Evening star., 1941-11-22
Wanted His Team Beaten.

But with all his football ability
and he was one of the smartest OF
the lot-Zup contributed as much
color, as much hilarity and human
interest, as any man ever gave to
sport
Now he steps back with Pop War
ner of Cornell Carlisle, Pittsburgh
and Stanford, with Hurry-up Yost
of Michigan-not overlooking Percy
Haughton, Knute Rockne, Dan Nc
Gugin and Howard Jones, star
members of his era, who have
crossed the last line. Of the Old
Guard only Alonzo Stagg, nearing
80. still is left in battle harness.
Football has known only one
Zuppke, after all. l recall the time
around, II years ago when I took
Frank Craven. actor, dramatist
golfer and travelling sportsman, to
see Red Grange play. Illinois that
day was meeting fine Nebraska
team, headed by Tackle Weir.
Around noon We suggested that it
was time to leave and let Zuppke go
DdCk 10 MS team.
Il have no team" Zuppke said
II mean right now. I will have one
tonight, however"
Boys Came Back to Him.
Zup explained the situation. It
was the first year after Grange had
run wild against Michigan.
H.
away from me They think they are
unbeatable already So have given
them only about three simple plays
against Nebraska and they will take
a good beating. We have many big
games on ahead and I want to win,
especially Michigan and Pennsyl-
vania. BY the time this game is over
they will come back to me again for
some advice"
Nebraska Won, IA to 0. and Grange
ridn't make a first down over a
heavy field.
AS Frank Craven and left for the
East that night Zuppke was smiling
as happily as If he had won a
championship.
Il have team" he said. Il have
my boys back
That was Zup.
I recall one winter when I found
Zuppke in the midst of profound
concentration. I thought he was
worried about next years Illinois
team He wasn't
1t so happened that at the football
coaches annual banquet Knute
Rockne had put one over on Zup-
2 Rockne fast one, for which at the
moment zuppke had no rebuttal
Always Football Smart.
So, II months ahead of the next
football banquet zuppke was work
ing on his delayed comeback that
would knock Rock flatter than a
thin rug For two hours he tried
out at least six advance stories he
was planning to toss at Rock.
He always was football smart.
When Red Grange came along as a
sophomore. Zuppke, in Reds first
game, made him run straight for
the Sidelines-and out of bounds.
Rival scouts reported back that he
Ice Man was only Sideline sprinter
When Red started against Mich
iean he promptly cut for the side
line again. Michigan started to
chase Red out of bounds, only to see
him suddenly swerve, cut in and run
for four touchdoWns in about 10
minutes.
I'VE took a good Pennsylvania
team to Illinois, Bert Bell told me.
Eve were afraid Of Peters, a dan
gerouS ball carrier, who was playing
left half. So we told our team at
the kickoff to kick to the right half
back. We did. But the receiver ran
the ball back so yards. His name
was Peters. zuppke had figured in
advance we'd kick to the other back,
so he just switched Peters over
When Zuppke first came to Illi-
nois % years ago the university
president sent for him, delivering
a short talk on what might be ex-
pected from a football coach. At
the conclusion of the talk Zuppke
said, Il appreciate, Doctor, what you
have just told me. But there viii!
be many presidents at this univer-
sity who will come and go while
I still am coaching"