No Loss of Pride In Kansas Defeat

By Dolph Simons     Jan 2, 1948

Kansans everywhere can be proud of their great university football team which yesterday closed a spectacular season in losing a heartbreaking game to Georgia Tech by a single touchdown margin 14 to 20. The 60,000 fans who saw the game came away with a firm belief that Georgia Tech and Kansas have two of the best teams in America, and that the Atlantans were extremely lucky to win the Orange Bowl classic.

Kansas squadman who walked off the field with eyes blurred by tears have replayed the game a thousand times in the last 24 hours, with emphasis on the many “ifs” and “breaks” that robbed them of a well earned victory. They were ahead in rushing, passing and first downs, but lady luck had turned her head and smiled at the other side.

A Great Game

It was a great gameperhaps the most entertaining ever played in the Orange bowl. Members of the bowl committee are pleased over their selection of Kansas as a participant, and are enthusiastic in praising the powerful and entertaining play of the losers. Kansas was the crowd’s favorite and many went home from the game thinking the better team lost.

“We have a great team and such a fine group of young men,” said Governor Carlson as he reviewed the game. “Our state can be very proud of the glory these boys have brought to us.”

Three Victory Factors

It was so close to a victory and any one of numerous “small breaks” would have brought a reversal in the outcome. Georgia Tech can be thankful for three definite contributions to their victory: one of which was earned, and two of which were “gifts”.

1. Superior Tech out-of-bounds punting which held Kansas deep in its own territory.

2. A last minute fumble when the Jayhawkers appeared almost certain to score: To tie the game and give Fambrough a chance to win with a point after touchdown.

3. A third quarter lull in the Kansas defense, particularly in failing to stop a potent Tech passing attack.

Fumble a Shock

The last minute Kansas fumble on the one-yard line, which saved Georgia Tech, was a shock which stunned Kansas supporters and one of those “too good to be true” experiences for the Atlantans…It was first down and goal to go. Quarterback Lynne McNutt failed to get his hands on the ball as it was handed back from center and the ball fell to the ground. McNutt dropped on the ball and had it in full possession but the referee was slow on the whistle, and McNutt felt a clout on the chin from an elbow or back hand. The blow caused him to lose possession to a black jerseyed arm which held the ball tightly as the pile of players was unscrambled.

“I saw the K.U. quarterback fall on the ball and he had it between his legs until a Tech player stole the ball,” said Dave Draslow of the Miami News, who voiced the opinion of many press box observers. “The referee failed to blow his whistle soon enough. But anyway it was one of the best bowl games ever played, and the Jayhawkers sure gave fans their money’s worth.”

Evans Deserves Praise

All-American Ray Evans again proved he is one of the nation’s leading back and deserving of all the praise he has received. His play was much more spectacular than all-America tackle Bobby Davis, who played a smart game in the victor’s forward wall.

“They had a great team and Davis is better than anything we have hit all season,” said Evans after the game. “Jim Still, the passer, was good, but he doesn’t compare with Fred Enke of Arizona.”

Evans was a favorite of sports-writers, several of whom said he was the best all-round back they had seen this season. His long pass of about fifty yards to Bryan Sperry late in the third period was one of the greatest plays of his career. After it seemed he was completely trapped by three Georgians, he ran to his right, jumped high, and sent the ball sailing to the former Lawrence high school player. Sperry was covered by two Tech men, but leaped high to grab the ball.

Third Quarter Letdown

Coach Sauer was keenly disappointed, particularly with the letdown in the third quarter when Tech completed numerous passes over the Kansas backs. But he had words of praise for all of his players. “I am proud of our boys, particularly of the way our second team scored on Tech. Davis is a good player. Tech has a well coached teambut it sure was a tough game to lose.”

Co-Captain Don Fambrough thinks Georgia Tech doesn’t have as good a team as Oklahoma, which tied Kansas in mid-season, and “they had no one as hard to bring down as Nick Carras of Missouri.”

The game was only a few minutes old when the Jayhawkers were soaked with perspiration. Sauer substituted freely to give the players rest.

The entire game was played in mid-summer heat but the first clouds in more than a week provided welcome shade for most of the contest.

Hogan is Bruised

Bill Hogan received a severe bruise on his upper left arm when tackled on a punt return, but x-rays revealed no broken bone. The game was cleanly played and a late 15-yard penalty on Kansas for unsportsmanlike conduct was an unfortunate act which gave some fans a distorted opinion.

What happened was this: A Kansas player had complained several times about being held by two Tech linemen. The last time he complained the official told him “you play football, I am officiating the game.” In exasperation the player made some disparaging remark about the eyesight of the official, who then stepped off the penalty. It wasn’t as bad as the attempted fisticuff which brought Tech an “unnecessary roughness” penalty earlier.

Schmidt and Sperry Outstanding

Dave Schmidt, the 153-pound charge of dynamite, played a splendid game at end, as did Bryan Sperry. Red Ettinger had a good day at tackle and made himself felt numerous times.

The Jayhawkers are relaxing today after a long and strenuous season which began early in September. Sunday morning they will be off for home. Lawrenceites who are looking skyward around four Sunday afternoon will be seeing them aloft as their big Pan-American clipper arrives back from a memorable Orange Bowl trip.

Heard at the Orange bowl dinner at the Copa Cabana club after the game:

George Sauer, “I am proud of my boys and I still think that they are the champs.”

Bobby Dodd: “We think George Sauer is the finest coach, and Kansas the finest team, we have played against. You should at least have had a tie, and maybe a victory. We were lucky and just this, we don’t want to play you any more.”

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