Show Platoon System Hides Grid Greats By GRANTLAND RIC RICE NEW YORK YORK The The football old- old timer has bas always been a joke oke writes one of them somewhat mood mood- ily When we talk of the days that used to be they slip us a laugh But Id I'd like to ask a question or rather make a statement I think I can prove the past much better than the present Ill I'll leave it to you When I was around the football writers were giving us a lot of stuff about Ted Coy M OF OJ DIMES Eddie Mahan Red Grange Ed Weir of Nebraska B Ben e n n i e Bonnie Bennie F Friedman r i e d man Tom Torn Hamilton Tack Hardwick Hardwick Hardwick Hard- Hard wick Charlie Brickley Brickley Brickley Brick- Brick ley George Gipp the Four Horseman and JANUARY 31 2 many many more of the type tyre What do do we get today Rec Recruiting Re Re- c r u i t tin i n g subsidizing a athletic U tic scholarships low-grade low classroom assignments phony courses outrIght outright outright out out- right pay bowl games garnes sprig g practice c choke h o 0 k off ked e off d-off television games garnes dopey college presidents and such other moody matter We hear a little about Dick Kazmaier Larry Isbell Vito Hank Lauricella etc But not too much about most of the stars I think I can understand why Footballs Football's scandal or scandal near has reached a new high But beyond beyond beyond be be- yond that who wha can pick out names or individuals from the four forty-four men who race back and forth two twenty-two men on each side With two teams I 1 think that makes forty four The best man on the field may never be seen or selected since not even the coaches can follow them This Is proved by bythe bythe bythe the trouble coaches have had hadIn hadin hadin in making substitutions at the right time with the right man I have run across at least fifteen fifteen fifteen teen such costly mistakes So I dont don't believe we can put too much blame on the football writer If the coach doesn't know his players in a wild mob why should the writers or public recognize the stars At any rate I thought Id I'd put in a word word for the good old days that have been laughed at so long We had coaches with humor and striking personalities s sue such u c h as Rockne Haughton Warner Yost Stagg McGugin Alexander Alexander Alexander Alexan Alexan- der Tad Jones Roper Sutherland Andy Smith Heisman these a ard ad d many more But dont don't let anyone anyone anyone any any- one start laughing at the good old days compared to what we have today Quite A Difference This reminds us that we haven't paid our annual tribute to one Amos Alonzo Stagg who has just f finished his 1951 1051 season at Susquehanna Susquehanna Susquehanna Sus- Sus with an unbeaten team as an advisor to his son a mere stripling who is somewhere in his COs Mr Stagg who is having a brave and brilliant race with Connie Connie Connie Con Con- nie Mack against time could also tell you something about the good old days which you'll never see again It was back in 1891 or so as I recall it dimly Chicago was playing playing playing play play- ing Illinois in a big Midwestern party Stagg was coaching Chicago But before the game the referee ref reI- referee was taken ill m. So at the request of the Illinois team Stagg was named in his place As I heard 3 about out it later Lonnie Lonnie Lon- Lon nie rile pleased both teams Can you imagine Yale asking for Charlie Caldwell as one of the top officials when pla playing ing Princeton Princeton Princeton Prince Prince- ton or Ohio State demanding Bennie Bennie Bennie Ben Ben- nie of Michigan for forthe forthe forthe the Ohio State-Michigan State meeting There was the e. e time w when Princeton Princeton Princeton Prince Prince- ton and Pennsylvania met and the total expenses were 60 60 which included sandwiches and coffee Today you yon can jet get et only four or five sandwiches plus cups of coffee for 60 60 Expenses today for a a. big game will run to at least For bowl games even more In Stagg's day could have run football for four years all over the map Today isn't enough to pay the full expenses of a single team for one one season in more than thana a few cases Ask Georgetown's president Are the games better now with 22 men against 22 men menor menor menor or were they better with 11 men on each side in a fight to the finish You tell em ern Attack on Football The recent tidal wave attack on football is easily understood There hasn't been enough proof offered to wreck the game as so many are trying to do But there has been more than enough proof offered to show how much college football football foot loot ball needs in the way of cures I have ha never thought such minor details a as spring practice practice practice tice and b bowls were important factors Especially if the bowls are controlled controlled controlled con con- trolled so that no college gets more than or Take Takeaway Takeaway Takeaway away the financial incentive of or and split the swag among the bowl teams team's Conference Conference Conference Con Con- ference members College football should be no financial rat race |