e l, H i s b e
University Daily Kansan Pass
KU Coaches Aid Hawk Rebuilding
Coach Chuck Mather is in his third season as head football coach at KU. The effects of his coaching and rebuilding can be seen in the Jayhawker's gradual improvement since 1954.
Played No High School Ball
Mather's first season was winless as the Hawks added ten defeats to their string of six in the 1953 campaign. The 1955 squad, consisting mainly of sophomores, moved up to a 3-1-8 record and pulled out of the Big Seven cellar. This year Mather's squad has a good chance to climb over the .500 mark.
His playing experience came during his college days at Ohio Northern where he played tackle. His high school had no football program.
After graduation from college, Mather coached at four Ohio prep schools, where his teams won 111, lost 10, and tied 5. His last prep school, Massillon, earned him recognition as one of the best high school coaches in the nation.
Each player is graded on individual plays during the game to determine his effectiveness. This is accomplished by game films; with the results so detailed that they must be sorted and printed on IBM machines.
Last spring a book on high school football by Mather was published. Paul Schofer, a ten year veteran as Mather's aid, handles the Jayhawker backfield.
Coached at Massillon
Schofer joined Mather at Hamilton High School in Ohio in 1947. He moved with him to Washington High at Massillon. His first appearance at KU was three years ago when Mather came here.
Lauri Wartiainen, tackle coach,
owns the most versatile coaching
background of any of the Kansas assistant coaches.
He has coached in junior high, bighigh,
and nox; the college, university, ranks.
The best known figure in the Jay-
hawker locker room is Dean Neesmith, athletic trainer. Nesmith has six coaches and pains of KU athletics for 18 years.
Another long-time Mather staff member is Dave Putts, guard coach. He joined Mather's staff at Massillon fresh out of Miami. Ohio II in 1948.
Putts was a starting guard at Miami in 1948 when the team won the Sun Bowl championship under Sid Gilman.
Dave Putts' roommate and also a guard while playing at Ohio Miami was Dick Piskoty, Kansas end coach. He is serving his third year under Mather.
The youngest man on the coaching staff is Tom Triplett, linebacker and defensive end coach. He replaced John Kovatch, who served through spring practice. Triplett earned all-Southern honors at guard during his senior year at Western Kentucky.
Coached At KU Since 1940
Conferent at RU Since 1940.
The veteran football coach being
is Wayne Replogle. He worked
on the Jayhawk football staff since
1940.
Replogle was an all-Kansas fullback in 1924 and 1925 while playing for College of Emporia. He also was a 13-foot pole vaulter and a varsity basketball forward.
Replogle is serving under his fifth head coach at KU. His time is split between scouting and coaching the freshman team.
During the 1952-53 school year, Nesmith served as chairman of the Board of NCAA Trainers.
Nesmith lettered at tackle three years in the mid-thirties at Kansas.
Former Player Don Pierce Kept Busy With KU Publicity
One of the busiest men in the Kansas athletic department is Don Pierce, sports publicity director. Athletic publicity, football, basketball and track booklets, press box arrangements, pictures, and television clips are just part of his job.
Mr. Pierce first came to KU as a student, and became one of the better centers in KU football history. In 1940 he was chosen all-Big Six. He was also sports editor for the University Daily Kansan.
After two years of pro-football, he started his journalism career. Pierce started sports reporting with the Topeka State Journal. He moved to the Kansas City Journal, Kansas City Star, Topeka Daily Capital, and finally the Oklahoma City Okahoman.
In 1945 Mr. Pierce became sports publicity director at KU.
DON PIERCE
"The thing which has helped me the most in my job here has been the great bosses I have had. It would be hard to find any men easier to work for than Ernie Quigley and Dont Lonborg." Mr. Pierce said.
When talking to Mr. Pierce one can't help talking about KU sports and at this particular time football.
"KU's football rebuilding," he said, "started with the 1954 freshman team. This year I think they are about twice as good as last year. The only thing that keeps them from winning more games is their tough schedule."
Speaking of the Big Seven, Mr. Pierce added, "It's getting better all the time. It hasn't had quite the balance the past two year, with Oklahoma tromping everyone, but it will change one of these days. Remember when Nebraska was monopolizing all the titles. Everyone thought that was never going to end but it soon changed. Someday someone will have a team that will knock off Oklahoma and times will change again."
Playing their arch rivals, K-State, the following week, the Jayhawkers fumbled five times in the first quarter and spotted the Wildcats a 13-0 advantage. But again the KU team proved its great comeback ability and rallied in the second half to win 20-15.
KU Football May Hit 3-Year High
The game enabled Kansas to win its second game of the year 21-13.
(Continued from Page 1)
JAYHAWKERS
Used Alternating Teams
Transfers that have proved to be of top-notch ability and who have been regulars on Kansas' first two units are end Bruce Brenner; tackles Ron Claiborne, Tom Horner, Ed Prelock and Tom Russell; guards Ray Lane and Bob Lewis; left halfbacks Bob Hoeing and Bobby Robinson; and right halfbacks Bill Horn and Ernie Russell.
Used Alternate Teams Twenty letterment returned to camp this fall and were supplemented by a strong transfer squad and several outstanding sophomores. So good was Kansas' personnel, Mather was able to field two alternating teams, a factor that has proved helpful in KU's 1956 campaign.
Sophomores who have held regular positions and who have been instrumental in KU's success this year are guards John Burke, Ervell Staab and Paul Swoboca; centers John Wertzberger and Walter Schmidt; quarterback Bobby Marshall, and fullback Homer Floyd.
Give Those HUSKERS A Good Washing and remember that
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Phone VI 3-6844
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916 Massachusetts
ARE WE GOING TO BEAT NEBRASKA?
WE'LL STIR UP LOTS OF TROUBLE!
WE'LL GIVE OUR VICTORY CHEER
THEN SEND'EM BACK TO LINCOLN
. . . the whole team on the double!
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