Missouri Southern Coach Ware Collapses and Dies

Second-year Missouri Southern Coach John Ware died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack after collapsing at his desk.

Ware, 46, was discovered in his Joplin, Mo., office and attempts to revive him by members of the coaching and training staff, as well as medical personnel, failed. He was rushed to Freeman Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The school said Tuesday night that Ware died of an apparent heart attack, but an autopsy was scheduled for today.

On Saturday, the Division II Lions (2-3) are scheduled to play host to Truman State, the school Ware coached for 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.

Coach Bill Snyder said disciplinary steps have been taken. He said Monday that 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 last Saturday’s 54-7 victory over North Texas.