Zendejas Says Fines by Kush Unfair

Heralded rookie place-kicker Luis Zendejas, who has missed three consecutive field-goal attempts and three straight extra points in the Arizona Outlaws’ last two United States Football League games, says he has been unfairly fined twice by Coach Frank Kush.

Zendejas, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, also said Wednesday that he believes Kush is trying to force him to quit school. As part of his one-year, no-cut, $55,000 guaranteed contract signed Jan. 23, Zendejas is allowed to carry a 14-hour schedule at Arizona State so he can complete his undergraduate degree in bilingual education by this summer.

Zendejas, 23, goes to school in the morning and attends the Outlaws’ afternoon practices one mile away in Phoenix. He said he has been fined $500 twice the last two weeks for missing team meetings he wasn’t required to attend.

“It’s gotten where I’m more worried about them sneaking a meeting in on me,” Zendejas told the Arizona Republic. “One time, six guys missed the meeting. Some didn’t get fined and some got fined $100 and $50. I’m trying to find out what’s going on.”

Kush snapped at a reporter’s inquiry if he was trying to make Zendejas quit his college classes.

“Let me tell you about football,” Kush said. “If a player is not at all the meetings, then he’s not part of the family. He’s not part of the team.”

“That’s why we don’t like to give guaranteed contracts,” Kush had told reporters Tuesday. “If he keeps kicking like this, I’m going to call him Louise--a girl’s name.”