TOP OF THE MORNIN'

This Chiefs draft has potential to be another ’63

Former Chiefs president and general manager Jack Steadman lent his voice in praise of the recent draft that started for Kansas City with LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. But Steadman also has a reference point — and a high bar when it comes to historically evaluating drafts.

“I’ve told people this is the best draft we’ve had since 1963,” Steadman said.

Technically, one of the greatest team drafts in professional history occurred on Dec. 1, 1962, but it was for the 1963 season. The Chiefs would be the Dallas Texans for five more months when they selected defensive tackle Junious “Buck” Buchanan from Grambling as the AFL draft’s overall No. 1 pick.

Later in the first round came offensive guard Ed Budde from Michigan State. Linebacker Bobby Bell from Minnesota was taken in the seventh round, punter Jerrel Wilson from Southern Mississippi in the 11th and Auburn tackle Dave Hill in 24th.

Buchanan and Bell are enshrined in Canton. All are members of the Chiefs Hall of Fame.

“It turned out to be the backbone of our franchise,” Steadman said.

And up there with drafts like the 1974 Steelers (Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, Mike Webster, John Stallworth) for producing greatness.

A key to that old AFL draft — it happened three days before the NFL draft and was done secretly.

“We drafted early and didn’t tell anybody so we could get the jump on the NFL,” Steadman said.

It worked. The Chiefs became a power franchise, a two-time AFL champion and Super Bowl winner in large part because of decisions made for the 1963 draft.

No Grand Slam

Avila baseball coach Ryan Howard has stopped in restaurants after games before. But not a Denny’s for a Grand Slam breakfast at sunrise.

The Eagles had just defeated William Jewell 13-2 in the NAIA Region V elimination game that started at 1:30 a.m. and ended “with the sun starting to rise and birds chirping,” at 5:05 a.m.

The game was the fifth played that day at the Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles. Rain delayed the start of the first game and as the games dragged on, Howard saw that his game wouldn’t start until after midnight.

He asked league officials to play at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. but was told the games needed to run continuously.

As the early-bird game approached, Howard’s pregame speech had little to do with strategy.

“I told them this had nothing to do with baseball, it’s all about guts,” Howard said.

Starting pitcher Robert Carey got the message, throwing a complete game.

Avila came back for a noon game and was eliminated by Lindenwood. Howard had nothing but praise for the Eagles.

“A great group, full of heart,” he said.

Paid in full

The $6,400 question has been answered. Kansas had already put the wheels in motion for paying the bill for the team’s banquet at the Holiday Inn before approaching Downtown Lawrence, Inc. And the bill has been paid.

“We were always going to pay it regardless of the answer from Lawrence,” Kansas associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said. “It looks like it was paid in response to news stories. That’s not what happened.”

To reach Blair Kerkhoff, college reporter, call 816-234-4730 or send e-mail to bkerkhoff@kcstar.com