University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas
KANSAN
Section 5 Sports
Clockwise from the top, Frank Searer, Garfield Taylor and Wayne Caps are three of several returning starters on offence - who hope to help KU improve on last year's record of 8.4. Searer and Caps were All-Big-Eight at quarterback and receiver, while Taylor led the Jayhawk in running.
Football '82 Recruits, veterans combine for mature, optimistic team
By GINO STRIPPOLI Sports Editor
The last time the Kansas football team had an explosive offense, Nolan Cromwell was quarterback, Clyde Walker was the KU athletic director and Gerald Ford was president.
Cromwell is a defensive back with the Los Angeles Rams, Walker is a college administrator and Ford is a frequent guest at pro-am golf tournaments. But the offensive team that plays the most prolific hwks also takes the most explosive offensive and even take the field for the Jayhawks.
"I GIVES me chills when I think of our offensive football team," junior quarterback Frank Seer said. "There is no reason that we shouldn't put a lot of points on the board. Our line is stronger and our skilled positions are better. We definitely be a better offer offensive football team."
The Jyhayks return nine starters on offense led by Seurer, who was rated as one of the top five quarterbacks in the country for 1982 by Playboy magazine. Seurer completed 89 out of 176 passes for 1199 yards and threw 11 interceptions. After the rout at Oklahoma State with each touchdown and it culminated with back-to-back games of over 200 yards total offense.
"I have to be a leader on this year's team," Saurer said. "I have to get the respect of the officiating coaches."
"Last year, I was frustrated at the beginning of the year. I can't let that happen this year. I am ready to do it."
SURER WILL be joined in the Kansas backfield by the deepest group of running
'It gives me chills when I think of our offensive football team. There is no reason that we shouldn't put a lot of points on the board. Our line is stronger and our skilled positions are better. We should definitely be a better offensive football team.'
Junior quarterback Frank Seurer
backs since the Jayhawks switched from the wishbone offense.
The tailback position should be a battle all season long as Garfield Taylor and Kerwin and D Bell fight it out for the starting position. Taylor was listed on top of the tailback list. The same players who participated participate because of a knee injury suffered in the Kansas-Kentucky game last fall.
Taylor led the Jayhawks in rushing last year with 728 yards on 167 carries. Kerwin Bell was third, despite playing a little more than two games. Bell's knee is healthy now and he says he is ready to play. Kerwin's brother Dino showed well in spot playing last year and pushed Taylor for the number one spot in spring drills.
"THERE is nothing greater than to have great depth," offensive coordinator Morris Watts said. "The tailback takes a lot of punishment and it's best to have depth, that way you don't workw anybody and everyone stays healthy."
A healthy Kerwin Bell would mean a lot to the Jayhawks and although Bell looks fit, Head Coach Don Fambrough said that he'll have to look and see.
"He's running at full speed but we'll have to see what he's like in real game conditions," Fambrough said. "It's a lot different when people start hitting."
The fullback position is just as deep, with returning starter E.J. Jones leading the pack of hopefuls. Behind Jones are Harvey Fields, Pat Kelley and freshman Dave Geroux.
The one position on the offensive unit that is totally up for grabs is the tight end position. Two-year starter Jeff Schleischer was declared academically inelegible because he put up for grabs between Ernie Wright, Syler Byrd and possibly a freshman.
IT'S A REAL blow when you lose a two-year starter." Fambourg said. "The position is up for grabs and we're just going to wait for someone to step forward and take command."
The offensive line is solid with Reggie Smith and Renwick Atkins at tackles positions, K.C. Brown and Paul Finchfield at the guard-posts. Ben Gilliam at Grant Threlkof or Bonnie Simecke at center.
But the top spot on the offensive unit may be the receiver position with five lettermen returning at that position. All-Big Eight receiver Wayne Capers leads the receiver corps. Capers
caught 36 passes for 629 yards to lead the 'Hawks. Joining Capers is Russ Bastin and Bobbion Johnson. The two shuttled in the plays from the sidelines last year. Another player from the sidelines like some of the minutes off of Capers is freshman Richard Esteri out of Kansas City, Mio.
"THERE ISN'T much difference between the receivers," Bastin, who is one of the offensive captains, said. "If something happens to one of them, you can step in, that will help the team immensely."
Although the offense is a more veteran unit than the defense, the defense should still be one of the best in the league.
"Our job is to get the offense the ball in good field position," defensive coordinator Tom Batta said. "Last year our defense always seemed to come up with the big play when we started it." But this season, the number of big plays we had last year, but we will still be strong on defense."
The strength of the defense should be the backfield, led by co-captains Roger Fote and Gary Coleman at the safety positions. Fote returned two interceptions for touchdowns last week. Coleman, Kansas State quarterback Darrel Dickey on the 1-yard line to turn the momentum around.
"THE CORNERBACK positions will be manned by Rod Demerittie and Elvis Patterson. Demerittie had the longest return of an interception in the Big Eight last year with a 6-1 victory over Boston. Demerittie, both saw considerable action last year, will back up the starters.
The defensive end position is another strong point for the Jayhawks, Marky Alexander and Tim Friess are both returning starters, with Carkey Alexander fighting for a starting birth. The tackle position is also strong with mammoth Broderick Thompson, 6, 6; 275 pounds, and Mark Wilbers, 6, 4; 255, manning the starting positions.
The big question for the defense is the middle defense with all three of last year's starters gone. Fambrough must replace the top three (Kyle McNorton, Chris Tobareus and Greg Smith).
MIKE ARANBAS and Eddie Simmons are listed as the top players to replace McNorton and Toburen at the linebacker position. They were backed up by Kerry Bruno and Bill Maltay.
"We have confidence in the kids we have, but we need everyone to stay healthy," Batta said. "We have four at the position now, and we need depth at the position."
At nose guard, Walter Parrish leads Dave Mehrer to replace Smith at nose guard. Neither saw much action last year due to Smith playing back against him. This position remains a big question mark.
One part of the KU squad that is anything but a question mark is the kicking game manned by punter Bucky Scribner and place kicker Bruce Kallmeyer.
SCRIBRN, a preseason All-American selection, has never failed to lead the Big Eight in扑射 since his first week as a sophomore. He was named the Most Valuable Player during the ABC televised Kansas-Arkansas State game and two-year average at Kansas is 39.9 yards per court.
Last year, he put 20 of his 75 punts out of bounds inside the 20-yard line.
"I don't see how there could be a more consistent punter in the country," Fambrough said. "He can do it all, kick long, hit the corner, just what you ask of him."
Kallmer was a pleasant surprise for the Jayhawks last year after a close battle with teammate Dodge Schwartzburg for the kicking position. Kallmer made 12 of 14 field goal attempts, including five for five against Nebraska, a Kansas and Big Eight record.
KALLMEYER ALSO hit on all 16 of his extra points to lead Kansas in scoring with 52 points. He was selected to the All-Big Eight second team last year.
I'm proud of the kickers and the job they do, but we have some other people that do a super job in that area," Farnham said. "Grant Thierroff is one of the best deep cleaners we ever seen and all the people we have on coverage take a lot of pride in stepping the onboard."
"This is just a solid spot on our football team."
Fambridge also expects some of the freshmen to pick up some of the slack on this year's team. The group of freshmen was considered one of the best the Jayhawks have ever had.
“This is a very talented group of players,” Fambrough said. “The last six months I've been telling people about how much talent we have got and that hasn't changed since the day of practice. There will certainly be a number of them competing for playing time.
"Every year the Big Eight gets stronger. Nebraska has all the ingredients to be a national champion, Oklahoma State has their whole offense back and K-State had a good red-shirt program last year. I know we will be IMPORTANT we have more depth than we've had long time.
"The Big Eight will be a tough race, I don't know if you call them surprises or upsets, but it is going to be a very interesting league race."