Wednesday, February 14, 1968
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
11
Jayhawks sign 15
Last fall Tiger, 5-10, 185, game over 500 yards both passing and running.
Ten all-state high school football players from three states were among the 15 players signed by KU to Big Eight conference letters of intent Tuesday in the first day of signing.
One of the top prospects was signed by assistant coach Floyd Temple in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Floyd "Bo" Tiger, quarterback from Tulsa Washington, the Oklahoma high school class triple-A champion, and an all-state selection, was the only Oklahoma athlete to sign.
Seven Kansas all-staters, two from Missouri and one from Oklahoma signed as part of a concerted effort on the part of the KU athletic department to get as many top prospects as soon as possible.
Included in the seven Kansas all-states are four who were among the 10 most-wanted prep pridders in Kansas. These were Diek Hertel, 6-1, 185, halfback from Shawnee Mission North;
Tiger was selected the "outstanding athlete of Tulsa" last year in balloting which included college and high school athletes in all sports.
John Clinger, 6-3, 220, Rose Hill tackle; Kenny Page, 6-2, 110, Dodge City offensive end and linebacker; and Steve Wempe, 6-0, 100, linebacker from Lawrence.
Wempe is the brother of Mike Wempe an all-Big Eight selection for Missouri last fall.
Other Kansas all-staters are Doug Underwood, 6-1, 165; Ottawa quarterback; Steve Johnson, 6-0, 195, Lawrence tackle; and J. D. Armstrong, 6-0, 185, linebacker from Liberal.
Missouri all-staters who signed Tuesday were Phil Basker, 6-1, 200, quarterback from Truman High School in Independence, Mo., and Greg Crowley, 5-11, 195, linebacker from Excelsior Springs, Mo.
Billy Sweatman, 6-0, 195, tackle from North Kansas City, Mo., also signed Tuesday. He is the brother of Jayhawk senior Mike Sweatman, an all Big Eight selection last fall.
Other signers were Jim Maher, 6-0, 200, fullback from Shawnee Mission East; Steve Reach, 6-2, 195, quarterback from Raytown South in Raytown, Mo.; Rick Hale, 6-1, 190, offensive guard and linebacker from Belton, Mo.; and Steve Madison, 6-0, 190. Cherokee fullback and linebacker.
Former KSU grid coach enjoys being KU student
By Robert Burdick Kansan Staff Reporter
Doug Weaver's trim, ranch style home on the east side of Lawrence is hard to find. Weaver, in contrast, can be found any week day in Green Hall, where he studies law, or in the offices of the athletic department, where he assists Pepper Rodgers, KU football coach.
Weaver left Kansas State in 1966 after seven years as head football coach there and came to KU in the spring of 1937 to study law.
The adaptation to school life after 14 years absence from the classroom has been a difficult one for him but one he has met with the success that comes from determination and incentive, factors well known to coaches facing constant competition.
Weaver far from dislikes his new role as student and the "thoroughly stimulating talent in the classroom" that goes with it.
He likes the new-found relationship between himself and other students as a peer and not an administrator.
"I'm just a student," he says, "a little older than most, perhaps, but no different."
There is a difference, however, for underneath his quiet, disciplined attitude of tempering goals with realism lies a lifelong passon to coach.
I'm fortunate that Pepper Rodgers lets me get involved in football because I've always enjoyed and admired the sport and the
players. Coming to KU has filled a terrifie void in my life," Weaver said.
Weaver was a coach for 11 years, first at his alma mater Michigan State, then at Missouri for two years and finally at K-State. He finds coaching related to studying.
"You can't eliminate the aspect of winning and losing," he says. "You either produce or you don't make it. The student has ten tests and the coach has ten games. If either fails them all they're out."
Weaver said the contribution of a good coach reduces tension over athletics and draws the school closer to the community.
"I have a high regard for Peper Rodgers and have found the KU players very easy to work with," Weaver said.
But coaching is of second importance to Weaver now. He is a family man with a wife, Nancy, and three children, Amy, Doug and Matt. He is 37 and busy with an entirely new career.
When Weaver receives his degree he would like to practice law in a small or medium sized town in Kansas. But for the present he has two seasons of football left.
"Every change you make in life seems like the most difficult one you've ever experienced," he said.
"You know the hippies say what you do is your 'bag.' I guess law is my bag but I'm fortunate that I still have the opportunity to coach," he said.
If you don't agree that business destroys individuality, maybe it's because you're an individual.
There's certain campus talk that claims individuality is dead in the business world. That big business is a big brother destroying initiative.
But freedom of thought and action,when backed with reason and conviction's courage, will keep and nurture individuality whatever the scene: in the arts, the sciences, and in business.
Scoffers to the contrary, the red corpuscles of individuality pay off. No mistake.
Encouraging individuality rather than suppressing it is policy in a business like Western Electric -where we make and provide things Bell telephone companies need. Because communications are changing fast, these needs are great and diverse.
Being involved with a system that helps keep people in touch, lets doctors send cardiograms across country for quick analysis, helps transmit news instantly, is demanding. Demanding of individuals.
If your ambition is strong and your abilities commensurate, you'll never be truly happy with the status quo. You'll seek ways to change it and—wonderful feeling!—some of them will work.
Could be at Western Electric.