4B
4B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2004
SPORTS
Big 12 coaches show concern following NBA brawl
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Do not make the mistake, say Big 12 coaches, of believing an ugly brawl like last month's NBA melee could never happen in college.
"There's no question that it could happen, particularly now with fans feeling as though they can say and do almost anything to these kids and the coaches," said Colorado coach Ricardo Patton.
"Coaches understand it and have more restraint than a 19- or 18-year-old kid."
At the urging of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, many Big 12 coaches took time after the Nov. 19 fight at a Detroit Pistons-
Indiana Pacers game to remind players and security people how to handle volatile situations.
Excited fans and students storming the court after a big win could trigger an incident, even without meaning to. Somebody's girlfriend gets knocked down; a cup is thrown — then a punch — and chaos erupts
"I can see the potential of danger there," said Kansas coach Bill Self. "Something very innocent could become a major problem. I think it would be smart for administrators to block fans from coming onto the court after the games."
The fight among spectators and players broke out in Detroit after an on-court dispute over a
foul. A fan hurled a drink at Indiana's Ron Artest, and players suddenly charged into the stands, leading to players being suspended.
Missouri's Quin Snyder fears the competitive psychology of athletics and athletes might trigger an incident when fans become abusive.
"In the game of basketball, you're taught don't back down, be tough, be competitive," Snyder said.
"At the wrong moment someone spits on you and you react, a player or coach or whoever ... we've seen how quickly these things can escalate.
"It's hard to bite your tongue."
Allowing fans to storm the court is not necessarily a good idea, said Texas A&M's Billy
"Sooner or later you're asking for a situation that might not be a good situation for student-athletes, for fans, or for anyone," said Gillespie.
Gillespie.
"Players used to be called cagers because they used to play in cages. I would not want to get back to that. You just don't want to take the emotion away."
NABC executive director Jim Haney has sent a message to about 1,000 college coaches urging them to review security plans at their arenas.
"Coming on the heels of the brawl in Detroit, we have to recognize that we're nearing the conference season where the intensity and emotions run higher." Haney said.
"As a visitor, you've got to
expect that you're going to be verbally assaulted, possibly have ice or other things thrown on you. How do you handle that? If a fight breaks out on court during a game, what will you do?"
Pat Knight, assistant coach to Bob Knight at Texas Tech, has another concern.
"I worry about my dad's protection more than I do our players," he said. "Some of the things the people say who sit behind us are just unbelievable. I worry about him."
The elder Knight, who's been known to lose his temper, has a police escort every road game in and out of the gym and onto the bus.
"He's so well known," Pat Knight said. "He's also known
for his temperament. People try to get under his skin."
Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson is the only Big 12 coach who doubts such a brawl could happen at a college game.
"You like to think we would control what's going on on the court a little better," he said. "I just don't think it could happen in college."
Not coincidentally, coaches at successful programs whose fans hardly ever storm the court would like to see the practice stopped. Others, such as Scott Drew, the second-year coach at struggling Baylor, would vote against any such move.
"If we win one of those games where our fans want to run on court for a celebration, I don't mind that," he said.
FOOTBALL
Patriot QB Brady named Sportsman of the Year
ST. LOUIS — Tom Brady, who has led the New England Patriots to two Super Bowl titles in three years, on Tuesday was named Sportsman of the Year by Sporting News.
Details will be available in the Dec. 13 issue, available on newsstands Wednesday.
The new sheriff in 'The Swamp'
Brady was the 199th player selected in the 2000 draft. But he took over for the injured Drew Bledsoe in 2001, leading the Patriots to a 20-17 Super Bowl victory over the St. Louis Rams. Last season, the Patriots went 15-1 en route to another Super Bowl title.
Brady is 45-13 as a starting quarterback and won the MVP award for both Super Bowls.
New England is 11-1 this season, tied with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for the best record in the NFL.
"When Tom Brady says of himself, 'I know I can't take any shortcuts ... I'm not that good,' it is an accurate reflection of him as both a player and a person," said Sporting News editorial director John Rawlings.
"You'll find quarterbacks with gaudier statistics and some with more hype, but Tom Brady is about winning and that's why they play the game."
The award is determined by editors of the St. Louis-based Sporting News. Last year's cowinners were Kansas City Chiefs coach Dick Vermell and Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon.
The Associated Press
(AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Florida's new football coach Urban Meyer takes his first look at "The Swamp" yesterday in Gainesville, Fla. The coaching position became vacant after Florida fired former coach Ron Zook. Meyer, a two-time National Coach of the Year from Utah, has 19 years of coaching experience.
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