National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - Briefly in the News

December 16, 1996

Charity stripe eludes squad

Although it's unusual for a team to go without a free throw for an entire basketball game, what happened in a recent North Dakota State University-University of Central Arkansas men's game may have been a first.

North Dakota State did not allow Central Arkansas a single free-throw attempt in 50 minutes of play. North Dakota State, which won, 94-93, in double overtime, was 15 of 19 from the line.

For what it's worth, it was not a case of "home cooking." The game was the championship contest of the Florida Tech Thanksgiving Tournament in Melbourne, Florida.

Land-air assault

A pair of Northern Arizona University players recently made football history when they became the first teammates to rush for 2,000 yards and pass for 3,000 yards in the same season.

Senior running back Archie Amerson ran for 2,079 yards, and freshman quarterback Travis Brown passed for 3,398 yards for Northern Arizona, which finished the regular season as the most prolific offensive team in Division I-AA by averaging more than 43 points a game. The Lumberjacks lost to Furman University, 42-31, in the first round of the I-AA playoffs.

Amerson owns I-AA national records for all-purpose yards in a season (2,429), rushing touchdowns in a season (25), rushing touchdowns in a game (seven), total touchdowns in a game (seven) and total points in a game (42). His rushing total this season was the second-highest in I-AA history, trailing the 2,255 yards of Butler University's Arnold Mickens in 1994.

Biggest comeback

Catherine Durkin, a senior sprint freestyler for the women's swimming team at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, doesn't need any competition in 1996-97. She already has conquered her toughest opponent.

In the November 15-16 Rutgers Invitational, Durkin returned to action after a year's absence brought on by a bout with bacterial meningitis and its complications.

In April 1995, two days after the swimming season concluded, Durkin was rushed to a hospital where the diagnosis was made. She remained in critical condition for several weeks before she finally responded to treatment.

With what was left of the summer, she returned home to build up her strength, and by September 1995 she was back in school. However, kidney damage caused by the illness required her to spend several mornings each week undergoing dialysis treatment. More medical treatment eventually enabled her kidneys to operate normally, and she was no longer dependent on dialysis.

In September 1996, Durkin -- who is an outstanding student majoring in English -- returned to school and rejoined the varsity swimming team.

"Eight months ago," said coach Rick Simpson, "the question was, 'Will Catherine pull through this crisis?' Today, the question is, 'How fast can Catherine go?' "

Interdivision cooperation

When Salve Regina University's undefeated football team was selected to play in an Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III championship game at Union College (New York), it marked only the second time in the brief history (five years) of the school's football program that the Seahawk team would play on artificial turf.

In the previous game, at Hartwick College in 1994, Salve Regina borrowed turf shoes from the University of Rhode Island football program.

This year, however, the two potential in-state donors for turf shoes -- Brown University and Rhode Island -- had road games on artificial surfaces November 23, the date of Salve Regina's game. But once again, the Division I connection came through for the Seahawks.

Brown coach Mark Whipple, who once was an assistant coach at Union, not only came up with a supply of turf shoes for Salve Regina but he also provided the Seahawks with an opportunity to use Brown's artificial-surface practice facility.

Unfortunately, despite the generosity of the Rhode Island and Brown programs over the years, Salve Regina has not fared well on turf. The Seahawks have posted a 24-4 record over the last three years, with two of those losses at the hands (or feet) of Hartwick and Union, which won the November 23 game, 26-13.

-- Compiled by David Pickle

Milestones

The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team presented coach Howard Patterson with career victory No. 350 in October in a 3-1 decision over Midwestern State University. The victory held some irony, as Patterson coached at Midwestern State for the first 17 years of his college coaching career. He moved to Incarnate Word in 1990 and is in his 24th year of coaching. His record is 350-111-25.

Betty Ralston, head women's volleyball coach at Eastern Illinois University, posted her 250th career Division I win October 13 in a match against Tennessee Technological University.

Northern Illinois University head women's volleyball coach Pete Waite posted career win No. 200 October 12 with a sweep of Cleveland State University.

Wittenberg University's head field hockey coach, Linda Arena, notched her 250th victory October 29 when her team defeated Earlham College to win the 1996 North Coast Athletic Conference championship. Arena is in her 24th year as a head coach.

Butler University head women's volleyball coach Sharon Dingman recorded her 100th career win at Butler October 12.

Jerry Vandergriff, head football coach at Angelo State University, reached a coaching milestone October 26 when he won his 100th career victory in a homecoming upset of the University of Central Oklahoma. Vandergriff has spent his entire head coaching career at Angelo State.

Colby-Sawyer College head men's soccer coach Peter Steese earned his 100th career victory October 26 when the Chargers defeated Salve Regina University, 4-0. Steese has guided the Colby-Sawyer men's team since its inception in 1990 and has posted a 66-46-6 record.

Head field hockey coach Kathy Kravitz, in her 12th season at Beaver College, posted her 100th win October 8 with a 4-0 victory over Rosemont College. Kravitz's overall record at the end of the 1996 season is 102-58-16.

Old Dominion University head coach Beth Anders made collegiate field hockey history November 2 when she collected her 300th career win. Anders is the first Division I coach to reach the 300-win milestone and only the third coach overall to accomplish the feat. The win gave Anders a career 300-41-7 record.

Ted Newland, head men's water polo coach at the University of California, Irvine, gained career win No. 600 November 3 when the Anteaters defeated the University of California, San Diego, 14-6. Newland is in his 31st season at UC Irvine and leads all NCAA water polo coaches in victories.