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wednesday, Sept. 9, 1970
University Daily Kansan
WASHINGTON STATE FULLBACK Bob Ewen will constitute the principal source of power in the Cougar's ground attack when they visit Lawrence and the Jayhawks for Saturday's season opener. A 1:30 p.m. kickoff will set the stage as both teams begin a long comeback from disastrous 1-9 campaigns from a year ago. Approximately 32,000 fans are expected for the game.
MINNEAPOLIS - ST. PAUL (UPI) — When the Minnesota Vikings open their 1970 season against the Kansas City Chiefs—the team that beat them in the Super Bowl last January—the spotlight will be on the quarterback.
Cuozzo Replaces Kapp as Viking Quarterback
But the quarterback will not be the colorful Joe Kapp, who was credited with leading the Vikings to their 12-2 record and the National Football League championship. Instead, a mild-mannered dentist will be calling the signals
After losing to New Orleans and Pittsburgh in preseason games, the Vikings came back to defeat Houston, the New York Jets and Cleveland in succession
It was in the victory over the Jets—by a score of 52-21—that Cuozzo had his finest preseason game.
Gary Cuozzo, formerly of the Baltimore Colts and New Orleans Saints and a two-year veteran of the Vikings, moved into the No.1 quarterback spot after Kapp and the Vikings failed to agree on a new contract.
Playing only the first half, he threw three touchdown passes and accounted for 203 yards passing. His favorite target was Bob Grim.
So far, Cuozzo has seemed to show he can do it.
Coach Bud Grant said he wasn't
at all surprised by the way Cuozozo and Grim played. "We know they're good football players."
Cats Morale Termed Great
MANHATTAN, Kan. (UPI) — Kansas State football Coach Vince Gibson pulled a surprise move Tuesday when he let his players workout in just pads and shorts.
Gibson pulled the switch because of "great morale" which he termed important for Saturday's opener here when the Wildcats host Utah State.
"The afternoon was hot so we felt like working out in shorts," Gibson said. "It turned out to be a good workout."
Kansas State's injury situation appeared brighter Tuesday with the return to practice of Dean Shaternick, a starting offensive tackle. Shaternick had been sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Only John Duckers, a split end and punter, remains a question mark for Saturday's game, Gibson said.
Rodgers Unimpressed With Game
The varsity dominated Blue team easily defeated the freshman dominated White squad, 73-24, in KU's Saturday afternoon closed scrimmage.
Utilizing an awesome offense that totaled nearly 800 yards in total offense, the Blues struck quick and often while completely dominating the game.
Dan Heck, Hawthorne, Calif.
junior who will start at quarterback for KU in the season opener against Washington State, completed 12 of 18 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns before giving way to reserves Rich Jones and Bob Bruegging.
Jones, a Columbus sophomore who is presently listed as the number two quarterback, immediately picked up where Heck left off completing five of seven passes for 145 yards. Bruegging, a Kansas City, Mo. sophomore, also displayed unusual accuracy, hitting five of six for 75 yards, giving the three a combined total of 22 completions in 31 attempts for 529 yards.
Complimenting the passing game, the Blues rushed for 243 yards with junior college transfer Donnie Joe Morris leading all Blue rushers with 87 yards in 14 carries. John Riggins, Centralia senior trying to make a comeback in his senior year after a disappointing junior campaign, reeled off 75 yards in seven carries.
Despite being completely outmanned, the White team, composed of freshmen and varsity reserves, made a good accounting of itself with several fine individual efforts.
The most notable performance came in the form of Vince Leber, a freshman running back from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Leber, showing signs of brilliance at times, was the game's leading rusher with 119 yards in 15 carries.
Highly touted freshman quarterback David Jaynes also made an excellent accounting of himself. The Bonner Springs product completed 10 of 18 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and engineered all three White scoring drives.
Keith Lieppman, Kansas City, Mo. senior who will do all of the Jayhawks' punting this year, kicked for both teams, averaging 39 yards per kick for the Whites and 48 yards per kick for the Blues.
Despite the tremendous offensive showing by the Blue team, head coach Pepper Rodgers was not impressed.
"It didn't mean anything." Rodgers said. "I'll probably be disappointed when I look at the films."
Rodgers noted too many mistakes but said both teams seemed to do better as the game progressed.
"We're not ready to play a game yet," Rodgers assessed.
Rodgers said he was pleased with the offense but noted the defense must improve. He did cite sophomore defensive end Gery Palmer and senior defensive tackle Bob Tyus for good efforts.
"We're not as sharp as we should be, you can tell that by the score (referring to the 24 points the defense gave up)."
Place-kicker Bob Helmbacher missed the scrimmage due to a minor leg injury. Both teams had difficulty converting extra points in his absence with most coming via the run rather than the kick.
Late in the fourth quarter after the final Blue touchdown, coach Rodgers himself trotted onto the field to try to kick the point-after. Faced with a hard rush, Rodgers, with his wing-tip shoes and all, missed the conversion as the ball dropped short of the crossbar.
"I guess I choked," Rodgers said later. "But if you check the records you'll see that I'm not all that bad."
He was referring to his college days in the early 1950's when he did the place-kicking for Georgia Tech.
The injury to Helmbacher is not considered a serious problem as he is now being counted on to play in Saturday's season opener.
Rodgers said, however, that he isn't worried either way.
"If Helmbacher isn't ready we'll just go for two," Rodgers said.
ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (UPI)—Employes at the Bendix Hydraulics Division plant are hitting the brakes at top speed.
They recently made their 1 millionth disc brake. This production mark was struck only 16 months after the first disc brake was machined.
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