Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1957 University Daily Kansan Page 5
Beware, coaches. Kansas is a death trap for anyone who would try to fight the pressure on coaches who seem to attempt to control the football situation at KU.
By MALCOLM APPLEGATE and GEORGE ANTHAN (Daily Kansan Sports Editors)
It's that time of year again. Rumors, which began toward the end of last year but failed to materialize, are now flying fast and furious again but this time they seem to be even more serious. There is some fact to them.
Months of criticism, rumors, and half-truths have followed Jayhawker Coach Chuck Mather since his first losing season at the University in 1954.
KU alumni, more than anyone else seem to blame the coach, more than anyone else for the poor showing of Kansas alumni. But, it would be sheer folly for anyone to give up a job to come to Kansas and try to please a group of alumni who, want a winning football team, but, when it comes time to pay the price to get a top-name coach are not willing to pay the price.
Illness and injuries have plagued the Kansas team and coaches this year much more than in previous years.
This factor is probably the prime one in KU's less than vigorous showing in a couple of games.
It is unfortunate that this cannot be universally recognized and that coaches must work under a constant pressure that is now the trend.
A coach who was winning last year but is showing a deficit this year is no better off in the minds of the powers that be than a national championship team which loses all its players through graduation and doesn't win a game the ensuing year.
It's winning now that counts with those fans who pay the money and it's too bad that feeling prevails.
KU alumni might say we've given Mather a chance. We'd say they really gave him a vote of confidence last year when they issued him a long-term one-year contract.
Give Mather a chance. We've played six games so far. We were defeated by Oregon State, Oklahoma and Miami. But these are three of the nation's top teams. The latest defeat, to Miami, came at a time when the Miamians seemingly were coming into their own after a miserable start. We'd guess that the Floridians will be equally as impressive for the rest of the season.
Maybe there is some fact in the alumni's accusations. And since their ideas do affect KU students we must report on them but it is up to the students to support or not support their coach. He must be given real support because he has given Kansas more work and untiring effort than is generally thought to be possible of a man coaching a football team.
KU will face Nebraska, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Missouri to wind out the season. All of these teams are within range. Let's get behind the coaches and team. So here's our vote of confidence for Coach Chuck Mather. Let's win our last four games.
Forrest C. Allen Memorial Field House is the second-largest on-campus playing arena in the land, from point of capacity.
The term "Jayhawk" was first applied to foragers, guerrillas and a fighting regiment, "Jennison's Jayhawkers."
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