Missouri Western State University - Griffon Yearbook (St Joseph, MO)

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When Arizonia State coach Frank X G. N 5 an Q7 ,fx WX Evinger runs in Boston Without a doubt, most people have heard of the Boston Marathon, the 26 mile running event that annually takes place through the streets of Boston. Some names that come to mind include Dr. George Sheehan, Frank Shorter, Dave Wolfe and Lee Evinger. Don't worry, however, if the last name doesn't ring a bell. Lee Evinger is neither rich nor famous, but he is a Geology instructor on campus. This year, Evinger flew to Boston to run in the marathon. You might say it's been a lifetime goal, said Evinger who ran eight to nine miles a day to train for the event. But this marathon was a bit different. It had rained and the temperature was in the 70's. The crowd loved it, but the run- ners despised it. Evinger related that after he finished, the medical area for treating patients looked like a 'lwar zone. Evinger himself had approximately twenty-five blisters on his feet. Finishing better than the previous year, but with a longer time, Evinger crossed the line approximately 1300 out of over 7000 runners. Schottel to ichigan State Kush struck his punter, setting off a na- tionwide media surge on the institution and Kush, Missouri Western's assistant coach Steve Schottel had no idea his career would be affected. When Michigan State Coach Darryl Rogers left his job to fill the vacancy left by Kush, the Spartans hired Frank Waters as the new head coach. Waters was familiar with small col- leges and was an acquaintance of Ivan Schottel, Steve's father, who suggested Steve as an assistant. So before Schottel was aware of the happenings, he was asked to interview for the job. When my father notified me I'd be coaching for Michigan State, I just said 'yeahf I didn't think he was too seri- ous, Schottel related. Obviously, the jump to a major uni- versity is a tremendous opportunity for the 31-year-old Schottel, but the years. thought of leaving Missouri Western leaves him feeling remorseful. llYou know, I think every high school coach dreams of coaching at a major university, but I could have got- ten along quite well here, Schottel said. One reason is because of the .college in general. I feel in the next ten years the growth at Missouri Western will be phenomonal, which I think is a reflection on the institution as a whole. Another reason is there are tremen- dous opportunities here, and not just in the coaching fieId, Schottel continued. 'President Looney has just done tre- mendous things with the growth of the school. I just hope and pray the people at Michigan State are as friendly as the people here. Schottel said he doesn't plan to stay at Michigan State for long and hopes to return to Missouri Western in two The reason I went into coaching were for recognition and satisfaction, Schottel said. l'At Missouri Western, I feel really important and I have a great rapport with the players and even the students. Plus, the pressures of winning aren't nearly as great here as they will be at Michigan State. Schottel said coaching at Missouri Western went further than screaming at practices and games. Here you get a chance to see players change. I feel they accept me, not only as a coach, but also as a teacher and a counselor. At Michigan State l'll have to start on my knees, l'll be on the bottom of the totem pole, and that worries me. llBut this is my home. All my family is here, my past is here. I just hope I can come back soon and bring with me ev- erything I Iearned, Schottel said. - CHRIS HAMILTON Potpourri!9

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Mayor bans 'a-thons'g reverses decision As of February 19, 1980, St. joseph Mayor Gordon Wiser banned all UA-Thons for the purpose of raising money or promoting a cause because of the danger involved with hav- ing the participants on the city streets. This would ,mean there would be no more bike-a-thons, walk-a-thons, or run-a-thons for worthy causes. That was, however, until enough people complained about it. Wiser had suggested instead uwork-a-thons, raising mon- ey by working those hours that would have been spent walk- ing or biking in the city parks. A March of Dimes representative pointed out the danger of that suggestion by showing the risk of allowing all ages. of participants, including children, to use the tools necessary for the work involved in cleaning and gardening in the park. And as far as the danger of being on the city streets is Ground squirrels rival Griffon as mascot ln most places they would be considered chipmunks with a thyroid problem, but on the Missouri Western campusthey rival the Griffon for school mascot. Scampering across the grass so fast they are usually no more than a blur, the ground squirrels are more fascinating to watch than most of the teachers. lt becomes a contest to see how close they will allow a person to get before they head for the nearest hole. Not being totally anti-social, they will force themselves to stay put, trembling, sometimes almost within reach. But the slightest quick movement will send them flying. lt has been rumored that signs indicating 'Squirrel Cross- ing will be posted at strategic sidewalks. lt is certainly time for this rival of the educational system to be preserved for future generations. Who knows, in a few years it might be the Missouri Western Ground Squirrels. 8! Potpourri concerned, information about injuries directly related to HA- Thons held on city streets is not available, because they are recorded by name, and not by cause. After the decision, the March of Dimes announced that they would still have their annual walk-a-thons, because it had been approved prior to the decision. Apparently the appeal from the mayor's office was not taken particularly seriously by any organization that uses the 'A-Thon as a major source of funds. The pressure from the various groups broke down the resistance of the mayor, and he reversed his original stand. So now, the many organizations that depend on the mon- ey from these A-Thons will brave the danger of St. lo- seph's streets, and hope that the warning is an errant one. Coach Steve Schottel instructs players during the Shrine Bowl Classic.

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Pony Express rerun, construction continues on West Belt Wanted: skinny, young wiry fellows, preferably orphans who are willing to risk death daily. Ten riders answered this advertisement, recreating the pio- neer mail service of the 1860's. But unlike the original mail service, which carried letters in ten days between Missouri and California, the re-enactment took seven weeks. Bryan Dancer Construction tabovej moves along slowly but steadily on the West Belt. The spirit of the past is linked to the present in the double exposure ifar rightj of the campus and the Pony Express monument. The re-run of the Pony Express was sponsored by the Brit- ish Postal Service and the Sears tire division in honor of the 100th anniversary of the death of Sir Rowland Hill, inventor of the gummed postage stamp. The riders departed from the Patee House Museum luly 14, 1979 for the 1,996 mile trip by horseback. They were met in Sacramento seven weeks later by Governor jerry Brown. Dr. David Nicholson, trail boss, explained that except for the absence of threat from Indian and outlaw attacks, the rid- ers endured the same hazards as those 120 years ago. Each rider was accompanied by a motorized support team traveling on neighboring roads, transporting fresh horses. The rider with the best accumulative time was awarded the Sir Rowland Hill Cup by the British Postal Service. The realization of a 25 year old plan, the West Belt project, will bring interstate highway traffic along the west edge of the central business district. According to lay Price, president of Townsend and Wall, the West Belt will put downtown St. Joseph back on the map. Lorin Dunham, City Planning Director, agrees with Price. lt will provide a vital traffic link between the state and feder- al highway system and business district, opening the north- west part of the city for development. The modern highway, with four lanes, will stretch approxi- mately 15 miles, connecting Interstate 29 southeast to Inter- state 29 northeast. The new highway will have two entrances and two exits to the central business district. It will also connect with U.S. High- way 36, South 4th Street and the Stock Yards Expressway. In addition, it will extend to lule Street, tying St. Joseph Avenue and Highland Avenue. However, what once started out as a 537,178,000 project in 1957 is now billed at S109,726,998. Senator Thomas Eagleton helped to allocate another 59.5 million in March 1979. The cost of the project is sure to exceed S5109 million by its completion in 1984. . Much of the construction of the West Belt is completed- the section between Interstate 29 and 22nd street opened two years ago in 1978. Traffic signals have been installed on Highway 36 with ramps leading to the new Pony Express bridge. With over S100 million worth of construction and 25 years of planning, the West Belt project is beginning to show major results, pouring economic life into the city. -SHERYL DUFFY Don Koehnlein 107 West Belt