Page 12
University Daily Kansan Thursday, Sept. 13, 1962
MU Favored-
(Continued from page 1) at $848^{\mathrm{I}}_{2}$ and Kansas State at 1021, formed the third tier.
THE SCRIBES AND mike-men, who once enjoyed the mantle of infallibility by successfully selecting Oklahoma 11 consecutive years, now are riding a wobble situation. For one thing, Missouri did not win the flag when tabbed as the champion in its two previous trips to the preseason throne, 1946 and 1948. For another, the railbirds missed picking the winner for the second successive year last autumn to fall into their longest slump in history.
Only two experts, Chuck Hostetler of the Manhattan Mercurv, and Ross Porter, WKY, Oklahoma City, tabbed Colorado as champion last year as the Buffalosows swept undefeated through the conference. And neither strung out a perfect ballot on the other placings thus preserving a precedent that has haunted the pollsters since the canvas' inception in 1946.
Again there was widespread general opinion that there would be a heavy crop of close games and upsets, and that there is scant prospect for an undefeated champion.
Hal Evans of the Larned, Kansas,
Tiller and Toller summed up prevailing opinion well with this. . .
"Missouri has the horses, Kansas has potential. Oklahoma is on the comeback trail and Iowa State can't be counted out."
BILL MAYER OF THE Lawrence Journal-World forecast tightness of the race with this line . . . "It (the league race) could be the best ever for it's doubtful there's ever been so much balance of potential excellence in the conference."
Too, there was a strident tenor for the upcoming sophomore crop as a deciding factor in the race. Another minor bloc tabbed Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Nebraska for the "most improved" titles, while another admittedly ranked OU and KU high off the basis of their surprise victories over well-stacked Alumni clubs in spring games.
Most intriguing aspect of the poll was the vociferous insistence of an Oklahoma comeback. The Sooners rose only one notch over their fifth-place finish of '60 last year. But their 5-0 record down the stretch, after an 0-5 start, and their man-handling of the always gaudy Alumni, brought out backers in profusion. Fact is, the Redshirts increased their title vote 18 per cent over '61, despite dropping from second to third in the forecast.
MONTE MOORE of KCMO-TV, Kansas City, Mo., typified these backers with this . . . "I have to think that any team that can score over 40 points on any Oklahoma Alumni team that includes Jim Weatherall alone must be a good one."
"A strong finish last year, plus the best freshman crop in some time gives the Big Red the push to regain first," typed Ben Boren of the Enid, Okla. Morning News.
Only dissenting note in the Missouri sector was doubt over Quarterback Keith Weber's operated knee. Strongest banner carrier for a Tiger title was Merle Harmon, WDAF-TV, Kansas City, Mo., who wrote . . . "The Tigers, fundamentally are the best football team in the nation."
DESPIITE GRADUATION of those all-time aces, Curtis McClinton and John Hadl, Kansas' main support stemmed from anticipation of another fine backfield.
Typifying this bloc was Keith Cummings of KAYS, Hays, Kan., who penned . . . "It looks like the Jayhawkers will have the best backfield in the Big Eight with Sayers (Gale) and Leiker (Tony) possibly the fastest and best in a good while."
Loudest stumper for Iowa was Dev Nelson, WIBW, Topeka, who wrote ... "Let's quit calling it 'Little Iowa State.' Last year's 4-3 club is basically intact, plus the finest freshman squad in the conference last year. This is the year for Clay Stapleton."
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