Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
COURTNEY COACHED LOCALS
INTRODUCED SEVERE DISCI-
PLINE WITH THE PoToMACS.

Il see the grand old man of Cornell
Courtney-is again showing the aquatic
world and the Comedians in particular,
that he must be obeyed to the letter,
was remarked by Mr.. Charles G. Warden,
the present lead officer of the Potomac
Boat Club, as he stood among group OF
his lieutenants at the new clubhouse last
week.
Courtney ami Courtney's Methods
continued Mr. Warden. mad full try-out
here on the Potomac river and more
especially in the ranks of the Potomac
Boat Club, and in all my experience as an
oarsman, serving tuition under the best
coaches of America, none came nearer
the position of autocratic pedagogue than
this same Charles Courtney. who now
dominates Cornelrs navy-to Cornell Uni
versitys glory
Il recall the fact that when Courtney
was selected by the Potomac Boat Club
as its coach he was in absolute disgrace
in the country at large. owing to the
questionable race here on the Potomac
river for alleged prize offered by a
business house of Rochester, \. v
The Potomacs yanked him out of the
fire and engaged him to coach their
crews in 1883. and his selection was made
s
nority in the club
We'll. he came" said Mr. Warden
land the policies he is now pursuing al
Cornell were first put in force at the
club. He became the absolute ruler OF
the rowing men-different entirely from
those who had preceded him. His system
soon won favor among all. and especial
" among the minority that had opposed
him. When he was selecting the crews
he did not know personally any of the
men. His one great idea was results and
the best means and ways 10 obtain such
from the material at hand. When he was
working the crews on the water he did
not know the men by name merely the
positions they occupied in the boat, and
he raked them fore and aft for all short
comings.
He made each man feel that his place
In the boat decided uncertainty.
and this feeling kept the oarsmen fight
ing all the time TO retain the seat in the
shell. l recall distinctly the shake-up he
gave one OF our crews ten days before
an important race that almost caused
an earthquake III the Observation-Disclosures
such an episode as Cornell is now eX-
periencing. only II caused us Potomacs
TO gasp with fright. He fired two of the
most prominent oars because they broke
minor training rules and had the
temerity 10 try to dispute Courtney'S
methods when he took them to task.
Ills work with the Potomacs was in
the class known as phenomenal. for dur
ing the period Courtney remained with
the clab L won eleven senior events
against the pick aud best of America
and il was all due 70 this Courtney mind
as nc did the mental work while he ex-
pected absolute submission to his ideas
a coach from the men pulling the
sweeps.
The Potomacs made Courtney's system
a possibility, which the Cornell navy has
much better illustrated. and TO my mind
il IS the only way TO success in handling
crews. The coach is hired TO coach. not
u listen 10 suggestions from graduate
managers and captains. and the whole
duty should be on the shoulders of the
coach. THIS Courtney has strictly ad-
hered to in his career director Of
aquat:-S, and to il IS due the wonderful
success tina; has come To the oars of
Cornell University. declared Mr.. War
den.
Courtney had lots Of experience while
here in Washington, and the last time l
saw him he spoke feelinely OF the treat
meuf given him by the club while he was
its coach. and laushingly recalled the
time the big porpoise chased him up the
river To the boathousc." Mr. Warden said
IN closing
There are Cornell men who will dispute
NJ Wardsu's contention that Cornell s
success or the water has been due solely
10 Courtnsys mel mods. Cornell had
made it, reputation III rowing before
Courtney went there. 1t twice captured
from the leading college crews of the
country before Courtney was engaged as
coach. Courtney'S success with the Po-
tonacs had little TO 90 with his engage
,nent at Cornell. There he was always
highly regarded and when generally
abused for his collapse in the race with
Harlan he was s,outly defended AT Cor
nell! where no one OF the students doubt
ed his int gritty. Along in the eighties.
when Prof Gardner of the faculty. who
had supervised rowing. left the univer-
sty. il became necessary 10 get an adyis-
er. Courtney, who lived at Union Springs.
not far away. offered his services and
were paid. The arrangement worked so
we'll tEat he was afterward engaged as
coach. There have been many revolts
against the Old man but ne is strongly
intrenched in the confidence of the stu
dents. and probably Will remain coach as
long as he likeA