The NCAA News - Briefly in the News

December 15, 1997

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, concerned that it might be sending an inappropriate message to young people, recently announced that it is reviewing connections between its athletics program and marketing deals with breweries and casinos.

In August, the university announced a three-year deal with the Minnesota Brewing Company for a $225,000 sponsorship of Minnesota men's athletics. However, the university did not sign the contract at that time.

"There is a change in thinking right now," Jeff Schemmel, senior associate men's athletics director, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I think the university wants to review its policy."

The newspaper said that McKinley Boston, the institution's vice-president for student development and athletics, was disturbed early in the academic year by binge-drinking deaths at Louisiana State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In addition, Boston also noted information that linked gambling with high credit-card debt, which brought about a decision not to renew sports-marketing agreements with a pair of Minnesota casinos. The deals have been worth about $75,000 each to the athletics program, the paper reported.

"There was a concern about whether or not we were sending contradictory messages to our students, to our faculty, staff and other constituencies we represent," Tonya Brown, chief of staff for President Mark G. Yudof, told the Star Tribune.

Legend of the fall

Erin Daughters, a senior at the University of Dallas, tested her bounds this autumn and was rewarded with high marks.

Although it's not unusual for an athlete to letter in two sports in an academic year, it is out of the norm to do so in one season, which is what Daughters did. But not only did she letter in volleyball and soccer, she also earned first-team all-conference honors in soccer and second-team recognition in volleyball.

The feat was not accomplished at the expense of her academic performance. Daughters, who majors in biology, maintains a high grade-point average.

Character builders

Muhlenberg College's men's basketball team has started each of its last five seasons by winning its own tournament, but the Mules have had to work for the fast getaways.

The total margin of victory in the last four championship games has been 11 points, and all were decided in overtime or in the final 30 seconds of regulation.

Muhlenberg defeated St. Joseph's (Maine) in overtime in 1994, took the lead for good with 22 seconds remaining in 1995 against Randolph-Macon and made a lay-up at the buzzer for a one-point win over Muskinghum in 1996. This year, the Mules used a three-pointer in the last 14 seconds for a win over Wesleyan (Connecticut).

"We seek out other schools that have good basketball traditions so that all the games are great matchups," coach Dave Madeira said. "You want to test your team's mettle early in the season in a championship game and in front of a big crowd. It shows what your team is made of."

-- Compiled by David Pickle

Division II notes

Facilities: Pfeiffer University opened its new Knapp Tennis Center during this year's homecoming celebration. The $250,000 facility features a players' lounge and a spectators' terrace. Also, tennis courts have been resurfaced and a fence surrounding the courts was remodeled to improve spectators' view from the terrace. The center is the first building constructed at Pfeiffer since 1971, and the building project was organized by the Knapp family, including three former Pfeiffer tennis players -- Warren Knapp Jr., Rick Knapp and Jim Knapp. Family friends and other former players joined the Knapps in donating funds for the center, named in memory of the late Warren "Bud" Knapp Sr., a longtime supporter of Pfeiffer tennis.

Milestones: Teams -- Tuskegee University, 500 football victories in 104 seasons ... Millersville University of Pennsylvania, 400 football victories in 102 seasons.

Coaches -- Greg Bruce, University of Northern Colorado, 200 victories in women's basketball ... Dave Bike, Sacred Heart University, 350 victories in men's basketball ... Jay Lawson, Bentley College, 100 victories in men's basketball.

Miscellaneous: Senior Krista Kandere of College of St. Rose has been named 1997-98 preseason women's basketball player of the year by the Women's Division II Bulletin. Kandere was player of the year last season in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference and the Southern region of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, and was a first-team all-American and second-team Academic All-America selection ... Finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded annually to the best player in Division II football, are quarterback Cazzie Kosciolek of championship finalist University of New Haven, running back Brian Shay of Emporia State University and running back Irv Sigler of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.

--Compiled by Jack L. Copeland