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University Daily Kansan Friday. April 20, 1956
Tennis Prospects Look Good; Riley Defending Big 7 Champ
Prospects for the recently-underway tennis season are better this year than for sometime, with four of last year's third-place Big Seven net squad returning, plus heavy support from outstanding newcomers.
Bob Riley, undefeated Big Seven singles champion, is a junior this year and will be playing the No.1 position for the second time. Riley has played little actual competition this season, but he is in sound physical condition and has looked strong in practice.
During spring vacation he worked against two-year Missouri Valley singles champion John Been, and also against other members of the Houston University team.
Playing No. 2, Dave Kane is in his third year with the Jawhawk varsity. Dave, like Riley, has played only a limited amount this season, most of which has been in the team's intra-sound qualification tourney.
Kanes No. 2 and 3
Gene Kane, younger brother of the No. 2 man, is only a sophomore, but has challenged and played his way through three regulars to win the important No. 3 position. Gene's only loss this season came at the hands of brother Dave for the second-man spot. Both Kanes were active in high school and in Kansas City amateur tennis.
One of Coach Dick Mechem's most sensational new prospects is senior Bud Burke, who in his first year on the team, has progressed from 10th place on the pre-season "ladder" tourney to his present position as the No.4 man.
In the course of this rapid, undefeated quest for a varsity berth, Burke has allowed his opposition an average of only 1.5 games per set, with his most recent game winless record resting at 72-18.
Burke played for Shawnee Mission High School three years as No. 1 man. His style is somewhat like that of No. 1 man Riley, playing a steady defense game and waiting
COACH MECHEM
for the opponent to make the errors.
Bruce Wenger, regular No. 5 man last year as a sophomore, is back at his old position. Wenger has been slow getting started this season because of his limited time for practice.
Returning letterman Del Hadley rounds out the varsity squad, playing sixth man this season. Hadley, like Wenger, needs more practice and seems to be a naturally slow starter.
Last year as a sophomore Hadley worked as the regular No. 4 man, and was expected to hold down one of the first three spots this season.
Washburn Toughest
The KU netters should place high if not win the Big Seven this year. Their toughest competition is expected to come from non-league Washburn University of Topeka. Last season the Washburn team handed the Jayhawks two defeats, and their team is just as strong this year.
'Phog' Colorful Kansas Figure
When KU's giant field house was named Allen Field House last year, its namesake expressed much surprise and gratitude at the action of the Board of Regents. One year later, Dr. Forrest C. (Phog) Allen again expressed himself to the Board of Regents, only this time there was little gratitude in his voice when he called them a "nest of politicians."
But regardless of his previous blast, the 70-year-old basketball coach told an audience at the recent basketball meet that "I'm not sore at anyone."
Won 771 Games
Dr. Allen put Kansas on the basketball map. He has won more games than any other coach in history. During his 46-year coaching career his teams won 771 games and lost only 233. His 1955-56 squad had an overall-record of 14-9 and placed fifth in the conference with a 6-6 record.
His geral squad of 1952 won the national title and went on to help the United States win the Olympics. The 1940 and 1953 teams were runners-up in the national championships. His KU teams won 24 conference titles and he captured seven more as coach at Warrensburg. Mo.
But the number of games he has won is not the only reason he is known as the "dean of American basketball coaches." Dr. Allen has been a part of KU life for many years. If an individual can become an "institution" at a university, then "Phog" has accomplished the feat
Basketball in Olympics Basketball became a part of the Olympics in 1936 mainly through the efforts of the retiring Kansas coach
Basketball In Olympics
Dr. Allen is probably better known to outsiders than any other person at the University. Nationally, sports-writers all over the country have been quoting him since early in his coaching career.
It was Dr. Allen who pointed out that the game was being destroyed by gambling factions in the East. Eventually, investigators found that it was so and clamped down
STRE-E-E-TCH!--Frank Mastin, KU broad jumper, claws his way up and out over the Allen Field House broad jump pit in the indoor meet against Missouri. Although Mastin failed to place in the Texas Relays, he has been a consistent jumper behind Kent Floerke, and took second in the Oklahoma A&M meet.
on the gambling. He has seldom been "out of the news" on sport pages. Dr. Allen has continually fought for new changes and rulings which he thought and hoped would improve the game of basketball. No one has worked harder than Dr. Allen to make basketball the best sport in America.
"Phog" Allen is coaching, speaking to an audience, or talking with friends. His personality, habits, traits, and actions belong to him alone. Even though he will no longer be KU's basketball coach, his name will remain synonymous with Kansas basketball.
"Phog" is famous for his banquet speeches and his amazing ability to hold an audience spell-bound. He has proven that a good speaking ability comes in handy many times during a coach's career.
Since 1926 the University of Southern California has won 19 outdoor NCAA track champions. The Trojans have won the seven in a row.
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