The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-12-05
SP0R s ). n: I! BLING; 5.
BY VIM. t. PATRICK, Jr..

Except for a few isolated games here and there
parade is virtually at end The of the many
thousands that crowded into the many wind-swept
stadiums from North oSouth and from coast to coast
has been quoted for another year Another year must
We wait see the oval spin through the air from the
toe of trusty punters and from the hand of bullet
passers How we will miss the thrill of seeing we'll
executed lateral brilliant field length jaunt for a
touchdown. Yes, these and many other things will
MISS the antics of the cheer leaders, the face of the
old coach in silent prayer and the excited voice of the
radio announcer over the air.
This time of the year, despite the prospects of a
happy yuletde season, fills with certain sadness,
for the season short. This sadness is mixed
with disappointment the failure of favorite
teams to come through as we had hoped they would
Our biggest disappointment was the failure of Oze
Simmons to capture AlAmerican berth and the
incapacity of the Iowa team with Simmons brother
Don, and the veteran Homer Harris to live up to ex
pectations. A few more this one and foot
ball will be on par with golf in the respect of pick
ing winners.
Let us review the season of Simmons and the
Hawkeyes Packed with potential steamroer power,
-
title, even more so than the Northwestern Wildcats
who did win the coverted crown. Coach Ossie Solem
was faced with three major problems and it was be-
lieved that should he master them he should have
winning eleven:
These problems were:
Q) To find suitable bockers to get Simmons
past the forward line into the open, where was be-
eved that once out there the gaopng OF could take
care of himself.
~ To fill gaps at the guard position left by
graduation of last years regular duet
81 To develop 5Oyard punt expert OF the
caliber of Captain Dick Crayne, All-American hall
back who was lost through graduation.
In each of these three detectives seems as if the
wizened Iowa mentor failed.
Simmons Looked Toward
With two brilliant seasons under his belt Sim
mons was expected to be the fourth Negro to add to
the list of All-Americans which already includes
Fritz Pollard, William H. Lewis and Paul Robson
Weak his first on defensive tactics Oze with
the addition of weight mastered these denquencles
His running game was unexcelled; however this year
found opponents breaking through the Hawkeye line,
sweeping aside weak blockers and bouncing on the
unprotected ball carrier.
In the first game against Carleton College, Sim
mons on brilliant 60 yard run scored one of his
teams two touchdowns and several long gains in a
sustained drive to the goal aided in the other. The
score was 14-0.
The following week they met the INFESTED
Northwestern University With young Bernard Jeffer
playing in his first major game, he gave evidence
of future greatness by his CONSTANT gains into the
line and by his long punts. He also stood out as a
passer hurting several touchdown passes in the
course of the season. With the Wildcats leading 1870
in the last quarter Simmons broke away another
go yard jaunt to his teams only points Betting
before the game established Iowa the favourites
Thus they continued losing. Duke Slater of the
powerful teams of the 21 to 23 period called on
to lend his aid in coaching the line This did little
good as they fell before Indiana and Minnesota The
latter on the rebound of surprise defeat by North
western walloped them by the score of $40.
Quits Team
Following that humiliating defeat Simmons,
falling prey of what he believed unjust criticism,
quit the Iowa team. Amends were made and he re-
turned to the squad That Saturday the team dropped
another decision this time to Purdue, The following
week the team at last game when they upset
Temple 900. Simmons broke away for rs yards to