University Daily Kansan
Thursday, October 30, 1975
7
Butler muzzles offensive threats
Defensive tackle Mike Butler
Photo by CORKY TREWIN
A mischievous smile of pleasure spread across Mike
who excitedly enjoyed talking about
offering advice to the techie.
Butler is a mammoth 6-foot-6, 255-pound junior defensive tackle for the University of Kansas football team. He's been manhandling offensive tackles this year and leads KU's defense in tackles by a lineman.
At this particular point, Butter was talking about an offensive linemen in particular—Kentucky's Warren Bryant and Wisconsin's Dennis Lick. Both were considered All-America material by preseason pollsters.
THEY HAVE ANOTHER in common, too; they were outplayed by the less heralded Butler in KUYET's battle.
In Kansas' 14-10 win over Kentucky, Butler was
Sports Editor
Inside Sports
by Yael Abouhalkah
"I figured if I played well against them, then the pro scouts would start taking looks at me."
named the Big Eight's outstanding defensive player of the week.
"I feel like I had good games against both of them," Butler asserted. "I knew they were both supposed to be hot stuff. That got me psyched up. I was playing against guys high in the minds of pro scouts.
BUTLER DOESN'T LEAVE any doubt about the enjoyment he gets from beating his opponent. There are several ways to administer those thrashings—by sacking the quarterback, tackling a runner for a loss or by just plain physically whipping the opposing offensive tackle.
"What I like to know," he said, "is that their offensive coach and his players are going to go over the films and see that I beat their offensive tackle. That really fires me."
Now back to Bryant and Lick.
"We talked to each other a lot—I just laughed down his face a lot of times," Butler explained. "The only way to shut him up was to beat him physically. Then he's only talking trash."
BRYANT, A 6-FOOT, 32-39pund junior, was an all-Southeastern Conference selection as a sophomore. The Kentucky press guide describes him as "bick, quick to reversal." And, according to Butler, he also talks a lot.
The game against Lick, a 6-0et, 323-pound senior, wasn't as filled with banter, Butler said. But there was one play in KU's 41-4 romp over Wisconsin in which he made a tackle and Lick ended on Butler's back.
"I TURNED TO HIM and said I didn't mind him on my back, just as long as I was on the back of his runner," Buter said, smiling. "We just talked like that in the bus. Plus we saw a few other words that can't be printed."
Although Lick was the heavier of the two tackles, Butler said playing against Bryant presented a tougher play.
"He was more physical than Lick," Butler said. "I felt like I had a little better game against him."
"We had to see who wanted to drive who off the line of scrimmage. That was a bruising game.
"LICK WAS MORE OF A position player. He was more interested in just playing between me and him, than in being in that stance in that game."
Although just a junior, Butler has started to get recognition around the Big Eight as a premier defensive tackle. There wasn't much glamour for Butler last fall.
"Me personally. I felt that I had a good year last
meet and got much recognition. So I get my
new job, higher, higher."
BUTLER IS NATURALLY interested in playing pro football. He thinks he's got a good start toward getting the job.
"I know that, from what I've heard. I'm doing all
right this year," Butler said. "But I've got a bellva la
of improving to do. There are a lot of guys who think
they can make it in pro football. I want to be one of the
few who make it."
Butler holds one of the key positions on KU's defensive line, considering that he's one of the most experienced players there. That means some of KU's younger players look to him for some leadership.
play. Then helps them. But when we're all having a good game, I just try to do my part."
"WHEN WE'RE NOT DOING too much," Butler said, "they're maybe looking for me to have a good
Butler's season is far from finished. He said offensive tackles on the Oklahoma, Colorado and Missouri squads must be to see this year. But he plays against them last year, knows what to expect.
"I have some hard times coming up," he said.
But after watching his response to those so far this year, Butler is evidently the kind to relish such a change.
Sonics nip Kings by 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Rookie Bruce Seals hit a layup off a pass from Slack Witts with only two seconds to play giving the Seattle Supersonics a 92-91 victory over the Kansas City Kings in a National Basketball Association game here last night.
Sea teams with guard Fred Brown for 30 of Seattle's 36 third-quarter points in a period when Kansas City could only muster 21 and by as many as 12 points in that quarter.
Kansas City's Jimmy Walker brought the Kings back in the final period by scoring 11 of his 18 points. Larry McNeill hit a short shot, remaining for an 89-48 Kansas City lead.
The Kings had an 18-point lead midway through the second quarter, while Seattle was held scoreless for more than six minutes.
Watts and Seals then scored the final Sonic points to secure Seattle's third win in four games. The Kings are winless in two starts.
Nate Archibald, who finished the game with 25 points, hit two free throws to win.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP)—The Minnesota North Star sings a five-game National Hockey League losing streak here last night with a 24 shutout of the Kansas City Scouts behind the goaltending of Pete Lopresti
KC Scouts fall
Minnesota gave its goalie the only score he needed 35 seconds before the end of the first period, when Bill Goldsworthy scored a goal from Reid past Souris' goal Bill McKenzie.
Goldsworth assured the win for loPresti with only 49 seconds left in the game when he picked up a loose puck in the goal line. He Hicke up for his fifth goal of the season.
It was Lo Presti's second career shutout, the first this season.
KU trio leads in Big 8 statistics
Nolan Cromwell is still on top in the Big Eight rushing statistics. Two other University of Kansas football players lead the league in other departments.
Kansas halfback Laverne Smith is 10th in the league in rushing, with a 64.7 yard average, and fullback Norris Banks is 13th with 53.7 vards.
THE OTHER TWO Jayhawk leaders are safety Chris Golub, who leads with four interceptions, and Eric Franklin, who spares staff returners with a 23.8 yard average.
Golub, however, is out for the year after
suffered an injury in January of 35-19 loss to
the Rockies.
Cromwell, KU's quarterback, has rushed for 765 yards on 127 carries. Both statistics are top in the league. He's averaging 109.3 yards a game, which gives him a fairly healthy margin over Oklahoma State's Terry Miller, who's averaging 97.9.
the statistical department. No Kansas passer or receiver is among the top eight in the league. Cromwell is 10th, averaging 21 vards a game passing.
In total offense, Cromwell ranched thi-
with 130.4 yards a game. Colorado's Dave
Smith ran for 278 yards.
In team statistics, KU's potent ground game is averaging 289.3 yards, second behind Oklahoma's 308.3. But with the passing average of 28.9 yards, the Jayhawks are dragged to seventh in the total offense with a 318.4 yard average.
KU'S DENNIS KERBEL IS FOURTH in goals, with six of 12 kicked success.
Kansas fares slightly better in the defensive categories, despite that subpar defense against Kentucky.
KU's impotent passing game shows up in
THE JAYHAWKS are four in rushing defense, allowing 184.9 yards a game. The Hawks have no need to worry about the defense.
In scoring offense, the Jayhawks are sixth in scoring for a game, while their scoring defense is third.
Overall, though, the Jayhawks are third in the Big Eight in total defense.
KU's opponent this Saturday, arch rival Kansas State doesn't fare well in most games.
THE WILDCATS ARE last in rushing offense (172.0),七百 in passing (713.1), last in total offense (243.3) and last in scoring offense (11.3 points a game).
Kansas State is sixth in rushing defense (196. 6), sixth in passing defense (110. 6), sixth in total defense (307.1) and fourth in scoring defense (17.0).
Kansas K-State
Kansas coach Bud Moore was unhappy with the Jayhawk passing defense and said he wanted to stop them.
"I saw too many passes completed against our secondary today and that isn't good with the poor injury situation that we have in the poor injury behalf."
KU hosts Kansas State this Saturday in Memorial Stadium.
Injured Jayahays returned in force to force Tom Dinkel, Steve Jones Franklin King and Kurt Knoff were back and practicing. More cautioned that Dinkel was the only
"They throw the ball a good bit," Moore said. "But I don't know that they'll be throwing it much more than they normally do. They aren't leading the league or anything, but they are more than adequate."
Couch Ella Rainberger said what was believed to be a simple ankle sprain for her hip. "She is fine."
MANHATTAN (AP)-Quarterback Joe Hatcher turned up at yesterday's Kansas State football practice as a doubtful starter for the game with Kansas this Saturday.
Rainberger reported that Hatcher's mobility during the 90 minute drill was good. If Hatcher is unable to start, junior Tom Merrifield will start instead.
K-State's chances against KU apparently suffered a blow when slotback Mike Harris, who had returned 13 kickoffs for 302 yards, quit the team.
"We definitely feel we will have to throw
him!"灵敏地 said. "This will be a
very well."
very endearing and very physicist game. The Wildcats concentrated on their kicking game in preparation for the Kansas kick-return specialists.
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