The Washington times., 1936-12-18

came With MS lew belongings III q
gunnysack, and he won our hearts
is minutes after he was on the
campus.
In those days-back in 1911
was coaching at the University of
South Carolina. Red" Edgerton,
who had been a great center at
Davidson College, was head coach
and 1 was his assistant. RED"
knew line play, but he knew very
little about tackle play, and my
job was to coach the backfield and
the tackles.
There was a shortage Of tackles
and undertook to make q tackle
out of Cotton" Goings. Hours
at time I coached Cotton" I
explained. to him, as best could,
the duties of a tackle. Hours at
a time I spent with Cotton"
teaching him the fundamentals
Of tackle play. He was q good
pupil. but not at all an apt one.
After three weeks Cotton" and
I were pals. He called me Mister.
Harry" and called him Cotton"
Famous Game
I guess everyone in the football
world knows of the Carolina Glenn
son game. It's great game, and
famous. The law Of South Caro-
lima says the game must begin "at
IL o'clock, noon," and it does.
The game started. Clemson re-
ceived the kickoff.
Bob" Williams, a star at the
University of Virginia in his day,
later one of the greatest of football
officials, was the coach of the
Clemson team. That year Bob"
had a really great team, and one
of Clemson's greatest plays was an
offtackle slant.
AS I said, Carolina was short
of tackles. On the very first play
after the kickoff, Carolina's left
tackle was injured and it was nee
eSSary to remove him from the
game. Who to put in his place?
That was the grave question, and
Red" Edgerton called on me.
Cotton" was sitting down at
the end of the bench. summoned
him, and, taking him aside from
the other players, I gave him pep
talk.
Said I:
Cotton, this is Cardinals big
game. We'd rather win this
game than any other on the
schedule. Carolinians all over
the world want us to win this
game I've spent hours md
hours teaching you how to play
tackle. I KNOW that you can
play tackle better than any man
in Carolina. Now, 90 in there
and show these people how .
tackle position should be played.
I'm betting everything I have in
the world on you. In my Opin-
ion you are the greatest foot
ball player who ever lived. Get
rough. . Knock 'em for a loop,
Cotton. You can do it, and
KNOW you can do it,"
DASHES OUC ON FIELD
"Cotton" dashed out on the
field, reported to the umpire and
took up his post at left tackle.
Naturally, I was worried. After
all, Cotton" was green as grass.
He'd never played football before,
and it seemed shame to put him
into a game of such Importance
as this one, but we had to do it.
Clemson's first play was an off
tackle smash, directed at Cotton
Clemson teamed" on tackle.
and they teamed" on Cotton"
like nobody'S business.
The play gained six yards.
Clemson's second play was an
off-tackle smash, directed at Got
ton" Once again, the attacking
units teamed" on Cotton" Un-
tremendously, they drove Cotton"
back and dumped him. The play
gained four yards, and made it
first down for Clemson.
Clemson'S third play was an Off
tackle smash directed at Cotton"
Once again, the proper attacking
units teamed" on Cotton" took
him out of the play and very un-
tremendously dumped him. The
play gained seven yards.
Sitting on the bench, Red
Edgerton was fit to be tied.
Said Red" to me:
"Jees, he's terrible! Haven't
you any one you can put in his
place?"
HAD CONFIDENCE
But I had confidence in Got
ton" AS far as I was concerned,
it was merely matter Of time
before Cotton" got going.
Clemson's fourth play was an
off-tackle smash, directed at Got
ton" Once again, and most un-
tremendously, Cotton" was taken
out of the play and dumped. The
play gained six yards.
Cotton" suddenly rushed at the
referee. He practically screamed at
the referee:
"Mr. Referee, want to talk to
my cOach!"
The referee, a typical Carolin-
ian, took hold of "Cotton's" arm
and brought him toward the side
line and the Carolina bench. AS
the duo reached the sideline. Got
ton" yelled:
mister Harry, come here!"
got up from the bench and
walked out to the sideline.