The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-16
By JACK GUENTHER
United Press Staff Corresponden nj

By JACK GUENTHER
United Press Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK Far from IN
crowded crossroads where pres
agents drums throb loud and LONG
tolls many a coach who rarel
rises TO national fame for tn
simple reason that every seasol
he must spot his richer rival
everything but brains and sweat
Out of this group. from tn
far Northwest, the United Pres
selects as football coach of tn
week-Lon Stiner. the giant kille
of Oregon State.
For the past five year,
Oregon State squads have
been undisputed masters of
their back-country bailiwick.
For the past three seasons
they have finished no lower
than third In one of the
toughest leagues In college
football - the Pacific Coast
conference. Yet only twice
since he became q head coach
eight years ago has the name
Of Lon Stiner reached the
headlines Of the nation.
The first time was in October
1898. the year he succeeded Pau
Schissler at the Beaver helm. On
that occasion q Southern Cali
fornia varsity which had swept
through 26 consecutive opponents
came to Portland as 81 favorites.
The Trojans went home with q
scoreless tie. their string broken
by IL Oregon State men who play
ed so minutes against them with
out a substitution.
BLANK INDIANS
The second time was last Sat
urday when another team boasting
glittering chain of triumphs
headed north. This team was
Stanford. undefeated Rose Bowl
champions Of 1910 and odds-on
choice to head the Pacific con-
ference again. This time the
Beavers weren't content with q
tie. They blanked the Indians.
100, and they dominated the
game throughout.
Today Lon Stiner and Ore
gon State are tied for the Pa
ciftc conference lead. They
Lost 10 use In the final
minute, then they whipped
Washington
Now that Stanford has been
passed. their highest hurdles are
behind them and on the basis Of
the schedule they hold just as
good a chance, II not a better one.
than anyone else to finally cap
ture the bid to the Rose Bowl.
NEVER AT PASADENA
Oregon State il one of the only
two teams in the conference which
never has stormed the walls at
Pasadena Under Schissler the
Beavers had defeated only three
major opponents in five years.
stiner. now at 81 a powerful fell
low who weighs $50 pounds. has
done better. much better. In his
eight seasons. he has lost only
2S Of 81 games. In doing this,
he has turned alchemist.
He had to. Year after year
he has the smallest squads In
the conference. Stiner gets
few players and must make
them 90 . long way. As .
result, they receive more In
dividual attention than most
men.
stiner. and his assistants, Jim
Dixon and Hal Moe, both csc
graduates. work hard and long
drilling fundamentals. Few squads
block and tackle better than the
Beavers. Stiner usually develops
q fine first team. but too often
he Is forced to watch 1t bend be-
fore superior msnpower because
he lacks reserves.
RISE TOOK TIME
Sinners rise was not sensa-
tional. He captsined the Hast
ings. Neb.. high school team
twice, matriculsted at Lombard
college in Galesburg, H.. and
after two years transferred 10
where he csptsined the
Huskers and received many votes
for all-Americs. When Schissler,
who coached Stiner at Lombard,
moved to Corvallis, Stiner follow
ed to work as an assistant He
remained in that position until
he moved upstairs in 1888.
Today, Stiner won't listen
TO Rose Bowl talk--not even
from his Is and 7-yesr-old
children. He emphasizes that
this Il but the fourth week
of the season and the teams
are 30 evenly matched that
he can't afford even one mis-
take. Instead Of discussing
lofty prospects, he celebrated
his victory by going fishing
and shooting n round of golf
which incidentally, he plays
In the low sos
Sinners only spectacular con-