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University Daily Kansan
Thursday, Nov. 5, 1953
By ED HOWARD Assistant Sports Editor
After a very happy but short sojourn on the sports desk, we shall call it units after today to take another position.
As a sort of coup de grace, we shall take this opportunity to hand out "orchids" and no blasts, except where they are needed.
First off the proverbial chest will be the Sikes matter which has gained interest throughout the state. We want to make it clear that we are whole-heartedly in favor of the gentleman, and will take every opportunity to see that the head football coach remains at Kansas. We realize that there is really not much we can do to keep Sikes at Kansas, but at the same time, we realize that we can help to guide opinion.
We are the first to admit that Kansas has a tremendous line, but the line does not do the running, nor do they have the opportunity to lag behind the ball carrier to pick up the many stray fumbles which have plagued KU this year.
At the present time, there is a move by sports writers in the outer fringes of the state, to make it appear that Sikes is on the way out—that he has already lost his job at KU. To this we say that those men do not know the true situation. They do not know the complete lack of adequate experienced backfield material with which Sikes has been faced. They do not know of the pains he has gone through to perfect a starting backfield of Big Seven caliber.
Sikes has run his backs through a rough session which is designed to make his men fumble the ball. Linemen are lined up in two lines and the backs run through the line while the "opposition" is grabbing and pulling, to try to get them to fumble the football. He does not run this drill just now and then, but makes his team go through it several times a week.
There are also the scrimmage sessions at least twice a week which are run under game circumstances, and which would certainly do a great deal toward helping the backs to overcome their fumblitis.
Sikes has been blasphemed for not turning out a winning team this year, but his teams have had a better winning record than under any other coach for the period of years. This is the first time in the six years since he came to Kansas that he is faced with having a losing season.
Nothing has been said about his winning seasons, but when he is faced with a losing year, the wolves begin to howl. Not only are these wolves unjust, but, as far as we are concerned, they do not know what they are talking about.
We would like to see any other coach with the same material turn out a better record. As to the lack of material, Sikes is censured for not getting better material. He is compared to Bud Wilkinson of Oklahoma when he is being censured. Yet Wilkinson's ex-stars have teaching hours Hiligh schools throughout the state of Oklahoma and teach Wilkinson's split-T to their players during the four years of high school.
All this is fine, but Sikes can not
order his players to major in physical education when they have no interest in teaching, nor can he be held responsible for finding them jobs in the high schools of the state.
While the alumni are giving Sikes a bad time, just let them remember that they are in a much better position than Coach Sikes is to find teaching jobs for KU players. Why don't the alumni use their much-anted about influence to get jobs for KU's ex-football players who have a teaching major? This would be much better than leaving the whole balance of Kansas football on one man's shoulders.
After being in a capacity to meet and talk with Mr. Sikes, we must say here, that there are few more cultured gentlemen, more enlightening personalities, nor more earnest persons than is Mr. Sikes. He is more than pleasant to talk to, and has the background which enables him to talk very intelligently about almost any subject. He is entirely unassuming, a possessor of a profound humility.
Sikes receives many letters every week, some praising him, and others going so far in their criticism as to run down his name. When any letters, either praising or criticizing, are received bearing the name and address of the writer, Sikes will sit down and write a most cordial reply, explaining his moves, various plays, and so on, never once making any reference to any criticism he might have received in the letter.
If Sikes is forced to move from Kansas, it will be a serious blow to Kansas football. But most important, it will be a blow to the leadership displayed by him during his six years here, leadership which helps to build for the future security of this country.
Beta Leads Bowling League
Wednesday bowling league standings: Beta, 10-2; English Dept, 8-4; Sigma Nu, 6-6; Phi Kappa Tau, 5-7; and Sterling 5-7. Team three 3 games: Beta, 1787; high game: Beta, 662. Individual high game: Cleavinger (Beta), 181; high 3 games: Burns, (Sigma Nu), 507.
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The KU freshman cross country squad swept the first four places in a dual telegraphic meet Tuesday afternoon with Texas A&M to continue its long winning streak.
Corky Eggert captured first place honors for KU by covering the distance in 9:57, but had to come from behind to nip teammate Bernie Gay. Gay was only 1.1 of a second behind the winner in 9:58.1.
In beating the Texans, 10-30, the young Kansans gained victory No. 5 against no defeats in competition so far this fall. The squad has beaten Colorado, Iowa State, Nebraska, and Michigan in 2-mile races on a track.
Finishing out the top four places for the Jayhawks was Lowell Janzen. His official time was 10:06:9. For Texas A&M, Blake, with a time of 10:07, just 1 of a second behind Janzen, picked up the No. 5 spot and sixth was taken by Whitwell of A&M with a 10:13 clocking.
Grant Cookson finished in the No. 7 position in 10:17.5. The eighth spot went to Jan Howell of Kansas by his 10:21 performance. Howell fell behind in the final lap after leading for several laps.
Mike Swanson, Kansas runner who had collected first place in three of the four earlier meets, was a close third with a time of 9:58.5 Swanson was hindered by a foot injury suffered about two weeks ago.
The Aggies picked up the next four places as Carter, Riel, Erwin, and Wilson placed ninth, 10th, 11th, and 12th, respectively.
K D G U Schedule
4.30~ Everything Goes
4.30~ Your New It
4.30~ Your Union
5.00~ Pachworks
5.00~ Facts on Record
5.10~datetime
5.55~ News
5.55~ Fantasy in Strings
5.60~ The Mood
5.65~ News
5.95~ Bookstore Hour
In the Thursday night bowling league, the Unamits and ATO are tied for the lead with 7-1 records. Following are the Newman club, Friendly Phis, Gutter Rats, and the Jacques.
In the Thursday afternoon bowling league, Dragnet and Sigma Chi, each with 7-1 records, are tied for the lead. The Sultans and AKL are tied for second with 4-4 records, and Phi Delt and Phi Psi are last with 1-7 records.
Joost Named to Post As Athletic Manager
Philadelphia—(U.P.)—Eddie Joest, overcoming his surprise at being named manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, said today that every player but pitcher Bobby Shantz is available for trading.
USC Picked OverStanford
New York —(U,P)— Odds-makers predicted today that the Pacific Coast conference race will be thrown into a turmoil Saturday as they named Southern California a six-point favorite to hand Stanford its first league loss of the season.
If the odds-men are correct, the would leave Stanford only an eyelash lead in the P.C.C. with a 5-1 record, while Southern Cal and U.C.L.A. would be tied for second at 4-1.
On the other side of the Rose Bowl picture, Illinois was listed a seven-point choice to retain its leadership in the Big Ten by beating Michigan.
Notre Dame, the nation's No. 1, was picked by 19 points to continue its drive toward an unbeaten season by defeating Pennsylvania.
Baylor was called only a six-point choice over Texas in the big game in the Southwest conference. Michigan State was favored by the same margin over Ohio State, but Oklahoma was favored by 13 over Missouri. Georgia Tech was 21 point over Clemson.
Other odds:
East-Dartmouth-Columbia even Boston College one over Wake Forrest, Duke six over Navy, Syracuse six over Cornell, Princeton six over Harvard, Penn State seven over Fordham, Yale 13 over Temple.
South—Louisiana State-Tennessee even, Florida six over Georgia, South Carolina six over North Carolina, Mississippi State six over Tulane, Kentucky 19 over Vanderbilt, Pitt 21 over Virginia.
Midwest—Iowa one over Purdue.
Wisconsin three over Northwestern
Kansas six over Kansas State,
Nebraska seven over Iowa State,
Marquette seven over Detroit, Minnesota
14 over Indiana.
Southwest—SMU six over Texas A&M, Oklahoma A&M seven over Wyoming, Houston seven over Tulsa Rice seven over Arkansas, Texas Tech 19 over Arizona.
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While the A's shortstop broke in his managerial brogans, the man he succeeded, Jimmie Dykes, was considering a front-office invitation to run out his contract next year in an advisory capacity.
The 57-year-old Dykes, stunned by the announcement of his ouser as pilot after a three-year term, said he wanted to talk to Roy Mack, executive vice president of the club, before making any decision. Reports linked Dykes to the Baltimore Orioles and the vacant managers post at Brooklyn.
The bespectacled Joost, who will receive an estimated $30,000 as player-manager under a one-year pact, appeared ready to revamp the injury-riddled seventh-place team he inherited from Dykes.
Minutes after he signed up at Connie Mae stadium after a plane flight from his Burlingame, Calif. home yesterday, Joost placed every member of the 1953 team on the trading block with the exception of Shantz. The wee southpaw was a 24-game winner in 1952 but slumped badly last season because of a pulled shoulder.
Joost's plan thus put such players as homer-hitting Cus Zernial, first baseman Eddie Robinson and outfieldier Dave Philley in the category of trading bait. Pitchers Harry Byrd and Alex Kellner ostensibly were in the same boat.
The actual player and possible coaching changes Joost may have in mind were not disclosed. He said he preferred "to wait awhile" before discussing them. The present coaches are Chief Bender, Bing Miller, Wally Moses, and Tom Oliver.
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