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Friday, August 29, 1975
University Daily Kansan
Levra adopting multiple offense
By ALLEN QUAKENBUSH
John Lever has a history of being able to turn mediocre football teams into good ones.
Following KU's lackluster record of the past several seasons, he again has a chance to work his magic, this time as offensive coordinator of the Jayhawks.
IT DIDN'T TAKE Levra long to change that.
Levra comes to KU from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoco, Tex. When Levra took over the football there, it was far from successful.
courtship.
"They were having a hard time," Levra said. "They just didn't have too many football players."
In five years, he built a team that won nine games for two consecutive seasons. Last year's team finished 9/2, its best performance with 82 fifth among the nation's small colleges.
Levra has a simple offensive formula to provide the Jayhawks with a successful team.
"And," he quickly added, "we have to do it well enough to out-score our opponents."
Lever hapes to do that with a multiple offense—the wishbone—that is relatively unknown to him. At Stephen F. Austin, he ran from the straight-T and 1 formation.
"I HAD TO GO through a learning process here," Levaa said. "But I'm getting oriented to know. I know what we are trying to accomplish.
*With this type of offense, we have to be伯逊- can't afford any interruption or fumigation.*
Although it is a different offense than he's used to working with, Levra said the wishbone should be used at KU.
"We're trying to look at a lot of things offensively," he said. "And there are a lot of things you can do with the wishbone. I'm convinced that our best chance for offensive success lies with the wishbone."
But LeVra is battling personnel problems in his attempt to build a winning offense. As KU head coach Bud Moore has said several times, the team will play against people who could play for any team. But there simply aren't enough of them.
THIS IS MOST evident on the offensive line. Lack of size and experience there
Staff Photo by DON PIERCE
John Leva
Offense Coordinator
are the biggest problems facing Levra. "We're not very big." Levra said. "Especially for the teams we have to play."
Running backs don't seem to be a big problem. Laverne Smith, an all-Big Eight selection, returns at one halfback. Sophomore Bill Campfield and junior college transfer Norris Banks read out a solid backfield.
Center John Morgan is the only proven veteran on the line. Levra is counting on some young players to play in to play a more difficult game, so they need to them to adjust to playing regularly.
But it takes more than three backs to run the wishmein. Dennis Wright has looked good in practice at fullback, but he also experienced, as are the rest of the reserves.
"WE DO HAVE some good running backs," Leva said, "but we would like to have a lot more. Then again, any team in America would like to have a lot of running backs. There's always a drop off of quality depth."
It remains to be seen whether Leva can work his offensive wizardry with the Jayhawks. But if past experience means that he has a good chance of doing just that.
Gates challenges change of Big Eight tennis rules
Sports Writer
By RON COHN
The Big Eight will propose a tennis rule change in its October meeting that would end the requirement that all league teams play each other in dual meets.
urkand gate, University of Kansas
tennis coach, opposes the change, which
would limit his reach.
"I feel that the present system is the best of any system in the country." Gates said.
"It gives each team and each player a good chance to win," he added. "meets something for the team standings."
"Doing away with the conference rule takes away the competitive edge because once a team has won five matches they wouldn't have much more to shoot for. It definitely would hamper player development."
Gates expressed surprise at the proposal.
I think that it was poor judgment on the
part of whoever made that decision," he said. "I voiced my disappointment and I talked with some of the other coaches and no one else. The only reason I can see is the budget."
In reference to the budget, Gates said he thought excessive travel was the primary concern. However, Colorado was the only school faced with those problems. They matched against Missouri and Kansas just prior to the Big Eight tournament, he said.
"As I said, I believe our present format to be the best in the country," Gates said. "If they are going to cut back they should do it completely and not give any athletic support to the tennis program. In that case, tennis would have a club status."
Gates said teams now are forced to develop their squads, thus the caliber of player available.
Staff Photo by DON PIERCE
Van Zandt stresses alert defense
Although he had never coached here before, Van Zandt was a member of the Texas & M&M staff at the same time as now-KU head coach Bud Moore. When Moore looked for a man to head his defensive minds, Van Zandt immediately came to mind.
By ALLEN QUAKENBUSH
Associate Sports Editor
Coming to the University of Kansas was a reunion of sorts for football defensive players.
To Moore, Van Zandt is simply "the top defensive coach in the nation."
MOORE WASN'T THE ONLY coach on the staff that Van Zandt had previously with him. He has been with him from Oklahoma State, And Van Zandt had coached with KU's offensive coordinator John Levra at New Mexico Highlands and receiver coach Dan Black-
As the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, Van Zandt helped to develop a defense that ranked first in the Big Eight, and tenth nationally last season.
His philosophy about building a top defensive program is simple.
Van Zandt said the first thing a coach must do is always be himself, on and off the field.
"We try to stop the long run and the long pass," Van Zandt said, "and hold the opponent to less than three yards per try." He added, "We make the opponent smiling, 'to is not let them score.'"
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE YOUR own personality," he said. "If they (players) do something wrong, you have to get after them. And if they do well, you have to compliment them. We're all after the same objective and that's to win."
Moore believes that disciplined players are needed to produce a winner. Van Zandt said that the more experienced the referee is, the better he is.
“Discipline is as hell important,” he said. “You have to be ready to win the game.”
"To do that, you have to teach your
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players to play hard every down. If they get stuck in the action, it will come naturally, on Saturday.
WELCOME STUDENTS TO OPEN BOWLING
FRI. & SAT.
2 Lines for the Price of One, 75c. Only till Sept.1
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BUT VAN ZANDT KNOWS it's impossible to turn a program around in only one year. That's why we need to have it move forward.
"Take for example a crucial down in the fourth quarter. If the players aren't mentally tough, they might offloads or hold an opponent or get a penalty that would really kill you because they weren't mentally prepared.
Van Zand is determined that won't happen at KU.
"The only way to turn a program around is to recruit good players," Van Zandt said. "The main thing we want to do first is to recruit well n-in-state.
In essence, the only way a football coach can be judged successful is to be a winner. That's why Van Zandt followed Moore to KU.
"It's going to take a little time, but I think Kansas has a great chance to be a winner."
"But Moore is a winner," he said. "Every place he has been (Kentucky, Texas &Amp;Mn, North Carolina and Alabama), he has won a conference championship.
"SIZZLER SPECIAL"
Good from Thurs., Aug. 28 to Mon., Sept. 1
1/2 lb. Super Burger and French Fries
88* with coupon reg. *1.49
Watch each week for another Sizzler Special
SIZZLER FAMILY STEAK HOUSE Locally Owned & Managed Catering & Banquets
1518 West 23rd St.
NEW HOURS:
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun-Thurs.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri-Sat.
WELCOME!
WELCOME!
WELCOME!
THE CHINESE STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION invites All the Chinese Students and Friends to Attend Her WELCOMING PARTY Featured with Kung-Fu Movie and Refreshments.
Date: 29 AUGUST 1975 (FRIDAY)
Place: Forum Room, Kansas Union
Time: 7:30 p.m.
(Paid by Student Activity Fees)
University of Kansas Panhellenic Association
Announces
Academic requirement for the January 1976 membership program (sorority rush).
1. Minimum 2.20 cumulative G.P.A., or 2.20 fall 1975 semester G.P.A.
2. Fourteen completed hours for fall 1975 semester.
Orientation meetings and registration will take place during October.
Watch the UDK for dates and times of these events.
Panhellenic Association
220 Strong
864-3552