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Eumont to coach fifth season at KU
By Jim Farquhar Kansan staff writer
Vie Eumont is a rarity on the University of Kansas football staff because he is the only remaining coach from last year.
In fact, Eumont, Kansas' defensive line coach who begins his fifth year at Kansas, is the only coach to have worked under Kansas' last three coaches: Mike Goffred, Kansas coach from 1983 to 1985 and coach at Pittsburgh University; Bob Valentine, Kansas coach from 1968 to 1973 and director at Maryland, and new Glenn Macon.
"I told all three not to hire me because I've coached at KU in the past, but because I'm a good coach," Eumont said.
Valesente said he thought Eumont was a great asset to the team.
"Eumont knows how much a player can give," Valesente said. "And that can help enormously in the crunch."
Mason's arrival gave Eumont yet another chance to see a new style of leading the Jawhaks' football program.
Mason must have been as convinced of Eumont's skill as his predecessors. When he was assigned to a coaching brough six assistant coaches with him from Kent State, leaving Eumont as the only remaining coach.
"The coaches are different, and yet I have the utmost respect for all three." Eumont said.
"Mike Gottfried was great at getting a team ready to play football on game day,"
Bob Valesente was a class individual. Nobody took the team's poor showing any harder than coach Valentees. The crazy thing about last year's team was that we would have great practices through the week and play horribly on Saturday.'
Vic Eumont
he said. "Gottfried could utilize any person or thing to motivate the players and convince them that they could win."
"The crazy thing about last year's team was that we would have great practices through the week and play horribly on Saturday."
- Vic Edmond
Kancac' defensive line coach
When Gottfried left for Pittsburgh, Kansas quarterback coach Valesence took the job.
"Bob Valentele was a class individual." Eument said. "Nobody took the team's poor defense as a lesson."
A change from Valesente to Mason brought a new direction to the football program.
"Mason is the most intense, full-speed coach," said Jim Eumont. "He is a players' coach, a coaches' coach and an administrative coach. He fits excellently into all the roles of a head coach."
Since Mason has taken the helm, 23 players have quit the squadr for various reasons.
"Any time a new guy comes in, a lot of the
older players are going to quit." Eumont said. "Players don't feel like proving themselves again to the new guy.
"Mason runs some intense practices. That was a factor, also."
Eumont ought to be a good judge of coaching styles because he has spent most of his life playing or coaching football.
Eumont started coaching in 1967 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Tulane. His coaching career was pre-1985 when he first year stint in the Army from 1968 to 1970
But even during his army years, Eumont was able to coach football. During his two-year stay in Europe, he coached the Theater Army Command team.
"I would recruit the best football players from the different army bases in much the same way we now recruit for college." he said.
Eumont was reassigned to Vietnam as a security officer for the last year of his military service.
He returned from the war and went on to coach at both the high school and college
in his home state, Louisiana. From 1974 to 1983, Emount conceded at Tulane with duties ranging from recruiting coordinator to defensive coordinator.
When Gottfried was hired at Kansas in 1883, Eumont became a coach for the Jawhaws.
Eumont said he and his wife, Phyllis, were happy to be at Kansas.
"It if it wasn't for KU, my daughter might have lost her life." he said.
Kristy, Eumont's 15-year-old daughter, had bone cancer in her leg three years ago. Eumont said Kristy received excellent treatment at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. The bone was replaced with an artificial one.
"If we were in New Orleans during the crisis, she might be dead," Eumont said.
When talking about this year's Jayhawk defense, Eumont said he was proud of the young squid. Kass lost five defensive starters from last year's team, which was his worst ever season. He defended. Nevertheless, Eumont said he was confident in the abilities of this year's team.
"These guys aren't experienced, but they've got good discipline; they know how to work hard; and they know the game." he said.
This season, Kansas switched from last year's 4 defense to 3 defense. Bemmion said the new defense was more flexible and dealt effectively with varied offenses.
"This defense relies on hard-working down lineen, and that's what we have."
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18 University Daily Kansan FOOTBALL' 88 September 9, 1988
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