Editor's Note:  This is the most recent piece in a series of stories shared by Gorillas to Gorillas as we all embark upon this new "season" in our lives. These certainly are unprecedented times, for young and old alike. Our hope is for Gorilla student-athletes, past and present, coaches and members of Gorilla Nation to read these pieces, awaken their Gorilla memories and then compose their own story to share with us. There is strength in numbers.
 

Leaving Home
The first Saturday of August 1958, I had the good fortune of meeting Gene Irvin, a member of the 1957 National Championship Team. Having just graduated from Adrian, Missouri High School, he asked if I planned to play college football. When I said yes, he asked if I would like to meet Carnie Smith, head football coach at Kansas State College of Pittsburg.
 
Less than a week later, Gene and Carnie came to my farm home to talk football. My dad asked Carnie if we could watch his favorite TV show, "The Rifleman" first. Carnie assured him that was fine. When the show ended, Carnie, in his gifted way, won Mom and Dad's hearts and minds by convincing them that I would be well cared for.  Carnie said there was scholarship money that could be earned, so afterwards, when Dad, Mom and I agreed that Pittsburg was the right choice, Dad reminded me that I was to earn some of the scholarship money or "Don't come home until you do."
 
Three weeks later, I arrived at Pittsburg. The old gym was my first stop. I met the one of a kind and best athletic trainer, Al Ortolani. I also read the cardboard sign on the equipment room window, "We furnish everything but guts." That got my full attention. A couple weeks later, I was able to call Dad and tell him I had earned some scholarship money.
 
Practice
Football practices started by strapping the usual armaments, high-topped shoes and a very snug leather helmet that required Vaseline to pull it on. The helmet was taken off only when told to. It had a single cross bar. The practice jersey was a long sleeve, medium weight sweatshirt. As we exited the gym, we took our last fill of water and a couple salt tablets. The practices lasted three hours, with no water, two five-minute ice breaks and no trainer on the field.
 
Practices were designed to be more demanding than the games. Game days were a day off from practice. At least once a season, we had a live scrimmage on Friday. It was just to get things right. We hit until Carnie thought we were ready for the game the next day.
 
Carnie and Joe
 
Carnie was a great teacher of the game, master psychologist, father figure and friend to all. Carnie always reminded us that somebody gave money to support us, and after we graduated, we should "pay back" to support those that came after us.
 
He also had a great assistant, Joe Murphy. Joe was relentless in building men out of boys. We, as linemen, did everything with precision and speed. The footwork had to be perfect, and we did it over and over again, until it was right. All of Joe's boys logged a lot of miles on the seven-man sled. We loved Carnie and Joe.
 
Game Day
The night before game day, we took our shoes home and shined them, washed and bleached the laces and put on new cleats. We wore the hard earned uniform proudly. In the locker room, before the games, it was relatively quiet. Then the room fell silent as Carnie would come in and remind us to "Check our laces" (pads and shoes) as we had a tough game ahead. Then, he would offer a small, but emotional challenge to the team. As we ran onto the green grass of Brandenburg Field, the Pride of the Plains Marching Band brought the crowd alive with the playing of the school fight song. The beautiful field and well-maintained track, as well as the gym, were the works of Al Kendall.
 
More Than Football
Obviously, the high point of my football life is being a part of the 1961 National Championship Team. As we built a championship team, we built a lifetime of relationships that have brought us back together half a dozen times over the years. Our experience as team members has impacted our lives forever, from day to day family and professional dealings, to life and death matters in Vietnam. We had players who were proud members of KSC's ROTC program, as well as others who served in the military after graduation.
 
My experience as a Gorilla football player taught me the importance of playing and winning for a bigger cause. Today, as we prepare to beat Covid-19, it is important for each of us to do our job to help the team (family, friends), community, city, nation, win. We can't have the attitude of, "Expecting George to do it," a Carnie-ism for expecting somebody else to do your job.
 
We have to win so we can come together this fall and celebrate Gorilla Football.
 
Harlan Hess
 
Harlan Hess was a first-team NAIA All-America selection at tackle as a member of PSU's 1961 NAIA National Championship squad. The Adrian, Mo., native was a two-time first-team All-Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) performer for the Gorillas. He was inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame with the Class of 1990. Harlan and his wife, Carol, currently reside in Pflugerville, Texas. The couple return to Pittsburg each fall for Gorilla Football season.
 
Please share your own personal stories/thoughts via email to dwilkes@pittstate.edu. We want to share them! (PSU Athletics reserves the right to edit content for space and appropriateness. We cannot promise to publish every submission, but we will do our best.) Thanks Gorilla Nation!
 
Through the Eyes of a Gorilla Archives
Vol. I - Dan Wilkes, Associate AD/Communications (Apr. 3)
Vol. II - Levi Wyrick, Football/Track & Field Athlete (Apr. 7)
Vol. III - Amanda Davied, Women's Basketball Coach (Apr. 10)
Vol. IV - Chris Hanna, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (Apr. 13)
Vol. V - Jeff Moreland, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (Apr. 15)
Vol. VI - Emily Hanenberg, Volleyball Athlete (Apr. 17)
Vol. VII - Ashley Balazs, Softball Coach (Apr. 20)
Vol. VIII - Peter Euler, PSU Alum/CC T&F Athlete (Apr. 22)
Vol. IX - Caitlin Demarest, PSU Alum/WBB Athlete (Apr. 24)
Vol. X - Tyson Cushman, Baseball Athlete (Apr. 27)
Vol. XI - Oscar Gonzalez, PSU Alum/Men's Basketball Athlete (Apr. 29)
Vol. XII - Russ Jewett, Cross Country/Track & Field Coach (May 1)
Vol. XIII - Ronald Moore, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (May 4)
Vol. XIV - Emily Regier, Volleyball Athlete (May 6)
Vol. XV - Wendi (Rickson) Horak, PSU Alum/Softball Athlete (May 8)
Vol. XVI - Josh Lattimer, PSU Alum/Football Coach (May 11)
Vol. XVII - Brad Buckley, PSU Alum/Baseball Coach (May 13)
Vol. XVIII - Piper Misse, Cross Country/Track & Field Athlete (May 15)
Vol. XVIV - Alexa (Bordewick) Dreiling, PSU Alum/WBB Athlete (May 18)
Vol. XX - Jen Gomez, Volleyball Coach (May 20)