Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-29
WIN, LOSE OR
DkAW By FRANCIS s7AAN
Main Speaker: Bud Wilkinson

CORAL GABLES Fla- Dec. 29.-In the two years that
had passed since another interview in of the coaches
office at the University of Miami Bud Wilkinson had aged
His hair reached the whtShgay stage and his face is
craggy athough the oneme Minnesota star not yet 40
YOU get feeling football coaching there not
much difference between adversely and success Wilkinson
has adversely he has walked hand in hand
with His record at Oklahoma80 victories defeats
ties for s1sis fabulous He will take 29-game winning
streak into the Orange Bowl against Maryland.
Win lose some show the tension synonymous
with their trade although Bud trying to be casual
quietly breezy In this respect he much the
the New Day of 1854 His squad he sad didn't
expect to much Maryland didn't deserve to be
ranked No. by the Associated Press his players were not as
large Maryands and from here out there isn't much
he can do about improving the sooners.
WE WERE GETTING BETTER" ne conceded, but
after today we'll taper of in practice and about all we can
expect is that our boys will hit the right mood"
He sounded like echo of Jim Tatum who had been
his old boss at Oklahoma before moving to Maryland in 1877
"Inasmuch Oklahoma has scored in los consecutive
national record I'm toldwhy be pessmistic
about scoring? asked interviewer Just Marylands
defensive record?"
Well it's the best the country" Bud reminded sta
tistcs prove it. And I've doubt that If Tatum had
gone all out to make defensive record he could have
prevented touchdown here and there"
There's been lot of talk about the speed OF your squad
Bud reminded. Your publicity man says, all IL
positions considered, its the fastest of all time"
Il wouldn't exactly put it so strong Wilkinson said
Il think got reputation for speed because we had run
off many plays per many more than certain
opponents We've been little fast putting the ball into
action after finishing play"
won't that a lot against Maryand?"
81 don't think So" Bud smiled. With that defense,
Maryland won't let us control the ball"
A MAN SAID, WOULD you care to compare this Okla
homa team to the that beat Maryland two years ago?
Its hard to make comparison" Bud hedged 1T
would be like comparing two shortstops like Reese and
Rizzuto"
But this Tommy Mcdonald isn't he of scoring
threat than anybody you had in that TO game with
Maryland?"
Tommys good boy and tough for his size, but had
similar in the "a Splinter? think he ran
high school, but not in college. don't think he'd set
records in college"
other Oklahoma claims in behalf of Mcdonald far
being modest pointing out that he Associated
first-string AAmercan ABg Seven, averaged 6S
yards per carry 16 touchdowns for SO points scored
at least once by rushing in every game etc
Mcdonald is the young most observers figure it Is
very stop The feeling here talking to coaches
other qualified observers is that Maryland will win If
its good tackles beat okahoma and that the Sooners will
prevail Mcdonald beats "Marylands whole ball club
WHY DO YOU SAY your team doesn't deserve to be
ranked No. ~" wilkinson was asked.
We'll" he replied, you know how those polls work.
think that if Big Ten team from section goes
unbeaten 1t will draw votes than from practically any
other Maryland, for instance, did well did
winning everything I'd have voted for Maryland think
About the relative size of the players began q
question us it that lack of weight the fact that have
players returning for further play than usual that
made the pros lay off Oklahoma picks In the first three
rounds of the draft?"
Both guess Bud said "The pros want real big
Our Cecil Morris 230 pounds but que they
figure he can't play pro ball
you DON'T IN CoILEGE?" man asked. "An that
bee?" Il might like my squad bit bigger" Bud admitted,
with trace of grin, but it's just college ba-syle outfit
You see he amplihed when you get to talking about
weight differences might have to take into consideration
that boys from Oklahoma and Texas while tall and rangy,
really weighty Not like those In parts of the
East those socky husky kids with big bones weighing what
they do"
There wasn't much else of this deathess interview but
there hardly wet tear shed Buds nervewers the
duelng match broke That guy" shifted cynic,
turns the charm like he turns water faucet and all
the time he's got his payeddown little boys ready to cut
your throat.
THE more he talks like he did, the got to respect
Oklahoma. I'm not old can't remember the spiel
two years ago. when he beat real good Maryland team