2A
Friday, October 25,1974
University Daily Kansan
KU gridders have diverse opinions about football
Do you ever wonder what football players do when they match? Or what they think of football itself?
I've always wondered, so I thought I'd do something about it. With the help of one of the players on the University of Kansas football team, I took a poll of the KU players and asked those two questions and six other questions. The questions were answered anonymously.
I handed out about 50 questionnaires and got 30 of them back. The sample, therefore, should be fairly representative of the oniiers of KU players.
No definite conclusions should be reached from a poll of this kind. This was not a carefully controlled survey, nor was it a careful questioning statement about college football players.
Yet some generalizations can be made from the answers I received. If you don't like generalizations, the players' comments should be of interest anyway.
The responses were similar to what I expected. Some players could find no wrong in the game they play, but others were not. The players ranged from one extreme to the other.
TO THE QUESTION, "Do you think college football is overemphasized?" the answers were almost split: Half thought it was and half thought it wasn't.
Many said college football was becoming
too much a business. Typical of that viewpoint were the following responses:
"Major college football is a big business and perhaps the money would be spent
"The money spent on unnecessary factions in a more progenous and needed way."
"The monetary value is greatly out of
balance and has surpassed the educational institution."
"I think 'winning at all costs,' even to the point of cheating, is overemphasized."
Others were critical of the amount of time spent on football:
"During the fall semester, football takes up many hours of each of my days. I spend from four to six hours a day in meetings or practice, and I learn harder and leaves little time to myself."
"It's a football country and college ball is the best football "
Those answering "no" had various reasons:
was no longer a sport to him but a year-
round job.
"Football is a part of life and could never be overemphasized. It is sort of like religion; something that one can believe in."
"Football is a game that makes men out of boys."
SEVERAL PLAYERS said football and
soccer students fans and
students but was played by players.
To the question, "Do you think other students view you differently because you are a 'jock'," most of the players said yes and gave the same reasons:
"Some, probably most, view jacks as big
dominies who have things handed to them."
"Very few students accept me as an
didn't consider Jayhawker Towers, where most of the players now live, an athletic dorm and therefore didn't answer the question.
Many liked living in the Towers, mentoring the good food and living conditions, and living with people who have similar experiences. In fact, the Towers are either way about it, but said it would be nice.
equal. They either think that jocks are
some of the benefits that tucks receive."
"I think most students view you differently—some good, some bad. Most of the time I would just as soon be viewed like a normal guy."
"I think many students think we have it made, which isn't the case at all. It's extremely hard to go to school while playing football."
ANOTHER QUESTION dealt with their thoughts on living in an athletic drom. Many
Some were definitely opposed to living in an athletic dorm:
"I just like to live like others here as
we do. We have a sense of always being a
team 24 hour a day."
"I think it would be nice to live like the student and around other people besides me."
"Sometimes it's good to get away from living, eating and sleeping football."
'Hawks lost one more than records show
By PHIL BRADY
Sports Reporter
The football program at the University of Kansas has always been renowned for its (kansas)
But, there is a fly in the ointment of success. It happened years ago.
The Jayhawks carry a victory on their record for a game they actually lost.
It occurred in 1890, during the first football season for the University, when the Hawks traveled to Baker University to avenge a loss earlier that season.
Baker had a 12-10 lead late in the contest and was driving for another score when a driver from Minnesota came up.
On the beginning of the last play of the game, Baker attempted to force the ball over from the one-yard line with an 11-man wedge play. The ball was fumbled and recovered by a KU man who ran the length of the field in a supposedly game-winning touchdown.
Baker claim that the touchdown should not have been counted because the umpire
Games . . .
From Page One
**IN THE GAME ITSELF**, the teams battled on a grassy field. The loss was heralded by the Kansas in a bold, black, front-page headline: "The game was Oread." The paper described it.
conceded the Missouri-Kansas football game, and like gladiators these two schools meet annually in late November to settle the question of yearly supremacy."
"A sleek and cunning Tiger rose up today and satmore down a glistening Jayhawk bird—the pride of the University of Kansas—plucking seven choice tail feathers and then scrambling away before the surprised Jayhawkers could scar his polished body."
Up to 1943, Kansas appeared to play its poorest football in homecoming games, with a 7-21-2 record in the 30 year span from 1912 to 1934 (there was no game in 1918).
THE 1938 HOMECOMING TILT with Nebraska was typical of the games in that span. Unfortunately, the Kansas proved to be a good prognosticator of the clash:
Little chance, indeed, as the 'Hawkes were upped 28-0, on their way to a 16-1 season.
"With their last chance to win a conference game coming up, the Jayhawkers appear to have little possibility of victory in the high-profile, highly-touted Nebraska tomorrow."
After 1942, however, homecoming has become a more victorious occasion for KU, which has had an 18-13 record since that year.
Most memorable games, of course, include clashes with homecoming rivals in the 1948 season and a victory over Missouri in 1951 climaxed a successful 8-2 season for Kansas. That game helped wipe out the memory of the 1949 contest, in which MIU eided Kansas 34-28, in a wild competition.
In 1949, the Kanas was concerned about dating procedures of KU students. It reported: "A survey of 10 students made by the University Daily Kanas on the dating practices of Dutch women were opposed to Dutch dating and five had varied opinions about dating."
"Our society just isn't set up that way," a coed said. "You once got startled, it put you on such an equal plane that you're lost." The members must have shivered at such a remark.
On the football field, KU males didn't have it very easy either, as the 1949 game was a lopedad Missouri win in everything offensive for KU's 280 for 667 offensive yards to KU's 82.
Before the contest, the Kansan ran an editorial on the current rage—coeducationalizing colleges. Asserted the Kansan: "The biggest protests over him may come from college girls. The harbourly men may be barnyard beauty, released from her cloistered life, flaps an eyelash at some coed's football hero."
The roles were reversed in 1957, though, the end of an exciting win by KU over (as in 1956) was reversed.
On the football field, the only hairpulling was by MU rooters. An apparent Missouri victory vanished with 48 seconds left when KU's Ray Barnett booked a 15-yard field goal to give the 'Hawks a 9-7 victory. The field had the first successful KU field goal in 11 years.
IN MORE REAL GAMES, KU played in the Bigtime time in a bombshell game in 1966.
In that year, living in a residence hall cost about $700 (it's predicted to be almost $1,200 next year). KU students, in a straw ballot, overwhelmingly chose William Avery to defeat Robert Docking in the 1966 governorship race.
The 'Hawks took about as bad a beating as Avery did, losing to Nebraska 24-13. KU didn't fare well many other times that year, finishing with a 2-7 mark.
Kansas has played two homecoming games with Iowa State, its opponent in tomorrow's contest. KU beat the Cyclones 24-10 in 197 and fell 34-8 in 197.
With all the campus and national issues surrounding this year's game, tomorrow's game should be a memorable Jayhawk contest and, hopefully, a KU win as well.
had called time out before the fumble recovery.
The umpire, William H. Carrash, former KU canchard, had whistled play to stop at the request of the KU captain. Fortunately for KU, the captain had quit the game and many fans assumed his request would be denied.
Five hundred jubilant University students burst over the ropes, rushed across the field, lifted the Jayhawk on their shoulders and bore him off in triumph. However, the time-out was allowed and Carruth gave the victory to Baker.
In bitter rage, the students ignored Carruth's decree and raced to the record hall. They escaped the gang and
The controversy and hysterical behavior
of the fans probably wouldn't happen today.
bats are very popular.
Football was new at KU in the 1800s and the success of the new venture depended upon faculty men from the East who urged its introduction. Interest in the sport was soon kindled and enthusiasm caught fire on the first KU football squad was formed.
The first notice of the team to appear in
proceedings of the Journal World,
Oct. 29, 1980, it reported.
"A match game of football will be played on the ball grounds Saatrday afternoon between the university eleven and the picked eleven."
The picked eleven were a group of town
houses and the game was a practice for the
upcoming game.
The original playing field, the Massachusetts Street Field, was used in the early 1890s for lack of anything better. But the grounds were far from the University where they frequented by young ruffians who occasionally had to be driven off before games.
At a home game, KU supporters would park their buggies at the edge of the playing field. After tying their horses to a specially designed fence, they run into lunches were opened and the fun began.
In 1892 a new stadium, McCook Field, was constructed on the rolling campus hills. It was named after John James McCook, a professor of geography who liking to the University and wanted to aid it. The idea occurred to McCook that a conference would show his interest in an effective way.
Home games were few because the Massachusetts Street Field left much to be desired. But the fans were too engrossed with the new sport to worry about comfort.
Through the cooperation of former Kansas Governor Charles Robinson, it was decided to secure 12 acres of Robinson's just north of the academic buildings.
For nearly 30 years, McCook Field served its purpose with additions being made to the bleachers as the popularity of the sport increased. The team failed to provide the necessary capacity.
It was decided to build the present Memorial Stadium in 1920. McCook Field was named after a bleacher that were torn down by the students. It makes one wonder whether Memorial stadium may someday suffer the same fate. so, it has plenty of memories to draw from.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS on a topic close to my heart—sports-writing—were asked. The players were asked what their biggest weakness in sports-writing is what sportswriters should do differently.
Most of the complaints were about misquoting and the practice of interviewing only the star players. Suggestions were to talk to the underpublicized players and to try to get the players' side of the story. Some sample responses:
"Sportswriters often characterize football players or actions without really knowing the person or the reason for his actions."
"Sportswriters don't know you personally and are quick to classify you as a sports figure and are even quicker to forget your individual uniqueness."
"Give credit where credit is due."
One player said his biggest complaint was that sportswriters never talk to him. What should they do differently? "Interview me," he said.
THE LAST THREE QUESTIONS were about the coach. One question asked the players to give advice to coaches about recruiting. On no other question was there an agreement. Almost all the players advise coaches to be more honest in recruiting;
"Be honest with the young recruits and don't make any drastic promises just to win."
"Many recruiters are very pushy and try to force the athlete into a decision."
"Too often the school and the program are sold as a product would be. The facts about the school and program should be presented. Then let the person decide."
"Tell it how it really is. Don't tell every player he play Big Eight ball."
relaxed atmosphere built on a personal relationship with every player. Some said that creating unity among all the players was most important. Some comments:
THE FINAL QUESTION asked the players what their coach's greatest asset was. There were a few negative comments about it and "the choices" and "I can't think of any asset."
One player was perhaps more aware of, the practical aspect of coaching: "In the present system, I'd try to win as much as possible or else I'd lose my job."
"I would try not to mislead my players, because if you lose your players' faith in them, you will lose your team."
"Treat every player equally."
"His love for football."
"His ability to kid around and take things lightly."
One player answered in terms of the coaching profession as a whole: "He is more of a public relations or political figure than an exponent in his college ball."
However, most of the players were complimentary in their answers. Honesty, fairness and dedication seem to be the assets that most agreed upon. Others:
"Ability to command respect."
"Win, have fun and don't screw people around."
One player acted in a completely objective manner. He said his coach's greatest asset was "having me on his team."
"Ability to communicate with many different types of people."
One of the kickers on the team expressed dissatisfaction. "Kickers really don't have a coach and it is difficult to get to know one who can play well." She and don’t consider us football players.”
The most realistic answer, however,
came from another player. What was his
response?
"His job-as long as he can keep it."