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Thursday, August 24, 1972
University Daily Kansan
Jayhawks Sweat For Toughest Year
The three teams picked by sports writers to top the Big Eight this year are also 1-2—3 in the national pre-season top 10. Those same teams play Rich Glover, the Nebraska nose guard, and Greg Pruitt, the Oklahoma back, as possible Heisman trophy winners. Some people are already talking about him, but the Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado—and the Mini Five: that's the rest of us.
But more than being afraid of those Big Three, University of Arizona and Stanford of the Big Eight Conference. Some of them say that whoever finishes fourth would probably be first in any other competition. John Cooper says of those three giants: "We're not going to stand
back and hand it to them." And
Nebraska Coach Bob Devany
has already recognized winning
them. "And the toughest of
hurdles for them."
Don Fambrough is beginning his second year as KU's head coach and his players trust him more than they did the flambyant Pearl Rodgers. There are also some who describe Fambrough and he is described as having a "heeledhead" approach to football.
Eighty-nine candidates took to the practice field last Thursday to begin the first of the two-a-day drills. National College Athletic Association rules forbids a team in the days of practice, but the coaches are already saying, "When you get those pads on... and every
one is itching to get at that first tackle.
Dean Neemith, team trainer,
says the players are in good
shape and only one player had to
hold up his shirt to help him lose weight.
The first days of practice also saw receivers and quarterbacks going through a variety of pass plays and mistakes in 75% promised new passing attack.
To do well in the Big Eight, finally recognized as the toughest team in football, Fambrough is going to have to mustler all the trust he can from his team. He will also experience of his 24 years of coaching experience. KU fans will help. They should probably fill the bench and Oklahoma come to play.
On Monday, their second day in full pads, and the hottest practice day thus far, the Jayhawks really went at it in preparation for their roughest season ever. Assistant offensive line Sandy Buda
20. (1) $a > 0$ ; (2) $a < 0$ ; (3) $a = 0$ .
(right and above) and Offensive coordinator Charlie McCullers (center left) were but two of those overseeing the operations, and hitting the sleds and kicking and throwing the ball were high on the coaches' lists of things to do.
With the temperature close to 100 degrees and drenched in humidity, the Jayhawks worked out for two hours on what head coach Don Fambrough called the "worst day we've had, weatherwise."
Fambridge said the 'Hawks appeared tired during the drills but he said was satisfied with the overall performance during practices.
"It looks like we're going to have more depth this year," he said, adding that the greatest competition for him was running backs, defensive backs and linebackers.
"At this point, this is the most pleasing to me," he said.
Kansan Staff Photos by JOE COLEMAN