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friday, October 7,1977
Fans gave Broncos' head coach walking papers
By Jim Hunt
John Ralston, former coach of the Den
ver Broncos of the NFL, is out of a job
but hopefully not for long.
"I resigned my position at Denver be
cause of sickness and fatique," Ralston said
Thursday while in Lincoln for a pro
motional appearance. "The fans were just
sick and tired of me."
Ralston, 50, was fired as general
manager and head coach of the Broncos
Jan. 31, after five years with the team.
"the owners (Gerald and Allen Phipps)
suggested we split the (general manager and
head coach) job," Ralston said. "I think it
was a good idea because it is a big job for
one guy.
"They asked me which job I would
rather have and I said I wanted to coach a
Super Bowl champion. But my assistant
general manager (Fred Gehrke) became the
general manager and he wanted to hire his
own coach.
Ralston does not blame , Gehrke for
hiring Red Miller as this year'f head coach,
because Gehrke and Ralston might not
have worked well together, he said.
However, Ralston said he still is hoping
to return to the NFL as a head football .
coach, and is proud of his 34-334 record
with the Broncos. . .
In 1973, Ralston was named the Ameri
can Football Conference Coach of the
Year.
1 "It's not going to be easy coming
around the second time,' Ralston said of
his chances of landing another head coach
ing job. "I didn't want an assistant job
because it is too , hard to get a second
chance that way. I decided to just wait it
out.
Ralston coached Stanford University to
two consecutive Rose Bowl victories be
fore taking the coaching job at Denver.
He said he might have been a little
ahead of his time when he went to Denver.
"I am optimistic and enthusiastic by
nature, Ralston said. "When a team is in
trouble, the first thing most people attack
is the personality of the coach."
"I think I did put myself in jeopardy
in Denver. I made some lofty predictions
which didn't come true."
Ralston said the NFL players' strike and
some key injuries to Otis Armstrong and
Lyle Alzado weakened several of his
Bronco teams.
During the NFL pre-season, Ralston
was a commentator for the Seattle Sea
hawks' home football games.
"I had hoped to get on with CBS but
that didn't work out," Ralston said. "They
said I was too serious. They wanted some
one that can telate to the man in the bar.
When Ralston entered the NFL, he said
he was appalled by NFL players off
season activities.
Ralston lives in Denver and travels
around the country doing promotional
Work for Dale Carnegie Courses.
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John Ralston, former head coach of the NFL's Denver Broncos, said he quit
because of sickness and fatique. "The fans were sick and tired of me."
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Photos courtesy of Kansas State University
Everything will have to go right for Wildcat quarterback Wendell Henrikson (left) and tailback Mack
Green if KSU hopes to beat the Huskers -Hay in Manhattan.
. .. . . - . .
Huskers preparing for Wildcats
although record indicates kittens
By Lisa Broman
Although Kansas State University (KSU) has a 1-3
record, the Cornhuskers are not taking Saturday's foe
lightly.
In fact, Husker Head Coach Tom Osborne said his
football team is preparing for the Wildcats as if they
were a national powerhouse.
"It is going to be a tough game and we can't afford
to be complacent," Osborne said.
Osborne described this year's Wildcats as the best
KSU team in the last several years.
"They had 500 yards against nationally ranked
Mississippi State (University, MSU) last week. It was a
little bit like our Washington State game," he said.
KSU lost to MSU, 24-21. - :
Osborne said Wildcat tailback Mack Green is "close
to being as good as I.M. Hipp."
Green gained 181 yards in 37 carries last week
2gainst Mississippi State. .. . ..
Wildcat Coach Ellis Rair.sberger said he hoped
Green can make the big plays against the Huskers.
"If we can get the big plays, we can definately be in
the ball game," he said. "We need the big plays because
I don't think Nebraska is the kind of team we can
consistently run it (the ball) down their throat."
Offensively, KSU is in good shape, Rainsberger said.
But there are two doubtful starters on defense, he added.
Linebacker Gary Spani, who had eight unassisted
and seven assisted tackles in the MSU game, and nose
guard Greg Brown are both injured.
The Huskers suffered few injuries in last week's
Indiana game, Osborne said.
Husker receiver coach Gene Huey, who scouted the
KSU-MSU game, said the Wildcats strength is in an
aggressive defense.
"UNL has everything to gain and everything to lose.
We can't be complacent against KSU," Huey said. "In
Big-8 conference play you have to be ready to play
every week."
Rainsberger said the loss to MSU took some
spirit out of the Wildcats.
"We have not been as sharp this week," he said.
"Hopefully practices will pick up Thursday because we
are not up like we want to be."
Rainsberger said to beat the Huskers the Wildcats
must protect their quarterback, Wendell Henrikson.
."Offensively, they (UNL) will put a lot of pressure
on us because of their mixed attack " Rainsberger said.
"I'm sure it will be our interior line's biggest test.
"However, if we can come up with another great
effort, we definitely can be in Saturday's ballgame."
Saturday's game starts at 1:30 pjn., and will be
broadcast by KFAB, KLIN, WOW, and KFOR radio
stations. , '
sports shorts
Husker reserve fullback Keith Steward quit the foot
balL squad "Wednesday.. Steward was .first string, during
spring practice but played behind seniors Monte Anthony
and Dodie Donnell when the season began.
i
Football tickets for the Husker-Kansas State University
game Saturday in Manhattan can be purchased at the
ticket office in the South Stadium's ticket office.
UNL's soccer club, 2-0 this year, meets UNO soccer
club 2 p.m. Saturday at Mabel Lee Field. The Huskers
then travel to Manhattan, Kan. for a 1:30 pjn. Sunday
match with Kansas State University, UNL faces York
. College in York 8 p.m. Tuesday.
campus police
Crimes, thefts or vandalism reported with losses of
more than $20 for the week of Sept. 28 to Oct. 5 :
Sept. 29,
Vandalism, Abel Hall, glass broken out of
door-$35 r
-Larceny from building, Temple Bldg., wallet-$23
-Larceny auto accessory, Area 3, 17th and Hold-
rege, canvas tarp for pickup-$60
-Larceny from building, Abel Hall, refrigerator-$20
-Larceny from building, Sports Complex, supplies-
$880
-Larceny from auto, Area 3, Harper, cassette, tapes
and speakers-$365
Sept. 30,
-Larceny from auto, Area 3, 19th and Vine,
citizens band radio-$30
-Vandalism, Cather Hall, window-$30
-Vandalism, Cather Hall, damage to elevator
door-$75
October 1 ,
-Larceny from auto, Area 2, 17th and R, car
battery$40
Larceny from building, Love Library, typewriter
October 2,
-Larceny, Area 3, 19th and Vine, parking sign-$25
October 3,
-Larceny from building, Pound HaD, lounge fuml
ture$50 -Larceny, 14th and Rf stop sign-$25
October 4, .
-Vandalism, Tractor test site, tractor tire-$30
-Vandalism, Cather I fall, window-$300
-Larceny from building, Harper Hall, carpet-$54
Total value of property stolen or destroyed during
the week, $2, 618. Information courtesy ofXampus
Police. .