The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 23

THE SALINA JOURNAL SPORTS WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 10, 1996 D3 NFL COACHING JOBS NFL DRAFT KANSAS STATE Spurrier rejects Bucs' job offer SPURRIER Coach will stay with Gators; Dolphins seek deal with Johnson By The Associated Press Steve Spurrier talked, listened and then followed his heart. The Florida coach rejected a lucrative offer Tuesday to take over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, saying college football not the NFL is where he belongs. "Maybe this will end the speculation for years to come," Spurrier told a news conference. "I've talked and I've listened and I think I'm probably just a college ball coach.

Probably that's what's best for me." The Bucs reportedly offered the 50-year-old coach a financial package that included a salary of about $2 million per season, plus part ownership in the team, which hasn't had a winning season since 1982. Spurrier acknowledged a longtime "fascination" with the Bucs job, dating to his days as coach of the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits in the mid-1980s, but finally decided to reject the offer early Tuesday. "I'm not sure when the (final) decision was made," he said. "I guess it was over at about 7:30 or eight this morning." Tampa Bay also has had discussions with former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson about the vacancy created when Sam Wyche was fired Dec. 27.

A second tier of candidates for the job reportedly includes Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Pete Carroll, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Tony Dungy and Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner. DOLPHINS WOO JOHNSON The Miami Dolphins' wooing of Jimmy Johnson proceeded this week under an attempted shroud of secrecy despite two years of speculation their marriage was inevitable. Both sides hoped to reach an agreement by the end of the week. The replacement of Don Shula as coach of the Dolphins has BOWL ALLIANCE drawn plenty of attention. Shula, the NFL's winningest coach, retired Friday and moved into the front office in a peripheral role with the team he coached for 26 years.

Team owner H. Wayne Huizenga has said Johnson, former coach of the Miami Hurricanes and Dallas Cowboys, is the leading candidate to replace Shula. But beyond that, nobody's saying much. Though there was speculation Johnson and Huizenga could meet as early as Tuesday, local television stations reported Tuesday night that Huizenga had spent the day home sick with the flu and had not met with Johnson. One obstacle to Johnson's return appears to be resolved: Shula has indicated he has no objection to Johnson; and Johnson said the new Dolphins coach would naturally have to consult with Shula, the architect of the team.

Frosty relations developed between the two after Johnson fired Shula's son David as offensive coordinator of the Cowboys after the 1990 season. David Shula is now coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson also has said he is talking with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the Dolphins, Johnson would have Huizenga's deep pockets, NFL record-setting quarterback Dan Marino and a nucleus of talented, but underachieving, veterans. With the Bucs, Johnson would inherit a team with budding potential and former University of Miami defensive tackle Warren Sapp, four of the first 41 picks in the next NFL draft and an uncertain future.

The Bucs have been rumored as a likely candidate to leave Tampa Bay. FONTES TO STAY Wayne Fontes, given a make-the-playoffs- or-else ultimatum by Lions owner William Clay Ford after the team started 3-6, will return next season despite an embarrassing first- round playoff loss to Philadelphia. Fontes met with Ford on Tuesday and said the topic of discussion was "where we want to go and where we are," Ford said. The Lions won their last seven games to finish 10-6, but the favored Lions were beaten 58-37 by the Eagles in the first round, leading to speculation that Fontes would not be back next season. The Associated Press Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips (1) said Tuesday he will enter the NFL draft this spring.

Phillips to leave Nebraska Tailback to enter draft along with Biakabutuka and LSD's Kennison By The Associated Press Lawrence Phillips is taking his coach's advice and leaving national champion Nebraska for the NFL. Phillips, the troubled but talented Cornhuskers' tailback, said Tuesday he will pass up his senior season and declare himself eligible for the NFL draft. "The chance to play in the NFL, to be considered a draft prospect, wouldn't be happening without the Nebraska football program," Phillips said in a statement released by the school. "I am mostly appreciative of the coaching, the teaching, the advice and the friendship I received from the coaches, in particular coach Tom Osborne and coach Frank Solich. I am a better player and person because of them." After Phillips ran for 165 yards and scored three touchdowns in Nebraska's Fiesta Bowl victory over Florida, Osborne discussed Phillips' future.

Osborne said that if he stayed at Nebraska, Phillips likely would continue to be marked for criticism, as he has been in Lincoln since his arrest for assaulting a former girlfriend in September. "The past several months have been difficult for everyone," Phillips added "I know that I made a mistake which I deeply regret. I believe I have learned and grown as a result of it." Phillips was considered a Heisman Trophy contender after two sparkling performances to open Nebraska's season, but Osborne suspended him after the assault. The attack occurred early on the morning after Nebraska beat Michigan State 50-10. Phillips had 206 yards and four TDs in the Sept.

9 game. Osborne, who first kicked Phillips off the team, allowed him back into the program but said he had to attend anger-control counseling and meet other stipulations if he wanted to play again. Phillips returned after six weeks, although he did not make his first start until the Fiesta Bowl, where he helped No. 1 Nebraska to a 62-24 victory over second-ranked Florida. BIAKABUTUKA TO LEAVE Tailback Tshimanga Biakabu- tuka said Tuesday he will skip his senior year at Michigan in a bid for the pros.

Biakabutuka became just the second player in Michigan history to rush for more than 300 yards in a game when he closed out the reg- ular season with a career-high 313 yards and one touchdown in the Wolverines' 31-23 upset of then- No. 2 Ohio State. Biakabutuka gamed a school- record 1,818 yards last season. DUNN TO STAY Record- setting Florida State tailback Warrick Dunn said Tuesday he'll remain in school for his final year of eligibility. "I haven't had any money for 21 years.

What's another year?" said Dunn, who is certain to be among the preseason favorites for the 1996 Heisman Trophy. "It was tough when someone says you're going to get $1 million a year." Dunn rushed for a school-record 1,242 yards this season, averaging 7.5 yards a carry. LSU RECEIVER GOES Junior Eddie Kennison, a key to LSU's first winning football season since 1988, said Tuesday he would enter the upcoming NFL draft and could go as high as No. 12. Kennison, a wide receiver and kick return specialist, averaged over 130 all-purpose yards a game in 1995.

Kennison returned a kickoff for a 92-yard touchdown in the Tigers' Independence Bowl victory over Michigan State game and caught five passes for 124 yards, including a 49-yard catch for a TD. Big Ten, Pac-10 ponder move to bowl alliance Move would guarantee national champion each year in college football By DOUG TUCKER The Associated Press DALLAS The Big Ten and Pac-10 are having discussions about joining the bowl alliance, a move that would guarantee a national championship game every year in college football. "Whether anything's going to happen or not, I don't know," Andy Geiger, athletic director at Ohio State said Tuesday during the NCAA's annual convention. "But ideas are being exchanged and the matter is under consideration." "I would say we'll know by late spring or early summer if we have something that's viable," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said. The Big Ten and Pac-10, bound to a 50-year tradition of sending their champions to the Rose Bowl, are the only major football conferences that have refused to join the alliance.

The other Division I-A leagues match their two top-rated teams every year in a bowl, rotating among the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar. It worked out perfectly this year with No. 1 Nebraska of the Big Eight meeting No. 2 Florida of the Southeastern Conference for the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl. But for a long time, it appeared the alliance's first year could end in confusion and controversy because Ohio State was in the na- tipnal title hunt and apparently headed to the Rose Bowl.

When the Buckeyes lost to Michigan, however, it eliminated them from contention and gave the Fiesta a clear-cut championship game. If the Big Ten and Pac-10 do reach a deal with the alliance, it would give football fans what they've long been clamoring for KANSAS WESLEYAN-BROWN MACKIE KW, Brown Mackie in action Coyote teams battle Friends; Brown Mackie to play Cloud County By The Journal Staff The Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes resume play after the long holiday break tonight at Muir Gymnasium, against Friends in two Kansas Conference games. The women play at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m. The games will give fans their first view of the new wooden floor at Muir, which was installed during the holiday break. The floor will be dedicated Saturday night during the Coyotes' games against Bethany.

The Coyote women enter the game with a 7-4 overall record, 2-1 in the KCAC. Friends is 5-8, 0-3. Kansas Wesleyan's men are 3-9, 1-2 and Friends 3-8, 2-1. KW men's coach Jerry Jones will start guards Jason Gentz (25.3 points per game) and Tim Stewart (3.7), forwards Fred Goodnight (12.6) and Matt Broyles (10.3) and center Bart Mclntire (10.4). New signee Rashawn Joyce will be the first man off the bench, Jones said.

Friends will counter with 6-8 center Dalen West (15 ppg), 6-5 forward Peter Martin (10 ppg), 6-4 forward John Knoll (10 ppg), 6-1 guard Drew Holmes and 6-1 guard Chris Dye (7 ppg). Meanwhile, the Brown Mackie men's and women's basketball teams take on Cloud County in two junior college games at the Bicentennial Center. The women's game begins at 5:30 p.m. and the men's game at 7:30 p.m. The Brown Mackie men are coming off a victory Saturday over Barton County and Cloud County upended Independence Saturday in the Salina Shootout at the Bicentennial Center.

Cloud County dropped an 81-75 decision to Barton County Monday night at Great Bend. The Brown Mackie women lost to the Bethany JV Monday night. a guaranteed national championship game. "It worked this year, but there will be times when it won't work unless the Pac-10 and Big Ten and the Rose Bowl become integrated into the alliance somehow," Geiger said. "Our contract with the Rose Bowl runs through 2002.

But contracts can be amended." The alliance would embrace the only two major conferences it lacks. "I'm optimistic that at some point it will happen," said Roy Kramer, commissioner of the SEC and chairman of the alliance. "I think what happened with the alliance this year had a positive effect to drive toward that." Nebraska, which won its second straight national championship, and Florida each received $8.5 million in the Fiesta Bowl. "We now have an ability to provide comparable financial reward for teams who participate," TONIGHT'S GAMES Cloud County at Brown Mackie WHEN Women 5:30 p.m.; men 7:30 p.m. WHERE Bicentennial Center, Salina RECORDS Women: Brown Mackie 8-7; Cloud County 12-4.

Men: Cloud County 11-3; Brown Mackie 8-7. Friends at Kansas Wesleyan WHEN Women 6 p.m.; men 8 p.m. WHERE Muir Gymnasium, Salina RECORDS Women: Kansas Wesleyan 7-4, 2-1; Friends 0-3, 5-8. Men: Kansas Wesleyan 3-9, 1-2; Friends 3-8, 2-1 Kramer said. "That wasn't the case before." "I think bringing in the Big Ten and Pac-10 would be great," said Nebraska athletic director Bill Byrne.

"But 1 would want to do it on the alliance's terms, not on their terms. From the comments I've heard, they would want to come in only if they could have the championship game in the Rose Bowl." Although Big Ten and Pac-10 people all say they remain committed to the Rose Bowl, they add that there might be ways to accommodate all interested parties. "Let's say UCLA is No. 1 and Oklahoma is No. 2 and the Fiesta Bowl has the 1-2 game," said Pac- 10 executive director Tom Hansen.

"Maybe UCLA could be released from the Rose Bowl to go play Oklahoma. It's a possibility that we've been looking at to see if everyone can accept it. "It has a lot of hurdles to get over. But there has been a definite shift in interest among both conferences to see how this could be done," Any arrangement would have to be agreed to by the networks, the schools and the participating conferences. "What we want to do is maintain as much of the Rose Bowl tradition as we can, find a plan which is acceptable to all our partners, including the Tournament of Roses, and then explore that with the alliance," Delany said.

"Whether it can be done, I think, is problematic. We'd need more consensus than presently exists." Wiren to enter plea of guilty Charges stem from fight with two students during the summer By The Associated Press MANHATTAN Kansas State defensive end Nyle Wiren will plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a fight at the home of two other students, attorneys said. Wiren was expected to plead guilty Thursday to criminal trespass and criminal damage to property, assistant Riley County attorney Barry Wilkerson said Tuesday. Four other charges were to be dropped as part of the agreement. Wiren's attorney, Meryl Wilson, confirmed the arrangement.

Wiren, a junior from Wichita, was charged in the Aug. 20 incident along with quarterback Brian Kavanagh and linebacker Percell Gaskins. Charges were dropped against Gaskins and Kavanagh's trial is scheduled for Feb. 29. Authorities said a group of football players went to the house of student Matt Aupperle and graduate student Steven Kirkland in retaliation for an earlier confrontation.

The players were accused of beating the men and throwing a piece of concrete at a dog. Wilkerson said evidence indicates that Wiren damaged the door and was the first one to enter the residence. The charges that were dropped included two charges of battery, one charge of conspiracy to commit battery and one charge of cruelty to animals. Wilkerson said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute any of those charges. Wiren could be sentenced to up to one year in jail on each remaining charge.

Wilkerson said his office would seek a six-month sentence on each charge. WICHITA STATE Shockers face Indiana State By The Journal Staff WICHITA Wichita State Shockers open a much-needed three-game homestand tonight against Missouri Valley Conference foe Indiana State. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. at Levitt Arena. The Shockers have lost four in a row, the last three on the road, to fall to 4-10 overall.

They are last in the MVC with a 0-4 record. The Shockers lost at Drake last Thursday, 66-62, a game in which they committed 29 turnovers. The road trip ended with a 66-57 loss Saturday at Creighton. WSU holds a 26-12 edge over Indiana State, including a 19-1 record at Levitt Arena. Coach Scott Thompson will start Larry Callis and Carter Arnett at the forwards, center Darin Miller, and guards Marvin Hill and Melvin McKey.

Miller is averaging 11.1 points and Hill 10.6 points to lead WSU. Indiana State is 4-6 overall, 0-2 in the MVC. The Sycamores lost at home Sunday to Southwest Missouri State 89-78. CONCORDIA GUN SHOW Sponsored by Pawnee Qunt A Ammo Held at Concordla National Guard Armory January 13th 14th, 1996 Saturday 9:00 pm Sunday 9:00 am 4:00 pm Admission: $2.00. Children 12 Under free with adult.

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