Section B·Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, October 23,1997
Presented by:
The University of Kansas School of Business
Good-Lookin'...
Wildcat trounces his fear
The Associated Press
MANHATTAN — Fear was the overriding emotion the first time Joe Bob Clements ran on to the field at Kansas State, but now the one-time walk-on hardly can wait to get on the field Saturday against Oklahoma.
"I looked up at the crowd, and I was just scared," saus Clementes, a 6-foot-3 inch, 245-pound junior, of his first play after a year as a redshirt freshman. "I didn't make the tackle on that play, but I'm sure I did OK."
After playing linebacker and defensive tackle earlier in his career at K-State, Clements now is a starting defensive end for the No. 14-ranked Wildcats and said he was looking forward to the game at Norman, Okla.
Although he's a starter now, the road was not always easy for Clements.
In high school, he wanted to play Division I football. But after earning all-league honors three times while playing for Emporia High School, Clements was not offered a scholarship to play football for the school he wanted - K-State.
"I watched the Copper Bowl on TV, and it really made me want to come here and play." Clements said. "I was just extremely excited about what Coach (Bill) Snyder was bringing to the program."
Instead of following in his father's footsteps and playing football at Emporia State, Clements set off for K-State.
As a walk-on player his freshman year, he was red-shirted and spent the season going through the daily
grind of practice without playing time.
"I got pretty beat up that first year," Clements said. "But I kept practicing hard."
Eventually, his hard work began to pay off. He played in 10 of 11 games but had only 12 tackles.
But those 12 tackles,coupled with his hard work in practice, led to a scholarship.
He received more playing time in 1996, when he played in all 12 games and finished the season with 17 tackls.
After missing the Wildcats' first game because of an injury this year, Clements has started every game.
"When he's out on the field, he gets a little crazy." unbacker Travis Ochs said. "He gets us all pumped up every time he's on the field."
Clements remembers last year's game against Oklahoma in Manhattan when K-State dominated the first half, leading 21-0 before the first quarter, and held on to win 42-35 after Oklahoma scored on its final possessions.
Clements said he and the rest of the team are working hard not to have a letdown in the second half this year.
"We are going down to Oklahoma with the mentality that we are going to play four quarters of football," Clements said. "Last year, we didn't play four quarters of football and it almost cost us the game."
Rumors surround Texas coach's future
The Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas athletics officials are trying to quash rumors that John Mackovic, coach of the 3-3 Longhorns football team, is on his way out.
According to "The Austin American-Statesman," Texas officials yesterday denied rumors about the coach getting the ax, a million-dollar contract buyout or a list of possible replacements that has been circulating among alumni.
ball team. I want him to go out the right way."
Athletic director DeLoss Dodds told his staff this week that there was no substance to the speculation. The rumors began after a series of losses to UCLA, Oklahoma State and Missouri. The Longhorns face Colorado (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) at home on Saturday.
"There is nothing going on," Dodds said. "My concern is for the players and what effect (the rumors) will have on them. I worry about (quarterback) James Brown, with all he's done for the University of Texas and the foot-
Dodds acknowledged that the Longhorns were struggling.
"Things are tough right now. We've got to figure out a way to fight through this," he said.
According to the American Statesman's story, a popular theory has a group of alumni pooling money to buy out the two remaining years of Mackovic's contract.
Mackovic, coach since December 1991, earns $600,000 annually. The money is guaranteed if he is fired or reassigned. A buyout would cost $1.2 million and could be looked upon as frivolous spending by members of the university's faculty and Texas Legisla
ture, already critical of the millions being spent to refurbish Royal-Memorial Stadium.
Pat Oxford, member of the Texas Board of Regents, released a statement about the team's current coaching status.
"To my knowledge, there is no discussion about the football program (and its coach) at the University of Texas-Austin. I frankly don't think any discussion would be appropriate until the end of the season. Coach Mackovic is doing the best he can. Let's get behind him," Oxford said.
Still, angry fans are calling, faxing and e-mailing their opinions to the Board of Regents.
"People get so emotionally involved with intercollegiate athletics," said regent Lowell Lebermann of Austin. "I can understand because I scream and yell and indistinguish my dignity at the games. But there's a UT way, and the other way. We're not going to rush to judgment. We'll do it the UTway, the dignified way."
KU NIGHT AT THE BLADES!
Saturday, October 25th 7:35 PM KEMPER ARENA INDIANAPOLIS
KANSAS CITY BLADES VS. INDIANAPOLIS ICE
Special Group Rate $9.00 (Save Up To $ 5.00 Per Seat)
The Kansas City Blades would like to offer all KU students and faculty along with their families and friends a special group discount for our October 25th game. You can purchase tickets at the SUA Office in the Kansas Union. Open Mon-Fri. from 8:30-4:30 or you can visit the Blades representatives in the Kansas Union on Wednesday October 22, or Thursday, October 23 between 11:00am and 1:30pm. Any questions?
of falling in love.
EWAN McGREGOR CAMERON DIAZ HOLLY HUNTER DELROY LINDO IAN HOLM
STARTS FRIDAY OCTOBER 24 AT THEATRES EVERYWHERE