Thursday, Oct. 29, 1953
By STAN HAMILTON Kansan Sports Writer
It practically always makes us sore when sports fans hop on coaches for failing to guide their teams to perfect, or at least good seasons.
Last week no less than nine sports writers of Kansas daily papers made note of the fact that some "heat" is being put on a pair of Big Seven grid coaches-KU's J. V. Sikes and Bill Glassford of Nebraska.
This hullaballoo made us annoyed at the time. Kansas last year suffered a dearth of injuries and still finished with 214 points to its opponents' 110. No coach can play the game himself and keep the boys from getting hurt.
Last fall there was some talk among various and sundry persons as to whether or not Sikes should be retained for 1953 because of his "poor" record in '52—seven wins and three defeats—but the Jayhawk head man is back again on the last year of a 3-year contract.
The Jayhawks of 1952, with Charlie Hoag and Gil Reich at full strength, downed Texas Christian, Santa Clara, Colorado, Iowa State, Southern Methodist, and Kansas State, and lost only to Oklahoma (who doesn't). With Hoag, considered to be the top KU player, out because of injuries after this, KU still managed to win one of its last three outings, and lost to Nebraska and Missouri by only one point each time. Again, the coach can tell a player how to boot conversions, but he cannot go on the field and do it himself.
And critics, the type who sit in the stands at any kind of an athletic event and can always do a better job than the coach or manager, harped because the "52 eleven did such a "pitiful" job.
This year they're at it again. They seem to forget that such players as John Konek, Frank Cindrich, Bill Nieder, Paul Leoni, and Warren Woody have not, with the exception of Cindrich and Nieder, played so much as one second of time for the Red and Blue.
Nor do sniper seem to remember that no matter how sensational a boy was on his high school team, he still needs more than just a year of freshman experience to develop into an all-American his sophomore year. Don't forget that three of Sikes' starters, by necessity rather than purely choice, are only second-year men in school.
University Daily Kansan
There is no reason to find fault with KU losses to UCLA, TCU, SMU, and Oklahoma. The UCLAns, voted one of the nation's top teams along with Oklahoma, have lost only one encounter, that by a single point. SMU, too, is one of this year's standout teams in anybody's book. TCU came up with a darkhorse Southwest conference team and has been tough for all comers. And Oklahoma—it hasn't lost a league game since 1946, a string that may well extend a few more campaigns.
Page 4
Top 5 Teams Picked As Heavy Favorites
New York—(U.R)—All of the nation's top five teams were listed as heavy favorites today to win their football games Saturday, with only fifth-ranked Illinois being picked by as little as one touch.
Coach Says Star Helped by Change
Chicago — (U.P.)— Alan (the horse)
Ameche is not likely to romp home for the Big Ten pushing roses this year as he did last season, but Wisconsin Coach Ivy Williamson believes the galloping fullback "is a better football player than ever."
Ameche's improvement came because the 285-pound Kenosha, Wis., junior has had to turn into a 60-minute ball player.
"Playing defense has made him a better player," Williamson declared. "He has learned how to make himself more effective as a runner, because now he knows what mistakes defensive players can make.
Ameche set the Big Ten's individual rushing record as a freshman two years ago when he ran for 774 yards.
One might be reminded that KU was the only outfit to score against the Pacific coast school until it lost two weeks ago. The Jayhawks, in their season opener, gave TCU a real tussle and lost only by 13. SMU certainly was fortunate here last Saturday to escape with the victory, as KU out-played the Mustangs in every respect except in crossing the double line. Against the Sooners we admit KU did look anemic, but who doesn't against Bud Wilkinson's powerhouse?
On the brighter side, the Mt. Oreadans snapped a long jinx and whipped Colorado at Boulder, the first time they have been able to turn the trick since the Buffs entered the loop six years ago, and thumped the Iowa State Cyclones, conquered the route, to put KU in a third place tie in the conference with three games to go.
And, not since Herman Olcott posted high marks in 1915 through 1917, has any coach who has coached more than two seasons here been able to post a better record than Sikes.
Sikes, in his sixth season, has guided Bengal against 21 defenses, a pretty good play.
All of which gets to the point that Saturday afternoon quarterbacks don't necessarily figure all the angles. An old axiom says that Saturday's heroes are made in the five days prior to the game.
Let the critics get out to the practice field during the week and see what is really behind the weekend games.
WASH YOUR 50c
OWN CAR For
CHUCK Mc BETH
CONOCO SERVICE
at 9th and Indiana
ENGINEERING SENIORS...
The unbeaten Illini, colliding with the Purdue machine that last week cracked Michigan State's string of 28 victories, were listed as seven point choices.
In the nationally-televised "game of the day," a big intersectional test, Minnesota was quoted a 7-point pick over Pittsburgh.
However, first-ranked Notre Dame was favored by a whopping 19 points over a Navy team upset last week by Pennsylvania, and second-ranked Maryland was the most lopsided choice of the day, 27 points over South Carolina, in the odds posted by a Minneapolis odds-house. Third-rated Baylor was picked by 13 points over Texas Christian, and fourth-ranked Southern California by 13 over Oregon.
Otherwise, here's how the odd-smakers saw the big games:
The odds-makers saw two games as even money-Kansas-Nebraska and Mississippi-Louisiana State, and two others almost as even, with Wake Forest a one-point choice over Clemson and Indiana picked by one point over Missouri.
South—Alabama six over Georgia,
Auburn six over Florida, Tennessee
six over North Carolina, Army 13
over Illinois William & Mary 13
over Virginia State, Georgia
Tech 19 over Vanderbilt, Duke 26
over Virginia.
East—West Virginia six over Penn State, Syracuse six over Holy Cross, Fordham six over Miami (Fla.), Princeton seven over Brown, Cornell seven over Columbia, Colgate seven over Rutgers, Yale 13 over Dartmouth, Villanova 14 over Xavier.
Midwest—Wisconsin six over Iowa,
Michigan 10 over Penn, Oklahoma 10
over Kansas State, Cincinnati 20 over
Dayton.
North American Aviation Los Angeles
will interview here
NOVEMBER 9
Southwest - Southern Methodist six over Texas, Texas A&M seven over Arkansas, Rice seven over Kentucky, Oklahoma A&M 10 over Tulsa.
West—UCLA 13 over California, Colorado 14 over Iowa State, Stanford 14 over Washington State.
Stanford is leading the Pacific Coast league with four wins and no losses while pre-season co-favorites Southern Cal and UCLA have been led and beaten respectively.
Shop BROWN'S First
GENUINE
LEVI'S
for MEN
All sizes All lengths $375
reg. sizes
TUXEDO RENTALS
GENUINE LADY LEVI'S from 22" waist up all lengths $425
First Door South of PATEE THEATRE
Brown's TOGGERY 830 Mass.
Sikes Praises Jayhawkers After Bruising Scrimmage
After a long scrimmage session yesterday afternoon, Coach J. V. Sikes praised his team for "working well."
Sikes worked the Jayhawkers through a running offense and defense scrimmage against the freshmen and then ran the team through a passing offense against the expected Nebraska defense.
Mentioning that "this team has lots of enthusiasm," Sikes looked to a tough game Saturday at Lincoln. "Those 'Huskers are good,' he said, "and they are always mighty tough at home."
In all probability Frank Cindrich, lightning quick senior halfback, will not make the trip to Lincoln because of a freak injury to his right knee. Cindrich hurt the knee Tuesday while running through a dummy scrimmage. Since there was no body contact at the time of the injury, Cindrich just happened to twist the knee in the wrong manner at the right time.
Sikes said that Dick Sandifer, reserve sophomore quarterback, also will miss the Nebraska contest because of a weak right knee.
Glassford Announces NU Lineup Changes
Lincoln—(U.P.)—Coach Bill Glassford stressed defensive and offensive maneuvering, along with passing, in yesterday's practice. He hoped the rest from contact work, would result in sharper play and a possible victory over Kansas.
Star halfback Dennis Korinek will be replaced by Jon McWilliams in the Saturday game at the right half spot, while Bob Wagner will take over the right guard position from Don Glantz.
Crystal Cafe
Try our . . .
Homemade Pecan Pies
609 Vermont
No More Scrimmage For K-State Team
Manhattan, Kan. (U.P.)—Little contact work was planned for today by K-State coach Bill Meek, as his Wildcats got ready for their allimportant Big Seven clash with Oklahoma here Saturday.
The K-Staters eased off yesterday from the full speed scrimmage sessions which had been held earlier in the week.
Barring practice injuries, the Wildcats will go into the Sooner clash with their first two units at full strength.
K D G U Schedule
4:00 Anything Goes
4:30 You Name It
4:55 Your Union
5:00 Pachworks
5:30 Facts on Record
5:45 Movietime
6:00 Fantasy in Strings
6:30 In the Mood
6:55 News
7:00 Bookstore Hour
35c
3 for $1.00
Quality Photo-finishing
Hixon
721 Mass.
DON'T GAMBLE ON THE WEATHER
-- : ● :-
WINTERSURE - BEFORE YOU START FOR LINCOLN!
Let Men With "KNOW-HOW"
- Change your oil to winter grade
- Check your radiator
- Fortify your car with anti-freeze
   ---! ● !---
Got Your FREE Copy Yet?
ASK FOR IT
GRANTLAND RICE'S 1953 FOOTBALL GUIDE
--: ● :--
CITIES
FRITZ CO.
SERVICE 8th & N.H. Phone 4 SERVICE DOWNTOWN — NEAR EVERYTHING
SERVICE