Evening star., 1939-03-06
Athletic Furore
Robs Pitt Of
Star Coach
Sutherland Resigns
After IS Years at
Football Helm
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, March 6-Resig-
nation of Head Football Coach DR..
John Balm (JocD Sutherland today
climaXed two years of squabbling
over athletic policy at University
of Pittsburgh.
Just why he decided to vacate
after Is years Of directing the once
powerful Pitt Partners was not
disclosed Immediately, but it was
evident turbulent history of athletics
at the school precipitated his action.
This celebrated builder of great
grid juggernauts and maker of all
Americas had only to say he sub
mitted his resignation, effective at
once. and pending huddle with
Chancellor John G. Bowman Il do
not care to say anything more"
The university, in all probability,
will not stand in Sutherlands' way.
Bowman said athletic authorities
might act today on Jocks request for
release from an agreement in his
contract calling for two years notice
before leaving Pitt.
Move Not Unexpected.
Often rumored, Sutherland's S move
was not unexpected. but there has
been no indications of his future
plans. Latest coaching report has
him going to Mississippi State at an
annual salary figure of $l3500.
There is possibility of strong
attachment for his alma mater keep
ing him at Pitt. An associate said
Money is not factor in the mat
ter" and that he might remain on
the faculty.
1t is traditional for the Panthers
to hire only graduates on the
grid staff although resignation of
four assistants since the close of the
1888 campaign left only like num-
Der with limited experience not
ranked as possibilities for Suther-
lands job.
Among the many linked with the
place are Charley BoWser, former
first assistant to Sutherland; Tommy
Davies, successful head coach of
Scranton University the past two
years; Bill Kern of Carnegie Tech
and Andy Gustafson. backheld boss
at Dartmouth. Whether they could
be landed is another story.
Feared Team Crack-up.
Sutherland's position appeared Sc
cure as long as he wanted to re-
main. How long that would be has
been problematical since early 1887
when he engaged Athletic Director
w. Don Harrison in a wrangle over
the amount of spending money given
the victorious Pitt footballers after
a Rose Bowl game. Harrison finally
resigned.
Then James Hagan became ath-
letic director. A series of reforms to
purify athletics followed. Later de-
veloped the Bowman code, which
cut athletic scholarships, pushing
Pitt toward athletic mediocrity.
Freshmen football players recently
threatened strike over work and
play. Pitt then cast its sports policy
under the Western Conference BAN
ner.
Depletion of the freshman squad
through ineligibility caused Suther-
land to make no secret of prospects
for a mediocre 1899 team with the
loss of II regulars, including three
of his dream" backfeld.
Had IA All-Americas.
Succeeding "Pop" Warner at Pitt
in 1924, Jock had his poorest season
that year with five won, three lost,
one tied. Four of his Panther teams
represented the East in the Rose
Bowl. Eight times his elevens
had copped the mythical Eastern
championship.
For his 20 years of coaching he
can show Ill victories, 20 defeats,
IL ties at Pitt and 33 wins, 8 de-
feats. 2 ties at Lafayette, where he
spent five years before coming here
Fourteen of his players have won
America honors.
Sutherland, so years old come
March 81, loves the boys he coaches
and the game they play.
Although reticent to comment on
the athletic upheaval at Pitt, Jock
recently got around to the question
of whether he would quit football
''if the time comes when I can see
no hope"
mo, I WON'T" he said. Football
has been good to me. It took me
from a job as special policeman
in Sewickley pa gave me- a college