Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-24
SPOTLIGHT
SPORTS
inns Goal Was So Close
BY MERRELL WHITTLESEY

ship" Jim Tatum said in a hoarse voice last September
during the sports writer's tour of the Atlantic
Coast Conference. He trying to spike of the
optimism surrounding his 1858 North Carolina football
team but he wasn't too successful because the wshfu
thinkers positive Big Jim ready to make his
But Big Jim right, as usual. The Tar Heels lost
their first two and fooled Tatum by winning their
next six But, like he Said they year away from
launching complete ship They lost to Notre Dame and
Duke and the Sugar Bowl bid they had been anticipating
went to Clemson
Now the ship is without captain. Big Jim died last
night crushing, shocking, almost unbelievable blow
The Tar Heels must go on without him.
Tatum cherished the opening assignment against
ClemSonS Sugar Bowl team but that only the appe-
tzer. Next to be Notre Dame and this was to be
North Cardinals best opportunity to beat the Irish Now
the boys Tatum recruited and the assistants he hand
picked must launch the ship but the complete ship
because there's Tatum at the helm.
TATUMS FATAL ILLNESS hit with such shocking
suddenness that it makes ashamed of the manner
which Jim's previous Illnesses were treated
In early September of 1858 he called Maryland Trainer
Duke Wyre in the early morning hours and in the familiar
manner in which be beloved "D-u-u-u-uke" when
body hurt the practice field, he implored Wyre
to come to his house in hurry and bring doctor.
Tatum had gallstones and rushed to University
Hospital in Baltimore several days persuaded his
doctors to permit him to watch films of the preceding days
practice After viewing the films in considerable PAIN he
would dictate the practice schedule for the following day.
He his feet for the opening game with Missouri
at Columbia On arrival in ST. Louis Big Jim ordered
ambulance to take him the 7Ome trip the made
by bus. 1t was looked on a joke
Last fall, Jim had scare and he was warned
by his doctors not to strain his voice. He'd start his
conversations in whisper, telling of his Tar Heels and
apoogzng for being brief But persuaded by those who
be1ttled his throat aimen he would 60 and There
was speculation to who would be his if he
forced by illness to retire However, Tatum made
opening game with N c. State, and it Big Jim who
made the long walk to mdfeld to congratulate Earle
Edwards for beating him for the third straight year.
OF THE MANY MEMORIES have covering Tatum's
teams the most unforgettable Syracuse 1885,
when Maryland beat Jimmy Brown and the Orange 34-3.
That summer, Fred Lee, Maryland halfback cand-
date was killed in an auto accident in West Virginia.
Fred father attended the Syracuse game he visited
the Maryland dressing
The players quickly decided the winning game ball
should go to Mr. Lee but tough guys like Bob Peegrni
and Ed Vereb were not to making the presentation
So Tatum took the ball to Mr.. Lee. However, he
couldn't find words Big Jim often had said what fine
boy Fred was, besides being good football player. Tatum
Started to hand the ball Lee and explain the sig
hcance but instead he grabbed father Rugged
him. and they both cried like babies. There wasn't word
spoken in the winning teams dressing The players
stood in their nakedness and wept tears sreamed down
IatumS cheeks. 1t was unforgettabe moment
TATUM WAS WONDERFUL travelling companion
One of his idoSyncraSieS that detested taking
cab from airport in city which he visited He'd
spend three four times the fare in phone calls
lining up somebody to meet him in Greensboro Durham
Charlotte, Atlanta Miami.
And he loved to have breakfast in bed. That was
great luxury which he shared with Others newSpapemen
assistant coaches his athletic director, prominent
alumni Jim would order enough breakfast for DIVISION
all OF the morning and would parade around the
room in his pajamaS outlining the days strategy
But some of the finest meals enjoyed in Tatum'S
company the informal lunches during the football
season before Maryland became budget conscious under
the regime
The coaching staff would remain in continuous session
in the old Byrd Stadium Offices huge sandwiches pies
and coffee would be sent from the dining When
assistants left for their prepracce duties Taum would
put his feet on his desk and rambe for hour tw
all off the record.
Then he'd to his cot built in old shower stall,
for 45-minute nap. 1t like yesterday he'd be
awakened by his wrst-watch ALARM change to his old
baseball suit which he to football practice start
blowing his whistle he emerged from the stadium
locker room.
It's tragic, Sorrowful awakening to realize that Big
Jim never will blow that whistle again.
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