-
Long KU-MU Rivalry Shows Colorful Past
By DIANE CORBIN
For many people, getting sentimental about a football game might seem silly. But for loyal Jayhawks, there is a nostalgia about the KU-MU game that is undeniable.
Perhaps it is because this 64- year-old rivalry is the fifth oldest in the U.S., and as well known as the Harvard-Yale clash. Perhaps it is because this game has proved itself unpredictable. The underdog it seems, often wins.
Although the first of the Jaya-hawk-Tiger games was played in 1891, the football team was organized in early November, 1890. By the latter part of the month, the Weekly University Courier was able to report, "Twenty-five men have been selected for the队. Sample suits have been ordered from Philadelphia and will be here this week. The suits selected will be of the very highest quality."
The game has been played in some of the worst weather known to football. Only once in a great while, has it been beautiful weather. But lousy weather or perfect, two things are certain—the game is usually a sell-out, and the stands remain full until the final gun.
The second season for the KU football squad opened with the Missouri game, played at Exposition Park in Kansas City. The first game ended with a KU win, 22 to 8 over the Tigers.
For those who believe that history repeats itself, the 1894 season is a good parallel to this one. An end-of-the-season summary relates, "Kansas atoned for a mediocre season, as they beat Missouri 18 to 12 in the Thanksgiving day affair at Kansas City."
When a group of alumni get together to discuss the series, one game that is always mentioned is the 1925 bout. KU won, "with the invaluable aid of 'Stoney' Wall's place-kicking prowess," according to the summary. "The score was tied until the last minute of the game, when the Jayhawks kicked from Missouri's 17-yard line, breaking the tie and winning the game."
Another of the best-remembered games is the 1927 contest. "A fat and sleek Tiger, well under the wire to another Missouri Valley championship, was stopped to the tune of 14 to 7 by a despised Jayhawker who had tasted defeat in big mouthfuls at the hands of teams the Missouri eleven had conquered," the record states.
And so, through the flapper years, the era when "Varsity" dances followed the big game, the rivalry continued. The depression may have seen bread lines, but "Kansans" were standing in line, too, to see the KU-MU game. The war years saw many a GI and his buddy bet on the game "back home" in a German or French or Italian fox hole on Thanksgiving Eve.
The 1946 contest was another of the unforgettable games. "Led by Redoubtable Ray Evans, Kansas crashed to its first share of the Big Six title at Columbia, Thanksgiving Day, in a one-point win over Don Faurot's high-scoring Tigers." Evans was known for his photo-finish passing victories, and this one ended with a score of 20 to 19, KU.
The 47 game was another of the best. KU beat Mizuho 20 to 14. "The Jayhawkers," the record says, "again called on their 'magic finish.' Forrest Griffith clinched the game just 63 seconds before the final gun, hurdling one yard to climax a sustained 94-yard drive."
And so the epic continues, and the 64th anniversary will be fought out Saturday. KU is again the underdog, but there is a magic about this game that speculators had best not overlook.
Section B
University Daily Kansan SPORTS
Friday,
Nov. 18, 1955
DUD BUDRICH
1955 K.U. Scores
PAUL SMITH
KU Opp
Texas Christian 14 47
Washington State 13 0
Colorado 0 12
Iowa State 7 7
Oklahoma 6 44
Southern Methodist 14 33
Nebraska 14 19
Kansas State 0 46
Oklahoma A&M 12 7
GENE BLASI
JOHN HANDLEY
BEV BULLER
★ ★ ★
Ten To Play Last KU Game
Ten Kansas seniors will take the field tomorrow at Memorial Stadium for the last time in the Homecoming game with Missouri.
Smith started his KU career as a quarterback but was switched to end to strengthen the flank positions. He came along swiftly at the end of last season and has shown considerable improvement this year. He has seen action as a starter and reservist this fall. Paul stands 6 feet 2 inches and tips the scales at 200 pounds. He is a business major from Paola.
Five are linemen and five are backs. The linemen include end Paul Smith; tackle Gene Blasi; guards Dud Burdich and George Remsberg, and center Ray Bower. The backs are co-captains Ralph Moody, halfback, and fullback Dick Reich, and halfbacks John Handley and Dick Blowey and quarterback Bev Buller.
Only  Senior  Tackle
Gene Blasi, 6-foot 2-inch, 217-pounder from Pratt, is the only senior tackle on the team. He is a standout on both offense and defense. He was the outstanding offensive lineman twice this season and received the same honor twice on defense.
Dud Budrich was a starting guard at the beginning of the season, but injuries have kept him from seeing much action. He was a part-time regular in '54. The Chicago engineering major packs 210 pounds on a 6-foot frame.
Remsberg Good Lineman
In 1954, George Remsberg, 208-
pound business major, showed much promise at guard and was expected to help strengthen the forward wall this year. Despite injuries, he's been a top defensive man and one of the better offensive blockers on the team.
Center Ray Bower lettered at tackle in 1954 but was switched to center during spring drills. The 195-pound Norton senior has seen little action this season while playing behind Frank Black and Galen Wahlmeier.
Halfback and co-captain Ralph Moody of Minneola is a speedy open-field runner who has been a leading back on the Kansas eleven for three years. He was the third-
ranking Jayhawk rusher last year with 193 net yards and was second in this department in 1953. Moody ranked second in punt returning in the Big Seven last fall. He averaged 16.6 vards on nine runbacks.
Dich Reich, 205-pound co-captain from Steelton, Pa., has been riddled with injuries this season. He was the regular center last year but was switched to fullback to bolster that position. He was the team's leading rusher until injured. He is the brother of former Kansas all-American Gil Reich.
RALPH MOODY
(Continued on Page 2B)
DICK REICH
DICK BLOWEY
GEORGE REMSBERG
1955 M.U. Scores
Maryland ... 12 | 13
Michigan ... 7 | 42
Utah ... 14 | 20
SMU ... 6 | 13
Iowa State ... 14 | 20
Nebraska ... 12 | 18
Colorado ... 20 | 12
Oklahoma ... 0 | 20
K-State ... 0 | 21
B. D.
Homecoming Games Add To Kansas History
By DARYL HALL
JIM VALENTINE
The annual Homecoming game at the University of Kansas dates back to 1913. The game has grown into one that the team, students, and KU alumni look forward to each year.
2nd Game With MU
Looking back through the past, we see how former Kansas teams did against Homecoming opponents.
Kansas played Nebraska in the 1917 Homecoming for the Missouri Valley Championship. An upset-minded Jayhawker team scored first on a field goal, and outplayed a powerful Nebraska team for three quarters but lost the game 13-3.
The annual Thanksgiving Day game with Missouri was the feature of the 1914 Homecoming. Tony Grove's place kick gave Missouri a 10-7 edge over the Jayhawkers. This game marked the first appearance of a girl on the KU pep squad. Elizabeth Morrow of KU became the country's first girl cheerleader.
Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen was at the coaching helm of the 1920 Homecoming game with Nebraska. The night before the game he dreamed he saw an airplane sail over the field during the game and in it were Bunn, Lonborg and Mandeville of the KU backfield. He interpreted this dream as a Ku victory. Playing his hunches, Kansas took to the air in this game to upset a perennial Nebraska favorite. This was the last time KU was to beat Nebraska for many years.
George "Potys" Clark took over as head football coach in 1921 to engineer the Jayhawkers to a 15-9 Homecoming victory over MU. The game was dedicated to George Hale, Kansas center, who died during the season.
Tie Mars Record
The war year of 1943 produced one of the most thrilling games and biggest upsets in Homecoming history. KU beat Missouri 7-6 for the first time since 1934. Misouri was favored by five touchdowns going into the game.
KU Won In '43
The 1924 Homecoming was marred by a Kansas-Missouri tie. Prior to this game, Kansas had been undefeated, untied, and unscored on. Missouri matched a Kansas field goal late in the third quarter to tie the score.
In one of the biggest upsets in Homecoming history, a weak but determined Kansas team beat mighty Missouri 10-7 in 1925.
The all-time thriller among KU Homecoming games was in 1947 when the Orange Bowl-bound team, paced by all-American Ray Evans, beat Missouri 20-14. The game was witnessed by 40,000, the largest crowd to watch a game in Memorial Stadium.
Kansas put the finishing touch to the 1948 Homecoming festivities with a 27-7 victory over Nebraska. The Jayhawkers, who the past few years have taken delight in spoiling other school's Homecomings, dropped a 33-26 1950 thriller to Nebraska. A crowd of 39,000, a record for the series, saw the explosive offensive battle.
KU Wins In Rain
Cool and misty weather failed to dampen the 1951 Homecoming spirit. The crowd of 35,000 showed up with raincoats and blankets to see the Jayhawkers defeat the Missouri Tigers. 41-28.
A last-minute Jayhawkier touchdown, followed by a slugging match in the middle of the field wasn't enough for the KU team as Missouri overpowered the Kansans 10-6 in the 1953 Homecoming. A crowd of 34,000 chilled fans watched the game.
Although displaying its best offensive threat of the season, Kansas lost the 1954 Homecoming to the Nebraska Cornhuskers 41-20 before a crowd of 23,000.