An Interview With Max Falkenstien

The Voice of the Jayhawks For 50 Years

Interview by Harold Bechard
Published Sunday March 17, 1996, Salina Journal
Thanks to Sad Duck@aol.com for passing on this article

For the last half-century of University of Kansas football and basketball, one thing has remain unchanged.

Max Falkenstien has been there behind the mike.

The 1995-96 athletic year marks Falkenstien's 50th year broadcasting University of Kansas basketball and football, ranking second only to Iowa's Bob Brooks (51 years).

Falkenstien's familiar voice has been behind the microphone for more than half of KU's 1,021 football games and 1,594 basketball victories.

His career at KU has spanned six different decades, which includes nine football coaches, five basketball coaches, eight bowl games, nine Final Four appearances, four conference affiliations and 10 athletic directors.

Falkenstien was a radio pioneer of sorts, assembling Kansas' first network in 1949, with stations in Coffeyville, Colby, Dodge City, Topeka and Wichita.

His broadcast career started March 18, 1946, in Kansas City with the Kansas-Oklahoma A&M game in the NCAA Tournament.

His first football broadcast was Sept. 21, 1946, when KU played TCU in Kansas City.

Falkenstien was inducted into the University of Kansas Athletic Hall of Fame last month (Feb. 1996), the first media person to be so honored, and was awarded an honorary 'K' in 1984 at the annual lettermen's banquet.

Falkenstien sat down with Salina Journal senior sports writer Harold Bechard last month to discuss his career at Kansas.

Q(Harold Bechard): What was your background in sports broadcasting when you started?

A: "I've told this story many times. I started when at WREN Radio in high school and then went away to the service. But once I came back, I knew radio was what I wanted to do.

"So the station manager said, 'there's a big basketball game next week in Kansas City and I think we ought to carry it and do you want to do it'

"I said, 'well, I've never done a game,' but I was willing to give it a try. It turns out the game was Kansas versus Oklahoma A&M in 1946 with Bob Kurland, the first of the 7-footers, and they beat Kansas. KU was 19-1 going into that ballgame.

"I hadn't seen KU play any of its games, because I'd been in the service, but they had a great team. Kurland and Company beat them and went on to win the national championship. Frankly, I don't remember anything about it, but when I got back to school and went to class the following Monday, my mathematics professor and several others said they really enjoyed the broadcast of the game Friday night. They said 'it sounded like we were right there and we were a part of it and you did a great job.'

"I said, 'Well, thanks,' and that was the start of it. Then, the following fall, the football season got under way and we decided that since we had moderate success carrying the basketball game, we would carry the football games and whole kit 'n kaboodle. And so, it was pretty unique I guess that a guy would start his career doing a game of that magnitude and then two seasons later here I am at the Orange Bowl"

Q: Kansas was pretty strong in basketball and football at the time, wasn't it?

A: "Yeah, the basketball wasn't as strong, although in 1940 they had played for the national championship, but the war kind of wrecked everything. And the truth to the matter is, that in the late '40s, Kansas basketball was kind of sagging under Doc (head coach Phog Allen). He had pretty much decided to recruit Kansas players only up until that point and time. But when they heard about this guy at Terre Haute, Indiana, (Clyde Lovellette) who was a fantastic player, they went after him and got him. KU basketball was back on top again and they played for national championships in 1952 and '53. And they did it with guys from little, tiny Kansas towns which is what I always loved. Except for Clyde (Lovellette), you got Beloit, you got Winfield, you got Newton, you got Page City, you got McCune. Just think, you couldn't anymore do that today than fly to the moon."

Q: One of the major changes over the years in college athletics has involved national recruiting. Can you relate how it was in the '40s and '50s to what it's like now in the '90s?

A: "Well, as you say, it's so different, The players are so much bigger an they jump higher. You know, I was talking to (former KU player) Bob Billings yesterday, and he recalled in the Wilt (Chamberlain) Era, they developed a play where Bob would throw the ball in from behind the goal over the backboard, and Wilt would jump and funnel it in. That's when they changed the rule to prevent it from happening.

"But yeah, the players are so much bigger and quicker and, of course, the black players have made all this happen. White guys have gotten bigger, too, players like (Dave) Robisch, Greg Dreiling and those kind of guys. But I think when black players started playing basketball, the whole game really changed.

Q: Were you in Broadcasting when the racial barrier in college athletics was broken in this part of the country?

A: "yes, I was. Kansas State had a player named Gene 'The Jet' Wilson, and he was good. He was the first black player to play at Kansas State.

"Doc Allen used to joke, 'You've got to fight fire with fire. If the other team has a Jewish player, you've got to get a Jewish player...if they've got a Polish player, we've got to get a Polish player... if Kansas State has a black player, we've got to get a black player.' So they went to Wichita and got La Vannes Squires to play at Kansas. He was the first black to play at Kansas. He was a wonderful guy. He went on to become president of a bank in Wichita and may still be for all I know, but he wasn't a great basketball player. Maurice King then came along next, and Maurice was a great basketball player. He and Wilt were on the same team together, and when they played SMU in the regionals in Dallas in '57, the team had to stay out at Grand Prairie, Texas, which was a suburb of Dallas, because the Dallas hotels would not permit any blacks to stay in their rooms. They underwent a lot of racial epitaphs from the Dallas crowd in that particular regional, but Maurice King was such a wonderful young man, and has gone on to be on the alumni association board of directors. He's been successful in business in Kansas City. So he and Wilt were the kind of guys who carried it at KU.

"Then, on the football side, Homer Floyd came here with (coach) Chuck Mather. He was the first really outstanding black football player we had here."

Q: You've seen must about everything here (laughter from Falkenstien). Is it amazing to you that you've been able to do this for 50 years?

A: "Oh, yeah, it doesn't seem possible. I can't believe it's been 50 years. I was thinking the other night when they had the dinner for me, that for six different decades--the '40s through the '90s-- I have broadcast KU athletics. So I kind of made a mental note of my favorite teams through all those eras, and in each decade there are some teams that really stand out in your mind."

Q: Is there one specific moment that stands out for you where KU was involved?

A: "Oh, probably Danny (Manning) and Oklahoma in the (1988) national championship would be the very high spot. Although broadcasting the national championship in 1952 was a thrill as well, it didn't have the emotion to it the Oklahoma game did, because Kansas swept through everybody on the way to the national title in 1952. They beat St. Louis, they beat Santa Clara and they beat St. John's almost knocking the Catholic schools in a cocked hat on their way, but none of the games were really close.

"And yet, when you get Kansas and Oklahoma, and then the great game with Kansas State the week before, and the game against Duke, that was probably the most emotional. There have been some great football games, too, but that was fantastic."

Q: Would the '64 football game with Oklahoma and (quarterback) Bobby Skahan's late touchdown run be one of them?

A: "Oh year, that was one of the great ones, because Gale Sayers runs the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, and then Oklahoma completely dominates the ball game and leads 14-7. Then Kansas scores on the last play of the game (29 yard scramble by Skahan.) Gale doesn't carry the ball on the two-point conversion, but they win 15-14. A lot of people came late, left early, saw neither score and Kansas won one of the great football games of all time. That's one I'll always remember."

Q: As far as football is concerned, could you imagine what took place this year, considering how poor KU football was in the '80's?

A: "No. You know, because we had to split up our broadcast team and I didn't go to Hawaii--I went instead with the basketball team to New York because there was too much overlap--I saw it on television.

"But watching that game, (quarterback) Mark Williams was fantastic. I never saw a Kansas team look any better offensively. Coach (Glen) Mason has talked about how there was a certain chemistry on the football team this year where everything meshed together. I think Mike Hankwitz did a great job blending the defensive unit and the offense certainly jelled behind Mark (Williams). They just put it all together."

Q: How would you describe your style as a broadcaster?

A: "I don't know, maybe supportive but not flamboyant. I don't particularly like Dick Vitale's approach to the game. I've always tried to be complimentary of the other team as well when they've done something good. I've tried not to be critical of the officials because I know what a hard job it is and many of them are very good friends of mine. And people who are so critical of officials, if they just knew how dedicated these guys are and how hard they tried, wouldn't be so critical of them. I've played handball with Jim Bain and Stanley Reynolds is one of my close friends.

"So in describing my style, hopefully it's been descriptive and able to convey the excitement and enthusiasm, but not a homer. I've never used the word "we" in referring to Kansas even though everyone knows I've been a Jayhawk broadcaster. I don't believe in that either. I try to tell it like it is, but still convey the enthusiasm of the moment.

But, you know, when I did the Big 8 (basketball) series on television for four years, I developed a great appreciation for the kids at the other schools as well, and I learned to like the coaches. And you know, people are so crazy about that, particularly when you look at the KU and K-State games. People, who are normal in every other aspect of their lives, all of a sudden think everybody who went to K-State is a horse's ass. But if you know the kids and the people involved, they're great on both sides of the field or the court. That's why I really enjoyed the few years I went on the Big Eight Skywriters Tour and the years I did the Big Eight telecast. To really get to know all the people and realize they're all...we, you know there are bad apples anywhere, but generally speaking they're all really good folks."

Q: Your thoughts on becoming the first media person in the University of Kansas Athletic Hall of Fame. that had to be a special moment for you.

A: "Well, it was. The guys came to me one day last summer and told me I was going to be put in the KU Sports Hall of Fame, and I never even thought anything about it.

"And then, along comes a call a few weeks later that they were going to give me the Ellsworth Medallion, which is the highest award the alumni association presents. Generally speaking, it goes to people who have made huge financial contribution to the university, so I was very flattered on that.

"And the ceremony (Feb. 4 during Kansas State game) was very heart-warming. I had a long, sustained standing ovation from 16,000 people which made me feel very good. Maybe the ultimate was when they put the three-dollar soft drink cup out and it became the Max Cup, with my picture and all that Stuff. That was a lot of fun.

Q: How much longer are you going to do this?

A: "Everyone asks me that. I don't know. I'm not ready to quit. I can't go on a whole lot longer, but I intend to stay with it for a while yet. Then people ask, 'What's a while?' and I say, 'I can't tell you that.' "

Q: Which broadcasters these days do you enjoy listening to?

A: "I like Vin Scully. He does a terrific job, but there's a lot of them I don't like.

"I really like Ron Franklin and Bob Carpenter, the two guys who work for ESPN. I think they do a really good job. And I've always like Dick Enberg, but Scully is so smooth and has got a great voice."

Q: Your thoughts on your broadcasting partner, Bob Davis.

A: "Bob is a super guy to work with and has made my transition from play-by-play to color analyst very easy, whereas it could have been very, very hard. But he's not burdened with a big ego, and he's been very, very good to me, particularly at the beginning when everyone knew Max and on one knew Bob. But he never showed any resentment, or any indication that he was jealous of the publicity I was receiving and everywhere we'd go, I'd already know the people and Bob didn't know them. But now they know him and he's established his own niche. He's very good to work with and we have a pretty good team."

Q: Is there one specific player of coach that you really enjoyed covering over the years?

A: "Probably Don Fambrough, because he's the only guy who I broadcast as a player and later as a coach. We've always been very close and still play golf together and are very good friends.

"Dick Harp and I are still exceptionally good friends, but I've liked all the coaches that have been here. Larry Brown, although it didn't come across that way, was a very good friend as well.

"But overall, I was especially close to Fam and the '52 (basketball) team."

Q: Kansas has won two national championships in basketball, but have had others slip away as well, haven't they?

A: "In '52, if Jerry Alberts makes the shot from the right hand side right in front of the bench (against Indiana), Kansas wins its second straight national championship.

"In '57, three overtimes (against North Carolina). In 1986, maybe the best team Kansas ever had, but Danny (Manning) gets in foul trouble and Archie (Marshall) gets hurt.

"And, if you want to talk about moments that almost make you cry when you think about them, Seniors night in 1988 with Archie Marshall, where Larry has him suited up with a huge brace on his knee. Late in the ball game, he puts Archie in the game. The KU kids form a little circle around him for protection, but they don't need to because the Oklahoma State guys weren't putting any pressure on. They all back away and Archie shoots for one last time, and misses. Gosh, I wish he could have made that shot. But that was about as touching a moment as I can ever remember. Everyone in the place was about to cry.

Q: Wilt Chamberlain, possibly the most famous basketball player in Kansas history, never had a fondness for KU once he left. Your thoughts on that?

A: I wish Wilt would warm up. Bob Billings, his closest friend in Lawrence, says Wilt has a great love for the University, follows them closely all the time on television, and is happy about their accomplishments, but Bob thinks that Wilt feels KU has wanted to use him rather than honor him. And they've wanted to use him as a recruiter and an influence. The last time he came back here was for a football game in 1974."

Q: What are your memories of Wilt playing at Kansas?

A:"When he was a freshman (in 1955), the freshmen beat the varsity for the only time in history, and then in his first game as a sophomore, he scores 52 points and grabs 30 rebounds against Northwestern right here on this floor.

"But there was a lot of unhappiness around because Wilt had been told Doc (Allen) would be his coach if he came to Kansas. Doc turned 70 and the (Kansas) Board of Regents refused to grant him an extension although he very passionately campaigned for one.

"And so, Dick Harp steps in as the coach and it's a real tough spot for Dick, because half the people are angry because Doc wasn't permitted an additional year or two to coach Wilt and the pressures on Dick to deliver were just unbelievable.

"And soon, teams started putting three guys around Wilt and two guys would chase the basketball. And before you know it, we play a game like up at Iowa State when they win with Gary Thompson, 39-37. And Gary Thompson runs around all night long dribbling the basketball, the they never tried to shoot. Wilt got very disenchanted with the game, and I'm sure that's why he left after two years, instead of playing three, because it really wasn't fun anymore and a lot of the games were extremely boring. There wasn't anything going on, they were just trying to keep the ball away from Wilt.

"But he was an unbelievable athlete, and as strong as an ox. He went out for track completely unannounced, asked Coach (Bill) Easton if he could come out, and he won the high jump at the Big 7 meet.

"People always ask me who's the greatest player you've ever seen, and I always say Danny Manning. Because, although Wilt dominated the game as nobody else ever has, I still don't think he could do things with the basketball that Danny could. He made everyone else on the team look so good. He was a great rebounder, a great passer, and a great shooter. And so to me, Danny is still the greatest."