Monday. Sept. 10. 1956. University Daily Kansan
Page 7
Guard Roster Given Boost By Reserves
There are no Don Fambroughs, Dick Tomlinsons or George Kennards on the roster, but Kansas guard play should be at least adequate during 1956.
Guard-Center Coach Dave Putts has one solid regular with which to start, Bob Kraus, a 6-2, 208-pounder who delivered steadily if not spectacularly as a sophomore last year. Two other lettermen, Joe Eaglowski and Don (The Knot) Fuktzenreuter, will be in camp when drills open on August 31. The latter, an alternate regular for two years despite his 5-6, 153-pound physique, is the only senior on the 14-man roster. Eaglowski earned his letter as a sophomore reserve.
Sophomores Look Good Considerable help is expected from five better-than-average sophomore prospects and two junior college graduates. That checklist lines up this way: Sophomores - Ray Lane, 186 pounds; Dewitt Lewis, 191; Bob Lewis, 210; Paul Swoboda, 215; and Pett Whitenight, 206. Juco grads are Bill Blasi, from Pratt, and Carroll Cobble, from Parsons.
Lane and Swoboda are primarily linebackers, who should increase the efficiency of that department over last season. Kansas guards are required to perform this chore more often than with most teams since Mather keeps his center in the line on all defenses. This means one guard nearly always is out and two are backing-up frequently.
DEWITT LEWIS, GUARD
Lane and Swoboda must improve offensive play before they will be ready for full-scale operation. Another stout defender is Bob Lewis, bulky 210-pound Bartlesville, Okla., product who served four years as a Navy frogman. He was impressive enough to work up to a part-time starting job during spring practice. But he, too, must improve as a blocker.
Lewis Shows Promise DeWitt Lewis is an excellent two-
way prospect. He was as much a standout on last year's freshman squad as were backs Homer Floyd and Bob Marshall. He made a place for himself during the spring with furious scrap and tireless hustle. He is a reformed fullback who could be a starter despite his inexperience.
Whitenight was converted from tackle, a position at which he was a freshman regular, during the spring. He owns good size (206) and speed and needs only game experience to develop into a good lineman.
Blasi, brother of departed tackle regular Gene Blasi, and
Cobble, a 200-pounder, come in well recommended. If one, or both, come through from the outset, they can help considerably. Putts' primary task is to ready four to play immediately for Mather's alternating unit plan in which he plans to substitute full teams every seven or eight minutes.
Kraus will be difficult to unseat from a starting job. He is a good all-around performer who plays at such a steady pace he is seldom noticed from the pressbox. Normal improvement would lift him among the Big Seven's better guards.
BOB LEWIS, GUARD
Ervall Staab, sawed-off Hays product, also belongs in the picture. He did not play last year in his first season of varsity eligibility, but has shown premising ability as a blocker and linebacker.
Competition Good
Competition Goals Like every other position along the line, this one will be the scene of furious competition for the berth with the first two units. The traffic will become even thicker if tackle Tom Horner is shifted at the start of practice.
The guard position lost only one important hand off the 1955 squad,
George Remsberg. He will be missed, but Kraus or DeWitt Lewis could be as good or better, and they will have much more help.
Kansas' 1956 football schedule includes two of the top 1955 offensive units. Oklahoma was first and Texas Christian was eighth in the national rankings.
Heaviest man on Kansas' 1956 football roster is Ron Claiborne, 232-pound sophomore tackle from Amarillo, Texas. He also is the tallest at 6-5.