Dear Jones Boys,

 

     The job here is tough.  Very much like the early years at KWU, with the important difference that I was unable to recruit here until August.  We lack quickness and sqeed at the guard spots, and there is no one over 6'4" who can run the floor.  The team is big: 6'8", 6'7", 6'6" and a couple of 6'5" guys who play a lot.  We started out 1-4 and the players hated me.  Since then we've won nine of our last ten.  Players still don't like me much, but for different reasons.  What is needed most here is Gus Deering to show them what tough in practice really is.

     Eric Smith sent a card.  KW is 5-4 and tied for second in the KCAC.  Some of the rookies are leaving feeling they need more playing time.  It hasn't happened here yet; but since there are going to be some new faces next year, I expect a few will be dropping away.

     Here's the news...Barney Gray will be leaving IBM to work on an MBA.  Terrance Phox is in sales with Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  (Hutchinson, KS).  Dave Frederick, married, changed companies, back in Milwaukee.  David James took over the tire business in Apache Junction, AZ, when his father retired.  Kevin Brown is in Calif and not married to Carol, yet?  Russ Pleiman promoted in marketing for PEPSICO in Denver.  Jimmy Casas and Ryan Ellis both graduated from Metro State, CO.  Mike Cox, insurance business in Hutchison, and still playing basketball and slow pitch.  Todd Clark going to ghraduate school in Wichita this fall.  Brad Bingesser is the assistant coach at Salina Central.  Gus Deering is a computers something for a hospital corporation in San Antonio and has a new car too.  Cory Kennard in engineering school at Univ of Detroit.  Ray Kujawa, math teacher and coach, Manhattan, KS.  Chris Hutzler married Jane and is in banking business in TX.  Bryan Ward is getting that educational psychology degree back at Wyoming U.  (His bb team is 8-l).  Carl Ellis is in the pros (accounting department with the Washington Bullets of the NBA.)  Brent Avery is going to Wichita State and is a trainer at Hutchinson JC.  Stan Wyatt teaches and coaches basketball at Goodland KS HS.  Scott Bennett in management program with Sears.  Gary Upshaw, collection agency in Dallas area.  Big Al Tiller would love to hear from you (817-447-8820).  Haven't heard from Paul Walters since he was working for the tribal council in Michigan.  Matt Dow moved to Arizona.  Garrett Krueger is in school at U. Texas San Antonio.  A girl friend of Quincy Wood called asking if I knew how to get in touch with him.  Told her to ask for my television set back if she found him.  Scott Wiltfong finished up at Fort Hays State.  Roy Lawrence settled with the insurance companies with his auto accident (great settlement and he's driving a new car now) plus Roy is the assistant coach at Saint John's Military Academy and is changing his major to educatin now that he doesn't need the big bucks anymore.  Coach MJike Kopmeyer is counselor at the Boys Industrial School (Florence Gardner High School) in Topeka.  Chris Swan was at Fort Hays State.  Kevin Wohler is teaching and making trips to Salina frequently.  KWU should have hired him as women's coach.  Artist Thornton is leaving Univ. Texas Arlington to go to a smaller school and make a basketball comback.

     Still back at KW finishing up are Tim Parker, L.C. Crockett, Billy Smith, Ricky Gray.  Jeff Tillman was fighting fires in California with the Arizona Forest Service.  He can finish up easily in a semester.  Still in uniform for the Coyotes are Brad Larramore, Scott Polzin (Academic All-American 1988), Robert Jackson, Eric Smith, and the Little Zipper, Howard Alexander.  Tom Lennon and Tom Pitts are passing their senior seasons.  Ed Spears is back on the squad and Rich Williams is doing well playing hard this year.  Some of you might remember Wayne Cornelius and Eugene (Mean Gene, the Scoring Machine, Dr. J. of the NAIA) Lewis.  Wayne was Lewis's cousig and they visited together two years ago on campus.  Wayne was starting until breaking his hand first semester.  Best wishes to these guys.  Lord knows how much I miss them.

     There are a log of players who I don't hear from or about--- but it doesn't mean we don't care abouteach other.  For a time we all were a bonded brotherhood.  Now we've gone separate ways, but the bond is only stretched, not broken.  God bless you you all.

 

Ol' Coach Jones