Kansas University officials today were equally proud of two aspects of the football team’s Bluebonnet Bowl weekend in Houston…
1. The 33-7 victory over favored Rice.
2. The behavior of the squad off the field, and the number of plaudits this conduct received.
“Naturally we’re overjoyed about being able to close out the season with a big victory over a good team in a major bowl game,” said athletic director Dutch Lonborg. “But we’re every bit as proud of the fact the boys were so well-behaved and proud of the fact that so many people in Texas commented on this.
“The boys behaved like champions on the field and off and you can’t ask for much more than that.” Lonborg concluded.
I’m proud to hear all this,” said chancellor Clarke Wescoe, “but I’m not surprised. I’ve been getting good reports about the behavior of our teams for the past few years, especially during this season. It’s amazing the number of hotel people who have written to comment on this.”
Much of the credit for this development of course, goes to coach Jack Mitchell. After Saturday’s game, Mitchell took over in the dressing room to laud the squad for its game, then added; “Now let’s make sure we behave ourselves. Just remember that one bad incident can mar this whole fine deal. Enjoy yourselvesyou’ve earned a good time, but never forget to behave yourself.”
Following the Saturday game, the Jayhawks were guests of the Bluebonnet Bowl Committee at a banquet at the Shamrock Hilton headquarters.
Fullback Ken Coleman and guard Elvin Basham were awarded trophies as the outstanding back and lineman in the game; coach Mitchell got a handsome silver bowl trophy for the victory; the team members received wrist watches; halfback Rodger McFarland was good-naturedly presented with the “top lover” award made each year to members of each squad. McFarland responded by kissing the girl who made the presentation in a manner to show that he’s as aggressive off the field as on.
The members of the KU entourage again were guests of the Bluebonnet officials at a Sunday brunch. The weather remained damp and murky, though warm, so the visitors never had a sunny period to enjoy, much to the displeasure of bowl officials.
The team took off in chartered planes from Houston about 3:40 p.m. Sunday and arrived in Kansas City about 5 o’clock. Except for a little rough weather in the air, the trip home was made without incident.
The KU band continued to have trouble. After getting to the game late Saturday due to plane trouble and bad weather, the group was due to take off for home about 8 p.m. Saturday. Half of the group got off in one plane but the other half was stranded in Houston overnight due to engine trouble on the second aircraft.
Since some of the bandsmen were scheduled to take part in the Christmas Vespers Sunday, hasty last-minute arrangements had to be made. The remainder of the band got off the ground at Houston Sunday afternoon and arrived back home early in the evening. It was purely a weekend of disappointment and frustration for the musical group and its leaders.
Prof. Russell Wiley, band director, discussed the minimal activity by the band at the game by saying:
“We got no time to practice what we had planned; we arrived late and I didn’t want to risk trying too much on national television and then not doing it well. Therefore, we decided to cut down on what we did and try to do that very well.”
Some who saw the game on TV had asked why, after all its tribulations, the KU band didn’t do more.
Wayne Replogle, KU athletic staffer who takes game movies for KU, was another whose arrival was hamstrung by the weather. Replogle got to the game only for the last five minutes and his was:
“Best looking scoreboard I ever saw.”
He was referring mainly to the 33 points for KU and the 7 for Rice.
