Page 9
Mather Views Defense As Key To Improvement
ers.
Kansas' defense, which improved 15.5 points and 110 yards per game in 1955, but still trailed the Big Seven, must improve even more this season if the Jayhawkers are to continue along the comeback trail.
"We expect to benefit from the two-team system and feel that our defense will be better. Kansas scored the same number of points, 93, last season in writing a 3-6-1 record as it did during the winless 1954 campaign," Coach Chuck Mather analyzed."But we must again improve considerably on defense if we are to move up:
"The trend of football today is toward defense. Defensive play a few years ago was designed to nail the offense for a big loss now and then. There was lots of stunting. The offense then went into powertype football to protect itself. We now are facing the possession game. There is a lot of wedging for that short first down now. Optional-type running came in because of stunting defenses. I mean by this not only the quarterback option, but the halfback option you have on a dive-tackle play in which the ball-carrier cuts off the black of his tackle in a one-on-one situation.
"Now defenses are built to contain, hoping the offense can be made to carry the ball enough plays before reaching the goal line to commit a fumble, draw a damaging penalty or commit some other error that will result in a wasted down. Any of these things can ruin a drive of a good possession team.
Pursuit Is Key
"The top defensive teams in the country today will go through an entire season without allowing a run of over 20 yards or a touchdown pass to be thrown. Pursuit is the key to containing defense. Good pursuit forces a ball carrier to run past, over or around every man on the defensive team before he reaches the goal line.
"With all this in mind we think it's important to pick your playing personnel first with an eye on defensive ability," Mather concluded.
KU's afore-mentioned 1955 statistical defensive improvement represents an 11-percent hike over '54 under Mahter's evaluation system. Significantly, the Jayhawkers yielded 300 or more yards rushing to only one foe, TCU. For the first time since 1946, Oklahoma was restricted short of that figure.
The trouble is that another 11 per cent jump probably will be required if Kansas is to reach the breakeven stage. It isn't every year you pear 1000 yards of total offense off the combined enemy.
Still there is sound reason to expect continued defensive improvement. At seven of eleven positions last year, Kansas regulars were either playing defensively at a new position or were seeing their first defensive action of any kind on a varsity level.
Tackle Frank Gibson, guard Bob Kraus and quarterback Wally Strauch never played defensively
LEADING END—Lone starter among the end candidates this fall is Jim Letcavits, 6-1, 180-pound junior from Massillon, Ohio. He missed only two games in 1955, because of a broken hand, and ranked sixth in the conference in pass receiving on 169 yards for nine catches. Letcavitis won an honorable mention choice on all-
league selections last year.
during their high school careers.
End Lyn McCarthy, guard George
Remsberg, and center Galen
Wahlmeier never had seen defensive play at those positions. Joe Held, who alternated with Dick Reich at fullback had defensive experience only at end.
Even with such meager background, Kansas was able to improve 31% games chiefly on the strength of better defense. With all the above personnel save Remsberg and Reich returning—McCarthy is on the doubtful list, of course—it can be expected that all will be improved. Furthermore, they'll have more help, since this season is the first since Mather assumed the reins in '54 that he will enjoy adequate manpower.
Kansas has moved its starting time for home football games from 2 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. to comply with a recommendation of the National Safety Council which has urged all schools to kick off their games early enough to allow motorists to return home before dark.
Welcome Back!
A former top all-around athlete from a small Nebraska college is head track coach M. E. (Bill) Easton's new assistant coach.
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Rex Grossart replaces Jack Warner, who became the head track coach at Colgate University, Hamilton, N.Y., this fall.
Coach Grossart won twelve varsity letters while performing on the gridiron, hardwoods and cinders of Doane College, Crete, Neb., from 1946 to 1950. Only one other Doane athlete has bettered this feat—14.
"I tried to get 14," Coach Grossart explained, "but I just couldn't find time to work tennis into my schedule."
In football, Coach Grossart was all-conference three years at end, and was selected to the little All-American teams twice. He received bids from two professional organizations, but an injured knee prevented him from accepting either of the offers.
All-Conference End
Track Staff Has New Assistant
The tall, good-looking coach Grossart earned four basketball letters at the guard position. And in track he earned four awards by high jumping and hurdling.
Barnie's Service
With Coach Grossart leading the way, Doane College won two football and two track championships during the four years he was in college.
University Daily Kansan
in at
A standout on the playing field, Coach Grossart also gained scholastic honors by winning the Bert Knapp trophy awarded to the athlete with the best grades. He maintained a B average during the four years and was listed in "Who's Who in College."
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Graduating in 1950 with a BA degree, Coach Grossart was an assistant coach at McCook, Neb., high school for a year.
Then he took over the coaching duties at York, Neb., high school for the next three years. In 1954 he moved on to Lyons, Neb., high school, where he remained until he took over the KU assistant coach duties in August.
Holds Impressive Record
9th & Iowa
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The Nebraskan's coaching record is an impressive one. During his six years of prep school coaching, he won four district titles, two con-
Monday, Sept. 10, 1956.
Nebraska invaded the domain of the Oklahoma Sooners to obtain former Okie assistant coach Pete Elliott in the hope that the highly regarded coach could aid Cornhuskers in their drive for the Orange Bowl this fall.
Nebraska Led By New Coach
Elliott at 29 is the youngest coach to guide the Cornhuskers. Complete with a coaching staff of former Oklahomaans. Elliott takes on a man-size job as he attempts to lead his newly-nequired charges to Florida.
From tackle to tackle the Huskers appear formidable. But a lack of ends and backs could offset the solid strength through the middle. Don Erway, quarterback, and Willie Greenlaw, right halfback, are the only backs with experience.
Most football experts pick the Nebraska team to finish fourth in the conference, which is expected to be the toughest in recent years.
terence titles, 16 invitational meet championships and one state title in track. The state championship was won at Lyons in 1955. The Lyons team set a state scoring record in winning the crown.
While at York, Coach Grossart won the state football title in 1952 and was runner-up in the state track meet in 1953.
It was at York that Coach Grossart made his first contribution to the Kansas track picture. In 1953 Coach Grossart sent his top middle distance star to enroll at Kansas. The young Nebraskan was Lowell Janzen, who as a junior last year, won the Big Seven outdoor half mile and ran the anchor leg on the conference championship mile relay team.
In 1952, Coach Grossart was among several Nebraska coaches selected as candidates for the state's "Coach of the Year" award.
Works. Toward Master's
WORKS. TOWARD MASTER'S Along with his coaching duties at KU, Mr. Grossart will be completing work on his master's degree in education. He has done previous work on his master's at the Universities of Nebraska and Wyoming.
The Grand Island, Neb., Native spent nearly two years with the SeaBees in the South Pacific during World War II.
Coach and Mrs. Grossart have two sons, Randy, 3 years old, and Kyle, 20 months.
Conference Race In Passing Tight
A stiff battle will boom among the Big Seven quarterbacks this fall for the conference passing crown. Eight of the conference's top 10 passers return to duty, including Dave Doane, Missouri's top passer and defending champion and Kansas' Wally Strauch, who ranked second in Big Seven passing last year.
Dome is unlikely to regain his title this fall since the Tiger's top quarterback, Jim Hunter, returns to duty after being injured most of 55. Strauch, however, is expected to see considerable action although he will be pushed by Dave Preston and Bob Marshall for playing time.
Doane collected a total of 774 yards via the airpaths in 1955 and Strauch hit for 498 yards.
Only double lettermen on Kansas' 1956 football squad are ends Bill Bell and Don Martin; tackle John Drake; guard Don Pfutztenkuehler; center Frank Black; halfback Ted Rohde; and fullback Joe Held. The latter earned one of his monograms at end in 1954.
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