In The Conferences

The usually staid Stanford campus has been rocked lately by some very unconventional happenings, such as a topless dancer running for president of the student body. She won the preliminary but, alas, never had a chance in the showdown. Also without a chance in any showdown against USC, Oregon State or UCLA for the Pacific Eight title is the Stanford football team, but, like the stripper, it can try. What the Indians have to display is most of last year's defense, plus the running of Halfback Nate Kirtman and Quarterback Jim Plunkett, a redshirt, throwing to Flanker Gene Washington.

Whether or not California and Washington can challenge Stanford depends upon how their morale has been affected by their racial problems of last winter and spring. Both have since appointed Negro assistant coaches, and Cal has operated an excellent summer program utilizing its black athletes. Cal Coach Ray Willsey has 17 starters back, and Quarterback Randy Humphries, Halfback Paul Williams and Fullback John McGaffie are capable of making the offense move. The defense, headed by 250-pound Guard Ed White, is sound.

At Washington, Coach Jim Owens has tried to stir up his unproductive offense by scrapping last year's double flankers, moving Flanker Jim Cope to running back and replacing Quarterback Tom Manke with senior Jerry Kaloper, who is a better passer. Owens' most effective weapon, however, may be the Astro Turf that has been installed in the Huskies' stadium.

About the best Oregon and Washington State can hope for is to avoid last place. Oregon is looking to its sophomores, and WSU has a new coach, Jim Sweeney, who has brought a fresh camaraderie and enthusiasm to Pullman, if not a winner just yet.

THE INDEPENDENTS

There was a time when it was rare for an independent to make it to a bowl game. There was a time when, except for Notre Dame, Syracuse in 1959 and those wartime Army teams, few independents ever came close to No. 1. Yes, there was such a time. But no more. Of late the independents have gained enormously in both affluence and influence, and this year no fewer than five of them—Notre Dame, Penn State, Florida State, Miami and Army—have made the Top 20. Before the season is over, some more may well taste glory, too.

Perhaps the best of them is Houston. Normally, any team that loses three All-Americas and its quarterback should have to spend a year regrouping. But Coach Bill Yeoman has so much talent available that he will hardly miss Halfback Warren McVea, Split End Ken Hebert, Guard Rich Stotter or Quarterback Dick Woodall. The Cougars' high-powered offense, which led the nation the past two seasons, should be as explosive as ever with Ken Bailey, a better passer than Woodall, at quarterback and Paul Gipson returning at fullback. Gipson, who used to suffer frequent muscle tears, has improved both his health and his style since he enrolled in a dancing class by mistake and began practicing ballet. "I learned how to control my body," he says. "My coordination is better and my balance has improved." Gipson is no Nureyev, but in 1967 he tiptoed through opposing defenses for 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns. The defense is good, too, with Tackle Jerry Gardner and End Jerry Drones the keystones of a solid front line. Houston plays Texas on September 21, and Texas will be tested.

Another strong independent is Syracuse, even though it is without a famous runner for the first time in almost a generation now that All-America Fullback Larry Csonka has departed. Al Newton, a 230-pound sophomore, is in the Csonka mold although he has much to learn. "He's not the fancy type," says Coach Ben Schwartzwalder, "just a solid citizen of a runner." But, for once, Syracuse may have a passing threat. Junior Quarterback Paul Paolisso showed surprising proficiency at throwing the ball in the spring game when he completed 21 of 30 for 258 yards and three touchdowns. The Syracuse defense, second-best in the country a year ago, looks strong again with 242-pound Tackle Art Thorns the big man up front and Safety Tony Kyasky leading the pass defense. The Orange should squeeze out more than enough victories to extend Schwartzwalder's streak of 18 years without a losing season.

Next comes West Virginia, which dropped out of the Southern Conference to go it alone as an independent. Coach Jim Carlen flinched recently when Penn State's Joe Paterno predicted in a banquet speech that the rebuilding Mountaineers would be 8-2. But the truth is they could be, even with as many as 11 sophomores in the starting lineup. Dale Farley, a 230-pound end, will help a defense that already has a fine middle guard in Carl Crennel. Tailback Bob Gresham and Fullback Jim Braxton are the brightest of the rookies on offense. And if West Virginia cannot win any other way, there is a soccer-style kicker, Ken Juskowich, who made 12 field goals last year, five of them in one game against Pitt.

Utah State, a pleasant 7-2-1 surprise under new Coach Chuck Mills last year, should do nearly as well again despite the loss of All-America Tackle Bill Staley and Fullback Mac Lane. The Aggies have Quarterback John Pappas, who threw for 1,424 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Tailback Altie Taylor. Mills has brought in 26 JC transfers, and one of them, 260-pound Tackle Mick Workman, will lead a defensive front four that averages 250 pounds.