University Daily Kansan
Thursday, Sept. 17, 1970
7
Rain Hits Turf; Year Looks Good
By DON BAKER
Assistant Kansan Sports Editor
The Kansas Jayhawks worked out for an hour and a half Wednesday in Memorial Stadium amidst a pouring rain that left everything from the Tartan Turf to the coaching staff and players soaking wet.
"We had a good practice," Pepper Rodgers said later as he removed his drenched clothing. "The traction wasn't bad at all unless you were making a real quick cut."
Rodgers praised the turf saying that without it the Jayhawks would have lost sorely needed practice days due to the week's rain.
TODAY WILL MARK the Hawk's final practice before Saturday's game with Texas Tech. Rodgers said the team would take Friday off.
Texas Tech, under new coach Jim Carlen who was a teammate of Rodgers at Georgia Tech, also opened its season last Saturday on a winning note. The Red Raiders squeaked by the Green Wave of Tulane, 21-14.
Rodgers also praised the Tech defense saying that its defensive secondary will be as good as anybody KU will play this year.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN said that one should not count his chickens before they hatch. But while the saying may be wise, one can't help but get a little anxious when looking over KU's athletic prospects for the year.
KU has won the Big Eight All Sports Trophy the last two years and never before has it looked as good in September as it does this
year.
Three of the seemingly four sports that the Jayhawks should win without difficulty fall under the direction of coach Bob Timmons—outdoor track, indoor track and cross country. The Jayhawks have a track tradition equaled by no other team in the conference (or the nation for that matter) and there is nothing in sight that will stop KU from climbing to the top in all three sports again this year.
A SPORTSWITER FROM Lincoln commented last spring during the Big Eight track, tennis and golf meets in Lawrence that KU has an unfair advantage in the race for the trophy because of its dominance in track and the resulting three first place spots it seemingly is annually guaranteed.
While there might be some legitimacy in his thoughts, KU is unlikely to support him.
But guaranteed or not, Timmons has once again unconspicuously gone about his way building all three teams into national prominence again.
The fourth sport KU is all but guaranteed the top spot in is swimming where coach Dick Reamon has said his team is setting its sight towards national prominence.
The KU tankers have won the conference championship the last two years and Reamon has few reservations in saying the team will make it three in a row.
"Barring the unforseen, we should have no difficulty winning again," Reamon said.
Though certainly not a "shoo-in" for the championship, another
strong KU possibility will come in the form of coach Bob Lockwood's gymnastics team.
A STRONG CONTENDER for the past few years, KU or no other team in the conference has been able to unseat Iowa State from the throne. The Cyclones have a grip on conference gymnastics like KU does in track.
But Lockwood believes this team will be his best since coming to KU. Last year's team took third in the conference and only one member of that team graduated. Unfortunately two other members, underclassmen Ron Faunce and Terry Blanchard have indicated they will not return to the team due to personal reasons.
But Lockwood is undaunted as he says this team will have the best depth of any KU team he has coached.
To say the KU basketball picture looks bright too would be a slight understatement. Here again the Jayhawks should make a strong bid for the conference championship. In fact, after looking at the KU roster filled with seasoned veterans and spiced with promising sophomores, one tends to start thinking more in terms of the national level here too.
ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT recommended that one get his hotel reservations in Houston (where the NCAA championships will be held) now, the thought can justifiably be played with.
A Dave Robisch here and a Roger Brown there mixed in with a few Leonard Grays and Randy Canfields plus numerous other established vets and promising rookies and KU
can't help but look for great things to come.
Two years ago few people would have guessed promising things would be written about the KU baseball team but coach Floyd Temple's nine should be definite contenders come spring. Finishing a surprising second in last year's race, few teams possess a hitting combination with the likes of KU's Keith Lieppman, Paul Womble and Skip James to build a team around.
With a few more seasoned veterans and a new "we can win" spirit, the Jayhawks must be considered a threat.
GOLF AND TENNIS are hard to speculate on until the season nears but KU has never been traditionally strong in either. Last year's squads were both sporadic and a prediction of this year's prospects is on a wait-and-see basis.
One sport KU will annually take last in is wrestling. But a good excuse is present in that the Jayhawks are the only non-participating conference team so last place is a pre-established finish.
And, oh yes, one must not forget football. One's guess is as good as another as to where KU will finish but early forecasts have not been too optimistic. But "Pepper Power" has been known to work magic before and there is enough material on this year's team for just a little magic to carry a long way.
The All Sports Trophy winner will not be determined until sometime in May but KU Athletic Director Wade Stinson might not be out of line in making room in the trophy case now.
WE WISH TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE THOUSANDS OF KU FANS WHO PURCHASED SEASON TICKETS FOR THE 1970 FOOTBALL SEASON. YOUR SUPPORT IS AS WELCOME AS IT IS NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSEUL YEAR
SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
PEPPER RODGERS AND THE 1970 JAYHAWKS
Peppes Rodgers