THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, October 10, 1968
Speaking of sports
The coach's dilemma: What to do?
By Ron Yates, Kansan sports editor
Strange,the lot of the football coach.
Two years ago when KU was being blown off the field by its opponents, fans screamed for the blood of coach Jack Mitchell.
Last year, KU hired Pepper Rodgers to take Mitchell's place. KU football improved over the previous year, with the Jayhawks winning five and losing five in 1967.
"We can stay on the field with anvbody now," they roared.
And the crowds screamed with glee.
Now, a new football season is underway and to the shock of perhaps the entire nation, KU is ranked fourth in the UPI poll and sixth in the AP poll.
"Not only can we now stay on the field with anybody," assures the fan, "but we can blow the opponent right out of the stadium."
And the fans went, "Ooooh,
aaaah, it's hard to believe."
Last Saturday against the New Mexico Lobos, the Jayhawks ate their opponents alive and belched forth 68 points.
Tuesday afternoon, Pepper Rodgers said he received a letter from a KU fan calling him "putrid" for running up so many points against New Mexico.
"Last year when we had lost our first three games, they called me 'putrid' too," Rodgers said in reply to the letter.
You have to wonder. Is it better to lose and be called "patrid" or to win and be called "patrid"?
Almost any coach at any college or university in the United States would rather win and be called a "putrid" winner, than lose and be called a "putrid" loser.
If the fan who wrote the letter would have noticed what was going on at the game (if indeed he was at the game) he probably would not have written the letter.
In case you were there and didn't see for yourself, Mr. Fan., whoever you are, or in case you weren't there and didn't bother to check the statistics, here is what happened.
First, Rodgers inserted his second string during the first half. Result: KU continued to put points on the board. In the second half, KU was represented by players playing in positions they had never played before; by a quarterback (Bill Bell) who knew only two plays and still marched the team for a 65-yard score; by a few players who had never even suited up for a game before.
Every man in uniform (52 players) played for the Jayhawks Saturday, even the injured Mickey Doyle, who is still suffering from an ankle injury suffered against Indiana, hobbled in for two plays at linebacker.
What's a coach to do? Should he say to his team before a game:
KU faces vendetta
Head football coach Pepper Rodgers said yesterday that playing Nebraska in Nebraska concerns him and his players more than anything else.
"They will have the edge because of the home field," he said. "They also have a vendetta against Kansas because of the humiliating loss last season to a team that had lost three games."
"OK, men, we've got a weak opponent today. Now let's go out there and fumble the ball away and make atrocious mistakes so we won't win by too much."
Rodgers said that he would not perform his somersault at the game as the team runs onto the field. "That's stricty for the students at KU," he said.
Or say a coach looks at the scoreboard and sees his team is winning 44-6 in the second quarter and then looks at his bench: "OK, Bronco, go in there and tell 'em I want play number H-37-blue, but instead of scoring when you get to the goal line; stop and punt the ball the other way. We don't want to appear 'putrid.'"
Football players, like all athletes, are expected to give 100 per cent when competing. One doubts that even old Bronco would actually pun the other way when he was about to cross the goal line. Bronco's opponents certainly would not respect him as an athlete or as an individual.
In the New Mexico locker room after Saturday's game, head coach Rudy Feldman showed poise and honesty in his comments about the game.
"We just weren't any opposition for them," he said. "I thought coach Rodgers did all he could to keep the score down ... we even got help from the officials."
Coach Feldman is new at New Mexico this year. Before going to New Mexico, he was an assistant coach at Colorado University.
"I knew, and the boys on the team knew how good KU was," he said.
Across the room, the Lobos dressed in silence. Not one griped or complained. They were beaten and they were not going to whimper about it. A lot can be said for these New Mexico football players . . . they gave it all they could and when it was apparent that their best was not going to be enough, they never lost their pride.
It may have been grey in the Lobo locker room, even solemn and depressing, but Feldman was not a "putrid" loser and you knew from talking with him that he did not consider Rodgers a "putrid" winner.
Freshman cage tryouts announced
Freshman basketball coach W. man team will be at 7 p.m. next Gale Catlett announced Wednesday Wednesday and Thursday at Allen Field House. day that tryouts for the fresh-
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Sat. Oct. 19th 8 p.m.
Kansas City Music Hall Tickets Available at Mr. Guy's 922 Mass.
Ante Pearl's Chuck Wagon at THE STABLES
Charcoaled Hamburgers & Cheeseburgers Suzie Q French Fries
FAST! friendly bank service.
When you're rushed for time, you don't want to wait. That's why both our inside tellers and drive-in windows are geared for fast, courteous service. Bank at University State and see for your life... it's the student's bank in Lawrence. Come in soon.
University
State Bank
Your community
minded bank...
955 Iowa Street.
Viking 3-4700. Member F.D.I.C.
Be campus bound in this handsome coat tailored of 65% Dacron polyester/35% cotton poplin stitched to cust in a diamond pattern. White Stag added a giant Orlon Pile collar, buckle-toggle closings and leather-like pocket trim . . . then lined it in Orlon acrylic pile. Brandy. Size 10-16. $50.00.
See Calhoun's many other White Stag and Sharpe styles too.
Calkoun's
Store hours : 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
1744 Massachusetts 6th and Michigan