2
Wednesdav. August 21. 1974
University Daily Kansan
Sayers Praises Personal Aspect of College Football Former Chicago Bear Says College Fans, Players Are More Enthusiastic Than in Pro Football
By KATHY PICKETT
Kansan Staff Reporter
"What's happening," he says as you walk into the room. And even hidden behind his typewriter, the charm, exuberance and confidence of Gale Sayers comes through.
Sayers, former star running back for the Bears, bears is assistant to the athletic department, which includes recruiting, fundraising and public relations work. He is also assistant director of athletics.
Sayers said recently that he didn't really miss pro football.
"Being back here is a very good life," he said.
He said that he missed the associations with players and managers but that he was not a big fan of them.
"I couldn't be Gale Sayers any more." Saven's career was cut short because of krankness.
He said that he liked working in the athletic department and that he might want to be athletic director some day. He said he liked the University environment.
"It's more of a personal type of thing. The
fans and players are more enthusiastic.
Enthusiasm is dead in roc football."
Sayers said that when he was in pro football, the players were really sincere. They wanted to do a good job, he said, not just get the money and the girl friends.
Sayers said he felt this attitude was hurting pro football.
"You may not be able to see it," he said,
"but as a former player I can tell what's going on. I think it's becoming a very dull sport."
Sayers has strong advice for potential pro players. They need to have something to fall back on, he said, both because of the pressure they are under and the plought of plought of pro sports can be damaging.
"Many players get hurt the first year," he said. "There are some sad cases out there. There are former players, working on construction or who are on welfare. They go to the street reminiscing about what they would have done if they hadn't been hurt."
Sayers said many players thought there was no need to work during the off-season if they had earned $10,000 playing football for six months. But then they go back to training camp, they have spent everything, he said.
Sayers worked as a stockbroker in Chicago during the off-season. He said there were plenty of opportunities for pro players if they would only take them.
Part of Savers' job is counseling athletes, and he stresses the importance of a college degree.
"You can't put all your eggs in one basket," he said. "They should believe me, but I don't."
Sayers played for five years before he got hurt. He said he never believed it would hurt him.
"I'd see a player being carried off the field, and I just laugh. But then one day it was real."
Sayers also tries to warn players about the glamour of pre- football, the more cars are parked nearby.
"That goes on in pro sports," he said,
"but you have to be a Joe Namm. And
those players with the big cars and fine clothes, that all they we go. They're really good.
Furthermore, not all players have that glamour, he said.
"Believe me, it's hard to take after the cool-cool athletes, the super star. If you're not one, you don't have all those fine things."
Sayers admits that it is hard for college athletes to graduate.
"It's tough to get your degree in four years. The football players did graduate in four years."
Sayers himself got his degree after he'd been in the pros. Desires the difficulty, he tried to improve.
Despite his many warnings about football, Sayers' love of it is apparent. He answers questions about it quickly, and talks with ideas coming one after the other.
Sayers Now Holds Dummies for Others
It's tough to come back; texts change,
teachers change. It's tough to get back in
the classroom.
Sayers said that as long as he could remember he loved football. He grew up in Omaha where there was an organized football program in all schools. He played because his brothers played, and爱它了. But he said he didn't have any really big
"You don't really idolize the players," he said. "Kids in the ghetto just watch and think here."
But he said he didn't have any really big heroes.
With that kind of incentive, it is no surprise that Sayers made it to the pros.
would play pro football some day," he said.
And though Sayers is no longer in the job, he seems to be very satisfied. He talks about his athletic abilities, and helps to keep the athlete dressed.
He said he enjoyed watching KU sports. The fans are especially great, he said, because the game is so much more personal. Even when the team doesn't win, it's okay, he said, even though he's always felt there's nothing like winning.
For the present, it doesn't seem that KU will be losing Gale Saves.
"I'm very happy here," he said.
Fambrough Undecided on Recruits
By MIKE FITZGERALD Kansan Sports Reporter
This year's football sigmets might be the best recruits in recent years. Coach Don Fambrough, however, will wait until the Fanbroun starts to decide how good they really are.
"They look good on paper," he said recently, "but there are always big disappointments and major surprises. They're a thing you can never gauge."
Fambrough said almost all recruits looked good in high school. He said some were better than others, but got any better because they were physically mature in high school. He said others, who were fairly good in high school, went to college. Ballplayers because that hadn't peaked yet.
The area in greatest need of new personnel and depth is the offensive line. Gone with graduation were three-year offensive starters John Brvant and Mike McDaniel.
Fambrough has picked three of the signees as possible replacements in the offensive line: Frank Oborn, '6' 5', 250-pounds, from EIk Falls; James Emerson, '8' 380-pounds, from Great Bend, and Rich Simons, '4' 290-pounds, from Pompton Plains, N.J.
A break in the mold of the big, heavy football player is 5' 9", 140-pound Monty Hobbs, who will be coming to KU from Great Bend. This past summer in the Shrine Game Hobbs came on the field and barely missed two 50-yard field goal attempts could have won the game. Hobbs will be a field goal specialist for KU next year.
Although the roster of signess is a good one, Fambrough was apprehensive about
"You've got to sit back and wait and see with these kids," he said. "You never play a kid before he's ready because if he doesn't get to use individual judgment on each kid, you get to use individual judgment on each kid."
putting freshman in major college football games.
"Some work out real well—Kurt Knoff and Nolan Cromwell were both starters as freshmen. My philosophy is that I want to be really careful. We're concerned about the kids being both physically and mentally ready."
Here is a rundown of the KU 1974 Football recruits:
Linemen
Tom Andalicklewick 6-3
Mary Wint 6-5
HOCKEY
North Bay Banks 6-3 190
Rocky Mountain 6-3 180
Percy Barlett 5-11 179
Douglas Wynne 5-11 179
William Campbell 6-1 190
James Farran 6-1 190
Mike Leopold 6-1 200
Michael Lepold 6-1 200
Matt Lee 6-1 200
Matt Lee 6-1 200
Caleb Rowe 6-11 210
Larry Dawson 6-11 210
Walt McLean 6-12 233
Morton Foster 6-12 233
Forrester Bradley 6.5 120
Mark Broussard 6.5 111
Jerry Calvich 6.3 120
Jeffrey Lefevre 6.3 195
James Erenson 6.4 196
Jim German 6.3 201
Louis Hunt 6.3 241
Jim Lob 6.3 210
Lionel Mason 6.3 210
Harry Murphy 6.4 208
Tom Terns 6.4 220
Frank Osborn 6.5 200
Richard Behringer 6.4 205
Jim Young 6.5 205
Welcome Students ... Another Exciting Year of KU Athletics Awaits You
1974-75
Basketball Schedule
Nov. 30—N.E. MISSOURI STATE
Dec. 2—AUGUSTANA.
Dec. 4—INDIANA.
Dec. 7—IOWA.
Dec. 9—at Notre Dame.
Dec. 13—JAYHAWK CLASSIC.
Dec. 14—JAYHAWK CLASSIC.
Dec. 23—at Kentucky.
Dec. 26-30 at Big Eight Tourn.
Jan. 6 at St. Louis.
Jan. 18-MISSOURI.
Jan. 22 at Iowa State.
Jan. 25—OKLAHOMA STATE.
Jan. 29—COLORADO.
Feb. 1 at Kansas State.
Feb. 5—NEBRASKA.
Feb. 8 at Oklahoma.
Feb. 12-IOWA STATE.
Feb. 15 at Oklahoma State.
Feb. 19 at Missouri.
Feb. 22-KANSAS STATE.
March 1 at Colorado.
March 5 at Nebraska.
March 8 OKLAHOMA.
There's no doubt about it; it'll be a tough act to follow. Many KU faithful are repeatedly calling last year one of the most exciting and memorable ones in the history of intercollegiate athletics at Kansas.
And perhaps it was. In football there was a tie for second place in the rugged Big Eight Conference, an appearance in the Liberty Bowl and an All-America quarterback. In basketball there was a conference championship, a Midwest Regional title and a fourth place finish in the NCAA final at Greensboro, N.C. Add to that an eight straight league championship in outdoor track, a seventh straight loop title in swimming and a third place finish in tennis and you can see why people are still talking about it.
But what about this year? Will there be more of the same? If the makeup of last year's teams is any indication there is good reason to think there will in fact be more. Nearly all were young, comprised mostly of freshmen, sophomores and juniors. In football 36 lettermen including 15 starters return. Basketball will welcome back six lettermen including the top five scorers and four starters.
All teams experienced excellent recruiting years, particularly football, basketball, track, tennis, gymnastics and baseball.
And now there is another dimension—women's athletics. Kansas has asserted itself into a role of leadership among the nation's universities in developing a solid overall intercollegiate program for women. Eight sports will comprise the KU Athletic Department's program for women providing students maximum participation and enjoyment in intercollegiate athletics.
Plan now to take part in the fun and excitement. Support all KU athletic teams in their efforts to improve on last year's outstanding success. Another exciting year appears to be in the making for the Jayhawks.
Ted Owens Basketball Coach
Don Fambrough Football Coach
Clyde Walker Athletic Director
1974 Football Schedule
Sept. 14 - #at Wash. State (n).
Sept. 21 - at Tennessee (n).
Sept. 28 - FLORIDA STATE.
(Parent's Day)
Oct. 5 - TEXAS A&M.
(Band Day)
Oct. 12 - at Kansas State.
Oct. 19 - NEBRASKA.
Oct. 26 - IOWA STATE.
(Homecoming)
Nov. 2 - at Oklahoma State.
Nov. 9 - at Colorado.
Nov. 16 - OKLAHOMA.
Nov. 23 - at Missouri.
at Spokane, Wash.
Junior Varsity Schedule
Junior Varsity Schedule
Sept. 20 — KANSAS STATE.
Sept. 27 — at Missouri.
Oct. 11 — at Kansas State.
Oct. 25 — MISSOURI.
Oct. 31 — at Haskell.