MEN'S RUGBY Dan Carl survived three concussions last year and became an All-Star. Page 38
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13 1995
KANSAS: VOLLEYBALL
SECTION B
Team gratitude could teach a good lesson
Something happened on Friday that I could hardly believe.
Nope, it wasn't associate sports editor Tom Erickson's direct hit on his 27-10 prediction of the Kansas-North Texas football game. It wasn't that my roommate and I went to Oak Park Mall and didn't buy a thing. And surprisingly enough, it wasn't that the Kansas offensive linemen didn't invite me out for coffee, either.
What I'm talking about happened at the Kansas women's soccer game. After a 2-1 loss to Oral Roberts at the Overland Park Soccer Complex, the entire Jayhawk team thanked its fans—but not by offering praises through the media.
These women grouped themselves together, clapped and yelled. "Thank you," to the 400 people on hand.
It just doesn't happen. And that's unfortunate.
When was the last time you saw the men's basketball team throwing kisses to the throne in Allen Field House? Or the football team shaking hands with the Jayhawk faithful?
Knust joins team manager Andrea's uncle, Jennifer Walker. Kansas women's soccer coach Terri Walker has inducted her into the class and gratitude in her team. But this doesn't surprise me, especially one who hated Terri Walker.
She is confident but quite grateful for the basic things
at Kansas. She is only 24 years old. Some people might think that's a bit too young to be successfully leading an NCAA Division I team.
Just watch. With her experience, a commitment from the athletic department to make women's soccer a first-class program and the popularity explosion that this fast-paced game is experiencing, Walker and the rest of the Jayhawks will prove many people wrong.
I never thought the clean ship that Nebraska football coach Tom
Talking of proving people wrong, several things have made me look like a fool lately.
SPORTS EDITOR
Osborne runs could become so dirty so quickly. Wide receiver Riley Washington is awaiting trial on charges of attempted second-degree murder, tailback Damon Benning was arrested after allegedly grabbing and pushing a woman, and running back Lawrence Phillips turned himself in to Lincoln police for beating his ex-girlfriend. All of this has occurred within the last two weeks. Most programs would just pack it up after a run like that.
And he's not joking around. This is Heisman trophy candidate Lawrence Phillips we're talking about. And if any of the others are found guilty, I hope Cornhusker fans will wave bye-bye to them as well.
But the captain won't let the ship go down. Osborne threw the guilty excess baggage overboard when he kicked Phillips off the team Sunday. Finally, a college football coach took a stand when it came to discipline.
After two football seasons at Kansas, I have come to expect high prices at Memorial Stadium. Expensive hot dogs, drinks and T-shirts are the norm. Fans never get anything free, except maybe an ulcer.
Tomorrow, though, they're going to get something good for free. Any student with a valid KUID is being admitted free to the game. It's being nationally televised on ESPN, and Kansas is playing against a fairly decent Texas Christian team. My advice: take advantage of this freebie.
■ I continue to be proved wrong when I think people aren't reading my columns.
A case in point: Teresa Veazey, an associate campus editor at the Kansan and an orientation assistant last summer, has been asked numerous times if she was the orientation assistant whom I mentioned in my column about freshmen men's basketball players.
So the nightmare stops for Teresa—she wasn't the one
After Kansas City throttled Seattle in its season opener, I actually thought that the Chiefs might have found some much-needed consistency. The offense clicked better with quarterback Steve Bono than it did most days with old what's his-name.
But I was wrong about the consistency. The Chiefs proved that on Sunday.
Against a New York Giants squad that was clearly inferior on paper, Kansas City looked sluggish for three quarters. Then the light went on, and Kansas City played football, winning 20-17 in overtime.
Maybe the Chiefs will try that consistency thing some other time.
BRIEF'S
'Husker running back pleads innocent
LINCOLN, Neb. — Lawrence Phillips pleaded innocent yesterday in Lancaster County Court to a charge that he struck his former girlfriend No further court date was set. Phillips' attorney, Hal Anderson, said it likely would be in October and probably would be a trial. Phillips, who is free on bond, was ordered to have no contact with sophomore basketball player Kate McEwen or transfer quarter back Scott Frost. He is accused of climbing to Frost's third-floor apartment early Sunday and hitting McEwen.
Compiled from The Associated Press.
Kansas netters snag Shockers
Jayhawks' bench contributes to win against Wichita State
By Bill Petulla
Kansas sportswriter
In front of a home crowd it had not seen yet this year, the Kansas volleyball team hoped to erase the memories of last weekend's Ball State tournament, where the Jayhawks dropped their final six games.
Redemption was not easy, however, as Kansas had to battle its way to a 3-1 victory against Wichita State last night.
"I was very happy with the way we played," Kansas volleyball coach Karen Schonewise said. "We passed very well, and our bench came in and did a good job."
Wichita State, which fell to 1-5,
jumped out to an early three-point
lead. After a time-out, Kansas
brought the score to 4-5 behind
the serving of freshman outside
hitter Laura Rohde. The Shockers
broke away from the Jayhawks
4-9 only to watch Kansas tie the
game at 9-9.
After a seesaw battle, the score again was tied at 11. Then Wichita State went on a run behind the serving of sophomore middle hitter Julia Schnurstein and won the first game 15-12.
With their backs against the wall the Jayhawks realized they would have a gut check in the second game.
"We started out a little tight in the first game, but we were still in
Game two picked up right where game one ended as the Shockers and Jayhawks battled back and forth. After a 3-3 tie, Wichita State charged to a 6-3 lead.
control," Kansas senior middle
basketball Jenny Larson said.
The Jayhawks regrouped and mounted their comeback behind the serving of Larson and senior outside hitter Tracie Walt. Kansas won the second game 15-9.
"Winning the second game was the key to the match." Schonewise said. "I knew they were tight but when they began to relax, they played their best volleyball."
With momentum now in its favor, Kansas jumped out to a 7-1 lead in game three and never turned back, winning by an impressive score of 15-4. Sophomore defensive specialist Alisha Starnes came off the bench and contributed to the win.
"Alisha's serving was key in the third game." Schonewise said.
The Shockers opened the fourth game 2-0. After back and forth side outs, the Jayhawks gained a 10-5 lead on four straight serves by Jenny Larson. Holding off a Wichita State charge, Kansas finally pulled ahead and won the fourth game 15-11. The 3-1 win pushed the Jayhawks season record to 2-5.
Freshman outside hitter / middle blocker Moira Donovan had eight kills on 13 attempts for a .727 hitting percentage.
After an exhausting match against Wichita State, the Jayhawks will have no break as they face Iowa tonight at 7:30 in Allen Field House. The Hawkeyes are anchored by a roster which features all six returning starters.
Kansas freshman outside hitter Laura Rohde spikes the ball into the Wichita State defense. Rhode had 1.2 kills and eight digs during the Jayhawks' 3-1 defeat of the Shockers last night in Allen Field House. The win pushes Kansas' record to 2-5.
Randall remembers Midwestern roots
Kansan sportswriter
By Robert Sinclair
Growing up in Gove (population 148) and graduating with 11 other students, Randall's early baseball memories are unique.
From a small town in western Kansas to playing professionally in front of millions of fans, newly hired Kansas baseball coach Bobby Randall has come a long way during his baseball career.
"All we played was basketball and baseball," Randall said of his high school experience. "We only had two sports. We didn't have enough boys for football. So we played fall baseball, basketball, spring baseball and summer baseball. The only grass infield I'd ever played on until I got to college was a buffalo grass infield."
From Gove, Randall went on to play baseball at Kansas State, where he was named to the all-Big Eight Conference team as a shortstop. He also earned a bachelor's degree in physical education, something he still appreciates today.
"I was drafted out of high school and I knew that the best decision I ever made
was to go to college." Randall said. "I saw too many guys that had never taken a day of college and were without a career when they were 25 years old."
In fact, the first time Randall talked to professional scouts — wearing blue jeans because he had never practiced in anything else — he subtly tried to discourage them from taking too much of an interest in him.
"They said, 'What would it take to sign you?' And the biggest dollar amount I could think was $20,000. I tried to pick a figure I knew they wouldn't give me," Randall said. "I said, '$20,000,' and I held my breath. They said, 'Well, we'll call you.'
He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969. After playing for six years in the Dodgers' minor league system, he was traded to Minnesota in 1975. By 1976 he was the 'Twins' starting second baseman.
Eventually, Randall was given an opportunity to play professional baseball.
"It wasn't until about three years later that they called me."
Former Twins shortstop Roy Smallley
had fond memories of his fellow middle infielder.
"It was terrific. We made an awfully lot of double plays," said Smalley, who played with the club from 1976-82 and 1985-87. "He's one of the best guys I've ever known, a genuinely kind human being."
Randall, however, had mixed feelings about the major leagues.
"There's a lot of things about professional baseball that I loved. And there were a lot of other things that I didn't really care for," said Randall, a 255 lifetime hitter. "I had several offers to stay in professional baseball but never seriously wanted to do that."
From the Twins, Randall managed to find his way back to the college ranks.
After serving as an assistant coach for three years, he was named head coach at Iowa State in 1884.
During his 11 seasons in Ames, Iowa Randall accumulated a record of 309-311. He also led the Cyclones to a record of 28-24 last year, good enough for a third place finish in the Big Eight.
Coaching is something Randall was destined for, Smalley said.
"I certainly can see him going into coaching. He was a student of the game," said Smalley, a baseball analyst for ESPN. "He was the kind of player who really had to study the game to get the most out of his abilities."
Since he grew up following Kansas athletics, played baseball at Kansas State and coached at Iowa State, Randall certainly is no stranger to the Big Eight.
"One thing I found out early on is that you don't out work all the other coaches in the Big Eight Conference, because they work hard," Randall said. "You don't out coach all the other coaches in the Big Eight Conference. So you need to worry about your team, your players, your school because this conference — and now going into the Big 12 — has some of the best baseball coaches and baseball players in the nation."
Nevertheless, he is more than happy about having the opportunity to return home.
"There are probably only a handful of places I've ever wanted to coach other than Iowa State," Randall said. "And they happened to be in the Midwest, and Kansas happened to be one of them."
Freshman brings world experience to tennis team
Tim Hansen / KANSAN
Luis Uribe hits a ground strike at the Allen Field House tennis courts. The Kansas freshman has played in international matches, including the World University Games.
By Dan Geiston
Kansan sportswriter
When the Kansas men's tennis team welcomes its newest freshman to the team, it will get a player short on Big Eight Conference experience but one who has played in some of the biggest international tennis tournaments.
Luis Uribe, from Quertero, Mexico, arrived on campus last week for the first time after participating in the World University Games in Fukouka, Japan. More than 6,000 athletes competed in the games, which are similar to a miniature Olympics.
Uribe advanced to the tournament after winning qualifying play in Mexico. In Japan he got his first glimpse of the Far East.
"All the building were so huge. Everything was magnified and much bigger than in Mexico," Uribe said. "They treated us like kings there. It was like an Olympic game."
Uribe said the first-class treatment made it easier to play and to enjoy the tournament.
While life off the court was easy, the competition on the court was tough.
"It was very difficult for me. It was
tough," Uribe said. "I went from playing the top players in Mexico to the best in the world."
Uribe advanced to the second round of the tournament before losing in singles competition, and he lost in
the first round in doubles play.
"It was an exciting experience for me," Uribe said. "It was also very tiring."
After the tournament, Uribe traveled to Tokyo, Los Angeles, Quertero
and Lawrence in a five-day span.
"Right now I'm still trying to find my way around the campus and meet my teammates." Uribe said.
Uribe was discovered by Kansas men's tennis coach Michael Center on one of his recruiting trips to Mexico. After graduating high school, Uribe weighed offers from several schools. But Center's personal efforts and the fact that there were other Mexicans on the Kansas team convinced Uribe to play for the Jayhawks Center said that.
Center said that Uribe could make an immediate contribution to the team.
"This spring he's going to make a big impact in our program," Center said. "He's going to be a big part of the program and a key contributor to whatever success we'll have."
Uribe is ready to take on the challenge as well as the Big Eight.
"Right now I'm a complete player. I can stay in the back, go to the net or play an easy game," Uribe said. "I think being able to play top tennis in a major program can only make me a better player."
"I'm just a Jayhawk, and I'm glad to be."
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