Don Fambrough was busy working today on his top priority as head football coach at Kansas University – completing his staff.
With Pepper Rodgers going to UCLA and taking KU aides Doug Weaver, Dick Tomey, Billie Matthews and Terry Donahue with him, Fambrough had some openings to fill.
“Number one,” Fambrough stressed, “is to get a staff together. You can’t start without a staff. I’m very fortunate some of the people on this staff are staying.”
The only aides, Fambrough said, who will retain their job assignments from last season are Charlie McCullers and John Copper. Each will continue as offensive and defensive coordinator respectively.
As soon as Fambrough completes his staff, the other job responsibilities will be handed out. Hopefully that will all be done, he says, within a week.
Also remaining on the staff are Floyd Temple and Larry Travis, Sandy Buds, who had been released a little over a month ago by Rodgers, was quickly hired by Fambrough.
Another appointment, Fambrough said, is expected “within a day or two.”
Probably the most unusual thing about Fambrough taking over is that few of the Kansas players will hear about it from Fambrough himself. Gone on semester break, they’ll read about it or hear it on newscasts.
“We certainly plan to have a squad meeting as soon as we can,” Fambrough explained. “It will probably be on the first day of school.”
Second semester doesn’t begin until Jan. 18.
Another problem is recruiting. Several junior college players have voiced intention of enrolling at KU for the second semester. Possibly some will change their mind now that Rodgers has gone to UCLA. Fambrough says he plans to talk to all of them.
Recruiting high school players will be made tougher too with the change in coaches. Conference letter of intent day is Feb. 9.
“It means we’re going to have to work twice as hard,” Fambrough pointed out. “While all this was being settled, there’s been kind of a lull in recruiting.”
It is to be expected that a new head coach will make changes in the football team. Fambrough is no exception.
“There won’t be any changes right now,” he says, “but there will be some. That’s why you dream of being a head coachso you can put your own innovations into effect.”
For one thing, Fambrough says he is going back to the Winged-T offense that Kansas used the first three years of Rodgers’ reign. Last year the Jayhawks used a wide-open, pro-style offense.
“We’ll use the Winged-T basically,” the new KU head man explained, “but actually we’ll use a combination of the things we’ve done here. Our personnel will dictate what we do.”
Since defense was a woefully weak spot at KU last year, you can expect changes there too.
“As soon as all the staff is hired,” Fambrough noted, “we’ll discuss the defense. I think our major change from last year will be the type defense we use.”
he didn’t say, but Fambrough is obviously ready to switch back to the five-man line of the past. Last year the Jayhawks used a four-man defensive front and ranked last in the Big Eight Conference in total defense.
There has been no decision made, Fambrough added, on when spring practice will begin. “It will have to begin earlier than usual,” he said, “because school is over earlier this year.”
Finally there is the standard question of philosophy. What is Don Fambrough’s coaching philosophy?
“My coaching philosophy?” he mused, pausing a moment before answering, “is the same as all other coachesto win.”
