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Incoming Freshmen Can Participate
In Any Of Nine Slated Frosh Sports
Incoming Nebraska freshmen
have the opportunity to participate
in the University's full slate of
nine frosh sports. Although fresh
men are not eligible to participate
in varsity athletics because of a
Big Seven conference ruling, each
of the freshman sports provide
coaching and competition in addi
tion to training for upperclass par
ticipation. The four major sports football,
basketball, track, and baseball
maintain separate squads which
compete against each other and the
varsity. The five minor sports
stress individual performance with
the result that the freshmen work
out with the upperclassmen ex
cept in conference competition.
Football is the only sport in
which the freshmen may compete
with other frosh teams in the con
ference. The Husker yearlings were
all victorious this year. Both the
Iowa State and Kansas State first
year footballers fell to the Corn
buskers frosh.
Freshmen cagers see action in
inter-squad games prior to each
Nebraska home game during the
winter. They play on the varsity
teams. This enables the nigh ; ticipatmj in t:ie iresnmen. atnieuc
school ballnlaver to bexome ac- 'program is passing the physical
quainted with the higher level of ! examination. After an interval cf
competition that is found in college 'tryouts, any necessary cuts are
ball. The baseball team starts prac-! made. All coaches try to cut as
tice before the weather actually , lew men as posswie m oroxr 10 ue
permits by making use of its
equipment in the field house.
The minor sports, golf and ten
nis, use freshmen in both spring
and fall. This enables them to
velop any possible talent
Freshmen athletes receive many
of the advantages of their varsity
counterparts. This includes ath
letic scholarships, the use of all
gain more experience than if they training and athletic facilities, and
practiced only during the spring the right to sell concessions at uni
when the sport is in season. Swim- versify athletic events,
ming, wrestlings, and gymnastics At the end of the year, promis
are active during the winter ing freshmen are awarded a fresh
months, men numeral, which is the same
The only requirement for par-1 as a letter in the varsity level.
Intramural Sports
For Every Student
Although it is not possible for j fessional and honorary fraterni-
everyone to participate in athlet
ics at the varsity level, the Univer
sity of Nebraska has attempted to
set un an intramural sports pro
gram to satisfy the athletic de-jin more than one of the categor-
rnnrt. and this enables them to be- sires of every student. Every ma- ies, he may not participate for
come accustomed to college stand- jor sport has been included in the more than one team in any given
ards in length of playing time, size j program, and a wide choice in the sport, The details and registra-
of court, and rules. minor sports enable the student i tion are handled by the individual
ties, professional colleges, depart
mental and denominational groups,
and ROTC teams.
Although some students may be
to participate in either group or ! intramural managers
individual athletics. Awards and trophies are given
The intramural program is to the division champions, and
I strictly voluntary. All activities they meet to determine the All
I are comDetitive and non-comoul- University" chamo. This winner
Freshmen track is run on a postal sory. The intramural organization receives special notice and addi
meet basis with other schools. Tn- has tne activity from football to tional awards. All star teams are
door track facilities permit the con- ping.pong to fullfill the student's chose from the competitors in each
First year track competitors see
action throughout the entire year.
In the fall the freshmen thinclads
train and compete with the varsity
members in the cross country run
tinuance of preparation, and in the
spring work is resumed outdoors.
Competition is held with the var
sity periodically. ,
Baseball also forms freshmen
Reqi
Football Head
uirea as
Elliott Resigns
After a brief one year reign as
head football coach here at the
University of Nebraska, Pete
Elliott announced his resignation.
The announcement came as a re
sult of some hush-hush dealings
with two other Pacific Coast Con
ference teams at the NCAA
coaches meeting in St. Louis this
last winter.
The two Pacific teams involved
were Washington University, and
the University of California at
Berkely. Elliott was reportedly
offered $17,500 and a long krm
contract to coach at the Wash
ington school. Just as it seemed
that Pete would turn down the
offer and remain here in Husker
land, California made him an
other offer, which he accetped.
Elliott's decision to leave Ne
braska was one that disappointed
many of his numerous fans. No
other coach in post-war history of
Nebraska football had so in
gratiated himself with the state
wide alumni body. It was this
friendship that started a new re
cruiting program that has already
started to bear fruit.
Elliott's 1956 squad played the
toughest schedule that the Huskers
have encountered in many years.
Despite losses to Orange Bowl
champ Colorado, Cotton Bowl win
ner Baylor, Gator Bowl partici
pant Pittsburgh, and the best in
the nation, Oklahoma, the Elliott
men finished the season with a
very respectable four wonsix lost
record for the campaign.
desires. major sport. This enables a par-
Every student at the University ticularly outstanding athlete to re
of Nebraska, barring varsity com- ceive the individual attention his
petitors, is eligible to participate in ! plzy has merited,
the program unless he fails to j Intramural . competition begins
abide by the rules.
The intramural program is or
ganized in three major divisions.
This includes the fraternity divi
sion the Selleck Hall division, and
the Independent division. The fra
ternity division consists of all the
students affiliated with a social
Bill Jennings, the man who
stepped out of coaching retirement
to become the Nebraska backfield
coach under Pete "Elliott a year
ago, is the 24th head football coach"
in the school's history. Immedi
ately following the announcement
that Elliott had accepted the head
mentor's post at California, Ath
letic Director Bill Orwig confirmed
the fact that Jennings was the man
who would guide the Husker's foot
ball fortunes thifall.
Jennings' promotion is probably
one of the most widely heralded
appointments 'in the history of
Cornhusker football. From the top
of the administration to the players
themselves, there has been nothing
but praise for the new head coach.
Chancellor Clifford Hardin said:
"I have every confidence in the
ability and characteu of Coach
Jennings. This change, I feel, is
being made without serious dam
age or loss of time to our football
program, and, in this instance, that
is the important thing."
The players themselves feel the
same way. Don Kampe, a guard
from Red Oak, Iowa, said of Jen
nings, "I can't think of a better
man to replace Pete. He knows the
personnel."
Jennings had this to say about
his appointment as head coach,
"I am happy to have this oppor
tunity to coach at the University
of Nebraska. Our somewhat brief
experience with, the school admin-
istration and the people of Ne-'
braska has convinced me that the
job can be done. The support of
both the school and the residents
of the state has been really fine."
When asked about the type of
offense the Cornhuskers would use
this fall, Jennings commented,
"We will stick to the basic split-T
and try to become as sound fund
amentally as pdssible."
Jennings .mentioned that the
frills would come after the fund
amentals were acquired. He is a
firm believer in fundamentals, so
the boys will undoubtedly be in top
shape to make the fancy aspects
of the split-T work.
The 38 year-old Jennings, who
was hired for 12 thousand dollars
per year, will
bring a gr e a t
deal of experi
ence and know
how to his po
sition as head
coach. He
played end on
"u i s Norman,
O klaho m a,
high school
football team,
and went on to
Courtesy Lincoln Starbecome a Star
at the University of Oklahoma
where he played end and wingback
for the Sooners in 1938-'39-'40. In
194C he was selected to play in
the tiaditional East-West Shrine
game in which he was a stand
out performer.
Bill Jennings
soon after school begins. Football is
the first sport on the athletic agen- i
da, and, for the remainder of the I
fall, the "A" and "B" teams take
part in a double-elimination tour
nament. Other fall sports are wa
ter basketball, bowling, rifle
matches, tennis, golf and the cross
fraternity and all students living j country run.
in co-op houses. The Selleck Hall This is followed in the winter by
division includes those students liv- basketball, vollyball, badminton,
ing in the Selleck Quadrangle. The ' and ping-pong. Baseball and track
Independent Division is for all! feature the spring athletic sched
other students. This includes pro- j ule.
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FOOTBALL is an important sport at tbe University.
AfC Sports Season
To Be Successful
By DICK BASOCO
There is a time in every athletic program when it is ripe for review.
This is such a time at the Universty of Nebraska. Never before have
so many varsity sports shown so much possibility of returning the
Cornhuskers to their former national standing.
The man responsible for much of the brightness in the Husker
athletic future is Athletic Director Bill Orwig. He has drawn together
a group of personable, efficient, and competent men who have formed
a strong coaching staff. Orwig has helped the public relations too,
which is fundamentally important from the player-procurement angle.
If the Cornhusker squads of the future are successful, many a hat
should be tipped in the direction of Bill Orwig.
Football, king of Huskerland's athletic interests, is definitely on
the upward trend. This upward movement was started by Biil Glass
ford and continued by Pete Elliott. Elliott's surprise resignation has
brought his backfield coach, Bill Jennings, to the head coach's job.
Through no fault of his own, Jennings might face a problem because
of this situation this fall. Because of the Glassford-Elliott-Jennings
succession to the gridiron top spot, the seniors have played under
three different coaches in as many years. This is bound to have an
effect on the players. No two coaches have the same style, and the
repeated re-adaptation of the players made necessary by the changes
could lead to a certain amount of disorganization. Jennings will cer
tainly not have a loyalty problem on his hands though. There is no
question of his ability, and many players have expressed the opinion
that, if Elliott had to go, Nebraska could not have made a better
choice than Jennings. It is very likely that Nebraska football fortunes
may progress more rapidly under Jennings than they would have under
his predecessor because he has a wealth of experience, something
Elliott was a little short of although he made up for it through sheer
ability.
Basketball, under the watchful eye of coach Jerry Bush, took a
turn for the better last winter. This upward trend will undoubtedly
continue. Although Rex "The Horse" Eckwall will be sorely missed,
a host of veterans and bright sophomore prospects will be on hand
to pound the hardwoods for the Scarlet and Cream.
Tony Sharpe's baseball team is always a conference crown con.
tender. Sharpe, however, will have a job on his hands in the spring,
for many a valuable senior on last year's ball club will be missed. As
is true throughout the entire athletic program, replacements are plenti
ful and talented. The pitching staff is a good one, and this could
solve one of Sharpe's headaches of the past. The Huskers, never known
to be poor hitters, have Gene Torzon to head a list of good sluggers.
Look for the Cornhuskers to be at the top of the list when the spring
sport is over.
Track, long a weak spot at Nebraska, could turn out to be the
Husker's forte this year. Frank Sevigne has done a remarkable job
in the short time be has been here. Not only has. he brought more
Nebraska prep thinclads to Lincoln, but he has succeeded in bringing
some of the outstanding athletes from all over the country to Husker
land. Keith Gardner, who ran in the 1956 Olympics for his native
country Jamaica, is the headline attraction. If Benny Dillard, iyho
injure'd his leg last fall in football, can get into shape, Nebraska has
a dangerous one-two potential in the sprints.
Minor sports, tennis, golf, wrestling, and swimming, are all im
proving. Wrestling alone is at the bottom of .the Big Seven, but the
Nebraska grunt and groan artists are out for revenge. Experience,
the vital factor in wrestling, was lacking in the past, but a number of
one and two year veterans will be on hand to aid Nebraska's bid for
the Big Seven title. ,
All in all, this should be Nebraska's year to shine in athletics.