The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-14
IS FORCED TO RETIRE
| UNDER RULE SETTING
SCHOOLS Age Limit
Grand Old Man. of Midway,
Now 70 Years Old, Is
Disappointed
HAS BEEN MENTOR Al YEARS
Thomas N. Metcalf Will Sue
coed Veteran as Director
of Athletics

Chicago. Oct. l4.--(F)--One of the
most engrossing chapters in American
football Friday was In it's CLOSING
pages, for Amos Alonzo Stagg will re-
tire as director Of athletics and head
football coach at the University O.
Chicago at the end of the college year
next June.
The grand old man of the midway
Chicagc'S only athletic director and
head gridiron teacher, having reached
three score and 10 years. must step
aside under a university rule provid-
ing that 70 is the age limit for mem
hers OF the faculty. and Stage will
make way for Thomas Nelson Metcalf
now director Of athletics at Iowa
State college, Ames, Ia. only because
of the rule. He became 70 years old
last Aug. l6.
In yielding. Stage, clear-eyed ano
looking not more than so of his Il
years, said he was frankly. not con-
tent to do it," that he felt he is good
for IS or 20 more years of active
service.
no successor Named
His successor as football coach viii
be named by Metcalf. who has given
no indica ton of his choice. In an.
nouncing the retirement of Stagg. the
board of trustees of the university
said a new post, chairman of the com
mittee on intercollegiate athletics
had been created for him. Stage
however, has not accepted the place
Stage has become almost as much
a part OF the University of Chicago as
its beautiful gothic buildings. He
came in with its founding Al years
ago, becoming it's first athletic direc-
tor. and later became the first ath-
letic man to attain the rank Of fac
ulty member
His contributions to the advance
ment of football have been many and
he developed legion of the creates.
stars of the game. The late Knute
Rockne often said Stages technique
furnished the basis of the Notre Dame
system.
Stagg was heartbroken over the in
voking of the rule forcing his retire
ment. He was outspoken in his desire
to continne in active coaching.
Over his long span of service. Stage
has set up a great record. In 40 sea-
sons his teams have won 243 games
lost 104 and tied %. a good share OF
the defeats coming during the last
eight years when a paucity of ma
terial existed. In Western Conference
competition, his clevens won l24
games, lost Is and tied Is.
All America in 1888
Stagg was one of Yales early foot
ball heroes and in 1888 Vas named as
lend rush. on Casper Whitncy's all
America team. and later was accord
ed the same honor by the late Walter
Camp. Although great as a football
player. he was even more famous as
a baseball player. He pitched the
Yale team to many victories and was
offered major league contract
which he declined.
He Is the senior member OF the ma
tional rules committee. of which he
has been a member since l9O6-tl,e
whole span Of modern intercollegiate
football.
Just a few OF the mighty of gridiron
developed by Stagg were the late Wal
ter Eckerstail, Walter Steffen, Hugo
Bezdek. Mark Catlin. John Schommer.
the late Tiny Maxwell, r. O. Fritz
Crisler. head coach at Princeton,
Clarence Herschberger. Walter Ken
nedy and H. o. (Pat) Page, now his
assistant.
He was as successful in track and
field. and assisted in the preparation
Of four American Olympic teams.
Stagg, the producer of great ath-
letes. was no more famous however
than Stage. the leader and idealist
He was the author OF many Western
Conference rules.