Traded Rifle for Ball
University Daily Kansan Page 9
Lopes Chose Right Trail
Al Lopes
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 1965
Editor's note: The following feature is one of the last pieces written by Don Pierce, KU sports publicity director, before his untimely death. Pierce, one of the most respected sports historians and writers in the Midwest, died as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident New Year's Eve.
The most fantastic dream Al Lopes could have dreamed when he was a senior at Hope High School in Providence, R. L., was playing Big Eight basketball for KU.
Fact is, he didn't figure on college or basketball at all. He had planned to sign for a four-year hitch in military service, then get out and try to make a living. He'd even filled out the necessary paper to join the Air Force. All that remained was being sworn in. His high school coach, Mike Sarkesian, now at Iowa Wesleyan, urged him to hold off.
"I WAITED almost all summer," says Lopes. "Then one day Coach came by the house and asked me how I'd like to go to school in Kansas."
"Wait around until summer (Lopes was a mid-semester graduate) and if I can't find anything for you, you can join up then," the 6-5 Jayhawker newcomer quotes Sarkesian.
He might as well asked Lopes if he'd like to go to school in New South Wales. Al was dubious. Finally, Sarkesian talked him into trying it a semester. At Coffeyville junior college, Coach Buddy Ball was looking for a running team. Eastern talent scouts had recommended Lopes as a part of it. Ball phoned Sarkesian and the latter pointed Lopes to Southeast Kansas.
Al liked it well enough to stay two years. As a sophomore he earned All-American Juco selection. Logically, this brought him under scrutiny by college coaches. Drake, Oklahoma, KU, Kansas State, NYU and Rhode Island all wanted him.
"COACH HARP (Dick, who resigned last spring after an eight-year tenure) came to see me play." Lopes recalls. "He asked me up to visit the campus. The first time I saw KU I made up my mind this was the place for me. I signed about Relays time."
Harp made no mistake. Lopes created the loudest splash from the junior college ranks since Harold Patterson, still an ace in Canadian football, came out of Garden City to earn a starting forward berth with the 1953 NCAA runners-up.
"I found out early I better stay with going to junior college," the 6-5 Portuguese smiles. "Going to college is the smartest thing to do. You start thinking about the future and you realize you're just one in a million with a high school diploma. I have a hard time concentrating on courses I don't like,
but I do like math and history, I want that college degree."
Lopes is a history major and hopes to become a teacher in that field.
"YES, BIG Eight basketball is a great deal different than junior college. You have to be more consistent. You can't play good one day and mediocre the next and expect to help your team. But, I've always felt the better your competition, the better you play."
Lopes has furnished a major lift to a KU club which lost three lettermen upon which it was counting—all-league center George Unseld, starting forward Steve Renko and guard Wayne Loving. "We knew he was a good prospect," says coach Ted Owens. "But he has been even better than we expected."
This is double praise since the fluid- drive junior has been playing in the backline after spending his entire career at forward.
"THE BIGGEST problem I'm having because of the change is defense," Lopes explains, "because I'm covering smaller men. I'm used to covering 6-5 and 6-6 men. Now I'm hitting guys who are as quick or quicker than I am. You have to get to them and get them to do what you want them to do. Our coaches are real good about telling us what an opponent likes to do and how not to let him do it."
Lopes closely resembles Mal Whitfield, two-time Olympic 800 champion from Ohio State, right down to a mustache.
"I'd feel sort of out of place with my friends and family without it." Al laughs.
Lopes father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. John Lopes, immigrated from Portugal in the twenties. Lopes senior was a longshoreman in Providence, New York, then Providence again. Al was orphaned by the time he was eight. He was raised by a sister, Mrs. Ernestine Britto, of Providence.
"Lopes is the Portuguese spelling," explains the mustachioed Jayhawker. "I've got some Spanish cousins that spell their names Lopez."
--filing of these minutes to accumulate an official record of council actions. Sponsor: Hugh Taylor. Stoke-on-Trent, England, graduate student. (UP — graduate school)
- A resolution to establish a committee to investigate the possibilities of a retreat for ASC members during the spring semester. Sponsor: Bill Henry, Leawood junior. (UP — fraternity).
A bill to establish a student travel advisory board was presented by Sue Sorem, Hutchinson sophomore (UP — sorority).
Amendments to two bills were introduced by Lee Ayres, Park Ridge, Ill., graduate student (UP — unmarried-unorganized). The first deal with legislative procedures in ASC Bill No. 1. The second amendment to Bill No. 3, provides for the appointment by the student body president of a member of the World War I Board.
The council also voted bonuses to the editor and business manager of the 1963-64 Jayhawker magazine-yearbook. John Mays, Lyons senior and past business manager, was voted $250. Allan Stamper, 164 graduate, past editor, was voted $125.
- A resolution directing an investigation be made into an announcement by Alvin E. Jones, Director of the State Property Valuation Department, that cars used by KU students in Lawrence could be taxed here, and in the student's home county. Sponsor: Mike McNally, Bartlesville, Okla., sophomore (Vox — fraternity).
(Continued from page 1)
FINANCIAL REPORTS from organizations allocated funds by the council were also given last night. Making reports were the Engineering School Council, the American Pharmaceutical Association, People-to-People and the combined pep clubs.
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Most of the discussion at last
1.
The wreckage was found Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. but officers believed the accident occurred about 2 a.m. The signboard had partially concealed the wreckage.
Officers said the car hurtled off the highway and traveled 160 feet before striking a sign board. Tunnel died instantly.
Sherry Whitecher, Priarie Village senior and president of AWS, spoke to the Council concerning the organization's benefit from its representative to the ASC.
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"SINCE 1948, when the AWS was organized as we know it today, the AWS has had a representative on the ASC," Miss Whitcher said. "Her reports in the AWS Senate of every ASC meeting have provided for us an awareness of ASC affairs."
night's meeting came when the council considered its bill concerning special representatives.
"Thus, the bill under discussion has provided a link between our governing bodies, the only governing bodies on the KU campus, which, for us, has been a worthwhile association.
Jimmy Clifton Tunnell, 25, national field secretary for Phi Delta Theta, was killed yesterday in a car crash on U.S. 66 near Joolin. Mo.
Phi Delt Secretary Killed Near Joplin
Tunnell, who made his home in Tyler, Texas, had visited the KU chapter of Phi Delta Theta Monday.
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"The International Club is the one club at KU which is diverse in its membership. It is the only one representative club of all students on campus. Its large membership is made up of students from every living group, from every school in the University and from many different countries.
Walter Bgoyla, Tanganyika senior and president of International Club also expressed his organization's wish to maintain its representative.
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