Sports
University Daily Kansan / Wednesday. April 19. 1989
13
Coach reminisces while Kansas Relays begin
'Hawks prepared to compete in meet at Memorial Stadium
Kansan sportswriter
by Cynthia L. Smith Kansan sportswriter
Standing inside Memorial Stadium, Theo Hamilton watched his track prepare for the 64th Kansas Relays and remembered the
The relays begin today with the women's heptathlon and the men's decathlon at 10 a.m. in Memorial Stadium.
"This brings back memories," said Hamilton, assistant Kansas track coach. "The relays was the main reason I wanted to come here."
tition, a 1975 Kansas graduate, said he transferred to Kansas from a junior college because of Kansas' winning tradition.
The relays were introduced by former Kansas football coach John Outland, who teamed with former athlete director Dr. Forrest C. Lippert and former track coach Karl Schlademann. The relays opened in 1923.
Former Kansas track coach Bob Timmons was a part of Kansas track for 23 seasons. Both Kansas track coach Gary Schwartz, a 1966 graduate, and Hamilton were coached by Timmons.
"It's going to be different not seeing Timmie around for the first time." Hamilton said.
Timmons said he remembered the frustrations that surrounded planning the relays.
"All the myriad of details — and I think that in my first 18 or 19 years, we had rain on every occasion some time during the four-day period." he
Timmons said rain presented additional problems before Kansas installed an all-weather track.
"We would plow and burn and pray on it," he said. "Sometimes we would cuss over it."
The meet once attracted top athletes as part of the collegiate track triple crown with the Texas and
"Back when the triple crown was at its height, there were fewer big meets and fewer facilities, so many of them at those big meetings." Schwartz said.
Drake Relays.
"It's a fixture type of meet. It's looked upon by people in this region as the meet to attend in the outdoor season."
The 64th annual
Kansas
RELAYS
More than 2,000 high school and college athletes will compete at the relays this week.
The meet will include 77 high school girl's teams and 57 high school boy's teams. Most of the high school teams are from Kansas, but teams from Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma also are scheduled to compete.
A recruiting opportunity is an added bonus of the relays, Schwartz said.
This weekend we'll get literally hundreds of high school kids to visit this campus. It takes them by surprise, and they fall in love with it," he said. "If we can get them up here, we've got part of that selling job done."
The high school athletics also will have the opportunity to watch 45 collegiate women's teams and 57 collegiate men's teams compete.
Men's teams will include Kansas State, Notre Dame, Missouri, Michigan, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Loyola-Chicago and Illinois State.
Schwartz said Loyola-Chicago and Notre Dame would both be strong in the middle distance and distance of the game, first time a team has competed in the relays.
He also said the Eastern Michigan and Missouri men had strong programs.
Schwartz said the 800-yard relay, the mile relay and the 1,500-meter run would be Kansas' stronger races.
"The relay is the first event I run, so that's the one I'm primarily thinking about right now." Watcke said. "It's going to be one of the toughest
He also will compete in the 5,000 meter run. Watke has qualified in the 5,000 for the NCAA Outdoor Championship. Provo, Utah, from May 31 to June 3.
events at the relays.
"There's going to be some pride on the line (at the relays)," Watcke said.
Schwartz said Kansas pole vaulters Pat Manson and Cam Miller also were expected to perform well. Manson is the Big Eight Conference indoor champion and NCAA indoor record holder at 18 feet, 8 inches.
Miller finished second in the Big Eight and won the Texas Relays on April 8.
Some of the female Jayhawks are suffering from injuries so only about 10 women will compete in the relays, Schwartz said.
ine woman's team is pretty banged up" he said. "We've got a number of foot injuries that have crowned up."
"Last year I ran in seven events, and now I'm down to one," said Brooks, who will be competing in the
400 meters. "It's kind of degrading — but I'm really looking forward to the relays. It's a great Kansas tradition."
Hamilton said Kansas senior Mylene Maharaj also was competing with a knee injury.
"They're really tough people." Hamilton said. "They know how to work through their situation. If anyone tells you in track and field that they are 100 percent, that's not true. If they are 45 percent, they can still compete."
The Kansas women will compete against teams including K-State, Eastern Michigan, Arkansas, Illinois State and Missouri.
The competition also should remain open to individual athletes, he said.
KU football squad expresses optimism in spite of injuries
"But it's not my intention to turn this into an Olympic extravaganza," he added.
by Scott Achelpohl
Kenyan sportswriter
Kansan sportswriter
With spring practice completed,
Coach Glen Mason realizes that his Kansas football team has several blues and minuses.
"We accomplished a lot of goals in spring practice." Mason said yesterday. "However, we're still very vowel."
Aside from youth, he said that the team lacked depth on offense but had a solid group of running backs.
Sophomore Tony Sands, junior Frank Hatchett and sophomore Maurice Douglas formed the best unit on the team. Mason said.
On Sept. 2 against Montana State, the running backs will line up behind senior quarterback Kelly Donohoe for the start of the 1989 season.
Donoboe said that this team would have a more winning attitude compared to those in the past. He credited Mason for the change.
"A lot of players we had in the past were just wading around," Doohoe said. "We got rid of them, and now we've got a bunch of guys who just really want to play football. We have athletes now that understand what he wants. They're willing to pay the price."
"Mason's philosophy is, if you're going to bust your butt for me, I'll be fair to you. He's done a great job of teaching. I think it will help us out."
teaching. I think it will buy him
Donohoe said that a bowl bid would
mean a lot at the end of his last season.
"I really want to be involved in a bowl game," Donohue said. "I've been through a lot of hard times in my life, but I know that let me for me to end it on a good note."
Sharing the youth and depth problems of the offense, the defense has also been stymied by injuries, Mason said.
The most critical injury in spring practice was sustained by 6.4, 232 pound junior linebacker Curtis Stallings who most experienced defensive player.
More tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on March 23 in practice. On April 4, he underwent reconstructive surgery on the knee. He is still waiting to begin rehabilitation. He missed the rest of spring practice and will miss next season because of the injury.
Injuries to defensive lineman Chris Perez, Mina Vidiol, Scott McCabe, Phil Hopper and David Gordon crippled the defensive line this spring, but all are expected to return next fall, Mason said.
Free safety Doug Terry said that the loss of Moore dealt the defense a critical blow.
"It was a big blow to our defenses but, like Coach Mason said, we can't cry over spilled milk. "Terry said. We'd got to pick ourselves up and go on."
Third-string quarterback Trent Brooks pitches to running back Maurice Douglas.
Mason said that Terry and the rest of the all-sophomore starting secondary — strong safety Derek Boykin, cornertext Tim Hill and wide safety Jason Priest — were bright spots on defense.
"One of my goals for spring practice was coming out of it more unified
sometimes sport, it's a year-round sport.
"They have to make sure, come August 7 when they have to report, that they report in good shape. You can't get a football team ready to play and get them in shape at the same time."
as a team," Mason said. "I couldn't be more pleased with the attitude of our players to date."
This summer will be critical to success next season, he said.
Mason said that he thought the program was headed in the right direction.
Softball coach looks to strengthen defense
"We've had our ups and downs," he said, "I knew it was going to be a bumpy road. We're in a marathon, getting this program turned around."
"The players have to utilize their time to the best of their ability," he said. "Major college athletics is not a
they've chosen Erin to be a part of a team sponsored by the U.S. Softball Federation in conjunction with Tennis Canada. "It would be a great opportunity for her to travel to Europe and play ball. However, the NCAA will have to approve the trip or she can't go. The trip would be in September, and she'd miss the first week and a half of it."
by Laurie Whitten
Kansan sportswriter
Thinking ahead to today's doubleheader against southwest Missouri State and the Big Eight Conference softball tournament on May 14 in Kansas it was time for the Jawhaws to make a change.
Kansas, with a 2-2 Big Eight record, is tied with Missouri for third place in the conference. Nebraska is fifth and Oklahoma is followed by Oklahoma at 2-0.
school.
Haack said that Wahaus, a
A member of Kansas' lineup Haack said he didn't want to move around, however, was catcher Erin Wahua. Wahua, who this week was nominated for the Player Award, batted 360 and last nine games and has been selected to play softball in Europe next summer.
“Our pitching is better than ever, and our hitting is just fine.” Haack said of the 26-21 Jayhawks. “We're improving our defense to improve our defense. If our defense doesn't improve, we're going to flounder at the Big Eight tournament, we make some changes to the lineup. I'll let sit there and flounder.”
Kansas is scheduled for a doubleheader against Oklahoma City University at 3 p.m. tomorrow at the OU football field in Anschutz Sports Pavilion. The Jayhawks defeated Oklahoma City at a tournament earlier this year, but Haack said another victory against NAIA team was not guaranteed.
Lenexa freshman, had been a surprise for the Jayhawks.
Haack predicted two victories against Southwest Missouri State today, provided that Kansas played consistent defense. The Jayhawks beat Southwest Missouri State 8 on 4 in a double game. The Grizzlies scored Game time for today's doubleheader is 3 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.
"I didn't expect Erin to be such a great catcher," he said. "In addition to her strong hitting, she's done an excellent job of reading the batters and calling pitches. And she's only a freshman, so she's going to get a lot better the next few years."
"On offense, our team does a pretty good job of moving the ball. We hit well against Arizona State and we've been extremely thanked," and I like that to continue.
"The girls' problem out on the field might be because they're inexperienced and are not used to handling pressure," he said.
"This team is ranked in the NAIA top 10, and they're tough," he said.
Because Haack usually starts five or six freshmen each game, he said the Jayhawks trouble with defense might be due to youth and defense.
Men's hoops recruiting may end California guard might take third scholarship
by Mike Considine
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas may have used its final m's basketball scholarship to sign a 6-foot-3 junior college guard yesterday.
Potelo said Utah State was the only school Daye made an official recruiting visit to other than Kansas. He said Daye visited Kansas at Daye's expense before the spring signing began April 12.
Daye is the second California junior college player of the year to sign with the Jayhawks in two years. Alonzo Jamison of Rancho Santiago Junior College signed with Kansas State and was redshirted this season.
Bryan Dye of Chabot Junior College in Hayward, Calif., signed a binding national letter of intent to teach at the University. Chabot coach Rich Potelo said.
"Kansas was pretty much the front
runner the whole time," Pottero said. "I think he recognized the national stature of the program and was interested in playing there."
The Kansas basketball office could not confirm that Daye had signed a national letter of intent to attend the school. The office, however, confirmed that Kirk Wagner of Hornsby Sign. (Cail. City College had signed.)
Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams could not comment on recruiting until signings become official because of NCAA regulations. Williams will not comment on any Jay Sugaway signings ever. He would not sign the signing of all 1989-90 recruits, the basketball office said yesterday.
Williams has said Kansas had three available scholarships.
Daye is the third Kansas recruit for the 1989-90 season. Wagner, a 6-8 forward, signed Wednesday. Adonis
Jordan, a 6-0 guard from Reseda. Calif., signed in November.
Daye averaged 21.8 points a game and made 53 percent of his field goals. The Oakland, Calif., native made 44 percent of his three-point field goals and 88.2 percent from the free-throw line.
He averaged 26.4 points a game during the California State University College Championships, included three victories in a game, which Chabot lost to Cerritos.
"Daye is a three-point shooter and a good athlete," and Rick Ball, who reports on junior college basketball for Basketball Times magazine. "He's one of the greatest players in Newton. He a space player Kansas needs to win in the Big Eight."
Ball said Daye ranked between the top 30 and top 50 junior college players nationally.
players nationally. Wagner was not a nationally ranked player.Ball said.
"He is a versatile shooting forward and a good ball handler." Ball said. "He is probably what he'd call a center back." Small forward and power forward.
Another power forward, 6-8 Shawn Jamison of Pratt Community College, chose San Diego State over Northwestern, Pratt coach Gary Thomas said.
"Basically, I think the reason was just the chance to play back home," Thomas said of Jamison, a Cerritos, Calif., native.
Thomas said Jamison's decision also might have been influenced by his Pratt teammate Michael Hudson, who also signed with San Diego State. Jamison and Hudson attended Casper (Wyo) Community College as freshman and transferred to Pratt last season.
Jamison said in January that he planned to attend Kansas.
Women's basketball team pleased with new recruits
by Molly Reid
Special to the Kansan
The Kansas women's basketball team added another name last night to its already long list of recruits for next season.
Lisa Tate, a 6-foot-3 center from Southwest High School in Kansas City. Mo. became the sixth woman to sign with the Javahaws.
Tate averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, four blocked shots and 2.5
Like the other recruits, Tate said her decision was based on her opinion of Coach Marian Washington and the University's proximity to her home.
steals a game last season.
She was named to the first-team All-Intersecolastic League and was first-team All-District. Tate also received honorable mention on the Kansas City Star-Times All-Metro squad.
"She is a arm shot blocker with a real long arm span who clops up the middle." Southwest coach Vickie Shelton said. "She is extremely coachable, and I think she will be strong for them in the low post."
Tate chose Kansas over Louisiana State, Iowa State, Arkansas and Southwest Missouri State, Shelton
said.
The coaching staff is very happy
Shelton said Tate was attending Kansas because of the team's potential, the school's tradition and the coaching staff. She said Tate had attended Coach Washington's backup coach her freshman year in high school.
The other players who have committed to Kansas are Joo Witherspoon of Inglewood, Calif.; Sandra deBrum of the University of Chicago; El Rey Enmo, Okan; Shan Kesel of El Kel Horn, Iowa; and Skay Trautt of Port Gibson, Miss.
with the recruiting class, assistant coach Julia Yeater said.
"there are still some junior college players we are considering, but they can't sign a letter of intent, so we'll just have to wait and see," she said. "I can't think of anyone we had up hopes for that we didn't get."
Yeater said this year's recruiting class would compliment last year's class, which was ranked 19th in the country by Dick Vitale's Basketball Yearbook. Each woman came from a team that was top in their state and two were the players of the year in their respective state, she said.