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University Daily Kansan Friday, April 21, 103
Kansas Practice Delayed
LATE START — Coach Jack Mitchell gazes over the practice fields west of Allen Field House which were too muddy for the first week of spring practice. Hoping the weather will improve, Coach Mitchell has about 75 candidates for the varsity which opens its 1961 season Sept. 23 with Texas Christian at Fort Worth.
The entire first week of KU's scheduled spring football practice sessions had to be delayed due to the wet weather on Mt. Oread all last week.
Head Coach Jack Mitchell, directing his fourth Kansas squad and the first since receiving a lifetime contract, had hoped to begin drills April 10, but the Allen Field House practice fields were too muddy.
RETURNING LINEMEN who started last fall are end Larry Allen, tackles Larry Lousch, Stan Kirshman and Mike Fisher, guards Elvin Bashem and Benny Boydston. In the backfield, signal-caller John Hadl and halfbacks Bert Coan and Curtis McClinton are back.
Switches are to be expected, but there appears to be nothing startling in Coach Mitchell's plans.
Boydston, a two year regular at guard is to be tried at end. Jim Jarrett, who finished last season as number two fullback, will go to left half. Hugh Smith, a late season starter at left halfback will switch to fullback as will Rodger McFarland, reserve quarterback.
"WE ARE NOT OVERLOADED with experience in our backfield." Mitchell points out. "We must have an experienced player or two ready to play more than one position back there. Smith and Jarrett already
have played two positions (Smith both halves and Jarrett right half and full) and we would like to get them ready to handle any one of the three if we can."
"McFarland is a fine ball-carrier and a strong, tough two-way player. We feel he can block well from fullback and play the corner on defense. His speed handicaps him at halfback."
"Boydston won't have the size disadvantage at end he does at guard. We lost our best end, Sam Simpson, and we feel that Benny can play well out there. Also we are pretty well off at guard and can afford to spare him from that position."
"OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM will be replacing Hageman (two-time all-conference center Fred); Doyle Schick (who started 30 consecutive games at fullback); Bukaty (Fred, a late season find at right halfback); and Simpson. Also, we've got to fit our personnel into positions where each man can perform his best."
Originally the spring drills were to be concluded May 13 with the annual Varsity-Alumni game in Memorial Stadium. But, since practice has been delayed a full week the game also had to be put off awhile. Present plans have the contest slated for the following week, May 20.
Center, Fullback Big Problems
As the Kansas gridiron squad moves into its second week of spring practice, here is a brief summary of the present situation:
THE TACKLE POSITIONS are deep in experience and the personnel are of Big Eight caliber. The top five from last year are returning. They are lettermen Larry Lousch, Stan Kirshman, Dick Davis, Mike Fisher and squadman Fred Eiseman.
At guard, experience and ability are at a high level. Elvin Bashem, Duke Collins and Jim Mills lead a tough group which includes many inexperienced newcomers.
The situation at end is promising. Four returning lettermen, Larry Allen, Andy Graham, Pack St. Clair and Mike Deer. But improvement by all hands and help from newcomers is needed to solidify the position. The switch of Benny Boydston from guard will help.
The bright spots in the line are at guard and tackle.
CENTER IS THE problem spot on the front wall. Two-time all-conference pivot Fred Hageman and reserve Bill Burnison, who also played guard, will be claimed by graduation. Last year's number two hand, Kent Staab, is returning, and is well rated.
In the backfield quarterback is the only settled position with All America performer John Hadl returning.
Curtis McClinton and Bert Coan will be at the halfs but lack of depth and the fullback situation may hurt here.
With the graduation of Doyle Schick, this spot must be filled by one of the following: Rodger McFarland, Hugh Smith, Jack Cranor and Ken Coleman.
MAKES SWITCH—Jim Jarrett, senior from Coffeyville, will be tried at left halfback by Head Coach Jack Mitchell as the Jayhawkers work during spring football practice. Jarrett, a 190 pounder, saw considerable action last fall as reserve fullback. This is just one of the changes which Coach Mitchell and his staff are planning to make in the current practice session, and an important one. With the graduation of Doyle Schick and the ineligibility of Bert Coan, the KU backfield is one of the main problems to be solved this spring.
Big Eight Squads in Spring Drills
Missouri began spring football drills early last week—and there was a strong suspicion that the
bread-and-butter plays of last year won't look quite the same.
Gone from the Orange Bowl champions are seven regulars, but ball-carriers Mel West, Norris Stevens and Donnion Smith will be the most sorely missed of the 13 lettermen who won't be back.
AS COACH DAN DEVINE and his aides herd some 85 players through spring drills they will be searching for ends, halfbacks and secondary defenders.
Also lost are defensive specialists Skip Snyder and Fred Brossart, leaving only Norm Beal, who must improve his grades.
THOUGH MISSOURI LOST three of the top four ends, including Danny LaRose — consensus All America pick — the Tiger line again could be salty. There is a fine group of experienced guards to bolster the interior.
Hunting for speed, desire and defensive ability, Oklahoma Coach Bud Wilkinson recently opened spring practice.
Since defense was the main weakness of the Sooners last fall, losing six games principally because of defensive inadequacies, the selection of the 22 best defenders on the squad will be a primary goal for the Sooner coaches this spring.
OFFENSE WILL BE a secondary consideration. It will consist of organizing the best defensive players into offensive units that will make the least number of mistakes.
There should be a great deal of experimentation in the Sooner camp as Wilkinson tries to fill spots opened by graduation and weaknesses left over from last season.
Fullback, quarterback and half-back will probably see some new faces during the drills which will be climaxed by a May 6 national telecast of the first half of the annual Varsity-Alumni game.
The most popular question concerning Colorado football this spring
is. "What's new in the backfield?"
is, what's new in the backend? And, although the first week of practice — a snowy, rainy period limited to three workouts — produced no concrete answer, it's apparent that Coach Sonny Grandelius has the best group of new candidates in three years at the CU helm.
VETERANS ARE at the top of every backfield position right now with Pat Young, Ted Woods, Claude Crabb and Loren Schweninger forming the number one quartet in the initial scrimmage.
But it's no secret that the Buffs can use new blood in the backfield and at least two newcomers at each position are considered threats to the tentative starters.
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Coach Cliff Speeagle had 20 returning lettermen among the nearly 90 players who turned out for spring drills at Oklahoma State.
Improvement is expected of the Cowpokes who played their first full conference schedule last fall.
OF THE PRESENT TEAM Speagle said, "We know we have more speed at halfback but we don't know whether the newcomers who supposedly can run so well can make the club. Also, we have higher hopes that our passing will be better. We knew we were going to have trouble here last year and it isn't going to be easy to correct. We feel the rest of the team is about the same as last year."
As for the goals which Coach Speegeh has established for spring drills, he said, "Overall improvement from last year, of course. But, if you had to narrow it down to a few things I guess it would be pass offense and wide rushing plays — almost nonexistent on last year's team."
O-STATE LISTS as its major trouble spot the quarterback situation which is expected to receive a great deal of concentration this spring.
Sophomores are playing a big role in the Pokes early practices, controlling seven spots in the first three backfields.
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At Nebraska, Head Coach Bill Jennings said. "We're in the position of a baseball team at this time, trying to strengthen up the middle, at center, quarterback and fullback. We'll have to play some sophomores. If we can get any help from Bill
The general outlook for the Cornhuskers is more size in the front line, no increase in overall speed and no changes forecast for the offense.
Comstock at fullback and if Noel Martin's knee holds up we may be able to leave Bill Thornton at left half. Otherwise there will probably be some changes."