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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 1995)
Rainbolt to coach for Kent State By Tony West Staff Reporter Nebraska Assistant Coach Steve Rainbolt has been named the head coach for men’s and women’s-track and field and cross country Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Rainbolt, who has been assistant track and field coach at NU for a total of seven seasons, said he is ready for the challenge of head coaching. “This will change the scope of my job significantly,” he said. “I’m really excited about the opportunity though.” NU Coach Gary Pepin said the transition may be a little difficult for Rainholt and his family at first, but he had the utmost confidence in Rainbolt’s abiliy to make the change in location and coaching position. “It’s going to be a lot larger time commitment for Steve,” Pepin said. “But I’m sure he’ll doa good job there and I think Kent is very lucky to get him.” Kent State University Athletic Di rector Laing Kennedy said Rainbolt’s ability to excel in numerous areas of track and field was a major element in choosing him over approximately 60 other applicants. “He has done it all,” Kennedy said. “... in my opinion, coach Rainbolt is a rising, great track and field coach. He is a demonstrated winner.” Pepin said that Rainbolt can bring a number of things to any program. “Steve has lots of enthusiasm and has always had a strong work ethic that he brings to the team,” Pepin said. Rainbolt’s enthusiasm and coach ing knowledge has helped Nebraska produce 67 NCAA All-Americans and more than 100 Big Eight conference gold medals in his tenure at NU. The' team has also won seven women’s Big Eight indoor champion ships, three men’s Big Eight indoor championships, and five women’s Big Eight outdoor championships in his tenure. And that is the type ot success that Rainbolt said he hopes to accomplish with Division I Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference. Kent State University has finished in the top five of the 10-team Mid American Conference five times in the past two years for men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track. “I feel Kent is in the position to pursue conference championships,” he said. “And I’ve been really excited about the group of athletes I’ve seen.” Pepin said that Rainbolt’s ability to deal with student-athletes in a positive way should also help him in head coaching. John Nichols, a former Nebraska decathlete and pole vaulter who Rainbolt recruited in 1992, agreed with Pepin. “His knowledge of the sport is just incredible,” Nichols said. “He has an ability to accommodate an athlete and definitely knew how to make me feel wanted at Nebraska.” Tanna Kinnaman/DN Sailboats breeze across Branched Oak Lake during the sailboat competition of the Cornhusker State Games on Sunday. Rambling suggestions; thoughts on the year m sports Last week in this very column, I mentioned how major league baseball owner’s plan to make games faster would not be very fan friendly. Well, at the last minute, the owners pulled their heads out of their rear ends and scrapped the whole plan for the time being. Was it my influence? I doubt it. Maybe the owners are finally starting to learn their lesson. Other whiny comments about what’s going on in sports. —The Baseball Network — seen in this area as the Kansas City Royals game of the week—began last Satur day. The idea is to bring games of regional interest to each individual television market. The problem: just because the Roy als have their Triple A farm club in the Big “O”, that does not mean every body in the viewingmarket is a Royals fan. Let’s see some other teams. How about the Rockies or the Indians ever} once in a while? —Nebraska football update: Forty three days to kickoff in Stillwater and defense of the National Champion ship. The whole state is already thinking repeat and three-peat, and the talk has already started. Tommie or Brook? —Nebraska volleyball update: Thirty-seven days until the Huskcrs get their rematch with the Nittany Li ons in the Coliseum. One of the top freshmen classes, although hindered by injury, should provide fireworks and another run through the NCAA tournament for the Huskers. —Troy Aikman on Tuesday was greeted by a woman who snuck into the Cowboy training camp. The sup posedly secured area turned out to be not so secure. Aikman’s teammates were not surprised that a person would try to stalk an athlete that is a million aire. Michael Irvin said that the media has done a good job of publicizing Todd Walkenhorst athlete’s salaries. Is the media report ing on the salaries or on the actions of the athletes holding out for huge con tracts? —I may have found tickets for the October 29 NBA exhibition game between the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Clippers. What a match-up! Michael Jordan and former Husker Eric Piatkowski. With my luck, my tickets are a sure sign the NBA lockout will continue insuring this game will not be played. —Former Omaha Northwest pitcher, Greg Olsen was waived by the Cleveland Indians after a month-long comeback. 01 sen, during the 80 ’s, was one of the most dominant relief pitch ers in the American League for the Baltimore Orioles. Arm problems led to Olsen’s stint in the minors. Olsen’s future seems unclear at this time. —Current Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. continues to pursue Lou Gehrig’s streak of consecutive games played. Less than 50 games remain before he hits the 2130 mark. Hats off to Ripken, but the streak is still far from being in the bag. Also, let’s not overshadow the Iron Horse’s accomplishments. Gehrig was one of the greatest first basemen to play the game. Both have played a lot of games in a row, but that is where the compari sons end. —October may help rekindle in terest in Major League Baseball if the standings remain the same. If the play offs started today, Atlanta, Cincinnati and recent expansion team Colorado would clinch their respective divisions with Houston grabbing the wild-card in the National League. In the American League it would be even more bizarre. Cleveland, with the best record in baseball, Boston and California would win their divi sions. Yeah, really! The Rangers would clinch the wild-card out of the “weak” west division. If having the Indians and Rockies in the World Se ries does not get fans back to the ballpark and watching on the tube, I don’t know what will. —On Monday night, New York Mcts’ rookie Jason Isringhausen made his pitching debut with a 7-2 victory against the Chicago Cubs. With a name like that, I wish him great success so I can keep on printing a last name that is longer than mine. Walkenhorst Is a senior broadcasting ma jor and Dally Nebraskan sports writer. ]■ OUIR or ^VE _ Student ID Section if YOU'RE BUYING YOUR GOLD GET A TAM AHD Fffi. GOOD AT: t OFT CERTFICATE5 AVALABLE 4705 PRESCOTT SUITE B 484-8311 TAM ThE RE5T OF THE YEAR ONLY $99 20% Off ALL TATfflQ PRODUCTS f r (EQUALS LESS TTWI $20 A MONTH) FROM 7/15/95 THRU 12/51/95 RECEIVE UlUMfTED TARRT1G FOR ThE RE5T OF THE YEAR FOR ORLY $99. (5PUT fITO 2 PAYMERT5 F YOU DE5RE) CALL TODAY TO MAXIMIZE YOUR 5AVHG5! OFFER GOOD WITH 5TUDERT ID. orrw cxpre5 aa/95 ANYWHERE ELSE YOU'RE RWING TOO MUCH!!! CHAINS, BRACELETS, CHARMS,