The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-24
'BIFF' JONES IS
BACK AT WEST
POINT ACADEMY
Government Order Shows
Value of Sports in Time
of War
BY PAUL SCHEFFELS
United Press Staff CORRESPONDENT

United Press Staff Correspondent
West Point, N. Y, Jan. 24-CUP)
Those icy purists who have held
That sports are non-esSential TO a
nation at war were given an adroit
kick in the pants when Major Law
renee (BifD Jones, nationally
known football coach, was appoint
ed director Of athletics at the Unit
ed States Military academy.
The return of Jones, athletic dir
ector and head gridiron coach at
the University of Nebraska, to &C
tive duty on Feb. 2 at the point
where he spent the first IL years
of his coaching career, gives the
academy one of the hardest-hit-
ting, two man combinations in
sports, since Red Blaik, imported
less than year ago from Dart
mouth, already coaches football.
The academy's bureau of informa-
ton stressed that Jones will not
coach Army's football team. He
will direct the academy's athletic
policies for the duration. He will
succeed Col. Louis E. Hibbs, TO be
ordered to duty elsewhere in mid
February.
The War department scarcely
could have lent more emphasis to
the emergency Importance of sports
than the appointment of the color
full major. Now 46, he resigned from
active army duty when he accept
ed the double job Of director and
coach at Nebraska in January, 1887,
after previously coaching at Okla
homa, Louisiana State and Army.
Fine Record
In 1897, when Nebraska called
Major Jones to succeed the popular
Dana x. Bible, football-loving Ne
braskanS-though accepting Jones
record at Oklahoma at its face value
anticipated a let-down from
Bible.
1t took Jones only a short time
to erase that idea. In five years
he brought Nebraska its only Rose
Bowl team, three Big Six conference
titles, It's first victory over Minnesota
since 1913 and its first defeat OF
Pittsburgh since 1910
Things began to hum when Jones
took over at Nebraska. He opened
the 1887 season with secret practice
sessions, two and three-team squads,
long hours Of conditioning and
healthy touch Of military discipline
for his men, both on and off the
field.
Did his hard work pay off? Look
at the record. In his very first year
with the CornhuSkers, Minnesota
was beaten, 14-9, breaking a long
Gopher victory string. Two years
later, Observation-Disclosures other
arch rival-was vanquished, 14-l3
During his five years at Nebraska.
Biff's teams won % games, lost IA,
and tied four, bringing his lifetime
coaching record to 81 victories, 33 de-
feats and IA deadlocks.
Nebraska's Rose Bowl team of 1910
dropped the opening game to Min
nesota, then clicked off eight straight
wins before bowling 20-14 to Stan
ford in the Rose Bowl, January l
l941.
Got 100000 Contract
His 194l squad was the worst in
Nebraska's modern gridiron history
Just a shell of the former seasons
Rose Bowl outfit, it placed second
in the Big Six standings, losing five
and wining four. Despite that bad
season Nebraska renewed Jones con-
tract for five years at a reported an
nual salary of $4,000.
The major was assistant and head
coach here from 1919 TO 1929, inclu-
sive. Then he went TO Louisiana
State for three years, providing
some lively tales with his stormy
sessions with the late Sen. Huey
Long who insisted upon inspiring
the team with betWeen-halyes ora
tory. Later he spent two years at
Oklahoma
Col. Hibbs, the MAJORS predcces-
scr at the Point, took over the post
in July, 1893, succeeding Col. Jacob
l.. Devens, now major general
commanding the armed force at Fort
Knox, KY. Lieut.-Col William j.
Reardon, assistant graduate mana
ger OF athletics since August, 1910,
has been ordered to report for duty
at Fort Knox His successor has not
been named.