OUT WITH THE OLD...
After spending a majority of this season under the unblinking scrutiny of the media and fans, Cleveland Indians outfielder ALBERT BELLE has managed to steer clear of trouble.
Less than three months removed from the incident involving Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Fernando Vina, coaches and players say that Belle is changing his image.
Story on Page 5B
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
UPDATE
Thirteen Division I schools, including Big 12 Conference members BAYLOR and KANSAS STATE, received certification from the NCAA for their athletic programs.
The certification process is an evaluation done by the NCAA of all 305 Division I schools. It includes a self-evaluation by the athletic department and a review by an outside team.
FRIDAY. AUGUST 23,1996
The exhibition game between the CHIEFS and the CHICAGO BEARS last night was cancelled in the third quarter because of a severe thunderstorm.
CHIEFS UPDATE
The Chiefs were leading 14-10 with 4:20 left in the third quarter when referee Red Cashion sent the teams to the locker rooms.
"I'm glad they called
it," Chicago quarterback Erkf Kramer said. "The last thing I wanted to do was get lit up tonight. I think clear heads prevailed."
SECTION B
Dole's enthusiasm helps Kansas keep Roy Williams
KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Los Angeles Lakers offered Roy Williams a large contract to leave Kansas for the NBA team.
Jayhawk fans everywhere held their breath when the offer was made
a new years back, but not in Washington. Bob Dole, then the powerful Senate minority leader from Kansas, placed a call to Chancellor Gene Budig in Lawrence.
Roy Williams
"I don't know
who all he talked to. I don't know if he talked to Roy," said Budig. "But he expressed his strongest possible support for Roy. And that impacted in a very positive way."
Budig, who always was involved in athletics during his 13 years as chancellor, said it wasn't only the Lakers' offer that caught Dole's attention.
"There was speculation on several occasions about others being interested in Roy, and Sen. Dole always responded to me," Budig said. "The senator never lost his enthusiasm for college basketball."
Still coached by Williams, the Jayhawks will return every starter from last year and are expected to be at or near the top of all the preseason polls.
Hickson, who gained 81.6 yards in 158 carries last year, broke both
K-State's leading rusher breaks leg in scrimmage
MANHATTAN — Eric Hickson, the leading rusher last year for No. 21 Kansas State, is lost for the season after suffering a broken leg in a scrimmage, coach Bill Snyder said yesterday.
bones in his lower left leg Wednesday, Snyder said. Hickson, a junior, was injured when he
was tackled by teammate Nyle Wiren.
"It happened so fast that I didn't know what happened," Wiren said. "I hit him, and he came across and hit the ground. I just followed him down the line and tackled him."
Hickson's 816 yards last season were the sixth-most in Kansas State history. Mike Lawrence, Hickson's backup last year, likely will assume the starting position.
"Eric is a strong emotional leader for our team and will be sorely missed," Snyder said.
USTA redraws U.S. Open seedings after player fuss
NEW YORK — Protests by players forced the U.S. Tennis Association to redo the men's draw for next week's U.S. Open, believed to be a first for the tennis tournament.
The new draw was held yesterday at 3 p.m.
"After talking to players, agents and a variety of interested and informed people, we have decided to redo the draw, but not change any of the seedings," USTA president Les Snyder said.
On Wednesday, the tournament announced men's seedings that did not match tour rankings, drawing questions and anger from some players.
Thomas Muster of Austria was seeded third behind American Michael Chang, and favorite Andre Agassi of the United States was moved up one.
Some players apparently believed the seedings were done after the draw, which is a rule violation.
Big 12 football not so super
The Associated Press
Academic rules also toughened
Rv Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
It's been tabbed the Super Alliance, but some players and coaches are having a hard time figuring out what's so super about the Big 12 Conference.
The Big 8 Conference added former Southwest Conference teams Baylor, Texas, Texas Tech, and Texas A & M. Each team except for Baylor made a bowl game and they had a 7-4 record.
The glut of teams forced the conference to split into two divisions - the north, consisting
of the Big 8 schools minus Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and the south, consisting of the two Oklahoma schools and the four Texas-based teams.
Kansas plays all northern teams plus southern teams Oklahoma. Texas and Texas Tech.
Divisional play will culminate in the Big 12 championship game Dec. 7 at the TWA Dome in St. Louis. A few conference coaches question the championship game's importance.
"Was the Big 12 championship the best thing for us? No I don't feel that way," said Kansas State football coach Bill Snider.
The conference forced Snyder to change his teams' goals.
"People are always talking about getting to the next level. The next level for us has
always been to get a little bit better. But winning the conference championship is something we have to think about."
certainly pleased to be playing the other schools from the Southwest Conference," he said. "But I think the championship can reduce the conference's success. You could have two great teams but instead of playing in the big game, they'll have to play in the playoff. I don't necessarily think that's the best way."
Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said he was looking forward to the Big 12 but not the championship game.
Let's say Kansas and Texas A&M both go undefeated in their respective conferences. Theoretically, they could be ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country, but instead of playing in the national championship game, where the expected revenue could reach as high as $8 million per school, only the winner of the Big 12 championship game would get the alliance barth in.
Winning the championship is important because it is now the only way a team has a shot at the national championship.
The Big 12 championship is officially known as the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship with AT&T also being a major sponsor.
The conference will get six bowl berths overall.
Big 12 also introduced tougher academic standards that demand more than those set forth by the NCAA. The Big 12 states that recruits cannot attend prep school, take entrance exams after Aug. 1 following graduation from high school or be on scholarship as a non-qualifying student. Each school can
"I think there's a lot of potential, and we're
Kansas volleyball graduate assistant Jenny Larson spikes terderay. The team has been on a schedule of two practices a the ball during a team practice at Robinson Gymnasium yes- week.
Volleyball practice intense
Jayhawks work out six hours each day
After finishing a practice schedule that includes twice-a-day workouts for two weeks, the Kansas volleyball team still has its sense of humor.
By Adam Herschman Kansan sportswriter
After practice yesterday in Robinson Center, the Jayhawks tried to cool off when they walked to the orange
Kansas assistant coach Jan Madlock turned her back to the team about 20 feet away. Seconds later, several yelling and laughing Jayhawks, drenched in sweat after a three-hour practice in the hot and humid gymnasium, ran to give Madlock a hug.
Gatorade coolers to get a drink. The Gatorade coolers stood by one fan. This one fan was the only source of ventilation.
Madlock, who was a volleyball assistant coach at Iowa last year, said the Hawkeyes used to do the same thing.
Madlock, who has only been at Kansas for one week, is just starting to get a feel for the team, the program and the preseason workouts known as two-a-days.
"They don't have to worry about school or anything. They're here, and all they have to worry about is training," Madlock said. "We don't do tons of sprints. We're trying to prepare them. The intent is to get them ready as quickly as possible for competition."
See VOLLEYBALL. Page 8B
Board displays latest lowdown in intramurals
Students find game schedules standings and coming events
By Kerry Hillard
Kansan sports writer
One out of three isn't bad, but that isn't good enough for Jason Krone.
Krone, assistant director of recreation services, said that although 10,000 KU students participate in intramural sports, he wants them to realize that the program is for everyone.
"This is a program for all students; I want them to feel welcome." Krone said.
One of Krone's main goals is to increase awareness among female, residence hall and international students.
About 10 feet of neon-bordered bulletin board outside the recreation services office, 208 Robinson Center, is one way for students to be aware. This board is designed to attract attention and is one of the main information sites for students.
The board boasts what is coming up in the world of intramurals, what is under way and who is winning. Participants also can find their playing times on the board.
Scott Donner, Derby sophomore, has mixed emotions about what is posted on the board.
Teams nave to physically go and look on this bulletin board to get their schedule instead of just calling," Donner said. "It got to be a pain in the neck."
Krone said that with more than 200 teams participating in some of the intramural programs, calling the office for playing times was not a possibility.
Although Donner was frustrated that call-ins were not possible, he was impressed with the publicity of the intramural program.
"Last year we missed some managers' meetings because we didn't know the schedule," he said. "We've already received a schedule of all the fall sports this year."
The schedule, which is posted on the board, shows that flag football is just around the corner. Flag-football team managers will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in 115 Robinson Center.
At this meeting, team managers will receive a roster sheet and a list of possible playing times. Attendance at this meeting gives managers scheduling priority.
Managers in attendance will be able to sign up for playing times on Sept. 3 and 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Any manager who did not attend can sign up on Sept. 4 at 2 p.m.
Scheduling is on a first-come, first-served basis. Krone said that scheduling will be much easier for teams that have more than one possible playing time.
Tryouts muster players despite large roster
By Cameron Heeg Kansan staff reporter
Ongoing draft fills holes builds team competition
Enthused sums up how Kansas baseball coach Bobby Randall feels about what might come from trvouts this season.
With 36 members on the roster, it is arguable that the squad is large enough, but the prospect of acquiring more talent keeps Randall coming back for more recruits.
"In the tryouts, we are looking to increase
the talent level of our team," Randall said. "A recruiting philosophy is to keep recruiting more talented players than you currently have on the team. That's what we are looking for in recruits in this walk-on (trout)."
What will impress the coach at the tryouts are pitchers who have good velocity — about 85 mph — and position players who show good speed — running a 6.8-second 60-yard dash. These are the basic athletic skills used to find the best, but there are more ways to shine.
After the test for basic skills, potential players will be put in various baseball-playing situations to evaluate their individual abilities.
"I hope that anyone that is really interested
Second, Isaac Byrd, Josh Kleiner and Ted Meadows are gone.
in trying out at least come to the organizational meeting and find out what is going on." Randall said. "We had so many guys that showed up in December and said 'I want to play baseball.' If they really want to be a part of the baseball team, they need to begin now."
Although many new recruits have joined the team, the chances of making the squad aren't out of sight.
First, the Jayhawks lost three of their starting pitchers, including Josh Belovsky, who went 7-6 with a 4.93 ERA, and Clay Baird, who went 6-6 with 6.28 ERA.
Randall needs a large pool of players to replace the lost pitchers and star hitters. A large number of players also promotes strong competition for positions. It is this competitive drive that is essential to push players to step up and fill holes.
Third and fourth are injury concerns and the replacement next year of nine seniors.
With all the factors to consider, building and keeping a large squad is a positive step to staying competitive in a growing conference.
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"Somebody asks me, "What is your philosophy with big squid, small squids?" Randall said. "The size of the squad is not the deter-
See BASEBALL. Page 8B
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