University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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In 1954, Mather took over his first collegiate coaching job at the University of Kansas. He in- herited a team that had won 2 and dropped 8 dur- ing the previous season. The squad had graduated 14 lettermen and had lost 16 more squadmen through scholastic difficulties. Plagued by fre- quent injuries, the Jayhawks dropped their first six games of the ' 54 season. The rest remains to be seen. Mather and his capable six-man staff of Paul Schofer, Lauri Wartiainen, Dave Putts, Wayne Replogle, and Dick Piskoty were faced with the immediate problem of molding a capable line which had been all but destroyed through gradua- tion. by Jim Hafhaway i u V BUD BIXLER, CAPTAIN 30

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BLOODY BUT UNBOWED Jayhawk players show their ability to stop opponents despite the score. 29

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KU blocking fails to save the ball carrier as he twists for an extra yard. Gone were stellar linemen Morris Kay, all- West end; Joe Lundy, Blue-Gray game tackle; and Co- Captain Bob Hantla, twice all-Big 7 defensive guard and a participant in the East-West, Senior Bowl, and College All-Star games. Only two regu- lars returned from last season ' s forward wall end, Don Bracelin and tackle, Dick Knowles. The relative inexperience and lack of depth forced Mather to make a rash of position changes, not only in the line, but throughout the entire squad. As if this were not enough, co-captain Bud Bixler, who was slated to man the center post, re- broke his right collarbone in a pre-season drill and was lost for the entire season, and 1953 starting halfback Don Hess was drafted into the Army. 31