Season Off to a Good Start for Basketball Bears

Bear Talk The newsletter for athletics at Southwest Missouri State University

Volume 17, Number 2 January 1999 Randy Ball named new head football coach andy Ball, the winningest coach in Bears. Ball's appointment was approved in the sernifmals. Western Illinois history, the archi unanimously by the SMS Board of At WIU, Ball's teams in nine seasons R tect of three straight appearances Governors Dec. 18. Ball receives a four had a winning record against every by WIU in the NCAA Division I-AA year contract with a base salary of $87,000. Gateway club except the Northern Iowa playoffs, and the winningest I-AA coach teams to which WIU finished second five in the nation over the past three seasons, times in the 1990s. Ball has a 5-4 record has been named the new head football "We have watched the against the SMS Bears. coach at SMS. Leathernecks represent our "We are very pleased with Randy Ball's Ball was named the successor to former league in the playoffs, and each decision to become our new head football Bears' Head Coach Del Miller after being coach," said Director of Athletics Bill selected from a field of 4 7 applicants. year Coach Ball has taken his Rowe. "It is never easy to get involved in Miller resigned Dec. 4 after compiling a team one game deeper." the movement of a head coach with a 21-23 record in four seasons wi th the member of your own conference, and we Bill Rowe, director of athletics are most appreciative of the understanding of the athletics administration at Western Illinois to grant Coach Ball the opportuni The new SMS mentor, the18th man to ty to talk with us. We asked the Western serve as the Bears' fo otball coach in the lllinois athletics administration for permis school's 90-year gridiron history, comes sion to talk to Coach Ball about our to SMS after a 16-year association with coaching position upon the conclusion of SMS Gateway Football Conference rival his team's play in this year's I-AA play Western Illinois. Ball is the dean of the offs. We have watched the Leathernecks current Gateway Conference head coach represent our league in the NCAA playoffs es. Ball served as offensive coordinator each of the past three years, and each year and offensive line coach at WIU from Coach Ball has taken his team one game 1983-89 under head coach Bruce deeper into the playoff bracket. He bas Craddock, and Ball was appointed the represented his school and our conference Leathernecks' head coach beginning with in an exceptional manner, and we are z the 1990 season after Craddock died of excited that he has elected to bring his tal ~ " cancer in February of 1990. ents to SMS. We will work with him in New Head Football Coach Randy Ball met members of Ball's tenure at WIU was capped Dec. the coming weeks as he plans and makes the press at the Dec. 19 press conference. A native of Muskogee, Okla., Ball played for three MIAA champi 12, 1998, as the Leathernecks recorded his move to Springfield, begins the organi onship teams and lettered three times in a four-year their best-ever finish in the NCAA zation of his coaching staff here at SMS career from 1969-72 at Truman State. Ball graduated Division I-AA playoffs. WIU beat and begins interaction with the returning from Truman State in 1973 with a degree in physical Montana and Florida A&M in the first two players within the SMS football program education and earned his master 's degree in 1977 from the University of Missouri. rounds before losing to unbeaten, top i:o prepare for the 1999 season." BT ranked and top-seeded Georgia Southern Season off to a good start for Basketball Bears ins over the University of the Classic: transition defense and rebound Key assets in all four: speed and quick Missouri and the University of ing. The guys paid attention to what needed ness, a trend that's become evident with W Missouri-Kansas City, along to get done and went out and did it." this year's impressive list of newcomers in with a tourney title, highlighted an early Moore reached another milestone the SMS program. BT season getaway for the basketball Bears. early : he broke Danny Coach Steve Alford's quint, the first Bolden's free throw record of Missouri Division I school to play the 4 14 that had stood since 1967. other four in-state Division I schools in As the team raised its record to one season, opened its Show-Me Series 5-1 , Moore made 39 free with a big 72-69 win at Missouri. throws in 46 attempts. Led by Kevin Ault's 20 points, the "That free throw record of Bears had key performances up and down Moore's is pretty amazing, con the roster as they handed Missouri its first sidering he set it five games loss to an in-state school since 1970. into his third SMS season," Five nights later, in the Bears' home Alford adds. opener, they defeated UMKC 74-68. The Bears' lone loss in the Danny Moore, who began the season early going was at Stanford in 14th in SMS career scoring with 1, 148 the NIT second round. points, poured in 28 points. The Bears conclude non The Bears won their fifth straight Pizza league action Jan. 2 at Saint Hut Classic by beating Texas Southern 77- Louis, then play Missouri 47 and previously undefeated Louisiana Valley Conference foes the rest Tech 86-60. of the way. Moore, who had 24 points and eight In November, Alford received rebounds in the finale, was tourney MVP commitments from four current and moved to 11th in all-time SMS scor high school standouts: 6'7" ing. Ault and guard William Fontleroy Steve Ausler from Morrilton, were also All-Tourney. Ark., 6'9" Matt Engstrom from What pleased Alford the most about the Mahomet, ill., 6'5" Kurt Bears early season play? Spurgeon from DeWitt, Iowa, Senior forward Ken Stringer, one of four returning starters and five "Our transition defense," he says. "We and 6' 5" Travis Walk from returning seniors, has started in all eight games so far this season. In had two things we focused on going into Wichita Heights, Kan. the No v. 14 contest against Butler University, Stringer was the top rebounder on the team with seven rebounds. 1 Mental toughness prepares Lady Bears for MVC action

fter a hectic but eventful string of Missouri Valley Conference action. In the team's season opener, Stiles non-league games, the Lady Bears January shapes up as an especially crucial tied Melody Howard's single-game A can now tum their attention to month for Coach Cheryl Burnett's young record 41 points. and exciting team. Nine league games are Three days after the improbable win at on the agenda- four at Hammons Student Baylor, the Lady Bears came up with anoth- Center and five on the road. er "stunner." As Stiles struggled (nine The preconference portion of the Lady points, all in the second half), Roshonda Bears' schedule was both exciting and stress- Reed, Tara Mitchem and Kimberly ful , especially the late November, early McDowell came up huge. Reed had 24 December span of four games, all on the points and 12 rebounds, Mitchem tallied a road, that included enough emotional highs career-high 16 points and McDowell (like and lows to last a season. Stiles and Mitchem, only a sophomore) For starters, the Lady Bears split a pair of scored 14 points as the Lady Bears won 74- games at Cancun, Mexico, defeating 55 and upped their record to 5-2. Southern California before losing to nation- Although it was a roller-coaster four-game ally ranked Old Dominion. skein, Burnett notes, "We showed the type Three nights later, at Baylor University in of mental toughness that we have to have if Waco, Texas, sophomore sensation Jackie we're going to meet our season's goals." Stiles scored 52 points, a new single-game The challenging non-conference schedule Lady Bear record, as SMS came from a included teams from a number of the dozen points back in the waning minutes to nation's major conferences, including the win 87-86. Big East, Big 12, Southeast, Big 10, WAC In an incredible performance, Stiles and Sun Belt. Three of the opponents scored 17 of the team's last 22 points - played in last year's NCAA tourney- Old including_ a 3-pointer to tie the game 86-all Dominion, Arkansas and Florida with 2.6 seconds remaining. Fouled on the International. shot, she converted the ensuing free throw Meantime, one of the state's top prepsters, for the fmal margin. 6'2" power forward Melanie Fisher of In raising her per-game average to 33.5, Principia in St. Louis, has signed to play for Sophomore guard Melody Campbell, who ranked Stiles hit 19 of 26 shots from the field, the Lady Bears next year. She averaged 16 fifth on the team last season with 39 assists, had an including five of eight 3-pointers and all points and 11 rebounds as a junior. BT individual high turnover rate Nov. 24 in the contest nine of her free throws. against Arkansas State, with seven turnovers. Awards banquet closes football season on positive note

n many ways it was a record-setting tackle Tony Flint, sophomore defensive St. Louis and Emeterio. year for the football Bears. Senior end Frank Emeterio, sophomore line Team awards, selected by the coaching I quarterback Derek Jensen, named the backer Corky Martin and junior defensive staff: Outstanding Lifter- St. Louis, SMS-Coors Player of the Year at the post back Isaac Harvin. Offensive Scout Player of the Year- Jeff season banquet, set single-season school Honorable Mention honors went to Bristol, Defensive Scout Player of the records with 2,544 passing yards and sophomores Jeff Hewitt, a wide receiver, Year- Benny McDowell, MVP Special 2,697 yards of total offense. He passed for and defensive tackle Jerry Arnold, as well Team Player- Brawner, Offensive 16 touchdowns and rushed for nine in as freshman free safety Mike Gailey. Lineman of the Year - Craun, Defensive leading the Bears to a lofty average of Gateway Conference All-Newcomer Lineman of the Year - Arnold and 28.9 points a game. He finished his career selections among the Bears are offensive Emeterio, Offensive MVP- Martin and with 3,911 passing yards, fourth best in tackle Justin Craun, offensive tackle Arnold, and Bears Team Award - SMS grid history. Eric Owens, wide receiver Tacoma Michael Holloway. Junior punter/placekicker Travis Fontaine, linebacker P.J. Jones, Hewitt, The Bears, 5-6 for the year, lose just Brawner also had a year to remember, Harvin and Gailey. five seniors, two of them starters: Jensen receiving the Arthur Briggs Award for on Gateway Academic all-conference first and Daniels. field performance, academic excellence team selections, in addition to Brawner, Twenty of the team's 22 starters and leadership. Brawner made eight of 13 include Jensen, tight end Matt White and return, giving the Bears a potent nucleus field-goal attempts, nailed all 42 of his strong safety Jeff Killeen. Second team for 1999. extra point kicks and averaged 38.2 yards honors went to wide receiver Robert Rose, As a team, the Bears scored 318 points, as a punter. A biology fifth best total in school his major, Brawner was tory. Conversely, the defense named to the Gateway gave up 265 points, fourth Conference All-Academic highest in school history. first team, the GTE Defensively, the Bears College Sports return everyone - including Information Directors' Martin, Jones, and Shawn Academic All-America Lockhart, the team's three team and was chosen as leading tacklers. Emeterio the placekicker on the and Arnold, who combined Gateway All-Conference for 14 sacks, are potential first team. big-play returnees on the Tight end Brad St. Louis defensive line, while Gailey also was named to the had five interceptions. Gateway first team. A 6' 4" The offensive line, 245-pound junior, St. Louis perhaps the team's will no doubt enter his senior biggest surprise in 1998, year tabbed as one of the top returns intact. tightends in the nation. Hewitt was the team's top Jensen was All-Gateway receiver, logging 35 catches second team, as were senior for 526 yards and eight running back Maurice During the SMS 1998football awards banquet Dec. 10, senior quarterback Derek touchdowns. BT Daniels, junior offensive Jensen, right, was presented with the Coors Player of the Year Award by Jim Ferguson, left, president of Coors of the Ozarks.

2 Lady Bear breakfasts- Coach Cheryl Burnett's basketball by ESPN women's basketball commentator Mimi Griffm. breakfast is held at 7 a.m. on the fust and third Tuesdays of the month during the season. The breakfast is at Mrs. O'Mealey's 1998 Volleyball season review- Under third-year Coach Cafeteria at 210 East Sunshine. The cost is $4.51 , and the public Melissa Stokes, the Volleyball Bears posted an 11-20 overall is invited to attend. Remaining breakfasts are Jan. 5 and 19, Feb. 2 record and fmished seventh in the MVC regular-season race with and 16 and March 2. a 6-12 league mark. Junior Joleen Meservy tallied 455 kills. That mark moved her Basketball luncheons- Coach Steve Alford's basketball into second on the career kills per game list, and her 1,043 total luncheon is held at noon on Wednesdays during the season, except kills rank ninth on the all-time chart. Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 and 16 when the luncheon will be on Tuesday. Junior Amanda Omar ended the season with the third most kills in The luncheon is in Kentwood Hall at 700 St. Louis. The cost is a single-season (515) and a team-high 4.36 kills per game average. $7 .50, and the public is invited to attend. 1998 Men's Cross Country season review- For the Lady Bears on the radio - All Lady Bear games are broad fourth straight season, the men's cioss country team ended the cast live by Springfield radio station KTXR (101.3 FM). In case conference season with a fifth place fmish in the 10-team MVC of conflict with SMS men's games, KWTO (560 AM) will air championship meet. The Bears also improved to 15th in the the Lady Bears' games. Tom Ladd will call the play-by-play, NCAA Midwest Regional. while former Lady Bear standout Lisa Davies will provide color Senior Sean Carlson had four top five finishes and finished commentary at home games. SMS Assistant Sports Information among the top 10 in every meet except the regional. He also Director Michael Sullivan will be Ladd's broadcast partner for earned all-conference honors for the second time in three years at road contests. SMS games also can be heard live anywhere in SMS with his second place finish at the league meet. His time of the world via the internet at http://www.ktxrfm.com. 24:30 at the MVC meet was a personal best and was fifth best in school history. Basketball Radio Network - All Bear games are broadcast Senior Calvin Staples posted the team's second fastest time in on the 13-station SMS Basketball Radio Network, originated by all but one meet during the 1998 campaign. His time of 25:06.1 flagship station KTXR (101.3 FM) in Springfield, and including for fifth place in the SMS Distance Classic put him 17th on the KKOZ (92.3 FM) in Ava, KKCA (100.5 FM) in Fulton, KUNQ SMS all-time best times list. (99.3 FM) in Houston, KQYX (1560 AM) in Joplin, KFEZ (1340 As a team, the Bears posted two third-place finishes, a second AM) in Kansas City, KTMO (99 FM) in Kennett, KKBL (95 .9 place and took the team title at the SMS Invitational. FM) in Monett, KUPH (96.9 FM) in Mountain View, KLID (1340 AM) in Poplar Bluff, WRTH (1430 AM) in St. Louis, KSMO 1998 Women's Cross Country season review- The (1340 AM) in Salem and KLPW (1220 AM) in Washington. Art women's cross country team placed two runners on the all-MVC Hains and Ned Reynolds describe the home games and Hains and list as the Bears completed the 1998 season with a sixth place fm Mark Stillwell call the road contests. ish in the Valley and 19th in the NCAA Midwest Regional. Freshman Carrie Sell posted a ninth place fmish in her first Lady Bear Talk- Lady Bear Talk with Coach Cheryl Burnett MVC Championship meet to earn all-conference honors. Her time is held at 7 p.m. Tuesdays throughout the season at Tres Hombres of 18:02 was a career best and made her 13th on the all-time best at 3371 East Montclair. The remaining shows are Jan. 5, 12, 19 times chart at SMS. and 26, and Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23. The public is invited to attend Junior Camile Wise fmished lOth at the Valley meet to gain all the hour-long show, which airs live on KWTO (560 AM) with conference accolades for the second time in three years with a host Tom Ladd. The call-in numbers are 862-9977 local, 1-800- career best time of 18:03, which placed her 14th on the all-time 375-0056 toll-free or *56 cellular. March dates will be added best times list. depending on the MVC and NCAA Tournament schedules. As a team, the Bears had two second place finishes, a third place and won the SMS Invitational. The Steve Alford Radio Show- The Steve Alford Radio Show with Coach Steve Alford will be held at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 1998 Field Hockey season review - The field hockey Bears with one exception, throughout the season at Tres Hombres at pieced together four-game win streaks on two separate occasions 3371 East Montclair. The remaining shows are Jan. 7, 14, 20 and and posted a 10-6 overall mark and 4-1 record in the Northern 28, and Feb. 4, 11 and 18. The public is invited to attend the hour Pacific Field Hockey Conference to claim second place in the long show, which airs live on KWTO (560 AM) with host Art NorPac regular season and league tournament in the conference's Hains. The call-in numbers are 862-9977 local, 1-800-375-0056 fust year. toll-free or *56 cellular. March dates will be added depending on The Bears led the NorPac in scoring with 63 goals and 180 the MVC and NCAA Tournament schedules. total points during the season. Freshman Jemima Cameron and senior Paula Pennington were among the nation's leaders in The Cheryl Burnett Show- The Cheryl Burnett Show airs goals, points, and assists. Saturdays, with one exception, throughout the season by KYTV, Cameron, who earned the league's Rookie of the Year award, channel3. The shows are hosted by Ned Reynolds and continue scored 21 goals and had 11 assists and 53 total points during the through Feb. 27. Show times for January are 3 p.m. Jan. 2, 3:30p.m. season. She finished fourth in the nation in points per game _,-T~- 9, 1 p.m. Jan. 16, 2:30p.m. Jan. 23 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31. (3.3), fifth in the nation in goals and sixth in total points. Pennington led the team and tied for 12th in the country with 16 The Steve Alford Show - The Steve assists during the year. BT Alford Show airs Saturdays throughout the season by KYTV, channel 3. The shows are hosted by Ned Reynolds and continue through Feb. 27. Show times in January are 12:30 p.m. The Bears Fund donors support the university's athletic program by Jan. 2, 16 and 23 and 3 p.m. Jan. 9 and 30. contributing at any of these levels- Hall of Fame Club, $10,000 or Bear Talk Vol. 17, No. 2 more; All-American Club, $5,000 or more; Champions Club, $2,500 or more; Diamond Bears Club, $1 ,250 or more; Gold Bears Club, Nation taking note of Stiles - $600 or more; Sliver Bears Club, $300 or more; Bruin Club, $150 or Sophomore guard Jackie Stiles's 52-point per Selected for the more; Cub Club, $50 or more. For information concerning The formance against Baylor Dec. 2 smashed the John Templeton Foundation Bears Fund, contact Brent Dunn, director of athletics development, SMSU, (417) 836-4143. previous SMS record of 41 points held by Honor Roil for Melody Howard (1994) and Stiles (Nov. 13, Character-Building CoUeges Southwest Missouri State University is a community of people with this year). The 52 points not only tied the third respect for diversity. The university emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all parsons and adheres to a strict nondiscrim· best scoring output in MVC history, but it also ination policy regarding the treatment of individual !acuity, staff and tied the 12th best single-game effort in NCAA Editors students. In addition, in accord with federal law and applicable history. Against Baylor, she was 19-of-26 from Stacey Funderburl< and Bethany Brown Missouri statutes, the university does not discriminate on the basis the field, 5-of-8 from behind the three-point Writers of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability Paul Kincaid, Don Payton, Michael Sullivan, Rob Rodgers and Marl< or veteran status in employment or in any program or activity offered arc and a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity Stillwell or sponSored by the university. The university maintains a grievance stripe. Her 19 field goals also broke both the Photography procedure incorporating due process available to any parson who Valley and SMS single-game records. Stiles, SMSU Photographic Services believes he or she has been discriminated against. Southwest Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action one of 22 players (including the first team) Bear Talk is produced for The Bears Fund donors by the Office of employer. Inquiries concerning the grievance procedure, Affirmative who received votes in the Associated Press Publications in cooparation wrth the Department of Athletics and the Action program, or compliance with federal and state laws and preseason All-America team, was tabbed as Development and Alumni Office of Southwest Missouri State guidelines should be addressed to Melissa Manning, Affirmative one of the nation's five best shooting guards University, 901 S. National, Springfield, Mo., 65804. Third class Action Officer, Office of Human Resources, 128 Carrington Hall, 901 postage paid at Springfield, Mo. S. National, Springfield, MO 65804, (417) 836-4252.

3 Bear Talk Non-Profit Organization Southwest Missouri State University U.S. Postage PAID 901 S. National Avenue Springfield, MO Springfield, Missouri 65804-0089 Pemtit No. 1555

SMS Schedules

Basketball (Men & Women) Indoor Track (Men & women) MEN MEN Jan. 2 Saint Louis University (KYTV) 1:05 p.m. Jan. 9 Illinois State University Open 10 a.m. St. Louis, Mo. Normal, Ill. 5 *Illinois State University 7:05p.m. 15 University of Arkansas 3 p.m. Springfield Razorback Classic 10 *Creighton University (MVC-TV) 2:05p.m. Fayetteville, Ark. Springfield 22 University of Arkansas Invitational 3 p.m. 13 *Bradley University 7:05p.m. Fayetteville, Ark. Springfield 30 Butler University Invitational 9a.m. Junior 16 *Drake University 1:35 p.m. Senior high Indianapolis, Ind. guard/forward Springfield jumper William Allen Phillips, a 18 *Wichita State University (KYTV) 7:35p.m. Green, who was tranfer f rom Wichita, Kan. indoor all con- WOMEN SMS-West 21 *University of Northern Iowa 7:05p.m. ference last sea- Jan. 9 Illinois State University Open 10 a.m. Plains, averaged Springfield son, had the Normal, Ill. 18.4 points last 23 *Indiana State University 1:05 p.m. team's highest 15 University of Arkansas 3 p.m. season with the Terre Haute, Ind. j ump at 6'8 Razorback Classic Grizzlies, an 27 *Drake University 7:05p.m. 314 ". Fayetteville, Ark. SMS- West Plains Des Moines, Iowa 22 University of Arkansas Invitational 3 p.m. single season 31 *Wichita State University (MVC-TV) 2:05p.m. Fayetteville, Ark. record. Springfield 30 Butler University Invitational 9 a.m. Indianapolis, Ind.

WOMEN Jan. 2 *Creighton University 7:05p.m. --~ "Springfield 6 *Drake University (KYTV) 7:05p.m. Des Moines, Iowa 9 *University of Northern Iowa 2:05p.m. Swimming & Diving (Men & women) Springfield 14 *Illinois State University 7 p.m. MEN Normal, Ill. Jan. 16 University of Missouri 1 p.m. 16 *Indiana State University 1 p.m. Columbia, Mo. Sophomore Terre Haute, Ind. 23 Henderson State noon guard Jackie 11:30 p.m. Springfield Stiles sits on top 23 *Drake University (ESPN2) Springfield 30 Southern Illinois 2 p.m. of the Division I Carbondale, Ill. scoring chart at 25 *Bradley University 7:05p.m. 30.1 points per Springfield game. 28 *Creighton University (TCI) 7:05p.m. Omaha, Neb. Freshman but WOMEN 30 *University of Northern Iowa (KYTV) 3:35p.m. terflier/freestyler Jan. 16 University of Missouri 1 p.m. Cedar Falls, Iowa Michael Baima, Columbia, Mo. who swam the 23 Henderson State noon Springfield team's fastest 30 Southern Illinois 2 p.m. butterfly in the Carbondale, Ill. Bold indicates home events 100-yard (49.86) * indicates conference play and 200-yard ( 1 :52.29), also KYTV indicates channel 3 in Springfield tied the team's MVC-TV indicates cable channel 51 record in the 50- yard freestyle TCI indicates cable channel 36 (20.88). ESPN2 indicates cable channel 62