Wednesday, September 10, 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 5
North Division
KANSAS (2-0, 0-0)
Next game vs. Missouri on Saturday
Terry Allen, first-year Kansas coach, said he thought Kansas State would be the Javhawk's big rival. However, upon Allen's
Now Allen's in step for Saturday's big game against the Missouri Tigers.
"After I'd been here about eight months, you get the feel for how much the Missouri game means to these people," Allen said. "The players weren't the first to initiate it; it was the alumni and the people of Kansas. As but I got to be with the players, I realized that it's just across the border."
Blinn (Texas) Junior College transfer Michael Bishop stepped in as quarterback and led Kansar
KANAS STATE (1-0, 0-0) Nexi game vs. Ohio on Saturday
State to its eighth-straight season opening victory.
Bishop's 43-
yard touchdown
run against
Northern Illinois was the longest in two seasons for Kansas State
How did coach Bill Snyder convince Bishop to play for the Wildcats?
"I can't really tell you — I guess he just loved my nature," Snyder said, jokingly. "I think the important thing to Michael was the opportunity to do the things he wanted to do, to step in and play immediately and the style of offense that was important to him."
"I'm not saying it was an easy sell," he said. "I think he's a direct young guy who understood what he wanted and how to go about getting it. For all practical purposes, it was a closed issue."
MISSOURI (1-0, 0-0)
Next game vs. Kansas on Saturday
The Kansas Jayhawks may not be the perfect team, but you
would never know it by speaking to Missouri coach Larry Smith.
"Nobody has exposed any
weakness, "Smith said of Saturday's Big 12 game. "They've played
two games, got two 'Ws' and they are finding ways to win."
"They've got some regained confidence when you start 2-0," he said. "They're more physical than a year ago both offensively and defensively. Look at the stats; nobody's been running or throwing against them."
Smith said he expected an improved passing game by the Tigers against Kansas.
"The biggest thing (against Eastern Michigan) is we weren't catching the ball," Smith said. "We had about five drops that were thrown and should have been caught. You catch those balls, and it changes the way we ran the ball."
IOWA STATE (0-2, 0-1) Next game vs. Minnesota on Saturday
WM state may have been the only Big Ten team to lose a game last week.
Bria, Mr. Coach Dan McCarney saw the loss' positive side.
"You've got to move on and find out what your team and
staff are made of after a game like Saturday," McCarney said. "We ran into a really outstanding Wyoming team that was ready to play, and we aided their cause with six turnovers that turned a competitive game early into a runaway."
COLORADO (1-0, 0-0)
Next game vs. Michigan on Saturday
It is not that Colorado coach Rick Neueisel is glad the Buf-
rables had to rally to beat Colorado State. But he was glad for the experience because Colorado got a 31-21 victory.
"Looking at the tapes, you can see all kinds of things that need to be corrected," Neuheisel said.
"We came from behind. Some teams don't know that they can come from behind so I'm thankful for that experience." he said.
Neuheim also can see a need for improvement in the running game.
"We didn't run very well, but Colorado State had something to do with that," Neuheisel said. "When you're not averaging four yards a
carry, that's not effective enough." NEBRABA (1.0-0.0)
Next game vs. Central Florida on Saturday
Nebraska took the week off after beating the Akron Zips. This
week Nebraska will play host to Central Florida, a dangerous team, coach Tom Osborne said.
"Central is 0-2
and yet they've played well enough to be 1-1 and possibly 2-0. "Osborne said, 'Except for two plays, they've played very well. There are so many good athletes in the state of Florida, and it's my suspicion they (Central Florida) could do well in the Big 12. On a given day, they could beat many teams in our league."
OKLAHOMA (1-1, 0-0) Next game vs. California Berkeley on Sept. 20
Oklahoma coach John Blake has not decided about his starting
South Division
quarterback for the Sooners' next game. But with De_Mond Parker as running back, it may not make a difference.
Justin Fuente and Eric Moore both played in Saturday's 36-34 victory against Syracuse, which ended an eight-game home losing streak for the Sooners.
"I think both of them did some good things, and they both made some mistakes," Blake said.
Who is the starter?
"I'm not sure right now, but I've got two weeks to decide," Blake said. "We'd like to find one quarterback but they need to separate themselves. They both have strengths and weaknesses and right now we have to use both of them."
Parker gained 239 rushing yards on 31 carries as the Sooners ground out 379 total yards against the Orangemen.
OKLAHOMA STATE (2-0, 1-0)
Next game vs. Fresno State on Saturday
backs, so why not have the same setup for running back?
The Cowboys have dual quarter
While red shirt freshman Tony Lindsey and sophomore
Chris Chaloupka battle for playing time as quarterback. Jamala
He replaced the injured Nathan Simmons, son of coach Bob Simmons, and gained 217 yards on 28 carries. But he has not won the starting assignment.
"To have Jamaal step up and run for 200 yards is not only a credit to him but what the offensive line did," he said.
Fobbs joined the competition at tailback in Saturday's 31-7 victory against Southwestern Louisiana.
"I thought Jamaal did a good job when he was called on, but nobody loses his starting job because of injury," coach Simmons said. "We need both tailbacks, and they'll both continue to play."
Simmons said he expected no conflict when it came to deciding playing time at tailback.
"Nathan is my son. I am the head football coach at Oklahoma State," Simmons said. "I base my decisions on what's best for the program, not what's best for my son."
"I'd like to think I'm open-minded with him as everybody else but at times he says I'm harder on him," he said. "I like to think I'm the other way."
TEXAS TECH (0-1, 0-0)
Next game vs. Southwestern Louisiana on Saturday
Rangers season opening loss to Tennessee, and he still has got the job after an idle week on the schedule.
"Ricky got most
of the snaps against Tennessee, and he's had a great week of practice," coach Spike Dykes said. "The thing that really impressed me was how well he blocked."
Dykes said he thought the entire team was getting better.
"I really think this team is going to be decent at some point," Dykes said. "The only way we could beat Tennessee was to play a perfect game, and we didn't."
"Now we can go play with the same lineup and play better," he said.
Next game vs. UCLA on Saturday
TEXAS(1-0,0-0)
The status of senior quarterback James Brown remained questionable for Saturday's game against UCLA because of a sprained ankle he suffered in the second quarter of Saturday's 48-14 victory against Rutgers.
"I saw James this morning (Monday) and he said it felt better, but I don't know what 'better' means," Texas coach John Mackovic said. "I'd say he's questionable, which means Richard (Walton) would get the start."
Walton replaced Brown against Rutgers and completed seven of 12 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown pass.
M&M (1) N. 0-0
Northwest
Next game:
Louisiana on Sept. 20
Coach R.C. Slocum elected to rotate quarterbacks Brandon
Stewart and Randy McCown against Sam Houston State, and he will continue the plan unless one clearly pulls ahead
"Based on this game, nothing has changed," Slocum said. "They both practiced well enough, and both have done well enough and deserved to play on a fairly even setting."
clearly pulls ahead.
"We said prior to the game we would look at the two or three series and see how the game was going and would likely give Randy a chance to play." he said.
"We did it by the seat of our pants throughout the game," he said.
BAYLOR (1-1, 0-0)
Baylor coach Dave Roberts was not able to participate in the conference call because of another engagement.
Next game vs. Michigan on Sept. 20
With just two weeks to close defensive gaps before the Bears
play at Michigan, Roberts was not celebrating Saturday's 37-28 victory against Fresno State.
"We're going to have to check some personnel," Roberts said in an interview after the game. "When they rush for 287 yards on you, there's got to be some better folks to play. We'll work on that this week."
There could be shuffing at the linebackers position now manned by middle linebacker Jody Littleton, weak-side linebacker Kenya Parker and strong-side linebacker Clarence Cruse.
Two players coming off suspension, defensive lineman Eric Clay and linebacker McKinley Bowie, could play against Michigan.
Big 12 Individual Leaders
Leading Rushers
Leading Rushers
Car Yds Avg Yds-pg
Hall, Texas A&M
Hall, Texas A&M
11 169 15.4 169.0
11 169 15.4 169.0 Parker.Oklahoma
FOBBS, Oklahoma State 43 302 7.0 151.0
48 317 6.6 158.5
Williams, Texas
19 155 8.2 155.0 Fobbs, Oklahoma State
Frost, Nebraska
11 123 11.2 123.0
Olive, Missouri 19. 105. 5.5. 105.0
12 116 9.7 116.0 Olive Missouri
Green, Nebraska
38 177 4.7 88.5
Bishop, Kansas State
9 99 11.0 99.0
Richard Kanee Stu
LeBoum, Neubrasa
5 79 15.8 79.0
Vann, Kansas
40 152 3.8 76.0
West, Missouri
22 76 3.5 76.0
Charles, Kansas State
11 73 6.6 73.0
C.Jones, Missouri
9 68 7.6 68.0
Leading Passers
Att Cp Yds Td Pts
Bishop, Kansas State
13 8 172 4 274.2
London, Nebraska
5 4 90 0 231.2
Wegner, Kansas
12 10 164 1 225.6
Hessler, Colorado
28 18 223 2 147.6
28 18 223 2 147.6
Walton, Texas
McCown, Texas A&M
Stewart, Texas A&M
12 8 110 0 143.7
12 7 111 1 146.9
Stewart Texas A&M
74 7 148 0 138.8 Bandhauer, IowaState
12 8 110 0 143.7
McCown Texas A&M
62 33 482 3 124.8 Lindsay, OklahomaState
20 13 127 0 118.3
Watson, Baylor
66 42 382 1 117.3
J.Brown, Texas
11 5 74 1 113.8
Lethridge, Texas Tech
24 15 170 0 113.7
Cherry, Texas
6 3 35 0 99.0
Frost, Nebraska
13 7 67 0 97.1
Fuente, Oklahoma
24 12 161 0 89.7