Wednesday, August 31, 1977
9
Ends hurdle inexperience barrier
By GARY BEDORE
Snorts Writer
It would be an understatement to say that KU's split ends are inexperienced, but it would be too harsh to say that they are unknown. One thing is for sure though-KU fans will need their programs to tell who is playing there this season.
All three of KU's split end candidates, Rodney Olson, a senior walk-on; Rob Fulton, a junior college transfer, and David Verser, a freshman, are new to the Jayhawks. Last season, all three had star billing, but at places other than KU.
"It's like having three freshmen, although Fulton and Olson have an idea of what it will be like," assistant coach Don Blackwelder said.
The inexperienced split ends will be needed to fill the vacancy left by Waddell Smith who graduates last year, and who is currently battling for a spot on the Kansas
SMITH WAS KU'S leading pass catcher for the last two seasons. He had 22 receptions in his career for 444 yards and two touchdowns. But, during Smith's last two seasons at KU, the Hawks really threw the ball to coach Bud Moore's wireless formation.
That's what the receivers are hoping for, anwav.
This season, there is talk among players and coaches that KU will probably throw ball.
"I think we'll pass more," Fulton, a 63, 185-pound junior, said. "We've got good receivers and our quarterbacks can throw well, we'll teams for us to run, and passing them."
Staff Photo by ELI REICHMAN
"You can't totally rely on running. In the past we ran more with Nolan and Laverne, but now we've got better receivers and we'll probably pass more."
Blackwelder, who coaches the receivers, said that the Jayhawks would not necessitate a move to pass in the past few seasons. A common sight in recent years has been a KU receiver drop catchable throws from quarterbacks like Nolan Riley.
THIS SEASON, ON paper and in early practices, it appears that the Jayhawks have some receivers who can hang onto the ball.
Olsen, who has earned one status among KU's receivers, carries some impressive credentials in Iowa. During Olson's junior year at William Penn, he caught 18 passes for over 300 yards, and his team finished third in the small college national league.
Olsen, who runs the 40 in 4.5 speed, surprised
the coach this past spring when he
succeeded the team at the NCAA
"I was surprised," coach Blackwelder said. "You don't think of a walk-on as making it number one. But he has the speed and had a good spring."
Oison said he transferred to KU because
'Hawks drill on passing in practice
"I thought the quarterbacks threw the ball extremely well," Moore said, "but I didn't think the receivers caught the ball very well."
The Kansas Jayhawks went through a full-speed passing scrimmage yesterday, and although KU coach Bud Moore was the starter, he still was unhappy with the passing game.
Mark Vicendese, who won the number one quarterback position last week, threw well, including one touchdown pass to running back Norris Banks.
Banks, a starter the past two years at backhack, saw some action yesterday at ballback, filling in for the injured Bill Carney. The same happened to a hypertensive kick in Monday's session.
"Campfield's injury is not serious," Moore said. "He'll be out for a few days to the losseason go away, and then it will be the doctors to decide when he can return."
Moe said Camfield should be back for the 'Hawks opener Sept. 10 at Texas A&M.
The Jayhawks are short of running backs, Moore said. In addition to Campford, junior running back Joel Carr is not at full speed, Sophomore Bobby Barrow and senior Wardell Johnson have been filling in at halfback, while sophomore Sam Simmons is being running at fullback.
Moore, who labeled the practice session, "more of a learning day than anything else," also was pleased with the kicking game.
Senior defensive tackle Jim Emerson is bothered by a bruised shoulder and freshman split end David Visser missed practice yesterday with a sprained ankle.
"We concentrated on the kicking game, and then we got some things done in that area."
Tryout sessions set for women's softball
Head coach Bob Stancilf has scheduled tryouts for anyone interested in playing golf.
The tryout sessions will be at 5:30 p.m. on, sept. 7, & 8 at the Haldock Sports Center for tryouts.
Persons desiring more information can contact Stancill at 864-4938.
Concentration
of its good business department, but thought when he was alert received a response.
senior split end Rodney Olson, who walked on to the KU football team last spring and who has now worked his way up to a position on the starting unit, received plenty of work yesterday as the Jayhawks went through a full-speed passing scrimmage during practice.
here," Olson said. "I had three years of playing experience which helped, and I thought I'd give it a try. Things turned out, may be faster than I thought."
"CIRCUMSTANCES WERE just right
Olsen, who stands 5-11 and weighs 175, has been called small by some, but he dismisses it.
"I'm not too small; there are guys smaller than me." Olson said.
Right behind Olson is Fulton. Like Olson, Fulton's credentials are impressive. Last year he caught 58 passes for 960 yards and eight touchdowns at Coffeville Junior College. He was selected to the first-team at Oregon State and the Angeles Times, and was named to the All-Jayhawk JUCO conference first ten the past two years.
According to Blackwelder, Fulton runs good pass patterns, but has to work at a high tempo.
"You can never be satisfied with your food." Putton said. "It's something I've been waiting for all these years."
FULTON SAID HE WEED to junior college mainly because he had not attracted many college offers, despite successful years at his high school. He was so enamored he enjoyed his two years in junior college.
“Going to a junior college was the best thing I've ever done in my life,” Fulton said. “It was a small school in a small town. I learned a lot about life and got good grades. It was like being a big fish in a small pond, which was kind of nice.”
Last year, Fulton was awarded the president's Trophy which honors an athlete for excellence in sport.
Freshman split end candidate David Verser, from Summer High School in Kansas City, Kan., has also turned some heads in the early days of the KU camp. The 6-1, 200-pound receiver had his senior year of football abruptly ended when he suffered an injury that could have been more severe. Despite his injury, Verser caught nine passes for 174 vards and two TD's.
BLACKWELDER SAID Verser had outstanding ability, especially for a
"He can catch the ball, and has good
handwriting. Go get it all together."
Black wizard said.
Verser said there were no real disad-
vantages trying to start as a freshman.
"You have to learn even fast, but you're given the opportunity to learn," he
Verser was a three-sport athlete in high school, and was recruited in basketball by the team.
"I wanted to play football and then try out in basketball," Verser said. "I decided to come to KU because it was close to home and always wanted to come here since I first played there."
"My goal is to start. KU didn't have too many good receivers before, but now there are a couple."
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