University Daily Kansan / Monday, August 26, 1991
SPORTS
11
Offense strikes early in team's first test
By David Mitchell
Kanean Sportswriter
Kansan Sportswriter
The Kansas football team ended two-a-day practices Saturday with an intrasquad scrimmage at Memorial Stadium.
The offense struck early when sophomore kicker Dian Eichloff connected on a 46-yard field goal. On the next drive junior wide receiver Matt Gay caught a 9-yard touchdown pass to junior quarterback Chip Hilley.
The scrimmage began with the first-string offense pitted against the first-string defense. Coach Glen Mason planned for each man to play 30 downs.
The defense settled down quickly, and Gay would account for the day's only touchdowns. He later scored on a 92-yard punt return.
"The offence looked good in the first series," Mason said. "It went downhill from there. They could hardly move forward. It was a second string! In the next around."
Despite the lack of offensive production, Mason said that the scrimmage had few surprises.
"We scrimmaged about like I knew we would after a week of two-a-day practices," he said. "We're not as sharp as we need to be. That's why we still have two weeks to go before we open up.
"We're not in shape, and I don't just mean cardiovascular shape. We're not in football shape to play a game."
yet. We go good to a certain point, and then we go down hill. We have a hard time sustaining what we're trying to do."
Mason said the scrimpage was the first test for the team.
"This is our first real evaluator of where we reat," he said.
After settling down, the defense stopped the offense for negative yardage on 15 plays. The offense totaled 209 vards on 55 carries.
Senior tailback Tony Sands led all rushers with 48 yards on six carries. Sophomore tailback George White carried the ball nine times for 31 yards. Junior tailback Chaka Johnson carried the ball two times having the wind knocked out of him.
Starter Chip Hillaryle completed three of seven passes for 35 yards. Sophomore quarterback Nate Flosel was five of eight for 16 yards. Third string quarterback Asheki Preston was three of three for 35 yards and was the team's second leading rusher with 39 yards on four attempts.
The squad ended the practice working on goal-line defense and field goal attempts. And after two hours of practice on the field, the team ran up the hill from Memorial Stadium and down to Parrott Athletic Center.
SIDELINES
■ Kansas offensive coordinator Golden Pat Rutel, who made nationals in 1970 and 1980, camped out every night during two a-day practices, was up to his old trick
Despite 100-degree heat, Ruel donned a sweatsuit complete with a hood for the afternoon practice.
Thursday.
"Sometimes players think that coaches aren't willing to sacrifice," Ruel said. "This is the hottest day we've had. It's kind of my way of showing that I'm willing to do a little sacrificing."
"Besides that, somebody told me to
come in front coming in. I
Passer Leaf Leaf."
*
■ Junior linebacker Brad Peebler quit the team last week. Peebler started two games and was backup to starting inside linebacker Curtis Moore in 1990. Peebler had been bothered by a bad knee.
Last week, senior running back Maurice Douglas was redshirted for the 1991 season. Douglas started eight games at backline in 1990, and was third on the team in rushing. However, Roger Robben won the starting job for the final three games of the season, and the emergence of Monte Cozzens during spring practice moved Douglas to tailback. Douglas was fourth on the depth chart at tailback this fall.
Senior fullback Roger Robben was sidelined from Saturday's scrimmage because of back spasms. Coach Glen O'Neill will return to the byline of the next week.
Freshman defensive back Marin. Blakney suffered a broken lappa last fall.
Patrick G Brungardt/KANSAN
Wide receiver Matt Gav (5) scores one of his two touchdowns early in Saturday's intrasquad scrimmag
Runner gains experience, confidence
Cox's participation in World Cross Country meets will better entire team, Schwartz sa
ByJeffKobs
Kansan Sportwrite
Kansas sophomore cross-country runner Michael Cox will enter the 1991 season with more experience under his belt than most underclassmen on the team
Besides an outstanding freshman year the included competing in the NCAA Championships Cox also competed in the World Cross Country Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, in March.
"It was a great experience," Cox said. "Being at the World Championships showed me what it takes to be at a world-class level."
Cox ran in the World Cross Country Championships as a member of the U.S. Junior Team. He won the World Cross Country Trials junior race with a time of 26 minutes, 20 seconds, securing a spot on the podium.
"Hopefully, after running at that level (Cox) will be excited to obtain higher and higher goals."
Cox said the experience he gained by running in the World Championships helped build his confidence for this year's cross-country season.
-Coach Gary Schwartz
"It was like the NCAAs. So now it's like I've competed in two national matches instead of one," he said.
Cox finished 40th at the World Championships, but Kansas coach Gary Schwartz said that reflected the level of competition.
*Finishing 40th might not sound like too high of a finish, but at that level of competition he did real work.*
"Hopefully, after running at that level (Cox) will be excited to obtain higher and higher goals."
Schwartz said Cox's added confidence and higher goals would ultimately help the team.
*In cross-country the better the individual is the
better the team," he said. "You want to get each individual close to his potential."
Cox said he passed the experiences and highlights of the competition onto the other team members, but that his experience would best benefit the team by his individual improvement.
"My being ready, both mentally and physically, will be one less variable for the team," he said.
Last year's team finished fourth in the Big Eight Conference and at the NCAA Championships.
Cox predicted the team would improve over last year's finish and would be back in the NCAAs for the third year in a row.
"This year is looking real good," he said. "We rana drill called the 11-minute run in practice, and everybody seemed to be in good shape.
The season will open Sept. 7 with the Jayhawks traveling to Southern Illinois for a dual meet.
Freshman linebacker returns after knee surgery
By David Mitchell
Kansan Sportswriter
This fall, more than a year after suffering a severe knee injury, freshman Kansas linebacker Steve Harvey said he was stronger than ever and ready to
1989. Harvey was a highly recruited 6A All-State linebacker. Despite playing for a Leavenworth team that won just one game in three years, he was a *Parade Magazine* prep All-American.
During his senior year, Harvey signed with the Jayhawks. However, in August 1990, he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and was taken to Shenandoah Bowl, an all-star game for high school seniors, at Haskell Stadium.
Instead of enrolling at Kansas for the fall semester, Harvey underwent arthroscopic surgery and months of rehabilitation
"It was pretty difficult," Harvey said. "I was coming off a pretty good season, personally, out of high school and away to coming up here and playing."
Harvey waited until second semester to enroll and worked out with the football team during spring practice he was limited to non-contact drills.
"I'm most definitely stronger than where I was before," he said. "My knee
And now, he said his rehabilitation was complete.
is 100 percent."
Based on his performance in two-a-
dash races, said the year of
had not affected him.
With the graduation of starter Curtis Moore and the departure of backup Brad Peebler, Harvey's comeback was well-timed. He is listed third on the depth chart behind Wes Swinford and Larry Thiel.
"I don't think it has affected me too much," he said. "I still have my agility. I think the squad can rely on me. I'm a dependable player."
"He's fighting right now to be the third linebacker." Coach Glen Mason said. "His knee is fine. He just needs to get his football skills together.
"I think I've got an advantage because I came here in the spring as opposed to just getting here this fall," he said. "I've got an advantage over the freshmen just coming in. I'm more familiar with the way things work."
After playing for Leavenworth teams that lost 26 games, Harvey said he looked forward to playing for a rebuilding Kansas team.
"All through high school I was never on a winning team. That's what I'm looking forward to because that's what we've got a good chance to do," he said.
"Steve's been out of football for a year. We're working on developing him in a backup role as a linebacker."
PatrickG Brungardt/KANSAN
Florida college football programs dominate preseason top spots
Kansas freshman linebacker Steve Harvey is looking forward to playing with the Jayhawks after being sidelined by a knee injury.
The Associated Press
Maybe Florida should change its nickname from the Sunshine State to the College Football State.
"We're starting the year as the 3. team in Florida, but this is one state where that's not all bad," said Florida coach Steve Spurrier. "One of our primary goals is to become the top program in the state. If we can achieve that each year, we will be a nationally-ranked team."
Three of the top five teams in The Associated Press pressure poll are from Florida, the most impressive showing by one state in the 65-year history. Florida is State No. 1, Miami is No. 3, and Florida is No. 5.
Florida's three Division I-A schools have parlayed warm weather, great high school talent and statewide football fever into a winning combination.
"All three programs have really been clicked." " said Florida State coach Boby Bowden. "I certainly feel Miami and Florida are among the country's top of them. The scary thing is we've got to play both of them."
"It's great that all three Florida schools are ranked so high," said Miami coach Dennis Erickson. "It's representative of the quality of players and coaches in the state."
Miami has won three national championships since 1983 and finished no lower than No. 3 the last five years. Florida State has lost only six games in the last four years and Florida, which tied a school record with nine victories last season, is a rising power under Spurrier.
Florida State has never won the national title despite four consecutive Top 4 finishes. But the
Seminoles are the overwhelming preseason pick, getting 49 of 60 first-place votes and 1,483 of a possible 1,500 points from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters.
"It really doesn't surprise me because everyone seems to be picking us No. 1," said Bowden, who has 17 starters back from last year's 10-2 team that finished fourth in the nation.
"But I still say there are eight or 10 teams that you can put in a hat that have as much a chance to be up
One of those teams is No. 2 Michigan, which plays Florida State in Ann Arbor on Sept. 28.
Miami is No. 3 with two first-place votes and 1,278 points. Washington is next with one first-place ballot and 1,252 points, followed by Florida with one first-place vote and 1,150 points.
Texas beats Royals 8-4 in extra innings
Pinch-hit single ignites 11th-inning rally
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Steve Buechee came to the ballpark yesterday for a day of rest. He found himself in one of the most stressful spots a baseball player can know.
With the go-ahead run in scoring position in the 11th mining, Buechele pinch hit for Mario Diaz and bounced a tie-breaking single over Royals shortstop David Howard as the Rangers rallied for an 8-4 victory.
"Coming off the bench is new for me and not really something I've done well in the past," Buechele said. "I haven't been swinging the bat real well and was really starting to get frustrated. They were giving me the day off to relax and regroup."
With the score tied 4-4, Storm Davis (3-9) walked Juan Gonzalez to lead off the 11th. Dean Palmer followed with a single. Geno Petrela sacrificed, and Bueche hit a high bouncer that barely eluded the leaping Howard.
"That was definitely a turf hit." Royals manager Hal Mae Rae said. "I looked like it hit right in front of me and it was a clear turf hit in this park that helped us."
The Rangers refused to secondguess McRae's pitching change in the ninth, replacing Tom Gordon with Jeff Montgomery to protect a one-run lead. Gordon had retired
eight in a row, striking out six.
"When you've got a closer down there like Montgomery — that's what you pay a guy to do," Buechele said. "There's no way you can second-guess a manager for making that move."
After Bucchele's single, Rafael Palmeiro doubled for a three-run lead, took third on an error by right fielder Danny Tartabull and scored on Julio Frouse's single.
Terry Mathews (1-0) got his first major league victory with three innings of one-hit relief, and Jeff Russell finished.
Texas starter Bobby Witt allowed three runs and four hits in six innings, striking out five and walking four. Royals starter Mark Gubicza gave up three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking none.
Gonzalez hit an RBI single in the fourth and tied the game in the sixth with a two-run triple off Gordon.
Kansas City took a 9-10 lead in the second. Tim Spehr, in a 1-for-27 slump, hit two-run single, and McRae hit with an RB single.
Kansas City went ahead 4-3 in the seventh when McRae doubled and scored on Kirk Gibson's single off Kenny Rogers. Texas tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Dean Palmer tripled and scored on Brian Downing's two-out single off Montgomery.
Sampras hoping to make comeback with U. S. Open
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Pete Sampras chased a dream in the U.S. Open a year ago, and then ran after a fortune in meaningless matches. He shocked the tennis world by becoming the most dominant man in history, and he returns today to defend his title and end the pain and problems that followed.
Sampras, returning a lowly No. 6 seed, plays his first match under the lights in the stadium against a danger-hungry South Africa, Christo van Rensburg.
Last year, few paid much attention to Sampras until he played Ivan Lendl in the quarterfinals. In that match, the student became the teacher.
Sampras, tall and graceful with a whipping serve and devastating volley, showed Lendl that he had learned his lessons well. Lendl, who had been in Sampras' life could Sampras, could not cope with the 19-year-old's strength and accuracy.
The victory convinced Sampras that he was capable of winning the tournament. From that moment on, Sampras played so fluidly and powerfully that even the most artistic of players, John McEnroe, couldn't stop him in the semifinals. And one of the strongest, Andre Assagi, couldn’t
touch him in the final.
Sampras promised he would be a different sort of champion, one who would honor and respect the game, and he cited the classy Australian Rod Laver as his hero. But the lure of money and the advice of his agent soon led Sampras on a path that wound up hurting both his game and his body.
While his bank account grew from all the exhibitions he played, his legs wore out from the activity. After suffering for months from shin splints, he convinced his sponsor to make him a new pair of shoes. That helped his legs to heal, and Sampras came back healthy and confident after winning a couple of tournaments.
The Sampras-van Rensburg match is one of many in the opening round that threaten upsets of seeds in a tournment. The men's or women's draw, in either the men's or women's draw,
Monica Seles, the women's No. 2 seed, begins a quest for her third Grand Slam title of the year with a match against Nicole Arendt, the first match of the day in the stadium.
Gabriela Sabatini, No. 3, wasn't even accorded the respect usually given a defending champion. Rather than starting in the stadium, she opens in the grandstand against Nicole Provis.