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SPORTS VERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1995
SECTION B
Assistant coach wants to spend more time at home
By Dan Geiston
Kansan sportswriter
Mike Boddicker is a member of a for mer World Series championship team. He is a former 20-game winner and all-star
And now he is a former member of the Kansas baseball coaching staff.
Just more than a month after he was hired to be the restricted-earnings baseball coach, Boddicker unexpectedly resigned from the position on Tuesday.
"I quit (major league) baseball to
KANSAS BASEBALL
spend time with my family, and I just wasn't doing it," Boddicker said. "It just wasn't for me."
"It was disappointing because he was so good at what he did," Kansas baseball coach Bobby Randall said. "I'm sorry it didn't last longer."
Randall, who hired Boddicker out of more than 60 applicants, said Boddicker informed him on Monday of his decision. Randall told the team on Tuesday.
"I still respect Mike a great deal," Randall said. "This was something that he felt was needed to be done, and he didn't want to drag it out.
Randall said that Doddicker, who lives in Overland Park, drove for over an hour each day to get back and forth to practice.
"He was getting home after his kids were in bed, and he just wasn't spending the time with the family that he wanted to. If we were in Overland Park or if he lived in Lawrence, perhaps it would be different."
But it was more than the commute that bothered Boddicker. It was life in an office that he said he just could not adjust to.
“Initially it was supposed to be a restricted-earnings position where I could do all the baseball stuff,” he said. “But they wanted me up there every day for meetings, and I was doing a lot of paper work and sitting in a cubicle. I said I wouldn't sit in a cubicle. It was eating me up inside. I got a big knot in my stomach every time I would drive on K-10.”
Boddicker said that his decision had nothing to do with the University, the baseball program or the athletic department. He said Randall talked to him about possibly becoming a volunteer coach, but Boddicker said he did not want to take the job away from Rick Sabbath.
As for the future, Boddicker said that because of the money he made during his professional career and sound financial advice, he did not have to work again. He said he did not have any plans, but would not rule out a return to St. Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park, where he previously coached.
Randall said he and Kansas pitching coach Wilson Kilmer would sit down and discuss possible candidates to replace Boddicker. He said that he was not in a rush, since the recruiting process was complete.
"If my gut could take it, I would still be there," Boddicker said. "College baseball wasn't meant for me, I guess."
Kathleen Driscoll / KANSAN
Mason 'completely different' this year
Players say Kansas coach's spirits have been higher than usual all season long
kansas junior defensive tackle Kevin Kopp (57) helps tackle Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier in Saturday's 41-3 loss. The No. 15 Jayhawks have been more relaxed this season, thanks in par to an 8-2 record.
By Robert Sinclair
Kansan sportswriter
Although he wouldn't come out and say it, Kansas football coach Glen Mason was in a particularly good mood during his last regular-season press conference yesterday.
In fact, Kansas senior linebacker Dick Holt has noticed a change all year long in the coach's attitude from four years ago.
"From the time I came here to now, he's completely different," Holt said. "He smiles a lot more, cracks more jokes, laughs a little more. He's definitely laid back."
"He was more worried (before) about the little things that really don't make a difference."
Mason has said that this season has been the most fun he has had coaching. This might be because of the team's 8-2 record going into Saturday's regular season finale against Oklahoma State, but Mason thinks it's the other way around.
"We've had a fair amount of success this year, and we've been about as laid back of a group as we could possibly be," he said. "They've affected me. I'm much more stable."
Which came first, though — the players affecting the coaches or the coaches affecting the players?
"I don't know if we've relaxed them, but they might have relaxed us." Kansas junior center Jared Smith said. "Before it used to be an attitude of being upright. Now it's just, 'relax and do your best.'"
When the season began, the Jayhawks had few expectations. After losing key defensive starters because of injuries, Kansas was picked to finish as low as sixth in the Big Eight Conference.
The Jayhawks never fought among themselves or pointed fingers at each other, even when it would have been easy to. The team struggled against both Cincinnati and Houston at home before pulling out victories, trailed 14-0 against Oklahoma and shot itself in the foot with numerous miscues in a 41-3 loss to Nebraska.
"I think it comes from confidence more than anything else," junior outside linebacker Chris Jones said. "It would be a lot easier for coach to get uptight when he sees his team fall apart real easily. I think all coaches have that sense of confidence in us, and we as a team — from member to member — have confidence in each other."
Even now, while his team is in the heat of postseason bowl hype, Mason took the time to tell a humorous story about his son, Patrick, who is a senior offensive lineman at Lawrence High School.
About six weeks ago, Glen and Patrick Mason
were sitting around the dinner table and talking about the latter's plans for next year. After learning that his son was going to Kansas, Mason asked him if he was going to walk on — he wanted to make sure Patrick knew he wasn't going to offer him a scholarship — and his son said no.
Then, Mason explained, he told his son that he's a pretty good player and maybe could be the snapper.
Suddenly, Mason paused during his story because he didn't want his current snapper freshman Sean McDermott — who has been having problems this year — to think he had lost faith in him.
"On second thought, maybe I should take that back," Mason joked. "Anyway, I didn't want to put any pressure on him (Patrick) so I switched gears real quick. I said, 'KU's got great academics, so do you have any idea what you want to be?'
Mason was serious, though, when talk turned to the fact that the Oklahoma State contest is one of the last games he will have with the senior class, which will have gone to two bowl games.
"He said, 'Oh yeah, I know what I want to be. I want to be a Phi Delt."
final game was the final game," Mason said. "You see those guys who are seniors, that you spend a lot of time with and you realize that they're not going to play for you any more.
"Most of the years I've been here you knew that the
"Sometimes it's emotional."
The coach also was distraught that he was going to miss seeing his son play in the high school football state championship this weekend.
"I'm sad I can't be there, kind of depressed about it," Mason said. "It never really hit me: I've spent my whole career watching other people's kids play and I've really neglected watching my own kids participate because of job responsibilities.
"When you're a parent you're more than a spectator. You become a participant."
When all was said and done, the bottom line was this weekend's trip to Stillwater, Okla., to take on the Cowboys.
"I think our goal all along has been to be as good as we possibly can be," Mason said. "Even when it comes down to your 11th game it becomes a one-game season. You're either going to be 8-3, 9-2 or 8-2-1. It's as simple as that."
"I know which one I want to be."
Cyclone seniors dig up win against Kansas; Jayhawks continue to struggle on the road
It was senior night for the Iowa State volleyball team last night, and the Cyclone seniors lead the way to a victory over Kansas 15-11, 15-9 and 15-5.
Kansan staff report
Jayhawks lose sixth consecutive conference match; fall to 8-18 overall
Iowa State senior middle blocker Dana Mucha had 13 kills, and Cyclone senior outside hitter Stebbanie McCannon added 12 kills.
For the Jayhawks, who dropped their sixth consecutive Big Eight Conference match, play was marked
"We played exceptional at times and we played poorly at times."
Karen Schonewise
Kansas volleyball coach
The Jayhawks are now 8-18 overall and 1-10 in Big Eight play.
by inconsistency.
Kansas volleyball coach Karen
KANSAS VOLLEYBALL
Kansas was led by sophomore right side hitter Kendra Kahler. Kahler had a team-leading 15 kills and an attack percentage of .314.
"We played exceptional at times and we played poorly at times," she said.
Schonewise said Kansas' play was inconsistent.
"I thought Kendra did a good job offensively." Schonewise said.
offensively," Schonewise said. Schonewise also was impressed with the play of sophomore outside hitter Leslie Purkevile.
Purkeypley finished the match with nine kills and 15 digs.
"Leslie Purkeypile has been improving over the last month and
that showed," she said. "She has been doing a lot of little things that don't show up in the box score, but they make the difference between a good player and a great player."
The Jayhawks also added a new wrinkle to their game plan. Usual outside hitter Laura Rohde saw some action as a setter.
Rohde, a freshman, recorded 17 assists after entering the match with a total of six assists on the season.
"I thought she made some good decisions tonight," Schonewise said. "She just needs more experience as a setter."
Kansas will play its final match of the season on Saturday against Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. in Allen Field House.
Tom Leininger / KANSAN
Kansas junior guard Jered Haase (35) and sophomore guard-forward Billy Thomas (12) defend an opponent.
Former guard a finalist for Hall of Fame
Kansas junior guard Jacque Vaughn finished sixth in the voting for The Associated Press preseason All-American team. The team consists of Wake Forest center Tim Duncan, Villanova guard Kerry Kittles, Connecticut forward Ray Allen, Massachusetts center Marcus Camby and Oklahoma forward Ryan Minor. Kansas sophomore forward Raef LaFrentz also received votes.
Kansas freshman forward T.J. Pugh suffered a mild
Monday's practice when he collided with LaFrentz. Assistant trainer Mark Cairns expects Pugh to play in
Kansas' exhibition game on Monday.
Former Kansas point guard Jo Jo White, a two-time All-American who played the Jayhawks from 1966-60, has been nominated for the Basketball Hall of Fame.
White was a three-time All-Big Eight Conference selection and the Big Eight player of the year in 1968. White averaged 15.3 points and 4.2 rebounds a game during his career at Kansas. He was a member of the 1968 gold medal-winning USA Olympic basketball team.
White played 12 seasons in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors and Kansas City Kings and was member of the Celtics for two NBA championship titles. White was named the most valuable player of the 1976 NBA Finals and was a seven-time NBA All-Star.
Kansas forward Scot Pollard is from San Diego but soon part of his family will be a short drive away.
His No. 10 jersey was retired by the Celtics. His No. 15 Kansas jersey has not been retired, however.
One of Pollard's older brothers, Neal, has accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Washburn University in Topeka. Three of Scot's four brothers are taller than him, including 7-foot Neal. After playing for San Diego State, the new Washburn Ichabod has two years of eligibility remaining.
Compiled by Kansan sportswriter Matt Irwin
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