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Monday, Sept. 10, 1956. University Daily Kansan
Page 3
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Tackle Prospects Show High Promise
Kansas tackle material for 1956 carries high potential. There is ample physique and better than average overall speed. There is some proven ability among the holdovers and indication of ability among the newcomers. Most important, in Coach Chuck Mather's battle-plan to alternate two units, there is apparent depth.
RON CLAIBORNE, TACKLE
Newcomers Pressing
This will become a reality if the three lettermen improve as expected and two or three new prospects live up to expectations. The veterans include John Drake, lone senior on the roster; Frank Gibson, a 10-game starter on the left side last year, and Jim Hull, who led the varsity right side berth through most of spring practice.
They were pressured during the spring ... and can expect the same again this fall ... by Ron Claiborne, 6-5, 232-pound transfer from Amarillo; Tom Horner, a towering 230-pound from Jamestown, Pa; Ed Prelock, 220-pound from Cleveland, and Tom Russell, 205-pound Ohioan.
This may sound like something more than potential. In reality it isn't. There is not a "whole" tackle of Big Seven caliber among the holdovers yet. And, although the newcomers have shown encouraging ability, they still must prove themselves under game conditions.
John Husar, 6-4 Chicaggoan, and Bill Dryer, 220-pound shot-putter from Great Bend, are regarded as good sophomore prospects. The former was a starter on last year's freshman club along with Pete Whitenight, who was shifted to guard during the spring.
Few Big Seven tackles are better than Gibson, either downfield or close-in. But he saw defensive aceton last year for the first time . . . he was an offensive platoon under Mather at Massillon . . . and ran into occasional trouble. However, he did play creditably, and is expected to improve considerably.
Drake Has Speed
Drake carries great speed. He is a double letterman, but never has been a full-fledged starter. For one thing he is handicapped, now and then, by a lame knee. He owns enough physical potential and experience to blossom into a fine tackle.
Hull was just beginning to find himself toward the end of his sophomore season last autumn. He is strong and powerful and, like Drake, could develop into a top-flight lineman.
first year, Horner may find himself at guard. Mather may experiment him at guard especially if all the others demonstrate they can carry the load. If they can, a Horner switch would allow Mather to play another lineman of good size and exceptional speed.
Horner owns as much speed as did George Mrkonic, fleet 1951 All-American. Like Mrkonic did in his
Trainers Gock Diffunders
Trainsfors Good Differences
Prelock and Claiborne stood out defensively during the spring, but must improve as blockers. Russell came fast in all departments after being switched from end.
As at end, competition will be terrific here from the outset of fall practice. This alone should produce at least two satisfactory good tackles on each side with hope for three-deep depth of game-playing ability.
This means the Jayhawkers could enjoy their best tackle play since 1952 when Mrkonic and Bud Bixler handled the defense and Joe Lundy and Oliver Spencer the offense on a 7-3-0 squad that lost two of those decisions by a single point.
With the Big Seven's smallest squad—less than any year since the war—Kansas State opened fall football workouts August 31 with 52 men. That number had dwindled to 48 after opening shakedown drills.
Lack Of Veterans Hampers K-State
Coach Bus Mertes surveyed Wildcat manpower and stuck by his summer forecast concerning the K-State outlook. "We are young and small, and there aren't many of us," he said, "but if hustle means anything, we may have some good Saturdays. With a squad as young as we have—there are 20 sophomores—we are unpredictable, however. We might not win a ball game; yet we might win 'em all. That's exactly how we feel."
On hand for the Wildcats are 18 lettermen from last season, equally divided between the backfield and line. However, only one "K" winner shows at left end, left tackle, center, right guard, right end, and quarterback.
One of the most troublesome spots ahead of practice had been the 'Cat quarterback post, where Dick Corbin, junior letterman, was the only experienced hand. Now, Keith Wilson, 157-pound halfback last season, has been moved to quarter and is doing well; and Gene Keady, 190-pound transfer from Garden City Junior College, is crowding for a starter's job, too. Keady led Garden City to the Juco conference crown last season, passing for 10 touchdowns and getting a pair for himself.
End Position Boasts Both Talent And Depth
Three positions on Kansas' 1956 football squad have been labeled "strong." Most impressive of these, in talent and depth, is end.
For one thing, both regulars return from last year's surprising 3-6-1 eleven. Significantly, both must improve to hold their positions against a covey of holdover veterans and newcomers.
Not that either of the returning starters, Lynn McCarthy, and Jim Letcavits, were mediocre last year as sophomores. Fact is, they played creditably to good. McCarthy, a big blond, led the club in tackling with 35 singles and 16 assists.
Letcavits, despite missing two games with injury, finished sixth among Big Seven receivers on 169 yards in nine catches. Normal improvement by this pair would place them among the league's top ends for the upcoming season. Letcavits was an honorable mention choice on all-league selections last year. McCarthy has earned pre-season all-area honors on one national magazine selection.
One of his seven pass receptions provided the clincher in the 13-7 stunner over Missouri in the season's finale.
Sixth In Big Seven
Only other lettermen in camp, when drills opened here August 31, were Don Martin and Bill Bell, only seniors on the 14-man roster. Both were reserves last year. Martin was a nine-game starter as a sophomore; Bell a regular through the last half of that season. But they dropped back to reserve status last year. Both played the best football of their careers during spring practice. Had they not done so, they would have been submerged by the welter of newcomers. Now both must be considered starting contenders.
The recruit list is impressive. Most prominent are Bruce Brenner, all-Ivy league at Cornell, before transferring to Kansas, and sophomores H. C. Palmer, Dale Remsberg, Jim Simeno, and John Walt. Palmer, converted Atchison fullback, and Remsberg came along so swiftly in the spring that both now are expected to help carry the load from the outset of the season. Remsberg, brother of last year's top lineeman, Guard George Remsberg, will contest McCarthy and Martin on the
Newcomers Impressive
left side. Palmer will fight Letavits, Brenner and Bell on the right.
Walt was a starter on last year's 2-1 freshman club along with Remsberg. Simeno is a good prospect who must rid himself of a lame knee if he is to move into contention.
Another questionable knee belongs to Tom Rosiewicz, vicious Hammond, Ind., holdover, who played the opener against TCU last year before being thrust into dry-dock. He underwent an operation last spring. If this is successful he could develop into the stoutest defender of the lot.
Traffic Heavy
Obviously, the traffic is exceptionally heavy at this position. This is a happy circumstance that traditionally improves those carrying the load if for no other reason than survival in the playing picture. Too, it deletes the injury bugaboo, that ever-present peril of every football squad.
Whoever the starters will be, the Jayhawkers figure to enjoy their best terminal play since 1952 when Morris, Kay, Don Bracelin, Paul Leoni and Jerry Taylor platooned effectively for KU's most recent top-flight club.
Eight of the 1955 top ten rushers in the Big Seven returned this year. Four of them are Oklahomaans.
Two KU Trackmen OnOlympicSquad
Two members of KU's 1956 Big Seven track champions won places on the United States Olympic squad in tryouts.
The two men, who will go to the Olympic Games at Melbourne, Australia, this fall, are shot-putter Bill Nieder and discus thrower Al Oerter.
Nieder, a senior at KU last spring, was the second man in history to throw the shot more than 60 feet. Oerter was the Big Seven individual champion as a sophomore last year.
A third Kansan, spinner Dick Blair, holds an alternate's position on the squad. Blair finished fourth in the 200-meter qualification heat, and will make the trip if one of the top three qualifiers is unable to go.
Oliver Spencer, Kansas' All-American tackle of 1952, is back with the Detroit Lions this year after a two-year hitch in the service.
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