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University Daily Kansan Thursday, Sept. 13, 1962
Writers Name McFarland As Key Big Eight Player
Four veterans were nominated for All America and 19 sophomores were listed among what is forecast as the best rookie crop since 1950. But two quarterbacks, Rodger McFarland of Kansas and Keith Weber, Missouri, were pin-pointed with most responsibility for the 1962 campaign in the 17th annual preseason poll of Big Eight sportswriters and sportscasters.
The Fort Worth, Texas, co-captain is returning to the man-under spot this season after running most of last year at left half. He surprised a lot of observers by slashing for 334 net yards from that spot as well as bagging 155 yards in receptions. But he'll be no stranger at quarter, since he understudied John Hadl as a sophomore, and engineered a 400-yard attack for the Jayhawkers against Colorado last year in his only full afternoon as pilot.
McFarland was tabbed as the most important individual in the entire autumnal picture by Curt Mosher of the Topeka Daily Capital, who typed this... "It appears here the Big Eight football race depends a lot on one man, Rodger McFarland of Kansas. If McFarland proves himself a full-time Big Eight type quarterback, the Jayhawks could take it all."
Weber fits a rare category, the hardship fits. He lamed a knee six minutes into the opener against Washington State last year and was kayedo for the season. A subsequent operation sidelined him for spring practice. Under Big Eight rules he still has three full seasons of eligibility and actually carries little more experience than an upcoming rookie.
Skipper Patrick, retiring divisional sports editor of the Associated Press in Kansas City, Mo., typified poll thinking on Weber with this . . . "If Keith Weber's knee has recovered 100 per cent, the Tigers rate No. 1, but if it hasn't they'll likely hurt at quarterback."
PENNED TOM HEDRICK, voice of the KU Sports Network... "Actually the key to Dan Devine's success is at quarterback. If Keith Weber's knee holds up after the operation, then MU should be favored."
Tender hinge or not, the Tigers were rated No. 1 in the poll for the first time since 1948.
Drawing support for All America was this quartet, Thunder Thornton, Nebraska fullback; Dave Hoppman, Iowa State tailback; Ken Coleman, Kansas fullback, and Wayne Lee, Oklahoma center.
THORNTON NETTED 422 yards as a sophomore to rank eighth in the conference rushing derby. He moved up to third last year at 618. Hopman won the national individual total offense crown last year on 1638 yards and will be aiming at an unprecedented third consecutive league rushing title. Coleman, only junior among the four, netted 665 yards aground last season, second - highest sophomore total in Jayhawker history, and carried off the Bluebonnet bowl's "Most Outstanding Player" accolade. Lee is the latest in a long line of sparking Sooner letters.
Of Lee, Ernest Thompson of the Ada, Okla. Evening News opined ... "I think Oklahoma's Wayne Lee will be the best center in the entire nation."
The sophomore crop drew the most comment since that great trio of Bob Reynolds (Nebraska); Charlie Hoag (Kansas); and Bill Vessels (Oklahoma) burst on the scene 12 years ago.
SAID BILL SIMS of the Kansas City Star . . . "This season may well be remembered as the 'Year of the Sophomore Sensations' rather than the year Missouri dethroned Colorado as the Big Eight football champion."
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Topping the rookie roster was Gale Sayers, Kansas halfback, who netted 321 yards and six touchdowns in two freshman games last season then scored one touchdown and threw for another in the Varsity's 17-6 upset of the Jayhawker Alumni in the spring game.
ONE ANNOUNCER, Rick Weaver, KFH, Wichita, tabbed Sayers "as the outstanding Big Eight back." Another, Joe Patrick, of KMTV, in Sayers' home town of Omaha, typed ... "Expect Sayers to be unanimous Big Eight back three straight years."
Runner-up for rookie accolade was Missouri halfback John Roland.
Also receiving heavy plaudits were; fullback Tom Vaughn, quarterback Larry Switzer and wingback Mike Cox, Iowa State; Kent McCloughan, Nebraska halfback; Tom Pannell, Oklahoma quarterback; Frank Ceserak, Colorado quarterback, and Doug Dusenbury, Kansas State quarterback.
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