14
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1970
University Daily Kansan
Keith Lieppman
. . . new KU kick-off man
Lieppman Will Kick-Off for KU
Keith Lieppman has once again come to the rescue of the KU kicking game. After being taught only Monday by place-kicker Bob Helmbaacher how to kick soccer-style, the Kansas City, Mo. senior took over Tuesday the job of kicking off employing the new method.
The results left most of the onlookers, including coaches and players, oohing and awing as two of his half dozen attempts carried into the endzone with a third landing five yards out of the endzone.
Lieppman, who is currently sixth in the nation in punting with a 44-yard average, nearly passed up his final year of eligibility to concentrate on baseball but was convinced by Pepper Rodgers early in the fall that KU desperately needed his services as a punter.
But after the Jayhawks displayed an obvious weakness in the first three games of the season in the kicking off department, Rodgers again summoned Lieppman and wasn't long in being convinced that he had found his man.
"Keith is a good athlete," Rodgers said Tuesday after the Hawks' two hour drill in
John Still Hoping to Break One
John Riggins, Kansas' All America running back candidate, is still wondering what it takes to go "all the way."
The husky Centralia senior, a 9.8 state champion spinner in high school was tripped up from behind on a 59-yard jaunt in last Saturday's 31-14 victory over Syracuse.
"I'm beginning to wonder if those clocks were very accurate in high school," Riggins quipped. "I've broken three or four of those in the last couple of years, only to be caught from behind. I like to rationalize at first, thinking that those defenders had a good angle on me, but my teammates and the game films always remind me that this is not true."
It's a good bet that New Mexico will be wary of Riggins this week when the Jayhawks host the Lobos at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in a Band Day headliner at Memorial Stadium.
Riggins rolled up 162 yards rushing at Syracuse to push his three-year total to 1,886 yards, leaving him within one good game of the charmed 2,000-yard plateau.
Only other Kansas back to reach 2,000 was Gale Sayers, the two-time All-American who rushed for 2,675 in the early 1960's.
If Riggins can log 114 yards or more against the team from Albuquerque, he'll become only the 16th back in Big Eight history to reach the 2,000 mark.
At Centralia High School, where he graduated in 1967, Riggins was a highly regarded sprinter in addition to ranking as one of the top schoolboy gridders in the nation.
"I always thought that if I broke out in the clear, I would be on my way," Riggins offered, "but since I've been in college it seems like one defender keeps tripping me up."
Prominent in Riggins' mind is an 83-yard scamper against Kansas State in 1968. After breaking into the clear, he was knocked out of bounds on the Kansas State 8-yard line.
"On the Monday after the Kansas State game my teammates and friends started kidding me and it hasn't let up since," Riggins admits.
"I guess I'll just have to keep on trying," he smiles. "I would
love to spring one against New Mexico. We are still aware of what happened down there last year."
A crowd of some 40,000, including the high school musicians, is expected for Kansas' final non-conference game of the season.
While Kansas was downing Syracuse last week New Mexico outgunned Utah, 34-28, to level its season record at 1-1. The Lobos dropped their opener to Iowa State, 32-3.
The University Experimental Theatre
presents
"The Uncomfortable Circumstance Surrounding the Letting of the Back Bed-Sitting Room"
by Billi Dawn Schoggen
and
"Marshall McLuhan What're You Doin"
by Steve Reed
8:20 p.m.
Original Scripts by KU Playwrights Swarthout Recital Hall—Murphy
Memorial Stadium. "He will definitely kick-off against New Mexico but that is not to say he will permanently kick-off."
Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 2, 3
The team worked out in full pads in preparation for Saturday's home encounter with the Lobos.
For ticket information call: UN 4-3982
Rodgers was asked if the KU defense is improving as fast as he would like.
"It's all relative to how fast is
rapidly," Rodgers answered. "I mean, what is fast? I will say there is no way they can improve as fast as I want."
Two defensive changes were were listed by Rodgers for the New Mexico game. Sophomore Pat Ryan, a 191 pound defensive tackle, will replace Duke Holden as a member of KU's front four, and Jerry Evans, also a sophomore, will replace Gary Adams at safety.
Rodgers also said that flanker
Ron Jessie would start ahead of Lucius Turner for the KO offense.
A Band-Day crowd of about 40,000 is expected for the 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
Three Jayhawks who did not play against Syracuse because of injuries remain doubtful for Saturday's game. Tight-end and team captain Larry Brown, running back Donnie Joe Morris and defensive back James Bowman are still nursing injuries.
Rodgers said he expects a strong running game from New Mexico. The run was the principle weapon the Lobos used against the Jayhawks last year when they posted a 16-7 upset win.
EDUCATION?
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ORGANIZATIONAL and
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
SEA
Wednesday, Sept. 30
7:30
Jayhawk Room, Union
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