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HAWK TALK
To the Kansas football team:
Many of you, as college players, will hear your last hurrah this Saturday afternoon. In several ways this will be a tragedy as great as the season itself because Saturday's game, against one of the nation's strongest teams, offers little hope for redemption. At least, that is what most persons are saying.
On the surface there appears to be much rationale behind this line of reasoning. Missouri, aside from being 8 and 1, is going to the Orange Bowl and anyone close to the scene knows exactly how good a team must be to earn that trip. They have definitely played well, with one exception (Colorado), and are deserving of the record and the honors of which they currently boast.
Kansas, on the other hand, is going nowhere this New Year's Day. But again, anyone close to the scene knows how good a team you are and have been. You too have played well, with one exception (New Mexico, who last week surprised Wyoming), yet are undeserving of the record and the misfortune which have befallen you.
Those who have labeled you a poor team certainly have not seen you play this year. Poor teams do not lose 26-22, 21-17, 28-25, and 17-14 to top flight Big Eight opposition. Poor teams do not lead at the half 16-3, 17-10 and 15-14 on the road in other games.
After the last two home contests, members of this staff asked players of Oklahoma State and Colorado how Kansas compared with the other teams they had faced. Oklahoma State players commented that no one (including Arkansas, Houston, and Missouri) had played them tougher than Kansas. "All they have to do," said Cowboy fullback Bub Deerinwater, "is get "together out there and not make mistakes. Hell, this team is as good as Missouri and I'm telling you that for a fact."
Colorado players agreed, saying that Kansas was much harder to defeat than Missouri (who lost to them 31-24). CU led and dominated Missouri throughout but barely edged Kansas in the waning stages of the final period.
Injuries, bad breaks and mistakes have taken their toll and have, by and large, been responsible for this unbelievable year.
But Saturday, you can make believers out of Missouri and give one final effort that no one, not even the Tigers, figures you capable of. That, and not what has come before, is what we will remember you by.
Best of luck,
THE KANSAN SPORTS STAFF
2. www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML/Mathematica.html
Jay Thomas
Joe Childs
Steve Shriver
Mary Arnold
Bruce Carnahan
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UPI)— Last year's Orange Bowl Classic began two days after Christmas when Kansas coach Pepper Rodgers and Penn State coach Joe Paterno gathered in the basement of the Bal Harbour Hotel on Miami Beach, Fla.
Verbal combatants line up
As they pulled up chairs at the head table and the television cameras began whirring, Rodgers said, "As soon as we get off TV, let me know so I can get my drink."
"Gee, they don't drink in Kansas?" mused Paterno.
"We live in a Baptist state," retorted Rodgers.
And that's pretty much the way those two hold press conferences. Both Pepper and Joe are ultra-relaxed guys. And both see the funny side of football.
To recall a racetrack favoritism,
Devine ain't got a chance.
It's going to be different at this year's Orange Bowl. Paterno is returning with an undefeated Penn State team. But, instead of Rodgers, Missouri's Dan Devine will face the camera and reporters' questions.
This has nothing to do with Missouri's chances of winning the football game, but, as every coach knowns, the pre-game publicity a team gets is almost as important as winning.
Bowl teams get mammoth amounts of publicity in December and just before the games. Coaches have a captive audience on sports pages and television.
None performed better than Rodgers and Paterno before the last Orange Bowl game. They traded quips at will and kept the columnists in stitches—not to mention good copy.
When the subject was brought up the other day, Rodgers said, "Joe's got an advantage in Miami with that northern accent. It's just like when I go to New York. Everytime I open my mouth, I get laughs."
Is Rodgers going to give fellow
Big Eight coach Dan Devine any gems before the Orange Bowl?
"Naw," said Pepper. "I'm saving all my lines for banquet speeches after the season. I've got to be funny this year."
Kansas, after a 9-1 season last year, has won only one of nine games this season. The Jayhawks play Missouri Saturday.
Devine isn't going to wow the Miami press. He can be witty, but he seldom is in front of a large audience. He's more at ease in a one-on-one situation. He's more droll than clever.
Warned about Paterno's comedic ability, Devine said, "I guess I'd better start practicing."
A Kansas City television sportscaster said, "Here's one. How about, 'We want to be a ferocious tiger, not a paper tiger.'"
Devine said, "That's pretty good," took out his notebook and wrote it down.
You'll no doubt hear that one again.
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The first annual News Side-Ad Side football game will be played this Friday, 3:30 p.m. at Robinson Field No.1. The winners will receive a keg of foamy courtesy the Ad side.
14 KANSAN Nov.20 1969
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