KU
kansan EXTRA
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Serving KU for 77 of its 101 Years
Friday, December 16, 1966
Grid coach named
It's 'Pepper' Rodgers
FRANK "PEPPER" RODGERS
By JERRY KLEIN
UDK Sports Editor
Franklin Cullen "Pepper" Rodgers will be the new head football coach at the University of Kansas.
Rodgers, 35, who was Tom Prothro's No.1 offensive assistant at UCLA, said KU will have a representative football team next year, not four years from now.
It was announced at 8:40 a.m. today at a press conference in the Forum Room of the Kansas Union.
"We're going out to play football," Rodgers said.
RODGERS DID NOT contact
the KU athletic department about the job. He was contacted by Wade Stinson, KU athletic director.
However, Rodgers said Prothro did recommend him while he was here two weeks ago to speak at the annual football banquet.
"I made up my mind after Wade and I talked about a lot of things," Rodgers said, "and I met people from Kansas. I was really impressed with Chancellor Wescoe, especially his enthusiasm for the game."
Did former KU Chancellor Franklin Murphy, and now Chancellor at UCLA, help him get the job?
★ ★ ★ ★
'Pepper' unknown to Hawk gridders
"Never heard of him," was the general reaction of several football players to the announcement of KU's new football coach.
Chancellor W. Clarke Wesco, however, has heard of Rodgers.
"Pepper Rodgers has a wealth of coaching experience, all of which has been successful. He has coached a number of fine football players. I am pleased he has accepted the offer of the Athletic Board to come to KU," Wescoe said.
Dave Waxse, Oswego senior, who played end, said he had never heard of Rodgers.
Bill Perry, Lawrence senior who played guard, did not know him either, but felt that if he "was associated with Tommy Prothro he must be good."
Jim Prager, Fullerton, Calif. senior and chairman of All Student Council, said his first impression was "exciting."
"They've finally gone outside the Midwest for some good talent," he said.
Rodgers' past includes string of winning teams
KU's new football coach, Frank "Pepper" Rodgers, has been Tommy Prothro's backfield coach at the University of California at Los Angeles the past two years.
Harmon hurt
Phil "Frog" Harmon, star sophomore basketball guard, lay in Watkins Hospital this morning with a badly bruised left leg after being hit by a car last night.
"He can't play for at least a week," said Dr. Jorgensen, "but maybe he can get in shape for the Kansas City tournament."
This morning, Dr. Jorgen Jorgensen of the Watkins staff said that Harmon's leg had been X-rayed and no fractures appeared.
COACH TED OWENS also expressed hope that Harmon would be able to play at the Big Eight Tournament in Kansas City Dec. 27-30.
During his years at Los Angeles the Bruins won 17 games, lost three and tied one. Last year they whipped Michigan State in the Rose Bowl, handing the Spartans their only defeat of the past two campaigns. UCLA was 9-1 this season, but was by-passed for the Rose Bowl bid in favor of Southern California.
PRIOR TO joining Prothro at UCLA, Rodgers was backfield coach for Ray Graves at Florida five years and held the same position on Ben Martin's staff at the Air Force Academy for two years. Both Graves and Martin echoed Prothro's praise of Rodgers in telephone conversations with Stinson.
"You're getting the top young coach in the country," Prothro told KU Athletic Director Wade Stinson. "He's ready for a head job and he's the best there is."
Prothro, who recently spoke at the Jayhawk football banquet, recommended Rodgers highly.
In addition to helping develop Beban and Farr at UCLA, Rodgers coached Heisman Award winner Steve Spurrier while at Florida and former All-American backs Larry DuPree of Florida and Rich Mayo of Air Force.
Rodgers was married in 1952 to the former Judy Ragsdale of Atlanta and they have four children. Their three sons are Ricky, 13; Kyle, 9, and Kelly, $ 3 \frac {1}{2} $ . Their daughter, Terri, is 12.
Rodgers has been involved in seven bowl games as a player or coach and has never been on the losing side.
RODGERS WAS among more than 50 applicants for the position left open when Mitchell's contract was terminated December 3.
Only eight of the candidates appeared before the screening committee composed of Stinson and six other athletic board members whose names were not disclosed.
Gibson to coach K-State
One half hour after KU announced today that Franklin "Pepper" Rodgers was to be head football coach here, Kansas State University made public their new football coach, Vince Gibson.
Gibson, top assistant coach at the University of Tennessee for the past three years, will assume the K-State job immediately after Tennessee plays Syracuse in the Gator Bowl Dec. 31.
K-State President James A. McCain and his athletic council said Gibson had signed a four year contract with the University.
Like KU Coach Rodgers, Gibson coached at Florida State from 1953-55.
"Franklin Murphy did not say anything," Rodgers said.
Rodgers has not signed a contract yet. Asked about contract terms, Rodgers said with a smile, "Somewhere between $10,000 and $100,000."
Stinson's only comment: "I'd rather not say."
Will any UCLA assistants follow him to KU?
Rodgers has not chosen his assistant coaches. He indicated either seven or eight assistants will compose the staff besides himself.
He will also speak to the assistants under former coach Jack Mitchell.
"I will talk with as many as will talk to me," Rodgers said.
Rodgers said he had heard very nice things about Mitchell's assistants. "I will certainly look into it and am really looking forward to talking with them."
Rodgers was interviewed in Lawrence. He admitted not knowing anything about the school until seeing it.
"I KNEW QUANTRILL had been here," he joked.
"It surprised me to see such a beautiful campus and a great stadium. I am looking forward to live here." Rodgers said.
He will become a permanent Lawrence resident after Christmas and will be here for the Big Eight basketball tournament which will be played in Kansas City. Dec. 27-30.
Speaking about his assistants once again, Rodgers said their salaries had not yet been discussed with Stinson.
"It's all up to Pepper," Stinson said, referring to the assistants. "He picks his assistants."
"I DON'T THINK we'll get a good kind of program at Kansas unless we pay the top price."
Rodgers will not use the same recruiting system that was used at UCLA.
"AT UCLA, RECRUTING was done in an area of 50 miles, on a local basis. We will try to get many Kansas boys, then spread out, and get a little more from other parts of the country. It's very important for our program to get players from out-of-state. Our number one job is to get Kansas boys." Rodgers said.
Asked about the quality of Big Eight football, Rodgers said it's as good as any football.
Rodgers plans to use a "moving quarterback" offense in which the quarterback will throw from every position on the field.
He will stress quickness over speed.
KU FOOTBALL PLAYERS, Rodgers said, will not be restricted to living in one dormitory.