6
Thursday, November 4.1976
University Daily Kansan
Butler uses intimidating finesse to crush opposing running backs
By GARY VICE
NU's Steve Hoins exchanges blows with Mike Butler
Mike Butler is looking for someone to try to push him around.
But after being a first team All-Big Eight selection at defense tackle last season as a junior, his reputation has so far been unsurpassed, most have tried to avoid him this year.
Opposing teams have been running away from Butler and robbing him of opportunities to gain the recognition of pro scouts.
"I suppose it's kind of an honor that they run away from me," Butler at 8-5 and 252 pounds is the biggest man on the squad, said. "but I'd rather have it. It would give我 more opportunities to make big plays behind the line and all."
"IT WOULD be more of a challenge if they ran at me, but there would also be more of a chance for them to look like a fool if they get a lot of yards."
Butler, however, has looked anything but foolish this season when opponents do try to run at him. He leads KU's defense linemen with 46 tackles this season and leads the team with eight tackles and leads the scrimmage for 37 yards lost.
And he has complied these totals facing All-American tackles Dennis Lick of Wisconsin, Warren Bryant of Kentucky and Mike Vaughan of Oklahoma this year.
"IVE SEEN him up against the guys who are supposed to be the best in the country, AllAmericans," nose guard Dennis Ballagan, said. "and he just crushed them. I don't think anyone will ever dominate Mike Butler."
"He's so quick that he could stunt his way around them, but he doesn't need
too. He just lines up and knocks the shit out of them."
His biggest challenge this season may have come last weekend against Nebraska, when the Cornhuskers came his way.
"THEY RAN at me more than anyone else has this year," he said, "but they double trained me a lot. They were using our techniques and developing their tight end, or a running back."
Such special attention limited Sather to eight tackles, but it often allowed one of his teammates to make the play unchecked.
"When they use two blockers on me."
he said, "I'm taking out a lot of the interference so the linebackers can make the tackle."
On the other end of the defensive line at tackle is Franklin King, who has been the beneficiary of many running backs coming his way instead of Butler's, King, a sophomore, is second to Butler among linemen with 41 tackles.
"Nebraaska is really the only team that's challenged him," King said. "That's something that's hurting him this year. When nobody runs at you you can't get up for the games. Last year he had to get up for every game."
Butler. And that game was Kansas '23-3 upset victory over Oklahoma last year when Butler was named by Sports Illustrated as the national defensive player of the week.
"Last year I really wanted to beat Oklahoma." Butler said. "You see there's that myth that they're unbeatable and I wanted to destroy that.
And this year I would have loved to have beaten Nebraska. I was really up for them."
What opponents try to do against a fire up Mike Buller, besides running the other way, is to fire off the line and cut it out. But Buller knows how to deal with them.
"WHAT I try to do is sit back more and read him," he said. "If I fire off and try to cut me, I can hurt him. So out we over them. Then, since they usually go to the other side when they cut me, I can get on their side where the play is and help out."
It sounds a little difficult for such a big man, but Butler has been in 475 in the 49-year dandr. His speed is one of the reasons many KU boosters believe Butler will be highly sought in the pro draft.
"You know, some people say I will go to the first round," he said. "If I don't get drafted my pride isn't so big that I won't on and try to play for somebody. I'll
"Well, I'm going to try to play pro ball. If I don't make it, I don't make it."
King has no doubts about his teammate's ability.
"He'll make it," he said. "Mike Butler intimidates, crushes and fineshes. He does all three things. He's a complete football player."
'Buffs favored in conference race
Sports Writer
BvSTEVE CLARK
The elections are over. At last, no more polls, no more predictions, well almost.
The Big Eight cross country championship is coming to town. It will be run at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Lawrence Country Club and, because the rest of the sports staff didn't ask for my insights into college football, this will have to do.
Whether I was given this assignment because nobody else went it or because I know something about the sport doesn't matter. But I convinced myself of the latter.
As for practical experience, I've logged five competitive seasons of cross country although it doesn't have anything to do with it, I did suffer through a 8:40-10:00 marathon.
COLORADO: The Buffaloes are more formidable than the mountains that provide a backdrop for the Boulder campus. They are loaded. Kirk Pfeffer, who was eight in the marathon trials for the U.S. Olympic team, is also here without him. As it is, he'll probably take individual honors and pace his team to the championship.
Keep all that vital information in
mental, here in the order in which I believe
that it is most important.
An indication of their strength came a few weeks back in a five-temme meet in Lawrence. Colorado runners were first, 2nd, 7th, 11th, 15th, 17th and 28th. And three of the top seven runners missed the meet with minor injuries.
IOWA STATE: The Cyclones have depth, a statement not many squads can make. Jeff Myers, Steve Manley, Gene McGivEN and Dan Gilchrist have finished within 13
Analysis
seconds of each other, a performance not many squads can match.
OKALIHOMA: Coach Larry Rose has made extensive use of a podiatrist to care for runners. It's paid off. His squad has built up so far that Stan Vernon is Oklahoma's best. Brian Geissler will be right behind Vernon and his top runners should come in a cluster.
MOSQUIER: The Tigers might not place a man in the top 10, but when the first Mizzou runner does finish, there'll be plenty of opportunities in black and gold uniforms right with him.
KANSAS: George Mason has an outside shot to win the individual title should
Puffer feiffer. So does John Roscoe, assuming his ankle troubles are over. Bruce Goldsmith should place in the top 10. KU's top three are as good as anybody's but the fourth and five men haven't been spectacular.
However, if Ted Crank continues his improvement and one of the other Jayhawk runners really performs well, KU could move up a couple of notches.
Quarterback position open; injury situation improves
KANAS STATE: Coach Jerome Howe probably will have mixed emotions during this meet as he watches the team be coached last year, Colorado, run away with the title. That might be the only satisfaction he'll get.
The Wildcats are the defending champs, but will only repeat if all the other schools are so busy rapping that the wild night life in Lawrence that they miss the start. That team does have two runners, and unlikely K-State does have two runners, who could place in Junichel Nielux, who could place in the top 10.
Jones, who has a sprained ankle, would be replaced in the line up by Jim Young. Irvin, who has a twisted knee, is backed up by Andy Reust and Caleb Kowe.
Freshman pitcher Mitch Dougherty, who walked on the team after its opening game against Oregon State, has quit. Dougherty averaged 37 yards a punt until losing his starting job two weeks ago to another freshman, Mike Hubach.
NEBRASKA: For the past two years the Big Red have been at the Big Bottom of the conference. The Commhaskers have much better runners than the previous two squads, but they won't go any higher than seventh.
Quarterbacks Scott McMichael and Mark Lissack both worked out with KU's first team offense yesterday leaving some doubt as to who will start Saturday against Iowa State.
Coach Bud Moore said yesterday he wouldn't announce his decision until game
OKLAHOMA STATE: Injuries to some key runners have made it a long season for coach Ralph Tate. The only bright spot is the hard Rose who could skip into the top five.
"I'll admit that these choices are just my opinion, but I think that I have some sort of belief in it."
"Ifigured if you could walk on a team you could walk off," Dougherty said.
At least I didn't promise to balance the budget.
Coors
Pitchers $1.00 Mass. St. Deli New Yorker
KU's injury situation improved yesterday as only two starters, defensive end Steve Jones and cornerback Leroy Iroin, missed practice. Nine starters sat out Monday.
Exp. Nov. 30' '76 Present Coupon
842-8413
Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
announces:
Jimmy Spheeris
Joint subcommittee for Academic Affairs and Student Rights
RAASCH
SADDLE & BRIDLE SHOP
Funded by the Student Senate
COMFY,DOWN PARKAS AND VESTS Parkas $49.50 Vests $20.00 Bring this ad in for 10% off the price.
Present Coupon
CHARLES RAASCH
Get your BIG BLUE hats to wear to the Jayhawks remaining game. Show your support with a BIG BLUE hat.
Seminar on 20% Student Representation
"The original thick crust from New York"
Offer Expires Nov. 30, '76
$1.00 OFF ANY LARGE PIZZA
Seminar to be held. November 9, 7:30 p.m.
Big 8 Room—Kansas Union
The public is invited.
Offer Exp. Nov. 30, '76
Jung K. Lee, professor of chemistry
Clifford Griffin, professor of history
Ronald Calgaard, Vice Cancellor for Academic Affairs
James Corothers, assistant professor of English
Dennis Embry, assistant instructor of Western Civ.
Speakers Will Be:
Is returning to Lawrence after a sellout performance in Kansas City for a concert in Hoch Auditorium.
The Reuben $1.50 Reg. $2.00
Presented by SUA
Friday, 8:30 p.m., Nov. 12
General Admission $6.00 day of Show
Tickets are: $5.00 in advance
Cornucopia
Restaurant 1801 Mass.
Announcing
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SALAD BAR: all the cheese, soup and salad fixings you can eat, also 1/3 lb. seven grain bread CREPES: chicken, turkey, Canadian bacon, crab.
HOME BAKED SEVEN GRAIN BREADS, BAGELS,
SAID BAR, all the cheese, sour and salted
CREPES: chicken, turkey, Canadian bacon, crab, broccoli, asparagus, mixed vegetables
broccoli, asparagus, mixed vegetables
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POT TOMATOES: tomato
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beacon, turkey, corn, beef pastrami, avocado, BLT,
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1. 4,194,304 possible combinations. Make up your own items in our kitchen sundries list of 22 different items.
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Table service with seating for 104. Taped music, beer, and average meal price, including drink, only $2 to $4.
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