Evening star., 1955-01-10
Eddie Expected
ToLeaye Navy
AndCoacIlPros
$50, 900 Bid Tempts
California Native
After Great Season
By Francis stan,,


day that a new search for q
head coach would begin In d
matter Of days.
Eddie Erdelatz. under whose
guidance the Midshipmen re-
gained the prestige of the 1920s.
is heading for California tomor-
row and, in all likelihood will
become coach of the Los Angeles
Rams Of the National Football
League.
Il have been offered q con-
tract that is hard to turn down" !"
Erdelatz told intimates at the
Touchdown Club dinner Satur-
day night at the Statler. TITS .
five-year deal at practically dou-
BILE what I've been offered at the
Naval Academy"
Hampton Pool, who had been
head coach Of the Rams. was
released a few weeks ago In what
was considered d surprise move.
-Four of his five assistants had
been fired earlier. and the other
accepted q college coaching job.
Roots in California.
Erdelatz' who has beaten Army
four times out of five and who
led Navy to a 21-0 victory over
Mississippi In the Sugar Bowl 10
days ago, has roots not only in
California, but also in pro foot
ball. Before coming to Annapolis
five years ago as head coach. he
was an assistant to Buck Shaw
of the San Francisco Forty
Miners.
i don't like to think of leav-
ing the Naval Academy Erde-
latz said Saturday, because it's
been wonderful there. We have
a nice new home nearby. but
the Rams offer Is just too good" !"
Capt. Elliott Loughlin. director
of athletics at Navy. denied to-
day that he had heard of plans
by Erdelatz to change posts. !
"I rode back from the Touch
down Club dinner with Eddie, !"
Capt Loughlin said in Annap-
oils. land he did not indicate
that he would rejoin the pros.
Eddie, ! understand. usually
goes to the West Coast at this
time Of the year. Up to now.
he's always come back"
Tempting $s9.eO0 Bid.
Capt. Loughlin admitted, how
ever. that Erdelatz had not ac-l
cepted a new contract rendered
by Navy weeks ago--long be-
fore the Sugar Bowl game"
It was reported that Erdelatz.
whose present $4,000 contract
at Annapolis runs through 1855,
was offered a five-year contract
at $4,000 per annum to coach
Navy. whereas the Rams are Of
fering $4,000.
That is strictly newspaper
conjecture Capt. Loughlin said.
"We never have disclosed how
much was offered to Eddie. nor
was there q clause in the con-
tract to indicate how long it was
TO run
Loughlin, a former basketball
and tennis star at the Naval
Academy whose first year as ath-
letic director has been notably
successful. frankly admitted that
Erdelatz did not accept the new
contract, but said, I'VE still hope
he will
There is no time limit as con-
Germs his accepting the new con-
tract Capt. Loughlin said. "All
we know is that Erdelatz is tax
ing his annual trip to California
tomorrow. Personally. don't
know anything about his So
called business with the pros"
Eddie Hunting Ducks.
Erdeiatz. himself, was un-
available after the Touchdown
Club dinner. Capt. Loughlin ex-
planned that Eddie left early
Sunday to prepare for a duck-
hunting trip beginning and end
ing today.
Credence was lent to Erdelatz's
impending departure from An
papolis some time ago, when
Homer Hobbs. q line coach.
switched to Furman ais head
coach. More was forthcoming
when Ben Martin. a former Navy
star and another Of Erdelatz,s
aides. was contacted recently by
Dartmouth ofiicials and re-
portedly offered the job as head
S11SAAb SNSNGG0AklG kxlC ICGlIE0
Tuss McLaughery.
When and II Erdelatz accepts
the top Job with the Rams, he
win be reioining the pros after
. lapse Of five years. plus
change.
Erdelatz's appointment to sue
coed George Sauer at Navy in
1850 came as q surprise, although
Eddie formerly had served as end
coach during the last coaching
regime Of Capt. Tom Hamilton
In 1916 and 1947. At first It
was an uphill struggle. Navy.
which had won only i've games
In the four years from i946
through l949. was In the dol
drums. THE Middies lost 28
and tied three
Success slow in Coming.
Erdelatz's success was slow In
coming. His first year. 1850, he
won three or nine games: the
second. only two OF nine. In 50
Ibis third season Navy posted