PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1950
KU Plays Powerful Colorado In Bia Seven Opener
By RAY SOLDAN
Kansan Sports Editor
PROBABLE OFFENSIVE STARTERS
Early press releases out of Boulder indicated that this year Colorado would have a "one-man-gang"-a plunging, hard-driving junior fullback named Merwin Hodel—however Hodel has not been the Buffs' whole show thus far.
A strong defensive line and a balanced running and, passing attack has been the Colorado story in its first two games. Not that Hodel, the Rockford, Ill., rocket, hasn't done his part for he has, but the play of the team as a whole has over-shadowed him.
No. COLORADO Wt. Pos. Wt. KANSAS No.
84 Chuck Mosher 190 LE 181 Lyn Smith 81
75 Bill Allen 190 LT 218 Bob Talkington 75
61 John Brynstad 195 LG 207 George Mrkonic 74
52 Ray Jump 185 C 190 Wint Winter 53
64 Don Gorman 175 RG 192 Dolph Simons 63
73 Pete Thompson 195 RT 228 (CC) Mike McCormack 73
80 Joe Nix 175 RE 197 Bill Schaake 87
32 Roger Williams 190 QB 195 Chet Strehlow 14
11 Zack Jordan 175 LH 185 Charlie Hoag 21
30 Fred Johnson 180 RH 179 Wade Stinson 22
15 Merwin Hodel 208 FB 185 (CC) John Amberg 41
A pair of sophomores and a transplanted end have given Hodel better-than-expected support in the backfield. Roger Williams, like Hodel an Illinois prep product, has handled the signalling duties well for Colorado.
Officials: Bob Miller (Missouri), referee; Mutt Volz (Nebraska), umpire; Spike Leonard (Phillips), linesman, and Ed Ellis (Oklahoma A. and M.). field judge.
Broadcasts: WREN, Topeka, and the Kansas network, KSEK, Pittsburg; KLKC, Parsons; KXXX, Colby; KFBI, Wichita; KSCB, Liberal; KGNO, Dodge City;KVGB, Great Bend, and KJCK, Junction City, all by (Max Falkenstien); KWHK, Hutchinson (Hod Humiston); KOA, Denver (Star Yelland).
Game time: 2 p.m. Place: Memorial stadium. Expected crowd: 23,000.
in this his first season of college football. Another soph, Zack Jordan, has become Coach Dallas Ward's chief aerial threat. He completed five of seven passes for 103 yards against Kansas State last week. The fourth backfield post is filled by senior Fred Johnson, who served his first two years at the "Rock" as an end. Johnson is also a passing threat—both throwing and receiving.
Hodel has been the Buff workhorse this season. In 36 carries against Hodel-conscious defenses, he has picked up 115 yards—an average of 3.2 yards a carry. As a sophomore last year, the 208-pound plunger was 19th in the nation in yards gained rushing. He plays safety on defense.
The work of the Colorado defense has been particularly outstanding this season. Bill Weeks, Iowa State's ace passer, who ranked 13th on the nation's passing list a year ago, completed only five of 17 passes against an alert Buff secondary. Only one of 12 Kansas State passes fell into the intended hands last week, giving Buff opponents a two game mark of six completions in 29 attempts — about 20 per cent.
Iowa State compiled 198 yards rushing and K-State 121 against Colorado—neither overly-excessive figures in this day of souped-up offenses. Top linebacker is Roy Shepherd, the Buffs' sophomore pride. He plays only defense in Colorado's nearly-full two-platoon system.
Other standout linemen are Pete Thompson, a second string allconference tackle in 1949; end Chuck Mosher, the Buffs' leading pass receiver; Bill Case and Joe Nix, defensive ends; and center Ray Jump.
The Colorado kicking will be handled by sophomore Lee Venzke. He has succeeded on five of six extra point attempts this year—the other one was blocked because of a bad pass from center.
PETE THOMPSON, Colorado tackle, is one of the reasons why the Buffs are regarded as a much improved team this year. This 6-foot 195-pound senior from Boulder, Colo., won his second letter last year as a junior and second-team all-Big Seven honors as well. Big "Pete" is fast, owns a burning desire to win, and is regarded as the Buffs' best offensive tackle. His brother Bob is a sophomore left guard.
Hoag vs. Hodel Duel Shapes Up For Saturday
Two former Illinois prep stars, Charlie Hoag of Kansas, and Merwin Hodel of Colorado, will collide at Memorial stadium Saturday in a running duel that will likely determine the outcome of K.U.'s opening Big Seven game with Colorado.
Hoog, the rangy-running halfback sensation from Oak Park, Ill., and Hodel, the Buffs' rockerrusher full-back from Rockford, Ill., will each spearhead his team's promising rushing attack operating out of the standard-T and the single-wing formations, respectively.
No sophomore back has covered every inch of his pre-season publicity any better than Hoag. This 6-foot 2-inch 185-pounder is presently leading the Big Seven in rushing with 188 yards in 32 carries for an average of 5.9 yards per trip.
Hodel was the workhorse of the Big Seven in 1949 by carrying the ball 169 times for a net gain of 748 yards, to rank 19th in the final national rushing records.
Hoog passed for K.U.'s lone touchdown in the heartbreaking 14 to 7 loss to Texas Christian university and scored his first collegiate t.d. against Denver last Friday with a 6-vard smash over left tackle.
He has looked impressive this year in scoring three of the Bucks six touchdowns to date. In 36 carries, Hodel has picked up 115 yards most of which came the hard way down near the goal lines.
He is one of the chief reasons why Coach J. V. Sikes' young Jayhawkers rank tenth in national rushing with a 315.4 yard average per game.
In order for Kansas to win, they must stop this giant bone-crushing runner. The Hoag vs. Hodel angle should give the game plenty of keen edge and excitement and will likely determine the winner.
Buffs To Work Out At Stadium Today
Dallas Ward. Colorado head football coach, his assistants, and 36 players arrived here early this morning from Denver aboard the Union Pacific's City of St. Louis train and went directly to the Eldridge hotel.
Colorado, who has Kansas listed as a "must" on its win column, will practice this afternoon at memorial stadium in an effort to work out the kinks from the long train ride. The Buff squad is in top physical condition for Saturday's game.
By BOB NELSON
Kansan Ass't Sports Editor
Coach J. V. Sikes will send his young Jayhawkers against what may well be the Big Seven's most improved football team when K.U. meets Colorado at Memorial stadium Saturday in Kansas' 1950 conference opener.
Saturday's game has been designated as Band day with 41 high school bands scheduled to take part in a morning downtown parade and pre-game ceremonies.
past games, can well expect a close high-scoring game if the Jayhawkers fail to solve the Buffaloes latest scoring weapon, a sophomore tailback, Zack Jordan. Coach Dallas Ward, who spent a month-long search looking for a passer, turned Jordan loose on Kansas State and he passed his initial test with flying colors.
This year's game, the tenth Jayhawker-Buffalo football renewal, is listed as a near toss-up. Colorado, fresh from an impressive 34 to 6 win over Kansas Stac last week at Boulder, will match K.U.'s newly found explosive running attack with a well balanced run-pass offense operating from single wing formation.
Jordan completed five of seven passes for 103 yards and scored once off a buck lateral. This crafty back combines with Merwin Hodel, 208-pound buldozer fullback, to provide the Buffs with one of the most varied attacks Kansas will be called upon to face and stop all season.
Coach Ward's 1950 club is a much better team than the 1949 team that upset K.U., 13 to 12, at Boulder last year. Colorado will provide Coach Sikes' youthful defensive secondary with its trickiest test of the season. Sophomores will man four of the five starting spots in this defensive unit.
Kansas, who holds a 5-2-2 won and lost edge over Colorado in
The Kansas line will receive its severest test of the year against the Buffs' powerful running backs off the Minnesota-style single wing. Hodel is especially effective in the-hard-to-make yardage now the goal lines.
Colorado will also have its own defensive problems when Coach Sikes turns loose his fleet-footed and hard running backs. In starters Charlie Hoag, John Amberg, and Wade Stinson, K.U. has three of the best runners in the Midlands. Bud Laughlin, No. 2 fullback, lashed out with a terrific running display against Denver by rolling up 121 yards on a mere six carries.
For the first time in three years, the K.U. rushing has overshadowed the passing. This is largely due to better blocking in the line by tackles Mike McCormack, S. P. Garnett, and Bob Talkington, and the great ball-handling job being turned in by sophomore quarterback, Chet Strehlow.
S. P. GARNETT, the Jayhawkers' workhorse tackle, is one of the unsung heroes who are giving Kansas a better than average defensive line this year. Garnett, a 6-foot 3-inch, 212-pound senior battler, is considered one of the Big Seven's roughest and most durable tackles. He is a punishing charger and tackler on defense, a fine competitor who likes "tough going," and can play offense if needed.