The Pacific Ten Conference's shocking number of setbacks headlined mid-September action with UCLA, conqueror of Tennessee, coming out on the short end of its worst loss ever perhaps at the hands of Brigham Young University.
ArizonaState, Arizona, Washington State, California, Stanford, and the University of Washington also came tumbling down. Southern Cal's imposing win over Ohio State was extraordinary. Pete Carroll's Men of Troy loom large as the best college team in 2008.
I saw Ole Miss' comeback from the heart-breaking last second loss to Wake Forest trimming Pat Sullivan's Stanford University at Vaught Hemingway Stadium. Jevan Snead is the real McCoy. He gives the Rebs a fighting chance against a vastly improved Vanderbilt University football team this weekend.
Auburn did not look like a world beater in its 3-2 win over Mississippi State. Southern Mississippi prevailed on its trip to Jonesboro to face Arkansas State which might be the best team this year in Arkansas.
Harper Davis, the longtime Millsaps coach, who should be elected to the Nationakl Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame with his Mississippi State All-America halfback brother Art Davis, thinks this year's Millsaps team might go unbeaten and win a national championship.
Greg Byrne, Mississippi State's new Athletic Director, has enrolled State in the All-American Football Foundation as a collegiate member. Collegiate members of the AAFF vote and help select the Foundation's All-America teams, coaches of the year, national champions and Colonel Red Blaik Leadership Scholarship awardees AFTER the bowl games, after all of the returns are in. The AAFF will select its 15th honorees in January.
Brett Favre's new boss, Woody Johnson, great grandson of Johnson and Johnson Founder, owns the New York Jets, which just moved its headquarters to New Jersey, leaving Hempstead, New York. He is delighted to have Favre, Southern Mississippi's great quarterback, on board. Woody owns a 1000 acre piece of land near the new training site and has told Brett that anytime he wanted to go hunting by all means do so.
Leaving Green Bay at this stage of his career opens the door for Brett to get more endorsements than ever before.Having two great Mississippi collegians, Favre and Eli Manning, in New York is terrific for ole Magnolia.
Brett is renting a house in North Jersey. Cost? $15,000 a month. At that price he could have gotten a mansion in the Princeton area and be next door to those great Italian restaurants in Trenton which I enjoyed for 30 years.
Governor Tom Dewey went to the Men's room at one of the restaurants and was sitting on the throne when an old regular, not knowing the room was occupied, opened the door, recognized the future Presidential candidate, left the door open as he called to his pals, "Look, who is sitting on the can."
The closing of Yankee Stadium brings back many memories of the Fifties and Sixties when I covered the Bronx Bombers as Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton Times when Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris composed the best one-two punch in Baseball. I was also covering the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies as well as the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Penn State, Army-Navy, and the Ivy Leaguers, Princeton, Yale, and Harvard.
Every Saturday night Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese were in town for Baseball's game of the week we would go to Toots Shor's great restaurant and talk long into the night 46 years ago.
I had covered the World Series earlier as a Mississippi Sports Editor and has gotten to know the New York writers. When I came East on Opening Day for the Times before the game the great New York Sports Editor Dan Parker came over to say hello and he said: "Jimmie, welcome to New York. "
New York and New Jersey became my home away from home for 30 years. I always look forward to returning to Gotham for the Heisman Trophy and Hall of Fame Dinners in December.
--30---
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Return to Cape Cod
HYANNIS-----An Invitation to attend the 70th anniversary of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference on Cape Cod arrived and I waited about one minute in responding my acceptance, little knowing that I would be a surprise honoree at the Great Clambake on the beautiful grounds of the Conference headquarters.
I have attended this great gathering for a quarter of a century since the ECAC left 8th Avenue in New York City shortly after the President of Yale was propositioned by a multi-colored hooker. The Yale Prexy said Thanks, but no thanks incidentally.
Bill Flynn, one of the best Athletic Directors who ever lived , came up with a solution to relocate, mentioning that his wife would probably shoot him, but a Boston College alum had allowed the Flynns to vacation in his lovely home during the summer, but was interested in selling the splendid structure.
The ECAC purchased the picturesque house overlooking Craigville Beach in Centerville, a stone's throw from Osterville and Hyannis, where the Kennedy Family has resided for years.
The New England Clambake features Lobster, clams, mussels, chicken, sausage, steak, shrimp, corn on the cob.
Rudy Keeling became Commissioner of the ECAC, which happens to be the largest athletic Conference in these United State, a year ago following the legedary Asa S. Bushnell, George Schiebler, Scotty Whitelaw, Clayton Chapman, Phil Buttafuocco and interim Commissioner
Steve Bamford.
As the evening drew to a close Commissioner Keeling, after introducing the Internes, and other staff members said that another award would be made. The ECAC was awarding Jimmie McDowell the 2008 ECAC Southern Ambassador of the Year Award.
My response: There is no place like Cape Cod.
I could not help but recall that some 16 years ago Bill Pearce, the Chairman of the National Football Foundation , supported by Honors Court President Freed Russell, wanted me to be honored at the New York Hall of Fame Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria with a Contribuition to Football Award after nearly 30 years of dedicated service to the NFFHF. Just as the meeting started Pearce told me later George Weiss, the Foundation lawyer, called him out of the meeting to sign some papers and while he was gone Mikek Cleary, Executive Director of NACDA, and ten years younger, was chosen instead.
Jon Hansen, who later succeeded Pearce as Chairman after Pearce suddenly died, andBob Mulcahy, of the New Jersey Sports Authority, the Awards Committee Chairman, were involved with Weiss in the maneuver. I had recommended Hansen to Draddy as a member of the Board. Weiss, recently named a NFFHF Vice Chairman, is gunning for the top job.
Weiss, like Hansen, is not a Football Man. When the Gold Medal was presented for the first time to President Dwight D. Eisenhower it as stressed that the Medal should go only to football players, coaches, or managers. The Awards Committee, under Mulcahy with Hansen's support changed the criteria, and guess who got the Gold Medal a couple of years ago, good old Jon Hansen.
Six weeks ago, after talking to the University of Texas' Bill Little at a COSIDA meeting in Tampa I found out that Ike Sewell's $50,000 gift, I had requested, had never reached the University of Texas. Ike gave the money and requested that it go to his alma mater for scholarships for deserving Texas youngsters. Chairman Draddy approved this request. Ike sent the money. The University of Texas still has not received it.
I wrote Weiss, the lawyer and secretary-treasurer, six weeks ago, for an answer. As of today, September 7th, I still have not received an answer. Weiss, I later learned, started drawing $25,000 for legal services. Since I was responsible for getting my longtime friend Ike Sewell to make the contribution I want to know Where is the $50,000 given nearly 20 years ago? Make that $50,000 , plus interest.
Draddy told me before he died that the Jersey crowd would spend the $12 million dollars we had raised madly if they got control. Well, they got control, all right with the help of Vin Draddy's lawyer, George Weiss.
----30------
I have attended this great gathering for a quarter of a century since the ECAC left 8th Avenue in New York City shortly after the President of Yale was propositioned by a multi-colored hooker. The Yale Prexy said Thanks, but no thanks incidentally.
Bill Flynn, one of the best Athletic Directors who ever lived , came up with a solution to relocate, mentioning that his wife would probably shoot him, but a Boston College alum had allowed the Flynns to vacation in his lovely home during the summer, but was interested in selling the splendid structure.
The ECAC purchased the picturesque house overlooking Craigville Beach in Centerville, a stone's throw from Osterville and Hyannis, where the Kennedy Family has resided for years.
The New England Clambake features Lobster, clams, mussels, chicken, sausage, steak, shrimp, corn on the cob.
Rudy Keeling became Commissioner of the ECAC, which happens to be the largest athletic Conference in these United State, a year ago following the legedary Asa S. Bushnell, George Schiebler, Scotty Whitelaw, Clayton Chapman, Phil Buttafuocco and interim Commissioner
Steve Bamford.
As the evening drew to a close Commissioner Keeling, after introducing the Internes, and other staff members said that another award would be made. The ECAC was awarding Jimmie McDowell the 2008 ECAC Southern Ambassador of the Year Award.
My response: There is no place like Cape Cod.
I could not help but recall that some 16 years ago Bill Pearce, the Chairman of the National Football Foundation , supported by Honors Court President Freed Russell, wanted me to be honored at the New York Hall of Fame Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria with a Contribuition to Football Award after nearly 30 years of dedicated service to the NFFHF. Just as the meeting started Pearce told me later George Weiss, the Foundation lawyer, called him out of the meeting to sign some papers and while he was gone Mikek Cleary, Executive Director of NACDA, and ten years younger, was chosen instead.
Jon Hansen, who later succeeded Pearce as Chairman after Pearce suddenly died, andBob Mulcahy, of the New Jersey Sports Authority, the Awards Committee Chairman, were involved with Weiss in the maneuver. I had recommended Hansen to Draddy as a member of the Board. Weiss, recently named a NFFHF Vice Chairman, is gunning for the top job.
Weiss, like Hansen, is not a Football Man. When the Gold Medal was presented for the first time to President Dwight D. Eisenhower it as stressed that the Medal should go only to football players, coaches, or managers. The Awards Committee, under Mulcahy with Hansen's support changed the criteria, and guess who got the Gold Medal a couple of years ago, good old Jon Hansen.
Six weeks ago, after talking to the University of Texas' Bill Little at a COSIDA meeting in Tampa I found out that Ike Sewell's $50,000 gift, I had requested, had never reached the University of Texas. Ike gave the money and requested that it go to his alma mater for scholarships for deserving Texas youngsters. Chairman Draddy approved this request. Ike sent the money. The University of Texas still has not received it.
I wrote Weiss, the lawyer and secretary-treasurer, six weeks ago, for an answer. As of today, September 7th, I still have not received an answer. Weiss, I later learned, started drawing $25,000 for legal services. Since I was responsible for getting my longtime friend Ike Sewell to make the contribution I want to know Where is the $50,000 given nearly 20 years ago? Make that $50,000 , plus interest.
Draddy told me before he died that the Jersey crowd would spend the $12 million dollars we had raised madly if they got control. Well, they got control, all right with the help of Vin Draddy's lawyer, George Weiss.
----30------
Sunday, August 31, 2008
2008 Football Season Begins
It was one of the best opening college football weekends ever in Oxford and Hattiesburg as Ole Miss and Southern Mississippi launched their new campaigns under new coaches, Houston Nutt and Larry Fedora. Derek Dooley also had a hot time in Ruston as Louisiana Tech shocked Mississippi State.
The Grove was never fuller as picnickers flooded one of College Football's all-time great pre-game palaces. Chancellor Robert Khayat gathered with ole teammates which included All-Americans Charlie Flowers and Billy Ray Adams, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Bobby Ray Franklin, Warren (Beaux) Ball, Warner Alford, Dr. Shed Hill Robertson, Ray Brown and lovely wives and daughters.
Beaux and Beatrice, who live in New Orleans, were concerned about their home in the threatened storm as were Lovelace and Brown about their Gulf Coast residences. Ed Wilburn Hooker, who majored in poker at Ole Miss, recalled the day he was riding with Beaux in their senior year and Beaux pointed at a stately building and said to Ed Wiburn what was the name of the structure and Ed said "It is the Library.,"
The night before I was in Hattiesburg for the P. W. Underwood Roast. I had been invited to be a Roaster and came well prepared only to be told that only to be told that the only Roasters would be former Underwood coaches. I purchased my ticket earlier and it was for a good cause, a scholarship in honor of Underwood. What is my history with Underwood? All I did was recruit him for Coach Pie Vann when I was the Athletic Publicity Director.
I had told Pie that there was a big lineman who attended Mississippi State who was with the Army at Ft. Jackson and had not gotten along with Coach Slick Morton and might not want to return to State. Pie told me to make the contact which I did. Ordinarily you take a prospect to the Library, which I didn't.
After showing Underwood around the campus I parked the car and we got out of the car and sat on a bench by a tall tree where every coed which had to pass to get to the Grill. I told Underwood that I knew he was a good football player and if he came to Southern he would get the publicity because I handled the publicity. I also told him that all of the coeds were attracted to football players and he asked me where did he sign?
I later nick-named him The Undertaker and added that he had a Coffin just your size on the gridiron. It caught on.
] Back to Ole Miss I encountered Liberty Bowl Executive Director Steve Ehrthart and we talked about the passing of founder Bud Dudley and Percy Jr. Roberts, Captain of the 195l Memphis State Tigers and one of the founders of the Highland Hundred Tiger Booster Club. Both passed away in recent weeks. Percy and Bud were both members of the All-American Football Foundation Board of Directors. Percy was also the Godfather of my daughter Joanna. I miss them both and treasured their friendship.
The Liberty Bowl pits a SEC team against a Conference USA team. Wouldn't it be something if the Liberty Bowl sought to pit Ole Miss against Southern Mississippi?
----30------
The Grove was never fuller as picnickers flooded one of College Football's all-time great pre-game palaces. Chancellor Robert Khayat gathered with ole teammates which included All-Americans Charlie Flowers and Billy Ray Adams, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Bobby Ray Franklin, Warren (Beaux) Ball, Warner Alford, Dr. Shed Hill Robertson, Ray Brown and lovely wives and daughters.
Beaux and Beatrice, who live in New Orleans, were concerned about their home in the threatened storm as were Lovelace and Brown about their Gulf Coast residences. Ed Wilburn Hooker, who majored in poker at Ole Miss, recalled the day he was riding with Beaux in their senior year and Beaux pointed at a stately building and said to Ed Wiburn what was the name of the structure and Ed said "It is the Library.,"
The night before I was in Hattiesburg for the P. W. Underwood Roast. I had been invited to be a Roaster and came well prepared only to be told that only to be told that the only Roasters would be former Underwood coaches. I purchased my ticket earlier and it was for a good cause, a scholarship in honor of Underwood. What is my history with Underwood? All I did was recruit him for Coach Pie Vann when I was the Athletic Publicity Director.
I had told Pie that there was a big lineman who attended Mississippi State who was with the Army at Ft. Jackson and had not gotten along with Coach Slick Morton and might not want to return to State. Pie told me to make the contact which I did. Ordinarily you take a prospect to the Library, which I didn't.
After showing Underwood around the campus I parked the car and we got out of the car and sat on a bench by a tall tree where every coed which had to pass to get to the Grill. I told Underwood that I knew he was a good football player and if he came to Southern he would get the publicity because I handled the publicity. I also told him that all of the coeds were attracted to football players and he asked me where did he sign?
I later nick-named him The Undertaker and added that he had a Coffin just your size on the gridiron. It caught on.
] Back to Ole Miss I encountered Liberty Bowl Executive Director Steve Ehrthart and we talked about the passing of founder Bud Dudley and Percy Jr. Roberts, Captain of the 195l Memphis State Tigers and one of the founders of the Highland Hundred Tiger Booster Club. Both passed away in recent weeks. Percy and Bud were both members of the All-American Football Foundation Board of Directors. Percy was also the Godfather of my daughter Joanna. I miss them both and treasured their friendship.
The Liberty Bowl pits a SEC team against a Conference USA team. Wouldn't it be something if the Liberty Bowl sought to pit Ole Miss against Southern Mississippi?
----30------
Thursday, August 14, 2008
M Club Reunion Enjoyed
The Glory Years Boys gathered for their annul reunion during the University of Mississippi"M" Club weekend in Oxford and it was a pleasure to be included inasmsuch as I covered those great championship teams as Sports Editor-Columnist of the late Jackson State Times which was purchased from the opposition by the competing newspaper combine and closed.
The late Herman Sidney (Eagle) Day preferred to keep the 1954-57 teams separate from the l958-l962 teams so there were two separate parties. Reverend Paige Cothren, All-America kicking star, was the master of ceremonies and paid tribute to Herman Sidney. who died earlier this year along with Bobby Fisher, Lea Pasley, Ed Beatty, Gayle (Tar Baby) Bowman, and coach Ray Poole, Cothren's uncle.
Poole, a field goal star with the New York Giants (Charlie Conerly was his holder) taught his nephew how to kick extra points and field goals, creating another offensive weapon for Johnny Vaught"s Rebels.
Speaking of Vaught, the master innovator, manager Sprout Simpson confessed that the "Go To Hell" Ole Miss sign on the University stadium football carpet was not done by a Mississippi State group of students prior to the traditional Turkey Day weekend but ordered by Vaught himself.
Vaught told his charges that the Rebels should rise to the occasion and gun down their arch rivals by coming in to Hemingway Stadium in the dark of night and leave such a message on the turf.
Prior to an LSU game a plane flew over the Red and Blue field and dropped pink panties on the field, laying the blame on Pepsodent Paul Dietzel and his Bayou Bengal Tigers. Manager Simpson said that John Howard Vaught had a Red and Blue pilot perform this trick.
At this year's M Club reunion another great golf tournament was held with such links warriors as Richard (Possum) Price, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Ralph (Catfish) Smith, Billy Ray Adams, Charlie Flowers, Warner Alford, Art Doty, Dr. Mike Dennis, Dr. Louis Guy, Paul Dongieux, Archie Manning, Jack Cavan, Ed (Sloppy) Horner, Lee Garner, Otho Kortz, and Modest John Dottley among the group.
The Rebs lost another great one in Oscar (Buck) Buchanan when the Memphis Redhead passed away. Buck was a top high school coach before joining the Memphis State staff. He called everyone Coach so he did not have to worry about a fellow's name. His teammate Bobby Wilson died a few weeks earlier as noted in this column.
We missed Chancellor Robert Khayat who always enjoys the M Club Reunion. Billy Kinard, Vaughn (Buddy) Alliston, Eddie Crawford, Cotton Bowl teammates with Eagle Day, were all there and Billy Brewer, a member of the Ole Miss Centennial team as a defensive back, dropped by to say hello. It was good to see Ken Kirk, a star center, whose son passed away duiring the past year and Jimmy Lear and Farley Salmon, star field generals of the 1954 and 1948 Rebs, always enjoy seeing each other. Lear reminds Salmon to take care of himself because he does not want to be Ole Miss' oldest living quarterback.
Ray (Buck) Howell, who caught the first TD pass over Dick Nolan in the Maryland game, was there as were Bobby Franklin, who prolonged his NFL career as the holder for ace kicker Groza in Cleveland, Billy (Momma) Hitt, Tim Ellis, Bobby Crespino, retired banker Chico Taylor, All-American Marvin Terrell and ace chefs, All-American Allen Brown and Red Owens, who prepared the best barbecue I have seen in some time.
All in all, it was a weekend to remember. Let the 2008 College Football Season begin.
----30------
The late Herman Sidney (Eagle) Day preferred to keep the 1954-57 teams separate from the l958-l962 teams so there were two separate parties. Reverend Paige Cothren, All-America kicking star, was the master of ceremonies and paid tribute to Herman Sidney. who died earlier this year along with Bobby Fisher, Lea Pasley, Ed Beatty, Gayle (Tar Baby) Bowman, and coach Ray Poole, Cothren's uncle.
Poole, a field goal star with the New York Giants (Charlie Conerly was his holder) taught his nephew how to kick extra points and field goals, creating another offensive weapon for Johnny Vaught"s Rebels.
Speaking of Vaught, the master innovator, manager Sprout Simpson confessed that the "Go To Hell" Ole Miss sign on the University stadium football carpet was not done by a Mississippi State group of students prior to the traditional Turkey Day weekend but ordered by Vaught himself.
Vaught told his charges that the Rebels should rise to the occasion and gun down their arch rivals by coming in to Hemingway Stadium in the dark of night and leave such a message on the turf.
Prior to an LSU game a plane flew over the Red and Blue field and dropped pink panties on the field, laying the blame on Pepsodent Paul Dietzel and his Bayou Bengal Tigers. Manager Simpson said that John Howard Vaught had a Red and Blue pilot perform this trick.
At this year's M Club reunion another great golf tournament was held with such links warriors as Richard (Possum) Price, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Ralph (Catfish) Smith, Billy Ray Adams, Charlie Flowers, Warner Alford, Art Doty, Dr. Mike Dennis, Dr. Louis Guy, Paul Dongieux, Archie Manning, Jack Cavan, Ed (Sloppy) Horner, Lee Garner, Otho Kortz, and Modest John Dottley among the group.
The Rebs lost another great one in Oscar (Buck) Buchanan when the Memphis Redhead passed away. Buck was a top high school coach before joining the Memphis State staff. He called everyone Coach so he did not have to worry about a fellow's name. His teammate Bobby Wilson died a few weeks earlier as noted in this column.
We missed Chancellor Robert Khayat who always enjoys the M Club Reunion. Billy Kinard, Vaughn (Buddy) Alliston, Eddie Crawford, Cotton Bowl teammates with Eagle Day, were all there and Billy Brewer, a member of the Ole Miss Centennial team as a defensive back, dropped by to say hello. It was good to see Ken Kirk, a star center, whose son passed away duiring the past year and Jimmy Lear and Farley Salmon, star field generals of the 1954 and 1948 Rebs, always enjoy seeing each other. Lear reminds Salmon to take care of himself because he does not want to be Ole Miss' oldest living quarterback.
Ray (Buck) Howell, who caught the first TD pass over Dick Nolan in the Maryland game, was there as were Bobby Franklin, who prolonged his NFL career as the holder for ace kicker Groza in Cleveland, Billy (Momma) Hitt, Tim Ellis, Bobby Crespino, retired banker Chico Taylor, All-American Marvin Terrell and ace chefs, All-American Allen Brown and Red Owens, who prepared the best barbecue I have seen in some time.
All in all, it was a weekend to remember. Let the 2008 College Football Season begin.
----30------
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Big Ten Conference Media Day
CHICAGO------I attended my first meeting of the Football Writers Association of America meeting in the summer of 1951 as the Mississippi Southern's Director of Public Relations and Athletic Publicity. I have been to Chicago for all of the Big Ten Media Day gatherings after the College All-Star game was cancelled by an electrical storm in the fourth quarter, ending this glamorous attraction which ended a fabulous five days in the Windy city.
The 2008 Big Ten Media Day this year marked the introduction of Michigan';s new coach Rich Rodrigues, following the retirement of Lloyd Carr. It was also the final appearance of Purdue's Head Coach Joe Tiller, who will return to his Wyoming fishing grounds after the season and hopefully a bowl appearance. It could be the last year for Penn State's Hall of Fame Coach Joe Paterno, in the final year of his contract.
Joe and I , along with Playboy's Hugh Hefner are included among the Boys of 1926. Marilyn Monroe was also born that year. Too bad we never had a Reunion with Marilyn Monroe.
Commissioner Jim Delany begins his 20th year as the Big Ten Commissioner following Wayne Duke, who launched Big Ten Media Day and is still around to enjoy it.
Between press meetings at the Hyatt Regency, I enjoyed my annual Dinner at Gene and Gorgetti's great restaurant. Over 1700 enthusiasts were on hand for the Media Lunch which featured three players from each of the 11 Big Ten schools and the 11 head coaches.
The coaches paid tribute to the two Joes, Tiller and Paterno. Joe Pa says he is not interested in retiring now and unlike Tiller does not enjoy fishing. Joe said: You catch a Fish and then you catch another one and they all look alike. Joe does not play Golf either. He pointed out a couple of years ago that Paul Bryant died 30 days after he retired so he is not interested in retiring right now. As long as he has good health, like Mississippi Red, he should not retire .
After Vincent de Paul Draddy died as Chairman of the National Football Foundation a new group took over, many who I had recommended to Draddy as Board of Director member I was asked to retire by some of these same gentleman and become a Consultant, which I did.
I asked former Notre Dame Athletic Director Moose Krause how was he doing? He said they made him a Consultant and then never Consulted him about a damn thing. Several of those gentlemen who thought I should retire as Casey Stengel said "Are deceased at the present time."
When I do pass away--about 20 years from now, the National Football Foundation will receive $100,000 which I have asked be applied to scholarship in my name for my 30 years of devoted service. I am still awaiting a reply.
Bill Pearce earlier told me that he and longtime Honors Court Chairman Fred Russell wanted me to be honored at the Waldorf Astoria and would present my name to the Award Committee, chaired by Robert Mulcahy, athletic director at Rutgers and former President of the New Jersey Sports Authority--Jon Hansen was the NJSA Chairman. Pearce was called out of the meeting by Attorney George Weiss to sign some papers. When he came back the Committee, chaired by Mulcahy, had selected someone else. .This was over 15 years ago. I did not hold my breath. Hansen, a non-football man, later received the highest honor, the Gold Medal.
When Bill Pearce died, Jon Hansen became Chairman of the NFFHF. As a Consultant I wrote and told him I was ready to help in any way needed. He wrote back that I would have no role to play in the NFFHF after my contract ended in December. The only reason Hansen was on the Board was that I recommended him. In my planned book one chapter will be devoted to Ingrates I have known.
Bottom line: Hansen and Mulcahy are two Jersey politicians who with the help of attorney George Weiss took control of the NFFHF
So, it was refreshing to be in Chicago with real football people, the Giants of the Big Ten.
The 2008 Big Ten Media Day this year marked the introduction of Michigan';s new coach Rich Rodrigues, following the retirement of Lloyd Carr. It was also the final appearance of Purdue's Head Coach Joe Tiller, who will return to his Wyoming fishing grounds after the season and hopefully a bowl appearance. It could be the last year for Penn State's Hall of Fame Coach Joe Paterno, in the final year of his contract.
Joe and I , along with Playboy's Hugh Hefner are included among the Boys of 1926. Marilyn Monroe was also born that year. Too bad we never had a Reunion with Marilyn Monroe.
Commissioner Jim Delany begins his 20th year as the Big Ten Commissioner following Wayne Duke, who launched Big Ten Media Day and is still around to enjoy it.
Between press meetings at the Hyatt Regency, I enjoyed my annual Dinner at Gene and Gorgetti's great restaurant. Over 1700 enthusiasts were on hand for the Media Lunch which featured three players from each of the 11 Big Ten schools and the 11 head coaches.
The coaches paid tribute to the two Joes, Tiller and Paterno. Joe Pa says he is not interested in retiring now and unlike Tiller does not enjoy fishing. Joe said: You catch a Fish and then you catch another one and they all look alike. Joe does not play Golf either. He pointed out a couple of years ago that Paul Bryant died 30 days after he retired so he is not interested in retiring right now. As long as he has good health, like Mississippi Red, he should not retire .
After Vincent de Paul Draddy died as Chairman of the National Football Foundation a new group took over, many who I had recommended to Draddy as Board of Director member I was asked to retire by some of these same gentleman and become a Consultant, which I did.
I asked former Notre Dame Athletic Director Moose Krause how was he doing? He said they made him a Consultant and then never Consulted him about a damn thing. Several of those gentlemen who thought I should retire as Casey Stengel said "Are deceased at the present time."
When I do pass away--about 20 years from now, the National Football Foundation will receive $100,000 which I have asked be applied to scholarship in my name for my 30 years of devoted service. I am still awaiting a reply.
Bill Pearce earlier told me that he and longtime Honors Court Chairman Fred Russell wanted me to be honored at the Waldorf Astoria and would present my name to the Award Committee, chaired by Robert Mulcahy, athletic director at Rutgers and former President of the New Jersey Sports Authority--Jon Hansen was the NJSA Chairman. Pearce was called out of the meeting by Attorney George Weiss to sign some papers. When he came back the Committee, chaired by Mulcahy, had selected someone else. .This was over 15 years ago. I did not hold my breath. Hansen, a non-football man, later received the highest honor, the Gold Medal.
When Bill Pearce died, Jon Hansen became Chairman of the NFFHF. As a Consultant I wrote and told him I was ready to help in any way needed. He wrote back that I would have no role to play in the NFFHF after my contract ended in December. The only reason Hansen was on the Board was that I recommended him. In my planned book one chapter will be devoted to Ingrates I have known.
Bottom line: Hansen and Mulcahy are two Jersey politicians who with the help of attorney George Weiss took control of the NFFHF
So, it was refreshing to be in Chicago with real football people, the Giants of the Big Ten.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Football Just Around the Corner
Summer rallies in Jackson in mid-July signalled the soon return of the 2008 College Football season. Ole Miss and Southern Mississippi alums and boosters packed the Trade Mart. State, boasting the largest Alumni Chapter in Central Mississippi, packed the Coliseum.
Everyone is undefeated for now. Everyone is optimistic.
Sly Croom, with a lucrative new contract in hand, sees even better things this fall after leading the Bulldogs to a Liberty Bowl triumph after a season-ending come-from-behind triumph over Ole Miss, resulting in Ed Orgeron's five year plan being terminated after three dismal seasons.
With an impressive group of seniors in attendance Sly thinks the 2008 Maroons will be better than last year. His goal will to again beat Ole Miss, have another winning season, and play in a BCS Bowl. He thinks he can accomplish this mission.
Houston Nutt, succeeding Orgeron, after another winning season at Arkansas, including an impressive triumph over LSU, which went on to win the national title, is changing the attitude of his Red and Blue warriors. He wants them to think positively for four quarters.Last year, as alum Cosmo Lloyd pointed out, the Rebels were out-scored in the fourth period. Nutt reminded the Jackson audience that Ole Miss did not win a SEC game in 2007.
This was the first time I had seen Houston since he took over as head coach after seeing him at the Heisman Trophy dinner in New York. He has surrounded himself with a good staff, as has Croom and Southern's new coach Larry Fedora, who replaced Jeff Bower who led Southern to 10 Bowl trips in the last 11 years.
Fedora promises an attacking crowd-pleasing campaign built around super running back Damion Fletcher, the Mississippi Charlie Conerly trophy winner last year. His star defensive player middle linebacker Gerald McRath and Fletcher were chosen as Conference USA's out-standing offensive and defensive players in the pre-season selections.
Southern will kick off the new season after a Friday night Roast of former coach and player P.W. Underwood, a lad I personally recruited for Pie Vann while working as the Athletic Publicity Director and Director of Public Relations at Southern in the early 1950's . All=-American Ray Guy, back at his alma mater, has invited me to be one of the roasters.
The national champion USM unbeaten 1958 team celebrates its Golden Anniversary Reunion this fall.
At the three rallies in Jackson the Basketball and Basketball coaches for both men and women also gave reports on the upcoming season.
Greg Byrne, State's new Athletic Director, made an impressive appearance as did State's new Baseball coach John Cohen, who had very nice things to say about his college coach Ron Polk who had blasted Byrne for hiring Cohen rather than his recommendation. Cohen received a standing ovation from the State boosters.
Croom could be a strong candidate for national Coach of the Year honors if his team lives up to every expectation. The former Alabama football star and assistant to the legendary Paul Bryant came to State dedicated to getting the Maroon program rolling. He has accomplished part of his mission.
I feel that in Croom, Nutt, and Fedora State, Ole Miss, and Southern will be clicking on all cylinders this fall. All three could wind up in Bowl games. Strike up the band. The new season is practically here.
---30---
Everyone is undefeated for now. Everyone is optimistic.
Sly Croom, with a lucrative new contract in hand, sees even better things this fall after leading the Bulldogs to a Liberty Bowl triumph after a season-ending come-from-behind triumph over Ole Miss, resulting in Ed Orgeron's five year plan being terminated after three dismal seasons.
With an impressive group of seniors in attendance Sly thinks the 2008 Maroons will be better than last year. His goal will to again beat Ole Miss, have another winning season, and play in a BCS Bowl. He thinks he can accomplish this mission.
Houston Nutt, succeeding Orgeron, after another winning season at Arkansas, including an impressive triumph over LSU, which went on to win the national title, is changing the attitude of his Red and Blue warriors. He wants them to think positively for four quarters.Last year, as alum Cosmo Lloyd pointed out, the Rebels were out-scored in the fourth period. Nutt reminded the Jackson audience that Ole Miss did not win a SEC game in 2007.
This was the first time I had seen Houston since he took over as head coach after seeing him at the Heisman Trophy dinner in New York. He has surrounded himself with a good staff, as has Croom and Southern's new coach Larry Fedora, who replaced Jeff Bower who led Southern to 10 Bowl trips in the last 11 years.
Fedora promises an attacking crowd-pleasing campaign built around super running back Damion Fletcher, the Mississippi Charlie Conerly trophy winner last year. His star defensive player middle linebacker Gerald McRath and Fletcher were chosen as Conference USA's out-standing offensive and defensive players in the pre-season selections.
Southern will kick off the new season after a Friday night Roast of former coach and player P.W. Underwood, a lad I personally recruited for Pie Vann while working as the Athletic Publicity Director and Director of Public Relations at Southern in the early 1950's . All=-American Ray Guy, back at his alma mater, has invited me to be one of the roasters.
The national champion USM unbeaten 1958 team celebrates its Golden Anniversary Reunion this fall.
At the three rallies in Jackson the Basketball and Basketball coaches for both men and women also gave reports on the upcoming season.
Greg Byrne, State's new Athletic Director, made an impressive appearance as did State's new Baseball coach John Cohen, who had very nice things to say about his college coach Ron Polk who had blasted Byrne for hiring Cohen rather than his recommendation. Cohen received a standing ovation from the State boosters.
Croom could be a strong candidate for national Coach of the Year honors if his team lives up to every expectation. The former Alabama football star and assistant to the legendary Paul Bryant came to State dedicated to getting the Maroon program rolling. He has accomplished part of his mission.
I feel that in Croom, Nutt, and Fedora State, Ole Miss, and Southern will be clicking on all cylinders this fall. All three could wind up in Bowl games. Strike up the band. The new season is practically here.
---30---
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Losing Good Friends
The passing of Bobby Wilson, a baseball and football star at Ole Miss and the death of Nick (The Cat) Revon of Southern Mississippi was a shocker. Both had been ill for some time. I wish I could have seen them one more time. The All-American Football Foundation wanted to honor Bobby at our Mid-South Banquet of Champions in Tunica in early June with our President Gerald R. Ford All-America High School Coach award for the outstanding job he had done over the years as a coach after his pro baseball days were over.
Bobby's declining health kept him from being with us. We will honor him posthumously in 2009 and will invite his dear wife, Martha, to accept the award.
Nick Revon played at Hinds before he went to Southern. Bucky McElroy, the Black Knight, was there at the same time and we called Bucky to tell him of the sad news. Revon was a star in basketball, baseball and track. He is Southern's all-time basketball scoring leader. He played for the Phillips 66 semi-pro team after leaving Hattiesburg.
Lee Floyd recruited Nick for Southern, where he joined Tom (Whiz) Bishop, Jack Gallagher, Jeep Clark, Mutt Watts, Mickey Harrington, Bobby (Stormy) Weathers and Jersey John O'Keefe in giving Southern some of the all-time great basketball teams.
Floyd had coached at Pensacola Navy before coming to Southern. He brought Gallagher and Bishop with him. Bishop was also a big league prospect as a shortstop before he was beaned and lost the central vision in an eye. That ended his baseball career, but years later he hit the Lottery for five or six million dollars in his native Pennsylvania, where he was an outstanding high school basketball coach.
Revon coached in his native Louisiana and was very successful. We still recall one night a few of us joined Nick in the French Quarter where everyone knew Nick. We caught a few shows including the legendary Lilly (The Cat Girl) Christine. I wrote a column about the Cat Girl and Nick the Cat sharing a stage in ole New Orleans.
Bobby Wilson was an outstanding defensive football player as well as a backup to Charlie Conerly as a single wing tailback along with Will Glover. Wilson could have made it in the NFL or Canadian League, but he was even better prospect in Baseball. Like Hugh Laurin Pepper Bobby did not make it as a major leaguer, but he felt he had to give it his best shot.
Pepper had signed a $40,000 bonus after his junior year at Southern where he was a Little All-America running back with McElroy in a one-two punch which reminded some of Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis. In those days bonus players had to stay with the big league team for two years, spending most of the time on the bench.
This was a bad rule bonus players should have been playing in the minors,particularly pitchers who could be on the mound every four days competing rather than sitting on a bench in the majors. Pepper thought about playing Pro Football after a few years but Pro Football did not have a retirement program at that time as did Baseball.
Chuck Finley succeeded Lee Floyd when Floyd went back to El Paso to enter business with a boyhood pal. He later returned to Southern but that is another story. One day in the gym club and fraternity players were practicing. I asked Finley did he ever watch youngsters like this practice, suggesting some might be sleepers. Finley looked at me like I was nuts. I told him , for instance, look at that little fellow down at the far end of the court. The little guy was popping the basket relentlessly. Finley looked closer and closer, figuring I might have hit the jackpot. Then I told him that lad was not a Frat player or a club player but the great Nick Revon.
Finley looked at me again. He knew he had been victimized by his own press agent.
--------30--------
Bobby's declining health kept him from being with us. We will honor him posthumously in 2009 and will invite his dear wife, Martha, to accept the award.
Nick Revon played at Hinds before he went to Southern. Bucky McElroy, the Black Knight, was there at the same time and we called Bucky to tell him of the sad news. Revon was a star in basketball, baseball and track. He is Southern's all-time basketball scoring leader. He played for the Phillips 66 semi-pro team after leaving Hattiesburg.
Lee Floyd recruited Nick for Southern, where he joined Tom (Whiz) Bishop, Jack Gallagher, Jeep Clark, Mutt Watts, Mickey Harrington, Bobby (Stormy) Weathers and Jersey John O'Keefe in giving Southern some of the all-time great basketball teams.
Floyd had coached at Pensacola Navy before coming to Southern. He brought Gallagher and Bishop with him. Bishop was also a big league prospect as a shortstop before he was beaned and lost the central vision in an eye. That ended his baseball career, but years later he hit the Lottery for five or six million dollars in his native Pennsylvania, where he was an outstanding high school basketball coach.
Revon coached in his native Louisiana and was very successful. We still recall one night a few of us joined Nick in the French Quarter where everyone knew Nick. We caught a few shows including the legendary Lilly (The Cat Girl) Christine. I wrote a column about the Cat Girl and Nick the Cat sharing a stage in ole New Orleans.
Bobby Wilson was an outstanding defensive football player as well as a backup to Charlie Conerly as a single wing tailback along with Will Glover. Wilson could have made it in the NFL or Canadian League, but he was even better prospect in Baseball. Like Hugh Laurin Pepper Bobby did not make it as a major leaguer, but he felt he had to give it his best shot.
Pepper had signed a $40,000 bonus after his junior year at Southern where he was a Little All-America running back with McElroy in a one-two punch which reminded some of Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis. In those days bonus players had to stay with the big league team for two years, spending most of the time on the bench.
This was a bad rule bonus players should have been playing in the minors,particularly pitchers who could be on the mound every four days competing rather than sitting on a bench in the majors. Pepper thought about playing Pro Football after a few years but Pro Football did not have a retirement program at that time as did Baseball.
Chuck Finley succeeded Lee Floyd when Floyd went back to El Paso to enter business with a boyhood pal. He later returned to Southern but that is another story. One day in the gym club and fraternity players were practicing. I asked Finley did he ever watch youngsters like this practice, suggesting some might be sleepers. Finley looked at me like I was nuts. I told him , for instance, look at that little fellow down at the far end of the court. The little guy was popping the basket relentlessly. Finley looked closer and closer, figuring I might have hit the jackpot. Then I told him that lad was not a Frat player or a club player but the great Nick Revon.
Finley looked at me again. He knew he had been victimized by his own press agent.
--------30--------
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Passing of Bud Dudley
My friendship with Ambrose (Bud) Dudley began when I was the Athletic Publicity Director of Mississippi Southern College. I noticed that Dudley had offered the University of Georgia $25,000 to come to Philadelphia to play Villanova University. He was Villanova's Athletic Director at the time. I told Southern's Athletic Director Reed Green he should offer Dudley $25,000 to come to Mobile to play Southern in a Catholic city. He made the offer and Dudley grabbed it.
This was 1954 and Southern had just beat SEC champion Alabama and the University of Georgia in 1953 and Southern had an open date. The game was played. Southern whipped Villanova. Dudley said Southern's Yankee players were better than his Yankee players. Ambrose took the 25 grand and stashed it in a Philadelphia bank.
Over the years I told Dudley that being the great sportsman that he was I was sure he would give Southern a return engagement with the same guarantee in Philadelphia.It never happened.
I went North to Trenton New Jersey as Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton Times. Dudley, a Notre Damer, had left Villanova to launch the Liberty Bowl. I covered the game featuring Oregon and Villanova. Terry Baker's 98-yard run won the game for Oregon.
The next year Bud was looking for two good teams. I recommended Mississippi State and Bud invited the Bulldogs to play N.C.State in the Liberty Bowl.
The game was played in bitter cold weather. Both teams were all-white. The NAACP picketed the game. The NAACP lawyer watched the pickets in a heated limo. After the first quarter the picket guys left. The Bulldogs won the game. After the game at the post-game reception the Bulldog trainer Dutch Luchsinger went to the bar and a ordered a drink The bartender said that would cost $5,00. Dutch nearly fainted, exclaiming the Sugar Bowl would never expect a guest to buy his own drink.
When Dudley moved the Liberty Bowl to Memphis, after one year in an indoors arena in Atlantic City I had made a brief stop in Memphis with the Commercial Appeal and went to bat for Memphis with Dudley. I covered most of the Liberty Bowls played in Memphis while working for the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, tying in our NFFHF Chapter Awards Dinner as part of the Liberty Bowl festivities.
I worked for Bud and the Liberty Bowl as Director of Corporate Relations after retiring as the NFFHF Executive Director. Chairman Tim Treadwell and Bud offered me the job. That year I again recommended Mississippi State and the Bulldogs played the Air Force Academy, defeating the Falcons before the best Liberty Bowl crowd ever at the time.
When the All-American Football Foundation was launched in 1994 Bud Dudley came on board as a member of the AAFF Board of Directors. The AAFF Outstanding Bowl Director Award carries the good name of Bud Dudley. Recipients appreciated being named the winner in honor of Bud Dudley.
Bud Dudley is the only man to start a Bowl game with his own money. I could not attend his funeral because of being in Los Angeles for a Banquet of Champions. A past president of the Rose Bowl, Libby Wright was the Dudley recipient in Los Angeles at the historic Biltmore Hotel.
When the National Football Foundation and the City of Memphis discussed moving the College Football Hall of Fame to Tennessee Dudley accompanied Sidney Schlenker to Chairman Vincent de Paul Draddy's Palm Beach home. It turned out later that Schlenker forgot to refund Dudley the cost of his plane ticket to Florida.
When the NFFHF Board approved further discussion with Memphis which had been proposed initially by Liberty Bowlers Treadwell and Dudley as the College Football Hall of Fame sight I was asked by Treadwell and Dudley to let me know what happened at the meeting. Schlenker also asked me to call him in New York and let him know too.
I called the Pierre Hotel where Schlenker was staying in John Tigrett's suite and he was not there. I left word what had happened. I called Treadwell and Dudley and told them the NFFHF wanted to come to Memphis for further discussions and they so informed Mayor Dick Hackett. When Schlenker found out I had also told Treadwell and Dudley he was infuriated and told the Foundation lawyer George Weiss he did not want McDowell involved in further discussions.
Draddy had asked Weiss to check out Schlenker. Weiss reported that Sidney was 100%.
Schlenker was 100 percent phony as The City of Memphis found out later. The College Hall did not go to Memphis as part of the Pyramid project and relocated in South Bend instead. The Foundation relocated in Dallas and Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones is a new member of the Board. Will he invite the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame to re-locate in his new Stadium when the current agreement with South Bend expires in less than two years? Weiss is chairman of the Executive Committee moving in to that slot after Draddy's demise.
Schlenker turned out to have a second family in Denver. The Commercial Appeal noted that the City of Memphis had fallen for Sidney "Hook, Line, and Schlenker." He later was associated with the Hollywood Madam, Heidi Fless before becoming paralized in a car accident and has since passed away.
I will miss Bud Dudley, a man of honor, a loyal husband and devoted Father and Grandfather and my friend for over s half century.
-----30------
This was 1954 and Southern had just beat SEC champion Alabama and the University of Georgia in 1953 and Southern had an open date. The game was played. Southern whipped Villanova. Dudley said Southern's Yankee players were better than his Yankee players. Ambrose took the 25 grand and stashed it in a Philadelphia bank.
Over the years I told Dudley that being the great sportsman that he was I was sure he would give Southern a return engagement with the same guarantee in Philadelphia.It never happened.
I went North to Trenton New Jersey as Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton Times. Dudley, a Notre Damer, had left Villanova to launch the Liberty Bowl. I covered the game featuring Oregon and Villanova. Terry Baker's 98-yard run won the game for Oregon.
The next year Bud was looking for two good teams. I recommended Mississippi State and Bud invited the Bulldogs to play N.C.State in the Liberty Bowl.
The game was played in bitter cold weather. Both teams were all-white. The NAACP picketed the game. The NAACP lawyer watched the pickets in a heated limo. After the first quarter the picket guys left. The Bulldogs won the game. After the game at the post-game reception the Bulldog trainer Dutch Luchsinger went to the bar and a ordered a drink The bartender said that would cost $5,00. Dutch nearly fainted, exclaiming the Sugar Bowl would never expect a guest to buy his own drink.
When Dudley moved the Liberty Bowl to Memphis, after one year in an indoors arena in Atlantic City I had made a brief stop in Memphis with the Commercial Appeal and went to bat for Memphis with Dudley. I covered most of the Liberty Bowls played in Memphis while working for the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, tying in our NFFHF Chapter Awards Dinner as part of the Liberty Bowl festivities.
I worked for Bud and the Liberty Bowl as Director of Corporate Relations after retiring as the NFFHF Executive Director. Chairman Tim Treadwell and Bud offered me the job. That year I again recommended Mississippi State and the Bulldogs played the Air Force Academy, defeating the Falcons before the best Liberty Bowl crowd ever at the time.
When the All-American Football Foundation was launched in 1994 Bud Dudley came on board as a member of the AAFF Board of Directors. The AAFF Outstanding Bowl Director Award carries the good name of Bud Dudley. Recipients appreciated being named the winner in honor of Bud Dudley.
Bud Dudley is the only man to start a Bowl game with his own money. I could not attend his funeral because of being in Los Angeles for a Banquet of Champions. A past president of the Rose Bowl, Libby Wright was the Dudley recipient in Los Angeles at the historic Biltmore Hotel.
When the National Football Foundation and the City of Memphis discussed moving the College Football Hall of Fame to Tennessee Dudley accompanied Sidney Schlenker to Chairman Vincent de Paul Draddy's Palm Beach home. It turned out later that Schlenker forgot to refund Dudley the cost of his plane ticket to Florida.
When the NFFHF Board approved further discussion with Memphis which had been proposed initially by Liberty Bowlers Treadwell and Dudley as the College Football Hall of Fame sight I was asked by Treadwell and Dudley to let me know what happened at the meeting. Schlenker also asked me to call him in New York and let him know too.
I called the Pierre Hotel where Schlenker was staying in John Tigrett's suite and he was not there. I left word what had happened. I called Treadwell and Dudley and told them the NFFHF wanted to come to Memphis for further discussions and they so informed Mayor Dick Hackett. When Schlenker found out I had also told Treadwell and Dudley he was infuriated and told the Foundation lawyer George Weiss he did not want McDowell involved in further discussions.
Draddy had asked Weiss to check out Schlenker. Weiss reported that Sidney was 100%.
Schlenker was 100 percent phony as The City of Memphis found out later. The College Hall did not go to Memphis as part of the Pyramid project and relocated in South Bend instead. The Foundation relocated in Dallas and Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones is a new member of the Board. Will he invite the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame to re-locate in his new Stadium when the current agreement with South Bend expires in less than two years? Weiss is chairman of the Executive Committee moving in to that slot after Draddy's demise.
Schlenker turned out to have a second family in Denver. The Commercial Appeal noted that the City of Memphis had fallen for Sidney "Hook, Line, and Schlenker." He later was associated with the Hollywood Madam, Heidi Fless before becoming paralized in a car accident and has since passed away.
I will miss Bud Dudley, a man of honor, a loyal husband and devoted Father and Grandfather and my friend for over s half century.
-----30------
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Spring Football Outlook
Welcome to full time sports writing: Tyler Cleveland, whose granddad Ace, father Rick, and Uncle Bobby ranked with the best. Tyler is on duty at the Hattiesburg American where Ace got his start.........How about Matt Malouf, sophomore quarterback, leaving the University of Memphis? Six three and 210 Matt was a sensational high schoopl field general at Oxford High....His Dad played for the Rebels in the 1970's and was disappointed the Rebels did not offer his son a scholarship.....It will be interesting to see where Matt lands.
***
June will be a busy month for the All-American Football Foundation with Banquets of Champions in Dallas, June 7, Los Angeles June 23 and Tampa June 28. Howard (Hop) Cassady of Heisman renown at Ohio State, will receive the AAFF Creighton Miller Outstanding Running Back in Tampa. The dinner will be dedicat ed to loyal AAFF Col. Red Blaik Leadership Scholarship donor George M. Steinbrenner III prior to his 78th Birthday.
****
Saddened by Earl Leggett's passling at 75 after a lengthy illness. He played four years at Hinds, two as a junior and senior in high school and then as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to LSU where he won All-America acclaim. Southern Miss wanted Leggett and ace recruiter H.A. Smith was in strong pursuit. Years later I told Earl how much we wanted him. I was Southern's athletic publicity director at the time. He said with Don Owens, Coon Dog Davis and P.W. Underwood on board he did not know how much he would have played. I assured him he would have been in there somewhere. Later Big Smitty recommended Leggett to the Chicago Bears where Smitty had played and was a pal of George Halas. Leggett became a star member of the Monsters of the Midway.
- Southern grad Reed Green hired Ole Miss grad Pie Vann as his line coach and later his head football coach. Pie hired Mississippi State grad Heifer Stuart as his backfield coach and ex-Rebel H.A. Smith as his end coach. Pie coached the line even when he was head coach. Green then hired another Ole Miss man, Mississippi Red McDowell, to beat the drums for Southern. McDowell on the eve of the battle in Montgomery in the 1953 national season opener predicted on radio that Southern would upset the defending Orange Bowl Champion Alabama Crimson Tide, and the Southerners prevailed, 25-l9, in the biggest college football upset since little Centre College went East to topple Harvard. Alabama bounced back to win the SEC Championship and lose to Rice in the Cotton Bowl.
*****
Bucky McElroy, Southern's legendary Little All-American fullback, is in the National Junior College Hall of Fame, the Hinds Sport s Hall of Fame, Southern's USM Hall of Fame, but not in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame where he was a star at Neville High in Monroe and has made his home there after his football playing days were over. He is the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and is bringing two foursomes once again to play in the Jackson Touchdown Cluib golf tournament this summer. Hopefully, Louisiana will correct this over sight. They appear partial to Athletes who go to Louisiana colleges. Our old colleague Jim McLain said he would go to bat for McElroy in the 2009 selections.
******
Talked to Bill Parsells the other day and told him I was sorry he did not come to Ole Miss with Steve Sloan. Bill got another job instead. He laughed and said under Houston Ole Miss would do all right... The New York Giants are sporting NFL Championship rings designed by Tiffany.
---30-----
***
June will be a busy month for the All-American Football Foundation with Banquets of Champions in Dallas, June 7, Los Angeles June 23 and Tampa June 28. Howard (Hop) Cassady of Heisman renown at Ohio State, will receive the AAFF Creighton Miller Outstanding Running Back in Tampa. The dinner will be dedicat ed to loyal AAFF Col. Red Blaik Leadership Scholarship donor George M. Steinbrenner III prior to his 78th Birthday.
****
Saddened by Earl Leggett's passling at 75 after a lengthy illness. He played four years at Hinds, two as a junior and senior in high school and then as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to LSU where he won All-America acclaim. Southern Miss wanted Leggett and ace recruiter H.A. Smith was in strong pursuit. Years later I told Earl how much we wanted him. I was Southern's athletic publicity director at the time. He said with Don Owens, Coon Dog Davis and P.W. Underwood on board he did not know how much he would have played. I assured him he would have been in there somewhere. Later Big Smitty recommended Leggett to the Chicago Bears where Smitty had played and was a pal of George Halas. Leggett became a star member of the Monsters of the Midway.
- Southern grad Reed Green hired Ole Miss grad Pie Vann as his line coach and later his head football coach. Pie hired Mississippi State grad Heifer Stuart as his backfield coach and ex-Rebel H.A. Smith as his end coach. Pie coached the line even when he was head coach. Green then hired another Ole Miss man, Mississippi Red McDowell, to beat the drums for Southern. McDowell on the eve of the battle in Montgomery in the 1953 national season opener predicted on radio that Southern would upset the defending Orange Bowl Champion Alabama Crimson Tide, and the Southerners prevailed, 25-l9, in the biggest college football upset since little Centre College went East to topple Harvard. Alabama bounced back to win the SEC Championship and lose to Rice in the Cotton Bowl.
*****
Bucky McElroy, Southern's legendary Little All-American fullback, is in the National Junior College Hall of Fame, the Hinds Sport s Hall of Fame, Southern's USM Hall of Fame, but not in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame where he was a star at Neville High in Monroe and has made his home there after his football playing days were over. He is the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and is bringing two foursomes once again to play in the Jackson Touchdown Cluib golf tournament this summer. Hopefully, Louisiana will correct this over sight. They appear partial to Athletes who go to Louisiana colleges. Our old colleague Jim McLain said he would go to bat for McElroy in the 2009 selections.
******
Talked to Bill Parsells the other day and told him I was sorry he did not come to Ole Miss with Steve Sloan. Bill got another job instead. He laughed and said under Houston Ole Miss would do all right... The New York Giants are sporting NFL Championship rings designed by Tiffany.
---30-----
Sunday, May 25, 2008
New York Memories
I lived in New York City for 15 years, at 17East 80th Street, on West 43rd around the corner from the United Nations headquarters and on West 44th Street a block from Broadway. I also lived in New Jersey in Princeton and Trenton and Westchester County in Larchmont for another 14 years. I think of the city often, particularly on the Memorial Holiday weekend.
Seventeen days before the September ll massacre I saw the Twin Towers for the last time. I was aboard a cruise ship, the Princess, the evening before the Kickoff Classic. It was a beautiful cool late summer evening. Special guests included the good people from Syracuse University and Georgia Tech, the Kickoff Classic opponents.
The New Jersey Sports Authority hosted this memorable evening. The lovely Rosemary Johnson was in charge. I was a member of the original National Football foundation group which teamed with the National Collegiate athletic Directors Association, the American Football Coaches Association and the New Jersey Sports Authority launching the Kickoff Classic. I lobbied coaches and athletic directors coast-to-coast and the game was approved.
I attended every one of the Kickoff Classics for over 20 years.
The Cruise on the historic Hudson River viewing the Statue of Liberty on a moonlit night was something to behold. Down below during dinner the music played, a talented group sang and people danced. The ship arrived near The Lady , the Statue of Liberty which I had seen for the first time in the autumn of 1944 as a Navy gunner aboard a Liberty Ship, a member of the Armed Guard, the equivalent of hired guns a century before in the Golden West. I went top side to pay my respects to the Lady and to view the magnificent New York skyline on a moonlit night, the world primarily at peace except for the constant skirmishes in the Mid-East.
In 1944 we were part of the one of the largest convoys in World War 11, bound for the European Theater of Operations where submarines and V-2 bombs were waiting our arrival.
On Memorial Day 2008 I thought of those days once again.
*****
The University of Notre Dame wanted to return to the East to satisfy its thousands of alumni and fans and discussed a four year contract with Rutgers, playing in Giants Stadium and its 75,000 capacity. Rutgers Athletic Director Bob Mulcahy, a former small town New Jersey May0r who worked for Governor Brendan Byrne, who later got him the job with the New Jersey Sports Authority, wanted to play its home games with Notre Dame in its expanded 55,000 seat stadium. Notre Dame Athletic Director Kevin White said No Thanks and scheduled the University of Connecticut instead.
U-Conn Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway realized how much it would have meant to his school if he could schedule Notre Dame, particularly with its marvelous national TV contract. Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano can not be very happy that Rutgers missed this opportunity for national exposure by playing Notre Dame for four years.
Mulcahy, who had named the New Jersey Arena in honor of his former boss Brendan Byrne later sold the naming rights and Brendan's name was erased from the structure. Mulcahy has some Eastern writers praising him for not agreeing to play Notre Dame in Giants Stadium.
The bottom line is that the seat difference is 20,000 seats and New Jersey has lost the series to Connecticut. Over 75,000 fans would have spent a lot of money in New Jersey if the game had been played in New Jersey. Mulcahy is so smart he out-smarted himself.
Notre Dame is reported to have wanted to play Ole Miss at a neutral city, New Orleans, in the Sugar Bowl Stadium. I was told that the SEC would not approve of such a move because of Television. I will check this out. The SEC Commissioner Michael Slive is a Lawyer. I believe that several of his predecessors, Mike Connor, Bernie Moore, and Tonto Coleman would have jumped at the chance of having one of its teams play Notre Dame in the huge Sugar Bowl Stadium.
---30-----
Seventeen days before the September ll massacre I saw the Twin Towers for the last time. I was aboard a cruise ship, the Princess, the evening before the Kickoff Classic. It was a beautiful cool late summer evening. Special guests included the good people from Syracuse University and Georgia Tech, the Kickoff Classic opponents.
The New Jersey Sports Authority hosted this memorable evening. The lovely Rosemary Johnson was in charge. I was a member of the original National Football foundation group which teamed with the National Collegiate athletic Directors Association, the American Football Coaches Association and the New Jersey Sports Authority launching the Kickoff Classic. I lobbied coaches and athletic directors coast-to-coast and the game was approved.
I attended every one of the Kickoff Classics for over 20 years.
The Cruise on the historic Hudson River viewing the Statue of Liberty on a moonlit night was something to behold. Down below during dinner the music played, a talented group sang and people danced. The ship arrived near The Lady , the Statue of Liberty which I had seen for the first time in the autumn of 1944 as a Navy gunner aboard a Liberty Ship, a member of the Armed Guard, the equivalent of hired guns a century before in the Golden West. I went top side to pay my respects to the Lady and to view the magnificent New York skyline on a moonlit night, the world primarily at peace except for the constant skirmishes in the Mid-East.
In 1944 we were part of the one of the largest convoys in World War 11, bound for the European Theater of Operations where submarines and V-2 bombs were waiting our arrival.
On Memorial Day 2008 I thought of those days once again.
*****
The University of Notre Dame wanted to return to the East to satisfy its thousands of alumni and fans and discussed a four year contract with Rutgers, playing in Giants Stadium and its 75,000 capacity. Rutgers Athletic Director Bob Mulcahy, a former small town New Jersey May0r who worked for Governor Brendan Byrne, who later got him the job with the New Jersey Sports Authority, wanted to play its home games with Notre Dame in its expanded 55,000 seat stadium. Notre Dame Athletic Director Kevin White said No Thanks and scheduled the University of Connecticut instead.
U-Conn Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway realized how much it would have meant to his school if he could schedule Notre Dame, particularly with its marvelous national TV contract. Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano can not be very happy that Rutgers missed this opportunity for national exposure by playing Notre Dame for four years.
Mulcahy, who had named the New Jersey Arena in honor of his former boss Brendan Byrne later sold the naming rights and Brendan's name was erased from the structure. Mulcahy has some Eastern writers praising him for not agreeing to play Notre Dame in Giants Stadium.
The bottom line is that the seat difference is 20,000 seats and New Jersey has lost the series to Connecticut. Over 75,000 fans would have spent a lot of money in New Jersey if the game had been played in New Jersey. Mulcahy is so smart he out-smarted himself.
Notre Dame is reported to have wanted to play Ole Miss at a neutral city, New Orleans, in the Sugar Bowl Stadium. I was told that the SEC would not approve of such a move because of Television. I will check this out. The SEC Commissioner Michael Slive is a Lawyer. I believe that several of his predecessors, Mike Connor, Bernie Moore, and Tonto Coleman would have jumped at the chance of having one of its teams play Notre Dame in the huge Sugar Bowl Stadium.
---30-----
Sunday, May 11, 2008
A Wedding to Remember
Two of Mississippi's best running backs would have been very proud of their granddaughter Mary Melinda Tews marriage to Jeffrey Rushing Litttle the evening before Mother's Day in Jackson.
Long ago Harol Lofton and Lowell Tew passed away. Tew was one of the best running backs in the University of Alabama's rich football history. Lofton had the longest touchdown run from the line of scrimmage for Ole Miss --a thrilling 87-yard payoff sprint. Raymond Brown set a new mark with a 92-yard touchdown sprint on a broken play that started as a punt from his own end zone. Fearing a blocked punt for a safety or enemy touchdown Brown tucked the ball under his arm and set sail for the other end zone.
Lofton was an All American high school hero from Brookhaven. Tew was the pride of Waynesboro. Both were pals of mine. What a backfield they would have had they played together.
At the Paul Bryant Alabama Sports Hall of Fame one day I visited with legendary Crimon Tide center Vaughn Mancha. An old timer spotted us and said to Mancha how good it was to see him again. Then he looked at me and said "Lowell, it is good to see you too." I could understand his thinking I was Lowell Tew. Both of us strapping six-footers, handsome, bright eyed. Lowell had sandy hair. I was Mississippi Red.
After their children became engaged the Tews came to Brookhaven to meet the Loftons. The families hit it off in fine fashion. The next day after returning to Laurel, Lowell, an attorney,went over to the school track to jog as he had done many times after Lunch. He suffered a fatal heart attack. The engagement party was cancelled. The Loftons attended the funeral instead.
Harol died a few months later. These were two fine men who had died in the prime of life were gone, never getting a chance to see what a fine family their children had raised. They missed a lot--four girls and a son--Mary Melinda, Clara, Salena and Sarah and the son, Lofton, who spent the last few months painted the white picket fence on the 28 acre estate so that the Reception would be spectacular.
Jeff Little's grandfather my friend of many years Will Hickman was there with his wife. So were Jeff's parents, the Lawrence Little. Melinda's grandmothers, Mary Tew and Salena Lofton Edwards. Melinda and Jeff met at Ole Miss.
The Loftons were lifetime friends of mine in Brookhaven, next door neighbors in Wildwood, my grandparents one-time estate which had extended from Chippewa Street to the Natchez Road.
Granny Byrd, the former Elvira Byrd, wife of Colonel Cornelius Byrd, was one of America's first women editors and publishers. She sold the Brookhaven News after her three sons chose to eventually leave the Homeseeker"s Paradise.
Granny Byrd also sold most of Wildwood in the biggest land auction ever between New Orleans and Memphis in the late 1920's.
The Tews-Little Marriage and Reception brought back many memories and seeing old friends at this wonderful evening in mid-May.
I can still see Harol Lofton and Lowell Tew carrying a football during their days of college football gridiron glory. How proud would they have been of their granddaughter and her husband.
--30----
Long ago Harol Lofton and Lowell Tew passed away. Tew was one of the best running backs in the University of Alabama's rich football history. Lofton had the longest touchdown run from the line of scrimmage for Ole Miss --a thrilling 87-yard payoff sprint. Raymond Brown set a new mark with a 92-yard touchdown sprint on a broken play that started as a punt from his own end zone. Fearing a blocked punt for a safety or enemy touchdown Brown tucked the ball under his arm and set sail for the other end zone.
Lofton was an All American high school hero from Brookhaven. Tew was the pride of Waynesboro. Both were pals of mine. What a backfield they would have had they played together.
At the Paul Bryant Alabama Sports Hall of Fame one day I visited with legendary Crimon Tide center Vaughn Mancha. An old timer spotted us and said to Mancha how good it was to see him again. Then he looked at me and said "Lowell, it is good to see you too." I could understand his thinking I was Lowell Tew. Both of us strapping six-footers, handsome, bright eyed. Lowell had sandy hair. I was Mississippi Red.
After their children became engaged the Tews came to Brookhaven to meet the Loftons. The families hit it off in fine fashion. The next day after returning to Laurel, Lowell, an attorney,went over to the school track to jog as he had done many times after Lunch. He suffered a fatal heart attack. The engagement party was cancelled. The Loftons attended the funeral instead.
Harol died a few months later. These were two fine men who had died in the prime of life were gone, never getting a chance to see what a fine family their children had raised. They missed a lot--four girls and a son--Mary Melinda, Clara, Salena and Sarah and the son, Lofton, who spent the last few months painted the white picket fence on the 28 acre estate so that the Reception would be spectacular.
Jeff Little's grandfather my friend of many years Will Hickman was there with his wife. So were Jeff's parents, the Lawrence Little. Melinda's grandmothers, Mary Tew and Salena Lofton Edwards. Melinda and Jeff met at Ole Miss.
The Loftons were lifetime friends of mine in Brookhaven, next door neighbors in Wildwood, my grandparents one-time estate which had extended from Chippewa Street to the Natchez Road.
Granny Byrd, the former Elvira Byrd, wife of Colonel Cornelius Byrd, was one of America's first women editors and publishers. She sold the Brookhaven News after her three sons chose to eventually leave the Homeseeker"s Paradise.
Granny Byrd also sold most of Wildwood in the biggest land auction ever between New Orleans and Memphis in the late 1920's.
The Tews-Little Marriage and Reception brought back many memories and seeing old friends at this wonderful evening in mid-May.
I can still see Harol Lofton and Lowell Tew carrying a football during their days of college football gridiron glory. How proud would they have been of their granddaughter and her husband.
--30----
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The Greatest Game
The Sports Illustrated cover called the Baltimore-New York Giants game the greatest in Pro Football history. The come-from-behind overtime triumph for Baltimore was indeed a thriller
The Giants, sparked by the veteran Charlie Conerly, the World War II Marine hero from Ole Miss, were leading and the sports writers had been given their MVP ballot. They had voted and Conerly was elected Most Valuable Player.
Then the Colts rallied behind Johnny Unitas' great arm to tie the score and send the game into sudden death overtime. Baltimore won on Alan Ameche's crash into the end zone. The writers voted again and Unitas was chosen MVP.
In the recent SI article Conerly's name was not even mentioned. Unitas is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Conerly is not, the most glaring omission in the Pro Hall at Canton, Ohio. For the rest of his life Conerly could not understand why he had not been elected. He played until he was 40. Brett Favre announced his retirement at 38. He is a sure bet for the Pro Hall when he becomes eligible. Unitas was elected to the Pro Hall years ago.
Unitas is not in the College Football Hall of Fame because he played for the University of Louisville in the 1950's. Then the Mid-America stars and the Southern Independents could only merit Little All-America recognition. Conerly was elected to the College Hall before he passed away and cherished the honor.
I saw Unitas and Louisville play twice in 1951 and 1952. The Cardinals shaded Southern 14-13 in Louisville on a rain-soaked field and Southern whipped Louisville and Johnny U in Jackson behind the slashing dashing running of two of the best running backs to ever play on the same team, Fullback Bucky McElroy and Halfback Hugh Laurin Pepper, who out gained Oklahoma's Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessells and Buck McPhail in 1952.
Pepper and McElroy both got Little All-American recognition but are not in the College Football Hall of Fame. Neither are Johnny Unitas, Chattanooga's bruising fullback Dick Young or Miami University's Tom Pagna.
When I was working for the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Little All-American were not elected to the college Hall, which I always felt was a mistake. Later standouts from small colleges are now being elected to the Hall, which is a good thing, BUT the Little All-Americans from the 1940's and 1950's should not be forgotten and should be honored while they are still alive or posthumously if they have passed away.
The Mid American and Southern Independents of that time are now major universities. When I was working for the NFFCHF we had several special dinners as not to conflict with the major induction dinner at the Waldorf Astoria to honor groups of Pioneer Players. Certainly these men I have mentioned are in the Pioneer Category now. As a dues-paying Chapter member I make this suggestion and trust the brass will take this into consideration and right this wrong.
Electing Charlie Conerly to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Ole Timers group and McElroy,Pepper, Unitas, Dick Young and Tom Pagna should be honored in the College Hall.
Little All-Americans of that time could play for anyone. In 1953 Southern Mississippi beat SEC Champion Alabama and the University of Georgia, who were quarterbacked by Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski behind the great running of McElroy and Pepper.
Buster Poole of the Ole Miss staff said the two big ones who got away from the Rebels were Pepper and Lance Alworth. McElroy was at one time Southern's all-time rushing star. And while his record has been broken remember he and Pepper were splitting the ball carrying duties.
They also played Offense and Defense, 60 minute men, Pepper a great pass defender and kick returner. McElroy a bruising linebacker who was a key in the whitewashing of Georgia which had been averaging three touchdown passes a game behind Bratkowski's magic. Stonewall Jackson Brumfield, a tower of strength as a defensive end, cat quick J.T. Shepherd and McElroy and company gave Zeke the longest day in his college career.
Coach Wally Butts, also the athletic director at Georgia, said the Athletic Director made a mistake scheduling the Mississippi Black and Gold.
General Robert R. Neyland of Tennessee scouted the Southern-Alabama season opener. Tampa scout Sam Bailey introduced himself to the General at halftime and told him Tampa was going to Hattiesburg to play and asked for advice. The General looked Sam in the eye and said " Don't Go."
====30-------
The Giants, sparked by the veteran Charlie Conerly, the World War II Marine hero from Ole Miss, were leading and the sports writers had been given their MVP ballot. They had voted and Conerly was elected Most Valuable Player.
Then the Colts rallied behind Johnny Unitas' great arm to tie the score and send the game into sudden death overtime. Baltimore won on Alan Ameche's crash into the end zone. The writers voted again and Unitas was chosen MVP.
In the recent SI article Conerly's name was not even mentioned. Unitas is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Conerly is not, the most glaring omission in the Pro Hall at Canton, Ohio. For the rest of his life Conerly could not understand why he had not been elected. He played until he was 40. Brett Favre announced his retirement at 38. He is a sure bet for the Pro Hall when he becomes eligible. Unitas was elected to the Pro Hall years ago.
Unitas is not in the College Football Hall of Fame because he played for the University of Louisville in the 1950's. Then the Mid-America stars and the Southern Independents could only merit Little All-America recognition. Conerly was elected to the College Hall before he passed away and cherished the honor.
I saw Unitas and Louisville play twice in 1951 and 1952. The Cardinals shaded Southern 14-13 in Louisville on a rain-soaked field and Southern whipped Louisville and Johnny U in Jackson behind the slashing dashing running of two of the best running backs to ever play on the same team, Fullback Bucky McElroy and Halfback Hugh Laurin Pepper, who out gained Oklahoma's Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessells and Buck McPhail in 1952.
Pepper and McElroy both got Little All-American recognition but are not in the College Football Hall of Fame. Neither are Johnny Unitas, Chattanooga's bruising fullback Dick Young or Miami University's Tom Pagna.
When I was working for the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Little All-American were not elected to the college Hall, which I always felt was a mistake. Later standouts from small colleges are now being elected to the Hall, which is a good thing, BUT the Little All-Americans from the 1940's and 1950's should not be forgotten and should be honored while they are still alive or posthumously if they have passed away.
The Mid American and Southern Independents of that time are now major universities. When I was working for the NFFCHF we had several special dinners as not to conflict with the major induction dinner at the Waldorf Astoria to honor groups of Pioneer Players. Certainly these men I have mentioned are in the Pioneer Category now. As a dues-paying Chapter member I make this suggestion and trust the brass will take this into consideration and right this wrong.
Electing Charlie Conerly to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Ole Timers group and McElroy,Pepper, Unitas, Dick Young and Tom Pagna should be honored in the College Hall.
Little All-Americans of that time could play for anyone. In 1953 Southern Mississippi beat SEC Champion Alabama and the University of Georgia, who were quarterbacked by Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski behind the great running of McElroy and Pepper.
Buster Poole of the Ole Miss staff said the two big ones who got away from the Rebels were Pepper and Lance Alworth. McElroy was at one time Southern's all-time rushing star. And while his record has been broken remember he and Pepper were splitting the ball carrying duties.
They also played Offense and Defense, 60 minute men, Pepper a great pass defender and kick returner. McElroy a bruising linebacker who was a key in the whitewashing of Georgia which had been averaging three touchdown passes a game behind Bratkowski's magic. Stonewall Jackson Brumfield, a tower of strength as a defensive end, cat quick J.T. Shepherd and McElroy and company gave Zeke the longest day in his college career.
Coach Wally Butts, also the athletic director at Georgia, said the Athletic Director made a mistake scheduling the Mississippi Black and Gold.
General Robert R. Neyland of Tennessee scouted the Southern-Alabama season opener. Tampa scout Sam Bailey introduced himself to the General at halftime and told him Tampa was going to Hattiesburg to play and asked for advice. The General looked Sam in the eye and said " Don't Go."
====30-------
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Great Weekend At Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND----Jimmy Clausen is healthy and the California quarterback is the key to the University of Notre Dame's football program this fall. In the spring game Clausen was much improved over last season where he was handicapped by injuries.
It was good to be in South Bend and see old friends prior to the All-American Football Foundation's Mid-West Banquet of Champions at the Marriott Hotel, across the street from the College Football Hall of Fame. The Dinner was dedicated to two top football people who passed away, All-American Jerry Groom , President of the Leahy Lads and one of the best centers the Irish ever had, and Coach Terry Hoppener, the Indiana coach who died over a year ago.
Terry's successor, Bill Lynch, was there along with Athletic Director Rick Greenspan and a delegation of Hoosiers.
Groom intercepted a pass late in the Irish-SMU game to save the day for Leahy's Irish. SMU was led by Doak Walker and Kyle Rote. In one game the fierce hitting Groom had four teeth loosened. He came to the sidelines for the medics to take a look, as did Frank Leahy. " Oh, Gerald" the Coach said," they are doing amazing things with teeth today. Get back in there, Lad."
Groom was six-four and played over 220. He later played pro football with the old Chicago Cardinals. He and Jack Connor were the men behind establishing the Leahy Lads organization and scholarship program. Jack had worked for J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. His brother was the legendary tackle, George Connor, who was recruited out of high school by Moose Krause of Holy Cross.
Krause had returned to his alma mater at Leahy's invitation about the time Connor arrived at Holy Cross. After World War II Connor did not return to Holy Cross. He checked in at Notre Dame. In high school Connor and Zygmont P. Czarobski were the two best tackles in the Chicago program. Both played left tackle. Ziggy had played for the Irish before going off to war. He was a starter on the 1943 team which featured All-Americans Creighton Miller and Angelo Bertelli. When Bertelli was called into the service during the football season he was replaced by Johnny Lujack.
Coach Leahy approached Ziggy in pre-season and told him he knew what great high school rivals he and George Connor were and they both played left tackle but then pointed out that Ziggy was faster and quicker than Connor and was also better diagnosing plays and would help the team better at right tackle. Ziggy made the switch.
Taking a test one day Connor went through a question and answer quiz quickly. So did Ziggy a few seconds later. The professor grading the papers noticed something. He called Ziggy in for a conference and asked whether he had copied Connor"s paper. Ziggy said absolutely not. The Professor wanted to know why Connor on one question wrote, "I don't know. "Ziggy's test paper noted that " I don't know either."
Lujack was Creighton Miller's freshman. A senior was always assigned a freshman to help in the transition from high school to college. Before the holidays Lujack asked Miller, whose uncle was one of the Four Horsemen, Don Miller, to borrow his monogram blanket. Creighton did not think well of the idea but Lujack told him not worry he would take good care of the blanket. A couple of days later Lujack asked Creighton did he want to buy a lottery ticket."On what?" Miller wanted to know." " A monogram blanket." John Lujack replied. Miller shouted "What" . John said he should not worry and several days later Miller won back his monogram blanket and Lujack had raised money to go home for the holidays."
When Creighton Miller died, Lujack gave the Leahy Lads $100,000.00 for its Scholarship fund in Creighton's honor and memory.
I am proud t o be an Honorary member of the Leahy Lads.
Ole Miss and Notre Dame should play again on the gridiron . They are 1-1. Notre Dame wanted to play the Rebels on a neutral field in New Orleans but the SEC apparently would not approve it. With two of the most beautiful campuses in America they should play home and home.
Ole Miss beat Notre Dame in Jackson. The Irish evened the count in South Bend. Ole Miss took its great band to the game and they were so spectacular Notre Dame hired the Rebs' band director Luther Snavely.
---30------
It was good to be in South Bend and see old friends prior to the All-American Football Foundation's Mid-West Banquet of Champions at the Marriott Hotel, across the street from the College Football Hall of Fame. The Dinner was dedicated to two top football people who passed away, All-American Jerry Groom , President of the Leahy Lads and one of the best centers the Irish ever had, and Coach Terry Hoppener, the Indiana coach who died over a year ago.
Terry's successor, Bill Lynch, was there along with Athletic Director Rick Greenspan and a delegation of Hoosiers.
Groom intercepted a pass late in the Irish-SMU game to save the day for Leahy's Irish. SMU was led by Doak Walker and Kyle Rote. In one game the fierce hitting Groom had four teeth loosened. He came to the sidelines for the medics to take a look, as did Frank Leahy. " Oh, Gerald" the Coach said," they are doing amazing things with teeth today. Get back in there, Lad."
Groom was six-four and played over 220. He later played pro football with the old Chicago Cardinals. He and Jack Connor were the men behind establishing the Leahy Lads organization and scholarship program. Jack had worked for J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. His brother was the legendary tackle, George Connor, who was recruited out of high school by Moose Krause of Holy Cross.
Krause had returned to his alma mater at Leahy's invitation about the time Connor arrived at Holy Cross. After World War II Connor did not return to Holy Cross. He checked in at Notre Dame. In high school Connor and Zygmont P. Czarobski were the two best tackles in the Chicago program. Both played left tackle. Ziggy had played for the Irish before going off to war. He was a starter on the 1943 team which featured All-Americans Creighton Miller and Angelo Bertelli. When Bertelli was called into the service during the football season he was replaced by Johnny Lujack.
Coach Leahy approached Ziggy in pre-season and told him he knew what great high school rivals he and George Connor were and they both played left tackle but then pointed out that Ziggy was faster and quicker than Connor and was also better diagnosing plays and would help the team better at right tackle. Ziggy made the switch.
Taking a test one day Connor went through a question and answer quiz quickly. So did Ziggy a few seconds later. The professor grading the papers noticed something. He called Ziggy in for a conference and asked whether he had copied Connor"s paper. Ziggy said absolutely not. The Professor wanted to know why Connor on one question wrote, "I don't know. "Ziggy's test paper noted that " I don't know either."
Lujack was Creighton Miller's freshman. A senior was always assigned a freshman to help in the transition from high school to college. Before the holidays Lujack asked Miller, whose uncle was one of the Four Horsemen, Don Miller, to borrow his monogram blanket. Creighton did not think well of the idea but Lujack told him not worry he would take good care of the blanket. A couple of days later Lujack asked Creighton did he want to buy a lottery ticket."On what?" Miller wanted to know." " A monogram blanket." John Lujack replied. Miller shouted "What" . John said he should not worry and several days later Miller won back his monogram blanket and Lujack had raised money to go home for the holidays."
When Creighton Miller died, Lujack gave the Leahy Lads $100,000.00 for its Scholarship fund in Creighton's honor and memory.
I am proud t o be an Honorary member of the Leahy Lads.
Ole Miss and Notre Dame should play again on the gridiron . They are 1-1. Notre Dame wanted to play the Rebels on a neutral field in New Orleans but the SEC apparently would not approve it. With two of the most beautiful campuses in America they should play home and home.
Ole Miss beat Notre Dame in Jackson. The Irish evened the count in South Bend. Ole Miss took its great band to the game and they were so spectacular Notre Dame hired the Rebs' band director Luther Snavely.
---30------
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Spring Football in Oxford
OXFORD----A record spring football Red-Blue crowd applauded at game's end following a 40-14 Red victory over the Blues at Vaught-Hemingway,marking the debut of Houston Nutt as the new gridiron coach at Ole Miss.
History of the Glory Days was labeled in the South end zone, banners of the championship days of John Howard Vaught and his star-studded staff composed of All-Americans like Bruiser Kinard and Johnny Cain and All Pro Buster Poole. Juinie Hovious, an all SEC back, and J>W> (Wobble) Davidson the master freshman coach, who decided who could and who could not cut the mustard.
Roland Dale, Ray Poole, Billy Mustin and Eddie Crawford joined the staff later. Vaught's inaugural season, 1947, featured one of the best passing combos in college football history, Single wing tailback Chunkin': Charlie Conerly and George Barney Poole. The Rebels won the SEC and only played in the inaugural Delta Bowl because Everett Pidgeon's Memphis Coca Cola Company was a major sponsor.
The Sugar Bowl wanted this team but Ole Miss promised to play in Memphis even before the season started and declined the chance to go to the Crescent City because the University had given its word to play in Big Shelby.
In 1948 Ole Miss went 8-1 and stayed home, losing only to Tulane, a power at that time. Ole Miss thought they had earned the right to play SMU and Doak Walker and Kyle Rote but Oregon, featuring Norm Van Brocklin was invited instead. Farley Salmon and Barney Poole sparked that uninvited team. The 1948 Rebs will be saluted at the May 15 All-American Football Foundation Mid-South Banquet of Champions at the Hollywood Resort Hotel in Tunica. Salmon will receive a special salute and Barney will be remembered with other teammates that evening.
In the 2008 spring game Ole Miss unveiled the red shirt quarterback Javan Snead, who is all wool and a yard wide to the delight of the 28,311 on hand, including All-America Charlie Flowers, Dr. Shed Hill Roberson, and Ed Wilburn Hooker of Wild Bunch renown. Warren (Beaux ) Ball was in Oxford for the Noble family reunion and missed the pre-game party in the Grove, featuring Eli Manning and Patrick Willis, latest Rebs to explode on the Pro Football scene.
It was reported that several years ago Beaux Ball was talking to teammate Chancellor Robert Khayat, when several people came by to congratulate the Chancellor on landing Phil Beta Kappa for the University of Mississippi. Finally, they said, Bo questioned Khayat and wanted to know why everyone was excited about Ole Miss landing another Fraternity.
Snead was the field general Ed Orgeron recruited after he left the University of Texas and was heavily counted on to help Big Ed turn the program around. Completing 20 of 26 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, Snead would help any program improve. Ole Miss also displayed a replacement for Ben Jarvis Green Ellis in Cordera A Eason, who scored two touchdowns and gained 101 yards rushing.
Dexter McCluster also shone brightly snaring passes for 106 yards and gaining 35 yrds rushing, scoring a touchdown.
Houston Nutt is a proven winner on a national level. His Arkansas team beat national champion LSU, you recall.
The Rebels did not add a banner in the South end zone for FORTY years, until Eli Manning led Ole Miss to a western division title. Ole Miss still has not played in the championship game in Atlanta. The field generals who led Ole Miss to championships were Conerly, the triple threat, who was also a superb defender as well, Herman Sidney (Eagle) Day, Raymond Brown, Bobby Ray Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore, and Glynn Griffing.
Younger fans think Ole Miss winning football started with Archie Manning. As good as he was he never led Ole Miss to a SEC championship.
Now Jevan Snead hopes to join the SEC and national championship category by putting the 2008 Rebels in the South End zone as a blue ribbon winner.
Snead still has three years eligibility. Barring an injury I think he will accomplish the mission.
---30-------
History of the Glory Days was labeled in the South end zone, banners of the championship days of John Howard Vaught and his star-studded staff composed of All-Americans like Bruiser Kinard and Johnny Cain and All Pro Buster Poole. Juinie Hovious, an all SEC back, and J>W> (Wobble) Davidson the master freshman coach, who decided who could and who could not cut the mustard.
Roland Dale, Ray Poole, Billy Mustin and Eddie Crawford joined the staff later. Vaught's inaugural season, 1947, featured one of the best passing combos in college football history, Single wing tailback Chunkin': Charlie Conerly and George Barney Poole. The Rebels won the SEC and only played in the inaugural Delta Bowl because Everett Pidgeon's Memphis Coca Cola Company was a major sponsor.
The Sugar Bowl wanted this team but Ole Miss promised to play in Memphis even before the season started and declined the chance to go to the Crescent City because the University had given its word to play in Big Shelby.
In 1948 Ole Miss went 8-1 and stayed home, losing only to Tulane, a power at that time. Ole Miss thought they had earned the right to play SMU and Doak Walker and Kyle Rote but Oregon, featuring Norm Van Brocklin was invited instead. Farley Salmon and Barney Poole sparked that uninvited team. The 1948 Rebs will be saluted at the May 15 All-American Football Foundation Mid-South Banquet of Champions at the Hollywood Resort Hotel in Tunica. Salmon will receive a special salute and Barney will be remembered with other teammates that evening.
In the 2008 spring game Ole Miss unveiled the red shirt quarterback Javan Snead, who is all wool and a yard wide to the delight of the 28,311 on hand, including All-America Charlie Flowers, Dr. Shed Hill Roberson, and Ed Wilburn Hooker of Wild Bunch renown. Warren (Beaux ) Ball was in Oxford for the Noble family reunion and missed the pre-game party in the Grove, featuring Eli Manning and Patrick Willis, latest Rebs to explode on the Pro Football scene.
It was reported that several years ago Beaux Ball was talking to teammate Chancellor Robert Khayat, when several people came by to congratulate the Chancellor on landing Phil Beta Kappa for the University of Mississippi. Finally, they said, Bo questioned Khayat and wanted to know why everyone was excited about Ole Miss landing another Fraternity.
Snead was the field general Ed Orgeron recruited after he left the University of Texas and was heavily counted on to help Big Ed turn the program around. Completing 20 of 26 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, Snead would help any program improve. Ole Miss also displayed a replacement for Ben Jarvis Green Ellis in Cordera A Eason, who scored two touchdowns and gained 101 yards rushing.
Dexter McCluster also shone brightly snaring passes for 106 yards and gaining 35 yrds rushing, scoring a touchdown.
Houston Nutt is a proven winner on a national level. His Arkansas team beat national champion LSU, you recall.
The Rebels did not add a banner in the South end zone for FORTY years, until Eli Manning led Ole Miss to a western division title. Ole Miss still has not played in the championship game in Atlanta. The field generals who led Ole Miss to championships were Conerly, the triple threat, who was also a superb defender as well, Herman Sidney (Eagle) Day, Raymond Brown, Bobby Ray Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore, and Glynn Griffing.
Younger fans think Ole Miss winning football started with Archie Manning. As good as he was he never led Ole Miss to a SEC championship.
Now Jevan Snead hopes to join the SEC and national championship category by putting the 2008 Rebels in the South End zone as a blue ribbon winner.
Snead still has three years eligibility. Barring an injury I think he will accomplish the mission.
---30-------
Sunday, April 6, 2008
The Passing of Ray Poole
OXFORD----Last of the famed Poole Brothers of Ole Miss Ray Smith Poole, Sr. passed away several weeks before his 87th birthday. He served his country during World War II with distinction in the South Pacific in the Marine Corps and fought in Saipan and Okinawa. His group was scheduled to participate in the invasion of Japan when President Harry Truman approved the use of the Atomic Bomb, bringing the end of the War.
Before the War Ray had played Football,Baseball, and Basketball at Ole Miss. After entering the service he played one year at North Carolina Pre-Flight before overseas duty. He signed a Baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs and a Football contract with the New York Giants. His older brother Buster was the best defensive end in Pro Football, just as Don Hutson was the best offensive end before the War.
Buster also served his country in World War II and was playing in New York when the announcement of Pearl Harbor took place. He resumed play with the Giants after the War, losing three prime years as did many other great players. Buster was then invited to join Johnny Vaught's coaching staff at his alma mater.
Younger Brother Barney played on Red Blaik's unbeaten Army team for three years and then returned to Ole Miss for two more years.Service time did not count, so Barney played eight years of college football. His end coach at Ole Miss was his brother Buster.
Ray played in the Canadian League after his days in New York.
The Methodist Church in Oxford was full as family and friends came to bid Ray Poole goodbye.His nephew Paige Cothren delivered a marvelous eulogy. His bride of57 years survives with two children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. Wanda Poole will miss her dear husband immensely as will all of us who cherished his friendship. He was my pal for six decades.
There were so many stories to tell which would not have been possible at the Church service.
Ray had persuaded John Vaught to use the field goal as an offensive weapon and he coached a young Paige Cothren to become one of the best in college football. Ray was also a master scout aiding the legendary Thomas King Swayze in recruiting the best players in Mississippi to come to Ole Miss.
Every one and his brother knew Ray Poole in Mississippi.He started looking at9th and l0th graders before anyone else. Ray was fired by Ken Cooper, who had replaced Billy Kinard as head football coach at Ole Miss. Earlier Cooper had recommended that Kinard replace Jim Poole as a starting end in his senior year. Later Cooper told Ray's son, Ray Jr. that he had the wrong last name to play for Ole Miss. Vaught had recommended Cooper to replace Kinard and had to eventually fire him.
Cooper wound up working for the Telephone Company.
The strength of Ole Miss' great Glory Years was recruiting. The Quarterbacks of the Glory Years were the Field Generals Charlie Conerly, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Eagle Day,Raymond Brown, Bobby Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore,and Glynn Griffing. Their greatest claim to fame was in Victories.
Boo Ferriss who pitched against Ray Poole in College thought that Ray Poole had the potential of a big league pitcher. Ray was scheduled to pitch against the Yankees in a Memphis exhibition game. I accompanied Butch Lambert Sr., who owned the car, the Brothers Stribling Jack and Bill to Memphis to see Ray beat Joe DiMaggio and the Yankees. The game was rained out and we went to the Peabody Hotel to invite Joe D to join us for refreshments.
We fanned out to find the Yankee Clipper. Big Bill Stribling knocked on tiny Phil Rizzuto's door and the little fellow nearly fainted when Strib asked if DiMaggio was there. I found Joe D.in a telephone booth, introduced myself and invited him to join us. He thanked me for the invitation and then said it would not look right to be drinking in public which made complete sense. I said Goodbye and my pals. I told Joe the story years later when I was working in the East.
I never asked Joe who might he be calling on a rainy afternoon in Memphis.
One day when I was working for Mississippi Southern Ray called to tell me he was coming to Hattiesburg and said we should have dinner and see what else was happening. He worked for a Sporting Goods organization after the Pro Football Season ended. Players needed an off season job in those days.
When I met Ray at a restaurant he asked what was happening? I said Absolutely nothing. No ball games, nothing, except for the electric chair execution of a little fellow, with a big fat girl friend who had killed two cops in a robbery. With nothing else to do, Ray Poole and I went to the Execution. Ray said he did not think the little fellow was ready to go.
Ray Poole like Barney played at Ole Miss before and after the war. In 1946 Ray was not only the Football Captain but elected Colonel Rebel as well.
I will miss Ray Poole. So will many, many others. who were privileged to have known him.
------30-------
Before the War Ray had played Football,Baseball, and Basketball at Ole Miss. After entering the service he played one year at North Carolina Pre-Flight before overseas duty. He signed a Baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs and a Football contract with the New York Giants. His older brother Buster was the best defensive end in Pro Football, just as Don Hutson was the best offensive end before the War.
Buster also served his country in World War II and was playing in New York when the announcement of Pearl Harbor took place. He resumed play with the Giants after the War, losing three prime years as did many other great players. Buster was then invited to join Johnny Vaught's coaching staff at his alma mater.
Younger Brother Barney played on Red Blaik's unbeaten Army team for three years and then returned to Ole Miss for two more years.Service time did not count, so Barney played eight years of college football. His end coach at Ole Miss was his brother Buster.
Ray played in the Canadian League after his days in New York.
The Methodist Church in Oxford was full as family and friends came to bid Ray Poole goodbye.His nephew Paige Cothren delivered a marvelous eulogy. His bride of57 years survives with two children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. Wanda Poole will miss her dear husband immensely as will all of us who cherished his friendship. He was my pal for six decades.
There were so many stories to tell which would not have been possible at the Church service.
Ray had persuaded John Vaught to use the field goal as an offensive weapon and he coached a young Paige Cothren to become one of the best in college football. Ray was also a master scout aiding the legendary Thomas King Swayze in recruiting the best players in Mississippi to come to Ole Miss.
Every one and his brother knew Ray Poole in Mississippi.He started looking at9th and l0th graders before anyone else. Ray was fired by Ken Cooper, who had replaced Billy Kinard as head football coach at Ole Miss. Earlier Cooper had recommended that Kinard replace Jim Poole as a starting end in his senior year. Later Cooper told Ray's son, Ray Jr. that he had the wrong last name to play for Ole Miss. Vaught had recommended Cooper to replace Kinard and had to eventually fire him.
Cooper wound up working for the Telephone Company.
The strength of Ole Miss' great Glory Years was recruiting. The Quarterbacks of the Glory Years were the Field Generals Charlie Conerly, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Eagle Day,Raymond Brown, Bobby Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore,and Glynn Griffing. Their greatest claim to fame was in Victories.
Boo Ferriss who pitched against Ray Poole in College thought that Ray Poole had the potential of a big league pitcher. Ray was scheduled to pitch against the Yankees in a Memphis exhibition game. I accompanied Butch Lambert Sr., who owned the car, the Brothers Stribling Jack and Bill to Memphis to see Ray beat Joe DiMaggio and the Yankees. The game was rained out and we went to the Peabody Hotel to invite Joe D to join us for refreshments.
We fanned out to find the Yankee Clipper. Big Bill Stribling knocked on tiny Phil Rizzuto's door and the little fellow nearly fainted when Strib asked if DiMaggio was there. I found Joe D.in a telephone booth, introduced myself and invited him to join us. He thanked me for the invitation and then said it would not look right to be drinking in public which made complete sense. I said Goodbye and my pals. I told Joe the story years later when I was working in the East.
I never asked Joe who might he be calling on a rainy afternoon in Memphis.
One day when I was working for Mississippi Southern Ray called to tell me he was coming to Hattiesburg and said we should have dinner and see what else was happening. He worked for a Sporting Goods organization after the Pro Football Season ended. Players needed an off season job in those days.
When I met Ray at a restaurant he asked what was happening? I said Absolutely nothing. No ball games, nothing, except for the electric chair execution of a little fellow, with a big fat girl friend who had killed two cops in a robbery. With nothing else to do, Ray Poole and I went to the Execution. Ray said he did not think the little fellow was ready to go.
Ray Poole like Barney played at Ole Miss before and after the war. In 1946 Ray was not only the Football Captain but elected Colonel Rebel as well.
I will miss Ray Poole. So will many, many others. who were privileged to have known him.
------30-------
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Losing Good Friends
First Eagle Day, then Millie Purgavie and finally Jerry Groom, all in a week. Eagle, of course, was the Ole Miss 1956 Cotton Bowl hero. Millie was the wife of my Trenton , New Jersey pal. And Groom was the Notre Dame All-American center and president of the Leahy Lads of which I am an Honorary member.
Eagle first denied he had cancer. He did not even tell his wife JoAnne when he received the bad news. Millie was looking after her husband Jimmy, who had health problems of his own when she passed away. Groom ha been battling his problems for a year before he drew his last breath in Sarasota, Florida.
I went to the Viewing of Eagle at First Baptist Church in Jackson. Also thee were many of his teammates" Buddy Alliston, Billy Kinard, Paige Cothren, all on that Cotton Bowl team, plus Kent Jr. Lovelace, Johnny Brewer, Buck Howell. Jimmy (King) Lear, Glynn Griffing, Bobby Ray Franklin. The great Navy football captain Leon Bamlett, longtime family friend , also paid his respects.
Younger Ole Miss fans think that football started with Archie Manning, who had his number retired and a street named in his honor at Ole Miss. His most famous game the 33-32 loss to Alabama, put his name on the map. Eagle once told me that games won were what really counted.
Glynn Griffing led Ole Miss to its only perfect record season. Franklin and Jake Gibbs led Ole Miss to its famous rematch triumph over LSU and Billy Cannon in the Sugar Bowl.
Lear sparked the Rebels to a shocking triumph over defending national champion University of Maryland. The late Doug Elmore was also a pennant winning field genera as was Raymond Brown, whose 92-yard touchdown sprint against the University of Texas, broke Harol Lofton's 87-yard TD , the longest run from scrimmage at that time.
Manning and Alabama's Scott Hunter crossed swords in that televised game.Years later Hunter said that he would take 33 points over 500 yards every time.
I missed Robert Khayat's talk at Eagle's funeral, having to travel to New Jersey for the All-American Football Foundation' s 91st Banquet of Champions in Princeton. I learned of Mille Purgavie's passing and attended her viewing. Millie worked for the New Jersey State Police. Troopers were there to pay their respect. So was Jack Rafferty. retired Mayor of Hamilton, Loretta Brophy, longtime family friend.ad a few hundred others.
Richie Devin sent flowers from Las Vegas as did Lou Crecco, retired legendary restaurant owner, from Miami. Too many of the Crecco crowd are long gone.
Jerry Groom was one of Notre Dame's best centers who later played for the Chicago Cardinals. He and the Connor brothers, George and Jack, helped form the Leahy Lads in tribute to their great coach. The group awards scholarships to deserving students. Johnny Lujack made a $100,000 contribution in honor and in memory of his All-Ameican halfback and teammate Creighton Miller.
Jerry told me last year that we were all in the fourth quarter of our lives.
The Leahy Lads will remember Jerry Groom. The All-American Football Foundation i dedicating its April 21st Mid-west Banquet of Champions in South Bend to Jerry Groom and the Leahy Lads.
The Foundation will also add Eagle Day's name to Bill Wade for our Unsung Hero award. It will be called the Bill Wade-Eagle Day Unsung Hero Award in the future. Both Mrs. Day and Mrs. Groom expressed happiness that we were remembering their late husbands.
---30-----
Eagle first denied he had cancer. He did not even tell his wife JoAnne when he received the bad news. Millie was looking after her husband Jimmy, who had health problems of his own when she passed away. Groom ha been battling his problems for a year before he drew his last breath in Sarasota, Florida.
I went to the Viewing of Eagle at First Baptist Church in Jackson. Also thee were many of his teammates" Buddy Alliston, Billy Kinard, Paige Cothren, all on that Cotton Bowl team, plus Kent Jr. Lovelace, Johnny Brewer, Buck Howell. Jimmy (King) Lear, Glynn Griffing, Bobby Ray Franklin. The great Navy football captain Leon Bamlett, longtime family friend , also paid his respects.
Younger Ole Miss fans think that football started with Archie Manning, who had his number retired and a street named in his honor at Ole Miss. His most famous game the 33-32 loss to Alabama, put his name on the map. Eagle once told me that games won were what really counted.
Glynn Griffing led Ole Miss to its only perfect record season. Franklin and Jake Gibbs led Ole Miss to its famous rematch triumph over LSU and Billy Cannon in the Sugar Bowl.
Lear sparked the Rebels to a shocking triumph over defending national champion University of Maryland. The late Doug Elmore was also a pennant winning field genera as was Raymond Brown, whose 92-yard touchdown sprint against the University of Texas, broke Harol Lofton's 87-yard TD , the longest run from scrimmage at that time.
Manning and Alabama's Scott Hunter crossed swords in that televised game.Years later Hunter said that he would take 33 points over 500 yards every time.
I missed Robert Khayat's talk at Eagle's funeral, having to travel to New Jersey for the All-American Football Foundation' s 91st Banquet of Champions in Princeton. I learned of Mille Purgavie's passing and attended her viewing. Millie worked for the New Jersey State Police. Troopers were there to pay their respect. So was Jack Rafferty. retired Mayor of Hamilton, Loretta Brophy, longtime family friend.ad a few hundred others.
Richie Devin sent flowers from Las Vegas as did Lou Crecco, retired legendary restaurant owner, from Miami. Too many of the Crecco crowd are long gone.
Jerry Groom was one of Notre Dame's best centers who later played for the Chicago Cardinals. He and the Connor brothers, George and Jack, helped form the Leahy Lads in tribute to their great coach. The group awards scholarships to deserving students. Johnny Lujack made a $100,000 contribution in honor and in memory of his All-Ameican halfback and teammate Creighton Miller.
Jerry told me last year that we were all in the fourth quarter of our lives.
The Leahy Lads will remember Jerry Groom. The All-American Football Foundation i dedicating its April 21st Mid-west Banquet of Champions in South Bend to Jerry Groom and the Leahy Lads.
The Foundation will also add Eagle Day's name to Bill Wade for our Unsung Hero award. It will be called the Bill Wade-Eagle Day Unsung Hero Award in the future. Both Mrs. Day and Mrs. Groom expressed happiness that we were remembering their late husbands.
---30-----
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Spectacular Super Bowl
Ernie Accorsi, retired General Manager of the New York Giants, was celebrating after the spectacular Parade in the Canyon of Heroes at our favorite Tavern Neary's on East 52nd street between First and Second Avenue,recalling why he wanted Ole Miss Quarterback Eli Manning to become his next Field General.
Accorsi trained under the late George Young in Baltimore when our paths first crossed. That was over 30 years ago. The All-American Football Foundation honored Ernie at one of our Princeton Banquet of Champions several years ago.
After watching Manning lead Ole Miss to the Cotton Bowl championship I wrote Ernie and encouraged him to consider drafting Manning, saying that I felt that Eli would do for the Giants which another great Rebel, Charlie Conerly, had done for 14 years.
Perian Conerly, Charlie's widow, also contacted her good friends, theMara Family, expressing the same thought. She attended this year's Super Bowl game and watched with pride the performance of Olivia and Archie's youngest son.
In beating previously unbeaten New England in the final seconds the Giants became the toast of the Town. Of course, the Giants have not played in the City for many years. Their home base is Giants Stadium in the Jersey Meadowlands. The new NFL champions were honored in New Jersey after the celebration in New York.
This year is the 50th anniversary of THE GAME which made Pro Football the great game it is today. The Giants were leading thanks to Conerly's heroics. The Press voted in the fourth quarter and selected Conerly as the Most Valuable Player. Baltimore, led by Johnny Unitas, rallied to tie the score and send the game into Overtime. The Colts won the game with ALAn Ameche pile driving into the end zone. The writers cast another ballot and Unitas got the MVP.
Unitas is long inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Conerly, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, remains the Most Glaring Pro Football Hall of Fame Omission.
They announced the new Class the other day and younger standouts were selected. Before Wellington Mara died he told me that was his next project to see that Conerly, wearing Mara's favorite number, 42, got this long due recognition. His son, John, now the Club President,told me he would also campaign for Chunkin" Charlie.
In his prime as a pro player Charlie Conerly was to Football what Joe DiMaggio was to Baseball in New York. Both loved going to Toots Shor's restaurant. Charlie introduced me to Toots and the big fellow said: Welcome, Any friend of Charlie's is a friend of mind. I attended Toot's fneral years later.
Now it is Eli Manning's time in New York. I covered the Giants championship game in 1962 for the Trenton, New Jersey Times as Executive Sports Editor-columnist. That was the bitter cold day played in zero weather. My typewriter froze on that memorable day.
--
Prior to the Super Bowl I again attended Senior Bowl practice in Mobile. I covered the first Senior Bowl game played in Mobile after the inaugural event flopped in Jacksonville. Jimmy Pearre of Nashville founded the Senior Bowl. After the first game Jimmy went to the great Sports Editor Fred Russell and asked his advice. Fred told him that he had a good friend in Mobile, former Sports Editor Pat Moulton who had gone to work for Waterman Steamship Lines. Freddie called Pat and Pat invited Jimmy Pearee to come to Mobile to talk which he did and Mobile became the home of the Senior Bowl.
The town sparkled all week with Pro Scouts and writers. Wentzell's is the place to get the best oysters and sea food in town. Jackson Touchdown Club members Billy Beard, Dave Dyar, Bill Lee, and Mack Cameron and I made our visit to this historic place. A pretty waitress came over and got a Billy Beard hug. He told her he remembered her from last year. She said she was not here last year.
Senior Bowl President Steve Hale and his staff continue to do a masterful job.
----30----
Accorsi trained under the late George Young in Baltimore when our paths first crossed. That was over 30 years ago. The All-American Football Foundation honored Ernie at one of our Princeton Banquet of Champions several years ago.
After watching Manning lead Ole Miss to the Cotton Bowl championship I wrote Ernie and encouraged him to consider drafting Manning, saying that I felt that Eli would do for the Giants which another great Rebel, Charlie Conerly, had done for 14 years.
Perian Conerly, Charlie's widow, also contacted her good friends, theMara Family, expressing the same thought. She attended this year's Super Bowl game and watched with pride the performance of Olivia and Archie's youngest son.
In beating previously unbeaten New England in the final seconds the Giants became the toast of the Town. Of course, the Giants have not played in the City for many years. Their home base is Giants Stadium in the Jersey Meadowlands. The new NFL champions were honored in New Jersey after the celebration in New York.
This year is the 50th anniversary of THE GAME which made Pro Football the great game it is today. The Giants were leading thanks to Conerly's heroics. The Press voted in the fourth quarter and selected Conerly as the Most Valuable Player. Baltimore, led by Johnny Unitas, rallied to tie the score and send the game into Overtime. The Colts won the game with ALAn Ameche pile driving into the end zone. The writers cast another ballot and Unitas got the MVP.
Unitas is long inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Conerly, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, remains the Most Glaring Pro Football Hall of Fame Omission.
They announced the new Class the other day and younger standouts were selected. Before Wellington Mara died he told me that was his next project to see that Conerly, wearing Mara's favorite number, 42, got this long due recognition. His son, John, now the Club President,told me he would also campaign for Chunkin" Charlie.
In his prime as a pro player Charlie Conerly was to Football what Joe DiMaggio was to Baseball in New York. Both loved going to Toots Shor's restaurant. Charlie introduced me to Toots and the big fellow said: Welcome, Any friend of Charlie's is a friend of mind. I attended Toot's fneral years later.
Now it is Eli Manning's time in New York. I covered the Giants championship game in 1962 for the Trenton, New Jersey Times as Executive Sports Editor-columnist. That was the bitter cold day played in zero weather. My typewriter froze on that memorable day.
--
Prior to the Super Bowl I again attended Senior Bowl practice in Mobile. I covered the first Senior Bowl game played in Mobile after the inaugural event flopped in Jacksonville. Jimmy Pearre of Nashville founded the Senior Bowl. After the first game Jimmy went to the great Sports Editor Fred Russell and asked his advice. Fred told him that he had a good friend in Mobile, former Sports Editor Pat Moulton who had gone to work for Waterman Steamship Lines. Freddie called Pat and Pat invited Jimmy Pearee to come to Mobile to talk which he did and Mobile became the home of the Senior Bowl.
The town sparkled all week with Pro Scouts and writers. Wentzell's is the place to get the best oysters and sea food in town. Jackson Touchdown Club members Billy Beard, Dave Dyar, Bill Lee, and Mack Cameron and I made our visit to this historic place. A pretty waitress came over and got a Billy Beard hug. He told her he remembered her from last year. She said she was not here last year.
Senior Bowl President Steve Hale and his staff continue to do a masterful job.
----30----
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Football Coaches Convention
ANAHEIM,CA.------Over 6000 Coaches gathered for their annual convention in this Southern California town, home of Disneyland, and Grant Teaff and his American Football Coaches Association staff did perhaps their best job ever in making this four-day event memorable for all in attendance.
I attended my first AFCA Convention in 1952 in Cincinnati and treasure being an Honorary Member of the AFCA. Mississippi State Coach Silvester (Sly) Croom was named the Fellowship of christian Athletes' Coach of the Year. He was also the Southern Regional nominee. In his response he said that the biggest disappointment of his life came when he applied and did not get the job as Coach of his Alma Mater, the University of Alabama where he was a standout player and later an Assistant Coach.
He also coached at Green Bay and then was named the first Black Coach in the Southeastern Conference at Mississippi State University by Athletic Director Larry Tempelton, whose contract was not renewed this year after many years of faithful service to his alma mater.
I ran into Ed Orgeron, whose loss to Mississippi State,after an 14-0 lead, cost him his job at Ole Miss. He told me the Ole Miss chapter was history and he was looking forward top his next opportunity. He had a five year contract and was dismissed after three seasons. He was counting on Texas transfer Jevan Snead leading the Rebels to better things after a red shirt season. Now Houston Nutt, his successor, will build the 2008 Redand Blue around Snead.
It was good to see Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore in Anaheim. All he did was win his third straight national championship, which included the monumental upset of the University of Michigan in the Big House at Ann Arbor to open the season.
The victory was called perhaps the biggest upset in college football season. I call it the biggest upset since Mississippi Southern turned back defending Orange Bowl champion Alabama in the first game of the 1953 season in Montgomery, 25-19. At the time this was called the biggest upset since little Centre College went east to beat Harvard with Bo McMillan leading the charge.
In the College Football Hall of Fame at Kings Island, Ohio there was an area designating this upset win. In the relocation to South Bend there is no mention of same.
There is also no display of the famous Knute Rockne Win for the Gipper speech in South Bend. which was the most popular display at Kings Island. The new National Football Foundation regime which took over after Chairman Vincent de Paul Draddy's death and Executive Director Jimmie McDowell's requested retirement put a shopping mall fellow in charge of the shift from Kings Island to South Bend. A nice fellow he did not know the difference in sports between first and third base.
It is not too late to put the Rockne exhibit in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend
There should also restore Mississippi Southern's win over Alabama tying this in with Appalachians triumph over Michigan. On that 1953 team were two backs, Fullback Bucky McElroy, a bull-dozing 200-pounder from Monroe, La., the fabled Black Knight of the Bayous and Hugh Laurin Pepper, a 190-pound jet-propelled Benton Bomber, who the previous season had rushed for more yardage than Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessells and Buck McPhail.
Both McElroy and Pepper, who won Mid-Bracket All-America honors, should be in the College Football Hall of Fame. They also led Southern to a 14-0 win over the University of Georgia later that season. Georgia's quarterback was Zeke Bratkowski,. who had been averging three touch=-down passes a game, and Alabama's Quarterback was Bart Starr. Bama went on to win the SEC and play in the Cotton Bowl against Rice.
Jerry Moore has been invited to come to Jackson Feb. 11 and be honored for the second time by the All-American Football Foundation for the second time at the Foundation's 90th Banquet of Champions at the Jackson Hilton Hotel.
Prior to the AFCA Convention I attended the Rose Bowl and watched the University of Southern California, at full strength with Quarterback John David Booty fully recovered from a mid-season injury, sock it to the The University of Illinois. I saw USC whitewash Notre Dame, 38-0 in South Bend as well. USC, LSU and Georgia were all national champs on contenders after the bowl games were played. If there was another week to play one of the three would have still been left out. It was a great unpredictable season and now it is time for Recruiting which will determine future champions. New coaches are on board. New challenges on the horizon. Let the action resume.
--------30------
I attended my first AFCA Convention in 1952 in Cincinnati and treasure being an Honorary Member of the AFCA. Mississippi State Coach Silvester (Sly) Croom was named the Fellowship of christian Athletes' Coach of the Year. He was also the Southern Regional nominee. In his response he said that the biggest disappointment of his life came when he applied and did not get the job as Coach of his Alma Mater, the University of Alabama where he was a standout player and later an Assistant Coach.
He also coached at Green Bay and then was named the first Black Coach in the Southeastern Conference at Mississippi State University by Athletic Director Larry Tempelton, whose contract was not renewed this year after many years of faithful service to his alma mater.
I ran into Ed Orgeron, whose loss to Mississippi State,after an 14-0 lead, cost him his job at Ole Miss. He told me the Ole Miss chapter was history and he was looking forward top his next opportunity. He had a five year contract and was dismissed after three seasons. He was counting on Texas transfer Jevan Snead leading the Rebels to better things after a red shirt season. Now Houston Nutt, his successor, will build the 2008 Redand Blue around Snead.
It was good to see Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore in Anaheim. All he did was win his third straight national championship, which included the monumental upset of the University of Michigan in the Big House at Ann Arbor to open the season.
The victory was called perhaps the biggest upset in college football season. I call it the biggest upset since Mississippi Southern turned back defending Orange Bowl champion Alabama in the first game of the 1953 season in Montgomery, 25-19. At the time this was called the biggest upset since little Centre College went east to beat Harvard with Bo McMillan leading the charge.
In the College Football Hall of Fame at Kings Island, Ohio there was an area designating this upset win. In the relocation to South Bend there is no mention of same.
There is also no display of the famous Knute Rockne Win for the Gipper speech in South Bend. which was the most popular display at Kings Island. The new National Football Foundation regime which took over after Chairman Vincent de Paul Draddy's death and Executive Director Jimmie McDowell's requested retirement put a shopping mall fellow in charge of the shift from Kings Island to South Bend. A nice fellow he did not know the difference in sports between first and third base.
It is not too late to put the Rockne exhibit in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend
There should also restore Mississippi Southern's win over Alabama tying this in with Appalachians triumph over Michigan. On that 1953 team were two backs, Fullback Bucky McElroy, a bull-dozing 200-pounder from Monroe, La., the fabled Black Knight of the Bayous and Hugh Laurin Pepper, a 190-pound jet-propelled Benton Bomber, who the previous season had rushed for more yardage than Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessells and Buck McPhail.
Both McElroy and Pepper, who won Mid-Bracket All-America honors, should be in the College Football Hall of Fame. They also led Southern to a 14-0 win over the University of Georgia later that season. Georgia's quarterback was Zeke Bratkowski,. who had been averging three touch=-down passes a game, and Alabama's Quarterback was Bart Starr. Bama went on to win the SEC and play in the Cotton Bowl against Rice.
Jerry Moore has been invited to come to Jackson Feb. 11 and be honored for the second time by the All-American Football Foundation for the second time at the Foundation's 90th Banquet of Champions at the Jackson Hilton Hotel.
Prior to the AFCA Convention I attended the Rose Bowl and watched the University of Southern California, at full strength with Quarterback John David Booty fully recovered from a mid-season injury, sock it to the The University of Illinois. I saw USC whitewash Notre Dame, 38-0 in South Bend as well. USC, LSU and Georgia were all national champs on contenders after the bowl games were played. If there was another week to play one of the three would have still been left out. It was a great unpredictable season and now it is time for Recruiting which will determine future champions. New coaches are on board. New challenges on the horizon. Let the action resume.
--------30------
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