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Friday, Nov. 20.1953
Football in the 'Old Days' Not for Faint-Hearted
图
THE OLD COLLEGE TRY-An unidentified KU back drives for the goal line in the 1914 tussle with Mis-
THE OLD COLUMN. —An unidentified KU back drives for the goal line in the 1914 tussle with Missouri which the Tigers won 10-7 at Lawrence. An idea can be gotten of playing conditions in that era by the "stadium" and the uniforms of the contestants.
By STAN HAMILTON
Kansan Sports Editor
Kansas today has more than 10 football coaches, but in the 1890s, who nKU first fielded a grid team, the school had to search quite a bit before it could obtain one coach. In KU's first football year, 1890, the 13 men who turned out for fall practice found themselves without a coach at all. So, Prof. Carruth of the German department, acted as manager of the squad for its first season of play. In that abbreviated season, the Jayhawks won one and dropped two.
Finally E. M. Hopkins of the English department was secured as coach at the end of that season and for the 1881 season. In the first game, against Baker university, KU won 22-9. In that contest, played in a vacant lot on Massachusetts street between 14th and 15th streets, Sherman of Kansas booted the first field goal in Missouri Valley history, while, as an early Kansan story relates, "the Baker boys, unable to fathom such a play, looked on in wonder."
Hopkins guided his charges to an Stanford defeated season in 1891, although one affair ended in a deadlock, and KU's over-all record in the decade from 1890 to 1899 was 54-18-2. This success was at the expense of the Universities of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Missouri, and some smaller schools in this area.
Outstanding victories in this period were a 26-4 win over the Illini, and 52-0 and 45-0 conquests over Iowa.
Equipment, too, was different in those days. Padding was almost non-existent. There were no helmets or shoulder pads, although filmy hip pads and shin guards were worn by some players. Sometimes elbows were padded, but more often than not, players preferred to let their sharp, bare elbows stay exposed—all the better to injure the opposition with.
or 13 suits per season, making it impossible for a new player to report unless he provided his own uniform. Equipment remained limited for some years because the school awarded the suits to the players upon graduation.
The University furnished only 12
The first form of a head gear appeared about 1894—a leather belt
around the forehead and over the ears, with straps fastened across the top of the head. Players, however, looked with disdain and disgust upon the "sissies" who had to have protection, and it was many years before helmets came into general usage.
Games were divided into two 35-minute halves with no quarters. Substitutions were almost unheard of.
A reserve considered himself fortunate if he saw as much as 10 brought about more than a little piling on to be sure the carrier would not spring up and run again
There was no neutral zone between the opposing lines and the life of a center was in jeopardy from the moment he stepped onto the field.
minutes of action throughout an eni
te season.
Self-protection was a valuable art in the early days of the game. The flying wedge was used regularly and the bib not dead until the play noticeably, stopped, which opponents would reach over and claw at his face, cuff his ears, and do practically anything they could without touching the ball, making it necessary for the center to pass the ball back with one hand and fend off the enemy with the other.
Rules demanded that three players handle the pigskin before the offensive team could advance over the line of scrimmage. To make a first down a team had to cover at least 20 yards in three plays. The forward pass still had not been invented and the men could线 up almost as they pleased. The further back the defense could shove the ball carrier the better—there was no such thing as stopping the play where forward motion ceased.
motion ceased.
The more intelligent University students in that era (those who were content to view the games from the stands), were so full of spirit and enthusiasm, the University found it necessary to construct a fence between KU rooters and fans of the opposing eleven. Early reports say, however, that this barrier usually did not last when Missouri played here.
In 1908 Kansas took part in the establishment of the Missouri Valley conference. This conference grew until 1928 when six of its members, including KU, withdrew to form the Big Six. In 1948 the Big Seven came into being with the addition of Colorado university.
Football may have been more of a game for real men in those days, but don't let the old timers kid you—they realize the game has progressed much beyond even their fondest dreams. Football may be tamer today, but it is more scientific and interesting to watch—and play.
Coaches Renew 6-Year Rivalry
When coaches J. V. Sikes and Don Fauret hook up tomorrow it will mark their sixth such duel in as many years in the Big Seven, and the Missouri mentor is three up in victories, 4-1.
The 51-year-old Faurot, who has been at the Columbia school 16 seasons since 1935, with the exception of 1943 through 1946 when he was in the service, has an all-time record at MU of 91 victories, 60 defeats, and 8 ties.
Sikes, who has been at Mt. Oread since the spring of 1948, has an over-all mark at Kansas of 35 tri-mips and 24 losses.
All told, Faurot has been a head coach 25 years. Sikes nine. Faurot's all-time won-lost record is 154-73-11. Sikes 60-35, with no ties.
Sikes, when he came to Kansas, faced the handicap of taking over right after the Jayhawks had played in their first bowl game, but in that initial season he guided his new team to a 7-3 performance. His 1951 eleven posted the best record—8-2.
Faurot generally is credited as being the man who lifted the Tiger out of his football dolldrums to national prominence. He bagged his first title there in 1939, and picked up others in 1941 and '42. The '39 squad was Missouri's first bowl team (Orange), and three other Faurot-guided outfits played in post season affairs. These were the 1941 (Sugar), 1948 ('Gator), and 1949 ('Gator) elevens.
The first time Sikes and Faurot met in this league resulted in a 21-7 Missouri victory at Columbia, the only KU loop loss that year besides to Oklahoma. In a wild scoring contest the next year in Memorial stadium, Missouri again came out on top 34-28.
The string continued the next campaign, Mizzou winning 20-6, but in 1948 Kansas posted its first victory over the Tigers for Sikes, 41-28. Last year, in Missouri's Homecoming game, the Jayhawks bowed by one point, 19-20, as a last-minute field goal try fell short.
J. V. SIKES
DON FAUROT
The KU-MU Rivalry
| | KU | MU | 1923 | 3 | 3 |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1891 | 22 | 8 | 1924 | 0 | 14 |
| 1892 | 12 | 4 | 1925 | 10 | 7 |
| 1893 | 4 | 12 | 1926 | 0 | 15 |
| 1894 | 18 | 12 | 1927 | 14 | 7 |
| 1895 | 6 | 10 | 1928 | 6 | 25 |
| 1896 | 30 | 0 | 1930 | 32 | 0 |
| 1897 | 16 | 0 | 1931 | 14 | 0 |
| 1898 | 12 | 0 | 1932 | 7 | 0 |
| 1899 | 34 | 6 | 1933 | 27 | 0 |
| 1900 | 6 | 6 | 1934 | 20 | 0 |
| 1901 | 12 | 18 | 1935 | 0 | 0 |
| 1902 | 17 | 5 | 1936 | 3 | 19 |
| 1903 | 5 | 0 | 1937 | 0 | 0 |
| 1904 | 29 | 0 | 1938 | 7 | 13 |
| 1905 | 24 | 0 | 1939 | 0 | 20 |
| 1906 | 0 | 0 | 1940 | 20 | 45 |
| 1907 | 4 | 0 | 1941 | 6 | 45 |
| 1908 | 10 | 4 | 1942 | 13 | 42 |
| 1909 | 6 | 12 | 1943 | 7 | 6 |
| 1910 | 5 | 5 | 1944 | 0 | 28 |
| 1911 | 3 | 3 | 1945 | 12 | 33 |
| 1912 | 12 | 3 | 1946 | 20 | 19 |
| 1913 | 0 | 3 | 1947 | 20 | 14 |
| 1914 | 7 | 10 | 1948 | 7 | 21 |
| 1915 | 8 | 6 | 1949 | 28 | 34 |
| 1916 | 0 | 13 | 1950 | 6 | 20 |
| 1917 | 27 | 3 | 1951 | 41 | 28 |
| 1919 | 6 | 13 | 1952 | 19 | 20 |
| 1920 | 7 | 16 | Totals | 706 | 675 |
| 1921 | 15 | 9 | Wins | 28 | 26 |
| 1922 | 7 | 9 | | | |
Kansas Cage Roster
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt.
3 *Jerry Alberts F 6- 3 193
4 *Larry Davenport F 6- 2 175
*LaVamies Squires G 6- 0 169
7 Bill Brainard F 6- 3 170
8 Dick Diers F-C 6- 6 195
10 *John Anderson (x) G 6- 3 205
12 Chris Divich F 6- 2 195
13 Dallas Dobbs G 5-11 165
15 *Everett Dye F-G 6- 3 155
18 Len Martin F 6- 2 190
19 Howard McElroy F 6- 5 190
20 Gary Padgett F 6- 2 170
21 *Bill Heitholt G 6- 3 195
22 *Harold Patterson (x) F 6- 1 185
23 Jim Toft C 6- 6 220
24 *Allen Kelley F 5-11 175
25 *B. H. Born C 6- 9 205
26 Jack Wolfe G 5- 8 135
28 Bob Anderson G 5-11 160
29 Bob Conn (x) F-G 6- 0 185
30 Bob Crisler G 5- 9 150
31 Marvin Deckert F 6- 2 185
32 LaVern Fiss (x) G 6- 0 185
33 Wes Johnson G 6- 3 175
34 Wes Whitney C 6- 3 206
35 Don Martin (x) F-G 6- 3 190
36 Tom Matthews G 5-10 135
37 *Eldon Nicholson C 6- 6 195
38 Tony Pagedas G 6- 1 160
39 Bill Perich G 5-11 160
41 Paul Smith (x) F 6- 2 195
42 Joe Waggoner F 6- 1 180
44 Dick Maguire G 6- 0 160
45 John McFarland (x) F 6- 3 195
- Denotes lettermen.
(x) Presently out for football
The biggest winning margin KU has been able to rack up over MU was the 1896, 30-0 shutout, and the greatest number of points KU ever has gotten was 41 in the 51 contest. Missouri's biggest score of the series was 45 in the 1941 encounter. In the years 1930-35 KU rolled to five victories, but shut out the enemy six straight years.
Hometown
Lincoln, Ill.
Newton
Wichita
Newton
Okla. City, Okla.
Grand Island, Neb.
Doland, S.D.
Bartlesville, Okla.
Independence
Ottawa
Independence, Mo.
Greenleaf
Quincy, Ill.
Rozel
Grand Island, Neb.
McCune
Medicine Lodge
Lawrence
Whiting, Ind.
Wichita
Merriam
Larned
Johnson
Newton
Newton
Larned
Columbia, Mo.
Pittsburg
Emporia
Johnstown, Pa.
Paola
Mason City, Ia.
Normandy, Mo.
Osborne
Whatever happens tomorrow KU still will stay on top in total victories, and if past performances mean anything, the dope book and bookies' odds will not mean much when the two squads take the field.
3 Tigers Injured; May Miss Battle
Columbia, Mo. — (U.P.)—Missouri's Tigers, scheduled to meet the Kansas University Jayhawks Saturday in a Big Seven battle, faced a growing injury list today.
Quarterback Vic Eaton Tuesday was added to the doubtful list for the Saturday tussle at Lawrence.
The St. Joseph, Mo., junior joined guards Ted Follin and Terry Roberts who are still on the injury list after sitting out last week's game with Kansas State.