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University Daily Kansan Monday, October 23, 1961
University Daily Kansan SPORTS KU Pass Defense, Offense Improving
By Bill Sheldon
The Kansas Jayhawkers stumbled their way through four somewhat disappointing games before they finally showed evidence of beginning to solve their most pressing problem—the forward pass. Saturday, in their first win over Oklahoma in 15 years and the first victory in Norman since 1937, the Hawkers not only began to show some effectiveness throwing the ball but they were able to almost completely stop the opposition from punishing them through the air.
Although the most significant phase of the 10-0 win over the Sooners did not involve the passing situation in itself, what did happen in this area was a welcome addition to the Kansas football situation for the remainder of the season.
First, John Hadl's use of contact lenses allowed him greater vision and the obvious result was much sharper and more accurate passing. Second, the Kansas pass receivers showed a greater ability to hang on to passes. Third, using a somewhat different formation, the Jays' secondary defense and hard-charging front line held Sooner throwing attempts to only three completions in 11 tries and a 24-yard total.
Coach Jack Mitchell added some new pass patterns to the KU offense and they worked with varying success. Kansas had more receivers in the clear than ever before and the combination of wonderful pass protection and pin-point passing accounted for eight completions in 15 tries for 108 yards and the only touchdown—a 30-yard thriller from Hadl to Larry Allen.
Defensively, the Jayhawkers went to what they call a "pro" formation in the second half to thwart the Sooner aerials. This defense had the Kansas defenders playing man-to-man on the opposition players rather than the traditional zone technique used by most college teams. The one fault of this strategy was its weakness against the short pass and the run. But the fierce play of the Hawker forwards took up the slack-and made the move pan out in KU's favor.
Another interesting maneuver by Mitchell was the constant switching of Hadl and Roger McFarland between left halfback and quarterback. Taking such a risk can be dangerous, but the outstanding ability of both backs made the Kansas offense more effective than at any other point in the season.
The one big complaint which Mitchell had after the game was that his team was unable to break loose for the long, quick-hitting gain which the happy coach said will be a big factor in the success of the Jayhawkers as they move into the second half of the season against Oklahoma State here Saturday.
Perennial Sooner Dominance Comes to Slow, Painful End
By Steve Clark
Oklahoma Coach Bud Wilkinson is a man who is used to winning. The Sooner mentor has built up a coaching record at the University of Oklahoma that is envised by every coach in the country.
His Sooners were Big Eight champions for 14 years. Thrice were his teams voted National Collegiate Champions.
Last year Wilkinson's situation became worse. His squad was able to muster only a 3-6-1 season record and a sixth-plate conference finish.
IN 1953 THE SOONERS fortune began to turn. In that season Northwestern humiliated them in the opener 45-13, arch-rival Texas edged them 19-12 and an upstart Nebraska squad coached by a former Wilkinson player, Bill Jennings, became the first Big Eight team to peg a loss on OU in 13 years.
This season Oklahoma has apparently hit rock bottom. The Sooners, after Saturday's game, possessed a winless 0-4 record.
IN THE DRESSING ROOM after the KU game there was a downhearted, gray-haired Bud Wilkinson. If only his squad could have defeated the Jayhawkers, they would have saved some "face" after their dismal opening.
"how did the Kansas team look to you?" the question was asked
Succinctly the OU coach replied
"They looked very good today."
"THAT IS VERY HARD to answer. It's always difficult to compare two teams. I would have to say that I can't answer that question."
"How did Kansas compare with the other teams you have played thus far?"
- Bill Van Burkleo, Oklahoma's heralded sophomore quarterback, demonstrated supurb faking ability during second quarter play. The Sooner signal caller rolled to his right on a bootleg. He was grabbed by a Kansas lineman, who not seeing the ball, let him loose.
- Kansas, in its first four games, had vet to lose the ball on a fumble. Against OU in the first quarter, the string was broken. End Ray Roberts hauled in a John Hadi pass on the Oklahoma five yard line only to fumble, giving the Sooners possession and ending in a KU touchdown drive. Rodger McFarland also fumbled, harmlessly, in the final minutes.
"We made many mistakes this afternoon." Wilkinson replied. "We have a lot of room for improvement. Our play was just average today."
"How did your team look?"
● Jay Roberts, sophomore third string end who is best remembered for his Varsity-Alumni game play last spring, again demonstrated his pass-catching ability by spearing three aerials for much-needed yardage.
Hawk Harriers Beat Arkansas In Perfect Race
The Kansas Jayhawk cross country squad boosted their season record to 4-0 by scoring a "grand slam" against the Arkansas Razorbacks 15-50 Friday afternoon at the Lawrence Country Club.
A "grand slam" in cross country is when one team places the top seven finishers. The "grand slam." according to Coach Bill Easton, was KU's first in many years.
SENIOR CAPTAIN Bill Dotson was individual winner, picking up his fourth win of the season. His winning time was a fast 14:36.7 over a good course on a perfect day. Charlie Hayward, who has thrice finished second to Dotson, did so again Friday, crossing the finish stripe 10 yards back of the winner.
Completing the grand slam for Kansas were: Dan Ralston, third; Tonni Coane, fourth; George Cabrera, fifth; Bill Thornton, sixth;
Mike Fulghum, seventh.
Bill Dotson
Ralston set the pace for the first mile, leading the pack by 15 yards. But he was unable to keep his lead and fell behind Dotson and Hayward. The threesome ran even until the last three-fourths of a mile when Dotson unleashed his usual strong finish.
FIFTH - PLACE FINISHER Cabrera was originally scheduled to run "white shirt" in the meet. When Paul Acevedo could not run due to an injury, Cabrera was given his chance. He finished 10 yards ahead of Thornton.
"This meet showed the full strength of our team," commented Easton. "We scored as a full team instead of individuals. I was very pleased with the boys' performance. The day was perfect and I thought we had an enthusiastic crowd."
Arkansas Coach Wendell Goodwin had nothing but praise for the Jayhawker squad. He said that he expected to lose, but not by such a large margin. "Several of our boys did not run as well as I expected," he said.
Quarterback Club Meeting
-Exciting films of the K. U.-Oklahoma game
Forum Room Student Union
Narrated by a top player.
Tuesday, Oct. 24
7 p.m.
Free Admission & Cokes
No man can climb out beyond the limitations of his own character. John, Viscount Morley
JACK ZINN for Freshman President
The tree of liberty only grows when watered by the blood of tyrants.—Bertrand Barere
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