Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-05
SPOTLIGHT
ON
SPORTS
With Mcclure, Without Totum
By MERRELL WHlTTLESEY

With Mcclure, Without Totum
WHEN JIM TATUM TOOK the long walk to President
Ekns office January Z 1885, to hand in his resignation
as Maryands football coach of the immediate reactions
at College Park that future MarylandNorth Carolina
games would be automatic sellouts
Last year that wasn't quite the Both the Terps
and Tar Heels had been soundy spanked at the outset of
the season. and when they met there thousands Of
empty seats in Chapel Hills picturesque Kenan Stadium
But all of sudden, almost Maryland North Carolina
box Office in another sport It's basketball
ton of course is the Tar Heels the Nations only major
beaten team and topanked in polls from North to South
Coach Frank MCGUIRE, Manhattan-born, and with
manner of speech that accenuaes his New York back
ground brought his Tar Heels yesterday afternoon
Five minutes after the squad checked into the Dupont
Hotel MCGUIRE solidifyng his reputation the per-
sonalty guy Of the basketball coaches
THE GATHERING IN HIS ROOM included Buck Free
man. McGureis former coach at st. Johns and his
assistant John Lacey the exMaryiand trainer Tatum
ticed to North Carolina the Rev. Fred Brew of Georgetown
and couple of reporters.
Father Brew is simply Fred to MCGUIRE. They've been
buddes for years. the days the Georgetown priest
teaching and coaching the jayvees at Xavier High
m while MCGUIRE coaching the varsity playing pro
bah with the Brooklyn visitatons
Mcclure who is AZ and looks younger despite years
as amaor college basketball coach ve at st
at North Carona) was dressed Immediately always
The only disorder in his appearance in his necktie
after basketball habit he fingers his tie
possibly many so times game and If it's
times the tie develops wrinkle two. Marylands Bud
Mikan probably hopes McGures tie is in
10 o'clock tonight.
IS THIS THE BEST TEAM he's coached? Possibly, Nc
CURE replied. although he has fond memories ST. Johns
team that went to the NCAA finals He the Redmen
four post-season tournaments in five years.
Its different type team" he said. I'VE played the
type ball Maryland plays at St Johns But have
bunch of good shooters who break in rash of
points at any time.
Eat the time" he continued "this kind of team
can get beat if it loses its shooting eye.
Il have bunch of kids at North Carolina" Mcclure
went on Lennie Rosenbuth is g. but the others
and I'll have all but Rosenbuth back next year"
Somebody asked how the folks at Chapel Hill taking
to this No. rating h.
"1ts unbelievable Just unbelievable" MCGUIRE answered
Everybody in town wears button showing map Of the
United States with Chapel Hill marked by a big No. L.
Tickets for the Duke game sale today and from
the ticket lines thought it Madison Square Garden
when went to the this morning Students from
get to go to the Duke game, and from to the home
game with Wake Forest.
We're televising home games, and N c. State and
Duke play some of the nights understand they're
squawkng"
SOMEBODY ELSE ASKED about the reaction to five
New York and New Jersey boys representing Carolina
as the best in college basketball
"A Durham sports writer put the pan the other
day" MCGUIRE responded "but he's exception
These boys are not pros" meaning without saying
It, tramp athletes They have countless friends at school
and throughout the State They create wonderful en-
thusiasm get lot of ribbng sure, about having pre-
domnantly New York area boys the squad but almost
When MCGUIRE took Chapel HILL the university
was getting what left Of the basketball play
ers c. State had first CALL Duke next and Wake Forest
close third There wasn't enough the competition
so MCGUIRE who has countless high school connections in
New York. worked out Of that area
81 WENT TO SCHOOL on a subway" Frank recalled
$50 did the Metropolitan New York boys my squad One
look at Chapel Hill and they can't believe it. It's paradise
Now that we're top, I'm getting inquiries from all over
the country"
The obvious question followed will you win them |al?
do you realize we've played four out of l6 games
additionally home-cou sport?p MCGUIRE replied We've
been lucky This Atlantic Coast Conference tough league
and figure lose couple Any time you play away from
home it's tough"
The touchy question about McGuires relationship with
Tatum had to How about 1t? Was Jim peeved about
the sudden accent on basketball at Chapel Hill?
Draw your own conclusions MCGUIRE simply answered
Tive been too busy with basketball haven't seen him"