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University Daily Kansan, October 9, 1981
Great Sports
Trainers' treatments have cooled for Nesmith
Dean Nesmith
By JIM SMALL Sports Writer
When Dean Nesmith took over as head athletic trainer at the University of Kansas in 1938, a hot pack and a massage was the usual treatment for a back injury. Since then things have gone from hot to cold.
"One of the biggest differences between treatment now and treatment then is that we use a lot more ice on the injury," said Nesmith, who uses an ice pack. "The trainers.' Ice has come into the picture more."
JOHN EISLEF/Kansen Stall
Nesmith speaks from experience. In the 43 years he has been KU's trainer he has seen a lot of athletes, and methods of treatment, come and go.
The list of people to whom Nesmith has ministered treatment looks like a Who's Who of American athletes. Gale Sayers, Wilt Chamberlain, Jim Ryun, JoJo White, John Hadi and Glenn Cunningham all have received medical attention from Nesmith during their days at KU.
"It makes me feel old," the 67-year-old Belleville native said. "I don't hold any of them in awe. I still think of them the way they were when they played here."
How does the fact that he has treated some of the world's greatest athletes make him feel?
Nesmith took over the reins as head trainer and was appointed director and had been a fixture in the UI after despair.
In addition to the increased use of ice, other changes have evolved in the KU training program.
"When I first started I had a training room in the old Robinson Gym, that was where Wescoe is now, and another one at the Stadium," Nesmith said. "Everything was hot towels or a heat lamp then."
The small room in the basement of Robinson Training facilities at Perrot Athletic Center.
Nesmith, his assistant Lynn Bott, and 10 student assistants work with almost $100,000 worth of equipment including three $15,000 shoes and four $25,000 that warm the athlete's muscles and ligaments.
"When I first started here, I was by myself," Nesmith said. "I had none of these objects that we do now, except for a heat lamp. I guess we have come a long way since then."
Another manner in which training has improved during Nesmith's tenure is the increased use of tape.
Nesmith said that for an average KU football practice he would spend about two hours tabling and wrapping the players before they take the field. He said that he uses five to six 30 roll cases of tape a day.
Each case costs $30.
"Considering all the practices we have in a year, it really adds up," Ne Smith said.
Nesmith's career at KU started 49 years ago when he reported to Lawrence to play freshman football. Nesmith lettered as a tackle for the Jawahars in 1933, 1934 and 1935 and joined the New York Yankees professional football team in 1936. He returned to KU in 1937 and became a student trainer for Dees until he was promoted to the head spot in 1938.
Neasmith's tenure at KU was interrupted in 1945 when he served with a special assignment unit in Wien.
"We were preparing for the end of the war, we knew that there was an Armistice coming and that we had to do something to keep all those American soldiers occupied." Nemith said.
"It was decided that the best way to occupy them was with sports. I was part of a special group that was to train other groups of soldiers who would, in turn, teach the troops."
Nesmith went overseas again in 1960 as trainer for the Olympic basketball team and again in 1974 as trainer for the Big Eight basketball All-Star team that competed in Yugoslavia.
Nesmat said that the quality of training in Yugolaiya was far below that in the United States.
"Their tape was nothing like ours," Nesmith said. "It wasn't pliable. It was thick, I remember that in one game a player was injured and came to our bench for tape instead of his own."
Nesmith was honored by the K-Club, a group of former KU athletic letter winners, two years ago when he received the game ball following KU's 37-18 victory over North Texas State.
"That was a real thrill. One of the highlights of my life, if not the highlight." Nawmith said.
Perhaps no one knows Nesmith better than KU football coach Don Dambrough. Nesmith was assistant coach and trainer at Kansas when Fambrough played here in the late 1940's.
"I feel that I know Dean as well as anybody," Fambrough said. "I trust Dean. I respect his
decision as much as anybody in the business, not just on injuries but on anything in the business.
Nemish said that he and Fambrough had a
excellent relationship but that he sometimes had
a tougher one.
"I was a trainer when Coach Fambrough played here and now I sometimes think he's just another guy out there working out," Nesmith said. "I guess that may be that's not too good, but
Nesmith is just three years away from team
leaders and the end of a long and important
career at K12.
"Oh, sure I'll miss it," he said. "When you do something all your life you're bound to miss it.1
Dean Nesmith exhibits the equipment he used in his early days as Kansas trainer. After 44 years in the position, Nesmith says that training methods are vastly improved.
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