Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-08
WIN LOSE OR
&DRAw !, FRANCE. Stan.
A Most Reliable Gouqe

III BELIEVE IdE MATURITY OF the 1OOtDdll prOpn-
cts, Oklahoma, Auburn Mississippi Ohio State and Loui-
sana State among the hottest favores in the annual
for the mythical national championship Presumably
the soohsayers basing their regulations mainly
material But what about the coaches?
Isn't it fact that Just about all those schools have for
resident geniuses the who have been at the
top in the coaching profession for number of years?
Bud Wilkinson of Oklahoma is like Eddie Arcaro in racing;
any time he goes to the post he's got hackers Johnny
vaught of Mississippi is like Willie Shoemaker, and so
forth.
The mystics don't stress the fact that they follow
closely coachs record but they always do And with
good reason this the solid ne the most reliable
gauge. The Wilknsons VaughtS, Woody Hayeses and
Ralph JordanS hardly ever have unSound teams
Especially Wilkinson, who the curtain is ready to
rise showing fabulous 99 winning percentage for IL
There plenty Of coaches with percentages in
of 700 but the Oklahoma master stands alone.
COACHING is SUPPOSED to be a hazardous profess
sion way life almost beret of security Yet skipping
the overnight wonders who have yet to field teams for as
many so games recent survey shows that the top
coaches in the land have been around for quite SPELL
Since he moved UP from being the late Jim Tatum's
assistant at Oklahoma, Wilkinson has won ia games,
lost 10 and tied in dozen seasons Three times the
Sooners national titles and stretch Wilkin-
sons boys posted atme collegiate record of AZ con-
secutive victories Sight Oklahoma thus must be
considered solid perennial pick
Second to wilkinson among the active coaches In
success is Ole Miss Vaught with 12year record OF
91286 Third Ohio States Hayes with S7-274 over Is
seasons Auburns Jordan stands No with 5624-3 Tor
eight years.
These and Others including Bobby Dodd of Georgia
Tech, Bob Blackman of Dartmouth Bill Murray OF Duke
Phil Dickens of Indiana, Paul Bryant of Alabama, have
far than they've lost but they can't touch
wilkinson For that matter who can? Knute Rocknes
own fabulous record l05-l2-5 at Notre Dame and
Frank LeahyS was 87-l1-9
HISTORIANS SAY ONE must go back to the turn Of
the century back to Gil Dobes days at the University OF
Washington, to find better coaching mark. From 1903
to 1915 Dobies teams went unbeaen for 81 games but
Oklahoma schedules have been attacked from time 10
time University of Washingtons in those days were
far suspect High school teams were some OF Dooie
victims.
Not many notably successful coaches anything
but rstcasS players themselves and wilkinson Vaught
and Hayes who may finish the top three although not
necessarily in that order exceptions. wilkinson
particularly, learned in his playing days at Min
nesoa how both halvesthe line and the backheld-ve
During his first two years at Minnesota under the
oerfectionist Bernie Berman Bud played guard In 1885,
his final season. wilkinson was switched to quarterback
and the field general during national championship
for the Gophers.
Vaught better than green hand at playing the
game himself. He won Al-Amerca honors in 1892 when
he captaned unbeaten Texas Christian team from left
guard Hayes? Well he got about much attention as
could be expected while playing for Denison.
AN oDDITY IN CONNECTION with Oklahoma during
WknSonS regime that few of the Sooners made good
in pro ranks, although this is logically explained Buds
teams always have been noted for speed and mobility.
Even average speed team like Maryland had trouble
lining up defense fast enough to keep up with the
tempo with which the Sooners off their plays.
Wilkinson's demand for speed in turn produced a
species of player too small for pro ranks although Sooners
big enough for college ball. their team record and
the fact that II of Buds boys All Amercas teght
interior linemen, Yeti proved.
remarkable sideght in connection with those
Oklahoma teams not only the fantastic low total of
10 defeats in IL but that eight the losses by
mn Tn Tn fart
since Buds first in 947 Oklahoma beaten by
a wider edge.
Texas nosed out the sooners last year. 154 In 1857
1858 and 1852 Nore Dame by TO, 1921 and 27-2l
In 1851 the Sooners bowed to Texas AIM l47 and Texas
81. In so it Kentucky, 10; Oklahoma T. and in 48
Santa Clara won 20-17.
&c. all in all, it follows you can't go wrong backing
Wilkinson.