University Daily Kansan
Friday, Sept. 11, 1970
3S
Size and Experience are Keys
Potent Cats Hope for Big Year
By BOB DICKSON
Kansan Sports Writer
If having fifteen returning starters does not make Kansas State a potential football threat, head coach Vince Gibson can point to the depth a ninety-man squad can offer for additional proof.
The Big Eight poll, conducted by KU Sports Information Director Jay Simon, ranked the Wildcats third in the conference, their highest rating in the history of the poll. Playboy Magazine slates K-State ninth in the nation with a projected 9-2 season.
And to top it off, Lynn Dickey, Wildcat quarterback and bonafide candidate for the Heisman Trophy, is one of the several potential standouts that will lead one of the best K-State teams in years, according to pollsters.
The Wildcats' rosy pre-season outlook holds true from almost every angle. Backing up the nine defensive and six offensive starters returning to the roster are 36 lettermen evenly divided between the offense and defense.
Spearheading the offense, Lynn Dickey will try to better the nine passing records he already holds
while directing the aerial game mainly toward Sonny Yarnell, who snatched the winning touch-down pass in the closing minutes of the KU-K-State clash last year. Dickey, who bruised two ribs in an intersud scrimmage two weeks ago, remained inactive in practice until last Saturday's Wildcat scrimmage that saw the Purple-led Dickey team bomb the Whites, 65-13.
Although it is no secret that if anything happened to Dickey all K-State chances would probably go down the drain, Gibson has plenty of backup quarterbacks who could step in. Max Arreguin, Dickey's backup man last year, will again be available along with promising sophomore Dennis Morrison.
Heading the ground game for the Wildcats, Mike Montgomery goes into his senior year in the fullback slot, though Gibson is likely to put him anywhere he is needed. Registering his best game last year against Kansas, carrying 13 times for 95 yards, Montgomery will be out to turn in an impressive season as an all-conference team hopeful.
Dean Shaternick, offensive tackle leads the six man offensive line charged with the protection of Dickey while opening holes for running backs. Of the five, four are returning starters.
The newcomer to the offensive line is Marion Latimore, a guard who transferred to K-State as a junior college All-American from Hutchinson.
Similarly, experience is the defensive watchword with all but two of last year's starters returning. Mike Kolich, a pre-season All-American, will present a formidable threat to opposing passing games.
If Kolich's pass defense forces the opposition into a ground game, the going will get even rougher. Trying to plug the middle will be Ron Yankowski, a tackle who was named the outstanding defensive player during spring workouts. The 6-4, 222 pound senior adds speed to his size.
year. An honorable mention all-conference pick his junior year, Gibson should once again contend for a spot on the all-conference team.
At a linebacking position will be Oscar Gibson, the Wildcat defensive captain who has fully recovered from an ankle injury that kept him out of action part of last
Despite his many good fortunes, coach Gibson has run into a few problems. Don Payne, safety and punting expert last year for the Wildcats, transferred to KU at the start of this term leaving a tremendous void in the kicking game. Joe Brandt, a sophomore from Tulsa, will try to take Payne's place but to date is having his difficulties.
Gibson, however, does not anticipate this to be a pressing problem. He commented, "Remember last year, we did not have a punter at this time."
Fall practice sessions have been going well for the 'Cats despite the extreme Kansas heat. Gibson dropped two-a-day drills earlier than planned because of the intense heat.
Gibson said the 'Cats have much to accomplish before the Sept. 12 opener against Utah State, but has not hesitated in saying that this will be K-State's
year. Fan interest in the Wildcats is also at a peak as indicated by the Oct. 10 game with KU already being a 43,000 seat sellout.
DOUBLE DUTY
RUSTON, La. (UPI)—Dr. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones is the only president-coach in the nation. He heads Grambling College and also has served as the school's baseball coach for 44 years. His teams have won 720 games while losing only 150.
TD PASS ARTIST
NEW YORK (UPI)—Sid Luckman of the Chicago Bears tossed five touchdown passes against the Washington Redskins in the National Football League's title game in 1943. Luckman's TD tosses, an NFL record, led the Bears to a 41-21 win.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (UPI)—One-run games find the California Angels an impartial lot. Since joining the American League, the Angels have won 253 one-run games, but lost 252.
Heck Found KU Attractive
By BOB DICKSON
Kansan Sports Writer
"Competition, that's the big difference between junior college ball and what they play up here," said Dan Heck as he sized-up the transition he has made since taking over the quarterback spot for the Jayhawks.
The Hawthorne, Calif., junior transferred from El Camino Junior College, in Lawnville, Calif. In his two years at El Camino, he rolled up over 2600 yards of offense, and led his squad to 17 wins in 21 outings.
"Sure, we were in one of the toughest junior college conferences in the nation. But man for man, there are better quality squads in the university leagues," Heck said. Whatever the competition, Heck was ready to meet it
Practically an unknown when he started playing at El Camino, Heck made a name for himself in two short seasons and it paid off. His efforts brought him some 35 scholarship offers from schools across the country.
"The only ones I seriously considered besides KU were Southern Cal and Oregon," Heck said.
Kansas was not the answer to a childhood dream for the 6-1 blond. In fact, he flippantly admits to hearing of Kansas for the first time when the Jayhawks played in the Orange Bowl in 1968.
There were several other points that made Kansas an attractive prospect. First, and possibly foremost in his mind, Heck thought that he would see more action at KU than at other schools. He felt sure he could pull down the top quarterbacking position, without being shadowed by an established college standout.
Also, Pepper Rodgers, head coach for the Hawks, has a reputation for turning out top quarterbacks, Heck said. Playing the position himself in his college days, Rodgers has coached Steve Spurrier, Florida; All-American Rich May, Air Force; All-American Gary Beber of UCLA and Bobby Douglass into professional contracts.
Heck expects to be calling most of his own plays this season. He said he finds them surprisingly similar to his junior college rep-
ertioe with the major distinction being their complexity. He said in juco ball the play goes to one man while here it may go to three or four receivers.
After lettering in football, basketball and baseball in high school, Heck went on to develop both his football and baseball talents. The result of his football efforts is obvious.
Baseball could very easily be Heck's best sport, however. Weighing only 183 pounds, he is quick and has a strong arm. The Atlanta Braves drafted him with the idea of making a shortstop out of him and offered $5,000 for his signature on a contract. He turned it down so he could still play football because he decided he could "probably get at least that much if I decide to sign later on."
Heck is looking forward to this season with KU. As far as a seasonal outlook, he said, "Well, we'll do better than 1-9, and that's a promise."
Baseball at KU is being considered by Heck. He said if things work out he would like to play for the Hawks this spring.
Kansan Staff Photo
Jayhawks' New Field General
. . . Transfer Dan Heck will open at quarterback
Publicity Important to Athletics
Kansan Staff Photo
Jay Simon
... KU Sports Information Director
By RAY DITIRRO
Kansan Sports Writer
College athletics has come a long way from the days when the coach of a team would call another coach to schedule a game for the following weekend. Today, college athletics is a big business and like any other business, promotion and public relations play a key role.
"Athletic promotion is a big thing," said Wayne Bowers, KU Assistant Sports Information Director. "It's a never ending task. Every major NCAA school has one now, and really does need it."
Heading the KU Sports Information Department is Jay Simon. Simon, who took the job following the tragic death in 1965 of his predecessor, Don Pierce, is well oriented in the field of journalism and promotion having been the sports editor of the Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City prior to coming to KU.
Located in Allen Field House, the department is manned by Simon and Bowers along with student assistant Pete Enich. The office is responsible for every news release, program and pamphlet that is produced about any KU athletic team.
In addition the department compiles everything from football and basketball game programs to wallet size schedules for the season. They are also responsible for the coordination of press facilities at all home games which includes handling of press passes, press conferences and the compilation of game statistics.
All of this must be done in an atmosphere of public relations so that everyone is kept as happy as possible.
Not all work is confined to Mount Oread alone though as it is also Simon's responsibility prior to all football road games to travel three or four days ahead of the team to give interviews and release information pertinent to the upcoming contest.
Prior to Saturday's season opener, the department has been involved in reorganizing the format of the 1970 season football program. At the same time it is busy compiling the press guide for basketball season and organizing a progressive picture story on the construction of the Tartan Turf in Memorial Stadium.
Bowers
Bowers, in his infrequent spare time, covers KU football and basketball practices for the UPI wire service and for the Wichita Engle - Beacon. He also covers games for out-
of-town newspapers that can not make it to the game.
The job of sports information directors is demanding and requires a great deal of expense. But as is the case in any business, good public relations will eventually pay for itself and more. This, KU has in Simon and Bowers.