wednesday, September 17, 2003 sports the university daily kansan 9A Holmes uncertain for Houston game The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Priest Holmes is questionable for Sunday's game at Houston, raising anew the question of whether Kansas City is asking too much of its Pro Bowl running back. The NFLs offensive player of the year last season, Holmes missed the final two games with a hip injury that required surgery in March and had him on crutches for several weeks. for several weeks. Giving him only a handful of carries in five preseason games, the Chiefs indicated they planned for Holmes to have fewer touches than the 313 carries for 1,615 yards and 70 passes for another 672 he had a year ago in just 14 games. While nobody is saying Holmes' bruised ribs won't be healed by Sunday, coach Dick Vermeil said yesterday that rookie Larry Johnson might be activated this week for the first time. Yet, in victories over San Diego and Pittsburgh already this season, Holmes has 53 touches, more than anyone else in the NFL except Miami's Ricky Williams—a lot of punishment for a running back who will turn 30 in just a couple of weeks. injury by overuse. "Last year at this time, Priest had 44 carries for 206 yards and four touchdowns," offensive coordinator Al Saunders said. Coaches are sensitive to suggestions that they may be subjecting their prime weapon to more injury by overuse. "This year he's had 44 carries for 207 yards and five touchdowns. Last year after two games he had 11 catches for 50-some yards. This year he's had nine catches for 104 some yards. His workload is exactly the same after the first two games as it was last year." Like most good backs, Holmes seems always to get better as the game wears on. His best run against Pittsburgh was a 31-yard scoring 'scamper in the fourth quarter that put the cap on a 41-20 victory. 20 victory. "There were some situations where he took some hits off some guys not finishing up front," Saunders said. "You don't ever like him to take those solid hits. But you can't be so protective of "As soon as you start taking people out of the game, you send a message to the rest of the team that you think it's over." Dick Vermeil Kansas City Chiefs coach him that he's not playing, and he gets out of the flow of the game. If he doesn't get that kind of flow in the game, he's not going to be as effective. He won't make the proper reads, he won't be able to hit the lanes like he normally does. At this point, he's getting about what a starting running back in the league should get." league snorth goes. Nevertheless, some critics are asking why a valuable man coming off hip surgery was still playing against the hard-tackling Steelers with a 34-20 lead with only about five minutes to go. "As soon as you start taking people out of the game, you send a message to the rest of the team that you think it's over," Vermeil said. "I've been in games, coached in games, when people have come back in six minutes and scored 14 or 17 points and beat you. You're just shocked. You just can't figure out what happened. Sometimes you can create that by sending a message late in the ballgame, and you can't get it back again." one of the scariest moments for Chiefs fans last week came on Holmes' second TD, when he vaulted across the goal line and landed, with all his 213 pounds, squarely on that surgically repaired hip. He got up and went to the side line and was re-taped. "I've got to learn how to land on my feet because I want to be there for the next play," he said with a grin. "Actually there was nothing wrong after I dove other than my back was hurting. And it didn't happen on that play. happen on that play. "When it comes to playing football, you never know how hard you're getting hit until maybe four or five plays later." Kansas athletics calendar Volleyball, 7 p.m., at Kansas State, Manhattan friday today Soccer, 7 p.m., San Diego University, San Diego, Calif. Volleyball vs.Colorado, 1 p.m., Horejsi Family Athletics Center saturday Football vs. Jacksonville State, 6 p.m. Memorial Stadium Memorial Golf, Saturday and Sunday. Mary Fossium Invitational, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. sunday Soccer, I.p.m., Loyola Marymount, Los Angeles Did anybody else realize that Bill Whittemore has the highest quarterback ranking in the conference? Isn't that cool. This week's picks Kansas vs. Jacksonville State Oregon vs. Michigan Oregon vs. Michigan Michigan State vs. Notre Dame Georgia vs. LSU Miami vs. Boston College Miami vs. Boston College Tennessee vs. Florida Tennessee vs. Florida Tennessee Tech vs. NC State Texas Tech vs. NC State Texas Tech vs. No. Colorado vs. Florida State Colorado vs. Florida State Arizona State vs. Iowa Arizona State vs. Iowa NFLA - Oklahoma UCLA vs. Oklahoma - Bowling Green vs. Ohio State - Nichols State vs. Texas A&M — Kingsville correction Yesterday's University Daily Kansan contained an error. Page 1B stated the score for the New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles game was 14-0. The Yankees won, 13-1. Royals win fourth straight The Associated Press CLEVELAND — Joe Randa and Rondell White hit three-run homers as the Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 12-8 last night. last night. The Royals powered their way through a sloppy, error-filled game for their fourth straight victory. The teams combined for 25 hits and six errors. Randa hit a line drive that clanked off the railing of the 19-foot wall in left to start a four-run first inning. Kansas City added two in the second for a 6-0 lead. in the fourth to make it 11-4. White capped the inning with a towering 410-foot shot to left. The Indians made it 6-4 in the bottom half, but the Royals took advantage of two Indians errors It was the Indians' fourth straight loss to a Central Division contender. Darrell May (9-7) had a season-high eight strikeouts over 52-3 innings. He allowed three runs Anger had a career high five hits, including an RBI triple, as he went 5-for-5. He also scored three runs, stole two bases and had two errors. Royals 12 Cleveland 8 next: Royals at Mariners records: Royals 78-72, Mariners 65-87 Angel Berroa had a career high Bard in an RBI single Reliever Jason Grimsley gave up an RBI single to Brandon Phillips and a two-run double to Coco Crisp, allowing the Indians to pull within 12-8. The Indians chased May in the sixth after Victor Martinez singled, Ben Broussard reached on Berroa's fielding error and Josh Bard hit an RBI single. — only one earned — on seven hits and two walks. scoreless innings of run- Rookie Billy Traber (6-9) didn't make it out of the second inning for his shortest start of the season. The left-hander allowed six runs on seven hits and a walk. to pull within But Al Levine and Curtis Leskanic combined for three scoreless innings of relief. "The Ultimate in Luxury Living" Call about our new specials ♦ Luxury 1, 2, & 3 BR apts. ♦ Full size washer and dryer ♦ 24 hour fitness room ♦ Computer Center ♦ Pool with sundeck 1/4 mile west on Wakarusa 5000 Clinton Parkway www.pinnaclewoods.com 785-865-5454 Is this whose number you got last night? 600 whenever minutes whenever minutes FREE long distance & roaming UNLIMITED nights & weekends $39.99 per month We make sure you get a great plan and phone... but we can't guarantee the phone numbers you pick up. TP --- Mobile - Carrier-specific identification and payment of the mobile phone equipment installed in all areas. Credit personal identification fees and overtime pay are automatically charged up to 3000 RMB per person. Accountable ware, accessories, bill and mailing charges additional. Unused equipment is not charged. Additional equipment will be charged on the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call will be charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. Additional equipment will be charged on the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. The call is charged based on information from the call. Additional equipment will be charged on