The unexpected is always exciting
Rodgers promises no ordinary team
By DON BAKER Kansan Sports Writer
In the surrounds of his spacious and plush office, Pepper Rodgers leisurely sat in his large swivel-chair, smoking his pipe and listening to his AM-FM radio, and analyzed KU football hopes for the coming season.
"I expect a real exciting team," he said. "Right now I would say we would have to be classified as being an unexpected team—and the unexpected is always exciting."
Rodgers said that two years ago he had no idea the Jayhawks would win nine games and go to the Orange Bowl, and likewise last year he had no idea the team would win only one game.
"I'll tell you one thing for sure," Rodgers said, "we're not shooting to be ordinary."
How do the Jayhawks compare to this time a year ago? Rodgers was unusually optimistic in his forecast.
"We definitely are better than last year," he said. "The thing of it is we have two very important ingredients we didn't have last
4 KANSAN
Apr.15 1970
year—one, we have good seniors and two, we have excellent sophomores"
With that statement the subject of conversation naturally turned
"You want me to be honest, don't you?"
Pepper Rodgers
to recruiting and upon being questioned of this year's recruiting efforts the KU head mentor immediately grinned and said:
Upon receiving an affirmative answer Rodgers beamingly announced that this year's recruiting has been excellent.
"With the addition of Jaynes our recruiting program can be said to be excellent," Rodgers observed. He was, of course, referring to David Jaynes, the 6-1, 190 pound quarterback from Bonner Springs.
Jaynes had been one of the most highly sought prep football players in the nation and had first signed a letter-of-intent with Alabama before changing his mind and deciding on KU.
"I'll tell you right now," Rodgers said, "the signing of David Jaynes was a great shot in the arm for KU football."
Becoming more specific about this year's recruiting, Rodgers conceded that Missouri did the best job in the Kansas City area.
"Don't get me wrong." Rodgers insisted. "We got some excellent football players from Kansas City, but of all the schools who depend on the Kansas City area for recruiting, I think Missouri did the best job."
"In Kansas we had a good year," he noted, "but not as good
as last year." Rodgers added that Kansas State signed some athletes that the Jayhawks very definitely
wanted but that the Wildcats also lost some to KU that they wanted.
(Continued to page 10)
A CollegeMaster Representative will be in touch with you.
Fidelity Union Life Ins. Co.
6th & Iowa VI2-4650