FEATURES
Daily hansan
SPORTS
63rd Year, No.1
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Friday, September 17, 1965
Photo by Bill Stephens
TRY FOR THE EXTRA POINT—Three Jayhawk gridders polish up their form for extra point and field goal attempts. The center (foreground) stands ready to snap another ball to the man holding as the kicker completes his kick. In the
practice sessions, a fourth man (not shown) catches the kick and returns it to the trio at the kicking position. Rotation with two or three footballs keeps the kicker active at all times.
Skahan's Thigh Injury Worries KU Teammates
By Mike Griffith
Kansas southpaw sensation quarterback Bob Skahan has been hobbled the past week with a thigh injury that has caused concern to everyone in the Jayhawk football camp—except Bob.
Skahan, a pre-season pick to fill the vital quarterback spot on KU's new pass-oriented offense, hurt his left thigh muscle a week ago while running sprints with his teammates.
"I FELT A PAIN shoot through my left leg and I knew right away that my leg was hurt," Skahan said. "I wondered how bad I was hurt all the way to the training room." he said.
"Nothing like this had ever happened to me," Skahan said, "but I wondered why the reports
After treatment and observation by KU's medical staff, Skahan was told that he had a pulled thigh muscle and he might be out "indefinitely."
on my leg made it sound like I was crippled."
"Except for the swelling and pain in my leg I was ready to play," Skahan said.
THE FIRST TWO days after the injury Bob was able to limp around the practice field in his street clothes. A day later he slipped on his sweatclothes and spikes and walked up and down the practice field to loosen up the muscle in his leg.
"I walked as much as I could, putting as much weight on the leg as I could stand," Skahan said.
The KU-Texas Tech football game, to be played in Lubbock, Tex., will be broadcast Saturday night on KLWN radio. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. on KLWN-FM, 105.9 on the FM Dial. Day games will be broadcast on 1320.
KU Game on Radio
"I wanted to keep the muscle loose and avoid a stiff leg," Bob said.
After four days of walking Bob was anxious to get back in his pads but Coach Jack Mitchell told Skahan to "take it easy for a while and avoid re-injuring the leg."
Mitchell was not the only person watching the recovery of Skahan.
"HE LOOKED LIKE a million dollars before he got hurt and we are watching him carefully to see how his leg heals," Mitchell said.
Newscasters and sports-
writers—most of all opposing
Big Eight coaches—kept one eye
on the Kansas quarterback.
"I can't see why everyone is so excited," Skahan said, "This is just a temporary slowdown. I'll be going full blast again soon."
Photo by Bill Stephens
INDIVIDUAL ADVICE — Jayhawker offensive backfield coach Bernie Taylor singles out a player at one of the practice sessions and coaches him on a mistake made earlier. In the drill sessions
much of the time players are in groups small enough that they may receive individual advice and coaching from any of the Jayhawk coaching staff members.
KU, Texas Tech Clash Saturday In Grid Opener
The Jayhawks of Kansas University clash head-on with the Red Raiders of Texas Tech University tomorrow in the season's opener for both teams.
More than 35,000 fans are expected to witness the 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Jones Stadium at Lubbock, Tex.
The Jayhawks, in their eighth season under Coach Jack Mitchell, will be fighting to improve on last year's 6-4 record.
TEXAS TECH'S RED RAIDERS, coached by J. T. King, surprised the experts last year by compiling a 6-3-1 record, a fourth place tie with Rice in the Southwest Conference, and receiving a bid to the Sun Bowl.
Though KU ranked third in the Big Eight last year, Mitchell has predicted a fourth place finish this season. His forecast was seconded in a poll of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters who based their predictions on the number of returning lettermen, squad experience and opponents.
Mitchell and the poll predicted Nebraska would lead the conference followed by Missouri and the University of Oklahoma.
Promised for '65 and due to be unveiled Saturday night is an aerial game—an innovation for the Jayhawks.
Mitchell cites improved throwing and receiving and the advantages in versatile defense as reasons for taking to the air.
INDICATIONS that the Jayhawks really would emphasize passing came in the annual spring game. The team threw 81 passes. In contrast, Kansas threw only 122 times during the entire 10-game season last fall.
JACK MITCHELL ... in 8th Season
Probable starters included quarterback Bob Skahan, end Mike Shinn, halfback Mike Johnson, and guard George Hornung.
KU's offense will run from a multiple "T" and "I" formations. Texas Tech stresses a tandem or modified"I" offense bolstered by the Raider's strong running. Backhitter starts included quarterback Bob Skakun
Team captains were to be announced today. There is no captain for the entire season.
Skahan, at 5'10" and 180 pounds, directed the Jayhawks to victories over Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, K-State, and Colorado. Left-handed Skahan completed 11 of 29 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown during spring grid practice.
JOINING SKAHAN IN the backfield will be Johnson, at 5'10" 186 pounds, and Hixon, 5'10" and 205 pounds, and Dick Bacon, 6'1" 210 pound fullback. Johnson and Bacon are among the 26 returning lettermen.
The Jayhawks have managed to scrape through fall drills without serious injuries. Even Mike Shinn, 1964 All Big Eight end, has returned as a probable starter on defense despite an injured knee. Shinn did not take part in spring drills.
Lee left the team to join the Navy or Marines and hopes to play football for a service team. Though Lee had never played in a varsity game, he was considered one of the best prospects.
One player, highly touted for his potential, sophomore Levi Lee, resigned from the squad last week. Lee gave grade troubles as his reason.
ALL-AMERICAN DONNY Anderson is among 25 returning lettermen for the Tech red and black Raiders. The Raiders also return seven offensive starters and six defensive unit men.
The scholastic crackup that shelved fullback Leo Lowery has shaken the Raider offense severely. Coach King says the attack will lean toward a quarterback-halfback offense instead of a halfback-fullback pattern.
Offense at Tech is a lot of Anderson—and a little of a few others. But the lot of Lowery at this time hasn't been remedied. It could even hurt more than scholastic troubles involving Anderson.
Philip Dynan, KU's sport publicity director, said he is looking forward to the season.
COACH MITCHELL HAS said this is the most enthusiastic squad he has seen in years. This may be due to the squad's youth. Only 13 of the 77 on the roster are seniors.
"Actually it's going to be the most interesting team Kansas has had for the past eight years," Dynan said. "It is one of the most enthusiastic squads we have ever had. We attribute this to the youth of the team and the challenge they face."
Though this is the first time KU has met Texas Tech, the game marks the 21st consecutive time KU has opened its grid season against a Texas school. Texas Christian University has been the opening game opponent for the past 20 years.