Thursday. Sept. 17, 1959 University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Trial and Retrial Practice Pays Off
"OKAY, COACH"-Bobby Goad, assistant coach, tells a KU backfield man just how to make that fake.
Head coach Jack Mitchell stays right in the midst of the activity at every practice session.
Below, at the left, he steps into an offensive drill to give some personal instruction to some of his boys
In the center, a Jayhawker quarterback steps back from the charging line, sets his foot and prepares to hurl the ball downfield.
At the right, sophomore quarterback Lee Flachsbarth turns after receiving the ball from the center, looks for his charging halfback and steps along the line of scrimmage to make the handoff.
Varsity football players and subs run their plays again and again under the watchful eyes of the coaches, trying to iron out the kinks in preparation for the upcoming game.
On most brisk, fall afternoons when the twilight begins to trickle across Mt. Oread, the thud of physical contact can be heard from the practice fields west of massive Allen Field House.
Daily football practice sessions, except on days immediately before or after Saturday's big game, are in progress. Husky young athletes, even bigger in pads, go through conditioning drills and rugged scrimmages in hopes of ending their season on New Year's Day at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
There Is A Pattern
The grueling, early-season practices follow a pattern.
Blocking sleds are attacked with all the ferocity the players can muster, linemen pair off to battle for that coveted starting position, and close friends become enemies when wearing different colored jerseys.
And then there is the inevitable "No, No, No," of the coaches.
A player is taken aside and shown the precise motions for executing his assignment. He nods, returns to his position and tries again.
The fourth team is at one end of the field running plays that scouting reports say are typical of the opponent's offense. They monotonously regain their feet after each body-breaking play—a gain of five yards brings criticism to the defense and scattered compliments to the team posing as the opponent club.
Then comes the day's reward-a soothing shower and a "you're doing better, boy," from the head coach.
WATCHING THE PLAY Head coach Jack Mitchell follows a play during offensive drills, looking for flaws.
HANDOFF—Linemen slam against the dummies and the quarterback slips the ball to his halfback as the Jayhawkers work on polishing plays.