10-9 in extra innings and 13-9 in the second game. In all, Lansing inmates played five games against three softball teams from Lawrence and
won four games, raising their record to 70-19 this year.
The only game the inmates lost was to a Lawrence team called the Zit City Manglers. 18-13.
"I don't mind losing if we play a good game and the other team beats us," Bird said. "But if we play sloppy, then I am upset."
Tyrone Bradley, another inmate who is in for aggravated robbery, also enjoyed playing using softball teams and being interviewed.
"I'm the Reggie Jackson on this team, so you know I'm going to get the interview," he said to another team member. "You enjoy other teams come in."
Besides participating in athletics, such as softball or basketball, the inmates also get to watch an occasional movie.
After leaving the penitentiary, some KU students had a different perception of how they viewed the inmates.
it's easy to be for the death penalty," said Mark Faltermeier, a member of the Lawmen. "But after playing with some of these guys it seems inhuman to kill them. Some of them are really friendly; it's hard to believe they did something wrong."
much else we do," Bradley said.
"Remember, we are in here because we did something wrong."
"Other than that there is not
Pat Meacham, a member of Johnny's Scum, said it was an experience he had never gone through before, but he was glad he
"When I was in there I wondered
See PRISON, p.13, col. 1
KUAC board will 'adopt' minor sports
By MIKE CONSIDINE
Staff writer
The adoption process is about to begin for KU's non-revenue sports. The University's "minor sports" needn't like orphans any more.
need a feel of play. The new adopt-a-sport program isn't designed to bring about sweeping reforms in the Athletic Department. Its primary purpose is to give minor sports better representation within the Kansas University Athletic Corporation.
"We're finding ways for board members to do their job better and have greater involvement with industry." Redwood, KUAC board chairman.
The idea for adopt-a-sport grew from a suggestion made last year by the KUAC long-range planning committee that some way be found to gain greater insight into the problems of individual sports, Redwood said.
Redwood is currently soliciting preferences among the 16 board members and will be assigning the members to sports by mid-week.
The format will resemble one that new athletic director Bob Frederick worked with at Illinois State.
"We had a program with the athletic council there," said Frederick. "It was really successful. Usually board members are only familiar with revenue sports. All board members became more familiar with the overall program."
Board members will be rotated annually to get a better understanding of the needs of each of the University's sports.
Redwood said, "It allows board members to become more active with the actual putting of teams on the field, so board members can sort of contribute better for overall policy formation for KUAC.
"It allows them to get a perspective from the coach and student athlete directly, essentially lets them take a more personal interest in various sports."
Board members will be looking at scholarships, funding and normal board operations, then reporting them to the finance committee. Redwood said.
Frederick said that giving non-revenue sports a voice was the biggest benefit of the program at Illinois State.
"The changes will be in attitudes and understandings." Frederick said. "The coaches felt very good about having someone who almost became an advocate on the board."
Frederick said that the faculty board members actually aroused the interest of others in their departments. For example, the ISU soccer program found a new following when members of the school's chemistry and math faculty began watching its games.
Redwood said, "I envisage a board member who has, say, men's track, will come and watch the meets and show his encouragement. They'll get to know the athletes and get a good feel for what's going on."
"We don't know if it'll be success ful or not," Redwood said.
Sports Briefs
Cross country finds success
The Kansas men's cross country team upset Southern Illinois, 21-34, and the women placed second in the seven-season Nebraska Invitational during weekend.
The men were paced by sophomore Steve Hefferman (24:52) and junior Craig Watcke (24:59), who finished 1-2 in Friday's meet at Carbondale, Ill. Freshman Sean Sheridan (25:40) finished fifth, with junior Matt Bell (25:46) and freshman Sam Froese (25:54) claiming the next two places.
The women finished behind Nebraska on Saturday in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers had 21 points. Kansas, led by freshman Susan MacLean in fourth-place, scored 80 points. Senior Trisha Mangan was ninth for the Jayhawks.
"It was really incredible," said student assistant coach Ashley Benjamin. "The key to victory was the 14-second split between our fifth and seventh men. That shows we're working really hard as a team."
Quarterback club meets at noon today
The Kansas Quarterback Club will meet at noon today in the Summerfield Room of the Adams Alumni Center. At the meeting, Kansas coach Bob Valesente will discuss Saturday's game against Auburn and talk about the upcoming Kent State game. The meeting is open to all University students, faculty and staff. An optional $5 soup and salad lunch will be served. The club will meet every Monday throughout the season.
From staff and wire reports.
Lisa Jones/KANSAN
Korn Kirk, Lawrence resident, fights for possession of the ball as KU player Al Tebben looks on. The KU Rugby Club beat the Johnson County Club 32-6 in Saturday's match.
KU rugby eliminates K-State B team, 81-3
Substitute match turns into a victory as Garden City cancels at last minute
By CRAIG Staff writer
Little went wrong for the Kansas varsity rugby team as it beat the Kansas State "B" team 81-3 Saturday.
By CRAIG ANDERSON
The varsity had been scheduled to play Garden City Community College, but they cancelled at the last minute. KU Coach Rick Renfro then had to scramble to come up an opponent, which turned out to be the Wildcat second team.
Senior Paul King led the Jayhawk scoring with three tries. Pat King, Mike Menahan, Matt O'Donnel and Mike Menham each added two tries.
"We're trying to work into a roster of about 20 to 25 men who can play for the varsity," King said. "It's good to get a look at a lot of players in game conditions."
The lack of good competition Saturday, King said, had both good and bad aspects. He said it was hard to tell how far along the Jayhawks were as far as being able to compete with the better teams they will face later in the season. The opportunity to use more players, though, would help the team's depth later in the season, King said.
Senior John Brooks, varsity team captain, said he was pleased with the overall team effort. Though the outcome of the game was never really in doubt, he said he was glad to see that the second half had given the second half. Brooks said the rout gave the varsity a chance to work on their plays and ball handling.
"I remember the first time I went to Aspen," King said. "I was really impressed with the high quality of play up there. It'll be a challenge for us."
Also on Saturday, the KU club squad defeated the Johnson County "A"队 32-6. Club squad captain Larry Krisman led the Jayhawks scoring with three trys.
Kansas jumped to a 12-0 lead early n the first half and was never challenged throughout the match. Krisman said an early outburst was what he and his teammates were going for.
In the near future, the KU club team will travel to the Aspen Ruggerfest in Aspen, Colo. King said many members of the varsity would play on the club side because of the good competition that would be at Aspen. He said most of the top twenty teams in the nation, except for those on the west coast, would be at the tournament.
"We wanted to jump on them early, so we could work on our fundamentals," he said. "We still need to work on our ball handling." Krisman said the squad starter lagging in the second half needed it. "They still needed it."
The competition in Aspen, Krisman said would be tough.
"I don't know if we have the horses to win the tournament," he said. "We just want to go out and play the best we can."