by Staff and Wire Reports , Tulsa World

After being tackled several times, he decided to pitch it to the halfback instead of being hit. Bud Wilkinson, the Sooners' head coach who had been the backfield coach before his promotion, immediately realized how effective this play could be. Originally making the team as a halfback, Mitchell ran Wilkinson's Split-T offense to perfection. Mitchell, a native of Arkansas City, Kan., was a two-time all-conference selection and still holds the NCAA Division I-A record for career punt return average with 23.6 yards per return from 1946-48. He was named MVP of OU's 14-6 win in the 1949 Sugar Bowl against North Carolina. His death was confirmed by Kansas associate athletic director John Hadl. Mitchell coached at Kansas from 1958 to 1966 and left with an overall record of 44-42-5. His best teams were in 1960 (7-2-1), 1961 (7-3-1) and 1962 (6-3-1). After leaving coaching, Mitchell bought the Wellington Daily News in Wellington, Kan., and was its publisher for 20 years until he retired to Arizona. SUBHEAD: Jack Mitchell named All-American in 1948. OU FOOTBALL

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