KU football draftees optimistic in viewing 'big league' chances
A future in pro football?
Pepper names 3 assistants
Pepper Rodgers has added three "home grown" assistants to his Kansas football staff with the hiring of recent Jayhawk gridders Sandy Buda, J. C. Hixon, and Ben Olison.
- Buda, a former tight end from Omaha, completed his playing career in 1966 and has been a graduate assistant on Rodgers' staff the past two years.
- Hixon, a defensive back and fullback from St. Francis, finished his varsity career a year ago and the past fall served as a graduate assistant while completing work for his degree.
- Olison, a split end from Bakersfield, Calif., played his only year of major college football at Kansas in 1967 Rodgers' first year with the Jayhawks.
In announcing the additions to his staff, Rodgers explained they will be replacing Dave McClain, who resigned earlier in the week to accept an assistant's job at Ohio State; and John Hadl, the San Diego Charger quarterback who worked with the KU staff the past two years during the recruiting season and spring practice.
Rodgers said Buda will coach the offensive guards and centers, a post Larry Travis filled the past two years. Travis will switch to McClain's former role as coach of the linebackers. Hixon and Olison will coach varsity fundamentals and assist freshman coach Dick Tomey.
"A lot of folks," Rodgers commented, "feel you should go out and hire people with a lot of experience or big reputations when you have an opening on your staff. But I don't feel that way.
Feb. 7
1969 KANSAN 7
"I think when you have outstanding young men like these who want to become coaches and are ready to do the
job, you are much better off hiring your own people than going outside.
"We are pleased that our program has developed such fine coaching prospects, and we are hopeful that it will continue to do so."
By JAY THOMAS
Kansan Sports Writer
"They were a great act and you hate to break them up." Sound like a show biz agent's lament after his star attraction disbands?
But for Jayhawk football fans, it more aptly describes their sentiments at the departure of the outstanding seniors who led the 1968 Kansas grid squad.
It could.
Still, for seven members of that smash hit, the show will continue in their careers on pro football's stage. Picked last week in the annual pro draft were seniors Bobby Douglass, Vernon Vanov, John Zook, Keith Christiansen, Bill Hunt, Don Shanklin, and Junior Riggins.
First to go was quarterback Douglass, nabbed by the Chicago Bears in the second round. "It was great for me to go to the Bears," said Douglass. "Chicago is a great football town with lots of tradition."
Of course, Douglass was also pleased in that the Bears need a good quarterback to team with ex-Kansas flash Gale Sayers in the backfield.
"They've got Jack Concannon and Virgil Carter now. That's who I'll probably have to compete with for the job," said the El Dorado gridders and All-American.
Douglass likes the Bears for another reason. As he explained, 'Chicago allows their quarterbacks to run a little more than other pro teams, and that closer fits my style of play. They're a pro team—the quarterback will never run too much.
Both starting defensive ends went high in the draft—All-American John Zook going in the fourth round to the Los Angeles Rams, and Vernon Vanoy being picked a surprising second by the up-and-coming New York Giants. Of the two,
Zook will meet the severest test in training camp, having to battle All-Pro behemoths Lamar Lundy and David "Deacon" Jones.
"It'll be tough, but with those two around I'll get plenty of ex_ brience," said Zook. "They're two of the best, and I'm sure that I'll learn a lot."
Zook, like other Kansas draftees,has yet to talk contract with Rams officials but expects to know more about his status soon. "Right now, I don't know much more than anybody else," he said.
One fellow who does know what's in store for him is Bill Hunt, Kansas' fine cornerback this season. Nabbed by the
young Atlanta Falcons, Hunt is happy going to a club where he will be able to show his talents early.
"They were weak at one cornerback spot all last year," Hunt said, "and fortunately, I'm the only cornerback they drafted. I think my chances for sticking are pretty good."
The same holds true for halfback Junior Riggins, the 14th choice of the St. Louis Football Cardinals.
"There's not much hope of moving into that backfield of theirs, not while Johnny Roland and Willis Crenshaw are there," said Riggins. "But I might fit in as a flanker or defensive背."
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