University Daily Kansan
Friday, April 22, 1977
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Groundcrew hustles its bustles painting, moving, fixing for Relays
By JASON NUSS Sports Writer
"Come on, off your butts, break is over."
**in black over**
Norman Stuart yells to his crew and they're off to another job.
For the past five months, Stuart has been the foreman of the maintenance crew which keeps the athletic facilities at the University of Kansas in top condition. Preparing for the Kansas Relays is one of the crew's toughest and busiest assignments.
"There's a lot of work involved in getting ready for the Relays." Stuart said. "It's more work than preparing for a football or basketball game."
Stuart and his crew of six are responsible not only for Memorial Stadium, but also for Allen Field House, Quijuel Field, the courts and five practice football fields.
"The spring is always a busy part of the year," Stuart said. "With spring football, baseball and tennis, it doesn't leave much time for the Relays."
But Stuart and his crew have found the time. The work began in January, when the crew painted the hurdles. They also painted lane markings on the track, the water-jump barrier for the steep chase, and the rings around the shotput and discuss area.
"We started during Christmas break getting ready for the Relays, and we'll work right up to the start," Stuart said. "Underneath the stadium, the press box, bathrooms and dressing rooms all have to be cleaned. But we'll be read."
Stuart and his crew also has to move the awards stand from under the stadium and put it on the bleachers. But there has been a delay.
they re replacing all the bleachers in sections six to 19, so we have to wait until they're in place, which will be another day or so," Stuart said. "After that, it will be
just little things, but sometimes those little things are the most important."
Stuart said one of the little things was filling the water jump for the steeple chase, a three-hour job, which might take longer since the bucket used for filling the pit had broken.
But Stuart's job doesn't end once the Relays begin. There's the clean-up after each session, and the possibility that rain forces the pole vault and high jump indoors.
"When it rained in the past we had to transfer the pole vault and high jump pits from the stadium to Allen Field House," Stuart said. "The entire meet is held up while we load those pits onto trucks and take them to the field house."
Stuart's job requires him to work in close contact with all the coaches. Last summer, Floyd Temple, KU baseball coach, wanted grass planted in front of the dugouts at Quigley Field—a tedious job for the maintenance crew.
"Yeah, whatever the coaches want, we do." Stuart said. "Course when the football coaches ask for something, we jump that's where the money comes from."
Stuart works year-round and the summer is another busy period for the groundcrew.
"We paint the bleachers, the football field and signs under the stadium," Stuart said. "Along with maintaining the practice football fields—well it gets pretty busy." Stuart said the worst part of his job was cleaning the field house, after games.
With all his responsibilities, Stuart has a calm attitude that carries over to the entire team.
"We got our share of the duties, but one
"We blow all the trash down, pick it up and then start scrubbing," he said. "We got to get right at it because we can't let the pop set on the table. We've got to go to the Missouri games are the messiest. It takes an extra hour to clean the place."
thing I can tell you, I've got good help. "Stuart said. 'It makes things a lot easier when I tell them to do something and know it's going to get done."
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*footnotes
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After the relays, enjoy the pleasure and excitement of delicious Mexican and American food skillfully prepared in a delightful Mexican atmosphere. Special luncheon menu and carry-out service, too.
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11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tues.-Sat.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
Closed Monday
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