Evening star., 1950-09-25
|0f Oklahoma in Blast
AT magazine Article
BY the Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla, Sept. 25.-A
magazine article claiming Okla
homa football is run by "700 mil
lionaires" is strictly fable; accord
ing to university officials and a
former coach quoted in the article.
The story brought quick denials
from Maryland Coach Jim Tatum,
former coach of the Sooners. and
Oklahoma President George L.
Cross, who also wrote an angry
letter to Tatum concerning state
ments attributed to the latter in
True magazine.
The article. written by Paul
Gardner. said the Touchdown
Clubs 100 millionaires never
touch a football. but they scored
all the touchdowns" for Oklahoma
last year. 1t asserted the club
has an extensive system through
which it buys stars and delivers
them to Coach Bud Wilkinson.
Tatum Says He's Befuddled.
Wilkinson termed it fiction"
Cross called the statements "lies, "
and Tatum was "just as befuddled
about 1t as he could be-" The
Maryland coach added: II don't
know where he got the informa-
ton, but it's all wrong" He said
he hardly remembered the writer,
and talked with him only briefly.
Tatum was quoted as saying the
university regents pressured him
into running up a big score n
1916 against Oklahoma A. and M,
the Sooners' arch rivals. Okla
homa won the game, 1912, after
losing badly in the two previous
seasons.
The article further quoted
Tatum as saying DR.. Cross also
gave the team a pre-game pep
talk on piling up a score against
the Aggies. This DR.. Cross de-
MED in the letter to Tatum made
public yesterday.
IT hope that you did not make
the remarks attributed to you in
the article" the letter said. They
are not worthy of a coach OF your
stature"
DR.. Cross also took issue with
statements attributed to Tatum
that Lloyd Noble. late oil mil
lionnaire and regent, interfered
with his football program.
Talks With College Head.
At his home in College Park,
Md, Tatum said he was upset
about the story and talked with
Cross by phone last night.
"I told DR.. Cross I didn't tell
Gardner that he (Cross) talked
to the squad on the day of the
game. told him you (Cross) did
have a little talk with them on
Thursday before the Oklahoma
A. and M. game. And DR.. Cross
agreed that was right.
part of what he said about
Noble (former president Of the
Oklahoma regents) was true.
Nobel wanted another man as
coach, and when he couldn't get
the committee to agree with him,
the Board of Regents hired me.
Noble was frank in telling me
he wanted a coach with name
So I knew with his inf1uence-if
he didn't approve of me-the first
time my foot slipped I wouldn't
last.
"But there was no pressure put
on me to leave. I left Of my own
accord"
He said DR.. Cross told him he
was issuing statement today
verifying that I wasn't fired but
actually offered a seven-year con-
tract at $4,000 a year."
Sought Interview In May.
Tatum said Gardner called him
in May wanting an interview about
the Oklahoma story, but he replied
he had been away three days and
didn't feel he could talk about it
then.
HE insisted on coming down."
Tatum continued. 80 I told him
I was going to be in New York in
a few days on business and could
see him there.
HE talked about his friendly
stay at the University (of Okla
homa) and talked about my
friends there. He gave me the
idea he had been there as a guest
Of the school and that he had
talked whit DR.. Gross and all
the rest of the staff.
well. I just talked with DR..
Cross a few minutes ago, and
found Gardner didn't even see
him. And he didn't know where
Gardner got his information"
Since Bud Wilkinson took over in
1947, Oklahoma has compiled an
amazing record of % victories,
three losses and one tie, and a
current 21-game winning streak.
Sandwiched in are two Sugar
Bowl victories.
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