Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-08
STATE COLLEGE HEAD
BOOSTS HUGO BEZDEK
Dr.. John M. Thomas Says
Football Coach Possesses
AU the Qualities That
Make for Success as Grid.
iron Mentor
MUST PAY FOR BRAINS
HNfY ATTITUDE on the coaching
AV1 question, is: Hang on to Bez.

"NfY ATTITUDE on the coaching
Vl question is: Hang on to Bez.
Which, being amplified and trans
lnted to n more general level. expresses
the belief of Or. John Martin Thomas,
president of Penn State College, that
TIE laborer--and coaches do labor--is
The logical sequence by which this
conclusion is reached is BASED on the
fact that Hugo Bezdek' is high. priced
football coach, and, inasmuch as state
College is willing each year to separate
itself from this ieputedly large sum OF
money. Il must follow that 1t feels
,.,.s., "Yss a'.s Ss. to 90 scy for tss,s ''1". B.,
Thomos. "Coockino q football
team is a JOB thut demands the
highest order Of brains. II IN.
rolres teaching, administration.
ability to handle men aud infinite
patience aud courage. These are
not qualities possessed ov every
man you meet.
"Then too. it is q highly seasonal
occupation. The work OF the iooteall
coach extends over a period OF rev
months at the most. and at the SAM
time occupies q great deal OF time JUL
ing its season. To make IL w1.Lt ,L.
while. in order to attract tne risa'
caliber Of man, the pay must neces'
sarily be high.
Shoulders Blame
"And not only is the occupation sea.
sUnaI, but It is subject to the merest
vagaries Of fate or popular whim. III
for any reason q season is mol sue
cess--which may be caused by any cir
cumstance from an injury to star
player to a long rainy spell-tse coach
receives the blame. and in the ma)0rnS
of cases will find himself sooner or later
out>of q job. 49,, ;.
"Another consideration, which Is
particularly strong with us. Is the
character of the man and the ehcct
which he will have upon the boys with
whom he comes in contact. BeZdek Is
in complete charge of all our athletics
and holds regular position IN the
faculty.
"Under these circumstances 1t IS
pcry important hat the man IN
this position be of the highest
mental and moral type, and such
man cannot be secured 1ctthou
erpense. Money so INFESTED IS
guarantee for the future genera
tion.
Gas an example of the kind Of thing
that Bez does. let me tel! you little
story. Understand, he is absolutely sin
cere and free of cant, but Mt one of the
student meetings he finished his talk
with the words: Remember. boys. that
when things are at the turning point.
and it takes little something In addi.
ton to win. it's those whispered prayers
up in the stands that do the trick.
The matter of intercollegiate athletics
Ia another on which DR.. Thomas has
decided ideas.
Intercollege Games Good
"While agreeing with others that it
is essential that every student be trained
in athletics. ! also maintain that inter-
collegiate athletics. in which the college
is represented by n picked team. is OF
the highest value.
intercollegiate competition in sports
is the one thing above all others which
will weld heterogeneous collection of
individual students into a unified and
cooperative whole.
"a freshman. new to the college, is
not really one of us until the first game
comes along. After that he is imbued
with a new consciousness of identity
with the Institution he has an access
sion Of esprit de corps.
"And toith that, We come around
to the same point again; il zoe
compete in Intercollegiate athletics
zoe must hare a coach; II tre hare
coach zee must hdUe a good one: to
get a good one, ice must pay the
price"