Sports
Season fills football coaches with optimism KU recruiters stalk campuses that have lost their programs
By DAVID BOYCE
Assistant sports editor
When the football season ended last year at Wichita State University and Southern Methodist University, it might be that recruiters would head south for a visit.
Both SMU and Wichita State terminated their programs after last year.
SMU terminated its program after the National College Athletic Association suspended the school's 1987 season and placed it on probation through 1990 for repeated recruiting violations. Wichita State discontinued its program because the football team consistently lost money.
Coaches from around the country stalked both campuses in search of a quick infusion of experienced talent.
Kansas, 0-7 in the Big Eight and 3-8 overall last season, also went hunting
The KU coaches found a part-time starting tailback from SMU and a free safety and an offensive tackle from Wichita State. All three players are juniors.
Presently, the names Darryl Terrell, of SMU, Clint Normore and Chris Nielsen, of Wichita State, may be unknown to KU football fans, but head coach Bob Valesente said these players would have an impact on the
team.
"Clint's impact has already been felt during spring practice," Valesente said. "He was our defensive newcomer during the spring season."
Normore started all 11 games at free safety last year for the Shockers and has already earned the top position on KU's depth chart.
At Wichita State he finished second on the team in tackles, with 114 for the year.
"He is a great tackler," Valesente said. "He has good instincts, and plavs the ball in the air well."
Normore said he was glad to have the opportunity to earn the spot during spring practice.
"I hope I can add a lot of athletic ability to the defense." he said.
Normore added that he did not have any reservation coming to Kansas despite the Jayhawks' record. He said the difference he noticed between the Jayhawks and the Shockers was the closeness of the KU team.
"We are going to have a winning season and turn a lot of heads in the process," Normore said.
Terrell, who rushed for 284 yards with the Mustangs, said he came to Kansas for the opportunity to play.
"At first I thought of staying at SMU to get my degree, but I talked with coaches at Kansas and decided to come here," Terrell said.
Terrell, who also considered Missouri, Hawaii and Arizona State before selecting Kansas, said the termination of SMU's program was difficult to accept at first.
"It seems hard they can take a program away because of what happened to a couple of players." Terrell said
Terrell said he hoped to become another offensive threat to keep opposing defenses on their toes. Currently, he is second on the depth chart behind senior Mike Rogers.
"The first thing I noticed about Darryl Terrell was his great work ethic." Valesen said. "He will be fighting for playtime."
The third player Kansas went after was Chris Nielsen, who played in three games for the Shockers last year as a reserve. Valesente said Nielsen would challenge senior Jim Davis for the starting position at left tackle on offense.
"He gives our team more size," Valesente said of the 6-foot-6, 280-pound tackle, "and if he is not a starter then he will still help us a lot in a back-up role."
L. A. Rauch/KANSAN
Clint Normore, Wichita junior, transferred to KU last Spring after Wichita State dropped its football program. He will be the starting free safety this fall.
Football's veterans promise strong year
Coordinator to diversify KU offense
By ANNE LUSCOMBE Associate sports editor
Despite the shuffling the Kansas defense has incurred, the experience level has increased dramatically.
With a strong addition coming from Wichita State transfer Clint Normore at free safety and what has been called one of the best recruiting classes in the country, Kansas looks stronger than last year.
The defense lost four seniors from last year's team, but the new depth charts list junior and seniors as the potential starters for every position. The reserves also have experience behind them.
Strength is crucial, especially in defense, as it started the race one of the best battles
in the country but quickly fell to the bottom after suffering such losses as 64-3 against Oklahoma, 70-0 to Nebraska and 48-0 against Missouri. The team ended the season with a 3-8 record.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we (the defense) were in the top 20 in the country this season," said junior linebacker Rick Clayton. "We are in better condition, but it's more our attitude that's changed. Last year we went on the field apprehensively. We got to outmaneuver us and we are going to go out and get it. Instead of taking a beating, we are going to dish out bettes."
The defensive front will see big
See DEFENSE, p. 11, col. 1
By CRAIG ANDERSON
Staff writer
The KU Air Force, which sputtered for most of last year, has been grounded.
Offensive coordinator Gary Huff said he was hired by Coach Bob Valentez to install a more diverse offense to give the Jayhawks more options — and more points on the scoreboard.
Huff takes over the job of offensive coordinator, a job held last season by Valesenate, after serving as quarterback coach for the Houston Oilers of the National Football League.
But the success of Huff's plans, which include multiple formations, will ultimately depend on the players.
The offensive line is being looked on as one of the areas that will be improved. The line was decimated by
in injuries and ineligibility last year, but the return of Bob Pieper, Jim Davis and Bryan Howard will add experience and size to this year's line.
"The linemen have all come back in great shape and with a great attitude," said Jan Quarless, offensive line coach. "They are anxious to get back together."
There has been some concern about the condition of left tackle Jim Davis' knee. Valesente said Davis had looked good in early season running drills. Davis also is optimistic.
"My knee is really feeling good," Davis said. "I'll be ready to go for the Auburn game."
The most-watched position will be the quarterback slot in which sophomore Kelly Donoho and senior Mike Orth will be competing for playing
time. Both had their ups and downs last season, so the starting spot is still up for grabs as fall practice begins.
Whoever the starting quarterback is, getting the ball to wide receiver Willie Vaughn will be a top priority. Vaughn caught 41 passes last year and is regarded as a big play threat at all times. Joining Vaughn on the outside will be senior Ronnie Caldwell and sophomore Quintin Smith.
The Kansas running game also will be under pressure to improve itself from last year when it averaged a paltry 73 yards a game.
Mike Rogers enters fall practice listed as the number one tailback after rushing for 91 yards in the spring game. Last year's top runner, Arnold Snell, and Southern Methodist transfer Darryl Terrell will add depth to the backfield.
"Everyone is chasing Mike Rogers right now, but Snell and Terrell have the ability to help us a lot," Valesente said.
More production will be needed from the kicking game as well. Last year, the Jayhawks managed only four field goals in 12 attempts. Sophomore Louis Klemp, who hit one of three field goal attempts last year, will handle the place-kicking duties this fall.
With the mix of returning experience and added depth, members of the offensive unit think they will be much improved over last year. No doubt they will have a good idea of just how much improvement has been made after opening up the season with an always-tough Auburn team. Last year, Auburn's defense yielded only 10.5 points a game.
Ex-KU quarterback heals on sidelines
AN
By ROBERT WHITMAN Staff writer
LIBERTY, Mo. — Frank Seurer has viewed professional football from many different perspectives since 1983, the last of four years he quarterbacked the Kansas football team.
Seurer's current perspective is from the sidelines at the Kansas City Chiefs' training camp.
Chiefs quarterback Frank Seurer is making a comeback after a May automobile accident.
Unable to practice in helmet and pads since an automobile accident May 17, Seurer has been relegated to physical rehabilitation and throwing on the sidelines with trainers Dave Kendall and Bud Enos.
Until the auto accident, the Chiefs' coaching staff planned to give Seurer, the team's thirdstring quarterback in 1986, a shot at the starting job. First-year head coach Frank Gansz brought in Homer Smith as offensive coordinator. Smith has an offensive philosophy calling for a quarterback with one of Seurer's major attributes: mobility.
But, Seurer's progress has been hampered by his left ankle, which has been slowest to recover from the accident. Seurer also dislocated his right hip and sprained his right wrist.
"The hip and the wrist are fine. The ankle is going to take a little more time. I can't push off of it to throw," said Seurer, the Big Eight Conference's leading career passer. "We tested it (last) Wednesday, and it was 83 percent. Hopefully, in another week, it'll be 90 percent and I can start practicing."
Seurer also has seen professional football from the United States Football League perspective, playing in the spring of 1984 and 1985 for the Los Angeles Express.
In 20 USFL games, Seurer passed for 2,137 yards and 10 touchdowns. After the league folded, Seurer signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in April 1986. He played in three pre-season games, but did not take a snap at quarterback during the regular season.
But Seurer did see some action at wide receiver against Buffalo when injuries cut the Chiefs' wide receiver corps to three on the active roster.
or safeties get tired, I ask if I can come in for them, just to keep from getting bored." Seurer said.
`As a third-string quarterback, I don't get a whole lot of practice time. Whenever the wide receivers`
Catching passes in practice instead of throwing them last year gave Searer a perspective most
"It was fun. It was different.
Playing safety I learned all the calls and the different coverages."
Seurer said, "Playing receiver was different. I have a whole new
quarterbacks never see.
respect for them. It's not as easy as it looks.
"You like to think you have a chance. You hope there is a chance."
Valesente sets goals for defeat of Auburn
Staff writer
Bv DARRIN STINEMAN
Football coach Bob Valesente has installed a rigorous preseason conditioning program in an effort to prevent another season as dismal as last year's.
In order to accomplish three main goals he has set for his team. Valesente has turned to three-a-day practices for the first time in his career at KU.
Valesate, however, is looking no further than the opening game at Auburn on Sept. 12. Valesate said he wanted to accomplish the three goals through three a-day practices before that encounter.
First, he wants the Jayhawks to become the best-conditioned team in the country in order to be not just ready but "over-ready" for the Tigers. Second, he wants to establish a depth chart. And third, he wants to install the offense, defense and the special teams at a point where they can reach excellence.
"The players seem committed." Valesente said Monday after the afternoon practice. "They came in here with a mission."
Sophomore quarterback Kelly Donohoe said he thought the key to a successful Jayhawk campaign began with "blood and sweat" on the practice field.
"It's real draining, but you've got to keep giving your all," he said. "We've got to have a much better year than last year."
Despite the unfavorable press the 'Hawks have been receiving, Donohoe said he was looking forward to the coming season.
"We've got a lot of people to prove wrong, and we want to get everyone back on our side," he said. "We're looking forward to a winning season and a bowl game this year."
The special teams, however, find it a little easier to deal with the three-a-days in the August heat than the offensive and defensive squads. KU's place-kicker, Louis Klemp, said he wouldn't swap jobs with anyone on the regular teams.
John Brehm, who doubles as a wide receiver and punter, said he didn't mind working out with the offensive team rather than the special teams.
"Once in a while I look over there and see (the special teams) and think I might want to be over there, but, no, I'd rather be involved," he said.
Like Donohoe, Brehm said he thought all the conditioning would help.
"You think about doing all the practice and look back and see a 3-8 season and wonder if it was worth it, but we've had a great spring, and I'm looking forward to a good year."
Reinforcements to patrol Aggieville after KU game
By DARRIN STINEMAN
Staff writer
In the wake of riots in the Aggieville area of Manhattan after Kansas State's last two home football games with Kansas, the Riley County Police Department has signed on reinforcements.
The department has signed an agreement with the Wichita Police Department to bring in 35 extra officers to patrol the area after the Nov. 7 game with Kansas, said Col. Les Bieler of the Riley County Police Department.
"Basically, we feel it's a matter of having enough persons to deal with the number of persons in that community during that time." Bieler said. "We feel the very presence of officers on the street will give the impression that we're concerned and
we're not going to allow any wholesale breaking of the law if we can prevent it."
Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon said he agreed that the presence of the officers would serve as a deterrent strong enough to prevent a possible riot.
"We don't anticipate any problems," LaMunyon said. "Most people are rational human beings, and when they see (the officers) they're not going to cause a lot of trouble."
Mike Conduff, Manhattan city manager, said the city commission would do anything it could to help police prevent looting and property damage that last year totaled almost $100,000.
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