Thursday, September 14, 1978
Staff Photo by ALAN ZLOTKY
Experience
Mike Wellman, senior, leads a young offensive line for the Jaxhawks. Although his position is not glorious, Wellman
accepts his job. He will lead the team Saturday against the
Cardinals, a game that marks his 23rd consecutive start in center for McCarrie.
Center enjoys shot at recognition
Mike Wellman and his teammates on KU's offensive line no longer will suffer the woes of obscurity and fans no longer will need a program to identify the players.
Their names aren't called after each play as they are for the ballcarriers. Instead, their names are sewed onto their shoulders, for the first time in KU history.
or weltman, center, a five-year veteran
the patriarch of KU's office is its a
taker.
"I say they work harder."
"You just understand it'd definitely not a glory position," the senior says. "It's kind of too bad—our offensive work works as hard as anyone on the field.
Forgive the fans, Mike, for they often don't know what you do. Unless they played that position in high school or date someone who did, it's just something that one doesn't
"YOU HEAR ABOUT the 'skill' positions?
I don't think there's anyone who works harder than an offensive lineman," Wellman said.
Welman has put in his share of sweat, After a freshman year as a jayvee running back, he was redshirted. He took over at center as a sophomore and will start his 23rd consecutive game this Saturday in Seattle against Washington.
"You rarely see a freshman step into an offensive line," he said. "It takes so much technique work and you can only get that through a couple of years."
Wellman has a good shot at being All Big-Eight center. He's one of those players Coach Bud Moore says can be as good as he wants to be.
"I've worked hard." Wellman said. "I feel better this season than I have. As before. I ashave."
Yankees take first
DETROIT (AP)—Lou Piniaille and Mickey Rivers each tripped to key a four-run New York uprising in the fourth innings last night as the Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 7-3 to move into first place in the National League East for the first time this season.
Although the Yankees were tied for first as late as Sunday with Boston, they had never been in first alone during the 144 games they'd played until last night. Boston dropped a 2-1 decision to Cleveland to fall a half-game behind New York.
INSIDE SPORTS
Leon Unguh
Leon Unruh
offensive lineman, I'm getting to know the little things."
WELLMAN HAS BEEN KU's only player from Lawrence High School for three years. He won the state shot put title his last year there.
He's just about the biggest guy on the squad, standing 6-4 and weighing 245 pounds. He's not a guy to be trifled with, unless you are a determined, or very foolish,
"Most teams, specially in he Big Eight, have a big on, the team's best defense lineman," he said. "It's a good challenge: a one-on-one battle."
There isn't a great amount of experience alongside him down in the trenches to hold off the stampede of tacklemen. He had six of them, two up 10 positions on the line—Franklin King, a second string
guard who moved from defensive tackle to bolster the ramparts.
That shallowness can probably be blamed for the worried look in Moore's eyes when he talks about the lack of strong pass blocking. WILL I MISS JACK of some on the line?
"I don't expect that to be much of a problem." Wellman says.
"We're thin. That has its good points. You can stay in longer."
WILL KU'S LACK of arms on the line hurt?
Wellman says he doesn't mind being the leader of the troop. It's certainly more fun that just being a center who snaps the ball and calls huddles.
"We do have some guys who haven't played too much," he said. "Experience is the best teacher It was in the opening class, but they experienced, but they were a good team."
Wellman will meet a good man Saturday at Washington: Stafford Mays, a juice transfer for the Huskers. Mays carries 235 pounds on a 6-2 frame.
Wellman saw that Mays could be blocked
by UCLA a second-string center,
Robertery a first-string center.
KU's women's golf team finished 17th of 18 teams yesterday in the Susie Maxwell Berning All-College Classic in Oklahoma City, Okla.
KU women golfers finish low in tourney
"I'm not saying they can't be beat or be blocked," says Wellman. "I saw they can."
KU was in tent place after the first round Monday, but higher scores in the second round knocked the Jayhawks lower in the standings.
Kansas was led by Nancy Hoina, Leavenworth senior, who shot rounds of 85.
Hines gets nod as quarterback against Huskies
The issue of who will start at quarterback for the Jayhawks Saturday in Washington
Jeff Hines will and Brian Bethke won't.
Jefir thirt and will arm on demand KK. In fact there is a good chance that Bethle, who will not play, but hurt against Texas AKM, will not even play. He struggled through the first part of practice Wednesday until head coach Bud Moore made him sit down.
"He started off practicing," Moore said, but he was hurting a little too much to do comfortably.
Hines, the second quarterback against A&M and the second to get injured, has recovered enough to lead KU against the Huskies. Moore said.
KU will take four quarterbacks to Seattle—Hines, Harry Sydney, sophomore Steve Smith and either Bethek or Kelvin Clinton, a freshman from Wichita.
Starting defensive tackles John Odell, who is hurting from a pinched nerve, and Greg Smith, who has a sprained ankle, had a little yesterday but at no full tilt.
"I would think it would have to help them," he said. "They're used to it," he said, looking at the cloudy sky. "This is the one that had to rain since we started practice."
Moore continued wet-ball drills in preparation for the soggy Northwest. If it rains Washington probably will have the advantage anyway.
The depth of water on the field isn't the only death Moore frets about.
Washington has 20 of 22 starters returning.
"They have some very outstanding football players," he said. "And the players they have to go with the starters are very good, also."
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