8
Thursday, September 30, 1976
University Daily Kansan
Waddell Smith strives for football's spotlight
By GARY VICE Assistant Sports Editor
KU speedster Waddell Smith
The truth about Waddell Smith is that he's talented, and he's more than willing to play.
At various occasions this fall, *Sullivan* has said: "I honestly feel I'm one of the best wide receivers in the country . . . I think I'm the next Ron Jessie out of Kansas . . . I feel I'm the best blocking wide receiver in the country."
All of those are rather brazen claims for any athlete to make—never mind the fact that he's playing on a team that rarely passes the football.
Staff photo
TO BE EXACT, KU has attempted only 218 passes this season, while rushing 218 times. That is an offensive unbalance in the team and has overwhelmed publicity and national recognition.
Smith, however, doesn't expect his situation to change radically at KU. Head coach Bud Moore has often said he's prejudiced against the pass because he's from the old school where ball possession is maintained on the ground.
Disputing such an anti-pass philosophy, Smith asks, "Why grind out the yards on the ground when a wide receiver is in a pass for 80 yards on one play?"
UNDENIBLY, SMITH has the tools to gain the attention of pro scouts. He runs his pass patterns with great intensity and has won Moore's praise as an "exceptional split end with great speed and good blocking ability."
He led the Jayhawks with nine receptions for 197 yards last year.
Realizing his situation—he plays on a team endowed with a tremendous troop running backs—Hush has had to be given the opportunity to opportunities he'd had to catch the ball.
"If we had mediocre backs," Smith said, "we'd have to throw more. But we have the best complement of backs in the nation. The only thing I regret about this is not being able to wield a witness fence is I'm not able to showcase my talents the way I'd like."
SO, HE HAS resigned his expectations, knowing that as long as KU has backs even long yardage she'll and Laverne Smith, even long yardage she'll be necessarily mean it's a passing down.
"If I could get a hold of two passes a game I'd be satisfied," he said. "I'll be able to showcase myself some if I can get two. That's not very much."
Indeed it isn't. But two receptions is all Smith, a senior from Los Angeles, has totaled in KU's first three games this season.
KUY said he can best contribute to KUY's withinome attack, and attract the patient to treatment.
*BECAUSE OF MY speed, guys are playing me 10 or 11 yards behind the line (running) play is coming my way, all I have to do is be in somebody's way for
Laverne or (Bill) Campfield or Nolan to take it on in.
Which is just the way it went against Washington State in the first quarter, when Smith upended two Cougar defenders on a dividing斗 that freed Laverne to complete a 55-yard touchdown run.
"I take pride in my blocking ability",
Smith said. "I knock down a defensive back every chance I get. By blocking, it's better to defend a defensive back I'm not a chump."
In practice, Smith works with quarterbacks Cromwell and Scott McMichael, loping along with graceful strides, passing the ball with one hand and flipping them back.
It was his long strides, however, not his football achievements, that brought Smith to KU from Southwest Junior College in Los Angeles after his sophomore year. He was recruited by track coach Bob Timmons.
In his first season at KU, he earned All-America honors after finishing second in the 600-yard dash at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 1:10.1. In the outdoor
championships, he ran the second leg of KU's mile relay quartet, which placed fourth.
LAST SPRING, he capped a rather lackluster season by blazing to a 45.3 school record time and third place in the national playoffs. Eight championships in Lincoln, Neb.
"The problem I've always had is that I've never been able to specialize. I've always had to split myself between two NCAA sports and it gets me behind to continually redirect my talents from one sport to the other."
Before the Jayhawks' season opener this fall against Oregon State, Smith temporarily lost his starting position to sophomore Walt Little. And, professing that he greatest critic, Smith said he learned something from the challenge.
"The thing I don't like about myself as an athlete is that I don't maintain enough mental toughness unless I've been fired and if I'm not, so Sean Smith." "But when I get mentally prepared, I always perform. I believe in Waddell Smith."
HASKELL HOMECOMING INDIAN ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW October 2 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
October 3
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Indian dancing Indian Fry Broad and Tacos
Hiawatha Hall
Haskell Indian Junior College
Free Admission Public is Welcome
We Write All Risks Automobile Insurance
Gene Doane Agency 824 Mass.
Don't miss —
"OKTOBERFEST"
at University Lutheran
October 3: 10:30 a.m. onl
15th and Iowa
OAKLAND (AP)—Kansas City left-
handler Larry Gura stopped the Oakland
A's, 4-0, a four-hitter last night as the
Boston Bruins won the American Le
West Division title.
"A Faith For All Seasons"
Royals clinch tie for title
One Royale's victory in their last three games against Minnesota—or one Olandak victory in his first game—was good.
The A's have won the division the last five seasons.
The Royals' Amos Ols, after sitting out two games because of a batting hit, inbounded City runs, including one with a fifth innings home run, his team's first in 108 innings.
Women post shutout
KU's field hockey squad extended its unblemished record to four victories with a 6-0 rout of Emporia Kansas State College yesterday in Emporia.
The shutout preserved the team's record or not relinquishing a goal this season. Janet Foster, of Jacksonville, was the only team to score in the game.
"You could say an era is over," said A's player Gene Tenace after the game.
won yesterday, beating Emporia, 1-0, in the first contest on the season. Gaughan won his second, the season's best.
The Jayhawks' junior varsity team also
Leading the Jayhawks' scoring assailant were Alexis Wagner and Nancy Lambros. Wagner, a veteran front line player, scored three goals and Lambros, a center forward, scored two goals. Emporia's defense for KU's other score. The Jayhawks' junior university team also
The A's had won five of six, charging within 2% games of the Royals.
"We're lifted up right now and I hope we stay up this weekend," said Kansas City manager Whitey Herzog, whose team had亡卧七六 of seven games before last night.
SOLAR-X® REFLECTIVE FILMS
Today, the varsity squad opposes Central
College's Tigers in a playoff game.
Playing fields east of Kokauun Gymnasium
"We haven't ended it yet, but were 'comfortably now', said the Royal Johnson."
One victory over the Minnesota's Twins in the final three-game series of the regular season will clinch the title. The series opens tomorrow night in Royals Stadium.
- REJECTS BY BER CENT SOLAR HEAT
• REJECTS BY BER CENT SOLAR HEAT
• PREVENTS PARKING COSTS
• PREVENTS PARKING COSTS
• METEATS SAFETY GLASS CODEBS
• METEATS SAFETY GLASS CODEBS
• OUTSIDERS CAN'T SEE THEM
• ESTIMATE
The Royals, with a 3½-game lead, also can uncork the champage if the A's lose to the Arizona Angels and faces Frank Tannan. The California Angels' 19-game winner, tomorrow night.
CALL 842-7488
IDEAL FOR VANS, MOBILE HOMES
JAZZ JAZZ JAZZ this week at Paul Gray's Jazz Place
TONITE Jazz Jam Session with the River City Jazz Band—no cover bring your instrument.
926 Mass.
FRIDAY The Tom Montgomery Trio with guitarist Jim Stringer, exciting modern jazz
SATURDAY Claude Williams, old-time jazz violinist. You asked for him and he's back for one nite only!
Opens at 8:00. Music starts at 9:00.
Call 843-8575 or 842-9478 for reservations.
We now have food service!!!
--a challenging bike tour of northeast Kansas, October 2-3. For ontrios and information, contact: Mount Oread Bicyclo Club SUA office, Kansas Union Lawrence, Kansas 66045 (913)864-3477
Ja
After KU's nation of 377 Lead senior
Mount Oread Bicycle Club
Iowa Stat
Nebraska
Missouri
Colorado.
Okla. Stat
Oklahom...
KANSAS
K-State
KANSAS
Iowa State
Missouri
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Colorado
K-State
Iowa State
Oklahoma
KANSAS
Nebraska
Entry Fee $4.00, on Sunday $5.00
---