Sports
Tuesday, April 29, 1986
University Daily Kansan
9
Several 'Hawks await word on draft
By Jim Suhr
Sports writer
Collegiate football players around the country, including 13 Kansas prospects, will huddle near their telephones to find out which, if any, National Football League teams selected them in today's draft.
The draft, which is being conducted at the Maririot Marquis Hotel in New York, is a one-day affair. It kicked off at 7 this morning. Its 12 rounds should take until about 2 a.m. tomorrow to complete.
The event will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Kansas' top pro prospects are quarterback Mice Norseh, the most prolific passer in Big Eight Conference history, and linebacker Willie 'Pless, the conference's best tackler.
Other Jayhawk prospects in the draft are wide receivers Richard Estell, Sandy McGee, Johnny Holloway andSkip Fee; tailbacks Lynn Williams and Robert Mimbs; offensive guards Paul Swenson and
Football
Doug Certain; cornerback Alvin Walton; defensive tackle Robert Tucker; and tight end Sylvester Bvrd.
Analysts say Norsem, who completed 272 of 408 passes for 55.6 percent, 2,995 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, should be one of the first five quarterbacks chosen in the draft.
Purdue quarterback Jim Everett and Iowa's Chuck Long are the favorites to be the first quarterbacks chosen. Everett, 6-foot-5 and 208 pounds, led the nation in total offense last season. Long's size, mobility and grace under pressure make him appealing to pro scouts.
Norseth replaced Everett as quarterback in the postseason Blue-Gray Classic, just one of three bowls Games norseeth played in last season. Norseth scored his most valuable player after completing 18 of 27 passes for 228 yards
Pless was named the game's most valuable defensive player.
Norseth said he already had tried out with about 20 NFT teams. Illinois' Jack Trudeau and Brigham Young's Jeremy McIntyre were among the top five prospects.
and one touchdown.
Ralph Goldson, a scout for the Seattle Seahawks, said that he thought Norseth would not be drafted in the first two rounds, but rather in the middle rounds by a team searching for a third quarterback.
"I think he's good enough to be a third quarterback for someone," Goldstein said. "He won't walk in and play, but he's a good pro prospect."
Goldston said he thought Norseth was a gutsy player.
was a gloss play.
"He deserves a gold medal for surviving behind the Kansas line last year." Goldstein said.
Kansas head coach Bob Valenteze said the rounds in which Norsesh, Pless or any other Kansas players would be selected was difficult to
determine because of the draft's unpredictable nature. Some teams could scout a player considerably, but most of them are team that he has never heard from.
Valesete wants to lay those beliefs to rest.
Pless, whose 635 career tackles made him the Big Eight's all-time leading tackler, is not listed among the top seven linebackers in a consensus rating by NFL scouts released yesterday. Pless has the numbers, analysts said, but there has been a widespread idea that he would be too small for the pros. He is listed at 6-0, 215 pounds.
"He's a big man who happens to be short," Valesite said of Pless. "Wille is probably one of the most instinctive linebackers that I have seen. His production is high, he's instinctive, has good pass coverage, he is fast and quickness. He's been a great football player in the Biel Eight."
Valesente said every team in the NFL had scouted Pless.
Chiefs' top pick has tough challenge
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Whoever gets drafted today by the Kansas City Chiefs have draped across his broad shoulders an immediate and heavy challenge — saving the jobs of the people who draft him.
Patient owner Lamar Hunt has apparently endured all the failure he's going to endure from the management of his National Football League team. There is a consensus among longtime Chiefs watchers that another bad draft and another losing season will be closely followed by eviction notices in the executive offices of Arrowhead Stadium.
In Hunt's own words, 1886 for the Chiefs is the "Year of the Challenge."
In a news conference at the end of last year's disappointing 6-10 season, the patient, unassuming Texan took a cue from the George Steinbrenner school of sports ownership and joined the team's dwindling fans in their criticisms of the player acquisition department.
Only two NFL teams have failed to make at least one playoff appearance since 1971 — the New Orleans Saints, and the Chiefs, in the playoffs, and the Chiefs.
Since canning Hank Strain in 1974 and putting Jim Schaaf and Les Miller in charge of a much-buhloyhooled build-by-the-draft program, the Chiefs have had one winning season and have blown what seems like one first-round draft choice after another.
Among the first-rounders who have ranged from disappointing to outright burthes are quarterback Steve Fuller, 1979; linemen John Ait, 184, and Rod Waters, 1976; wide receiver Willie Scott, 1976; and tight end Willie Scott, 1981.
There has been no first-round selection more disappointing than Ethan Horton of North Carolina. He was the first running back taken a year ago and he never became a factor.
Enough's enough, Hunt seemed to say last year. General Manager Schaaf and player personnel director Miller were publicly instructed by their owner to show greater creativity. John Mackovic, entering his fourth year as head coach, has yet to match the best record of his fired
Miller, Mackovic and Schaaf already have gotten one big break in a schedule infinitely less formidable than the one last year that was laden with 34. Bowl contenders and led to a record seven-game losing skid.
predecessor, Marv Lley, Mackovic and his staff were challenged by Hunt to approach their work with greater intensity.
But if Hunt's tough talk is to be believed, this may be the last chance for Miller, Menkovie and Schaaf to win. In draft draft they've spoken of for years.
"I'll tell you what I expect," Hunt said then. "I expect the Chiefs to challenge for a playoff spot in 1988."
Track team is headed back to the top
Sports writer
By Matt Tidwell
The Kansas men's track team is on its way to it's most successful season since 1983, when the team finished second in the Big Eight Conference.
But this year has been different.
in the two years since the 1983 season, the Jayhawks have finished seventh and fifth in the conference, after a dynasty of 14 outdoor titles in 21 years under head coach Bob Timmons.
But with only one more meet before the conference championships, the Jayhawks must overcome
Men's Track
The upperclassmen have shown leadership, times and finishes have improved in nearly every event and some strong performances have been turned in by what Timmons called 'the best of them' who talented freshmen and sophomores.
two big hurdles if they hope to meet their goal and break into the top three once again.
For one, even though Kansas has much better balance than in the past, the rest of the Big Eight also is more balanced.
And even though freshmen and sophomores such as Rodney Harris, Scott Huffman, Courtney Hawkins, and Mike Miller have brought home many first-place finishes, Timmons said nothing could ruin a young athlete's confidence like the stiff competition at the conference meet.
Those are the two things Timmons said his staff would mull over when they sit down this week to plan for the championships.
"We've made a very positive move
upward this year, but we're still young." Timmons said. "We have just three seniors and four juniors, so our team is basically freshmen and sophomores. Those guys will be tremendous athletes, but the conference meet will be one of the biggest tests of their career.
"Even though they're good, a lot of the freshmen and sophomores on our team wouldn't even be competing on them," Eight teams until they are older."
But at least this year the Jayhawks are competitive across the board, instead of relying on one or two strong teams in making their chances everywhere else.
"My first year here nobody really stood out, and later we had maybe one or two areas that we were good in," said junior John Creighton, who
will anchor the Jayhawks mule-reliar team that finished second this past weekend at the Sooner Invitational in Norman, Okla. "This year, everybody's making a contribution. We're stronger in a lot more areas."
"I'd say without a doubt that we're better balanced as we go into the conference this time." Timmons said. "In the last couple of years, we've gone into some of those events just before praying as to how well we'd do."
Timmons said the importance of having strengths in several events shouldn't be underestimated.
But Timmons isn't sure how well his balanced team will face against conference giants Iowa State and Missouri.
"We're better balanced, but so is the rest of the league," Timmons said.
Telo Casalis tries to dodge past an Atlanta Old White opponent as Carlos Rivolo watches the play during the first game of the Cherry Blossom Tournament in Washington, D.C. Kansas lost the first-round game 10-0 on Saturday.
Rugby team wins four in Washington tourney
Sports writer
By Dawn O'Malley
The Kansas men's rugby-football team was flanked by the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument this weekend when it played in the 20th Annual Cherry Blossom Tournament in Washington, D.C.
Kansas won four of its five games in the tournament, most of which was played on the Mall, including Sun Devil consolation championship game.
In the consolation game, the Jayhawks played against Osmex of New York. Kansas dominated the game and won 10-0. The scoring was between Louie Ridder with one touch and Jim Battie with two penalty kicks.
However, Kansas got off on the wrong foot in the first game of the tournament. Atlanta Old White shut out the Javahaws, 10-0.
Kansas was moved into the losers' bracket and paired against Sud Americano. Touloss Calas of Kansas beat the Sucker of Kansas best. Sud Americana, 9-6.
Casals scored the points on penalty kicks, which are worth three points each.
Kansas was scheduled to play against a French rugby club team. However, the French team forfeited its game.
"We expected to do pretty well," Larry Krisman, club captain, said yesterday. "We didn't expect to lose money because of the teams know our reputation."
In the second day of play, Kansas beat the New York Athletic Club, 19-6. Mike VanDerBosch, Doug McCauley and Krisman scored one try a piece. Carlos Rivolo kicked in five points.
The varsity team also traveled to Washington to play against Maryland. But because of a comeback, the teams did not play each other.
the senior reserve team didn't make the trip to Washington. However, it did play against varsity competition.
It lost to the Emporia varsity team, 24-10, at Emporia. Doug Gunn and David Hay scored Kansas' points.
KU does well despite injuries
By a Kansan sports writer
The number of injuries the Kansas women's track team has sustained in this outdoor season is taking its toll. However, despite the injuries, several team members dominated their events in the Sooner Invitational in Norman, Okla., this weekend.
Julie Hall overcame a broken hand and placed fifth in the triple jump with a leap of 36 feet, 2 inches.
Hall also was a leg in the mile relay team that also included Trish
Women's Track
"I got heat on it before I ran," I
"O'Hara said yesterday." "You run
with the pain or you don't run at all.
It hurt more when I stretched out. I
lucked."
Aubuchon, Cindy Panowicz and Angie Helmer. The relay team finished last with a time of 4 minutes, 4.82 seconds.
Veronda O'Hara had a sore right hip, but she still ran the 400-meter dash and won the race with a time of 55.61.
This is the first serious injury O'Hara has experienced this season. However, she doesn't think it will affect her performance at the Big Eight Championships in Boulder, Colo., on May 16.
Carla Coffey, Kansas women's head coach, said she wasn't completely happy with the team's performance in Oklahoma.
"Some were below power and not to my expectations," Coffey said. "We have a lot of work to do before Big Eight."
But Cofey said the Jayhawks had enjoyed some shining moments.
The 400-meter relay team of Mylene Mahajra, Tayma O'Hara and Mia Wickliffe finished fourth with a time of 47.85.
In the long jump, Jaci Tyma won with a jump of 19-234.
Kansas long jumper Kim Jones, Southhaven, Miss., senior, practices box drills a form of strength exercise. Jones and the rest of the women's track team practiced yesterday at Memorial Stadium.
Mark Mobler/KANSAN
All-Sports Tickets increase $10
Students will need $10 more than last year if they wish to purchase All-Sports Tickets from the Athletic Department, Susan Wachter, assistant athletic director, said yesterday.
The tickets, which will cost $55 each, are for all home football and basketball games and the Kansas State football game on Friday a.m. Thursday at the Athletic
By a Kansan sports writer
Ticket Office in Allen Field House.
and notice ill. alert for Poison.
The tickets also may be ordered anime after Thursday.
The price increase, Wachter said, coincided with an increase in money coming into the Athletic Department from donations, Big Eight Conference revenue and an increase in the price of public basketball tickets.
Public football tickets also had
increased in past years, but there would be no increase in them for next season, Wachter said.
Students may purchase separate football season tickets for $28. Also, Wachter said, separate basketball season tickets will be sold if any All-Sports tickets remain.
According to the ticket office, 7,000 All-Sports tickets will go on sale.
Cards snap seven-game streak
United Press International
SAN FRANCISCO — Jerry White delivered a sacrifice fly and Vince Coleman had an RBI single in the 12th innning yesterday, allowing the St. Louis Cardinals and ended a seven-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
With the score 3-3, Terry Pendleton led the 12th with a single off Mark Davis, 1-1. Davis mishandled Tom Lawless's bunt, moving Pendleton to second. Ozzie Smith sacrificed both sides and scored Pendleton's scorer Pendleton and sent Lawless to third. Lawless scored on Vince Coleman's infield single.
Todrell Worril, 1-1, allowed two hits over $2\frac{1}{2}$ innings. Reliever Greg Barger walked two batters with one out in the 12th before being replaced by Pat Perry, who earned his first save. Perry recorded the last two saves against the Giants in a fly after loading the bases by walking Joel Youngbound.
Jeff Leonard led the bottom of the 12th with a triple to right off Bargar. He scored when Tommy Herr throw past last basicman Jack Clark.
Trailing 3-1, the Giants tied it in the bottom of the ninth. Youngblood reached on Smith's error at short stop. Smith then hit a single and Will Clark looped a single.
to right. Youngblood was thrown out by Andy Van Stlyke to score. Pinch-hitter Bob Melvin doubled off a play by Jayley, scoring Gladden and Clark.
Rick Owenbay allowed seven hits over 62% innings for the Cardinals before being relieved by Ken Dayley. Scott Garrett of San Francisco gave up seven hits and two runs in seven innings.
LOS ANGELES — Fernando Valenzuela hurled a six-hitter last night and Steve Sax scored on a two-out, bases-leaded in the fourth inning by Pittsburgh's Bob Kipper, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-4
Coleman opened the game with a single, stole second and moved to third on an infield single by Will McGee. Coleman scored on Herr's sacrifice fly. The Cardinals went ahead 2-0 in the second when Pendleton and Van Slyke walked and Smith singled.
The Giants made it 4-1 in the third. Gladden was hit by a pitch, moved to second on Clark's single and scored on Chris Brown's single. Clark was thrown out at home by Coleman when he was put on second on a single by Chill Davis.
The Cardinals scored their third run off reliever Jeff Robinson in the eighth. Coleman singled, stole second and scored all the way from second on Hern's routine ground to short. Los Angeles 2, Pittsburgh 1
Mike Marshall added an RBI single in
victory over the Pirates
Valenzuela, 3-1, struck out nine and walked one in pitching his third complete game. He shot his huitout in the eighth when Sid Bream doubled and scored one out later on pinch-hitter Lee Mazzilli's RBI groundball.
supperasted seven innings and allowed just four hits and one earned run. He struck out two and walked two in falling to 0-2.
Chicago 4. San Diego 3
Keith Moreland led off the ninth with a single off loser Rich Gossage, 2-1. Jody Davis singled to center with one out, sending Moreland to third. Gossage then struck out Steve Christmas, bringing up Denier.
SAN DIEGO — Bob Dernier doubled in a pair of runs with two out in the ninth inning last night, lifting the Knicks to 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Matt Keough, 1-1, pitched the eighth for Chicago and Jay Baller struck out two in the ninth to earn his third save.
Padres starter Andy Hawkins retired the first 12 batters before giving up a hit. He weakened in the seventh when he issued a leadoff and the team turned in to Chicago's first run on an RBI single by Ryan Sandberg.