Sports
University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, April 23, 1991
13
Oilers draft former KU linebacker
By Mark Spencer
Kansan sportswriter
Former Kansas linebacker Curtis Moore was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 10th round of the NFL draft yesterday afternoon.
Moore, 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, was the 1st pick in the 10th round and the 187th pick.
"There are always different people telling you different things," Moore said. "As far as my own personal life is concerned, I was a late rounder or a free agent."
The Oliers selected Moore despite the fact that he had missed playing time last season with an injured knee in 1980 season with an injured knee.
"Houston asked about that, and I had been cleared." Moore said.
"That's a standard thing the teams ask about, so I wasn't concerned."
On the other hand, the Kansas football coaching staff was worried that Moore's previous injuries affected his draft value.
Kansas defensive coordinator Bob Fello said, "We were all hoping he would get drafted, but you never know what's going to happen. With Curtis' injuries, we all had our fingers crossed."
After the Oliers' selection, Fello said he liked Moore's chances to make the Houston roster despite his relatively short by NFL standards.
"There's guys of all different sizes playing now," he said. "Curtis has good body weight, good speed and good instincts."
Moore said he was glad to be drafted by anyone, but Houston especially pleased him.
"When they came down to talk to me, I really liked both of their guys," Moore said. "Houston seemed to like them, and he needed to make me a part of their team."
Moore, a Wichita native, registered 350 total tackles in his career and was the Big Eight Conference newcomer of the year in 1987.
The Oilers might want Moore to attend a mini-camp in May. Otherwise, he is not expected to report to the Houston camp until June 1.
He was the only Jayhawk drafted this year and the first Kansas defensive player drafted since Alvin Walton, a selection by the Washington Redskins.
The Associated Press
Chiefs draft defensive backs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs loaded up on defensive backs yesterday, hoping to stretch their lower-round winning streak through one more draft.
But the pickings may be leaker in this third draft under general manager Carl Peterson and coach Marty Schottenheimer since last fall's 11-5 record has them picking 12 or 21 in every round.
"But I feel very good about it," Schottenheimer said at the conclusion of the two-day NFL draft.
"I think the reason we've had the success is we've continued to follow the board.
You always look up and say,
'Is that the highest-rated guy on
the board?' And when you look up
there and that's the guy, it makes
the choices easy.'
Without a fourth-round choice Sunday, the Chiefs had plenty of time to contemplate their first decision yesterday in round five. The Giants blew Mincy, a 5-foot-11, 187-pound cornerback from Washington.
Kansas will face SMSU third time
By Lana Smith
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas junior third baseman Camille Spitalier said the Jayhawks game against Southwest Missouri State at 3 p.m. today in Springfield. Mo. would be just as physical game as it would be physical
She said that SMSU was not a top-20 caliber team. Nevertheless, the Jayhaws were defeated in the teams' last two meetings.
Spitaleri said Kansas' hitting would be the key to winning the game.
"We're facing a better pitcher." Spitaleri said. "We had something like 13 chances to score this weekend. We won't have that many against her. She has pitched really well."
Spitaleri said she thought the Jayhawks were hitting better now than they did in the last two games against SMSU.
"If we score early, we have the ability to win," Spitaleri said.
She said Kansas' pitching and defense were on track.
"Pitching can improve with every game," Spitaleri said. "The
Softball
better our pitching is, the less we have to depend on our defense."
Kansas coach Kalum Haack said today's game would be a good test for the Jayhawks because SMSU's Debbie Day would be the team's coach. Kansas would see at the Big Eight Conference tournament May 3.5.
"We're going to try to beat Debbie Day," Haack said. "We have not been successful hitting all the balls, so this fall and at Texas A&M."
Haack said he had told the Jayhawks they needed to take advantage of all of the scoring opportunities against SMSU because there would be fewer there had been in recent games.
Because today's game will be the last time Kansas will face SMSU this year. Haack said the team has not been prepared to break their leasing streak
"They'll be ready to play," Haack said. "They won't look past them."
Fifth-year members look past final serve
Bv Mark Spencer
Kansan sportswriter
But, as the season and their careers are nearing the last serve, their minds can wander a bit.
After five years with the Kansas men's tennis program, it is difficult for fifth-year seniors Jeff Gross, Craig Widley and Chris Walker to think about many things outside of tennis.
"The fifth-year seniors seem to have the same thoughts," Walker said. "It's going to be sad when it's over, but that's reality."
His tennis future will be decided after he has arm surgery later this spring
Reality for Walker could take one of two paths after his Kansas career is over.
Walker's academic future, however, will be determined when the winner of the Walter Byers Post-Graduation Scholarship is announced today.
"I'll either continue playing or go to graduate school," said Walker, a business administration major.
Regardless of his plans, Walker said he fondly would remember KU, especially those he shared with Goss and doubled time friend and doubles partner.
"It's a special kind of friendship that a lot of people aren't privileged to have," Walker said. "We're still in the process of finding out what we'll Be around each other for a long time."
time."
"My whole experience here has been great," he said. "I've had a great time. I'll probably miss the competition most."
Competition and his two teammates, that is.
"We've been through a lot together." Gross said of his fellow seniors. "We years is a long time to go, and that will carry on for a long time."
Wildley has been an important part of uniting the three seniors off, as well as on, the court.
Perelman said the presence of Walker, Wildey and Gross was like having three assistant coaches on and off the court.
For now, however, the only future event the three seniors are concerned with is the Big Eight Conference on Thursday and Friday in Okahanna City.
Wildey plans to complete his sports management degree in December before making any decisions about his future.
The Jayhawks enter the tournament in second place, just three points behind Oklahoma State.
"The three of them are the backbone of this team," he said. "Myself, as well as the whole program, will miss those three guys."
Kansas men finish second
By Rick C. Honish
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas golf and rotten weather are becoming synonymous.
For the second time in three tournaments, the men's team played in less-than-ideal conditions. This time the cold and clouds followed Kansas Firestone Intercollegiate Tournament, where the Jayhawks played last weekend.
"It was rainy and cold both days," Ross Randall, Kansas coach, said. "We never got out of the rainsuit, and the umbrella's never went down."
"I wouldn't be surprised if there had been some ice coming down Sunday," he said. "I don't think it ever got out of the high 30s."
After dealing with rain, sleet, hail and snow this year, Kansas may be starting to thrive in conditions like those in Akron.
The team finished second in a 36 team field and beat 14th-ranked Kent State for the third time this year
Sophomore Matt Gogle had the low score for Kansas with 221 and placed fourth overall
Sophomore Brad Bruno finished sixth with a score of 222.
Gogle said his goal for the tournament had been to use it as a tune-up for the coming Big Eight championship.
"I am happy with the way I played," he said. "Anybody can play in nice weather, but when you play in cold weather, have been, you really become better."
Casey Brozek and Jim Young of the men's golf team practice putting at Alvamar Golf Course in preparation for the Big Eight tournament April 29-30 at Hallbrook Golf Course in Leawood.
Better is exactly how sophomore Jim Young played.
Young regained his spot as the team's fifth man and played as if he intended to keep it, shooting a team low second round of 72.
"It was the first time all year we have gotten the help we needed from the fifth man," Randall said.
Randall said he thought the team was playing better.
"I think we are just about where we need to be going into the Big
Eight." he said.
Kansas will play in the Big Eight Championship April 29 and 30 at the Hallbrook Golf Club in Leawood.
UNLV reportedly broke rule
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- While the NCAA was scrutinizing UNLV's basketball recruiting practices, UNLV was using an outside representative in apparent violation of NCAA rules in the recruitment of a player on the team this season, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Vic Deauvoo, who at one time served as an unofficial strength and conditioning coach at Salt Lake Community College, steered Love to UNLV and then arranged special tutoring in Las Vegas to help Love become eligible to play for the Rebels, the newsaper reported.
businessman in the recruitment of Melvin Love, a backup center.
Citing interviews with people familiar with the situation and court and state records, the Times said in today's editions that UNLV basketball staff members accepted the assistance of a Salt Lake City
Love spent two years at Salt Lake Community College after leaving Cajon High in San Bernardino in 1987, the times said.
appeared in 19 games for the Runnin'
Rebels, two in the NCAA Tournament,
and is expected to be a part of a
rebuilt UNV team next season.
NCAA rules prohibit representatives of a university's athletic interests from being involved in recruiting as well as providing certain benefits, including tutoring, for prospective student athletes.
Although Deauvoir has no obvious ties to UNLV, he had frequent dealings with UNLV basketball staff and included coach Jerry Tarkanian.
Love, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound junior.
Royals handed fifth loss in six tries
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Cleveland rookie Charles Nagy pitched six perfect innings before faltering in the seventh last night as the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 10-4.
The 23-year-old Nagy (1-1) was perfect until Jim Eisenreich led off the seventh with a line drive double just inside the foul line in right field.
After Eisenreich's hit, Kansas City loaded the bases on an error and a walk, and Danny Tarabtallu's sacrifice fly ended Nagy's string of 19% groundouts followed with a three-run homer, his fourth home run of the season.
Before that, the Royals' best chance at a hit was George Brett's飞 to left field in the first, which Beau Allred caught high against the wall.
for Cleveland, which ended a three-game losing streak and sent Kansas City to its fifth loss in six games.
Steve Olin and Doug Jones finished
Chris James, who drove in three runs, gave Cleveland the lead in the first with an RBI single. The Indians added six runs in the fourth when Joel Skinner and Jerry Browne both hit two-run singles and James hit a 414-foot, two-run homer off Luis Aucoin.
Eyes on the ball
Mark Heidebrecht, Wichita senior, practices hitting softballs to fellow residents of Oliver Hall
Knee injury sidelines Brett
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — George Brett will fly back to Kansas City today to have his right knee examined after he injured it while running out a groundout in the eighth inning of last night's 10-4 loss to Cleveland.
Royals manager John Wathan said there was no way to gauge the extent of the problem vet.
"He felt a sensation coming out of the box his last at bat and took himself out of the game," Wathan said. "It's the same type of sensation he got when he faced four problems with his knees. We want our people to look at him."
Brett has had injury problems with both knees during his career. In 1989, he missed 35 games after tearing the
medial collateral ligament in the right knee.
"I don't think it's fair to say anything about it until our doctors look at it," Wathan said. "They have the history of his injuries, the X-rays. He's had a couple of knee operations. He's had a knee scoped.
"You try not to worry about things you can't control. But it sull bothers you when one of the greatest players when one of them goes down, no matter for how long."
The 37-year-old Brett was 0-for-3 in the game, dropping his average to .170.
Last year, he won the American League batting title with a .329 average despite a slow start.
'Hawks get honors for 'ugly' wins
Chris
Oster
Associate
sports editor
For those of you who weren't one of the 1,500 or so people in on last night's "exclusive" basketball banquet, let me try to catch you on up the last gasp of this year's season.
First, the good news.
Assistant coach Jerry Green later elaborated on Williams' job refusals.
Yen Very good news
"Yesterday I told another school (Notre Dame?) that I was not inter-tested in their coaching position," he said. "The way I did that is by making a statement: 'I have the job I want.'"
Becoming a bit sentimental about the season and harkening back to his hiring as an unknown three years ago, Coach Roy Williams gave an example of his feelings about Kansas.
The Irish job presented another problem.
He said that when Florida inquired about Williams' availability a year ago, Williams couldn't take the job because he would have had too much trouble with sand traps on Florida's golf courses.
"When Notre Dame called, I knew he didn't know anything about the Catholic religion, so I knew we were to be here at least another year."
First on the humble-wagon was Williams.
While he was redirecting the credit toward his players, it's doubtful that anyone in the audience bought into Williams' analysis
Although the guys in the shorts got the credit, they were also the subject of some left-handed compliments as Williams recalled the season.
"I've gotten way too much publicity, much too much praise for my coaching." Williams said. "It's the tale of the shorts who deserve the credit."
Back to his original intention, Williams talked about how this team won ugly, but always fought to win.
"This was an ugly team, and I'm not talking about works," Williams said, but rebutted his qualifier as he felt the need to "of course if the shoe we fit, wear it."
The awards and their recipients were:
After some playful roasting of players and coaches — most of which was directed at Green, the man identified as Kansas' free throw (shot put, heave, bonk) coach — the awards ceremonies began.
- Ken Koenigs Academic Award:
Mark Randall and Mike Maddox
Kansas 'two academic all-Big Eight
Conference selections.
Dutch Lonbong Free-Throw Percentage Award: Adonis Jordan, who was introduced by assistant coach Steve Robinson as a Greek goddess (Should Marian Washington know about this?)
Cedric Hunter Assists Award; Jordan, who credited teammates such as Mark Randall for hitting their shots.
Clyde Lovelette Most Improved Player Award: Again to Jordan. At this, Jordan explained how hard he worked in the off season to improve and how that work paid off, because "I'm the most improved player."
Ted Owens Defensive Player Award; Alonzo Jamison.
■ Bill Bridges Rebounding Award:
Another for Jamison
Dick Hart Pair Field Goal Percentage Award: Mark Randall, who threw credit back to Jordan and the rest of his teammates.
■ James Naismith Captain's
Award: To the four seniors: Kirk
Wagner, Mike Maddox, Terry Brown
and Mark Bardall.
"Phog" Allen Most Valuable Player Award: Mark Randall.
During the ceremony, the players shifted the credit from one to the other. Randall finished the series by asking making of the role of his teammates.
This kind of humility with athletes is not new, of course. Almost every type of award received requires the applicant to show credit, thus looking like a nice guy.
But with the Jayhawks, it's 'belle- this is not new to them — it's not just the way they receive awards, it's the way they play basketball.
Chris Oater is a Topeka senior majoring in journalism.