Evening star., 1941-01-08
Yale Sport Chief
Seen asC|ever
Manipu|ator
University Saves Coin
As Pond Is Removed
And NeuIe Leaves
BY LAWRENCE PERRY,
Special Correspondent OF The Star

AOLIeopOIlutLlL VI 1ilc SldI.
NEW YORK, JAN 8.-Ogden
Miller, chairman of the Yale
Athletic Board, is a clever man.
This is one of the important con-
clusions developed as the result of
several days of study of various
angles of the dismissal of Ducky
Pond as head coach of the Ellis and
the appointment of Emerson (Spike)
Nelson in his place. Whether SUBJ
sequent events win prove he has
been as shrewd and far-seeing as
he has been clever remains to be
seen.
But so far as the present situation
is concerned feeling in New Haven
is that Miller had hand in the
transfer of Greasy Neale from New
Haven to the Pittsburgh Steelers,
a pro football outfit owned by Alex
Thompson. a recent Yale graduate,
who is reported to be friend of the
Yale executive. If Miller was con-
cerned in this deal he may be
credited with saving the Y. A. A.
SO,OUU Illo "dS 1NCdlC .
salary, and had he been fired the
university, under the years notice
stipulation. would have had to pay
it just as it will pay Ducky Ponds
$4,000 salary for the ensuing year.
At the same time it is reported
that there will be saving on Ponds
salary in the case of Spike Nelson.
He will not, so it is whispered. re-
ceive anything like this sum. Later
though he may. 1t will depend upon
whether he makes good.
Chance for Good Start.
In this respect he will have bet
ter chance than Ducky has had in
recent years for a running start. In
1888 and 1889 the Ellis had Columbia
for the getaway games, and the
Lions never are an easy opener for
any eleven. From the fact that
Virginia appeared as Yale's first op-
ponent last fall it would seem as
though the powers that be at Yale
had taken pity on Ducky. However,
as it turned out. the Cavaliers. while
no great shakes in 1910, were too
much for the Blue to handle.
1t was not that game, however, but
the next one that is said to have
sealed the fate both of Pond and his
chief lieutenant. Neale-the crush
ing 50-7 defeat by Pennsylvania.
Ducky did not know this. In fact,
he seemed to have no intimation he
was through when he attended the
Convention of Football Coaches and
Athletic Directors in New York be-
tween Christmas and New Year.
Since here was a chance for Pond to
make contact with various important
representatives of colleges and uni
versities throughout the country, it
does not seem his employers were
very considerate in not giving him
at least a hint as to his approaching
fate.
Where he will go in further pur-
suit of his career as a coach even
Duckev does not at this time know.
Talk in New York is that his old
teammate at Yale, DR.. Nal Stevens,
would like to have him as an assist
ant at New York University. Or, if
Tuss McLaughry goes to Dartmouth,
as seems very likely, Brown might
like to give the late Yale mentor
a try.
Other Changes Rumored.
New Haven buzzes with rumors Of
changes in other sports. Don Grant,
the freshman coach. resigned, but
this, it is said, is not the only change
that will be made in the Yale aqua
tic system.
Reverting to football, 1t appears
as though Spike Nelson is going to
be a busy man. He will, for one
thing, have direct supervision over
junior varsity and freshman foot
ball as we'll as varsity ball. Under
the old system these squads were
separate and distinct and the
coaching jobs were administered by
13 teachers in all Nelson. it is said,
will have to get along with six or
seven of the present incumbents.
Only Ivy Williamson of the varsity
staff is regarded as certain to hold
his job.
So shreWd commentator as
Daniel Mulvey of New Haven does
not feel that the university has given
the new coach anything to be ex-
cited about in the way of material.
Some of it, notably the four veteran
backs, Willoughby, Seymour, Harri-
son and Bell is good, if not brilliant.
The freshman squad will send up
some good men, but not for the
middle of the line.
AS for the new coach he did pretty
we'll with the first line he coached
at New Haven. that of 1899. The
1910 line certainly was nothing to
rave about. But that probably was
not Nelson's fault.
BY the way, talk is that when
Ogden Miller finishes a thorough
cleanup job in Yale's athletic sys-
tenn he will be promoted to much
higher post in the university.