Evening star., 1960-01-22
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS STANN
The Three-Striper

COMMANDER OTTO GRAHAM UsCG, regarded the
three gold stripes his sleeve and said mean this
wouldn't trade these for coaching contract calling
for s5OOOO year Even slooOOO-not on two, three
year basis mean it,"
The Coast Guards football coach and even newer
athletic director hove into town yesterday address
Washington Chapter of the Coast Guard Academy
London Conn Aside from his uniform, the former star
quarterback Of the Cleveland his same old
candid self.
I'VE play small college football" Otto conceded "and
we don't get many natural athletes. But enjoy foot
ball had quite few chances to get into the bg-me
coaching rat It's not for me"
Otto in fact, disclosed that he received an offer from
og-tme outfit three days Il didn't listen"
he said People ask me- What you doing burying
yourself in New London? l don't know how to explain
except to say that I'm happy
+. GRAHAM VOWS THAT he never heard of the Coast
Guard Academy until he offered the football coach
ing job, along with his commission as three .strper
But it's wonderful" Otto insisted. I'VE had only 40
varsity candidates last fall and the local high school team
outWeghed my line 10 to Is pounds per But
Amherst, l4-12 and it great thrill as ever
got If we had played Amherst 100 games in row
we wouldn't win any Of EN- But that one"
For the first time, probably Otto disclosed some of
tne coegeS and pro clubs he might have coached Going
PACK before the appointment of Ara Parseghian (Hes
done great job Otto that he could have had tho
top job at his old school, Northwestern More recently he
was offered or sounded out by California Illinois, Florida
State and others.
I don't want to coach at big school, I've seen too
many coaches compromise themselves Let's face ibie
time football isn't SPORT it's big business If can't have
any fun in football and if my players can't then don't
want any part of it. There are plenty of others willing
to coach under a win-at-al-cost policy
1 enjoyed football as pro until 1855 when l quit
The reason retired that suddenly wasn't fun any
longer If had stayed in shape could be playing quar-
. terback for the Browns right now"
EVERY ONCE IN WHILE Otto slips out of New
London to expose himself briefly to the bright lights
such as attending Hall of Fame banquet in New York
or taking month in the summer to coach the College
A-Stars Otto has 500 record for All-Star head
coaching assignments and is looking forward to assem-
bling the Billy Cannons and Richie Lucases ct al August
After coaching the All-StarS and playing with the
pros for long do have adjust your philosophy
at New London?" Graham asked
Not at ALL" Otto said "It's all relative We don't
= have any Billy Cannons at New London but we're not
playing the Baltimore Colts either playing Norwich
and Wesleyan and Trinity schools like those AS l
said it's all relative"
An interviewer asked Graham what had been the
best bigcoege offer he'd received far paused
refectvely ITS hard to say" he replied. "One from
MdWeStern school called for $4,000 season for 10
#
. NOR HAVE THE NEW pros overlooked Graham He's
mad three offers from American Football League clubs One
he admits, was from the New York Tans who settled
for Sammy Baugh
1t was nice ofer-$25,000 year and a fve-year
contract Otto said but who wants to live in New York?
don't, I'm small-town kid, myself"
mat the American League is charged with not having
1ootoa as yet was factor in his refusal TO coach
pro team Otto declares The leagues bound to get
of the ground" he predicted They've got the money
and, Lord knows, there plenty of football players.
lhe All-America Conference got off the ground
oont E true 1t didn't last, but that few years
See WIN, LOSE OR DRAW, Page Al