Huskers Furnish Tough Opposition
The Nebraska Cornhuskers, one of Kansas' oldest athletic rivals, has long been the Jayhawkers most troublesome opponent.
The Huskers have won 46 of the 65-game series, while Kansas has been able to take only 15. The other games ended in tie scores.
Last year's game with Nebraska at Lincoln marked the turning point for the Jayhawkers. Coach Chuck Mather had announced his decision to retire only two days before the contest.
This year, Coach Bill Jennings has put together a team which, although lacking in experience, has put up a substantial battle in all games played.
Kansas had been suffering from a slightly-less-than - mediocre season in which it had lost four, won one and tied one.
The Jayhawkers, determined to make it a winning season, defeated Nebraska 14-12. They then went on to win the remaining three games and took second place in the Big Fight Conference.
Young and Tough
Two weeks ago the Cornhuskers gave a hint of how tough they could be when they led the highly-favored Colorado Buffaloes through three quarters of a rugged game.
The Buffaloales did not regain control until the final quarter. Then they scored two quick touchdowns to win 27-16.
The Cornhuskers are primarily a junior and sophomore team. In last
week's game with Missouri they started only one senior on the line. They had, however, three seniors in the backfield.
The younger players have been able to provide plenty of steam for the team. One of them, sophomore halfback Pat Fischer, has been a leader in the Huskers' offensive playing.
Jennings is 24th Coach
Forty-year-old Bill Jennings is the 24th head football coach at the University of Nebraska since the first full-time mentor was hired in 1893.
Before he went to Nebraska as an assistant, Jennings was a backfield coach at Oklahoma for seven years. He worked with an oil company in Ft. Worth, Tex., just before going to Nebraska.
Made a Good Catcher
He played in the East-West game in 1940 and ran up a perfect pass receiving record by catching four of four tosses. He still holds several pass catching records at Oklahoma.
rounowing his graduation from college, Jennings coached a year at an Oklahoma high school and then enlisted in the Marine Corps. When he left the service in 1946, he joined the Oklahoma coaching staff.
Jennings played end at Norman High school in Norman, Okla. He played wingback for the Sooners in 1938-40.
Optimistic Prediction Issued by Lonborg
Jennings developed several All America backs while he was the Sooners' backfield coach. Among them are Eddie Crowder, Buck McPhail and Billy Vessels.
A "stiltless" but still victorious basketball squad and a few more victories for the football team are included in the optimistic prediction issued today by A. C. (Dutch) Lonborg, KU athletic director since 1950.
Although the Jayhawkers are looking back on one of the worst slumps in their history, Lonborg is quick to reassure the doubters.
"I consider a fine season is still possible," he said. "Three more victories would make a very successful year. And three more are possible."
Lonborg was looking at the homecoming game with Nebraska tomorrow as one of those three opportunities for a triumph.
Turning to the subject of basketball. Lonborg still showed his optimism.
"I sincerely believe we will do all right," he said. "Maybe we will lack in some things. Our size will not be what it was last season, but we should have more speed."
Sports Schedule
Today
KU-MU freshman football 3 p.m.
basketball 7 p.m.
Tomorrow
KU-Nebraska football ... 1:30 p.m.
"We have had wonderful student backing so far this year," Lonborg commented. "But, I still wonder why these freshman games haven't been attended so well in the past.
Lonborg was graduated from Kansas with a law degree. He has not spent a day in court as a lawyer, though.
Lonborg looked at the homecomin schedule and noted that the freshman football fray with Kansas State would be the first thing, followed by the Nebraska game and the freshman - varsity basketball game.
The freshman football game will be at 3 p.m. today in Memorial Stadium.
"After I was graduated, I talked to some of my friends who had been
practicing for a while," he said "They didn't seem to think they were doing too well.
"So I thought I would coach for a little while until things looked better. I enjoy coaching so much now that I don't even think about being a lawyer anymore."
Thinking about the needs of KU athletics takes most of Lonborg's time. With Allen Field House an obviously successful project, attention is turning to the need for an improved stadium, a new swimming pool, and a gymnasium adequate for the recreational needs of students.
A. C. (Dutch) Lonborg
Lonborg started his athletic career at McPherson College. He coached all sports there. His teams won 23 out of 27 games played. After this he went to Topeka and Washburn University.
Then he moved to Northwestern University in the Big Ten. He coached basketball at Northwestern for 23 years. Lonborg's successes at Northwestern earned him a place in the National Basketball Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Member
Since he quit coaching to take up a job far away from the players' bench, Lonborg finds that things have not changed as far as his nerves are concerned.
"I'm just as nervous in the stands as I was on the bench," he said. "The only trouble is that now I can't stand up and walk around."
University Daily Kansan
SPORTS
Freshmen,Varsity Battle Tonight
Homecoming marks the beginning of the end for football on the KU campus. After the Kansas-Nebraska game tomorrow afternoon, spectator interest will rapidly begin to turn to Allen Field House and basketball.
and basketball. The freshman-varsity basketball contest tonight in the field house will give the fans their first good look at what is to come this season and what may come in the next few years.
may come in the next few years. Dick Harp, head coach, and Jerry Waugh, freshman coach, indicated that this game, while lacking the big star of the past two years, will still be a good one.
Iniuries Bother Varsity
Harp, a little concerned over the physical condition of the varsity, said his team would have to fight to keep ahead of the freshmen.
to right to help so far has been injuries," he said. "We've had to waste entire weeks of practice because a lot of our men were injured.
cause a lot of our men were injured "For example, two weeks ago we were really slowed down. We had Bill Bridges, Al Donaghue, Dick Gisel, Dee Ketchum and Gary Thompson all out with injuries.
out with injuries.
"That left us with a little bit of a problem on who to start for tonight's game," he continued. "If everybody had been in top shape all along, we would have started Bridges at center, Monte Johnson and Ron Loneski at forwards, and Bob Hickman and Bob Billings at guards."
Experience Key Factor
Waugh has not had the troubles with injury that Harp has. No freshman has missed practices because of injury. But Waugh points to experience as the key factor in the game.
"You have to remember we're going up against a lot of experience in this game," he said. "An experienced team beats a disorganized team, which is what we are, nearly every time.
Hightower Attracts Attention
A lot of attention has been focused on Wayne Hightower, the 6-foot 8-inch freshman from Philadelphia's Overbrook High School—the same source that came up with Wilt Chamberlain.
Like Chamberlain, Hightower is a high school All America selection. At Overbrook he averaged nearly 30 points a game. His strong points are his accurate jump shot and his ability to maneuver quickly for shots under the basket.
"Hightower is not the same type of player Wilt was, though," Waugh reminded. "Wilt was overpoweringly strong and tall. Hightower is not."
"But Wayne is going to be a top player. We're extremely pleased with him."
The freshman team will be Hightower at center and Larry Sterlin at one of the forwards. The other forward will be either Bill Elstun or Bill Goetze.
At one guard position will be Jerry Gardner and at the other either Ken Hensley or Gary Arnett.
Wayne Hightower
Jayhawkers Aim for 12th Straight Cross Country Title Tomorrow
Kansas will be shooting for its 12th straight conference cross country title when the Jayhawkers move into Norman, Okla., tomorrow for the Big Eight meet.
And, from early season indications, the team should get the job accomplished. Coach Bill Easton's teams have yet to lose the conference cross country title during his 11 years as KU head coach.
"We don't expect to be beaten," said Easton, whose track teams have compiled a remarkable record of seven straight conference triple crowns. This includes cross country, indoor, and outdoor track.
"One of our boys might not finish
Although KU does not have any outstanding individual stars, Easton said the Jayhawkers possess several capable men. One of them could finish first, he added.
first, but our team should win the championship," he said.
Leading the team is Tom Skutka, defending conference individual champion. Skutka started slowly this season, finishing fourth in the Jayhawkers opening meet against Missouri. But he has come up quickly in recent meets, finishing second behind Olympian Phil Coleman of the Chicago Track Club, and first against the Tulsa Achilles team.
Dan Ralston and Billy Mills, two sophomores, have also been stand-outs for KU this year. Berry Crawford, senior captain, is another Kansas threat. Cliff Cushman and Brian Travis give the Jayhawkers
depth which no other team in the conference appears able to equal.
"From all indications, Iowa State, Nebraska and Colorado will be our strongest opponents," Coach Easton said. "Iowa State and Nebraska both beat Colorado by one point.
"Individually, Oklahoma is our strongest competitor. Gail Hodgson is one of the league's best performers, although Skutka's times this season have compared favorably with his."
Skutka and Hodgson broke even in four meetings last year. Skutka beat the South African in the mile run in the KU-OU indoor dual meet and the Big Eight indoor championships last year. Hodgson won over the speedy Jayhawker in the Big Eight outdoor meet and the NCAA meet.