FOOTBALL Big 12 preview, Page 2. NBA Charles Barkley may be blasting off to Houston, Page 10.
SPORTS ERSITY DAILY KANS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 1996
A sporting summer preludes Fall action
Welcome back.
If you're like me, and I know you are, you spent your Coca-Cola sponsored summer plopped in front of the TV watching everything from baseball pitchers with cooked linguine arms to Kerri Strug's re-enactment (gymnastics style) of Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series heroics.
So after a summer of channel surfing I've got a few ideas I want to kick around.
Enough of this hogwash that baseballs are juiced and the bats corked (with the
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FOOTBALL
exception of slugger Chris Sabo). The only aspect of baseball that's causing the hitters to have dream seasons is the shortcomings of pitches. Since expansion has watered down Major League Baseball, sub-par pitchers who boast an ERA in the eight range
SPORTS EDITOR
can safely find a home.
Pitching has sunk to such a low that guys with .500 seconds and a 4.80 ERA are selected to the all-star game. It's time to stop rewarding mediocrity and make the pitching mound higher and expand the strike zone.
What makes the Jayhawks' task to repeat in the top ten so difficult is the fact they must do it with an unhealthy and unproven quarterback. Ben Rutz is coming back from a knee surgery that hasn't been too kind for other quarterbacks. Two words: Randall Cunningham.
This season will certainly be an uphill battle for the Jayhawk football team. Playing in the north division of the Big 12 Conference, Kansas will square off against eight conference foes — one more than previous seasons. Sorry, no more North Texas or UAB to kick around.
But if Rutz's rehab is successful, don't forget this is the same guy who was second on the Nebraska depth chart his freshman year, behind Tommie Frazier and ahead of Brook Berringer.
The key for Kansas this year is the same as last season — defense. With hosses like Kevin Kopp, Jason Thoren, Dan Dercher and Ronnie Ward, the defense will hold its own. But without a quarterback who can keep the offense on the field longer than three snaps at a time, the Jayhawk defense will be in trouble. My prediction, if Rutz stays healthy, 8-3; with an unheated Rutz or another key injury, 5-6.
Was anyone surprised when Lawrence Phillips got busted for driving under the influence, ruining his parole status, but was able somehow to get off scot-free?
Once a Husker. always a Husker.
God bless America. What other country could stay tuned into gymnastics despite the monoric chinning-in of talentless John Tesh? His commentary is as bad as his music.
here's a thought that you Chicago-ins, Schaumburg-ites and Naperville-ers may not like: all of this talk about the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls being the greatest team ever assembled is ludicrous. How can anyone say with a straight face that the greatest NBA team ever has Luc Longley as its starting center. If you take away five inches from this blunder from down under, the closest he'll ever come to stardom is as an extra in Crocodile Dundee.
So who is the greatest ever? you ask.
Take a look at the 1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers. Magic, Worthy, A.C. Green and Byron Scott match up with Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Ron Harper, with a slight advantage going to the Bulls. But comparing Kareem to Longley is like comparing T-Bone steals to Spam.
What was Albert Belle's intention of announcing that he might retire a day after he got booed out of Veterans Stadium in all-star game? Did he feel that he might evoke fear among baseball fans, scared that they might have to face a season without his shoulder-dropping, sexual harassing, child-threatening and fan-abusing antics?
Kansas football head coach Glen Mason leaves the field following the Jayhawks' 41-7 loss to Kansas State on Oct. 28 in Manhattan. Mason has high hopes for this season's squad.
Staff Photographer / KANBAN
Marching into a tough season
By Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
For years, there was only one way the Kansas football team could go — up. But this year, prognosticators are saying the only way the Javahawks can go is down.
That's the nature of the game when a team turns in one of the most improbable seasons in team history and exceeds all expectations. The 1995 Jayhawk football team will be a tough act to follow, but players and coaches believe it can be done.
Last year, the Kansas football team and coach Glen Mason enjoyed their greatest season since 1968 with a 10-2 record and a second-place finish in the defunct Big Eight Conference. The Jayhawks capped off the season with a 51-30 win against UCLA in the Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl and finished nationally ranked in the top
10 for the first time since 1968
But last year is history.
"We can be awfully proud of what we accomplish last year but it doesn't mean a whole lot once this year starts," junior defensive tackle Dewey Houston said. "What we have to take from last year is the feeling we got from winning."
Kansas returns 14 starters, seven on each side of the ball, to a team ranked No.24 in the preseason Associated Press poll and was picked sixth in the Big 12 media poll.
The Jayhawks start the inaugural season of the Big 12 Conference in the North division with Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri and Nebraska. They will play South division teams Texas and Texas Tech, but have dropped Oklahoma State from the schedule for the first time in 50 years.
Kansas lost 13 lettermen, with the biggest loss coming at quarterback. Mark Williams passed for 1,937 yards with 14 touchdowns and was the MVP of the Aloha Bowl. He will be replaced by senior Ben Rutz who, like Williams last year, is an unproven commodity. He has played just 14 games in four years while completing 15 of 30 pass attempts. His health also is a question. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while at Nebraska in 1992 and tore the ACL in his left knee in April during spring drills.
Rutz will be protected by an offensive line that returns a letter winner at every position and averages 6-5 and 294 pounds. The line is anchored by senior tackle Scott Whittaker, an honorable mention
Junior Matt Johner backs up Rutz while redshirt freshman Zac Wegner is No. 3 on the depth chart.
all-conference player last year.
The line will have to open holes for an experienced group of running backs. Although Kansas lost its top rusher in L.T. Levine (811 yards), it does return senior June Henley and his 2,492 career rushing yards, fifth in Jayhawk history.
"I think I can rush for 1,000 yards again," Henley said. "As long as I get the carries and can stay healthy, I don't see why I can't."
Senior wide receiver Isaac Byrd will be Rutz's main target in the air. Byrd led the Jayhawks last season with 48 receptions for 604 vards and five touchdowns.'
Senior tight end Jim Moore earned honorable mention all-conference honors last year after catching 18 passes for 224 yards.
The defense features the return of senior linebacker Ronnie Ward and junior safety Tony Blevins. Junior linebacker Jason Thoren was a second team All-Big Eight
Selection and led the team with 119 tackles, the most by a Jayhawk since 1989.
"I see signs of big plays with the offense, and defensively we can run around," Mason said.
Kansas lost Academic All-American punter Darrin Simmons, but junior college transfer Dean Royal is expected to fill that spot.
Junior Jeff McCord returns as the place kicker. He converted nine of 12 field goals last year and was 33 of 68 on extra points.
"We're ahead of schedule as far as our kicking game is concerned." Mason said.
It may be unlikely the Jayhawks will go 10-2 again, but a record good enough for a bowl bid is a possibility.
"We found out last year that we can play with anybody." Henley said. "This year we're going to be the team that everybody's gunning for so we've got to be ready.
Volleyball team has youth, experience
By Matt Woodruff Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas volleyball team is making a commitment to winning in 1996. Not only have they recruited several standout freshmen, but they also have added assistant coach Jan Madlock to improve their outside hitting and defense. Madlock will also take control as recruiting coordinator.
Although there will be no seniors on the team when they open against Ball State on Aug. 30 in Allen Field House, coach Karen Schonewise is not concerned about a lack of experience or leadership.
"We do have a lot of underclassmen this year, most of them juniors," Schonewise said. "But most of the juniors we have here have played since they were freshmen, so they really have a considerable amount of experience."
The team added more young experience in the off-season by recruiting several freshmen, some of whom should make an immediate impact and others who have raw talent and should develop into strong players.
The team lost some key players, most notably Jenny Larson, who is now a graduate assistant coach for Kansas and Leslie Purkeypile, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
"We recruited some very good freshmen who will help us on defense." Schonewise said.
"We'll definitely miss Jenny in the middle, and we lose a lot of depth with Leslie out." Schonewise said.
Madlock was a player at Illinois State and was part of a NIVC tournament team that posted a 21-12 record. She then coached at the University of Iowa as an assistant. In 1992, she helped direct ISU to a 22-12 record, a Missouri Valley Conference championship and a trip to the 1993 NCAA Tournament.
"I am really excited to have someone with Jan's experience recruiting on our staff," Schonewise said. "She brings a lot of enthusiasm for the sport, and she relates really well with people. She is a tremendous addition to the Kansas volleyball program."
"Hopefully someone will step up for them."
Chonewise also feels that adding Madlock will boost the team.
"It's been great here so far," said Madlock.
"We're in a tough conference," said Schonewise. "Nebraska is the defending national champ and Texas is the runner-up. But I think it's very realistic for us to expect to finish in the top half of the conference."
Despite playing in one of the best volleyball conferences in the country, the coaches feel they can improve drastically over last year's disappointing season in which the team finished last in the Bie Eight.
"Just from what I've seen so far I know that there is a lot of leadership on this team," said Madlock. "What the players lack in experience they make up for in heart, desire and always giving 100 percent."
Madlock agrees that the team can finish in the upper half of the Big I2.
How some Kansas athletes spent their summer 'vacation'
May 6
Senior guard Jacque Vaughn decided to forgo the NBA in favor of returning for his senior season.
May 26
May 31. June 1
Former Kansas distance runner Sarah Heeb won the 10,000-meter run with a personal best time of 35:28.79 at the Big Eight Championships at Nebraska's Ed Weir Track in Lincoln, Neb. Senior spinner Pierre Lisk and former Kansas javelin thrower Jeff Dietrich also claimed Big Eight titles.
Senior women's tennis player Kyle Hunt finished second in the nation after losing to Jill Crayas of Florida (7-5, 3-6, 3-6) in the NCAA tournament in Tallahassee, Fla. Hunt was named College Sports Magazine Division 1 Women's Tennis Athlete of the Year.
Three members of the Kansas track and field team competed in the NCAA outdoor championships in Eugene, Ore. Junior Candy Mason finished 15th in the heptathlon and senior Mike Evers finished sixth in the decathlon with 7,612 points, earning All-American honors. Senior spinner Pierre Lisk ran the 100-meter trials in 10.47 seconds, finishing 17th and missing the final cut by one spot.
May 27,28
Several former Kansas baseball players and recruits were selected in the Major League Draft. Third baseman Damion Rolls was a first-round draft pick, 23rd overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Senior center fielder Isaac Byrd was drafted in the 11th round by the St. Louis Cardinals, but chose to remain at Kansas. Pitcher/outfielder Mario Opipari was drafted in the 53rd round by the Minnesota Twins and shortstop Jimmy Terrell was a third-round selection by the Chicago White Sox. Second baseman Josh Kliner was signed as an unrestricted free-agent by the Arizona Diamond Backs.
June 1
June 4
The Kansas men's golf team finished in 15th place at the NCAA Men's Golf Championships at the
par-72 Honors Course near Chattanooga, Tenn. The team shot rounds of 298, 306, 315 and 329 to finish with a total of 1,248 — 62 strokes behind tournament champions Arizona State.
June 8
June 11
Concluding its first year as an athletics department-sponsored sport, the Kansas women's rowing team competed in the Collegiate National Rowing Championships on Cincinnati's Harsha Lake. The heavyweight four boat finished fourth in their race and the lightweight four ended fifth.
Kansas men's tennis coach Michael Center resigned. Center, who led the Jayhawks to three consecutive Big Eight Conference championships, cited a "great
July 1
July 20
Betsy Stephenson, who had served as associate athletic director since 1992, resigned her post at Kansas and accepted the position of associate athletic director at UCLA, effective in early August. Stephenson said she wanted to broaden her career base and experience a different environment.
opportunity in the business world" as his reason for leaving.
Former Kansas football cornerback Dorian Brew signed a three-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, reportedly totaling just under $1 million.
Former Kansas women's basketball guard Charisse Sampson was selected in the 10th round by New England of the American Basketball League.
July 16
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Tracey Bunge, a member of the Jayhawk Athletics Hall of Fame, was named the new softball coach at Kansas. She replaced interim coach Gayle Luedke.
August 16
Kansas track star Kristi Kloster was the winner of the NCAA Woman of the Year Award for the state of Kansas. Kloster, a secondteam GTE Academic All-American last season, was a two-time AllAmerican in the 800 meter and won the event at the 1996 NCAA Indoor Track Championships.
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