SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1994
SECTION B
Kansas to face Spartans' 'Doctor of Defense'
Bv Matt Irwin
Kansan sportswriter
When the Kansas Jayhawks play the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, they will be facing a team with an offensive line that could be the largest in any football league and a defense with a new look designed by a "doctor."
Michigan State coach George Perles, who was a defensive coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their four Superbowl appearances during the 1970s, recruited Bullough to become his new defensive coordinator this season.
Since 1970, Bullough has coached for several different professional teams. In one year with the Detroit Lions, Bullough took the defense from 20th in overall defense in 1992, to 6th in 1993 in the National Football League.
The Spartans finished 6-6 last season, including a 31-14 victory against Kansas. But after finishing seventh in the Big Ten Conference with a 4-4 record last season, the Spartans hired Hank Bullock, nicknamed the "Doctor of Defense," to help cure their problems on defense.
Bullough has helped to implement a new Spartan defense that Kansas coach Glen Mason said would give the Jayhawks different looks.
"They do a lot of different things to try to confuse offenses," Mason said. "We don't know what to expect, except that there will be 11 guys out there."
Mason said that Michigan State tradition- ally has emphasized strong team defense.
Mason said Perles had helped invent the stunt 4-3 and had made it famous when he coached for Pittsburgh. Perles became the Spartans head coach in 1983 and has compiled a 68-56-4 record.
Besides a new defensive system, the Jayhawks will be facing one of the biggest lines in both college football and the NFL, Mason said.
Anytime you play a team with that type of size there is concern," Mason said. "And when you take into account that I've been fielding questions all along that our
defense is on the small side, obviously we don't want to get in a dancing contest with those people."
The Jayhawks defensive front includes two defensive ends who played linebacker last season. Not only will the Jayhawks have to deal with the offensive line's size, but their skill as well.
"I read where George Perles rates them the best offensive line ever at Michigan State," Mason said. "We had our problems last year with them, and those guys are a year older."
The Jayhawks are not the only team that must play against a skilled offensive line. The Spartans will face a Kansas offensive ground attack that rushed for 346 yards in a 35-13 victory against Houston last week.
"Michigan State is a much bigger test for us than Houston," Mason said. "The thing I'm interested in is our players play as hard as they can, and we do a good job coaching. If we do those two things and we're good enough, we should win the game."
Mason said he was more impressed by his running backs than his offensive line. Four backs and senior quarterback Ashkei Preston carried the ball to gain the 346
yards.
yards.
"Those guys are tremendous athletes," Mason said, adding that he was even more impressed by the way they practiced.
"There isn't a group that goes out and practices better than our running back position, which includes the fullback"
Mason preaches to his running backs on the importance of the team concept.
"We are going to put team success ahead of individual success," Mason said. "If we get a guy too worried about that, the other guy is going to play more."
guy is going to play Mason used Kansas all-time leading rusher and graduate assistant football coach Tony Sands as an example.
Mason told his players that Sands would have traded his NCAA record for yards in a game, 396 against Missouri in 1991, for an extra win in that season.
Sands would have traded that record for a win because it probably would have meant that the Jayhawks, who went 6-5 that year, would have gone to a bowl game, Mason said.
"Team success will last a lot longer in their minds than any individual success," he said.
Iv Thornton / KANSAN
Kansas defensive back Gerald McBurrows answered questions during a press conference at Hadi Auditorium in the Parrrot Athletic Center yesterday. McBurrows commented on the upcoming game against Michigan State on Saturday.
Kansas assistant 'gives back to sport'
Jay Thornton/ KANSAN
Kansas volleyball assistant coach Liz Berg watches junior outside hitter Tracie Walt for technique during a passing exercise. This is Berg's first year at Kansas. As a player at North Carolina, Berg set seven records in her four-year career that still stand.
Liz Berg shows love of volleyball
By Chesley Dohl
Kansan sportswriter
Liz Berg began working on her resume when she was in high school. And not even ten years later, she has exactly the job she wants.
This summer, the 25-year-old was named Kansas assistant volleyball coach.
"All along I think I knew I wanted to get into coaching," Berg said. "I was always fortunate to have influential coaches who made an impact in my life. I wanted to give back in the same way to the sport."
Her volleyball coaching and playing experience, coupled with her ability to communicate, make her a popular coach, said Kansas coach Karen Schonewise.
"She has a lot of enthusiasm for the sport, for life and for people," Schonewise said. "She really enjoys people. She's a good person. I knew the team would like her, and recruits would respond to her."
Berg became interested in sports in junior high and decided early in her athletic career to invest her time and talent in one sport.
Her choice was volleyball.
"I started playing club volleyball at our high school and that was a year-round sport," Berg said. "It was time consuming, so I decided to put all my eggs in one basket and go with it."
Berg spent many weekends and summer vacations during high school and college in the gym assisting coaches with volleyball camps and clinics. It wasn't long before the name Liz Berg became common place with the North Carolina volleyball program.
Berg had decided to stay in the Midwest to continue her collegiate athletic career. But a recruiting trip to North Carolina was the ticket
that sold her on Tar Heels volleyball.
"On a whim I took a recruiting trip to North Carolina," she said. "I fell in love with the university and the program. It all felt right with me."
Berg was an effective outside hitter for the Tar Heels in her four years of collegiate competition, earning Atlantic Coast Conference and All-South Region honors. She holds nine records for kills, digs and service aces with North Carolina and the ACC.
Berg graduated from North Carolina in 1991 with a degree in speech communications. But her heart remained with volleyball. So when an assistant coaching position opened up at Auburn, Berg applied and got the job. From there, Berg coached for two years at Iowa.
In the spring of 1994, Berg heard about the Kansas volleyball program, the changes and support it was receiving. She wanted to become a part of it.
As assistant coach at Kansas, one of Berg's main responsibilities is recruiting players for the upcoming season. Berg said her communications degree was serving its purpose.
"My whole job as a recruiter is communicating and effectively selling the program," she said. "One of Karen's philosophies is the importance of communication — communicating goals and objectives to players and potential players. In that respect, my degree has paid off."
Senior outside hitter Janet Uher said that Schonewise and Berg were the perfect coaching match.
"She knows the game very well and she has competed at it," Uher said. "You have to respect her, her abilities and her talents. She works so well with our team."
Berg will graduate from Kansas with a masters in sports administration this fall and is engaged to be married this summer.
"I'm enjoying my role. I couldn't be in any better of a situation than I am right now," she said. "I enjoy interacting with players. I feel like I may be making an impact, teaching the game and even teaching about life."
Texas Tech prepares to battle No.1 'Huskers
The Associated Press
LUBBOCK, Texas — A short work week has lengthened the odds against Texas Tech in its early-season battle with top-ranked Nebraska.
"We will have to take out the run," Texas Tech linebacker Zach Thomas said as the Red Raiders prepared for today's game. "It's going to be a big challenge, and I respect them for their tradition."
The Red Raiders will have to make a quick turnaround following their season-opening 37-31 victory Saturday over New Mexico. The Cornhuskers have been idle since beating West Virginia 31-0 in the Kickoff Classic on Aug. 28.
Thomas pointed out a further challenge: "We've only had four days to prepare; Nebraska's had a week and a half."
The Red Raiders enter the game remembering their 50-27 defeat last year in Lincoln. Tech held a brief 21-20 edge in the third quarter. But none of those scorers, other than kicker Jon Davis, are back for Tech.
It is the first time in 15 years that a No.1 team has visited Texas Tech.
Nebraska, meanwhile, returns many of its key players from 1993's 11-1 team, including quarterback Tommie Frazier, who threw for 206 yards against Tech.
Frazier ran for three touchdowns and threw for another on Aug. 28 as the Cornhuskers opened their season by blowing out West Virginia. Nebraska moved into the top ranking even though it didn't play last weekend.
It's the first time that Nebraska's been ranked at the top since November of 1897. Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes has acknowledged the game will be tough for his team.
"Our guys know that the chance to play Nebraska is thrilling, and they know that to beat Nebraska will be extremely difficult," Dykes said.
"I think too much is made of the polls right now," coach Tom Osborne said earlier this week.
Redshirt freshmen Tony Darden (7 of 13 for 92 yards) and Zebbie Lethridge (16 of 22 for 190 yards) helped Tec rally from a 17-0 gap and lead New Mexico by as much as 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Texas Tech's season-opening win over New Mexico no doubt surprised some pessimists who were troubled by the Red Raiders' novice offense and lack of a dominant quarterback.
Tech's mascot, a black quarterhorse named Double T, died Saturday after its saddle and rider fell off and it ran into a concrete wall during the third quarter. The pregame ceremony today will include a moment of silence for Double T.
Today's game, televised on ESPN, will be the first in recent memory played without a mounted horse galloping along the sidelines at Jones Stadium.
BRIEFS
Kish suggested that students who purchased and picked up their season football tickets give their complimentary tickets to friends or parents. A complimentary ticket admits anyone to a sit in the general admission seating areas in the stadium.
Bernie Kish, director of Kansas ticket sales and operations, said that plenty of tickets remain for Kansas football fans who want to attend Saturday night's game at Memorial Stadium. Kish said those who did not have tickets yet had several options for obtaining them:
Tickets still available for football opener
For $7, a student can purchase an additional ticket to sit in the student section.
Reserved seats are available to faculty and staff for $10 apiece.
"It's our hope that we can make the stadium a hostile environment for Michigan State on Saturday night," Kish said. "We're hoping the faus can really come through for the team and make a big difference. The night should bring out the Jayhawk in all of us."
No.1 seed loses at U.S.Open
Pete Sampras, the world's No. 1-ranked tennis player, lost Tuesday to unseeded Jaime Yzaga at the U.S. Open. Sampras's early exit means that six of the top 10 seeds in the open are gone.
In action Wednesday, Andre Agassi defeated No. 13 Thomas Muster 7-6, 3-1, 6-0.
Compiled from The Associated Press and Kansan staff reports.
Seven other players were cited for misdemeanor trespassing in the disturbance police said involved at least 20 football players.
Missouri Southern players charged with felony burglary
The Associated Press
JOPLIN, Mo. — Thirteen Missouri Southern State College football players, including nine starters and the team's backup quarterback, have been charged in a melee last week at a house occupied by members of a fraternity.
Missouri Southern is scheduled to open its season Saturday at Conway, Ark., against the University of Central Arkansas.
Six players were charged Tuesday with felony burglary in the Aug. 31 incident at the residential home, where several members of the Sigma Pi fraternity lived.
the playing status of the 13 players remains clouded.
In a brief statement Tuesday, Missouri Southern coach Jon Eantz wrote that "the responsible parties will be placed on probation and will be disciplined within the framework of regular team policies."
He added that "further punitive measures are possible" against some
of the players, pending outcomes of the criminal cases."
Lantz declined yesterday to say whether any of the players would be barred from Saturday's game.
"We're not discussing individual cases."he said.
Police have said the incident took place after various Missouri Southern football players went uninvited to the house.
Those charged with first-degree burglary include both starting outside linebackers at Missouri Southern, plus a first-team tackle.
They went to seek retribution for being asked to leave a party there several nights earlier, police said.
The remaining seven players identified as being at the house weren't charged because "they were somewhere in the entryway and played a passive role," Police Chief David Neibur said.
Glenn Dolence, vice president of student affairs at the college, said he was unfamiliar with Tuesday's charges.
He couldn't specify whether disciplinary action by the college was pending against the accused players.