Kansas University’s 31st head football coach was 35 year-old Franklin C. “Pepper” Rogers, who came to Kansas after a stint as backfield coach at UCLA. Signed to a four-year deal, the rookie skipper succeeded Jack Mitchell who was bought out of a ten-year deal following two disastrous seasons.
After four seasons and a 20-22 record, which encompassed a terrific 1968 season culminating in a trip to the 1969 Orange Bowl, Pepper was offered a chance to return to UCLA as head coach.
A tearful Rodgers announced his resignation at Allen Feildhouse on Thursday, January 8, 1971. Peppers expressed his reluctance to leave the KU fans and expressed his confidence in incoming coach Don Fambrough.
