The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-11-05
.Gilmour Dobie at Washington
The Secret of Dobie's Success

OF making a player was that OF
Pete" HUSKY end on Washington =
1911 team pete" was Just about
tho worst looking rookie any coach
ever laid eyes on He was slow,
clumsy couldn't Kick, couldn't pass,
or catch passes; In fact, he couldn't
do anything right. Why "Gu" picked
him as a good prospect nobody ever
did know, hut long before that sea.
son ended. pete" WAS playing one
of tho c.eancst and cleyerest ends OF
any college player,
nohie was hard driver Never
during a season did he let up on In,
dividual players. whom he was
anxious TO sce make good He de.
manded strict adherence TO all rules
laid down during training season,
but at the same time he had tho good
sense not 10 lay down any foolish
rules. He would say. Eat what you
want 20 eat. but don't be pigs; II you
think you want candy. eat some. but
not a box full. get plenty OF sleep,
and keep your mind and body clean
turn out regularly, remember IN
struetlons, and youll be in condition
when you need condition"
His teams were noted because OF
their staying qualities, ana Il was
seldom that time was ever taken out
for Washington player He close
~ watched the condition OF each
man. and was great believer ~
taking almost daily the weights 81
each man. Joe Cutting. his most
able assistant coach. and himself
were. however the only persons
who knew the weights. as the player
being weighed would step on IN,
scales backward. and never knew hi,
exnct weight
The weights MS given IN the news
PAPER hneups we're always 10 e
20 pounds low on the heavy men
while the light men were some
times increased This low weigh
plan is adopted by practically ever,
coach and ID used 20 put the OF
posing team and coach Off tn,
track. Personally. have Away
thought IL 10 be a yaiueless mod
OF football craftlness
Tackllng Is always featured b.
nooie's teams and IL secured oni,
after hours and hours OF practice
not on tackling dummies, but OF
real live substitutes, running ns 1
man rms In a game. II is har,
on the poor scrub but It's tn
best known method OF making goo,
taekions.
His instructions would be. 'Hit 'sH
hard and knock 'em down Dobi.
demanded good. hard. clean rough
ness. and az the same time dccriet
the dirty player. ANY man piaying
on Washington team hasn't any to-
many brains TO learn all tho Fous
tricks OF football without wasting HI
time trying to learn the dirty ones.
was one Of his weekly messages.
No undsrhandcd work was evei
suggested by Doble. His teams al
ways play hard. clean football. but
they never resort 20 unfair tactics.
His power over men is subtle. III
can drive them like galley slaves. bu
in return they give him loynitl
savorlne OF the dog and master va
riety. Players might hate. and man,
did bate. him. but they had TO admir-,
him because no was fair and wouls
always fight for their interests.
Specialization Ia another OF Coacl
Dobio's assets. He uses very few
plays and only those OF the simples
variety. but he could always produc
a trump play when all seemed lost
lie resurrected the old moth-eatei
crisscross end to end play for III
o. a. C. game In 1908. and It workc'
like charm. II was then dlscarde
for two years. when ho brought Il &
.ife against W. s. c. with tciiln
effect.
Coach Doble will always renal
an eternal enigma in tho minds o
| all who associated with him. No onf