8S
Friday, Sept. 11, 1970
University Daily Kansan
Ex-Halfback Now Athletic Director
Success Is Stinson Trademark
KU Athletic Director Wade Stinson
By DON BAKER Assistant Kansan Sports Ed
Kansan Staff Photo
One winter day in 1966 KU Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe greeted an enthusiastic visitor to his office who had news the entire University community and supporters were waiting for.
. . “Athletics play a vital part in the University community."
"Clarke, I think we've got our man," the visitor said as he went on to announce that UCLA assistant coach Franklin "Pepper" Rodgers had been hired to replace Jack Mitchell as the KU football coach.
The visitor was KU Athletic Director Wade Stinson, who in announcing the change, made his third major coaching switch at KU since he assumed his position in 1964.
Selecting coaches, updating the physical plant, keeping the athletic ledger in the "black" and out of the "red," and maintaining the high KU athletic standards in relation to the entire University have all been under Stinson's successful management.
Stinson could easily be termed a man of success. In his six-year stay on Mount Oread, the 44-year old former Jayhawk star halfback has established a remarkable record while administering the KU athletic program.
"You must seek excellence in your athletic program just like every other phase of the University seeks excellence," Stinson said. "Athletics play a very vital part in the University community. It draws students to a campus — I know personally I wouldn't want my son or daughter to go to a school without an athletic program. And also athletics is the one activity that brings people in masses to the campus."
To try and rate Stinson's accomplishments as the director of athletics would be difficult, however, the one thing that currently stands out is his updating of the Jayhawks' physical plant with several major projects, latest being the installation of Tartan Turf in Memorial Stadium. A $240,000 investment, the turf puts KU in the ever growing list of schools changing to the "Mod Sod."
The installation of the turf gives KU all-weather surfaces for both football and track as it was only the year before that the eight-laned Tartan Track, a gift from Wichita oilman and KU alumnus Jim Hershberger, was finished in the stadium.
Stinson's initial improvement
project came in the form of a 6,500 seat addition to Memorial Stadium's east side, bringing its total capacity to 51,500.
The entirety of the program though has come in the last two years. In addition to the synthetic turf and track in Memorial Stadium, Stinjson has overseen the construction of the Allen Field House annex and completed arrangements for KU athletes to live in Jayhawker Towers, the new plush high rise apartment complex located only a block from the field house.
With all this under his belt Stinson does not plan to stop. He is now making plans for a synthetic surface in Allen Field House, a project he hopes will be finished within two years.
"I honestly believe we do have the best facilities of anyone," Stinson said. "I don't know of another school that can show as much."
Stinson offers a sound philosophy in his improvement program.
"You have to improve on everything you can," he said. "It is much like every other phase of the University—you must try to offer all you can if you are going to progress and prosper."
Stinson's enviable record is also easily directed to the KU coaching staff. All three major sports, football, basketball and track, are under the guidance of Stinson appointees and all have since prospered.
The Rodgers appointment led to a co-championship and Orange Bowl trip in the second year of the coach. In basketball, Ted Owens produced four straight 20-victory teams with each going to a post-season tourney. And in track, Bob Timmons has led the Jayhawks to national championships in both cross country and indoor and outdoor track.
Success is important to an athletic program but for more than just school morale. Often overlooked is the financial aspect, which with inflationary trends becomes more and more of a problem.
"Costs in college athletics have gone up tremendously in the last six years," Stinson said. He added though that many people do not realize that much of the increase in costs are actually University costs.
The problem of rising costs has become so acute that many college athletic programs are not self-sustaining. Help is often required in the form of transferral
of funds from one department into the athletic department. Fortunately KU is not included as Stinson has managed to keep the department's bank account in the "black."
"We have to live on the revenue we generate." Stinson said. "We get no help from other departments."
The fact that KU is self-supporting can be partly attributed to an already discussed Stinson
accomplishment—the updating of facilities. But Stinson is quick to point out the credit is partially due elsewhere.
"You've got to give part of the credit to the athletes and coaches," he said. "KU has always had a great tradition and it is these guys that are carrying that tradition on."
It is understandable why Stinson is sympathetic to the accomplishments of the players and
coaches having played halfback for the Crimson and Blue from 1948 to 1950.
Stinson achieved stardom during his senior year finishing the campaign with all-conference honors. In addition he was chosen to play in the North-South Shrine Game played in Miami on Christmas Day in 1950. A final distinction came following the season when he received the Ormand Beach Memorial Trophy.
1970 BIG EIGHT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
PLAYING DATES IOWA STATE KANSAS STATE OKLA. STATE COLORADO KANSAS MISSOURI NEBRASKA OKLAHOMA
September 12 UTAH STATE Home MISSISSIPPI ST. Home WASHINGTON ST. Home *BAYLOR (11) St. Louis — N WAKE FOREST Home S.M.U. Away — N
September 19 NEW MEXICO Away — N KENTUCKY Away ARKANSAS Little Rock — N INDIANA Away TEXAS TECH Home MINNESOTA Home U.S.C. Away WISCONSIN Home
September 26 COLORADO ST. Home ARIZONA ST. Away — N HOUSTON Home PENN STATE Home SYRACUSE Away AIR FORCE St. Louis ARMY Home OREGON STATE Home
October 3 UTAH Away COLORADO Home MISSOURI Home KANSAS STATE Away NEW MEXICO Home OKLAHOMA ST. Away MINNESOTA Away
October 10 COLORADO Away KANSAS Home T.C.U. Home IOWA STATE Home KANSAS STATE Away NEBRASKA Away MISSOURI Home TEXAS Dallas
October 17 KANSAS STATE Home IOWA STATE Away OKLAHOMA Home NEBRASKA Home NOTRE DAME Home KANSAS Away COLORADO Away
October 24 KANSAS Away OKLAHOMA Away NEBRASKA Away MISSOURI Away IOWA STATE Home COLORADO Home OKLA. STATE Home KANSAS STATE Home
October 31 OKLAHOMA Home MISSOURI Home KANSAS Home NEBRASKA Home OKLA. STATE Away KANSAS STATE Away COLORADO Away IOWA STATE Away
November 7 NEBRASKA Home OKLA. STATE Home KANSAS STATE Away KANSAS Home COLORADO Away OKLAHOMA Away IOWA STATE Away MISSOURI Home
November 14 MISSOURI Away NEBRASKA Away COLORADO Home OKLA. STATE Away OKLAHOMA Home IOWA STATE Home KANSAS STATE Home KANSAS Away
November 21 OKLA. STATE Away FLORIDA ST. Away IOWA STATE Away AIR FORCE Away MISSOURI Away KANSAS Home OKLAHOMA Home NEBRASKA Away
November 28 SAN DIEGO ST. Away — N OKLAHOMA Away
*FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPT. 11. N - NIGHT GAME SHADED AREA INDICATES CONFERENCE GAMES