The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1946-02-09
Willis Ward
THE SIDELINE COACH


c,,,, weeks ago there appeared in one OF the local
a,. a release to the effect that Lcnnic Ford was
- for ba.kcball There were several pictures of Ford
l ~ .rcr spent sometime IN passing the now attitude
q ~ ,l,t ~ Inc authorities at Michigan and the writer
% much impressed with tho lifting Of tho gentle
.' M s,mcnt that supposedly bars the participation
= v,ro athletes in Big Ten basketball The Sidclinc
t rs sod terrific lift in his own spirits bv the now
nor,1 ios and expanded his chest in a proud manner
r,ai,, ua- good 10 learn that his Alma Mater was
orn,po4 ollnNinc the trend Of liberalism that i'm,
rcma making great gains in the wake Of the war
: ne Past Agreement Barred Colored Athletes
,ir eth the cagerneSs to sec Ford display his ath-
4. basketball PLAYER. the Sidcnc Coach
astu the past and thought of athlete
r mean Frank Lett Of Battle Creek. Michigan
4sa, lump must have INTO Franks throat at
.,, 81 Tic news about Ford and lest Lett pmpscs
J. ~ ass situation improperly this column will now
-sni picture as relates 10 Ford SO that on
,o1 90 too far asray IN their conclusions
F e Was an a-State basketball and football
,nle ~ Michieanin la53 His background as
/ s,f al least as good as Ford's. Michigan had
., ~ unusual run Of luck at the time in football
e's marked the last time that Michigan had an
laf u,'Nan team. In 1882 and OBJ Michigan
s.l won tire Knntc Rocknc trophy the
a Nsll team in the country Lett came TO
i football PLAYER. although he loved and en-
ttball During his first year he was the
roommate and It WAS for his reason that
'fii hi- FRS lo'c not football bat basket
~ uii for football and WAS hoped that he
ted from hackficd to no limo as a guard This
rl oif very well and il didn't matter too
t,o.04~c he wanted TO crack down ON the has
bat had been the nemesis - roat color
,k Not 70 show Up For Practice
tatciy Lett in for very sad awakening
,4. No football season he called in bN the
no al shat time also head line
ta.,tlmil team. He WAS requested 20 not APP
tt,all practice betauSc he would not be used
at Was explained 20 Lett that the agreement
. athletes from participating in Big Ten
eject and that the hands Of the author
4.I ,..,b Hni Il
3pnion that Lett was good enough to be The
st 'hall team and WAS in fact needed. but
- his color he would be unable To play. Per-
p grand person in his way. He per-
lef Daring tho time that the Sdclinc
Michigan. this coach'S locker in the shower
NEST 70 the Sidelinc Coack's. There can be
ne fairness OF he coach an individual
oiey Of Biz Ten Not Always Personal Policy of Coach
tf personal ,airncss 81 the basketball coach.
group concept of dealing With the color
i-od 20 utilize the abilities of potentially
plaNcr. II is also pertinent 10 the discus
Mic higan has not dome we'll i'm basketball
,,n Years and the team hat Represented Mien-
f nas ~ Michigan was one Of Michigan
N' >p be seem Just how firm this so-called gen
~ ua- good enough 10 have made the Mich
sloug Inc sidencs don't know how good Ford
Hl player As the record nov stands. fo'd
on inc bench during the games ndcr
instances the presumption would be that he
4auaph However il is said that Ford has
rd vhilc attending Morgan College in
would seen that he would at least be
on the bench during home game, az
,i ne story goes that he came to Michigan
acquaintance that arose out Of The follow
ord Cam. Michigan AS Basketball Player
81, In, name of Mann had attended Miehi-
ADO onne an impression the authorities
aay he handled the end position ON the
NoNevcr Uncle Sam using as many
agStcrs he could take into the afmcu
r..ut the chap named Mann was suddenly
Mann wound up at lloabfd Arsenal
lido the city Of Baltimore lie played on
.te and thereby got the chance TO so over
where the soldier team worked out
etn~ Morgan College and il was through
thai Mann saw the abilities of Ford ana
Sat he urged Ford not TO waste ms talents
'oIst ge. bat go North to one OF the Big Ten
'S salt. Of the prompting by Mann Ford
and reported to Michigan 70 wind up the
lN nc first team.
n Na. seem therefore, that if a former Michigan
use aN 'aNgh in another athlete to urge him 10 al
Rf iHn reasonably be inferred that he has
'i Bc.ides Mann urged Ford to. go 10 Mlchl-
ms basketball abilities in preference 10 ms
a II Ford IS that much better a basketball
b 'N' pe Is football player. then should think
's p eaallly TO sit the bench during home
spr 'e Ooscrbaan Michigans head basketball
! uo '''" lioI y ploA frd plnoM ~ lrql FN'l'q
AK '''l par uoSIed purL5 iHruosi7d s. V''"'
rnstn~ agreement not barring the way
" 10 ,; pfo''. the old adape that "the man that pays
'bor 'at me tune The situation also proves am
l he n 'o mat gentlemen agree to ANYTHING and
~