Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW sy FRANCIS srANA
The Fast Men of Oklahoma

S.-CnarleS laconlc
Gary Cooper with muscles He strides slowly speaks
cautiously, smiles sparngy. But his Oklahoma Sooners-
they're pure hell wheels And if there is any doubt
whether they belong as the No team, as voted, ask Jim
Tatum
Oklahoma is the finest college team I've SEEN !"
Tatum conceded long gum ride from Orange Bowl Sta
dunn to his cottage the shores of Bscayne Bay But
Maryland still is No don't who wins the Rose Bowl
CAS- it developed Michigan State No g. edged UCLA No a.
by 17-14D
The radio tuned the network from Pasadena
but Tatum listened If in trance. Oklahoma e.
Michigan State Maryland UCLA." he unused. by
gosh there are times when newspaper get things right
But todays story is not Taum-not by long shot 1t
is wilkinson and his fabuousy swift-moving Sooners
breath takngy fast they entered and emerged from
huddles that from the heights of Mams cleaning stadium
they seemed like ants in mighty big hurry and the Terra
pins we'll just what they're nicknamed.
CURIOSITY, BLENDED WITH duty. dictated early
visit to brother Wilkinson and his boys in their dressing
They whoopng it up, all right. and Bud was
freer with his smiles than normal In the relative privacy
of his private roomthe with the rubbing table in it.
Bud grnned the air stale matching the inquiries
Of the boudor reporters.
bug-eyed man of statistical bent said:
Bud do you know that time your off three
paysran not passedn SO seconds? And another series
in 40 seconds?"
I'd say that's about right This in the first period
the third?"
THE third"
I'VE kind figured we'd shift back to that faster action
Bud confirmed I'VE started that way, eased of bit. and
stepped up the pace after the half"
large, persprng columnst named Morris McLemore
automatically protested You trying to kill the flower
of your young manhood-your and the other teams
he charged
1--WE DON'T ALWAYS put the ball in play so fast" Wikin
son said oblquey ignoring the McLemorian wit although
smiling bit broader LAS it. only chance against
Maryland was to keep them off balance
Every game we've schedule tOklahoma
has 80 in three schedules and scored in
106 straight we've had to play different tempos Mostly
it's fast To play deliberately fewer mistakes but
not knowing what could do, had to take
against Maryland"
"You mean tire EN- out? What If they we're in better
shape?"
Wed be in shape, probably" Bud drawled "ser-
ousy it is not matter of condition It's tempo I'd guess"
How good Maryland?' asked a man.
1.-THE best we've met" Bud replied statement surprs-
ingy fiat for him.
And how good Oklahoma"
I'm the second half we played the best ball of team
I've coached in a Bowl We didn't make too many
errors" This was rank understatement.
AFTER 1919 OF THE second period had gone by it
may recalled that Co-Capt Ed Veeb of Maryland ran
back to oensby But shifting to his rght-and
apparently finding receivers freehe took off the left
and went IS yards for touchdown A couple of red
shred Maylanders happily came to his assistance and
1t became go, Terrapins.
From the press box" one man said st looked like a
play Vereb invented because he couldn't find receiver
OPEN vereb who carried for SO yards in first four
carries absent from the Oklahoma dressing and
therefore could not take credit for himself for Coach
Tatum for the coup.
81 think it play Jim tTatum) designed" Bud said
slowly First there many blocking for
Vereb. No. don't think it was an accident.
IF that was play by Tatum, how did your own
Off? he was asked.
1--WE used all except special play" Bud replied "A
the did didn't work"
BY TRADITION, MOST important and crucial contests
involving biceps determined by socaed key plays
hear Wilkinson, real midde-of- he-roader nearly all
plays are key Some slightly key-ke, however
than Others
At a time when Maryland looking somewhat over
matched which happened to be only few minutes after
the contest began Vereb Sc yards to Oklahomas TO-
where No. quarterback named Jay ONeal dragged him
See WIN, LOSE, Page Al