The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-12

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 One of the most remarkable fig ures in American sportdom Is Hugo Bezdek coach of the mighty Penn | State eleven of 1921. The story of his career has much of romance and plenty of the fiction angle involved.
 And the story, too, is one where l hard, unceasing toll and faith in ones self triumphed over one obsta- cle after another
 1 Czecho- -Slovakia was the birthplace of Bezdek. While he was little more than an infant. his family moved to Cleveland. Then it shifted to Chi- cago in which city Bezdek first came | into fame because of his athletic prowess. His playing with the Lake i High school in Chicago always will make him remembered as one of the greatest football players that ever 1 figured in high school tussles in the ] Windy City
 After graduation. Bezdek decided he wanted a college education. He didn't have the money-nor did his parents--to send him through college. But he entered the University of Chicago, just the same, and by doing odd jobs after schools hours-and be- fore-he got enough money together each year to pay his way.
 Bezdeks playing in the Chicago backfield has made him q football immortal He ever will be remem- bered as one of the most powerful men that ever donned the moleskins. Next to Willie Heston, the Michigan wonder, he was the most irresistible man in the game. When he hurled his 1S0 pounds of bone and muscle into enemy lines, they split and crumpled like so many macaroni sticks.
 Upon graduation in 1908. Bezdek [ coached the Oregon football squad in the fall of that year. In 1907 he was one of Alonzo Stagg's assistants at Chicago. The following year found | him piloting the gridiron men at the University of Arkansas. He remained there until 1912. then went back to oregon and fingered with that crew until 1917.
 One of Bezdek's teams sprung real gridiron surprise in 1916 when that outfit-Oregon-me the power ful University of Pennsylvania anew 1 in Pasadena, Cal, in the "Tourna- ment of Roses" and beat 1t 10 to o. Bezdek tired a bit of football coaching with the end of 1916' and when a job as baseball scout for the Pirates was offered to him he ac- cepted. He served Barney Dreyfus in such a capacity through 1917-19lS- l in 1920. But one year in that job convinced him that there are happier forms of existence than leadership of big league ball club-and he quit. to devote his time to football. | While with the Pirates, he made contract to serve the Pennsylvania State college as athletic director. That was in 1918. During that sea son, as well as 1919 and 1920, he gave only part of his time to that work. But in 1921, after he had severed his baseball connections, he assumed full charge of all athletics at Penn State. The success of Bezdek as football 1 coach has been chanted in song and story this year. His team has been universally ranked as the champion of the east. It didn't lose a game. It's schedule was one of the toughest of the year, yet 1t came through un-
 beaten, even though it took on such formidable elevens as Harvard, Navy and Pittsburg.
 Since Bezdek has been coach at 1 Penn Stated matter of four full seasons-the Penn State teams have lost but one game on the gridiron--a most amazing showing when It is re- membered that Penn States schedule always has been one which showed no fear of any college outfit in l America.