Arizona sun., 1948-07-09
The Olympics, Then the Rose Bowl, That
Is The Goal Laid Out By San FranciscO's
Newest Athletic Football Marvel
BY STEE MURDOCH
(From Peoples World)

The tall Negro youth stepped on
the gas. His 1886 Ford convertible
tackled typical San Francisco hill
with creditable enthusiasm.
II want to play in the Rose
Bowl" he said.
Such ambition cannot be rated
unusual or unrealistic, considering
the young man is football player
of some note. Last fall he set a
new San Francisco high school
scoring record by racking up 102
points in a single season.
It is, however, unusual that the
Rose Bowl ambition should occupy
such high priority at this par
ticular moment. For today, as you
read this, the young man is in
Milwauqee, Wis, trying for a spot
on the United States Olympic track
and field team.
His name is Ollie Matson, and he
stands very good chance-at the
age of 18- of representing the
United States in the 40O-meter run
at the Olympic games in London
this summer.
Regardless of whether he makes
the Olympic team, Ollie has al
ready established himself as one of
the greatest high school athletes in
the the history of San Francisco
scolastic competition.
Within the restriction of purity
codes" (and perhaps outside) he
has received college "offers" ga
lore. It's even said the jimcrow
walls of Troy (the University of
Southern California, that isl are
trembling at the prospect of Ollie's
enrolment.
Ollie CHATS his real first name,
not a nickname) hasn't made up his
mind yet what college he will at
tend. He says so frankly. The
only real clue is his desire to play
in the Rose Bowl, which would rule
out schools that don't have look
in at that classic.
He's emphatic about preferring
football to track. So emphatic, in
fact, that the day we saw him he
was complaining to his coach,
Louis ]. Vasquez, that while he
was training for a mere thing like
the Olympics, his buddies were out
throwing the football around and
getting the jump on him.
you'll be in better shape be-
cause of track" said Vasquez.
''I don't know" said Ollie.
Forty-eight hours later, in AL
hambra, he set "a new worlds in
terscholastic record for the 440-
yard dash by racing the quarter
mile distance in 47.8 seconds, shaw
ing four-tenths of a second off a
mark which has been on the rec
ord books since 1915.
1--WE sat beside Ollie as he tread
ed his car skilfully through traffic.
II like football BETTER" he said
simply, but he hastened to add that
his preference wasn't interfering
with his Olympic preparations.
II want to make the Olympic
team-and I think I can."
This statement must also be
classed as realistic because on
June Ollie was only eight yards
behind Herb McKenley when the
latter established new world 40
yard record of 46 seconds flat at
Berkeley. The amazed timers
caught Ollie at AL seconds. It
was the third competitive quarter
mile of his career.
The same day he had run the
100-yard dash in 9.6 seconds, pretty
rapid travelling for a high schooler.
IT was surprised when they said
9.6," admits Ollie. "I thought it
was at least a 81, because I got
good start, but L was really sur
prised when they announced 9.6."
He's frank and open, this hand
some, ssoft-spoken kid who stands
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