Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-15
WIN, LOSE OR
tDRAW >, FRANCIS ,rAus
By FRANCIS sTANN
II Suddenly Occurs .


caly College Station that people suddenly to
remember things and dear to them Eddie Erdeatz
for instance expresses "a great feeling for the Navy
its officers the mdshipmen and members Of the football
team and my many pleasures in association with them
Mr. Erdelaz just happened 70 be passing by College
Station, Texas, where job head football coach and
athletic director happens to be open at Texas AIM He
had been preceded by several other gentlemen Of prom
nence to whom this vista of Texas exposed and like
all the rest Erdeatz declined.
Frank Leahy already had bowed out His physician,
reported discovered that Leahys ulcers wouldn't
stand the wear and tear.
Duffy Daughery had his crack at the job too survey
ing 1t rsthand He suddenly remembered how wonderful
people at Michigan State had been TO him.
1888
WHEN 1T CAME to Red Sanders turn, it occurred to
that inimitabe gentleman that California has certain
virtues Jim Myers who also seemed to have the job in
his pocket promptly recalled that pleasant back at
Iowa State The held true for Jack curce Of Utah,
repeatedly heading to Stanford
Despite Erdelatz' decision 1t shouldn't be assumed that
his happiness at Annapolis necessarily is complete On
the Severn Erdelaz simply the football coach nothing
There is athletic director him, invariably
officer just back from and It's great secret that
Erdeatz has been ranked about chain-of-command
restrictions.
The big reason why coaches like Daugherty and Erde
atz turned down the Texas job could mean that AIM is
running mite short talent The Agges have lost John
Crow and Charles Kruger which about the nucleus OF
team and assumption could be that AIM is making
few provisions for rebuilding.
This would thwart such as Paul Bryant who left to
return to Alabama; Daughery Erdeatz Leahy and the
rest you don't get the football players, you can't make
out to be much coach
JUST HOW WELL ERDELATZ gets along with the
brass at the Naval Academy coniectura but follows
that Eddie and three Of his assstants-Steve Bechck
Wayne Hardin and Ernie Jorgeiut didn't get aboard
airner and land at College Station by accident They
had to be shopping
Whatever financial and cultural advantages the Texans
may have had TO offer may have been Offset by the fact
that back on the ranch at Annapolis there is flock OF
pretty good football players True Navy lost Of its
fine rst-srngers but the attrton not abnormal and
there are moving up talented young from the
Nos and squads plus the plebes 1t is time for
coach to be leaving the Naval Academy.
The Annapolis Evening Capital editoralizing on Its
first against coaches who break contracts wyny
bad good Erdelaz had four years to 60 on
his pact with Navy but Eddie hasn't been the only coach
to be tempted to jump his contract Bryant has been
doing regularly Jim Tatum here-oday
coach The woods are full Of contract is q
piece Of paper. !
THE BLAME HOWEVER. must fan in large part on
the shoulders of college presidents who wink raidng
parties. If they condone such goings-on they must in
turn suffer the penalty Of finding themselves coachless
from time to time.
Erdeatz could have jumped Annapolis three years
ago. In fact he almost did The Los Angeles Rams wanted
him. California Eddies home State He has roots there
Besides he had been pro- an assistant coach for the
San Francisco Forty-Niners.
Erdeatz threat at that time made This trip to
Texas different story. The has roots in Texas
In fact he never set foot in College in his life until
the other day.
Then. so a faculty member at Texas Ann would have
believe EddeS visit complete surprise. No KID
ding DR.. c. H. Groneman chairman Of the AIM Athletic
Council went on record saying that Erdeatz visit
news to college officials"
1t is to wonder where DR.. Groneman has BEEN Or,
better perhaps to wonder where Dr. Groneman thinks
everybody else has been.