Evening star., 1957-12-23
Illinois Football Greots
PoIIbeorers for Zuppke
Continued From PAGE ~

Continued From Page Al6
ball coach. and Burt Ingwersen,
head line coach Of the varsity
The world--and not just the
sports world - is somewhat
poorer today. Robert zuppks
was more than Just q greal
football coach. the man who
moulded Red Grange into "Ths
Galloping Ghost" the inventor
OF the screen pass and the hud.
die. He also was an artist
philosopher. wit and maker o.
phrases.
"A football takes a funn,
bounce" is q remark hearC
countless times every fall. Il
was zuppke who said Il FIRST.
Another time he said: SON,
backs run very fast on on,
spot"
Born in Berlin. Germany. ant
reared In Milwaukee. Zuppki
spent 30 years coaching foot
ball at the University Of Illinois
His teams won seven Western
Conferences tBig Ten) cham
pionships. Besides the immor'
tai Grange. who earned hi
nickneme when he scored nv
touchdowns against Michigan
in 1924. other zuppke pupil
included Harpld pogue, Pots,
Clark. Burt fngwersen. Chucl
Carney and George Halas. VIII,
went on to become founder
coach and owner Of the Chicag,
Bears.
Only Part Of the Story
Rich as his football life was
II was only a part OF the Zuppkl
story. His OH, paintings havi
commanded big prices and 1t Il
in2fthe world OF art that the
rich. rugged character Of the
man come forth.
Il am a lover OF nature thai
hasn't been monkeyed with,
Artist Zuppke told his critic.
in explaining the realistic touch
he used in stroking out natures
wild. rugged scenes.
Some critics tell me m,
technique Is too brutal some.
times" he said. especial,
when I do forests. And yet
try to paint them as they are
What they mean is that my
efforts are not brutal. buI
vigorous The trouble is thai
some artists paint parks anc
call them forests.
II go hunting In the Rockies
In Colorado. The trees scratch
me. scrape me: their roots trir
me. they get in my way. Yet
/ am expected to come bach
and paint park scene"
Suffered Stroke At 76s
And although q small man
he was Just as rugged as ths
landscapes he painted. II
1855. at the age Of rs. he suf.
fered a severe stroke. Only one
visitor. his housekeeper for 2:
years. was allowed. Yet OF
Christmas eve. eight days after
being admitted to the hospital
zuppke walked out in what hi,
doctors described as excellent
condition"
/ Nine months later. after be.
ing a widower for 20 years. HI
married the housekeeper. Rich
ard Reichie. an end on Zuppke,
1919 team at Illinois and late
a major league outfielder. wal
best man.
Zuppke was born In Berlin OF
July 2. 1879. but the following
year his family moved TO thi
country and settled in Milwau
kee. He first exhibited his ar'
tistic talents while goins Il
Milwaukee Normal School ant
was picked to draw sketches 70
the yearbook.
Three Big Ten Offers
He attended the University o
Wisconsin. which he entered il
1902. but failed to win q letteI
in football. He did win one II
baseball. After a year in New
York. he returned to the Mid
west as history teacher ant
and football coach at Muskegol
tMich.) High. a dual position
he retained for four years. HI
then transferred to Chicago
Oak Park High School. whicl
during his tenure there had tn
famed writer. Ernest Heming
way. among its students.
II was at Oak Park tina
Zuppke's coaching genius bios
somed, attracting offers from