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Football hopes at K.U. took a jolt when Bob George, frosh triple-threat man,
Joe Dickey, half-back speedster, and Frank Gruden, o1l-Big Six guard, were trans-
ferred by the Navy at the end of the winter torm along with several other out-
Standing boys. Tho discontinuance of the V-5 program this surmer will also remove
a potential source of manpower from the K.U. squad. Last year three V-5 boys won
their letters at K.U. Too, the Navy has already announced that there will be a
reduction of personnel in the V-12 program November first. This means that an
entirely different team from that beginning the season may play the November games.

Naval transfers the first of July make a guess os to K.U.'s football prospects
for 1944 even more hazardous. Since freshmen are ineligible to participate until
after one semester, there is little likelihood of getting much help from that
source. Undoubtedly we will lose more than we will gain by the July transfers, On
the brighter side of the ledger is the fact that vind letternen from last year
ere still in school at the present _—"

Since Head Coach Henry Shenk has a pretty good knowledge of the competition in
the Big Six Conference this coming season, I asked him what he thought of Kansas'
, chances, I recall the days when Shenk played for Kansas, and particularly in
1927 when he caught a pass from Art Lawrence (now coaching at Rosedale High School)
and dashed 40 yards down the east side of the field for a touchdown that beat
Missouri 14 to 7. Capt. Barrett Hamilton caught the pass from Art Lawrence that
made the first Kansas touchdown, Kansas had experienced a rather mediocre season
up until that time. Missouri was Big Six champion and had beaten Nebraska and
Northwestern, and were prohibitive favorites.

So when I asked Henry Shenk about the prospects for this season he replied,

"So far as the Big Six this year is concerned it looks as if Oklahoma will. probab-
ly be the team to beat for the championship. They have a large V=5 unit and a
good many of their players back from last year, and they can also be counted on to
get sone outstanding freshnan talent. Iowa State should also present a strong
team since they not only have a large V-12 unit but also play a group of naval
trainees corresponding to our electricians! mates, Ok Ladioria: beat Kansas 26 to 13
last year ‘in a thrilling gane at Norman, and Lowa,’ State defeated Kansas at Lawrence
in a rather drab game 13 to 6.

"Missouri and Nebraska and Kansas State have no naval trainees. However, this
may be an advantage in Big Six competition next year. It is quite likely that the
three schools that have naval trainees will suffer from the cut of personnel
announced for Novenber first, and those schools playing civilians should at least
be able to keep their squad intact from the boginning of the season until the end.
The civilian teams are able to have longér practice sessions and more time for
chalk-talks than the naval schools. The naval trainees maintain higher standards
of scholarship.with fewer practice hours than do the civilians. These factors to
a gertain extent counterbalance the aon of manpower.in the schools having civilians,

Coach Shenk went -on to say, "Byobably Missouri should be the strongest of the
three schools with all-civilien teams, They still have Delestatious, Collins and
several other boys from their fine team last year who will have profited by a year's
experience. Nebraska always has a good football team. Last year they had probably
the poorest team they have ever had. Yot they were able to defeat Kansas by one
point in a sea of rain and mud at Lincoln, perpetuating the 28-year old jinx.

Coach Ward Haylett of Kansas State, whose team was in the cellar last season, re-
cently announced that things were looking up for football next year with the re-
turn of 140 Arny VORA aS to civilian status, These together with a promising