UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N Tuesday, November 5, 1996 3B Cyclists roll at nationals Love of sport local lake hills prepare team By Kerry Hillard Kansan sports writer The Kansas Cycling Club did not need mountains to prepare for a race. The club finished ninth out of 31 scoreable teams at the Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals in Carrollton, Ky. Kansas cyclist Tyler Bergmeier, Longford graduate student, said a lot of people were surprised to see a Midwest team finish in the top 10. "They don't even have hills in Kansas," said Bergmeier, repeating one of the jokes he had heard. Practicing on courses around Clinton Lake, the team prepared 14 cyclists to compete against 140 other riders at the national competition. Half of the Kansas cyclists placed in the top 40. The courses at Clinton helped the team prepare, Bergmeier said. The national race was technical — rough and rocky, requiring strong bicycle handling skills — like the Clinton courses, Bergmeier said. Bergmeier finished 42nd in the men's category "B" race. His teammate Richard Tidd, Lawrence senior, finished with the best place for Kansas at 26th. Many of the Kansas cyclists had little competitive racing experience. Meara McQuain, cyclist and Overland Park junior, had participated in only two races before the nationals. "I went into the race thinking there wasn't going to be a chance for me," McQuain said. "My only expectations are to finish and have fun." McQuain not only met her expectations, but she also exceeded them. She finished the 15-mile race in 24th place, the second best time for the Kansas team. Stacey Lamer, Lawrence senior, finished ahead of McQuain in 21st place. After she crossed the finish line, McQuain was ecstatic but "I almost collapsed," McQuain said. exhausted. "I thought, "Thank God I'm done," Plumer said. When Doug Plumer, Kansas cyclist and Lenexa senior, crossed the finish line in 37th place, he too experienced a range of emotions. Plumer raced in the 25-mile men's category "A" race, which is the expert level. He finished behind his teammate Todd Berger, Chicago senior, who finished 32nd. Berger said he planned to make cycling his career and that his love for the sport kept him going. "I like the outdoors being my office, as opposed to a suit-and-tie thing," Berger said. High expectations of Big 12 fade, teams work toward bowl games The Associated Press DALLAS — Forget the disappointing non-conference record, the number of teams that have fallen out of the rankings and everything else that has kept the Big 12 from becoming the superconference league officials expected. What really would make the new league's first season a flop: failing to produce enough teams to fulfill the six bowl berths created for them. So far, only No. 5 Nebraska (7-1). No. 7 Colorado (7-1) and No. 13 Kansas State (7-1) have the six wins over Division I-A opponents needed to qualify for the postseason. Texas Tech has the next-best chance of being eligible for a bowl, as the Red Raiders (5-3) must win only one of their final three games, against Texas, Southwestern Louisiana and Oklahoma. That leaves the fifth and sixth slots up for grabs between Kansas (4-4), Texas (4-4), Baylor (4-4) and Texas A&M (4-5). "I think everybody is looking for the same thing: How do we get to six and battle from there," Texas coach John Mackovic said in yesterday's conference call among all league coaches. "I think all of us are looking at being able to qualify for postseason games because our conference has wonderful arrangements with all these (bowl) games." The league champion — to be determined Dec. 7 in St. Louis, when the North and South division winners square off — will face another conference champ in a major bowl as part of the Bowl Alliance. The second-place team, which won't necessarily be the St. Louis loser, plays in the Cotton Bowl. The No. 3 team goes to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl. A fourth school has an invitation to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl. The fifth-place team gets to go to Honolulu to play in the Aloha Bowl, while the No. 6 finisher is Copper Bowl bound. Of the teams vying for postseason eligibility, the Longhorns may have the toughest challenge because all three of their remaining opponents also are in that pack. After Tech on Saturday, UT plays Kansas, then A&M. Should the Longhorns win all three of those games, they'd be the South's representative in St. Louis. Tech is favored to take on the North's best because it gets Texas at home then only has to beat Oklahoma (2-6), which has lost two games straight following a two-game winning streak. "We haven't made plans for anything," Tech coach Spike Dykes said. "If we don't do well Saturday, we'll be at grandma's over Christmas." Missouri (3-5, 1-4) is technically alive, but must beat Nebraska, Baylor and Kansas to remain eligible. Iowa State (2-6) and Oklahoma State (4-5) already are eliminated. The Cowboys may reach six wins, but one victory was against Division I-AA Southwest Missouri State. The Sooners would have to win their last three games, against OSU, A&M and Tech, which would give them the South Division, then also win the title game just to be 6-6. OU still would need NCAA approval to go bowling because a winning record is another requirement along with the six I-A victories. As absurd as it seems, Oklahoma (2-6, 2-3) still is in the postseason race—barelv. "I haven't even thought about it." Oklahoma coach John Blake said. "We're just going through film and trying to make corrections. It's great to have that opportunity." Last year, while competing in the Big Eight and the Southwest Conference, seven Big 12 schools appeared in bowls and an eighth -74 Baylor — was eligible for the postseason. Hopes were high for similar success this season as six teams began in the rankings. A&M was the first to fall, followed by Kansas and Texas. "It's almost like we set ourselves up for this because of the great year we had last year," Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel said. "This sort of thing is cyclical." SUA FILMS Double Feature: FEED The Doesbury Special Tues. Nov. 5...7:00pm Tues. Nov. 7...7:00pm A Perfect Candidate Tues. Nov. 5...9:30pm Wed. Nov. 6...7:00pm Nashville Wed. Nov. 6...9:30pm Thurs. Nov. 7...9:30pm All shows in Woodruff Auctionum Tickets Washington Week All shows in Woodruff Auditorium. Tickets $2.50. Free with SUA Movie Card. Ruth & Kids Floral 1 dozen arranged roses only $19.95 953 E.23rd (corner 23rd & Haskell) call 832-0704 Council Travel FARES ARE EACH YAY FROM KANSAS CITY BASED ON A BOUNDARY PURCHASE AND ARE STUDENT FARES. FARES DO NOT INCLUDE federal TAXES or PPCS TOYOLING BY THE $-50, SSO, OR MONETARY BALANCE OF FOREIGN GROVEN DIVISIONS. 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