Section B
Monday, Sept. 12, 1955
University Daily Kansan SPORTS
First Three Jayhawk Foes Are Among Toughest
For a team which is rebuilding, the first three games on the KU schedule offer anything but a breathing space. Texas Christian, Washington State and Colorado, in that order furnish a trio of tough opponents which probably can't be matched by many schools in the country.
While the entire schedule for the 1955 Jayhawkers is rough right down the line the first three games are exceedingly important because of the effect they could have on the Kansans' morale. If KU can win any one of these three it would have to be classed as a big upset as the Hawks appear to be outmanned by each of the three squads.
TCU Always Tough
Leading off this Saturday at Fort Worth will be always tough Texas Christian. The Horned Frogs boast a fine junior team this year, returning almost intact the sophomore squad which got off to such a fine start last season and then faded in the stretch. Last year TCU beat KU 27 to 6 here and went on to finish the season with a four won, six lost record. One of their wins was over powerful Southern California.
Coach Abe Martin lost only five lettermen and three of these were classed as regulars. A total of 20 lettermen reported out for fall practice. Probably the most serious loss was that of Ronnie Clinksdale at quarterback but junior Charlie Curtis shows promise of developing into a better-than-average field general.
Three good seniors will provide a nucleus to lead the junior members of the squad. Foremost of these is Hugh Pitts, one of the best centers in TCU's history. Pitts was an all-conference selection last year and has possibilities of attaining All-American stature this season.
End and captain Bryan Engram and halfback Ray Taylor are the other two seniors who are expected to see first string duty. Both Taylor and Engram were starters in last year's game between KU and TCU and both were steady performer throughout the season. Taylor had a punting average last year of 41.9 good for first in the conference and fourth in the nation.
Running from the left halfback spot will be Jimmy Swink, who a sophomore last year was just short of sensational. In the KU game last year he amassed 78 yards or just three carries in his debut and scored two fourth period touchdowns which icued the game for the Frogs. One of these scores came on a 67 yard jaunt.
Passing is labeled as the bugles weak spot on Martin's split-T team Last season the Horned Frogs were woefully weak in the air, which it almost sacrilegious at a schoo which boasts of being the Alma Master of Slinging Sammy Baugh.
At fullback last year the Frogs fielded a sophomore sensation, dynamic Buddy Dike. Dike, however suffered a kidney injury during the season and reportedly isn't ready for action this year.
TCU holds a decided edge in the 12-game series, having won 8 games while losing only 2. Two games ended in a tie.
Washington State Dark Horse
in KU's first home game, Saturday, Sept. 24, the Jayhawkers meet a team which has even the experts in its own section puzzled. In their first meeting with Kansas the Washington State Cougars will field a senior-loaded squad which has been handed the dubious label of "Dark-Dorse" by nearly every sports writer and coach on the West Coast.
LEO
SMITH
HANDLEY
JASO
BULLER
FRANCISCO
TRAYLOR
BAKER
DRAKE
REICH
Last year the Cougars won four and lost six. Their victories included a 18 to 0 win over College of Pacific, a 34 to 6 win over Oregon State, a 30 to 26 win over Stanford, and a 26 to 7 victory over rival Washington University. They lost games to Southern California, Texas, Cali-
*fornia, Idaho, Michigan State, and Oregon University.
Washington State lost 11 lettermen but will return 21, 16 of whom are seniors. Of the 16 seniors 11 can be considered as veterans with experience of more than one year. This will furnish the basis for Kircher's squad.
The Cougars average just over 200 pounds in the line and the backfield will weigh in at about 185. The biggest deficiencies on the squad will be lack of size in the line and the apparent lack of breakaway speed in the backfield.
The Washington State offense will be completely revitalized switching from a single wing to a straight split-T with a balanced line. The line, while being small, is long on experience. The entire first-string line boasts two letters apiece and two reserve ends and a center have the same qualifications. Kircher could also start an all-senior backfield composed of men with two letters apiece but a junior, Everett Gust, may break into the fullback spot.
More Depth, More Spirit Apparent
The ten senior lettermen in the line are: left end, Russ Quackenbush and Pete Toomey; left tackle, Jim Welch; left guard, Tom Gunnari; center, Skip Pixley, Bruce Nevitt and Doug Leifeste (a guard last season); right guard, Vaughan Hitchcock; right tackle, Captain Jerry Brockey; right end, Arnie Pelluer and Doug Riggs. Behind this are only two junior lettermen and a host of green sophomores.
Quarterback is good with Sam Maphis and Bill Lamont and fullback may prove to be sensational with the return of John "The Beast" Bayuk. Last season as a sophomore Bayuk led the Big Seven in rushing with 824 yards in 145 carries. He was also eighth in the nation in rushing and tenth in scoring.
Colorado May Belt OU
The third team on the Jayhawks' schedule will be the first, and one of their Big Seven, foes, coleochoicoleo. The Buffaloes have been tabbed once again as the team which might dethrone Oklahoma from the Big Seven championship and many observers feel this is the year.
A high-spirited Kansas football team which is improved in all departments will take the field Saturday at Fort Worth against the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University.
At quarterback the Cougars will have two seniors, Bob Iverson and Frank Sarno, and two sophomores, Dwight Hawks and Bob Newman. At half two lettermen seniors and a junior are the leading candidates. The seniors are Jim Hagerty and Dewey Keith. The fullback spot is wide open with three lettermen and two sophomores vying for the spot.
in the backfield Ward has lost Carroll Hardy and Frank Bernardi by graduation and lost tailback Pete Middlenist via the scholastic route. Homer Jenkins, a standout performer if he can beat the injury jinx, has been slated to replace Hardy and Emerson Wilson, a regular fullback in '54, has been moved to wingback on Ward's single wing offense.
Coach Dallas Ward can bring back 25 lettermen, including his entire first and second string lines, which were among the best in the area last year. Top men in the line will be 3 foot 1 inch, 225 pound Sam Salerno at tackle, Lamar Meyer and Wally Merz at ends, Dick Golder and Bill Kucera at tackles, Dick Stapp and Dave Jones at guards, and Don Karnoscak at center.
colorado May Beat OU
Head Football Coach Chuck Mather of KU is currently displaying a great deal of enthusiasm and confidence about the forthcoming season which will seek to erase all memories of last year's debacle.
Coach Mather pointed to four factors as being important in the building of a successful football team and he feels the 1955 Jayhawkers are reasonably well equipped in all four phases.
"The first thing needed for a winning season is good morale," Coach Mather said, "and I feel that our morale is very good at present and if we get as good support from the students as we did last year it will continue to be good."
The second point that Mather stressed as important was the personnel. "You have to have the physical and mental material on hand to build a winning team," he said. "Although our personnel are young I feel, that with continued improvement, we can equal anyone in potential."
Basic skill is the third, and one of the most important factors needed, according to Coach Mather. "We were lacking in this last year," he said, "but this year our basic skills are much farther along than at any time last year. Last year we played as good as we were capable as individuals but were woefully weak on these basic skills, that is, the fundamentals of football."
The fourth and final factor, according to Mather, is the organization behind the team. By this he means the student body, alumni, the system used, the coaching staff, and all the other departments which go into making up an efficient athletic department.
"We don't have as much to fear from outside competition as from inside inefficiency." Mather said. "However, this year we seem to be getting the utmost in cooperation and the counseling system in particular did a fine job. We didn't lose a player unnecessarily because of grades."
Team Stronger and Deeper
Team Stronger than Team Position by position, the Jaw-hawkers are deeper and stronger than they ever were last year. The ends will be green but show terrific potential. Starting at left end in all probability will be Lynn McCarthy, a 6 foot 1 inch 200 pound sophomore from St. Peter. Minn. McCarthy has looked especially good on defense.
At right end Jim Letecavis of Massillon, Ohio has the starting nod. Letecavis shows promise of developing into one of the better ends in the school's history, being a good all-around performer. A good defender and a fine pass receiver, his only drawback will be inexperience.
The end picture by no means ends with the first string. Another sophomore, Tom Rosowicz, was applying pressure to McCarthy before suffering a knee injury. He is due back into action this week. Also pushing for a starting berth on the left side is junior Don Martin, who has looked exceptionally good on defense.
Behind Letavits on the right side, senior Paul Smith has looked better than he ever has and has turned in some sparkling defensive play. Bill Bell, a junior from Raytown, Mo., has also shown promise the tackles, which have been hailed as the weakest of the season surveys, made a great deal of progress. Frank Gibson, a 6 foot 3 inch, 216 pound sophomore appears to have the left tackle post in capable hands. Behind him are junior letterman John Drake and
Dick Reinking, a service refruenee who played junior college ball at Arkansas City.
At right tackle senior Gene Blasi and sophomore Jim Hull have been battling it out for the first string with Blasi currently in the driver's seat. Blasi has the size, 6 foot 2 inch and 217 pounds, to become a good tackle and also has the coordination. Hull is big and shows promise but lacks experience. Behind this pair Mather can call on Greg Fouts, a junior from Shawnee Mission high school.
The guard picture is the most unsettled place in the entire line-up with good performances being turned in by six men. Currently, senior Dudley Budrich is starting at left guard and junior Bob Preson has the nod on the right side. Sophomore Bob Kraus was running with the first string on the right side until he injured his instep and senior George Remsberg, who looked promising at the end of last year, is also pushing Kraus and Preston.
Behind Budrich, sophomore Tom Leo and junior Don "The Knot" Flutzenreuter are batting it out for the second string. Leo, a transfer from Ohio State, has looked good in all departments and Flutzenreuter, despite his size (5 foot 5 inches and 155 pounds) can butt heads with the best of them.
Frank Black at 6 foot $3\frac{1}{2}$ inches and 235 pounds appears to be the most likely candidate for first string center. Black was a little slow in moving around last year but has displayed increased agility in drills thus far. Extreme pressure is being put on Black, however, by Galen Wahmeier, a transplanted tackle from Dodge City Junior College. Wahmeier is as rough as they come and plays somewhat like former Jayhawker great Bob Hantla.
Quarterback Question Mark
Quarterback Question Mark
In the backfield the situation is good at half and shaky at both fullback and quarterback. Halfback is good three deep but the quarterback and fullback positions will lack in experience and this can hurt, especially at quarterback.
At quarterback, two sophomores, Wally Strauch and Dave Preston are running in 1-2 order with Straugh appearing to be the first stringer. Both Straugh and Preston are good passers but both lack experience. Behind this pair veterans Bev Buller and John McFarland are supplying the competition. As Mather puts it, "Each man has good qualities and if I could roll them all into one I would really have a quarterback."
John Francisco appears to have hedged out Ralph Moody at the left half slot on the basis of better defensive play. Moody, however, isn't out of the picture and is a dangerous offensive back. Furnishing added pressure is Ted Rohde, the nation's second leading punter last year. Rohde has looked good on offense but is weak on defense.
At right half Dick Blowey is running first string and will probably open there against TCU Blowey is a steady, although not sensational, all-round performer and the best defensive back on the squad. Behind him John Handley and John Trayler both have looked good. Trayler's biggest handicap is his size.
At fullback Jerry Baker, Al Stephenson, and Dick Reich are batting it out for first string. Baker currently is in the lead, being the best defender of the trio. Stephenson, however, has come farther from last year than anyone and has displayed lightning-fast running and adequate defensive ability to merit serious consideration. Reich has just made the switch from center but has looked good on defense.
MOODY
BLACK
ROHDE
BLOWEY