THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1950
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
PAGE FIVE
19
Sophomores Fiss, Gish Sparkle As Jayhawker Linebackers
By JOHN McMILLION Kansan Sport Writer
"Too many sophomores," the writers and coaches screamed at the beginning of the year when asked abou the University of Kansas's chances in football. Now, however, two of these sophomores, Galen Fiss and Merlin Gish, have made Coach J. V. Sikes the envy of every head mentor in the conference with their sparkling defensive play at the linebacker positions.
GALEN FISS
Whenever Coach Sikes or any of his staff want to know whether or not K.U. has recovered a fumble or stopped an opponent short of a first down or the goal line they don't watch the referee. Instead they watch the Jayhawkers' dynamic sophomore linebacker, Galen Fiss, a 210 pounder by 5-feet-11 inches.
Fiss always knows how the decisions come out before the officials do and lets the K.U. bench know by leaping into the air and going through a series of acrobatic antics.
Along with this unbeatable spirit however Fiss possesses the know-how and stamina that makes him one of the best linebackers in the conference in his first year of Varsity competition. In every game this year he has turned in an exceptional performance.
Merwin Hodel, fullback for Colorado, and Jim Doran, Iowa State's circus catching end, are about the best ball players K.U. has faced this year in Fiss's estimation. "That Hodel was rough to stop," Galen said, "and Doran was hitting me with good blocks all afternoon."
Galen is a 19-year-old sophomore from Johnson. He played two years of high school football at Johnson where he was a fullback and tailback on the single wing. He also played basketball and was out for track.
Fiss is used almost entirely on defense though he was a star fullback on the freshman squad last year. He packs a lot of power and really rocks the ball carrier when he tackles.
Galen thinks the teams' chances or this year are good. "If we get some good breaks and play the ball we are capable of we have a good chance of winning the conference," he said. "However, Nebraska and Oklahoma will be plenty tough," he added.
An education major Galen plans to teach and coach when he graduates. He is a member of Sasnak, physical education major's organization, and Sigma Chi social fraternity.
Last year Fiss played freshman
basketball but doesn't think he will go out for the Varsity. Instead he hopes to go out for baseball and take a crack at catching.
Fiss thinks the Jayhawkers' offense was about the best it has been all year last week against the Cyclones of Iowa State. He thought however that the defense could improve a great deal.
This year's Colorado game provided Galen with the biggest thrill of his college career. "Coming from behind and winning in the fourth quarter meant more to me than anything that has happened to me in football so far," he said.
Although originally an offensive back Fiss has come to think more of his linebacking duties than running with the ball. Galen probably won't be used much on offense this year as co-captain Johnny Amberg and soph Bud Laughlin do a better than average job at that position. However next year Sikes may call on Fiss to carry the ball as well as stop the opponent's ball carriers.
MERLIN GISH
One of the major factors in KU's being second in total defense in the conference is its linebacking, and Merlin Gish, 6-foot, 195-pound sophomore from Kingman has proven himself one of the most capable linebackers in the loop. In every game this year Gish has been a standout on defense and in the Denver game he nailed the ball carrier behind the goal for a safety and two points.
Linebacking is probably the most difficult of the defensive positions and Gish plays it like a hardened veteran despite the fact that he is supposed to be a "green" sophomore. His speed and uncanny ability to diagnose the play coupled with the solid 195 pounds he packs makes it mighty rough on the opponent's ball carriers.
John Konek, Don Beyer Are Elected Freshman Captains For K-State Game
Merlin learned the elements of football at high school in Kingman under an old K-State man, E. H.
The freshman football team elected John Konek and Don Beyer captains for the Kansas-Kansas State freshman game at Manhattan, Oct. 27, at a meeting held Wednesday afternoon.
Beyer, a 190-pound guard from Chicago, and Konek, a 6-foot 2-inch 185-pound halfback from California, Pa., will lead the young Jayhawkers against one of the finest Kansas State frosh teams in the history of that school.
a liking for playing the rough "rock 'em sock 'em" type football when they have clashed with the Varsity this year.
Coach Don Fambrough's aggressive team has shown continued improvement and is expected to provide the young Wildcats a severe test. The Kansas fresh have shown
Fambrough's team will also play the Missouri freshmen here on Friday, Nov. 3, at Haskell stadium. Missouri has a fine fresh team and this game shapes up as a real battle of first year-men.
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F1SS
GISH
Wertzberger. Gish played four years of ball and lettered three of them at a fullback slot on offense and backing up the line on defense.
326 W. 9th
hasn't played much at center so far but he really likes the position.
Like his linebacking buddy, Galen Fiss, Merlin thinks that Merwin Hodel, Colorado's 205 pound dreadnought of a fullback was about the most powerful ball carrier he has ever run up against. Also he has a healthy respect for Bill Weeks potent arm which caused the Jayhawkers a lot of trouble in the Iowa State game.
Gish is 19 years old and is single. He is majoring in physical education and plans to coach and teach when he graduates. He has two years of eligibility left after the current season. He is a member of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity.
Merlin thinks that Colorado's Buffalooes were about the best ball club the Jayhawkers have run up against all year. However he says that he was a little surprised when they topped Nebraska's high flying Cornhuskers.
Last summer Gish was employed by the Kansas State Highway department where he worked on a surveying crew.
Linebacking is considered by many as sheer drudgery but Gish literally eats it up. Of his job he says, "I think linebacking is a real position. I would rather play it than anything."
In addition to being a football player in high school Gish was a stand-out in basketball and track. He lettered four years in basketball where he operated from a forward position on a conference championship squad. In track he threw the discus and shot and high jumped.
Last year Merlin earned freshman numerals in both football and basketball. On the fresh football squad he operated as a halfback but in spring practice last year was converted to offensive center. Gish
Mailmen Get a Tough One
Wichita. Kan. (U.P.)—Chalk up another solution for the post office deciphering department. It doesn't muff 'em. A Wichita telephone bill addressed to J. P. Buffum, 953 Fuffum, was delivered correctly to J. P. Ferry, 953 Buffum.
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Jail Term Delays Wedding
Gary, Ind. (U.P.)—Judge John Ruberto delayed a wedding 10 days when he sent Harry Williams, 28, Detroit, to jail for drunken driving. Williams said he was enroute to Waukegan, Ill., to be married.
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