Evening star., 1948-12-24

GIL DOBIE.
career in 1898 at Boston College
where he was succeeded by Frank
Leahy, now head coach at the Uni
yersity of Notre Dame.
known to many football genera
tions as Gloomy Gill;" because OF
his persistently pessimistic predic-
tions, he turned out more great
teams during his 33-year coaching
career than any other mentor In
intercollegiate history.
And as he piled up successful sea-
sons, he became more widely misun-
derstood. That was because he was
a stern and exacting taskmaster,
one in whom sentiment appeared
to play no part. But the few who
did penetrate his gruff exterior dis
covered he possessed dry sense
of humor and a deep-rooted affec-
ton for all boys, especially college
football players.
During the last 10 years of his
career, which ended of his own ac-
cord at Boston College in 1898, he
had the means to live comfortably
while supervising the higher educa-
ton of his two daughters and son,
who had been motherless for about
a decade.
In retirement he followed his be-
loved game from seat high IN the
stadia. more like a surgeon observ-
ing younger colleague operate in
a clinic than as a common spectator
Undefeated seasons we're COM
monplace with Dobie. He started
with eleven consecutive undefeateo
campaigns, at North Dakota Agri-
cultural College and the University
of Washington. After he went East
several OF hts Cornell teams turned
in perfect seasons.
In his nine years at Washington
his teams won So games, tied three
and lost none.
Style Based on Power.
His style was based on powerful
lines and attacks that featured ter
rife tackle-smashing behind split
second interference. His players had
to take infinite pains with the
slightest details. OF the almost
$500 players to come under his
coaching, very few won his praises
and many of them ranked with the
greatest of all-time stars.
AS the forward. pass was sdevel.
oped into its present Importance
his power house tactics appeared te
be on the wane. Most experts agreed
that the aerial department was the
weakest spot in a Dobie-coachec
team.
He was born in Hasting, MINI.
January 81, 1879. At the University
of Minnesota he became q star foot
ball and baseball player. He wa!
an end on the Minnesota team o
1899 and quarterback in 1900 ant
1901, when the Gophers. under DR.
H. L. williams, won the Western
Conference championship. He wa
DR.. williams assistant in 1902 ant
1908, and then went to the Nortl
Dakota "Aggies."
After his undefeated seasons ther'
he went to Washington. where ht
experienced phenomenal success.
Came to Middies in 1917.
He came East In 1917 as coach a
the Naval Academy. His initial sea-
son at Annapolis was climaxed b!
the Midshipmen's first victory ovel
West Point in five years. He re-
manned there during the war year.
and then was called to Cornell II
1920.
He met with such immediate sue
cess that when his first season wa
completed, his contract was revised
for a five-year term. When his 1872
and 1922 Big Red teams enjoyed un
defeated seasons, his contract wa
changed again, this time to expir,
on May /, 1888. That document il
regarded as the first 10-year con-
tract ever given a college football
coach.
When it expired, Dobie signed an
other long-term agreement but thu
rugged players he needed to MAKE
his methods click had ceased enroll.
ing at ithaca and Cornells fortune!
slumped.
After several unsuccessful seasons
Cornell authorities reorganized theil
entire sports structure. One Of the
changes called for Dobie's retire
ment, but his departure was sootheo
by q generous cash settlement.
Enticed by b. c. Material.
Boston College, which had been
muddling along for several years
with graduate coaches, made him a
tempting financial offer, but what
really intrigued him to accept was
the burly material he would find
there.
His debut at the Newton Jesuit
institution was a painful affair TOR
early during his first spring practice
while teaching his favorite on
tackle smash, one OF his backs
crashed into him and he suffered a
fractured collar bone.
He refused to permit that injury
to interfere with his practice, which
he carried out to its end. without
missing q single session, despite
the pain he suffered daily until his
broken bones mended.
Boston College was enraptured by
Dobie,s first team, the 1896 aggre-
CATION that lost one game and tied
two before winding up with 1912
victory over his main rival, Holy
Cross.