By The Associated Press
Second-year Missouri Southern coach John Ware died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack after collapsing at his desk in Joplin, Mo.
Ware, 46, was discovered in his office after 10 a.m. Attempts to revive Ware by members of the coaching and training staff, as well as medical personnel, failed and he was rushed to Freeman Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Ware died of an apparent heart attack, the school said in a statement Tuesday.
An autopsy was scheduled for today.
Assistant coach Keeth Matheny, who will take over as head coach, said Ware had experienced heart problems in the past.
“There are five games remaining – five opportunities – to make a great man proud,” Matheny said.
On Saturday, the Division II Lions (2-3) are scheduled to host Truman State, the school Ware coached nine years before going to Missouri Southern.
Kansas State: Running back Thomas Clayton was charged with almost hitting a university official with his car while driving away to avoid having a boot put on the vehicle for parking violations.
Clayton, a junior, was charged with misdemeanor battery. He was arrested Sept. 16 on a complaint of aggravated battery.
Parking services officials said employee James A. Seymour almost was hit by Clayton. The player was arrested a short time later and released on $1,000 bond.
Coach Bill Snyder said disciplinary steps have been taken. He said Clayton would play Saturday against Oklahoma, but did not say whether he would start.
Clayton started in Kansas State’s first two games, rushing for 329 yards and three touchdowns. He was held out of Saturday’s 54-7 victory over North Texas.
Missouri: Senior Sean Coffey, the team’s leading receiver from a year ago, is expected to start Saturday’s game against No. 2 Texas after missing two games with a shoulder injury.
Conference USA: The conference champion will face a Southeastern Conference team in the Liberty Bowl under a four-year agreement that will start in 2006. Conference USA also agreed to deals with the GMAC, Hawaii, New Orleans and Fort Worth bowls.
