THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Inside Sports
Sports
Monday August 25,1997
Oklahoma was the first Big 12 Conference team to play this season. The Sooners lost 24-0 to Northwestern in the Pigskin Classic. Page 4B
Pro Baseball
Section:
The Kansas City Royals lost 11-8 to the Toronto Blue Jays in 13 innings at Kauffman Stadium.
SEE PAGE 5B
Pro Football
Page 1
NFL teams cut their rosters to 53 players in preparation for the first week of regular season games.
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Contact the Kansan
SEE PAGE 6B
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Ready or not, answers blow in Kansas wind for'97 football
New coach urges involvement of fans
turf of Memorial Stadium.
Ready or not, college football is here. It arrived at the University of Kansas yesterday afternoon on the artificial turf of Memorial Sta-
The second annual "Get Ready Rally" introduced the 1997 Kansas football players and coaches to KU students, the Lawrence community and anyone who cared to wander into the steamy stadium.
Kristie Blasi
spots@kansan.com
The team that was introduced has been described as "transitional" by first-year
coach Terry Allen. No rebuilding happens on this campus. We have transition
Maybe it took so long to rebuild Budig Hall because it was in transition. But all indications point to a speedier recovery for a functioning football team.
Regardless of the terminology, it is a new era of Kansas football.
new era of Kansas football. During his introduction of Allen, Chancellor Robert Hemenway mentioned several things that would happen in the new era. The first was the $32 million renovation of Memorial Stadium that will begin after the last home game this season — the Nov. 1 homecoming matchup against Iowa State.
Others put on waivers were defensive tackle Brentson Buckner, offensive tackle Pete Swanson and safety Vann Washington, the Chiefs announced yesterday.
And while all of these changes will help usher in the new era next season, there are plenty of changes for this season.
Hemenway joked that the renovation would make getting a Coke at the games easy and that fans would be able to use the rest room at the stadium next season.
Before the six home football games, the players will walk from the Campanile to the locker room about an hour and 20 minutes before kickoff. Allen encouraged fans at the rally to greet the team on Campanile Hill for the walk before Thursday night's game against Alabama-Birmingham. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. under the lights, so the team is scheduled to stroll down the hill at about 5:40 p.m.
The identity and characteristics of the new era in Kansas football will be unknown until this inaugural season ends. But Allen and the Jayhawks only will get one chance to make a first impression on the field.
Ready or not, Kansas football debuts Thursday night.
The reputation of Kansas football fans preceded Terry Allen. It seems he has heard the fans sit on their hands. And he alluded that fans also tend to use a different scoreboard indicator than the game clock to decide when to leave the stadium.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Kansas teammates June Henley and Isaac Byd were among five players cut yesterday as the Kansas City Chiefs reduced their roster to the NFL maximum of 53.
Blasi is a Caney senior in journalism and is the sports editor.
Chiefs release former 'Hawks Henley, Byrd
Henley, a rookie running back, seemed likely to make the club after the Chiefs released former Kansas State Wildcat J.J. Smith. Henley is the all-time leading rusher at Kansas. Byrd and Henley were teammates at Kansas the last four years. Byrd was No. 4 on the Jayhawks' all-time receptions list.
The Associated Press
Fans, players huddle on Hill
Team likes crowd support
By Kelly Cannon
kcannon@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Derrick Chandler, senior offensive tackle, chats with 4-year-old Connor Cape, Lenexa. Signing autographs was one or the many events at the "Get Ready Rally" at Memorial Stadium yesterday. Photo by Kyan Calender / KANSAN
Football fans had a chance to meet Kansas coaches and players up front and in person yesterday afternoon at the second annual "Get Ready Rally" at Memorial Stadium.
"We will start the $32 million renovations at the end of this season." Hemenway said. "We have a
The first 1,500 people received a ticket for free food and drink, courtesy of the "Lawrence Journal-World" and other local sponsors.
"The 1,500 food tickets went in about five minutes, and there were still people lined up on the hill," said Rick Mullen, promotions director.
football team that is worth $32 million of investment because that is how good they are. We didn't pay the coach $32 million, but we got a coach that is worth that much."
He estimated that nearly 4,000 people attended — twice as many as last year.
"We built on last year and had a much busier event this year," Mullen said.
The event lasted from 3 to 6 p.m.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway
 addressed the fans and spoke about
Kansas coach Terry Allen stressed that this is a Allen: Says this year is one of transition for Kansas.
new year for Kansas.
"Right now, we are in transition time, not rebuilding, and we really need your support," Allen said. "We are in the same position that we were in two years ago, where we have the chance to sneak up on some teams."
See Chancellor on page 3B
Amy Dyksterhuis, senior midfielder, dives for a ball in Friday's scrimmage at Super Target Field. The women's soccer team travels on Friday to Eastern Illinois for the season opener. Photo by Geoff Krieger / KAN$AN
Many goals set for soccer team
By Geoff Krieger
Goalies fighting injuries, sickness
With the season opener just four days away, the Kansas soccer team has several unanswered questions, including the starting goaltender position.
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas soccer coach Dan Magner evaluated the team during an intra-squad game Friday at Super Target Field west of Oliver Hall.
The game was originally scheduled at Shawnee Heights High School in Topeka. But Kansas officials learned Friday morning that there was an NCAA regulation that prohibits preseason games from being played off campus. So the Jayhawks' three goaltenders competed for the starting role on familiar turf.
"We have faith in all three of our goakekeepers," Magner said. "Jen is really the incumbent. She was the starter last year, and I would say she is somewhat of a front runner right now."
Magner said Jennifer Fecke, sophomore goaltender, was the favorite to start in the season opener Friday against Illinois State
Fecke has not been in the best of health recently. She has had a nagging knee injury and an upper respiratory infection during the past week that has given her flu-like symptoms.
"Getting to the Big 12 tournament is at the top of our team's goals. I believe this year we have the potential."
kansas soccer coach
One backup goaltender has been hit by similar bad luck.
Magner said Katie Garrity, freshman, has had mononucleosis and will be out for the rest of the season.
Magner said Betsy Pollard, sophomore goaltender, the backup goalie from last year, had been effective during two scrimmages.
Those scrimmages gave Magner a chance to see his team in action. And though he said he hadn't made any decisions on starters or even who to keep on the roster, he does have a good idea where the team stands.
"At this point, when we look at day one to right now, we see vast improvement," Magner said. "As time goes by, the comfort level of the kids gets stronger and stronger."
"Getting to the Big 12 tournament is at the top of our team's goals," he said. "I believe this year we have the potential."
Magner has plenty of ideas for the team this season, and he has no problem setting the sights high.
Roy Williams pleased to have Earl released from old school
Kansan staff report
for eligibility purposes.
The University of Kansas announced Friday that Lester Earl would be eligible to play for the Jayhawks in the Dec. 20 game against Texas Christian in Kansas City, Mo. He will be classified as a junior
"We are very happy for Lester that this has happened." Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "Hopefully, this has brought some closure to his situation."
A steering committee for the Collegiate Commissioners Association granted Earl a mutual release from the letter of intent he had signed with Louisiana State.
Earl: Forward has been cleared to play beginning Dec 20 against TCU
The 6-foot-8 forward transferred to Kansas in January after averaging 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 11 games for the Tigers. The former high school All-American will practice with the Jayhawks when they begin drills Oct. 18 at "Late Night with Row Williams."
Earl also practiced with the team last season after he enrolled in January.
Including the TCU game, Earl will be eligible to play in five games — all of which are on the road — before the Big 12 Conference opener against Nebraska on Jan. 3 at Allen Field House.
"We have been asked once or twice about Lester's situation since he arrived in January, so now maybe they can change those signs in Allen Field House from 'Free Lester' to 'Lester Freed,' Williams said jokingly. "In all seriousness, this has been a difficult time for Lester, and we are relieved that this period has ended for him."
Earl appealed LSU's refusal to release him in a letter to the association's steering committee. The committee met at the end of last week and informed Earl of its decision regarding his appeal.
Student-athletes may appeal a school's refusal to release them from letters of intent. The letter of intent requires a student-athlete to complete a year of residency at the school, which in Earl's case is LSU. The student-athletes sign the letters while they are seniors in high school.
The appeal process involves a letter from the student-athlete explaining his or her case and reasons for not completing the year of residency.
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