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Tuesday, November 1, 1977
University Daily Kansan
KC fires Wiggin; top job to Bettis
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UPI) — The Kansas City Chiefs decided yesterday that head coach Paul Wiggin was no longer a "positive force" in the bid to reconstruct the team to its previous Super Bowl heights and relieved him of his one-half years of his three-year contract.
The firing came one day after an embarrassing 44-7 loss Sunday to the Cleveland Browns, with whom Wiggin played 11 years as a defensive end and earned a number of Pro Bowl selections. It was the sixth loss in seven games for the Chiefs this season.
"Paul Wiggin gave us credibility," Chiefs Board Chairman Lamar Hunt said. He said he had helped us through it. But we felt he was no longer a positive force. We are dedicated to seeing the Chiefs competitive with the best in pre-football and we've been no longer part of that direction."
HUNT NAMED Kcity City defensive backfield coach Tom Bettis to replace Wilgen in the game, and assigned at the end of the year to determine if he should be given the job full-time. Bettis' immediate task will be to prepare the Chiefs for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
"Obviously, we'd prefer to have Tom coach the Kansas City Chiefs for the next 20 years," Hunt said. "We want just see some progress made this season. There's no more appropriate place for Tom to start磨磨 his old team, the Green Bay Packers."
Wiggin was given a three-year contract during the off-season despite guiding the Chiefs to back-to-back 5-8 records in his first two years. Kansas City was impressive in losing its opener to New England, 21-17, but the Chiefs went on to lose four more games against Oakland. Washington and Baltimore before postaging a 21-16 victory over the Chargers.
The Chiefs recovered two fumbles inside the San Diego 15 in the final three minutes and turned them into touchdowns to salvage the victory. But then came Cleveland which rolled up 34 first downs and 52% total yards to bumplift the Chiefs.
"IT SHOCKED me," Wingin said after his dismissal. "It's painful. I love Kansas City, I love the Chefs. I have a lot of respect for the organization. I think what they are doing, the rebuilding, is the right thing to do even if I won't be around for it.
"I told them, however, I didn't think
ANSAN Sports
what they were doing with me was right. I believe the system had a lot more to do with my being fired than my own ability. I thought I did a hell of a good job."
Wiggin was called into club president's office at 10:30 a.m. Hunt was walking there.
THE KANSAS CITYY MET met for 20 minutes after practice yesterday to discuss the turn of events and issued the following statement:
"When I saw Lamar there, I knew they weren't going to wish me a happy Halloween," Wiggin said. "They told me I lost the football team by their standards. They told me I was fired . . . and all the other players. They respected me and they respected me and they thanked me."
"We are shocked and saddened with what has happened here today. Every man on this football team feels a deep sense of guilt for the actions that were taken. It is our fault that we lost a fine man and a great individual, so much so that in life it is to have someone else suffer the consequences of your actions. We feel this was the case today.
"We think some people on this football team grew up today. We will dedicate ourselves to do the best possible job for Tom Bettis for whom we carry the utmost weight so we do for Tom from here on we will be done the foundation built by Paul Wiggin."
The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV in 1970 but deteriorated from there through a number of unproductive drafts and age catching up to their peak in the 1980s, after a ravaged team from Hank Strain in 1975.
The Chiefs were plaged by inexperience under Wiggin as evident by the fact 27 players on the current 45-man roster have less than two years of NFL experience.
"There's no nit-picking when you fire someone," Wiggin said. "The told me I wasn't doing the job. They gave me a task to finish, pressed by their standards I'dn't do the job."
"The desire and intensity to compete in the National Football League just wasn't the same as it was back when he started."
Wiggin was the first NFL head coach to be dismissed this season.
Staff photo
The good times were rare this season for Kansas City Chiefs' coach Paul Wiggin but one happy moment came during an exhibition game victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Wiggin was relieved of his coaching duties yesterday and was replaced by Chiefs' defensive backfield coach Tom Betttis for the remainder of the season.
Hannier times
JV's use big play to stop Baker
Sports Writer
Bv JASON NUSS
The Kansas Jayhawks' junior varsity team used the big play yesterday to defeat Baker University's junior varsity team. They also practiced field behind Allen Field House.
Senior running back Wardell Johnson carried the ball only two times but made the play. He missed both and did not 43 cards. The Jayhawks also scored on a 68-yard pass from Steve Smith to Rob Fulton and a 37-yard interception return by Bohan Forer, a walk-on receiver.
"I'm happy for Wardell," junior varsity coach Mike McDaniel said after the game. "Their defense adjusted well to two runs, but the two runs were enough."
BAKER SCORED FIRST, driving 67 yards on 11 plays on their first possession of the game. Starting quarterback John Ross scored a touchdown in the balloon with a nine-yard pass for Basker.
On the first play after the kick-off,
Johnson scampered around right end for
69 yards and a touchdown. Smith's extra
point kick was good to tie the score 7-1.
After KU's John Huston intercepted a Bake pass, Smith hit wide receiver Fulton for a 68-yard touchdown strike. Smith's extra point gave KU a 14-7 lead.
Two plays later, Forrer intercepted a Baker pass and returned in 37 yards for a touchdown.
BAKER CUT THE gap to 21-14 in the last minute of the first half when halfback Eddie Tanner scored from four vards out.
On KU's first play from scrimmage in the second half, Johnson scooted around right end again for 42 yards and his second touchdown. Smith's kick made it
The Wildcats came back in the fourth quarter, driving 47 yards in 12 plays. Halfback Doug Wince scored from the
Feintina
Freshman running back Harry Syndey tries to put a move on a Baker University defender yesterday during a junior varsity game.
two, but the extra point attempt was blocked by James Emerson.
Baker mounted another drive near the end of the game, but freshman safety Nick Johnson stopped the drive.
SMITH, WHO MADE his varsity debut Saturday against Iowa State, completed three of five passes for 84 yards and a
Field House, Sydney picked up 15 yards rushing on four carries and also had one reception for six yards as the Jayhawk's.
at the eight yard-line to preserve the 28-
20 win
touchdown. He also rushed nine times for 10 vards.
The Jayhawk junior varsity team plays its Friday at Manhattan against the No. 12 Storm.
Woods undergoes surgery as 'Hawks drill for K-State
Starting offensive guard Greg Woods underwent surgery yesterday afternoon to repair torn knee ligaments he suffered in last Saturday's game against Iowa State.
After an examination yesterday, it was reported that starting defensive tackle Franklin King, who also suffered knee injuries from Saturday's game, would not need surgery.
Woods, Ottawa junior, will miss the last three games of the season.
"He expect him to be back," head coach Bud Moore said after yesterday's practice.
Wildcat players boycott practice
MANHATTAN (UPI)—A group of discontented freshman football players at Kansas State University met with the school's coaching staff last night after an estimated 20 players boycotted an afternoon practice.
A previously scheduled meeting, to have been held at 3:20 p.m., was postponed by players. The meeting was held at 8 p.m. last night.
Both coaches and players have been quiet about the circumstances and have refused to discuss the matter. At an afternoon news conference, head coach Ella Rainberger said the missing players and whether any more junior varsity games would be played.
"It just depends on how well he progresses."
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Wednesday Night. Nov. 2, 1977
Also absent from yesterday's workout, which was in sweats because of the junior varsity game and the numerous injuries, were defensive back Jimmy Little and defensive end Jim German. Both are listed for a Saturday's game with Kansas State.
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Moore also said that Brian Bethke had been elevated to starting quarterback for this week's game, replacing freshman Jenn Hines, who had started the last six games.
Back at practice yesterday were wide receiver David Verser and defensive end Jim Zidd, both of whom missed the trip to Iowa State because of injuries.
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"I thought we at least got acquainted with our game plan for Kansas State," Moore said. "We took a look at the K-State defenses in the Big 10, and they defended and offenses to what they do."
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