导出博客文章Gene Stephenson knew the end was near when he got on the phone with Twins
pitcher Mike Pelfrey, one of his best players during 36 years as baseball coach
at Wichita State. The two of them chatted for a bit Monday night, and Pelfrey
came away disgusted that his mentor and friend was being forced out as the
leader of a program Stephenson built from the ground up. "He deserves to go out
on his own terms. Forcing him out is not right at all," Pelfrey said before
Tuesday nights game against the Kansas City Royals. "I dont like the way they
handled it." On Tuesday, Stephensons fate was sealed: He was officially fired
after leading the Shockers back to the NCAA tournament this season and with a
year left on his contract. "I remember watching video of that place when he got
there and it was nothing," Pelfrey said. "I grew up in Wichita and that was the
place to be and the place to go. When you think of Wichita State, you think of
Gene Stephenson. To hear that they are turning their back on him is shameful.
"This guy is a legend and I dont agree with it. Its not right at all."
Stephenson won more games during his tenure than any other Division I program,
and his career record of 1,837-675-3 leaves him with the second-most victories
among major college coaches. Along with Pelfrey, he produced major leaguers such
as Joe Carter and Casey Blake, and helped to deliver the schools only national
championship during the 1989 season. "We have reached a decision to go a
different direction with the leadership of our baseball program," athletic
director Eric Sexton said in a statement. "Following an evaluation of the
program as a whole and a presentation of the options, the decision became clear
that this is the proper time to move into a new phase of Shocker baseball."
Sexton had met with the 67-year-old Stephenson on Monday and reportedly gave him
an ultimatum to either resign or be fired. Stephenson met briefly with reporters
at Eck Stadium on Tuesday and said he had been forced out in what was evidently
anything but an amicable split. "I am sorely disappointed about the way this
went down," Stephenson said. "I dont think it was handled properly, but its not
up for me to decide. We gave 36 years of our very best here." They were 36 years
unlike the program had ever known. Wichita State scuffled along for more than
two decades before disbanding the program after the 1970 season. When the school
decided to restart it in 1977, administrators looked toward the recruiting
co-ordinator and hitting coach at powerhouse Oklahoma to put everything
together. Stephenson only needed three years -- and the signing of Carter, a
three-time All-American -- to get Wichita State to the NCAA tournament for the
first time. Two years later, the Shockers played in their first College World
Series, losing to Miami in the national championship game. The school won 73
games that year, setting an NCAA record for a single season. Wichita State would
ultimately win 20 conference championships and make 28 appearances in the NCAA
tournament under Stephenson, and make seven trips to the College World Series.
The Shockers reached the pinnacle of college baseball by defeating Texas in the
1989 national championship game. The program had slid over the past couple of
season, though, and needed to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament to
reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009 this season. The
Shockers were beaten by Arkansas and regional champion Kansas State last
weekend. Stephenson said that he hopes to continue coaching, though hes not sure
where. He also spent several minutes thanking his former players, coaches and
staff during an emotional farewell. Sexton said that pitching coach Brent
Kemnitz, who is under contract through 2014, will take over on an interim basis
but will not be considered for the full-time job. Sexton said that a national
search for the next coach will begin immediately. "We thank Coach Stephenson for
his years of service," Sexton said, "and the efforts he has made in his lifes
work building this program from the beginning."
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Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell,
Ky. Middlesex 408 for 6 (Gubbins 145, Compton 131, Onions 3-76) lead Durham 204
(Rayner 4-17, Franklin 3-26) by 204 runs Scorecard The hearty cheers that
reverberated around Lords told their own tale. Nick Compton had not merely
reached a century at HQ, but had helped Middlesex into a position of dominance
and, in the process, strengthened his teams hold on the summit of Division One.
So as he punched the air in delight at his century, removing his helmet to
acknowledge the crowds applause, Compton had much reason to be proud.That recent
months have been among the most trying of Comptons professional life hardly
needs restating. Indeed, when he brought up his 50, it was his first
half-century of the year, and first since his crucial 85 underpinned Englands
victory in the Durban Test at the end of 2015.Given these circumstances, and the
huge importance of this match to his team, few of Comptons 25 first-class
centuries can have been the cause of so much satisfaction. On this evidence,
plenty more will be forthcoming in the County Championship. Compton has only
just turned 33, retains one of the most resolute defensive techniques in the
land and has a ravenous appetite for runs that few can rival in the county
game.There seems no reason why, if he has the inclination, he cannot continue to
feast in the shires for many years, a little like Marcus Trescothick and Mark
Ramprakash, two other players who, for contrasting reasons, enjoyed
international careers shorter than they had envisaged.Adhesive defence has been
Comptons hallmark, and this innings was no different: he had to summon all of
his fortitude to resist Rushwoths swing and the bounce of Mark Wood. And yet
Compton revealed plenty more of his game: relentlessly efficient clips through
the legside, some imperious hooks, and a succession of meticulously-placed late
cuts, including the steer off Scott Borthwick that brought up his century a
little before three oclock. While the early stages of his innings had been a
little jittery, Compton unobtrusively gained in fluency, using his feet nimbly
to spin and outpacing Nick Gubbins during their fertile alliance.Together with
Gubbins, Compton added 247 runs in 79.1 overs, and how they fed of each other
was highlighted not just by their harrying between the wickets but how Gubbins
left his crease so early to laud Compton for his century that Durham might have
run him out.This was a match-defining partnership, and a record-breaking one:
Middlesexs highest stand for the second wicket against DDurham and only one shy
of equalling the record for any wicket.dddddddddddd. Gubbins dismissal also left
him one short of being the first batsman to reach 1,000 runs in the County
Championship in 2016. Still, he might reflect that 999 runs at 66.60 apiece is
not too shabby.Although this was only his third first-class century - Gubbins
fell three times in the 90s before reaching his first - it brimmed with not
merely assurance and class, but, for those who have witnessed him this season, a
certain feeling of inevitability. Given that England are hardly overburdened
with proven opening partners for Alastair Cook, it would be a surprise if
Gubbins was not rewarded by a England Lions berth.Cricket has always fetishised
the grace of the left-hander, and, in his clips through the legside, driving
through point and dexterous use of his feet against spin, Gubbins has an
elegance in keeping with this tradition. All these shots were in evidence
against Durham; more importantly, so was Gubbins grit.How he needed it to
withstand Wood. Woods frustration has been palpable all day, and, with Gubbins
on 99, he expressed it in an over of short bowling, harassing Gubbins with a
short leg and fly slip. Gubbins withstood, and reached his century against
Borthwick in the next over, but still Wood returned, a brutal rising delivery
from him smashing into Gubbins grill. When Wood eventually found late movement
to induce Gubbins to edge to slip and end the second wicket stand, he looked to
the sky - less in relief at the wicket, but in exasperation at waiting so long
for it.When the second wicket stand was nascent, the previous evening, Gubbins
had been spilled behind, off Onions; Compton had also survived two chances to
the slips off Chris Rushworth before he has reached 20, one on the first evening
and one on the second morning.By the time it finally ended, the alliance between
Compton and Gubbins was worth more than the entirety of Durhams first innings
and, buttressed by a forceful cameo from Paul Stirling, had secured Middlesex a
lead of over 200: a position from which they will expect to win convincingly, in
the process extend their lead at the top of Division One.And, as loud as the
cheers that greeted Comptons century were, Middlesex can dream of even more
boisterous acclaim should they clinch the Championship crown here against
Yorkshire in the final game of the season. ' ' '
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