KU SPORTS
Christianity Religious spirit draws wide range of athletes
"I want you to know that everything I did out there on the football field was today for Christ. I want to thank him for letting me play well and being with our everything we've done, and did today, we owe to him."
That statement was made by Lindsey Mason, owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who noted how this KU-Washington football game earlier this month drew 17,000 spectators.
Mason is only one of many athletes at the University of Kansas who have chosen the teachings of Christianity to guide their lives as well as their athletic talents. Most KU athletes aren't as openly Christian as those beliefs as Mason, but Christianity is apparently becoming a more important part of athletics here.
THERE ARE several members of KU's cross country team who frequently meet to study the Bible. And, from the ranks of the football team, a fellowship group meets weekly to discuss their lives as Christian athletes and how they can guide their teammates toward the same philosophy.
Mason is one of the leaders of that group, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Five to 25 football players attend the meetings. Those in FCA said their strong beliefs in Christianity help
By Gary Vice Assistant Sports Editor
survive the burdens of long football practices as well as the regular traumas of academic rigors.
JIM YOUNG, junior defensive end, said, "Football kind of gets down on you because it takes so much of your time. Practicing every day takes a lot of effort and self denial. I manage to keep going because of Christianity, which is based a lot on the concept of denial of self."
Jim Emerson, junior noseguard, said, "Without Christ, I would have quit a long time ago. It is an awful big burden to fight by yourself and I need a lot more of that." Instantly a lot more, they're fighting a lot of things.
"I think it would help a lot of athletes if they became Christians. It would help them get through the day-by-day hardships of practice. When you have an injury, you have a lot more incentive to keep on going."
THE FEELINGS of athletes not involved with the Bible study groups and Christian meetings were varied, but were basically supportive of their faith. The group did not insist upon forcing their philosophies on others.
Tad Scales, junior pole vaulter, said, "I think every athlete defends with religion in his own way. Those in the top of the gymnastics world are like us."
"As far as him promoting religion on everyone he knows," she said, shoving him above it down my throat. I get irritated. On our team,
they just let us know they are having a meeting and they welcome us to attend. That's the way it like it."
Several players dodged in agreement when junior defensive tackle Doug Barrington said, "They feel they've got to tell you, me, everyone about it. And we'd just rather not have them flash it on us."
On another occasion, Barrington expressed what he considered the good points of having athletes in shape.
"THOSE THAT don't openly profess their Christianity) have an awful lot of respect for those that do," he said. "It has to be that way to have a Christian atmosphere—a team atmosphere. That's what athletics is all about. You wouldn't believe how much it has dissatisfied the racial problem."
Mason said, "My brother, he's tried every religion from Buddhism to Muslim. He's been searching and can't find himself. And he can't see why I'm a Christian because he calls it a white man's religion. He's blinded already. I tell him, 'Hey, we both came from the same woman.'"
Most of the Christian-achievers active in FCA at KU are black. Defensive tackle Franklin King offered his opinion of the situation, saying, "The reason that (more blacks are involved) is because it is more obvious for a black to believe in Christ because there is not much for a black to do in Lawrence. A lot of white athletes would rather go out with their friends. But I don't think it's just blacks (in Christianity). Once you become a brother in Christ, everyone's brother."
AT ONE weekly FCA meeting, several athletes discussed how they could get other team members involved in Christianity and how the team could benefit from it.
King said, "I'm not saying I am perfect, but I want to know every an example of what Christ can do in your life."
"In our day in society, how many times do you hear people say show me? That's what we've got to do.
Emerson said a strong belief in Christianity by many of his high school team members helped them
"Christianity really brought our team together," Emerson said. "Our friendship, helping each other and patting each other on the back during two-a-day trips to Chicago and New York, and more suvs joined us. They became Christians."
MASON SAID, "A lot of times when we are in the locker room talking about the Lord, people hear us saying how the Lord helped us through practice and learning. But we heard this little trickle of interest, the Lord can blossom."
Christian fellowship
King added, 'A lot of people believe it is a cop out attitude to believe in Christ. People say that athletes who believe in Christ do so they say that it is for them if they play badly. But everything we do is for him.
KU football players James Jackson, left, and Lindsey Mason. Clifford
and KU quarterback coach Gary Ruley discuss spiritual sources of endurance at a recent Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting.
"Now we have more people who have come to the Lord and the more people we have come to the Lord, Jesus Christ."
Senior free safety Chris Golub, who said he considered himself only mildly religious, said, "The ones who are bringing us together on this team are Christians."
"IF KU GOES to the Orange Bowl." Mason said,
"that's what will take them there. The power of the
When asked about the role of Christianity on the Jayhawks' football team, coach Bud Moore hedged
You wouldn't believe how much it has dissipated the racial problem.
responding, then sternly requested that assistant coach Gary Rulledge answer further questions on the
Rutledge, who said he was asked by Moore to coordinate a more active FCA program, said that the FCA before Moore's arrival at KU hadn't been very long. Moore still desired a more organized and active program.
King said, "Couch Rutledge is the only man I know of our coaches who has confessed to Christ as his teacher." And even more importantly other coaches haven't found Christ because they are part of our team and are in authority over us. I have never heard anyone say that.
DISTANCE RUNNERS George Mason and Bill Lambert said that much of their strength to practice was due to their age.
Mason, senior co-captain of the cross country team.
as scriptures in the Bible spur his dedication to the Lord and to achieving goals in running.
"There's one Bible passage that says 'All men run in a race, but only one can receive the prize,' he said. "It goes on to say, 'Live your life as if to win and not just to run.'"
"One of the main things Christianity does for me as an athlete is give my faith ... faith that I can do well."
Landberg, a graduate assistant, said that it took him awhile to realize that God was responsible for all of his athletic talents. Landberg said he feels he must repay God for that blessing of athletic talent
"EVERYTHING THAT happens in my life, He's the cause," Lindberg said. "I can look back now and say that he blessed me with the talent to run as well as I did. This is the most important thing, I feel, that through the ability He's given me, maybe others will see it. By my running well, I can be a stronger witness."
Gymnasian Ford Culbertson said that the disciplines taught in religion helped him discipline himself in religious practice.
"Spiritually, gymnastics helps you follow God's truth," he said. "In gymnastics you have to do the moves correctly or truthfully. And since God is truth, you have to do it in God's way."
Gymnast Karen Mundy said her religious convictions helped her work towards achievement in the sport.
"I INCLUDE gymnastics in my prayer life," she said. "I pray before and during practice for the strength and courage to do the tricks. I don't depend on the Lord, but He belms me."
"I feel that gymnastics is a talent I have and I want to do my best for the Lord. I'm supposed to use the equipment."
Mason said strong religious beliefs would help an athlete be more powerful when he performs.
"THE LORD helps you be confident because he tells you to have no fear," he said. "He gives you confidence, not an ego. With the Lord controlling you, you don't need an ego. You won't be looking down on other people and saying, 'I am better than you because I play KU football.'"
"I think that in just the last few years, amateurs have shown they need the Lord in their lives."
Young agreed, saying, "It's growing everywhere." Young said he was proud. "Just three years ago, we had about 15 players left."
When somebody tries to shove religion down my throat, I get irritated.
magnus before games and pray. And amy only one to 10 of them were Christians. Now, we have 15 to 25".
EMERSON SAID Christianity was growing among football players because of the immense strain that football puts on their bodies.
Mason said that many Christians weren't immediately visible because "there are a lot of guys who aren't outward worshipers of the Lord. They worship from within."
In the Bible, namely Philippians 4:13, is where King said he got his strength. The quote reads, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Says King, "I know I can do all things through Christ. Football, homework, all things."
Dun Boyman, Steve Clark and Steve Schoenfeld also helped prepare this story.
Jayhawk success runs the gamut in pro football
John Riggins — Washington Redskins
Every year the National Football League goes to the market in their annual draft shopping through the collegiate football talent.
And rarely do the NFL clubs purchase cut-rate or store brand spectacles. They check with the league before buying.
They shop for Buckeye, Bruin and Trojan brands. And, they stock up on Jawhaves.
"DENEAR" AS he is affectionately known by KU athletes past and present, remembers the college careers of John Deere, who was one of others as they aspired to make the pro
AND ONE MAN, DEAN Nesmith, KU's head trainer for the last 39 years, has been around to see them all rise to professional football.
Currently, there are 16 former University of Kansas football players on NFL rosters, one on the inactive (injured) list and three in the Canadian Football League.
"When they walk in here as freshman," Nesmith said, "it's difficult to tell if they have pro potential. Once they become familiar with the program, you pros prospect, but you can never be sure."
Nessmith cited the 1968 Jayhawks, which went 9-2 on the year including a 15-14 loss to Penn State in the Orange Bowl, as an example of what it takes. Seven Jayhawks from that Big Eight cochampion team are playing pro football.
Nesrith, who himself played pro football in 1936 on the New York Yankees after lettering as a tackle at KU, said that for an athlete he needed his pressure he needed more than athletic ability.
"IT TAKES mental toughness to make the ride." They have to be able to take the ride.
"They matured that year," Nesmith said. "They were a team that wasn't afraid of the big names like Oklahoma. They had real players that definitely helped them make pro ball."
Douglass, who now the reserve quarterback at New Orleans after a few years as
Chicago's starting quarterback, passed for 1,316 yards in 1988. In the backfield with him was Riggins, KU's No. 2 career rusher with a season-high 40 tackles. Washington Redskins, Riggins, who was a junior in 1986, was drafted by the New York Jets and played out his career at the Redskins.
OTHER STAR performers on that team were Larry Brown, who was the starting tight end on both of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl Championship teams; John Zook, who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and is currently the starting
By Gary Vice Assistant Sports Editor
defensive end on the St. Louis Cardinals; Jim Baille, who plays defensive tackle for Atlanta after being drafted by the Baltimore Colts; and Donnie Shanklin and Mickey Doyle of the Canadian League. Shanklin, a running back named most likely in the 2018 Orange bowl, is now a wide receiver, and Doyle plays linebacker.
"I think anyone who plays major college football believes they can play pro football," Nesmith said. "All of them had an ace, and the other football, you just don't hear it out loud."
"WE HAVE guys on this football team who I will think make it. I won't give their names for obvious reasons but they are more demonstrate to me they have what it takes."
Responding to the suggestion of All-America candidates Mike Butler, Laverne Smith and Nolan Cromwell making it the pros, Nesmith said, "I think there is a possibility of 10 or 12 on this team. But you never know what those people who are running in the looking for them who are good persons as well as talented athletes.
"You know the scouts come around and
talk to me about our people. We have seven or eight guys who are seniors this year that are in the army.
NESMITH DISCOUNTS his own ability, or anyone else's, to make the right deduction every time about a college player's ability.
"You take a guy like Steve Towle (the leading tacker in his rookie season last fall). If you don't almost say, 'now there is a guy who will make it.' But you can't be 100 per cent sure. If you could point at a guy and say 'he could name your own salary as a scout.'
And Nesmith said that Towle, an all-conference linebacker his senior year 1974 before going to Miami, had an interesting personality.
"WELL, STEVE had the money and also he was a flashy dress," he said. "I don't want to give the impression he was a wild man or anything, but he liked to go out and have a good time. I guess you could say he like doug like Fairbanks. Now I'm showing my age. But nevertheless, he was very intense when it came to football.
Goode, who played defensive end at KU,
is the starting outside linebacker on the San Diego Chargers and Williams, who gained
1,233 yards rushing at Kansas between
hamstring injuries, is starting for the San Francisco 49ers.
"Fellows like John Koe, for instance; he was one of the toughest guys around. I was always sure he'd make it to the tournament and Delvin Williams were No. 1 picks, but evidently whose chose them knew what they were doing because they've turned out very well."
NESMITH SAID one of the most memorable days each year is draft day, when players like Emmett Edwards, the Jayhawks leading career receiver, was drafted. He was big offensive guard who was drafted last year by the Falcons, are selected in the draft, Edwards.
a second-round pick of the Houston Oilers,
w traded to the Baffalo Bills two weeks
"These fellows usually spend the day pretty close to the phone," Neaslith said. "When then they get the call, they come up and read the word and they are pretty jubilant."
"I remember when Delvin signed. He went out and bought a Cadillac. And Bobby Douglas, he bought himself a Corvette, one of those sports cars. But some are more conservative. Zook was a somber, studious type individual and when he signed he bought a conservative car and I'm sure he invested his money in land or something."
THE LIST of former Jayhawks now playing professional football is dominated by offensive backs, offensive linemen, and wide receivers. Only Scott, who at 6-4, 270 pounds, was the largest player on KU's roster in 1975, is an offensive lineman.
Scott's teammate in 1973, three-time all-conference safety strong safety Kurt Kniff, was drafted in the second round by the Denver Broncs. Kniff, who is out with an injury, was picked by the pro scouts for Time and the American team following his senior year.
Also at cornerback, the Jayhawks have turned out Steve Taylor, who is wearing a Kansas City Chiefs' uniform. Taylor was a former player at KU before being drafted last spring.
1969 GRADUATE George McGowan, who hauled in 32 passes for 929 yards in his junior season, is a wide receiver in the heisman team. That which he led in receptions several years ago.
Steve Lawson of the 49ers was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings and then to San Francisco. The Vikings have in their second-string offensive backfield KU graduate Robert Miller. Miller went to
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