Thursday, Sept. 14. 1961 University Daily Kansan Page 9
Halfback Weak For MU Tigers
New running punch at the halfbacks, capable ends, and defensive backs are question marks of the coming campaign for Coach Dan Devine and his Missouri Tigers.
Big names in the backfield such as Mel West, Norris Stevenson. Donnie Smith, and Ed Mehrer are gone this year. Devine is rating his halfback problem as acute and doubts if he will be able to rely much on the end sweep this year.
The tackle situation hinges on Bucky Wegener, 5-10, 220 pounds. Last season Wegener did not play because of a disabled leg—a result of a power mower accident.
THE LINE IS WEAKER too. Three of 1960's top four ends are gone including Danny LaRose, a consensus All America selection.
Guard appears to be the bright spot in the Missouri line. Beck this year are five of 1960's top six main-stays. Heading the list are Captain Paul Henley, an all-conference pick and his running mate Paul Garvis.
Highly touted rookies are Gerald Stevenson and Daryl Krugman, both halfbacks. Both, however, have had knee operations, therefore are somewhat in doubt.
The big man in the backfield is Norm Beal, the lone holdover veteran.
"No one hits the dummies in practice like Beal," says coach Devine of the 165 pound scraper. "No one runs like Beal, but we need to find some halfbacks who'll take their cue from his all out play. Beal gives you everything."
On Missouri's non-conference slate this year are Washington State, Minnesota, and California. The Tigers meet Washington State in the season opener at Columbia on Sept. 23.
By matching his two-year average of 719 yards of total offense, Kansas' All America quarterback, John Haddl, can join a circle of only three Jayhawker operators who have broken past 2000 yards on the run-pass tables. These include Ray Evans, 3799; Dick Gilman, 2305, and Charlie Hoag, 2301. Haddl now ranks seventh on the all-time Total Offense tables at 1437. By equaling his average for season output he can vault to 2156.
Hadi Seventh
Jack Mitchell's Jayhawks renew their tense rivalry with the Tigers in the last game of the season at Lawrence on Nov. 25.
Though Houston, Texas, is 34 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, it ranks as one of the nation's busiest ports. A channel links the city to the sea.
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