Evening star., 1955-11-23
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW J, ..Apc,, ,r4pu
The Deep Six

ANNAPOLIS NOV 2s-Eddie Erdeatz was holding
his daily conference in McDonough Hail. The sports
reporters York. Philadelphia Newark. Baltimore
Washington and way stations had asked routine questions
routine answers and the queries coming
more slowly.
when" asked a visitor less to break silence,
"do you get thrown in the riyer?"
aIts scheduled for Thursday" Eddie replied grinnng.
He glanced the window Of his oce and shuddered
ats pretty nippy for that sort Of thing
One Of the uninitiated asked:
Eddie, what is meant by being thrown in the ryer9"
"Just that" Erdeatz said Il don't know when it all
started day of practice here for Army
game It's customary for the football squad to throw the
coaches into the Severn"
Like rowing crew throws in its coxswain?"
yeah. except it isn't summer and we get dunked with
al our clothes on"
THE Army squad doesn't throw Red Blak into the
Hudson" said
Eddie smiled noncommittally
WE'VE GOT TWO NEW coaches who actually are
worried about getting thrown into the river Erdeatz said
They can't swim much and, being they don't know
planned preventive strategy Trouble Is the players
probably met, too, to anticipate plans"
Ever since he coached at Annapolis assistant
to Tom Hamilton in ls4e and ls47, Erdelatz has been
dunked regularly. Except one year. he explained In
1853 escaped"
It was hardly clear-cut victory for Eddie however
because SO the only year since his head coaching
regime started In 1850 that Navy lost to Army.
"One year. Eddie remnisced wryy, our coaching stan
discovered hole the wire surrounding the practice
guess the players forgot about because they started
running when / yelled
aOne complete lap around the field" After they got
under way. we coaches ducked into the hole.
But he sighed. "they spotted and gave chase So
got wet As remember it there was Ice in the river that
year"
THE TINE YOU oUTFoxED ACCOMPLISHMENT did you
do?D he was asked
oParked my car next to the exit and left the motor
running Eddie explained Toward the end OF practice the
coaches nched toward the gate Then told the squad
was lousy shape and to do lap We beat 1t out OF the
gate jumped into the car and took on All the way up to
philadelphia the next morning the players threatened
reprsalS.
aNow we don't know when they're going to Jump The
kids don't and they may turn at any minute and
throw us in the water"
"Are some Of the coaches seriously worried2"
We. Eddie said "some years we had an assistant
coach This before the went completely around
the field There patch Of heavy canvas at one
end when the players started for us this guy ran COM
pletey through the like 1t tissue paper But
"This year our new coaches Ernie Jorge and Wayne
Hardin worried The other day Ernie to and
asked II the Severn was very deep.
Where they throw US, said, its 40 feet. Why?'
Ernie groaned x to the surface, he said,
but only when put my feet the bottom and thrust
up Forty feet is too deep
ERNIE WENT TO GEORGE Rasmussen, our equipment
man. and asked his advice 80 the experimental station
the road told him, borrow Mae West.
Then, when hit the water pull the plug and it float
you
Well it sounds reasonable" man said.
There's only trouble" Eddie said You can't trust
anybody this deal II you for driver Of get
away car you md it where you tell him to wait He'll
have tipped Of the squad Once arranged for guy TO
stacks towels and sacks Of laundry that
could climb under and hide.
"After he helped UP the doube-crossing So
andsc the squad the high sign and pointed TO where
was buried. So they got me again"
Rasmussen, them might be working in cahoots with the
squad suggesting Ernie Jorge that he get Mae Wes2
Not necessarily Eddie said HE may do 1t his own
do what?"
"oh, put rocks inside the vest puncture 1t full Of
holes There's consolation We've lost coach yet
by drowning. That Is. 50 far.