Page 12 University Dahlv Kansan. August 24, 1982
Foote solidifies KU defense with desire and experience
By TOM COOK
By TOM COOK
Associate Sports Editor
Up until last fall, Roger Foote bounced on around the KU football team between cornerback and strong safety. He was unable to find his niche in the defensive backfield until he gave it a shot at free safety.
Boy were Coach Don Fambrough and the remainder of the Jayhawks glad Foote made the switch. Not only did he solidify the position, but he made the big plays that enabled KU to have the successful season it did.
"HE SOLIDIFIED the position and provided great leadership in the secondary," said Rich Rachel, defensive back coach. "Coming off of the fine junior year he had, he knows he's a very good player in the Big Eight."
The big-play man of the Jayhawk defense, Foote had an excellent junior campaign for KU with four pass interceptions—second best in the Big Eight—in just eight games. He missed three games with an ankle sprain he suffered on the final play of the season opener at Tulsa.
However, in that game, his pass interception return for a touchdown brought the Jayhawks back from possession, and he took over. Way to an 8-3 regular season record.
He also returned an interception for a touchdown in the season finale against Missouri. Foote returned his four thieves for 92 yards, and despite being out for three games, led the Kansas secondary with 80 tackles during the season.
"A PERSON like Roger Foote is hard to place value on," Fambridge said. "He is very talented; he is very intelligent, and his experience is like having
a coach on the field. He can really take charge."
Foote, a 6-foot-3-inch, 200-pounder from Peabody, racked up 43 tackles during his rookie year, but missed the following season with a severe torn ACL. The injury was also injury-plagued and he saw spot duty, collecting just 11 tackles.
But his emergence last year as the "flyer," a name given the free safety by Rachel, helped lead the Jawhynks to a win over CAA's final statistics for pass defense.
"Roger doesn't have the most ability of our defensive backs, but he has great instinct and that's something I can't coach," Rachel said. "He's a good practice player, a great preparer and he studies the game very well."
Rachel credits much of Foote's ability in the defensive backfield to his experience as a high school quarterback. Foote was a prep All-American and consensus All-State at Parabody Burns. He was named first place by his team to the state title in 1977.
As a quarterback, Foote threw for 2,826 yards and 31 touchdowns. In high school, he compiled career defensive marks of 272 tackles and 15 intercept-
Fambrough he expected Foote to continue making the big plays this sea-
"We're blessed with guys like Foote, Gentry and Gary Coleman in the secondary," said Fambrough. "I expect them to be several big plays like he did last year."
AN HONORABLE mention All-Big Eight perform last season and a strong candidate for all-conference honors this year, Foote is looking forward to a good senior year, Rachel said.
"He's sharp mentally and he's really strong," Rachel said. "He's just a good all-around player and I'm looking forward to him having a good season."
Fambrigh said Foote's biggest asset was his ability to be in the right place at the right time. The KU head coach has been a lack of speed and quickness with desire.
"Roger is just a good Big Eight foot player that gives you everything he has," Fambrough said. "He is valuable to us with his athletic skills and his leadership on the field. If we put a freshman or sophomore back there with him, Roger can help him out and let him know what to do."
A MEMBER of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Foote said his main concern for the 1823 season was to be a prepared fixture in the Jayhawks' second season.
"Personally, I want to take more of an active part as a leader in the defense," Foote said. "Being a senior, I know the difference for the younger guys to look up to."
Foote leads a group of six returning defensive backs who were part of the traveling squad last year. The competitive spirit for a starting position, complemented by the quality of the players, has made for a strong secondary this season. Foote said.
"THE EXPERIENCE and the talent
"GOING to make us very strong," he said.
Fambrough agreed, saying Foote could be at the heart of the secondary.
"Roger is the type of young man that provides leadership by example, both on and off the field." Fambaugh said. "If all of our players followed the exam plan at Poehle, they would be fine football players as well as outstanding young men."
Roger Foote, KU's free safety, hopes his senior season is as productive as his junior campaign was when he picked off four passes, returning two for touchdowns.
Sundberg, Bell lead Rangers over Royals
By United Press International
ARLINGTON, Texas—Buddy Bell drove in three runs with a single and a double and Jim Sundberg belted a homer last night to spark the Texas Rangers to a 5-2 triumph over the Kansas City Royals.
Following Sundberg's homer, the
Sundberg's homer, which snapped a 1-1 tie, came in the eighth on a 1-2 pitch off reliever Mike Armstrong, who had worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the seventh inning to preserve the deadlock.
Rangers added another run in the inning when Mike Richardt walked, stole second and scored on a single by George Wright.
Bucky Dent led off the Texas third with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wright and scored the first run of the game on a single by Bell
Dave Schmidt, 44, went $8\frac{1}{2}$ innings for the Rangers to get the victory with Danny Darwin pitching out of a baserunner in the ninth to notch his sixth sash.
Armstrong, who came on in the seventh to relieve捧起 Vida Blue, is now
past the glove of third baseman Greg Prvor.
Wathan equaled a major league record during the game with his 30th stolen base of the year. That total tied the most stolen bases ever in one season
With one in the Royals' sixth, U.L. Washington out reached on base a bloop single to stole second and scored Kansas City's first run on a single by Hal McRae. It was McRae's major-league leading 109th RBI.
Bell doubled home the Rangers' final two runs in the eighth and John Wathan singled home the Royals' final run in the ninth.
by a catcher, a mark set in 1913 by Ray Schalk of the Chicago White Sox.
At New York, Oscar Gamble and
Gregory back to back-homers on
the Yankees.
The home runs came in the sixth inning when the Yankees erupted for three runs. Releiver Dale LaRoche picked up his 26th save. Rich Gossage picked up his 28th save.
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