The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-08
DIR. WEEDE is OUT
Announces Retirement as Coach
for Washburn.
Wishes to Devote ALI Attention
to His Profession.
TALKS OF SITUATION.
From Athletic Standpoint May
Be Considered Desperate.
Plans ON Foot to Have Alumni
Organization.
TALKS OF SITUATION.

Garfield G. Weede, coach or the
Washburn college football team Tor
three years, including the all-victor-
ions eleven of 1907, has retired from
the field forever, and will devote him
self to his profession of dentistry.
Coach Weede has a galaxy OF acade-
mic degrees to append to his name
but the former Pennsylvania star END
uses the prefix CDR" in preference
and has it hung in the New CRAWFORD
b,,i1dtng where he has during the past
wear fitted up an elegant office and
gained a large patronage.
ssThere is a time he said this
morning. when one has to devote
his entire time to the business ne mas
chosen in order to make success OF
IT. 1 admire the game greatly and
have spent three months of the last
year in playing and coaching. But
these three months out of the year
since have established an office have
worked to demoralize my practice.
Regular patients come and nno me
out repeatedly and go elsewhere ana
I feel in justice to my work that 1
ought to give up coaching.
my contract with Washburn has
expired and I could not accept anoth-
er. The schools athletics are not in
a financial condition such that 1T can
pay a salary sufficient to warrant the
loss of practice and even that must
be gathered by fragments.
Advises Graduate System.
I'm retiring. however" the coach
continued after a pause, land in con-
sideration of the present financial
condition at the college. 1 feel that II
my advice would be of any value to
them, would advise the graduate sys-
tenn of coaching"
That last statement comprehends in
a nut she'll the questions OF vital I'M
portance at this time agitating the
athletic atmosphere of the college;
What will we do for a coach? Where
can we get one, and what system
should we have any way?'
Coach Weede gave his statement of
retirement rather sadly. He came
here with brilliant record as
player and made a sensational start in
his first season as a coach putting on
the field team which wiped up the
gridiron everywhere with perfect
ease. Eight men, all experienced and
tried, graduated in the spring leaving
for the following fall men who had
never even graced the second team
The team played games with
Drake and Oklahoma exceptionally
creditably to themselves and their
coach. This last season was dismal
and through the fog disappeared the
last traces of the championship team.
The coach is held responsible by a
great many followers of the game,
But some have relieved him of
enough of the burden to shift it to
the players. The players present did
about all they could. It is like the
professors warning in the classroom,
1.-The next time come in here to lee
ture and find so many of you absent
I'll mark you zero for the term It's
the players who were not there who
should get the criticism and not those
who were there. That brings I'D the
other proposition worrying the COL
1ege.
How is the college to get PLAYERS ?
Some are holding the coach respon-
sible for the lack of material. The
coach of course has his little part to
do about getting players but he is not
able to touch all available material
by any means. 1t is in great measure
up to the manager.
Alumni May Help Out.
But there is another way which is
working well in other places and
which the supporters of Washburn
are waking up to, that is, the old "let
ter" men and alumni forming into a
band for the encouragement of the
enrolment of football material. The
closest band of loyalists in the west is
at Lawrence. The tx" club composed
OF old athletic men and most likelv