THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2007
SPORTS
7A
DODD (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
Here are a couple of ready-made taunts for Central Michigan. For sophomore star-quarterback Dan LeFevour: "Hey Dan, I got a LeFevour, and the only prescription is for you to throw an interception." And for sophomore offensive lineman Allen Ollenburger: "Hey Allen, it looks like you've maybe had one too many' Ollenburgers' there, buddy."
And for junior defensive line-man Chris Wohlgmuth: "Hey Wohlgmuth, I love you in the epic Beowulf." Let the record show that this activity is generally only fun if you do it after you crash a tailgate party.
WATCH THE GAME
The past few years, the actual game has played a secondary role to the "social events" of the day. Here's to hoping that changes this season. Mark Twain said that an optimist is just a daydreamer more elegantly spelled, so let's spend the next four days dreaming a little.
ESPN's Todd McShay picked the Jayhawks to win the Big 12 North, and you know what? Why can't they? We'll find out more about this team and what they can accomplish on Saturday, but for now, there is no reason not to have hope.
So watch the game on Saturday
evening, and do it with a bit of old fashioned optimism.
- Watch new offensive coordinator Ed Warinner's play calling. Kansas fans have been promised a more open, aggressive attack. Will it come to fruition?
— Watch freshman cornerback Chris Harris as he starts opposite junior Ajqb Talib, All-America candidate. Will Harris play well enough to help a secondary that surrendered nearly 270 yards per game last season!
- Watch Todd Reesing the first time he rolls right out of the pocket. Reesing said he felt right at home rolling to his to right. C'mon Todd, let's see what you got.
- Watch junior right tackle Anthony Collins' feet while protecting quarterback Todd Reesing. Collins makes playing offensive line an art form.
— Watch sophomore running back Jake Sharp in the fourth quarter. Sharp's ability to handle the full load at tailback has been questioned. Will Sharp's 5-foot-9, 190 pound frame handle the pounding of a 20-carry game?
— Lastly, watch part of the game from the friendly confines of the hill. It's the most gorgeous view in college football, and who knows, maybe you'll find a tailgate party.
Edited by Tara Smith
BOWLING (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
Overbey said bowling required a lot of practice and skill to achieve success, but he said most of bowling was mental. Every bowling alley has varied levels of oil on the lanes. Overbey said a good bowler could read how much oil there was, where it was and how it changed from the previous shot by watching the ball's movement down the lane. Depending on what the bowler sees, he or she plays a specific game for the conditions. Team members usually spend practices working on adapting to the many conditions that a lane may provide so that the members can prepare well for tournaments and
not be caught off-guard, Overbey said.
Returning team member Kenny Goodell, Wichita senior, said trips seemed to be a favorite activity for the team.
"I like the people," Goodell said. "The team is like a community."
The national tournament will be held in Wichita this year, and the team is hoping to qualify and get the opportunity to compete against one of its in-state rivals.
The team is holding tryouts in September and hopes to add a few more members to its community.
Edited by Matt Erickson
>> CRIME
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Atlanta Falcons football player Michael Vick looks prepares to address the media after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting charge in Richmond, Va., on Monday. Vick will be sentenced Dec. 10.
Vick pleads guilty, apologizes
Player suspended indefinitely by NFL after dogfighting fiasco
BY LARRY O'DELL ASSOCIATED PRESS
"I need to grow up," he added.
Then he apologized to "all the young kids out there for my immature acts."
"I was not honest and forthright in our discussions," the star quarterback said Monday, somber and deliberate and not speaking from notes.
RICHMOND, Va. — First, Michael Vick apologized to all the people he lied to. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank. Coach Bobby Petrino. His teammates.
Saying he was speaking "from the heart," 'ick said he took full responsibility for his actions.
And so began a public act of contrition from Vick, who pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting charge and then stood behind a podium to say his job now was "bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player."
Acceptance of responsibility is one of the factors U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson will consider in handing down Vick's sentence Dec. 10. The federal sentencing guideline range is projected at a year to 18
months, but Hudson can impose up to the five-year maximum.
Vick was suspended indefinitely by the NFL after his written plea agreement was filed in court Friday.
"So I got a lot of down time, a lot of time to think about my actions and what I've done and how to make Michael Vick a better person," Vick said.
U. S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg said a first-time offender ordinarily might receive no jail time for the dogfighting conspiracy.
"We thought, however, that the conduct in this conspiracy was heinous, cruel and inhumane," he said.
Blank and general manager Rich McKay refused to say whether Vick would ever play for the Falcons again, though their reluctance to cut ties with the quarterback is related more to complicated legal issues than any willingness to take him back. They've already sent a "demand letter" to Vick saying they will attempt to recoup the bonus money he was paid.
"We realize that this situation has tarnished our franchise," Blank said. "We've heard from fans who are embarrassed to wear the No. 7 jersey now. We cannot undo what's been done. But we can and we will recover from this."
The Falcons will receive a $6 million cap credit for Vick's salary this year because he's been suspended without pay. They are still on the hook for about $22 million in prorated bonus obligations spread out over this season and the next two. Any bonus money that is returned by Vick will be credited to Atlanta's cap number.
Outside the courthouse, a contingent of Vick supporters sang "This Little Light of Mine" and other hymns, while holding signs that said "We Love You" and urged Vick to seek support in religion. Steven Terry, pastor of Deliverance Tabernacle Church in the Tidewater area, organized the group of at least two dozen supporters.
A few dozen animal-rights protesters also stood outside the courthouse, some holding signs saying "Prosecute All Dogfighters."
In his written plea, Vick admitted helping kill six to eight pit bulls and supplying money for gambling on the fights. He said he did not personally place any bets or share in any winnings, but merely associating with gambling can result in a lifetime ban under the league's personal conduct policy.
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12th and Haskell
MLB
Houston's owner cleans house Manager, GM fired after team falls out of contention
(785) 841-4833
BY CHRIS DUNCAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Less than two years ago, the Houston Astros were celebrating their first National League pennant. On Monday, they were starting over.
Manager Phil Garner and General Manager Tim Purpura were fired by owner Drayton McLane, who said the franchise "needed a fresh start" after a plunge to the bottom of the NL Central.
Bench coach Cecil Cooper was appointed interim manager, and team president Tal Smith will serve as interim general manager.
"I felt for a number of reasons, we needed new direction, invigoration, to play with more enthusiasm and play more like a champion," McLane said.
The Astros slumped to 58-73 this year, nine games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs. They've lost five of their last seven home games, to lowly Washington and Pittsburgh.
"We had really fallen into a pattern of so-so ball," Garner said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "We were never able to put together the run, like we made in the previous two seasons. I think there were a number of reasons for that."
Houston became the fourth team to switch managers this season. Baltimore fired Sam Perlozzo on June 18, and Cincinnati fired Jerry Narron on July 1, the same day Mike Hargrove resigned as Seattle's manager.
Cooper was with his family on Monday when Smith and McLane called to offer him the job.
The 57-year-old Cooper becomes a major league manager for the first time. The five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner was the bench coach in Milwaukee in 2002 and managed Triple-A Indianapolis in 2003-04.
"It's been kind of a whirlwind tour this morning," he said. "Drayton asked me if I was OK and all of a sudden, in the pit of my stomach, I
felt sick. It really was a shock to me. I kind of got a little emotional, but I'm also excited about the opportunity. I've been to the World Series as a player and a coach. Now, I want to try it as a manager."
Cooper says he has a plan for turning around the Astros. He promoted first-base coach Jose Cruz to bench coach and moved bullpen coach Mark Bailey to the first-base position and planned to unveil some lineup changes on Tuesday.
"I know how to win," Cooper said. "I really do believe I know what it takes to get the Houston Astros over the hump and back to the World Series."
The Astros have 31 games left and open a three-game series with St. Louis on Tuesday. McLane suggested that the rest of the season essentially was an audition for Cooper.
"This is an opportunity for Cecil to show us his leadership," McLane said. "It wouldn't be bad if we won all 31."
The Astros were 82-80 last year.