---
Page 10 University Daily Kansan, September 30, 1980
Retirement alters Riggins' life
By MATT SEELEY Sports Writer
The Washington Redskins had been beaten badly at home, the story goes, and John Riggins was upset. So upset was Riggins with the losing performance of himself and his teammates, that he walked out of a packed JFK Stadium, with soiled football uniform and all the fans.
No locker room, no press and no shower. One of the NFL's premier running backs, the ninth leading rusher of all time, just hopped on a bus and rode around the nation's capital to vent his frustration.
That episode, believe it or not, is now a part of Riggins' glory days: Days of plowing through holes that the "Over-the-Hill-Gang" seemed to open at will, with their custom-cut-tuff Super Bowl material, day free of contract squabbles.
DAYS LONG GONE by. Today, John Riggins, the former KU running great, is lost in the fog of a contract controversy. His employer, the Washington Redskins, maintains that Riggins has retired from football. Riggins also has retired. But he cannot be in and the employee cannot agree on how he retrained.
The Redskins' front office said Riggins left training camp unexcused and was, therefore, placed on the "left camp-retired" list, making him ineligible to play for any NFL team this season. Riggins contends that he gave the team notice he was retiring, then retired before camp started and, therefore, should have been listed as "voluntarily retired."
"So how do you retire voluntarily
and live?" he asked. Sigmund said.
"They're saving you can't."
At issue is Riggins' contract. When he signed with the Redskins in June 1976, the contract specifies said he would play at least every game for the fifth year, 1981, to be an option year.
Now Riggins wants a $500,000 guaranteed contract for the 1981 season. The Redskins, however, have a policy of not re-negotiating contracts.
"HEY, I WANT to play. It doesn't matter where, I want to play." Riggins said last week after the KU old-timmers baseball game. "I think the Redskins have a wait-and-see attitude. They've let it be known that I was waived by them and want to see how other teams will react."
Riggins acknowledged that his chances of coming to an agreement this year are slim. The 6-foot-4 fallback is one he has played on, and he's playing weight of 230 pounds.
"I'd say returning is fairly remote at this point," he said. "I've had no contact with the Redskins in quite some time."
If Riggins does sit out this season, he would be the property of Washington.
"If you retire and decide to come back and play," he said, "you have to play with the team you left. It's one of the things players have to live with."
"It's obvious the Redskins don't want me to use them for a home, but I'd still like to play there. I like the city of Washington."
The years in Washington were free of contract hassles, but Riggins isn't new to the job.
AFTER HIS season season at KU in 1970, Riggins was the No. 1 draft choice
of the New York Jets. Dischenanted,
however, with the Jets' pay scale-
Joe Naimar, ranked 27th among NFL
quarterbacks and league leader with 28
playoffs. He also competed compared to Riggins' $67,500—Riggins played out his option in 1975.
"I played the last two years in New yea-
ture," he said. Riggs said on the
of the 74 and 75 seasons.
He signed with the Redskins as part of Head Coach George Allen's "thefuture-is-now" movement. During the next three seasons he established himself as a runner with bull-like strength. Last season, with Allen long since fired, Riggins was the Redskin offense. His 1,153 yards rushing and nine running touchdowns accounted for 50 percent of Washington's running yards and half of its rushing touchdowns.
Today, Riggins' rushing game has turned into one of waiting and watching.
"I miss the players the most," Riggins said. "But I don't like getting hit hard, I don't like worrying and I never have liked practices."
RIGGINS "RETIRED" life is spent near his *Lawrence* home, fishing, hunting and working out, just in case. He is taking an economics course at KU.
He has seen his former teammates play once this season and was not impressed.
"I saw them against Dallas and they looked fat considering it was the first game of the season, on Monday night and all the usual talk of Dallas," he said. "The pressure's really on them now."
Counting their loss Sunday to
Throughout Riggins' professional career he has been associated with many great players and coaches, commented about three of those people.
Oakland, the Redskins have slipped to 1-3.
On George Allen:
- `Moticulous. He was cautious of every detail. I never understood him and didn't agree with his coaching philosophy. He plays a defensive game with no offense. For me, that's a no-win situation.`
"He didn't get along with a lot of people. I guess that's why they got rid of him. I wouldn't be surprised, though, but I think he's in New Bay within the next couple weeks."
On Weeb Ewbank (former head coach of the New York Jets):
*“Oh. Weeb. He was cagely, but
he didn’t get guy. That made him
my kind of coach.
"They (the Jets) made him general manager at the same time he was president. They have been one great general manager because he sure wasn't a good coach."
BEN BIGLEY/Kansen staff
- "One great quarterback. A lot of
John Riggins, former KU running back and baseball player, watches the action in the recent KU baseball Old Timmers game and talks about his forced retirement from professional football and the Washington Redskins.
stuff was written and said, but I really couldn't appreciate him until I wasn't with him. I never realized the great talent he was until I was with somebody
The future of John Riggins is much like this season, fumbling in the arms of an NFL owner.
BUY OR SELL
SIVER, GOLD & COINS
Class Rings Antiques-Furniture
Boysd Coin & Antiques
KU changes its offense
FAMBROUGH, HOWEVER,
cannot be displeased with tailback
Kewinn Bell, who had his first 106-
runs in the Nationals. He gained 103
yards in 12 carries.
KU had only 154 yards of offense in Saturday's 17-9 loss to Louisville. KU has had only one touchdown all in three games, scored only 10 points in three games.
Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm
"I had to be impressed with Bell," Fambrigh said. "He got a lot the hard way. He was fighting to get that extra yard."
Kansas coach Don Fambrough will try cutting down the Jayhawk offense this week in an effort to break the team's wiliness streak.
Freshman quarterback Frank Seurer did not fare well as bell. Seurer, who was sacked seven times, became starter for Saturday's contest.
731 New Hampshire
"At some point you have to start all over again," Fambrough said after yesterday's practice. "We're going to cut our out defense down. There may be too much there. We might look as the season progresses."
Applications For:
GAMMA OMICRON BETA
JP. SEC. OR SOCIETY
JR.-SR. HONOR SOCIETY
Are Available in 220 Strong Hall
DAVID NEELY
is 33 today!
Deadline is 4:30 p.m. Oct.15
Ride his bus and give him a kiss!
PHOTO COUPONS IN THE LAWRENCE COUPON BOOK AND THE PEOPLE BOOK ARE ACCEPTED
USE THEM
The University of Kansas William Inge Memorial Theatre Presents
David Mamet
An evening of
Sexual Perversion in Chicago Reunion Mr. Happiness
September 30, 1980 and October 1.5, 1980
Inge Theatre/Murphy Hall
Tickets on sale in the Murphy Hall Box Office
All seats general admission
KU students free with ID
For reservations: call 913/864-3982
Forum Room - KANSAS Union
Friday, 0ct3, 7:30-10:30
Sponsored by : Muslim Students Association
Your ZiP Card Means Money When You Want It-- At More Handy Locations
Lawrence (5 locations)
Topeka (8 locations)
Manhattan (3 locations)
Emporia (4 locations)
ZIP Card means ready cash at Zip Machines in:
Auto User Your 21r Caro in 2
locations In:
Topeka
Salina
Manhattan
Emporia
Lawrence
Dillon's. - 2108 W. 27th
Dillon's. - 1740 Massachusetts
Dillon's. - 1312 W. 6th
K.U. Student Union
K.U. Satellite Union
Rusty's. - 23rd & Louisiana
Rusty's. - 901 Iowa
Rusty's. - 608 N. 2nd
And use your ZIP Card at 28 Money*Maric locations in:
having money available at 48 ZIP Machine and Money*Martic locations is like having a bank in your pocket and that's...
In Lawrence the smart money goes to the University.
University State Bank
Main Bank 555 Iowa 1954; Jersey Bank 26th & Iowa
(913)843-4700; Lawrence, Kansas
Professionals + $ = energy
There's only one equation that will solve the nation's energy crisis . . .
and that's to combine talented an concerned people, provide capital to get the job done and then set demanding but realistic goals.
get the job done and then se demanding but realistic goal That's what we're trying to do at Cities Service, a diversified natural resources company. Our professional requirements include most disciplines applied from discovery to market, computing to research. We have opportunities, not only in this country but abroad. If this sounds like your kind of challenge, learn more by making an appointment with our college representative through your placement office.
C la
Uni Law
We will interview on your campus... October 7,8,9,14 & 15
Th Com requi night tions avai
By D Staff
or write: College Relations Manager
Cities Service Company
Box 300
Tulsa_OK 74102
The
supp
orga
allo
Cities Service Company
B
bask beec rese Mor day
By Staf
an equal opportunity employer
1