10
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, September 20, 1967
Kreutzer retains desire
Injuries hamper KU senior
Three knee operations and more than 100 stitches during his football career have yet to dampen the playing desire of KU center Bob Kreutzer.
Kreutzer, a 222-pound senior from Garden City, was the Jayhawk's regular center the past two seasons, but it was thought he would be unable to return to the line-up this fall following his third knee operation last December.
In spring drills, he worked with new coach Pepper Rodgers' staff as a student assistant, and was looking forward to continuing in that post this fall.
As football season drew closer, Kreutzer's knee and his desire to play both became stronger. He was in pads when fall drills started and by the third session had reclaimed his No. 1 position.
Kreutzer slowed again
However, the husky KU senior has been slowed again by a recurring knee injury and is now listed third on the Jayhawk depth chart behind two sophomores.
If he were available, Kreutzer's experience up front could bolster the middle of the KU offensive line which is manned by rookies for the most part.
Kreutzer's knee miseries began with an injury in his final sophomore game—the 1965 contest with Missouri. He had his first operation in February of 1966, and a second three months later.
The knee damage was corrected and the KU center played regularly throughout his junior year. Kreutzer missed considerable practice time, however, due to a cyst which developed below his knee. Another operation was performed in December 1966 to remedy that problem.
12 stitches required
Kreutzer's latest misfortune came in a scrimimage session this fall when he received 12 stitches in his right leg, after being cleated.
KU CENTER BOB KREUTZER
"That makes 107 stitches since I've been playing football, and 87 of them have been in my right leg," Kreutzer said.
For the past two gridiron seasons, the big KU pivot has competed across the line against three of the most noted guards in college football—Wayne Meylan of Nebraska and Granville Liggins of Oklahoma, both All-Americans, and Ron Scott of Colorado.
Kreutzer, a two-way tackle throughout his high school career, came to KU without ever truly experiencing the center position.
Too many tackles
"When I first reported for football at KU, one of the coaches asked if anyone had ever played center. I could see we were loaded up pretty good with tackles at the time and I wanted to play, so I held up my hand," Kreutzer grinned. "I've been a center ever since."
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