UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, October 29, 1996
3B
Cowboys ready to round up NFC East teams, Super Bowl
The Associated Press
A scary thought for fans who love to hate America's Team: At midseason, the Dallas Cowboys are healthier and playing better than any NFL team, certainly well enough to win their fourth Super Bowl in five seasons.
The only good news for Cowboy-haters: first they have to win the NFC East, where they trail Washington and Philadelphia.
A look at the NFL at midseason:
NFC
Basically, it's eight teams vying for six playoffs spots with three — Minnesota, Detroit and Carolina — shaky at best.
East: Three playoff teams here — Redskins (7-1), Eagles (6-2) and Cowboys (5-3). Washington is looking better and better — the Redskins' 31-16 win against Indianapolis demonstrated they can beat winning teams and the offense is turning into one of the NFL's best behind the "New Hogs" up front.
Philadelphia may have found its
quarterback inadvertently — Ty Detmer threw for 342 yards against Carolina. The defense is solid and Ray Rhodes won't let his teams lose. But Dellas is still the big boy.
But Dallas is still the big boy.
"We played back to the way we can," Emmitt Smith said after the 29-10 win against Miami in the JJ-JJ mano a mano, a game in which Michael Irvin was truly back with 12 catches for 186 yards.
Central: Green Bay (7-1) will probably win the division despite the loss now of its two ton receivers
probably win the division despite the loss now of its two top receivers — Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman, who broke his arm Sunday in the ugly 13-7 win against Tampa Bay. But the Packers want home field for the playoffs and they still have a tough road trip that includes back-to-back games in Kansas City and Dallas.
They'll probably go to two tight ends (and they have them in Keith Jackson and Mark Chmura). They also have to hope that Don Beebe, Desmond Howard and rookie Derrick Mayes can respond, that Terry Mickens gets healthy quickly and Anthony Morgan finally re-signs.
West: San Francisco (6-2) is the class here because its defense may be the NFL's best, a strange thing to say about a team in which the offensive guys have always had the glamour.
The 49ers also know how to win. How else to explain a 10-9 victory against a tough Houston team with Jeff Brohm at quarterback and the offensive line hurt?
Carolina (5-3) could make the playoffs, a remarkable feat for a second-year expansion team. But the Panthers have to learn to win on the road to make any real noise — they're 4-0 at home, 1-3 away.
AFC
Denver is beginning to look like the class of the conference, although Pittsburgh remains solid.
East: New England is playing better than the other two 5-3 teams — the Colts and the Bills.
"I'm not sure about this team," said Patriots coach Bill Parcas. When he said that in New York, it meant he was about to win a Super Bowl.
The Pats aren't likely to do that.
but Drew Bledsoe seems back on course. Terry Glenn may be the best rookie wide receiver in the league. The defense is showing signs of playing the way wants it to.
Central: Pittsburgh (6-2) and Houston (5-3) are playoff teams and the Steelers have a schedule so easy they could be home for the AFC title game — they might not meet a team with a winning record again until they are home against the 49ers on Dec.15.
Houston's no fluke. For once, Bud Adams made a shrewd move by announcing they'll stay in Texas another year. Maybe they'll have a home field now.
West: It wasn't a surprise that Denver (7-1) beat Kansas City at Mile High Stadium on Sunday. It was a surprise that the score was 34-7 and that the Broncos were one yard short of 500 yards against the Chiefs' defense.
Kansas City (5-3) will rebound — Marty Schottenheimer teams always do. They also seem to lose in the playoffs, which is likely to happen again this season.
Gubicza traded to California; Royals sign designated hitter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals traded right-handed pitcher Mark Gubica, who was the last active player from the 1985 championship team, to California yesterday for designated hitter Chili Davis.
"We're excite to bring in a player the caliber of Chili Davis," said Herk Robinson, Royals
executive vice president and general manager. "He has been very productive throughout his career and will fit nicely in the middle of our lineum.
"I have nothing but positive things to say about Mark Gubicza," Robinson said. "He's been a valuable part of our organization for many years and we
wish him nothing but the best."
Gubicza, 34, has been with Kansas City since 1981, when he was picked in the free agent draft. Gubicza had a 4-12 record for the Royals in 1996, going out for the season on July 5 when a line drive hit and fractured his left tibia, the larger bone in his leg.
Gubicza had two complete games, one shutout and a 5.13 ERA before he was hurt. In 1997, he was to start the second of a two-year
contract with the Royals.
"It was a tough decision for me to make," said Gubicza, who could have vetoed the trade.
"But I told Herk that if he could improve the ballclub by trading me, I wouldn't stop that. I believe the Royals helped themselves by acquiring Chili," he said.
"The fans in Kansas City have treated me great. I always gave my best and I think they appreciated that," Gubicza said. "The organization has been good to me and I always will feel a part of the Kansas City Royals."
Gubicza has spent all 13 years of his big league career with the Royals and has a 132-135 lifetime record and a 3.91 ERA.
In 1989, he had a 20-8 record and a 2.70 ERA.
He was a two-time All-Star.
Davis, 36, spent seven of his 16 major league seasons with the Angels. He has been with the Angels for the past four years, rejoining them after a three-year stint with the club. He hit 292 this season with 28 homers and 95 RBI.
A three-time All-Star, he ranks second on the Angels' all-time list with 156 career homers and 618 RBI.
Davis was a member of the NL West champion San Francisco Giants in 1987 and World Series champions Minnesota Twins in 1991.
The trade for Davis also included minor-league pitcher Mike Bovee. Bovee, 23, posted a 10-11 record and a 4.84 ERA in 27 starts.
Continued from Page 1B
FOOTBALL
dard regarding athletes and their off-the-field problems.
"If June Henley would have won the Heisman Trophy or the Nobel Peace Prize or run into a burning house and saved 11 kids, nobody would have called my house at 3 a.m and told me about it. But this happens and...," Mason said, shaking his head.
"Is it realistic to think that June Henley will never drink alcohol again? No," Mason said. "My goal is I hope he'll never drink alcohol and drive again."
Mason said he hoped this experience had taught Henley a lesson.
*Henley may be out but senior quarterback Ben Rutz is in — for now. Mason said yesterday that Rutz would start on Saturday against Iowa State.*
"Right now, I'd put Rutz in at quarterback," Mason said. "We put him in a difficult situation up there (in Nebraska) and he played well."
Senior offensive lineman Scott Whittaker said he was comfortable with any change.
"Rutz does have more football knowledge," he said. "But I think Johner does a good job. He just doesn't take control as much."
Mason said linebacker Jason Thoren, who sat out against Nebraska will play against Iowa State.
Senior tight end Jim Moore suffered a concussion and running back Eric Galbreath has an injured knee.
Dallas and Miami coaches play out their football feud
The Associated Press
MIAMI — Jerry Jones is happy that there's closure to his personal feud with Jimmy Johnson.
The idea of Octave two minutes left in Dallas' 29-10 win against Johnson's Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Jones was standing by Switzer and Deion Sanders on the sideline celebrating a sure victory.
If Barry Switzer had listened to Jones in the heat of battle, however, there might not be.
But Jones wasn't satisfied. With the ball at the Miami 7-yard-line, he suggested to Switzer that he add another touchdown — not to rub it in, you understand — just to punctuate the victory against the man who built the Cowbys and won two Super Bowls with them.
The heat of battle came with
"Jerry wanted to score another touchdown," Sanders said. "Barry said no, let's get it over with. We don't want to get anyone hurt, and I think that's the right way to play it, too."
Switzer put it the way Johnson might have.
"I'm the coach, he's the owner. I make the decisions on the field," said the man who's normally flexible enough to follow his boss' orders.
But the Composition by the Ocean was mostly an anticlimax.
As Johnson pointed out before the game, the Cowboys have the better players. Miami, after all, starts six rookies.
It showed on Sunday. Troy Aik man threw for 359 yards, Michael Irwin caught 12 passes for 186 and Dallas dominated. Even when the Dolphins led 10-6 and then 10-9 at the half, there was a feeling of inevitability about the Cowboys, particularly on offense.
"It was by far the best game we played this season," said Switzer,
a statement echoed by Aikman,
Emmitt Smith, Irvin and just
about any Cowboy who had any-
thing to say.
But Jones' emotion almost ran away with him because he wanted so much to defeat Johnson, the man with whom he split over just what happened on Sunday. Too often Jerry wanted to be coach as well as owner, and Johnson wanted no part of it.
"When I woke up this morning, I really felt nervous, like before a playoff game or even a Super Bowl game," Jones said. "I know it's pressure I put on myself, but it was there."
That, undoubtedly was what made him want to run up the score. At least one of
his players, the unpredictable Charles Haley, wanted the same thing.
He wanted to run up the score as much as he could because Jones deserves it, Haley said.
Other NFL coaches might agree, and they also agree that running up the score isn't done in the NFL, where victories, not voters, count. There are no polls that depend on margin of victory. Coaching is a fraternity, which is one reason teams usually were more enthusiastic when playing opponents coached by Buddy Ryan or Jerry Glanville — Ryan and Glanville rubbed it in when they could.
Despite his college background and his habit of comparing NFL opponents with Iowa State or Nebraska, Switzer knows that.
"It was closure," Jones said in the calm after the storm.
Upon further review, as they used to say in the instant replay days, so does Jones.
"I think we've got all the stuff behind us now. We can go on with the Dallas Cowboys and Jimmy can go on with the Miami Dolphins."
Thank Barry Switzer for that.
STUDENT TRAVEL
- Student Airfares
STA Travel is the world's largest travel organization specializing in low-cost travel for students.
- Domestic Discounts
- ID Cards &
- Eurail Passes
Hostel Membership
- Spring Break
- Travel Insurance
PSST! Going somewhere else? STA Travel has great student airfares to destinations around the world.
- Around the World
- Packages for 18-34 yrs.
STA TRAVEL We've been there
800-777-0112
www.sta-travel.com
I have proven my
commitment to Douglas County and our future
- Chairperson of rural land use sub group of Horizon 2020
- President of Douglas County Preservation Alliance
- Leadership in Coalition to preserve the Wetlands
- Teacher for 20 years and Director of LHS Writing Center
I have spent my life teaching and listening to young people. I have worked to promote responsible development and environmental protection.I ask for your support in the Nov. 5 election.
Pol. Adv. Paid for by Bev Worster Campaign • Dennis Rorabaugh, Treasurer
SOLID OAK
$109
Twin
Complete Kitten
Complete Futon and Frame
STEEL FUTON
OAK
SAR $149
FULL Complete Futon and Frame
$179 COMPLETE
Compose to Red
Converts to Bed
QUEEN $179
Complete Futon and Frame
642-8500
8871 W. 95th
OP KS (95th & Ancho)
Only at
649-4700
9039 Metcalf
OP KS
756-5300
3912 Broadway
KCMO
913/843-8222
1023 Massachusetts
Lawrence KS
The quality health care you expect.
M. D., Univ. of Kansas, 1982 Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, KUMC Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Patricia M. Denning
864-9500
Board certification means they've had additional training in a specialty area and passed a comprehensive examination. Areas of specialty training include internal medicine, family practice, gynecology, emergency
With health care that students can count on we expect you'll like it here.
At Watkins you always know what to expect- 10 board-certified physicians to help you with your health concerns in a personal, caring manner.
//www.ukans.edu/home/watkins
medicine, and pulmonary disease.
Luis "The Duke" Cordova
October 29th,1996 7pm, Kansas Room, Union
School of Social Welfare
STUDENT
SENATE
For more information contact the Center For Community Outreach · 864-4073
928 Mass.
Downtown
Burroughs Film Fest
STUDENT UNION ACTIVITIES
SUA FILMS
Burroughs the movie
Tues. Oct. 29, 9:30p.m.
Short Beats: A Compilation of Short Films
By or about Beatlines
Wed. Oct 30,...7:00.m.
Thurs. Oct, 31...7:00
PRE PRIZE AT EACH SCREENING
DUGSTORE COWBOY
Tues. Oct. 29 7:00pm.
Wed. Oct 30 7:00pm.
Thurs. Oct 31 7:00pm.
This Spectrum Film event is cosponsored by the KU Film Department, the KU Bookstore, Harmonic Arts, and the Love Garden
ALL SHOWS IN WOODRUFF AUDITORUM
Tickets $2.50 for regular shows $3.00 for mi
nage or FREE WITH SUA MOVIE CARD