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.