The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-17
SCHMIDT AND
 AIDES OUT AT
 END OF ' YEARS
Defeat By Michigan 4O-O Brought Coach His
 ''Walking Papers"

Columbus, O., Dec. IT = (UPO- Ohio State University was looking for faculty replacements today five or six pigslkin professors to suc- ceed head Coach Francis H. "Close- the Gates-of- Mercy" Schmidt and his five assistants.
 The University Athletic Board de- cided that football students were not learning enough about the games fundamentals and last night accepted the resignation of Schmidt and his staff.
 The news was no surprise. It fol- lowed the Buckeyes most disas- trous season in 13 years, and the worst of Schmidt's seven year re- gime here. Schmidt earned the name of Close the . Gates of = Mercy" by allowing his teams to pile up huge scores against inferior teams, and his critics, among alum nj and press, showed him no mercy after Ohio State suffered its worst defeat in 35 years of grid warfare, 40-O, by Michigan.
 Sees The Light {.
 In announcing his resignation, previous to acceptance by the ath-.' letic board, Schmidt said: ;
 T had pleasant time here and I might just as well sever my rela- ton as they (the Athletic Board) are not satisfied. would much ra- ther do this than impose myself up- on them any longer"
 The athletic board, in session three hours last night, made no other comment than the announce ment that the resignations of Schmidt, his chief assistant E. R. Godfrey, Sidney Gilman, Fred c. Mackey, J. Edward Blickle and Conner T. Jones had been accepted.
 Two of the staff, Mackey and Blickle, will remain in States ath- letic department as baseball coach and assistant basketball coach re- 'spectively.
 Ohio State won four games and lost four this year. The record would not have been that good if officials had been alert enough to realize Schmidt sent in an ineligible player, Charley Maag. to kick the winning field goal against Purdue in the final 21 seconds of play.
 Despite abundant material season after season Schmidt's teams al- ways seemed to lack something. Schmidt,s critics charged that he concentrated too much on offcnse, giving his players too many intri- cate plays to learn at the expense of defensive fundamentals. Charges of poor conditioning methods and lack of organization among his staff members also were leveled at Schmidt.
 Schmidt brought razzle-dazzle and wide-open offense to the Big Ten from Texas Christian in 1884 and attendance increased by 00,000 within a year as his club lost only to Illinois. In his seven seasons here Schmidt piloted Buckeye teams to two conference titles, win ming 39, losing l6 and tieing one over the span.
 DissensiOn
 There was dissension on this years team almost from the start of the season. Three days before the Northwestern game. which Ohio State lost 6-3. sign on the dress ing room wall reading "the only team that can beat Ohio State Is Ohio State" was reworded by player to read, "the only team that. can beat Ohio State is the Ohio State coaching staff."
 Ohio States most intense rivalry Is with the University of Michigan and Schmidt kept the Wolves quiet by beating the Wolverines his first four seasons here. But Michigan victories in the last three years. topped by that 400 humiliation on November g, were too much for Schmidt's coaching reputation to bear. A three-man committee Of athletic board members was launch- ed to weigh the Schmidt system l and 1t was found wanting.