WE'RESORRY
west Virginia University President DAVID HARDESTY will extend a formal apology to the University of Miami for the way Mountaineers fans acted toward Hurricanes players and coaches during Saturday night's game.
Miami linebackers coach Randy Shannon
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
sustained a bruise when struck by a plastic trash can hurled from the stands after the game at sold-out Mountain field. Miami players also said they were pelted with objects during warm-ups.
HENLEY'S MILESTONES
Kansas senior running back JUNE HENLEY is 506 yards behind Tony Sands (1988-91) on for first in the Kansas career rushing list. In six games, Henley is averaging 131.7 yards per
game. Henley is first on the Kansas all-time list for career touchdowns and career all-purpose yards.
WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 30,1996
WILL HE STAY?
Everyone keeps asking, but ARCHIE MANNING says only his son Peyton knows the answer.
Will the Tennessee junior quarterback jump to the NFL next season? Not even
Peyton Manning
from snapped him into her
She snuggled up to her son
Sunday to ask him the question,
Archie told the Knoxville
Quarterback Club. "Do you
have anything you want to
tell us?" she asked.
"Boy, it's great to beat Alabama," Peyton responded, reflecting on the 20-13 victory Saturday instead of the future.
SECTION B
Kansas men's golf coach receives coaching honors
Men's golf coach Ross Randall has been named the 1995-96 NCAA District V Coach of the Year.
The honor was Randall's fourth major award in the last seven years. He was District V Coach of the Year in 1993 and earned Big Eight Coach of the Year.
the real honors in 1989 and 1993.
1983 Randall, in his 18th season, said the award was a product of time and
effort by the coaching staff and his players.
"I think this award is a reflection of the quality of the players," he said. "They have done a good job and we've experienced success the last four years."
The Jayhawks have played in four fall-season tournaments during the past month. The team will finish the fall season Nov. 8-10 at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif.
"What I was doing was only fighting back," Frazier said. "That's the whole story; I was fighting back. Just like when the bell rings. A man calls you all kinds of names, what are you suppose to do? Stand up and take it on the chin? No. I had to fight back."
-Kansan staff report
Cleveland Indians name new director of scouting
MacPhail, 27, is the grandson of Lee MacPhail. His was AL president from 1974-83. His was grandfather, Larry, was general manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1930s and '40s.
CLEVELAND — Lee MacPhail, the nephew of Chicago Cubs president Andy MacPhail, was hired yesterday as the Cleveland Indians director of scouting. He replaced Jay Robertson, who had held the post since 1993.
The Indians also hired John Byrmes as assistant director of scouting. Robertson will stay on with the Indians as a scout.
Joe Frazier, in a bid to end decades of feuding between the two former heavyweight champions, extended an plive branch to Muhammad Ali yesterday.
"It's about time to bring it to an end. I don't feel that I'm too big; I can't say I'm sorry," Frazier said of the bickerling that has continued between the pair since the last of their three epic bouts, the *Thrilla in Manila* on Oct. 1, 1975. "I will willing to say I'm sorry if I said anything to hurt you.
"We got to do it — before we all close our eyes — because I want to see him in heaven," the 52-year-old Frazier said of All, 54, who is stricken with Parkinson's disease.
MacPhail comes to the Indians from the Texas Rangers, where he served as assistant to the general manager. He worked for the Baltimore Orioles from 1989-95.
Frazier's conciliatory words clash with the rancorous remarks he made in his recent autobiography. In the book Smokin' Joe, he wrote of All: "Truth is, I'd like to rumble with that sucker again — beat him up piece by piece and mail him back to Jesus."
And in a recent Sports illustrated article, he said of watching All light the Olympic flame: "It would have been a good thing if he would have lit the torch and fallen in. If I had the chance, I would have pushed him in."
Joe Frazier extends new peace to Muhammad Ali
Morale low for KU football
Confidence drops with team's record
—The Associated Press
Kansas junior running back Erik Vann reacts to the final score at the Kansas-Nebraska game. Vann replaced June Henley in Saturday's game and rushed for 22 yards on 10 carries.
By Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
"It's probably not very good," Kansas coach Glen Mason said. "We've won and we've not played very well, nure and simple."
Three straight losses, a bowl bid slipping out of reach and senior June Henley's off-the-field problems have left the Jayhawks with a confidence problem.
Kansas offensive coordinator Golden Pat Ruel said he didn't expect the Jayhawks confidence to be high after Saturday's 63-7 loss to Nebraska in Lincoln.
"We're in a regrouping stage right now," he said. "I don't think our confidence is exactly high. There are not many people that have come out of that situation and said, 'We're really confident.' It's a tough place to play."
Senior offensive tackle Scott Whittaker said it was more than a confidence problem. He said the team didn't compare with last year's 10-2, Aloha Bowl championship team.
"We've won and we've not played very well, pure and simple."
"What it all comes down to is
Steve Puode / KANSAN
Glen Mason Kansas football coach
we're not a good team," he said. "I'll take some of that responsibility as a senior. I don't think our seniors have done as good a job of getting the team together. Lately our defense has been playing fine, but the offense has gone off the deep end."
"We've been through a couple of losses that have been difficult," he said. "We've got to get ready for the next battle. We're challenging ourselves right now."
But Ruel said this was not the time of year for Kansas to start feeling sorry for itself.
Ruel said the Jayhawks had to build on what things they had done well in the season to regain their confidence.
confidence Kansas will play Iowa State at 1 p.m. Saturday in Ames, Iowa. The Jayhawks are 20-4 against non-ranked teams in their last 24 games. The Jayhawks, 3-4 overall, 1-3 Big 12 Conference, need six wins to
qualify for a bowl bid. Ruel said the Iowa State game was as big a game as the Jayhawks would play this season.
When the Jayhawks do play the Cyclones they will do it with senior Ben Rutz as quarterback. Mason
named Rutz his starter on Monday.
"He earned the No. 1 spot in the spring, then he got hurt," Ruel said. "It's kind of like a jump start. Johner's not performed poorly. ... Ben has done some good things, and we're given him an oop-
tunity. He deserves it."
When asked to compare Johner and Rutz, Ruel said whoever the starter was, they would be measure by one thing.
Kansas tops Big 12 poll
“Results.” Ruel said. “Results is what it comes down to, period.”
Jayhawks also win individual awards
Kansan staff report
The Big 12 Conference released its first preseason men's basketball media poll, and Kansas was the voters' choice to be the conference's inaugural champions.
The Jayhawks were first with 573 points, followed by Texas and Iowa State. Oklahoma State and Missouri rounded out the top five.
The Big 12 also announced several preseason individual awards. Kansas senior guard Jacque Vaughn was chosen as the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year. Vaughn beat Iowa State senior guard Dedric Willoughby by two votes.
Jacque Vaughn
Vaughn and Willoughby were joined on the Big 12 first team by Texas senior guard Reggie Freeman, Kansas junior
forward Raef LaFrentz and Colorado sophomore guard Chaucey Billups.
Kansas sophomore forward Paul Pierce made the second team. Kansas senior guard Jerod Haase and senior center Scot Pollard were selected as honorable mentions.
Oklahoma State guard Desmond Mason was selected as the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Another Cowboy freshman guard, Joe Adkins, finished one vote behind Mason.
Oklahoma junior forward Lou Moore was picked as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Women's basketball prepares for mission to remain on top for first Big 12 season
Jennifer Trapp, senior forward, grabs a rebound from Heather Fletcher, freshman forward/center, during a scrimage in Allen Field House. Looking on is Erin Reed, junior guard. Kansas tied for first with Texas Tech in the Big 12 Conference media poll.
Geoff Krleger / KANSAN
Adam Herschman
Kansan sportswriter
Tamecke Dixon said the Kansas women's basketball team was on a mission this season.
Dixon said the team's goals, besides reaching the Final Four, were to win the Big 12 Conference title and the conference tournament.
"We're on a mission to do what we've never done before, which is to go to the Final Four," the Kansas senior point guard said.
The Jayhawks' slogan this season is: "On a mission." "I think that slogan just defines what we want to do," Dixon said.
The Jayhawks' slogan this season is: "On a mission."
The team's seniors selected the slogan.
"We have five seniors this year, they're all taking a big role," Kansas sophomore forward/guard Suzi Raymant said. "I think we're going to do better than last year."
The Jayhawks won the last Big Eight title and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time last season.
"We know we have the potential to be a really good team," Kansas senior forward Jennifer Trapp said. "Not only do we know we have the potential, we know we can achieve that potential, and I think that has come at a very early stage compared to last year."
Despite the lofty goals, the team does not feel pressured by coach Marian Washington.
"Coach never puts a whole lot of pressure on us in terms of winning the Big 12 or the Final Four." Trapp said.
Kansas tied Texas Tech for first place in the inaugural Big 12 women's basketball media poll for the 1996-97 season.
Dixon said that last year Kansas had been an underdog but that teams would be watching the Jayhawks closely this year.
"If people are successful against us, that looks good on their record," Dixon said. "It's more pressure on us, but I think we're ready to handle it."
READER'S OPINION
One horrible fan offers his rebuttal
Editor's note: This letter is in response to Scott Whittaker's comments at Monday's press conference which include — "We don't have good fans. We have horrible fans. ... They just don't know when to cheer. ... We have a fourth-and-one, and we're going for it, and the fans are cheering, and our band's playing. They just don't know when to cheer. They're basketball fans."
Open letter to Scott Whittaker:
I assume your intentions were innocent enough. Give us stupid football fans a couple guidelines for football-cheering protocol, and remind me that you and your comrades need our vociferous support. Please forgive us for being a bit overanxious; we are sorry that we cheered at the wrong times and disturbed your snap count. I hope you will forgive us if we are all silent in two weeks. Instead of the fans, let me take issue with your football team, Mr. Whitaker. First of all, cheering is usually required for a high-quality product. If I were you, I'd be happy 44,000 fans even show up to see your sorry football team.
I understand it's hard not to show up when Bob Frederick and Glen Mason schedule such exciting nonconference games as Cincinnati and Ball State. Call me fickle if you will, but I would actually like to see you guys play one exciting nonconference team. Secondly, you guys just lost to Nebraska by 56 points. That's an embarrassment to this institution; no team should be 56 points better than you people. If you could even beat anybody by one point, we'd consider redefining our roles as fans. You beat Ball State, Oklahoma and TCU. Am I leaving anyone out?... I doubt it. Well, Scott, that's pretty impressive. Those are some good teams, and you should be proud. So, I suppose what I'm trying to say is that you should stop pointing that fat finger of yours at the fans and point it at your football team. You guys are pathetic and embarrassing, you are offensively nept, and your defense is obviously below par.
I've seen a strong wind slow down an offense better than they did last Saturday night. Get over it, Scott. Do us all a favor and transfer. In fact, take the whole team with you. I am personally going to relish the romps that will occur at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 9 and 16, and believe me, I won't be cheering for you, and you'll be lucky if anybody short of the schmuck with the microphone on the sidelines does.
C
Phillip Legg Oklahoma City senior