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Key To KU Grid Rise May Be This 12th 'Man'
When Charles (Chuck) Mather took over as head coach of the University of Kansas football team in 1954, he was called by some sports writers "The Mechanical Man from Massillon," because he brought with him the now-famous IBM machine.
Most KU fans have heard of the IBM machine, and some may have a slight idea how it is used. But very few fans know the purpose of its use and how it is operated.
How do the players feel about being graded this way? Coach Mather said, "It is very human to want due credit. All grading is, is giving the player proper recognition. Just like grading of students, usually no one but the poor student objects to it.
Players See Weak Points
The purpose in football, of the IBM machine is to evaluate each player's performance for a given game.
"Usually the only ones to gripe are the players who are not quite doing their job. I have never found any young man, when acquainted with the procedure, who isn't sold on it 100 percent."
Before the machine can be used, the IBM cards must be marked. The coaching staff grades the movies of the previous week's game, with each coach watching a certain player. High-graphite pencils are used to make dots, dashes or lines on the numbers in the card brackets. The cards are then dumped into a machine which makes holes over the graphite marks.
Players See Weak Points "Any improvement comes about because you evaluate yourself, Mather said. "The same goes for a football player. Evaluation allows the player to see his weak points and gives him a chance to eliminate them."
These evaluations indicate weak spots in both line and secondary defenses, in addition to ineffective offensive plays.
Cards Then Divided
The cards then go into a sorter which divides them into position offense and defense.
The next step is to put the cards into the tabulator-printer, where the perforations activate the machine Pressing buttons here and there results in a printed page of each player's performance, with a copy for Coach Mather, the player, and the coach who graded him. The sheet shows the player's proficiency
University Daily Kansan
at running, blocking, passing, defense and everything else.
The players are graded up to five points on technique and five points on execution for every football fundamental. For example, under the blocking technique there is 1 stance, 2 moving on count, 3 lunge to block, 4 position to contact, and 5 contact.
Under the blocking execution there is 1 throw a block, 2 good attempt, 3 get some contact, 4 run over opponent, and 5 take two.
Under the line and backfield defensive actions, there are 31 code numbers and an equal number of subdivisions. Bonus points up to five can be awarded for the degree and intensity with which a given play is carried out by the player.
Each type of block has a code number as do the various types of running, faking, passing, receiving and tackling maneuvers.
Since the average game has about 150 plays, Mather uses 150 cards a player each game, or about 1,650 cards a game and 16,500 cards over a ten-game season. There are also 150 cards used a game for scouting purposes.
Bonus Points Possible
How great is the value of the IBM machine to the improvement of a football team? The record shows that in 1954, the first year it was used, the KU football team lost ten games. In 1955 the team won three, lost six and tied one. So far this year the record is two wins, three losses and one tie, with a good chance of winning the remaining four games.
KU Players As All-Stars
Kansas University football teams have been represented three times in the annual College All-Star Game. In 1934, Pete Mehringer, a tackle, played in the game. The next KU player was George Dick, an end, in 1944. The last time that KU had a player in the all-star game was in 1950 when Mike McCormack, a tackle, was a member of the team.
A KU swimming team which woi three and lost five meets last yea will begin its second season unde student coach Charles Edwards.
Edwards, who lost five of his top swimmers through graduation; summed up the 1956-57 swimming prospects by saying, "We lack depth in the breaststroke and backstroke, but I believe we will be as strong as last year."
7 Return On Swim Team
Edwards has seven returning let-
termen including himself. Eight
sophomores also show promise.
Returning lettermen include John Poort, Topeka junior; who specializes in the freestyle and distance events. The breaststroke event will be handled by Tom Clevenger, Topeka senior, who also swims the individual medley returning. Strongest events will be the freestyle and sprint events, with Droste Milleidge, Kansas City senior, John Dowatzky, Wichita senior, and Edwards bark
Bill Matthews, Ashland junior; is the squad's diver.
Although no definite schedule has been set, about 10 varsity meets are being planned.
multi-sport athletes in Big Ten history.
Lonborg became athletic director at KU in 1950. His duties include game preparations, scheduling, and overseeing the coaching staff of all athletics.
During the time he has been here the Jayhawkers have won several honors which include one NCAA title and one NCAA runner-up position in basketball; a similar double in NCAA cross-country and second and third place finishes in the NCAA track and field championships.
Friday. Nov. 9, 1956
Lonborg has been a leader in improving the physical plant for Kansas athletics. Erection of 17,000-capacity Allen Field House, with its facilities for basketball and indoor track and baseball practice, of course, is the major item.
Lonborg Instrumental In Athletic Success
One of the greatest boosts to Kansas athletics in recent years is Arthur Lonborg, athletic director. A native of Horton, Lonborg attended college at KU. He is one of only 32 Jayhawkers to earn letters in three sports. He was an all-conference selection in football and basketball. His versatility on the gridiron enabled him to letter at end in 1917 and at quarterback in 1919.
In 1921 Lonberg graduated from the School of Law. He hasn't practiced a day of law in his life. Instead, he spent 29 years as a coach before becoming athletic director seven years ago.
His coaching career started at McPheron College. He shifted to Washburn and then moved to Northwestern where he spent 23 years. His basketball teams at Northwestern posted an overall 237-198 record. In his fourth year his Wildcat team won the school's first conference title in 1931, posting a 16-1 record. Best-known products at Northwestern include Otto Graham, one of the finest
A night game between the Indians and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Cleveland on July 14, 1948, drew 64,897 fans an all-time record for an exhibition contest.
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