University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, March 23, 1988
13
Sports
New coach Glen Mason runs the Jayhawks through a defensive drill on the practice field behind Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
KU football team out of shape, coach says
All starting positions are open; quarterback position narrowed to two candid
By Keith Stroker Kansan sports writer
For Kansas football coach Glen Mason, the first day of practice was less than successful.
The off-season conditioning program was supposed to get the players in shape for spring practices, but it did not. The conditioning exercises will continue during the next month of practices.
"The players did not show that they were in condition today," Mason said. "A lot of conditioning is mental. There is a mental wall being put up by some players, and we as coaches have to break down those walls."
The team practiced football for three hours, but Mason said that only the first half of that time was profitable.
promisable.
"We are really going to earn our money as coaches," said offensive coordinator Pat Ruel. "We have a long way to go, but the guys are working hard at it."
If the players lacked enthusiasm, the coaches made up for it. Throughout yesterday's practice, the coaches were constantly correcting players' performances, trying to instill discipline into a program that has been less than successful in recent years.
"Today's practice was far less than what I expected," Mason said. "We didn't compete like an Ecklens should. We will impruce, though."
Mason said that each position was open now and that everyone has a chance to start. The quarterback has been narrowed to two players.
Kelly Donohoe, 6-foot Harrisonville, Mo., sophomore, started in six of Kansas' 11 games last season. He will be pitted against 6-5 Pittsburg freshman Kevin Verdugo, who started four games last season.
"I felt that the two quarterbacks did a fine job this afternoon," Mason said. "I think it was encouraging to see them throw the ball so
well, especially because of the strong wind."
The coaches had expected a third player to compete for the quarterback job, but Lawrence redshirt freshman Lance Flash-barth opted to play defense.
Flaxtsharb, a 6-5, 210-pounder, who led Lawrence High School as a quarterback to the 1868 state championship, would prefer to play outside linebacker this season.
"Lance is a big guy, one who is quick enough to play backlayer," Mason said. "He is young and still growing and has a chance to compete for that position."
Seventy-five men practiced yesterday, and only 50 of them were on scholarship. Mason said that the numbers were down but that he was not concerned.
"If we have to, we'll take just 10 guys and make them the best players they could possibly be,"
During the next month of spring practices, the team will focus each day on a certain situation that it will face in a game. Yesterday, it was a first-and-10 situation.
Mason said. "I want the men to give all that they can to helping this program become a success."
Mason said the key to a successful offense was getting four or more vards on a first down.
"Second-and-six or second-and-five downs are what we want as a team." Mason said. "If we can maintain a 60 percent first-down ratio, we will have a chance to win a lot of ball games. Anything less than 50 percent and our defense doesn't stand a chance."
Mason said the coaches would do everything it took to make this program work and they would be able to get the job done. Tomorrow, the players will have to go through a 6 a.m. workout, in addition to their normal afternoon practice.
Kansas sweeps Tarkio and Bingham's gamble with Mulcahy pays off
By Tom Stinson
Kansan sports writer
Kansas junior Craig Mulcahy was just standing on a mound of dirt throwing a ball yesterday. But, for Mulcahy, the afternoon could not have been more pleasing.
The Jayhawks baseball player did not get to pitch last fall. Or during the summer either.
After injuring the ulnar nerve of his elbow last spring while playing for Meramec Community College in St. Louis, Mulcahy thought his baseball career was over.
"I thought the injury was the end of my career," he said. "At the time, I was being recruited by ranked schools. But when I got injured, they stopped talking to me. Coach Bingham stuck with me though, and I'm glad I'm here."
Mulcahy increased his record to 2-0 yesterday against Tarkio College by pitching five innings and allowing only three earned runs in the Jayhawks' '9-4 victory.
Kansas swept the doubleheader at
the midday afternoon after win-
ning the first game of the
"Considering last fall's injury," Mulcahy said, "I threw all right. I'm just pleased that I'm out. I've lost about three or four miles on my fastball, but I'm just glad to be here."
Mulcahy's fastest pitch was recorded at 86 mph. He said he was surprised that it clocked about the same as last season.
"When we recruited him, he was kind of a gamble." Bingham said. "He was a quality pitcher, but he had the injury. But we needed pitchers with experience, so I thought it was a worthwhile gamble."
Bingham said he had seen successful recoveries from the elbow injury. He credited Mulcahy's dedication to the prescribed rehabilitation program. Mulcahy credited the program.
"He still has days of question," Bingham said. "But he's getting better, and his confidence is growing. That's the key — if he is confident that his arm is solid."
The Jayhawks used consistent pitching and efficient base running to sweep the Missouri college. Sophomore Tom Bilye, 21, collected the victory in the first game by lasting seven innings and allowing four earned runs.
freshman Curtis Shaw relieved Bilyeu until the game was called in the eighth inning because of the 10-run rule.
Sophomore Craig Stoppel pitched the final two innings of the second contest, allowing no earned runs and recording two strikeouts.
The Jayhawks were able to apply, for the first time, Bingham's multifaceted offense of bunting and stealing, Bingham said. Kansas stole seven bases in the two games, led by junior Steve Dowling's four steals in the second game.
"The steals were just there," Bingham said. "If the pitcher-catcher combo is right, we should be able to run. But today was the first time we united well and stole a lot of bases."
Bingham said the games were important for the 10-8 Jayhawks to start playing positive after going 2-4 during spring break. Kansas came from behind in the second game, following Tarkio's three-run first inning.
"The kids did a good job battling and getting two runs back with two outs," Bingham said about the first game. "That set the tempo for the second game. We still have trouble putting people away. One of the keys to the season is if we play nine innings. We did a good job today; we just needed to close out the game."
The Jayhawks next play Missouri Western tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Hogland-Maupin Stadium.
KANSAS 14, TARKIO 4
Tarkio 012 100 00-4 9
Kansas 043 000 50
Tarkio 012 100-4⁹ 4-9
Kansas 043 00-9 4-9
Steuhr, Daeher 039 00+
Soka, Kanaas, Bilyan, Shaw (B) and Schmidt, Wiliy (B-21), L-Leuste (1-1) 2-B-28, Acosta, Alvarado, Kansas, Mentel 3-B-28, Zweierk, HRKS-Kansas; Menter (4), Ruidas (2)
KANSAS 9, T
Tarki         300 100 - 6 - 4 2
Kansas        232 200 - X 8
--over Waynesburg, Pa., was unstopp able all night and was named the tournament's most valuable player.
KANSAS 9, TARKIO 4
Kansas 232 200 X-9 8-O Tarki: Whipple, Garza (3) and Sofa; Kansas: Mulachy, Stoll (6) and Boeschen W-Mulachy (2), Stoll, L-Whiphe. B2-Ksana: Buchanan. 3Bs-Tarki: Gaibovis, Zweerink HR-Tarki: Acosta.
Sports Briefs
BOWLERS PERFORM WELL: The Kansas women's and men's bowling teams didn't finish in the top two at sectionals, but KU bowling coach Mike Fine said that the teams had their best tournaments of the year.
The women's team finished third behind Wichita State and West Texas State in the six-town team. The men finished fourth behind Wichita State, Arizona State and Houston in the 13-team field.
The top women's bowler was Judy Fiester, who had a 195 average for the tournament, and the top men's bowler was Morris Ross, who averaged 198.
Grand Canyon clinches NAIA title in overtime
Fine said that everyone bowled over his season average.
"This was easily our best tournament of the season," he said. "I can't wait until next year to start. We are only losing one bowler from each squad."
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rodney Johns scored 41 points and drilled a 15-footer with three seconds left in overtime last night, carrying Grand Canyon to an 88-6 victory over Auburn-Montgomery in the title game of the NAIA Tournament.
After a time out, Auburn-Montgomery tried a cross-court pass but it was intercepted by Johns.
Alphonso Bell committed his fifth foul with 1:08 left, sending Grand Canyon's Craig Johnson to the free kick. He made one foul shot to tie it at 86.
Seconds later, Bobby Harris stole a Grand Canyon pass and drove in for a lay-up. Johnson blocked the shot, and Grand Canyon called time out with 13 seconds to play to set up Johns' title-winning shot.
Johns, who had 39 points and the winning tip-in at the buzzer in Grand Canyon's 108-106 semifinal victory
He hit high jumpers, long jumps and a variety of driving lay-ups in helping the Antelopes win their third NAIA title since 1975. They finished their season 37-6.
Auburn-Montgomery finished 32-3 and was led by Orlando Graham's 17 points and Sandy Anderson's 14.
Johns canned two free throws to give the Antelopees an 82-79 lead, then Bobby Harris drilled a 3-point bucket to make an 82-82 tie with 41 seconds to play in regulation. Grand Canyon's Mike Ledbetter missed a long jumper at the buzzer, and the game went into overtime.
Auburn-Montgomery, making its first appearance in the NAIA title game, leaped to a 12-point lead in the first half behind the strong inside play of Graham, Anderson and Bell.
Women's basketball team proud of season despite tourney defeat
By Keith Stroker
Kansan sports writer
The Kansas women's basketball team's loss to Louisiana Tech was a tough end to an otherwise gratifying season.
But despite the 89-50 defeat, the Jayhawks felt good about their accomplishments this season.
"I think people around the nation are beginning to appreciate the Big Eight Conference," said Kansas coach Marian Washington. "We placed three teams in the tournaments and we made it to the second round. I only expect better things to come from our conference."
For the second year in a row, the Jayhawks won the Big Eight postseason tournament and received the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. Because of this year's victory, Washington was disappointed with the tournament position that Kansas received.
The Jayhawks played a preliminary round game against Middle Tennessee State in Allen Field House.
"After our victory, we had to play Louisiana Tech, the fifth-ranked team in the nation in the second round, despite winning our conference tournament," Washington said. "It is kind of confusing, because Nebraska and Colorado seemed to have easier teams to face. I think there are some changes that need to be made in the tournament format."
Colorado and Nebraska did not fare any better. The Buffalooes won their first-round game but lost 103-64 to Long Beach. The Cornhuskers, after a first round bye, lost 100-82 to Southern California.
Washington said that the Lady Techsters were a fine team but that
Kansas did not play well in the game
Sandy Shaw, the Jayhawks' leading scorer this season, did not score a point, missing all 12 of her goal field attempts. Washington said Kansas was intimidated by Louisiana Tech.
"They have tremendous fan support at their games, and because of Tech's reputation in women's basketball, it affected our team somewhat," Washington said. "They play a tremendous defensive game — one we had a hard time coping with."
Washington said she hoped that the NCAA would eventually schedule women's games on neutral court sites, the way men's games are scheduled.
The present format has teams playing on opposing team's home courts because of a limited budget. Washington said that this gave the better teams an unfair advantage of being able to play at home.
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