SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1994
UAB moving on up
SECTION B
Football team has risen quickly during short life
By Matt Irwin
Kansan sportswriter
In the spring of 1989, a group of students at Alabama-Birmingham wondered if they could draw enough interest on campus to form a club football team.
Five years later, the Alabama-Birmingham football team is heading into its first game with a Division I-A school at Kansas on Saturday.
Richard Konzem, Kansas assistant athletic director, said several factors went into the decision to schedule the Blazers, but for financial reasons the department had no choice but to play a team that was not Division I-A.
If the Jayhawks defeat the Blazers, the victory would not count towards the six victories needed to qualify for a bowl.
Konzeid said that that the Jayhawks already had filled dates in future seasons to play Division I-A opponents. But for this season, Kansas had to
find a team that would agree to play only one game, he said, adding that the game had to be played at Memorial Stadium.
Konzem said that all the Division I-A teams he contacted wanted $300,000 to $400,000 to play one game at Kansas. He said Kansas could not afford that because its attendance was not large enough. Kansas will pay Alabama-Birmingham $100,000 for this game.
Kansas has a week off before playing Kansas State which could have been used to schedule a Division I-A team, but Konzem said the Jayhawks did not consider it because of a past experience with California during the 1992 season.
The Jayhawks lost to California on a Thursday night after playing the weekend before, while California did not play that weekend. K-State also does not play before its matchup with Kansas this year.
Alabama-Birmingham has made a quick ascent to the divisional ladder. The team spent its first two seasons as a club and moved up to Division III status during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. It finished 9-2 last season, its first year as a Division I-AA team.
become a Division I-A level school, a goal that has been quick in coming.
From the beginning, the interest in football was intense at Alabama-Birmingham. The Blazers are coached by Jim Hilzer, a former National Football League and college assistant coach.
In 1996, Alabama-Birmingham will
Hilroy has coached Alabama-Birmingham since the club team was formed in 1898, when it had 120 students participate.
After a rocky start in which they lost their first nine games, the Blazers defeated Marion Institute 15-7 in 1990.
Alabama-Birmingham has struggled when entering a new level, but it has eventually succeeded as it moved up through the divisions.
Alabama-Birmingham's football program has ascended almost as quickly as its basketball program, which has appeared in postseason play 14 times.
The Blazers have played Kansas in basketball, but this will be the football team's first shot at the Jayhawks and a Division I-A team.
Bernie Kish, Kansas director of ticket sales and operations, said he expected a crowd of about 35,000.
Kansas, meet Mark Williams
Kansas junior quarterback Mark Williams warms up before practice yesterday. He will replace senior quarterback Asheli Presti in the football game Saturday.
Volleyball team loses to Wichita
By Chesley Dohl
By Chestley Dont
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas volleyball team traveled to Wichita State yesterday seeking sweet revenge for an earlier season loss to the Shockers.
The Jayhawks, now 3-9, fell to Wichita State in three games, 2-15, 13-15, 5-15.
Instead the Jayhawks again were defeated by a more experienced Shocker volleyball team which reaffirmed its dominance on the volleyball court.
The Shockers, 4-6, defeated Kansas in a three-game match at the Colorado State Tournament September 2 and 3.
"We are still inconsistent and it was evident in the second game," she said. "We made a run at it but we just needed to play harder."
Kansas coach Karen Schonewise said inconsistency contributed to last night's loss.
Kansas was never able to take the lead, committing 32 team errors to Wichita State's 12 team errors.
Freshman middle blocker Leslie Purkepyle stepped forward and led the Jayhawks with 11 kills for the match. Defensively, Purkepyle countered with seven digs and one block assist.
Sophomore outside hitter Katie Walsh helped lead the Kansas attack with nine kills and six defensive digs.
Walsh, who played another consistent match for Kansas last night, said communication had to improve before the Jayhawks could play to their potential.
"As a team we lack confidence, and as a young team, that has a lot to do with (our losses)," she said.
Schonewise she made several changes last night she felt would play a big role in future matches.
Photos by
Brian
Vandervliet
It's All in the Wrist
Story by Kent Hohlfeld
Above: Tim Hindman, Tyler, Texas, senior,肩颈 past defender Wade Vezaye, Lawrence senior, during a Kansas ultimate frisbee club scrimmage. Right: Brett Murray, Kansas City, Kan., freshman, whirls the frisbee during a practice drill.
Not many sports depend on honest athletes to referee their own games. One such sport is Ultimate Frisbee.
"There aren't any refs out there," said Brad Hines, Kansas ultimate frisbee club president. "We depend on the players to make their own calls."
Ultimate frisbee is a sport which has grown in both overall popularity and awareness in the last five years. Despite the gains the sport has
made, many university students still know little or nothing about Kansas' ultimate frisbee club.
"One of our problems is awareness of the club among the university population," said Tina Cameli, women's team captain. "We're really hoping more people will come out this year."
Hines said the club usually had between 60 to 70 people come out for the spring semester, which is the team's competitive collegiate season. During the fall, the team competes in non-collegiate sectional and regional competitions.
Ultimate frisbee combines skills used in both football and soccer. Seven team members throw a frisbee down a rectangular field with the goal of getting into the end zone, while the opposing team tries to stop them.
bee or the frisbee hits the ground, it is considered a turnover.
A player has 10 seconds to throw the frisbee once they have caught it. If the player doesn't throw the fris-
"It's a lot like soccer and football." Hines said. "The player is always on the go to keep the frisbee moving."
Both the men's and women's teams have enjoyed a great deal of success in their respective histories. The women's team, named Betty, won the national title in 1986. The team was ranked No. 1 in the nation for part of last year and lost in the
national tournament.
"You get to meet interesting people and travel a lot which helps to make it more fun," Hines said.
"Over the last 10 years, we've made it to nationals every year except for one," Cameli said.
The men's team, like its counterpart on the women's side, has enjoyed some success in its 15-year history. The team has been ranked annually in the top 20 and has qualified for the 12-team national tournament every year. However, it has yet
The same thing applies to the men's team, Hines said.
That success is one factor that draws many athletes like Cameli to the club. She said that team spirit and competition also helped to draw people.
to win a national title.
"It's like an addiction. Once you play in your first tournament, it's hard to stop," Hines said.
Despite the thrill, the addiction can prove costly for the team's finances. The men's club traveled to California and cities like Austin, Atlanta and New Orleans last season. All traveling expenses come out of club members' pockets.
"It cancest $50 to $100 to go compete in a weekend tournament," said Tocletti, senior
"Recreation Services pays entry fees, but we're responsible for everything else."
Despite the expense of the weekend trips, Triplett said he has enjoyed his four years with the club.
"It's a non-contact sport," he said.
"Where else can you get this kind of exercise throwing a frisbee around?"
ROYALS BRIEF
Twins' third base coach considered for Royals job
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Minnesota Twins third base coach Ron Gardenhire reportedly will be the first to be interviewed for the Kansas City Royals manager's job.
Gardenhire, 37, was appointed to Twins manager Tom Kelly's staff in 1990 and quickly became a top aide.
General manager Herk Robinson confirmed Gardenhire was being considered, and The Kansas City Star reported yesterday he would be interviewed tomorrow.
He was runner-up to Don Baylor for the job as manager of the Colorado Rockies and interviewed for the San Francisco Giants job that went to Dusty Baker.
Robinson reiterated that Whitey Herzog, the popular favorite for the job of the fired Hal McRae, wasn't interested in a second stint with the Royals.
Dave Campbell, Brian James / KANSAN