University Daily Kansan/Wednesday, Aug, 19, 1987
13
Coach takes problem recruits
The Associated Press
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn, which plays the University of Kansas on Sept. 12, has taken a lot of heat for the classroom problems of some of its football athletes.
But Auburn Coach Pat Dye said Saturday that wouldn't keep him from recruiting players who were on the academic borderline.
"As long as the system allows you to recruit a player who doesn't qualify fully, I will do it." Dye said at a campus news conference. "I've never been afraid of the challenge. I'm not afraid of the challenge. I'm not afraid to be criticized."
An academic honest committee recommended that quarterback Jeff Burger be suspended for alleged plagiarism on a term paper, but a university official overturned that suggestion Friday. Last season, All-
American running back Brent Fullwood kept playing football even though he quit going to classes, and two key players, wide receiver Fredy Weygand and offensive lineman Steve Wilson, had to leave school because of poor grades.
"When you're dealing with people,
you're going to have highs and
lows. Dye."
Dye said he was not worried about academic difficulties tarnishing Auburn's reputation.
"I'm not afraid of hurting our image because we take these players. We provide these youngsters with a tremendous opportunity. For me personally, it's a big plus, not a minus, because if just one guy makes it, it's worth it," said the coach and athletic director.
Dye athletes who had shaky academic backgrounds could get back on the right track at Auburn.
"I wish all athletes were qualified and had A's and came from an environment where a college education was important from the day they were born, but that's not the real world." Dye said.
He also said he did not think athletes who were less than qualified in the classroom were being exploited on the playing field by the university. "I've never had a kid who looked me in the eye and, 'Coach Dve used me.'"
On another subject, the Auburn coach said he fully expected the 1989 game against rival Alabama to be played at the newly expanded Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Turning to the season-ending game against the Crimson Tide, Dye appeared irritated that Alabama officials wanted to continue to play the game every year at Birmingham's Legion Field.
Kansas City obtains linebacker loses draftee in Saints deal
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chains obtained linebacker Jack Del Rio from the New Orleans Saints on Monday in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice.
Del Rio, 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds,
was a third-round draft choice for
the Saints in 1985 out of the University
of Southern California. He started nine games for the Saints in 1985 and played in all 16 games last year.
Del Rio, who has played both outside and inside linebacker, tied a Saints record with five fumble recoveries in 1985 and last year tied
the new Orleans special teams unit with 20 tackles.
"Our guys coached him and liked him," Chiefs Coach Frank Gansz said, referring to defensive coordinator John Paul Young and linebackers Coach Mark Hatley, who were at New Orleans in 1985. "He'll improve our linebacker situation.
"He's also an outstanding special teams player," Gansz said. "We've had two long punts returned against us by San Francisco and two long kickoffs returned by Houston. We need to improve in that area."
Del Rio was a four-year starter at USC. He also played baseball,
and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays as a catcher out of Hayward (Calif.) High School.
Gansz said he was making one personnel switch for Saturday night's exhibition game against Atlanta. Second-year guard Brian Jozwiak will start at left guard in place of veteran Brad Budde.
"It isn't a big deal," Gansz said.
"We start different quarterbacks, different running backs. We just want to give Brian a start, to give him the pressure of preparation to start a game."
The Chiefs had a walk-through practice Monday morning and practiced for two hours in pads in the afternoon.
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