Bear Talk The newsletter for athletics at Southwest Missouri State University Volume 17, Number 3 February 1999 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame enshrines two hen Dr. Mary Jo Wynn, former team to an eighth place ranking in the first senior associate athletics direc­ AIAW National Volleyball tournament in W tor, pioneered the women's ath­ 1969. She became the first women's direc­ letics program at SMS, she never dreamed tor of athletics in 1975. Under her direc­ she would be walking across the stage at the tion, the Lady Bears became the first Missouri Sports Hall of Fame to be honored NCAA Division I program in the state to as an enshrined member. reach the national semifinals as they com­ "When I was called and told about the peted in the Final Four in 1992. Wynn honor, I just couldn't believe it. It seemed credits her success to players like Melody like I had received so much recognition Howard, who shared the Hall of Fame already, " Wynn says. "Somebody told me stage with her Jan. 24. once that retirement would be taking a step down. Well, I don't think so. I'll be in the Hall of Fame forever now, and the view "The view from up here is from up here is great." great." Mary Jo Wynn, former senior During her tenure at SMS, Wynn associate director of athletics coached basketball, swimming, volleyball, tennis and track. She guided the volleyball Mary Jo Wynn, who retired in June 1998 as senior "The best decision I ever made associate director of athletics, was enshrined into the was to play basketball at SMS." Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Jan. 24. Melody Howard, former lAdy Bear Week (Feb. 21) and the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. Howard's basketball career was not Howard, former Lady Bear standout, confined to the college level as she joined the program in 1989 after an impres­ played on the USA World University sive prep career at Marshfield High School, Games Team in 1993, receiving a bronze where she led her team to three consecutive medal, and again in 1995, receiving a sil­ State Championships and a 96-0 record. She ver medal. Howard was one of 25 players was named the state Player of the Year as a invited to the 1995 Olympic Team Trials. senior with averages of 26.3 points, 5.6 She also played on the USA Pan rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.7 assists. Her American Basketball Team in 1995. prep career ended with 2,154 career points In 1996, Howard's career turned profes­ and 14 school records. sional as she joined the Colorado Xplosion Howard led the Lady Bears to national for the inaugural season of the American prominence as the All-Time Leading Scorer Basketball League before retiring in 1998. with 1,944 points and a 1992 Women's "But did you know, Mr. [John Q.] Final Four appearance. During Howard's Hammons, that your gym was my favorite four seasons at SMS, the Lady Bears posted gym to play in?" Howard asked Hammons, a combined record of 104-23, four league founder of the Missouri Sports Hall of championships and four NCAA Tournament Melody Howard, former Lady Bear stand­ Fame, during her acceptance speech Jan. out, chats with fans at the private reception appearances. In 1994, Howard was named 24. "The best decision I ever made was to before her enshrinement into the Missouri Academic All-America Second Team, play basketball at SMS," she said. BT Sports Hall of Fame Jan. 24. Sports Illustrated National Player of the State Champs take on the rest of season play fter laying claim to No. 1 in career free throw attempts, No. 7 Missouri's first-ever state (and climbing) in career points, No. 10 in A championship, Coach Steve career 20-point games, No. 8 in career dou­ Alford's basketball Bears are mov­ ble-figure games, No. 10 in career field goal ing ever-closer to the decisive and attempts, No. 10 in career rebounds and No. pivotal Arch Madness. 2 in career blocked shots. And remember­ The Diet Pepsi Missouri Valley he's done it in three seasons. Conference Tourney is set for Feb. Bettenhausen, the only player to play in 26-March 1 at the Kiel Center in every game Alford has coached at SMS, is St. Louis . seventh on the career-games list and bidding The Bears play their regular sea­ to break the existing mark of 116. son home finale on Feb. 20, hosting As for being the State Champs - Bear Indiana State. They close the regu­ wins this year over Missouri, UMKC, lar season two days later at Southeast Missouri State University and Evansville. Saint Louis have concluded a Show-Me The Feb. 20 game marks the Series sweep. SMS is the first Missouri final home appearance for the Division I school to play the other four in­ Bears' seniors - Danny Moore, state Division I teams in a single season. Ryan Bettenhausen, Ken Stringer, Also of note, the Bears played their Butch Tshomba and Paul Murans. 2,000th game in school history when they As the season winds down, hosted Bradley Jan. 13. SMS ranks 27th Moore continues to move up the Freshman guard Brandon Miller, a native of New Castle, among all Division I schools in all-time Bears' ladder in a number of cate­ Ind., hit 2-of-5 field goal attempts, both of which were three­ victories. BT pointers, in the game against Indiana State Jan. 23. gories: No. 1 in career free throws, 1 From the AD years. With the way they are constructed, much power as they did previously but aluminum bats can generate greater that the players hitting significant num­ speed through the strike zone than a bers of home runs in the past would still wooden bat of similar dimensions. With generate the long ball. The committee sharp increases in the number of home will use 1999 season data as a basis for Athletic runs and other offensive statistics in subsequent discussions to develop a recent seasons, concern has arisen for the long-term solution. Director safety of participants. Our rules commit­ In recent meetings of the I-AA tee wanted to find ways to reduce the Football Committee, our goal has been to velocity of a batted ball off the bat with­ find ways to enhance our championship. out measurably affecting the balance There are 119 schools competing at the s is always the case early in the between offense and defense. I-AA level, and the goal of the commit­ spring semester, it's a busy time The timing of very lengthy and tee is to give participants and support A in SMS athletics, with basketball complex discussions on the subject has groups from those schools the best cham­ and swimming seasons in high gear and been such that a full, final resolution is pionship possible. eight spring sports and spring football just not possible for the 1999 season. In A lot of the issue is financial in nature, around the comer. order to protect the interests of all par­ with the championship game played at a These days are made busier when I ties, the rules committee forwarded a preset site after the first three rounds of the put on two other hats and work in non­ proposal to the NCAA Executive 16-team playoff are at campus sites. The SMS assignments. I have been privileged Committee which has been approved for playoffs traditionally begin the Saturday to serve a second term as chairman of the the 1999 season, with the issue to be after Thanksgiving when it's difficult to NCAA Baseball Rules Committee and revisited at the conclusion of the season generate student support on campuses. The also a second year on the NCAA I-AA to formulate a long-term policy. next two rounds are in December when Football Committee, which has responsi­ In simple terms, the 1999 proposal weather becomes a factor, and the financial bility for administering all phases of the I- limits the difference between the weight success of the championship game has AA champienship. -- in-ounces-and the length in inches of a been larg~ly n:lated-to-the-geographic The biggest issue in college baseball bat and also makes a slight reduction in proximity of the finalists and the site of the in recent months has been the question the diameter of the barrel of the bat. It is contest, in addition to falling the weekend of the bats being used in the college hoped that the net effect will be to reduce before Christmas. Our committee has been game. Professional baseball teams use the speed of a batted ball enough to looking at any number of ways to take that wooden bats exclusively, but the break­ improve safety but not enough to change playoff structure and the revenue potential age and cost factor has led most amateur the essential nature of the game. It is felt it presents and maximize those for the programs to use aluminum bats in recent that some players may not display as 1999 championship and future years. BT Lady Bears focus on regular season scramble Stiles, Reed and Deer set records wo all-important segments of the her fourth straight double-double (25 points two seniors, Reed and Yen Quach, make 1998-99 basketball season are and 15 rebounds); and sophomore Jackie their final home appearance against SIU T upcoming for Coach Cheryl Stiles had 34 points to regain the nation's on Feb.