Sports UNIVERSITY Daily hansan
Sports
LAWRENCE. KANSAS
60th Year, No. 1 SECTION B
Thursday, Sept. 13, 1962
Bv Steve Clark
Two weeks ago, four months ago, I would have picked the Kansas Jayhawkers to win the Big Eight conference, but now I'm not so sure.
During the varsity-alumni football game last spring, the young, unseasoned varsity played a fiery brand of football and showed lots of spunk in defeating the alumni.
BUT TUESDAYS' intra-squid scrimmage showed that the squid had lost a lot of its fire and drive, and morale seemed at a low ebb.
If the Jayhawkers are going to win, it's going to have to be on desire and determination alone, because they do not have the horses or the experience to win otherwise.
Attitude is an intangible basis on which to predict a conference championship, but it's not as "all wet" as some may believe. I am not convinced that Colorado had the best football team in the Big Eight last year. To me, Kansas and Missouri were better. Colorado must have wanted to win badly, to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to defeat the Javhawkers at Boulder.
And then there was Purdue, back in the early '50s, who would derail the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, even though the Boiler-makers were imbedded in the lower echelon of the conference.
Football is a funny game. Many factors influence the success of a team. Among these are size, experience, injuries and attitude. Each goes a long way, but attitude can go the farthest.
One day, many years ago a mediocre Notre Dame team was faring poorly against a strong Army football team. At halftime that great coach Knute Rockne told his boys a story.
The story was about a fellow by the name of George Gipp. He was probably the hardest competitor the Irish ever had. After his college days he contacted a dread disease and the doctors said he would die.
Rockne was with the "Gipper" when he died, and before the Irish star succumbed, he looked up at the "Rock" and said, "Someday when the going is rough, ask the boys to win one for the Gipper."
After the story rockets robbed at his silent squad sitting there with added eyes and asked them to win one for the "Gipper." They did.
This is a somewhat melodramatic incident, but it does prove one point, that there is a psychological aspect to the game if it is used.
They did.
The Jayhawkers do have some fine talent. Their backfield has much potential. Quarterback Rodger McFarland and fullback Kevin Coleman are all-league and All America caliber. Halfback Tony Leiker has proven himself somewhat by his fine performance as a reserve last year. Gale Sayers is a question mark.
In his yearling season Sayers shone as bright as "Old Sol" himself. But in Tuesday's scrimmage he looked far from being an established performer. Granted, everyone has bad days, but the Jayhawkers, as thin as they are, cannot afford to have one.
KU's line is not great, but neither is anybody else's. It might be years before the Big Eight sees a mighty line like the Missouri Tigers had last year.
Nevertheless the Jayhawkers can be solid up front. The center position is manned capably by Kent Converse and Pete Quatrochi. Guard appears solid with co-captain Ken Tiger, Mickie Walker and Duke Collins. Ends should be "O.K." with Jay Roberts, who may develop into one of KU's greatest pass-catching ends, Pack St. Clair and Andy Graham.
But what about tackle? Your guess is as good as mine. Marvin Clothier, Fred Eiseman, Brian Schweda, Dick Pratt, Karl Sartore, Fred Elder and Tommy Thompson all could see lots of action this year.
Being optimistic, we have to grant that while the Jayhawkers do not have great ballplayers, they certainly have capable ones.
The Jayhawkers do not appear solid as of now. They looked good last year at this time, but were knocked around their first three games.
Nevertheless, we still like the Jayhawkers and will go out on a limb, and predict a conference championship for them.
How's that for attitude?
Distance Men Miss Dotson
In the last 15 years, Coach Bill Easton's distance crews have 14 league titles, nabbed 59 of 62 dual meets and at present hold a 38-consecutive dual win skein against conference opposition.
Despite owning the best year-to-year record of any sport at KU, the cross country team's hopes for the 1962 season are not as bright as they were last year.
But, still the current outlook is not as promising as it has been in the past.
Bill Dotson graduated last spring.
Only five return from last year's team. They are Paul Acevedo, George Cabrera, Charlie Hayward. Tonni Coane and Mike Fulghum.
Dotson, the first Kansas sub-four minute mile, led Coach Easton's cross country team last year to first place in the Big Eight meet, to a Central Collegiate Conference title and to a fourth-place finish in the NCAA meet.
Last season Dotson won the Big Eight title and placed 20th in the NCAA with a 20:44 clocking.
(Continued on page 2)
A BAD NIGHT—Here's a bleak Jack Mitchell on a bad night, last year's Kansas-TCU game. The Jayhawkers rode into the game with a top national rating and were favorites to win the conference. They did neither. They open against TCU again this year on Sept. 22.
Missouri Favored In League Battle
Missouri will win the tightest Big Eight football race since 1936. That's the prediction of a record number of 134 area sportswriters and sport-scasters who marked ballots in the 17th annual pre-season conference poll.
Using the inverse rating system multiplying the number of votes for each position times the number of that position and placing
4-1-0 records, with Missouri and Nebraska just a game back at 3-2-0.
Never in poll history have the top three teams run this close. The Tigers captured 36 per cent of the title vote by far the lowest in poll annals (KU'S 58 per cent of 1947 was the previous low for a pre-season champion) while KU and OU were nailing 29 per cent respectively.
1962 Big Eight Football Forecast
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | TP |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Missouri | $49^{1/2}$ | $31^{1/2}$ | $38$ | $9$ | $3$ | $2$ | $1$ | $0$ | $296^{1/2}$ |
| Kansas | $39$ | $43^{1/2}$ | $33$ | $14^{1/2}$ | $3$ | $1$ | $0$ | $0$ | $304$ |
| Oklahoma | $38^{1/2}$ | $41$ | $34^{1/2}$ | $14$ | $4$ | $0$ | $2$ | $0$ | $314$ |
| Iowa State | $4$ | $8$ | $15$ | $38$ | $36$ | $19$ | $4$ | $4$ | $613$ |
| Nebraska | $1$ | $5$ | $11^{1/2}$ | $36$ | $47^{1/2}$ | $18$ | $10$ | $5$ | $645$ |
| Colorado | $2$ | $5$ | $2$ | $14^{1/2}$ | $23^{1/2}$ | $34$ | $40$ | $13$ | $782$ |
| Okla. State | $0$ | $0$ | $0$ | $7$ | $13$ | $56$ | $44^{1/2}$ | $13^{1/2}$ | $848^{1/2}$ |
| Kansas State | $0$ | $0$ | $0$ | $1$ | $4$ | $4$ | $26^{1/2}$ | $98^{1/2}$ | 1021 |
Note: To determine totals multiply the number of votes for each position times the number of that position.
low total at the top . . . the Tigers logged 296 $ _{1/2} $ votes to win their first pre-season title since 1948. However, Kansas, which tied MU for second last year after being voted the summer-book favorite, and Oklahoma, were so close that they'll open the season as tri-favorites.
THE JAYHAWKERS were voted second with 304, just eight lengths removed from MU, with the Sooners just another 10 back at 314. The intervening differences are little more than the distance between one first place and one last place ballot, exceptionally close when spread over 134 voters.
For the record, Kansas and Oklahoma tied for the 1946 crown on
AND FOR THE FIRST time in history six teams received championship ballots, only Oklahoma State and Kansas State missing a throne-room backer.
There was a sharp drop below the Sooners, who were voted below second for the first time in poll history. Iowa State and Nebraska formed the second bracket on respective totals of 613 and 645, indicating another tight fit for the remaining first division berth. This marked the Cyclones' highest finish in poll annals as they gained more title votes, at four, than in any other year.
Colorado's decimated defending champions, at 752; Oklahoma State
(Continued on page 12)
Kansas-TCU Season Opener Here Sept.22
Sonny Gibbs is a big Texan. And, his actions are just as imposing.
Gibbs, listed on nearly every preseason All America selection, is captain, quarterback and key threat for Texas Chistian, KU's opening football game opponent here Sept. 22.
Last year, in the opening game at Fort Worth, the Jayhawks entered the contest a nationally-ranked power. The pre-season ratings meant little to Gibbs and his Horned Frog teammates.
GIBBS, WHO STANDS 6-7 and weighs 230 pounds, last year completed 71 of 137 passes for a total of 999 yards. He scored five touchdowns and rushed for 199 yards, accounting for a total offensive output of 1,198 yards.
The Frogs upset Coach Jack Mitchell's Javhawks. 15-14.
Big Texan Gibbs contributed a five-yard touchdown run, a 24-yard TD pass play and a pass which put the Frogs in position for the game-winning field goal.
This season TCU is expected to finish better than fifth place, their 1961 performance, in the Southwest Conference. They will also probably top their 3-5-2 overall record of last year.
Five starters return among 29 lettermen. The regulars are Bill Phillips, left guard; Donny Smith, left halfback; Marvin Chipman, right halfback; Tommy Joe Crutcher, fullback; and Gibbs.
Crutcher ranked second among Southwest ground-gainers last season. He gained 577 yards and compiled a 3.9-yard rushing average.
To match the country's biggest quarterback, Gibbs, the Horned Frogs have a giant center to boast about. And, they can justly boast about the size of their sophomore center this season.
Other top prospects include Ben Nix, Lynn Morrison, and Tom Magoffin, ends; Joe Owens and Rudy Mathews, tackles; and Robert Mangum and Bernard Bartek at guards.
The center, Ken Henson, stands 6-6, weighs 250 pounds.
Results of the TCU 1961 football season:
During spring scrimmages, Gibbs had a phenomenal 70 per cent passing completion record.
Also during spring practice, Coach Abe Martin was running the Frog offense with the wing-T, varying the slot flanker and a man in motion.
Kansas, 15-14; Arkansas, 3-28;
Texas Tech, 0-10; Texas A&M, 17-
16; Baylor, 14-28; UCLA, 7-28;
Texas, 6-0; and SMU, 28-28.
OU Rookies Bring Worry
Eight sophomores are among key contenders for the University of Oklahoma football team—the situation has Coach Bud Wilkinson worried.
"Most of our best players are sophomores who have never had the shocking introduction of walking out before a full stadium against teams like Syracuse, Notre Dame and Texas," says Wilkinson.
Two sophomores have been running consistently in the starting backfield, quarterback Tommy Pannell, voted the outstanding back of the Sooners' 47-24 upset of the alumni in the spring game, and full-back Jim Grisham, and left end Glen Condren.
Of the top 33 players, 16 are sophomores and three more Sooners among the top prospects didn't play enough to letter last season.