Thursday, November 7.1974
7
University Daily Kansan
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
Fambrough most valuable lineman of '47
By ALLEN QUAKENBUSH
Sports Renorter
Things were a lot different when Don Dambrough first came to the University of Kirklees.
Fambrough was one of those men, but he knew he wanted to play football. It turns out he was a good player.
World War II had just ended and men were being discharged from the service. Many were looking ahead to an uncertain future, contemplating what to do with their lives.
Fambrough used his playing career as a stepping stone to the coaching profession in the move so firmly established. But without that, he would not bumble Fambrough might not be where he is today.
EVEN THOUGH THEY were older,
Farbrouhous the students had more old-
ness than them.
FAMBROUGH FIRST VISITED KU at the request of Ray Evans, an All-American halfback at KU. The two were good friends and played football together on the Second Air Force team at Colorado Springs. After their discharge, they decided they wanted to play again with the same school and playing football together. Evans talked Fambrough into visiting Kansas, and Fambrough has been here virtually ever since.
"Students did things then that they don't do now," Fambrough said. "On homework, he had a big parade and I knew who whole body and the faculty were involved in them."
Fambrough almost left after his graduation, however. He came within one day of signifying a pro contract with the San Diego team, but like most players, he went to talk about the signing. When Sikes told him that there was an opening on the freshman coaching staff, Fambrough put pro football out of his mind and jumped at the offer. Except for three players from Texas State and one year at Wichita, Fambrough has been a Jaayhawk ever since.
KU was different in those days. After the war, many of the students, like Fambrush, had just gotten out of the service. Many of them were still in school, and were more settled than today's students.
"When we went to the Orange Bowl (1947), a bunch of students, I don't know how many, went down to (miami) in great big trucks. They stopped in towns along the way and were fed by Chambers of Commerce. It was really a big deal."
"I think students are kind of going back in that direction now. We have house decorations at homecoming again, and I think we are getting that type of enthusiasm back."
Footballhais als changend at lice sceince
Footbailhais als changend dae sit cneince
to KU, Fambrough played quarterback and blocking back in the old single wing offense. When he came here, he was moved to guard in the "new" T-formation. In addition to his offensive duties, Fambrough also played linebacker.
"FOOTBALL WAS A LOT DIFFERENT when I played," he said. "Back in those days, we had only one platoon and the things we could do were limited. Every day during practice, we had to work on both offense and defense so we didn't have time to learn many variations."
Fambrough said that during and immediately after the war, the quality of service football was excellent. He said many of the country's greatest players, both pro and college, played service ball at the same time he did.
He said the 1946 and 1947 KU teams benefited from service football. In addition to himself and Evans, Fambrough said, he also had two teams of players were on the same team in the service.
The experience apparently carried over into college football because KU had a combined record of 15-3-3 in those two years. In addition, the Jawahorsk won the Big Six co-championship in 1947 and went to the Orange Bowl the same season.
BEFORE ENTERING THE SERVICE,
Fambrough played football at the
University of Texas, and in 1942 he was a sophomore blocking back on the team that won the Southwest Conference championship. In 1950, he joined the Cotton Bowl and poured a 92 record.
Fambrough was an excellent player at both offensive guard and linebacker at KU. He was selected All-Big Six at guard in 1946 and 1947 and was selected to play in the 1948 NBA draft, but did not year. He was co-captain of the team that lost to Georgia Tech 20-14 in the Orange Bowl. Jayhawk fans remembered his ability when they voted to a spot on the basketball court.
The 1947-48 Jayhawker describes Fambrough vividly.
"Don Fambrough, 184 pounds of bone and muscle, received the 'Most Valuable Lineman' award last year. From his guard spot Fambrough was outstanding on both offense and defense, playing by playing in the East-West All-Star game at San Francisco on New Year's Day."
FAMBROUGH WAS ALSO an excellent kicker. As a junior, he beat two teams, Oklahoma A&M and Missouri, with extra points. His 51 career extra points stood as a school record for 21 years until it was broken in 1968 by Bill Bell.
Nevertheless, Fambrough remembers the bad games in his playing career better
than the good ones.
"That's a strange thing about athletics," Fambridge said. "It seems with the losses are the things that stick with you the longest.
"Every time we (the 1947 team) get together, we remember the fumble on the one-yard line that cost us the Orange Bowl. Another game that stands out in my mind is the get beat by Pulsas. After that ballgame, we get beat until the Orange Bowl (14 games later)."
His fondest memory is of the Missouri game during his senior year. Fambridge said the lead was going back and forth until KU launched a long drive at the end of the game giving the Jayhawks a 20-14 win, and enabling them to go on to the Orange Bowl.
"Lots of great things have happened to me in my career," he said. "I've been very lucky. I've had the opportunity to play on a lot of good football teams. I’ve had a lot of balls and a lot of breakheart, but I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world."
Dial 864-3306
UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
CENTER
128 Wardy Duty Service
Coach Don Fambrough said that he would practice at KU was better than "Tuesday".
"We had a good practice. You couldn't ask for a much better day than today to practice," he said in reference to yesterday's weather.
Practice better, Fambrough says
"Colorado had quite comeback against Nebraska last week," he said. "They
showed that they don't give up and that is something we want to out for ourselves. Barker this week.
"We are in a good frame or man, and we are going out there with that same attitude. I think that we are ready to go out there and do our best effort, and we will expect you to.
KU has not won in Boulder since 1963.
Buy Your
TICKETS
HIGHER EDUCATION WEEK BANQUET
Tickets are $3.50 for
in the Alumni Association Office, 103 Kansas Union
class card holders
and $4.50 for non-class card holders
Remember: Do your part during the week of November 10-17 Banquet is Sunday,November 17
Pd. for Activity Fee
Happy Days SALE
THIS THURSDAY, FRIDAY, & SATURDAY
... to Prevent the November Blahs!
COORDINATES
20% off Famous maker
SWEATERS
up to 30% off
Lots of great styles
PANT SUITS
$1999
Reg. to $ ^{34}{}^{00} $
Just right for holiday parties
ODDS 'N ENDS
1/2 off or more
Many items $ ^{500} $
HANDBAGS
$ 11^{99} $ reg. '20^00
Wooden handles, cloth covers
HOURS:
10-8:30 Mon.-Thurs.
10-6 Fri. & Sat.
Laramie Wyoming
Fort Collins Colorado
BANK CARDS
CAROUSEL CHARGE
CASH TOO!!
Colo. Springs Colorado
Pueblo Colorado
Manhattan Kansas
Lawrence Kansas