Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-24
SPOTLIGHT
ON
SPORTS
The IT in Tennessee Is for Tough
BY MERRILL WHITTLEsEY


THERE ARE SEVEN PERFECT record teams and seven
unbeaten. oncetied teams in TenneSsee proud football
history And as Johnny Idzk saying yesterday,
OF them just happened
Idzik. Marylands defensive backhed coach and scout
spent and half assistant coach Tennessee
He prizes the experience highly in his football education
Would John with head coaching opportunity switch
to the Tennessee single wing?
mo, don't believe would" he answered John be-
heves more can be accomplished in shorter time with the
sptT But he respects the single wing It's the multitude
Of problems that 60 with recruiting that would
Idzik skeptical OF installing 1t.
Idzik spent two recruiting at Tennessee and
he knows whereof he speaks,
They're particular, real particular" he said of the
team that meets Maryland Saturday afternoon THE
guards they be 5feet-0 between $50 and 100 and
with the speed Of tailback
THE tailback must be able to do everything The
passing punting rs per of the ball carrying He must
be- able 70 the sweeps and go up the middle call the
signals and be the leader"
-.
IDzIK FIGURES the Vols bring in seven or eight
tailbacks and hope there viii be Johnny Majors
Bobby Gordon among them Majors was the consensus
AAmercan who spanked the Vols unbeaten season.
the conference title and helped Bowden Wyatt win Coach
ofthe-Year hOnors last year Gordon his
The wingback in the Tennessee system be agile
good receiver fast. and tough enough to block the
opposing tackle If the opposition plays the tackle at end
against the single wing.
But Of all requirements the center has the toughest
job.
Idzik recalled attending games other high
school functions where college coaches would be introduced
to the schoolboy stars
"AS SOON AS SOMEBODY would say This is Coach
Idzk of Tennessee the center prospect usually would give
a quick hello and then duck" Idzk saying Most of
them wanted no part Of being single wing center"
About the center prospects Idzk said the ideal Ten
neSsee eligible would have to be about 6feet2 and 1876
He has to snap the ball to the fuback and hit him
knao tafh aud aiftna
hand high or low Idzik said There can't be any bad
passes.
"He has back up line on defense and get used
to having his pushed into the dirt as soon as he
snaps the ball on ofense"
The center prospects at Tennessee usually report to
practice half hour early and spend the 80 minutes snap
ping the ball.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS Idzik has secuted Tennes-
eight times and has bad pass in eight games
and that didn't appear to be the centers fault.
Last week against Alabama the tailback fulback
who play side side about yard apart seemed get
mixed up on their signals The snap from center went
between them for 25-yard loss for Tennessee.
There's little evity, and visitors to Tennessee
practice Early in September there's visitors day. And
that day guard blocks any tespassers to the
practice field the hill.
The football squad lives in modern quarters in the
stadium The players eat at yearround training table
compared with seasonal training tables for the football
players at most schools.
THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE has SIS schol-
arshp year maximum, which Tennessee, like
Others could have 210 football players scholarship at
time. OF course, some drop by the wayside. But
Tennessee choosy in the beginning and its casualty rate
is comparatively small.
Tennessees style Of blocking is art 1t is known
the Tennessee whip block" It's legal but it's style
where the blocker delaying action by hooking and
blocking with his ribs To guard against injury In practice
the Vols rib pads Practice at Knoxville is down TO
science.
Wyatt like Gen Robert Neyland coach from
1927 through 1852 except for five years in the service
somewhat aoof When he to the hotel TO visit
Tommy Mont last year Maryand's trip TO Knoxville,
the hometown reporters and photographers shocked
They couldn't remember Tennessee coach visiting
opposing coach In years.
The Vols are not pampered II would be unheard Of
Tor most teams TO spend the night before the game
the train. But the Vols will be riding the rails Friday
night and will arrive here for breakfast Saturday "It
doesn't make any difference to good football players,
Wyatt has been heard to say.