Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-27

Kuhurich Leaves
Eggheods Behind
By MORRIS SIEGEL

JOE KUHARICH is watching more football than ever
this but he is enjoying less For the first time
since he left Notre Dame player almost Is years
except for the war years, Joe is only spectator.
In his new job supervisor Of officials for the
National Football League, Kuharch gets paid only to
games not to coach team. He finds it something less
than exciting but he says bravely he will learn to
adjust.
He knows he's kidding himself II have mixed emo
tions he hedges in that squeaky voice which became
familiar to Washington TV fans when he alibied Red
skin losses season with weekly reminder that ION
any given Sunday any team in the NIL is capable Of
beating another"
Today, as kind of touring parole officer for Pete
Rozelle, Kuharich doesn't have to listen to the
plants of alumni fans He misses it more than he
permits himself to say
HIS LAST ASSIGNMENT of course, was at Notre Dame,
where he for four after leaving the Red
skins He quit last spring The formal announcement said
Kuharich left voluntarily
Technically it the truth Actually, his departure
forced him. not by school authorities, who seemed
indifferent to fouryear log Of only II victories, but by
Notre Danes football attitude"
The new attitude" as Kuharich puts It, doesn't de-
emphasize football 1t simply emphasizes academies which
is almost the thing when in school and even
later" he said in Cleveland recently football was vital
part of student life at Notre Dame.
Everybody, especially the faculty. talked 1t all the
time used to boast had the best Latin courses the
best chemistry school, the best English profs and the best
football team"
Football doesn't get much Of a call these days the
Irish in concert with many other institutions have
adopted silly notion that education also Is some
what important.
FROM A COACH'S standpoint Joe's complaints seem
justified The Irish always play a man-eatng schedule
but they longer playing 1t with men, Kuharich
makes sound If the squad he left for Hugh Devore
is comprised mostly of long-h and eggheads.
However they found 1t difficult to crack Notre
Danes tough requirements Its unfair in
the sense that we play against schools whose academic
standards lower than yet we are asked to COM
pete on even terms against them" he protests
A high school senior seeking entrance to Notre Dame
today have studied at least language and also
mastered rigonomety Kuhach indicates 1t is possible
to find haback who studied both In high school, but
few linemen
Kuharich maintained long ago that 1t is what's up
front that counts 1t tough enough to find competent
nemen under any conditions he insists but to find
with extra brain power is next to impossible. They
ainy aren't available in the large economy packages the
Irish need TO play their head-bangng schedule.
JOE sAvoLDI couldn't get into school today" Ku-
harich said somewhat shocked al the thought Of
any institution denying the great ullback chance to
further his grdiron education
Even in Savodis days there we're eyebrows raised
when he made 1t at Notre Dame though the South
Bend Irish considerably less lace curtain then than
Kuharich says they now.
Another factor initiating against any imminent re-
turn to glory for Notre Dame Kuharich contends is
more mature youngster, one who is doing lot Of his
own thinking these days
In the old days practically every Irish Catholic high
school footbaer in the country had eyes only for Nore
Dame. And those that didn't" Kuharch said, "were
ordered to by their parents Today youngsters speak for
themselves more They go where they want not neces-
sary where the old thinks his boy should attend"
After four frutess seasons Of head-bucking, Ku-
harich pulled out TO take the mental Job Of watching
referees head inesmen and back judges 1t time to
quit Notre Dame, he reasoned when the faculty with
It's approach 10 academic standards giving the
football coach almost bad time the Irish opponents