THURSDAY, SEPT. 21, 1950
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENGE, KANSAS
PAGE FIVE
Amberg, McCormack Are Jayhawker Co-Captains
By BOB NELSON Daily Kansas Assistant Sports Editor
JOHN AMBERG, 190-pound senior fullback, is expected to provide "added spark and encouragement" with his inspirational play which should help steer K.U.'s sophomores through the 1950 season.
This is John's eighth year of football. He played four years at Shawnee-Mission high school under Coach Harold Reade, gaining second team all-state honors his senior year. Amberg ranks as one of the greatest all-around athletes ever to play at Shawnee-Mission, where he also lettered in basketball and track.
Regarding his selection as Cocaptain by his teammates, this likeable Kansas City player has to say, "I feel honored to have been selected to help lead such fine teammates. They have shown a terrific desire to win and own that certain 'fire' that is needed to make a team great. With a few breaks, we should have a good year."
John's football career at K.U. started in 1947 as a quarterback on a fresh squad of over 100 players. Only 10 from this group remain on the 1950 Varsity squad.
In 1948, Coach J. V. Sikes shifted John to backfill where he blossomed into a hard-hitting ball-carrier and a good linebacker. He gained 138 net yards in 40 carries as a sophomore.
Last year, Amberg had his best year gaining 236 yards on 42 carries, operating between fullback and right half. His carries included two touchdowns, one against Kansas State on a 28-yard smash off tackle and a three-yard plunge against George Washington.
This year Coach Sikes shifted Amberg back to fullback where he is playing mainly on offense. He is still expected to see plenty of action as a linebacker on the left side.
This 21-year-old star could well have his best year this year and rate high among Big Seven backs when individual honors are passed out in late November. He has been used to some as a passer this fall with hopes of taking up some of the slack left by the graduated "dingin" Gilman, one-half of KW 1946 patient serial attack.
Playing Varsity football is only one of many interests this business major enjoys and finds time to include in his busy campus schedule. John is president of the senior class, a member of Sachem, senior
men's honor society; Delta Sigma Pi, business fraternity, and Phi Gamma Delta social fraternity. His hobbies include out-of-doors activities such as hunting, fishing, and swimming.
Oh yes, girls, this good-looking versatile football star is single, but will be mighty hard to "catch" as long as a certain attractive Pi Beta Phi from Emporia remains in John's life.
Amberg's future following graduation next June (if Uncle Sam's Naval Reserve leaves him alone that long) are indefinite, but he said, "I'll probably be working on my Master's degree in Korea like a lot of other fellows."
By JOHN McMILLION Kansan Sports Writer
His greatest thrill as a Jayhawker was seeing Carl Ellis, K.U. guard, pick up an Oklahoma Aggie fumble last year at Stillwater, and ramble some 80 yards to a touchdown.
MIKE McCORMACK, 6 foot 3inch, 228-pound tackle, is the Jayhawkers' candidate for the Big Seven lineman of the year.
McCormack, the biggest man on the Kansas team, is also one of the fastest big men in the conference and likes his football "tough and rough." He lettered as a sophomore and was a power in the Kansas line last year playing both offense and defense. It is almost impossible to block Mike out of play in close when he is on defense and he owns a quick charge and unusual stamina for such a big man.
This 20-year-old giant should make an excellent Co-Capt, since he is long on hustle and a fine competitor all the way. His play last year placed him on the second all-conference team and places him in line for possible conference and national honors this year. He is in excellent condition this year and hones to have a great year.
"The finest close-in blocker in the conference, if not in the country," is what Coach Jules V. Sikes has to say about Mike, mainstay of K.U.'s strong tackle contingent.
McCormack, who carries plenty of devastating power, has been among the best in the conference ever since he broke into the lineup as a sophomore in 1948. That year he played behind Capt. Hugh Johnson but performed well enough to be tabbed Sophomore All-American by the dean of sportswriters, Grant-land Rice.
Big Mike's plans for the future call for a whack at pro ball, that is if the army doesn't get him first. After that he plans to take up coaching.
After two years of Big Seven competition, McCormack has arrived at the conclusion the top men he will have to face this year are Charley Tooogold of Nebraska in the line and John Glorioso of Missouri in the backfield.
De La Salle military academy in Kansas City, Mo. was the proving ground of Mike's athletic prowess. McCormack earned seven letters while attending De La Salle, four in football and three in basketball. He captained both the football and basketball teams and led the basketball team to a league championship, his senior year.
As a member of the Young Democrats club, Mike is a politician from the word go. He tolerates Republicans but doesn't associate with them.
The big Irishman has two loves; bridge and the democrats. McCormack is an above average lad with the bridge deck and would like to spend all his spare time in a foursome if the studies didn't interfere.
McCormack is a Phys Ed major and a member of Sasnak, an organization of the Physical Education majors. He is also a member of Sigma Nu social fraternity.
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Sikes Tapers Off Jayhawker Drills
Coach J. V. Sikes sent his Jayhawker football team through a long defensive scrimmage Wednesday afternoon with reserves running Texas Christian university plays and formations against the No.1 and 2 defensive units.
"We're in pretty fair shape, and this will be the last rough work we'll do before our T.C.U. game on Saturday." Coach Sikes said.
BEAT T. C. U.
The No. 1 defensive unit contained Chuck O'Neal and Lyn Smith, ends; Carl Sandefur and George Mrkonic, tackles; Oliver Spencer and Ron White, guards; Galen Fiss and Merlin Gish, at the linebacking spots, Fox Cashell and Hal Cleavinger, as halfbacks, and Charlie Hoag at safety.
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