Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The Heisman Trophy
BY JIMMIE McDOWELL
NEW YORK NEW YORK----The 76th Annual Heisman Trophy Dinner was again a truly great Awards Dinner. I have attended 48 Heisman Dinners and enjoy serving as the Heisman's Southern Regional Representative covering seven states.
Rusy Riska, who retired as the Heisman's Executive Director, has attended 49 of these dinners and was looking forward to his 50th this year but health problems kept him from being there. He was missed by every one privileged to have known him.
Auburn's great field general Cameron Newton, 6-6 and 260, was the runaway choice for the Heisman. He is only a junior, but is expected to forego his senior year and declare his desire to turn pro. I asked Cam if Ole Miss has ever expressed interest in him and he said he heard from Ole Miss when he was in high school. He enrolled at the University of Florida where the competition was Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman. He said he was not really interested in Ole Miss because the Rebels had Jevan Snead, who was supposed to have been back for two more seasons but chose to forego his final year and make himself available for the draft.
He thought he might go in an early round but was shocked when he was overlooked by every pro team. Tampa finally signed him as a free agent but cut him twice.
Mississippi State was interested in Cameron because Dan Mullen, the Florida offensive coordinator, got the State job. Cam was a Junior College star in Texas after leaving Florida.
Newton led Auburn to a perfect season and the invitation to play also unbeaten Oregon in the championship game in January.
Oregon is the school which played Doak Walker and Kyle Rote and SMU in the Cotton Bowl with once beaten Ole Miss staying home after shellacking Mississippi State in the Golden Egg battle with fearless Farley Salmon calling the shots after Charlie Conerly's departure.
Cam's Mother was in New York and danced with her son at the Heisman's Dinner Dance on Sunday after being named the Heisman winner on Saturday evening.
William Dockery, president of the Heisman Trust, presented the Award on national TV. Bill is tall but had to look up to the Auburn field general in making the presentation. He challenged Cam to come back for his final year and join Archie Griffin as the only two time Heisman winner.
Newton is Auburn's third Heisman winner following Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson, who were both there to congratulate Cameron. The three other finalists were Andrew Luck of Stanford, Darron Thomas of Oregon, and Kellen Moore of Boise State. who all can return next year. Luck is expected to turn pro.
Last year's winner Mark Ingram was not a contender. I told one and all last year that Ingram was the second best running back the University of Alabama ever had. Some asked who was better? FORREST GUMP, I replied.
Enjoyed seeing my son Michael and my grandson Joshua while in New York. Mike is the senior Director of Cultural Affairs for Los Angeles and the President of the Los Angeles Stage Alliance. Joshua is a New York Designer. Along with pal Skip Slon we enjoyed dinner at one of my favorite New York Restaurants Neary's Pub where Ireland born Jimmy Neary presides. His lovely daughter Una lends a helping hand on weekends after her top job in the Financial world during the week. Jimmy and Una were guests at a Notre Dame game this fall. They are regulars at the New York Giants home games in the Jersey Meadowlands new stadium.
Paul Hornung, Johnny Lattner, Hop Cassady, Steve Spurrier, John David Crow, Jim Plunkett.Johnny Rodgers. Archie Griffin,Joe Bellino, Pete Dawkins, Tony Dorsett,George Rogers,Doug Flutie,Ty Dettmer were also on hand.
Spurrier nearly attended Ole Miss before going to Florida. His Father, a minister, wound up getting a church in Florida after Steve grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee. Years later I asked Ole Miss Coach Johnny Vaught could he had not gotten some good North Mississippi preacher to retire so Rev. Sputtier could have gotten a Church in or near Oxford. Vaught said he would have never done anything like that.
Vaught also lost Lance Alworth to Arkansas when he refused to recruit married players. He changed that rule after losing Alworth, who is in the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Heisman Dinner and the American Football Coaches Association had their banquets the same night in New York City.
Rob Whalen and Tim Henning , carrying on in the tradition of Rudy Riska, are to be commended for another job well done.,
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NEW YORK NEW YORK----The 76th Annual Heisman Trophy Dinner was again a truly great Awards Dinner. I have attended 48 Heisman Dinners and enjoy serving as the Heisman's Southern Regional Representative covering seven states.
Rusy Riska, who retired as the Heisman's Executive Director, has attended 49 of these dinners and was looking forward to his 50th this year but health problems kept him from being there. He was missed by every one privileged to have known him.
Auburn's great field general Cameron Newton, 6-6 and 260, was the runaway choice for the Heisman. He is only a junior, but is expected to forego his senior year and declare his desire to turn pro. I asked Cam if Ole Miss has ever expressed interest in him and he said he heard from Ole Miss when he was in high school. He enrolled at the University of Florida where the competition was Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman. He said he was not really interested in Ole Miss because the Rebels had Jevan Snead, who was supposed to have been back for two more seasons but chose to forego his final year and make himself available for the draft.
He thought he might go in an early round but was shocked when he was overlooked by every pro team. Tampa finally signed him as a free agent but cut him twice.
Mississippi State was interested in Cameron because Dan Mullen, the Florida offensive coordinator, got the State job. Cam was a Junior College star in Texas after leaving Florida.
Newton led Auburn to a perfect season and the invitation to play also unbeaten Oregon in the championship game in January.
Oregon is the school which played Doak Walker and Kyle Rote and SMU in the Cotton Bowl with once beaten Ole Miss staying home after shellacking Mississippi State in the Golden Egg battle with fearless Farley Salmon calling the shots after Charlie Conerly's departure.
Cam's Mother was in New York and danced with her son at the Heisman's Dinner Dance on Sunday after being named the Heisman winner on Saturday evening.
William Dockery, president of the Heisman Trust, presented the Award on national TV. Bill is tall but had to look up to the Auburn field general in making the presentation. He challenged Cam to come back for his final year and join Archie Griffin as the only two time Heisman winner.
Newton is Auburn's third Heisman winner following Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson, who were both there to congratulate Cameron. The three other finalists were Andrew Luck of Stanford, Darron Thomas of Oregon, and Kellen Moore of Boise State. who all can return next year. Luck is expected to turn pro.
Last year's winner Mark Ingram was not a contender. I told one and all last year that Ingram was the second best running back the University of Alabama ever had. Some asked who was better? FORREST GUMP, I replied.
Enjoyed seeing my son Michael and my grandson Joshua while in New York. Mike is the senior Director of Cultural Affairs for Los Angeles and the President of the Los Angeles Stage Alliance. Joshua is a New York Designer. Along with pal Skip Slon we enjoyed dinner at one of my favorite New York Restaurants Neary's Pub where Ireland born Jimmy Neary presides. His lovely daughter Una lends a helping hand on weekends after her top job in the Financial world during the week. Jimmy and Una were guests at a Notre Dame game this fall. They are regulars at the New York Giants home games in the Jersey Meadowlands new stadium.
Paul Hornung, Johnny Lattner, Hop Cassady, Steve Spurrier, John David Crow, Jim Plunkett.Johnny Rodgers. Archie Griffin,Joe Bellino, Pete Dawkins, Tony Dorsett,George Rogers,Doug Flutie,Ty Dettmer were also on hand.
Spurrier nearly attended Ole Miss before going to Florida. His Father, a minister, wound up getting a church in Florida after Steve grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee. Years later I asked Ole Miss Coach Johnny Vaught could he had not gotten some good North Mississippi preacher to retire so Rev. Sputtier could have gotten a Church in or near Oxford. Vaught said he would have never done anything like that.
Vaught also lost Lance Alworth to Arkansas when he refused to recruit married players. He changed that rule after losing Alworth, who is in the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Heisman Dinner and the American Football Coaches Association had their banquets the same night in New York City.
Rob Whalen and Tim Henning , carrying on in the tradition of Rudy Riska, are to be commended for another job well done.,
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Sunday, August 22, 2010
The New Football Season
2010 will be another great college football season. I covered my first SEC teams in 1946 and still recall the LSU-Ole Miss game when Y. A.Tittle led the Bayou Bengal Tigers over Ole Miss despite Charlie Conerly's sterling performance offsensively and defensively. Playing Safety Conerly made tackles at the line of scrimmage. It was a preview of what would happen the following season when John Howard Vaught succeeded Red Drew as head coach of the Rebels and the Red and Blue prevailed, 20-18, with Conerly making a major bid for All American recognition. Since he had served his country in World War II in the Marine Corps in the South Pacific he could have accepted a pro offer but Vaught convinced him to come back and it was the best thing Chunkin'Conerly could have done. He was also a standout baseball player and the New York Giants had to give him a good offer to keep him from taking the diamond offer. Conerly had just been honored in the Marine Corps Football Hall in Quantico,Va and his lovely bride Perian was on hand to accept her late husband's award. Conerly long ago was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame,but at this writing still has not been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame,a glaring mistake. The New York Times' Dave Anderson wrote long ago that this was a glaring omission. The Veterans Committee meet this week to select the new Veteran honorees. Conerly was great in THE GAME when Baltimore beat the Giants in over time. The Giants were leading in the fourth quarter. The Writers picked Conerly as the MVP only to see the Colts kick a field goal to tie the game. John Unitas led Baltimore to victory. The writers voted again and picked Unitas as the MVP John has long been in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hopefully the Veterans Committee will double checked Charflie's credentials and give him the recognition he has long deserved.
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Regarding the upcoming College Football Season if Jeremiah Misoli was a Heisman candidate after leading Oregon to the Rose Bowl why should he not be a Heisman candidate in his senior season at Ole Miss? Jevan Snead made a big mistake going pro and not coming back for his last year. Snead was not even drafted and was finally signed by Tampa as a free agent, then cut. Hopefully someone will pick him up.
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Regarding the upcoming College Football Season if Jeremiah Misoli was a Heisman candidate after leading Oregon to the Rose Bowl why should he not be a Heisman candidate in his senior season at Ole Miss? Jevan Snead made a big mistake going pro and not coming back for his last year. Snead was not even drafted and was finally signed by Tampa as a free agent, then cut. Hopefully someone will pick him up.
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Friday, December 18, 2009
December in NewYork
By Jimmie McDowell
New York-----Returning to the Great White Way in December is always a treat, attending the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Dinner and the Heisman Trophy Dinner, which I have done since 1962. This time was extra special with this being the 50th Anniversary of the NFFHF Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria and the 75th Heisman Trophy Banquet at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
In between I attended the Army-Navy Gala in Philadelphia and visited the Princeton, Trenton,and Lawrenceville, New Jersey area where I voted for 30 years before returning to Mississippi.
The Foundation Dinner drew a capacity crowd honoring another outstanding group of players and coaches as well as some top citizens, Scholar-Athletes,and football officials and the like. Phil Knight was the Gold Medal recipient along with his deceased partner and fellow Oregonian Bill Bowerman, who founded Nike.
Mississippian Archie Manning is the current chairman of the National Football Foundation and along with Steve Hatchell, the President and CEO, provide excellent leadership for the organization which I served for 27 years plus three more years as a Consultant.
The NFFHF is the beneficiary of my $100,000 Life Insurance policy in appreciation of being given the opportunity to serve this national organization which I first joined as a member while being the Sports Editor of the Jackson Ms. State Times. I helped launch the Foundation's first Mississippi chapter. When the Times was sold to the rival Clarion-Ledger and closed I was invited to become the Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton New Jersey Times, covering the Yankees, Mets, and Phillies in Baseball, the Giants, Eagles, Army,Navy, Penn State and the Ivy League in Football.
I was the Secretary-Treasuries of the Football Writers Association of New York for 25 years and have been a member of the Football Writers Association of America since 1948, I knew all of the Heisman Trophy recipients and enjoy being in their company each year. I am the Heisman's Southern Regional Representative and always enjoy this great dinner.
The South has produced two of the last three Heisman Winners. Alabama's super sophomore Mark Ingram was this year's recipient. He will cross swords with Texas Quarterback Colt McCoy in the national championship game in Pasadena. McCoy was runnerup last year to Oklahoma's Sam Bradford who was hurt early in the season, depriving him of the opportunity of joining Ohio State's Archie Griffin as the only two time Heisman recipient.
Florida's Tim Tebow won the Heisman as a sophomore and the voters obviously waited until the SEC Champiohship game before casting their 2009 ballot. Tim finished fifth this time around.
Dick Kazmaier of Princeton was the senior member in attendance this year. Kaz was a triple threat for Old Nassau. Notre Dame's Johnny Lujack, with Doc Blanchard gone, is niow the oldest living Heisman winner. In the famous 1946 Irish-Army battle Doc, a legendary fighter pilot in Korea and Viet Nam, broke clear and was headed for the end zone when he was tackled by Lujack. Years later, Doc told Lujack he scared the hell out of him. " I did" ? John said. Doc replied: "Yes,I thought I had killed you".
Billy Cannon of LSU was the 50th Heisman Anniversary Honoree. Boston College's Doug Flutie was the Silver Anniversary Honoree. I covered Cannon including his 89 yard run to beat Ole Miss 7-3 and the Sugar Bowl rematch won by Ole Miss 21-0.
I also covered Flutie, the Classic Big little Man.
Ron Dayne of Wisconsin was honored as the 10 year Heisman recipient.
Bill Dockery is Chairman of the Heisman Trust. Rob Whelan is the Director carrying on the fine work of Rudy Riska who looks forward to his 5oth Heisman Dinner in 2010. Johnny Lattner is still the best Heisman Dancer. The Notre Damer usually moons the crowd at the Sunday dinner. General Peter Dawkins represented the Brave Old Army Team. Like Genral Dwight D Eisenhower he would have made a great President of the United States.
John David Crow was back again. While at Southern Miss as Director of Public Relations we were proud of End Coach-Recruiter H. A. Smith asking John David how he would like a new Olds 88 to come to Southern? Johh David said thanks but no thanks Bear Bryant had already promised him a 98 if he came to Texas A & M.
---30----
New York-----Returning to the Great White Way in December is always a treat, attending the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Dinner and the Heisman Trophy Dinner, which I have done since 1962. This time was extra special with this being the 50th Anniversary of the NFFHF Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria and the 75th Heisman Trophy Banquet at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
In between I attended the Army-Navy Gala in Philadelphia and visited the Princeton, Trenton,and Lawrenceville, New Jersey area where I voted for 30 years before returning to Mississippi.
The Foundation Dinner drew a capacity crowd honoring another outstanding group of players and coaches as well as some top citizens, Scholar-Athletes,and football officials and the like. Phil Knight was the Gold Medal recipient along with his deceased partner and fellow Oregonian Bill Bowerman, who founded Nike.
Mississippian Archie Manning is the current chairman of the National Football Foundation and along with Steve Hatchell, the President and CEO, provide excellent leadership for the organization which I served for 27 years plus three more years as a Consultant.
The NFFHF is the beneficiary of my $100,000 Life Insurance policy in appreciation of being given the opportunity to serve this national organization which I first joined as a member while being the Sports Editor of the Jackson Ms. State Times. I helped launch the Foundation's first Mississippi chapter. When the Times was sold to the rival Clarion-Ledger and closed I was invited to become the Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton New Jersey Times, covering the Yankees, Mets, and Phillies in Baseball, the Giants, Eagles, Army,Navy, Penn State and the Ivy League in Football.
I was the Secretary-Treasuries of the Football Writers Association of New York for 25 years and have been a member of the Football Writers Association of America since 1948, I knew all of the Heisman Trophy recipients and enjoy being in their company each year. I am the Heisman's Southern Regional Representative and always enjoy this great dinner.
The South has produced two of the last three Heisman Winners. Alabama's super sophomore Mark Ingram was this year's recipient. He will cross swords with Texas Quarterback Colt McCoy in the national championship game in Pasadena. McCoy was runnerup last year to Oklahoma's Sam Bradford who was hurt early in the season, depriving him of the opportunity of joining Ohio State's Archie Griffin as the only two time Heisman recipient.
Florida's Tim Tebow won the Heisman as a sophomore and the voters obviously waited until the SEC Champiohship game before casting their 2009 ballot. Tim finished fifth this time around.
Dick Kazmaier of Princeton was the senior member in attendance this year. Kaz was a triple threat for Old Nassau. Notre Dame's Johnny Lujack, with Doc Blanchard gone, is niow the oldest living Heisman winner. In the famous 1946 Irish-Army battle Doc, a legendary fighter pilot in Korea and Viet Nam, broke clear and was headed for the end zone when he was tackled by Lujack. Years later, Doc told Lujack he scared the hell out of him. " I did" ? John said. Doc replied: "Yes,I thought I had killed you".
Billy Cannon of LSU was the 50th Heisman Anniversary Honoree. Boston College's Doug Flutie was the Silver Anniversary Honoree. I covered Cannon including his 89 yard run to beat Ole Miss 7-3 and the Sugar Bowl rematch won by Ole Miss 21-0.
I also covered Flutie, the Classic Big little Man.
Ron Dayne of Wisconsin was honored as the 10 year Heisman recipient.
Bill Dockery is Chairman of the Heisman Trust. Rob Whelan is the Director carrying on the fine work of Rudy Riska who looks forward to his 5oth Heisman Dinner in 2010. Johnny Lattner is still the best Heisman Dancer. The Notre Damer usually moons the crowd at the Sunday dinner. General Peter Dawkins represented the Brave Old Army Team. Like Genral Dwight D Eisenhower he would have made a great President of the United States.
John David Crow was back again. While at Southern Miss as Director of Public Relations we were proud of End Coach-Recruiter H. A. Smith asking John David how he would like a new Olds 88 to come to Southern? Johh David said thanks but no thanks Bear Bryant had already promised him a 98 if he came to Texas A & M.
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Sunday, December 6, 2009
College Football Showdown
December is a special time for this writer. The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria, followed by the Army-Navy festvties and the game as well in Philadelphia, and then back to New York for the Heisman Trophy festivities, which I have attended since 1962.
Billy Cannon and Doug Flutie are the Golden and Silver Anniversary Heisman honorees. As a sports writer I covered both of these grid greats.
Ole Miss can rebound from its embarassing loss to Mississippi State in a Bowl game. I called the Cotton Bowl and recommended that Ole Miss be invited back, giving the University an opportunity to be the team to have played the last game in the old Cotton Bowl stadium and the team to play the next year in the new stadium.
Playing in a Bowl fame also give a team an chance to have a second spring training to practice. Notre Dame made a mistake in taking itself out of the Bowl picture. The next Notre Dame coach could have used this time to get acquainted with his returning Fighting Irish players if ND was playing in a Bowl game,
Mississippi State's win over Ole Miss will help the Maroons in the recruiting war. Georgia's victory over Georgia Tech was just as big as the Maroons' conquest over the Johnny Rebs.
Alabama could only score one TD over Ole Miss, but employed its exceptional field goal kicking to run up the score. Against Florida the Crimson Tide was a clear cut winner over defending national champion Florida and now plays the Texas Longhorns for the national title in Pasadena's Rose Bowl Stadium, where Bear Bryant played with Don Hutson and Dixie Howell
Howell got a movie role invitiation. Hollywood missed a chance to get a pal for John Wayne if they had hired Paul Bryant to play in a Western movie.
Officiating hopefully will be better in the Bowl games. Years ago when P.W. Underwood was Southern Mississippi's head coach the Golden Eagles were playing a SEC Team. SEC officials were working the game. Butch Lambert Sr. was one of t he officials. They came over to greet Underwood telling him they were looking forwdard to working the game. Underwood had this to say: Are you going to kiss me now? I know what you are going to do later."
Underwood was Southern's head coach in 1970 wen the national ranked Rebels featuring Archie Manning were shocked by the Eagles.Four of P.W.'s largest players picked him up all 300 pounds and carried him olur ton the field to exchange handshakes with Johnny Vaught. They dropped him. Vaught said P.W. should not expect two miracles the same day. The next day Vaught had chest pains and had to go to the hospital. He was finished as a coach the rest of the season. He made a dramatic comeback a couple of years later after Billy Kinard was fired after the third game of the season. Kinard lost his star quarterback Norris Weese in the first game of the season against Villanova in Jackson.
A Bowl game column will follow on my return from New York and my 47th Heisman Dinner.
--30=----
Billy Cannon and Doug Flutie are the Golden and Silver Anniversary Heisman honorees. As a sports writer I covered both of these grid greats.
Ole Miss can rebound from its embarassing loss to Mississippi State in a Bowl game. I called the Cotton Bowl and recommended that Ole Miss be invited back, giving the University an opportunity to be the team to have played the last game in the old Cotton Bowl stadium and the team to play the next year in the new stadium.
Playing in a Bowl fame also give a team an chance to have a second spring training to practice. Notre Dame made a mistake in taking itself out of the Bowl picture. The next Notre Dame coach could have used this time to get acquainted with his returning Fighting Irish players if ND was playing in a Bowl game,
Mississippi State's win over Ole Miss will help the Maroons in the recruiting war. Georgia's victory over Georgia Tech was just as big as the Maroons' conquest over the Johnny Rebs.
Alabama could only score one TD over Ole Miss, but employed its exceptional field goal kicking to run up the score. Against Florida the Crimson Tide was a clear cut winner over defending national champion Florida and now plays the Texas Longhorns for the national title in Pasadena's Rose Bowl Stadium, where Bear Bryant played with Don Hutson and Dixie Howell
Howell got a movie role invitiation. Hollywood missed a chance to get a pal for John Wayne if they had hired Paul Bryant to play in a Western movie.
Officiating hopefully will be better in the Bowl games. Years ago when P.W. Underwood was Southern Mississippi's head coach the Golden Eagles were playing a SEC Team. SEC officials were working the game. Butch Lambert Sr. was one of t he officials. They came over to greet Underwood telling him they were looking forwdard to working the game. Underwood had this to say: Are you going to kiss me now? I know what you are going to do later."
Underwood was Southern's head coach in 1970 wen the national ranked Rebels featuring Archie Manning were shocked by the Eagles.Four of P.W.'s largest players picked him up all 300 pounds and carried him olur ton the field to exchange handshakes with Johnny Vaught. They dropped him. Vaught said P.W. should not expect two miracles the same day. The next day Vaught had chest pains and had to go to the hospital. He was finished as a coach the rest of the season. He made a dramatic comeback a couple of years later after Billy Kinard was fired after the third game of the season. Kinard lost his star quarterback Norris Weese in the first game of the season against Villanova in Jackson.
A Bowl game column will follow on my return from New York and my 47th Heisman Dinner.
--30=----
Thursday, November 12, 2009
College Football Hall of Fame Dinner
December is a golden time of the year. Not only are Bowl games set but great Banquets are held. The National Football Foundation and Hall of Flame Banquet at the Waldorf Astoria is set December 8. Another excellent group of inductees will enter the hallowed Hall currently in South Bend but slated for Atlanta in 2010.
The NFF will also award scholarships to l6 top seniors for graduate study. This program was launched with Colonel Earl (Red) Blaik providing the income from his syndicated column, with the help of Stanley Woodward, famed New York Herald Tribune columnist. Another famed NY scribe Harold Rosenthal followed Stanley and it was our pleasure to succeed Harold. The predictions were Blaik"s.
Red Blaik, famed Dartmouth and Army coach, was one of the founders of the National Football Foundation. Arthur Evans of Syracuse had the original dream. He was followed as Executive Director by George Little or Rutgers and Harvey Harman, former Scarlet Knights coach, followed Little.
I followed Harvey after working with him as the Director of Public Relations and Administrator of Chapters. I also followed Harvey as Secretary of the Honors Court which selects the Hall of Famers. I was hired by Chester J. LaRoche, the former Yale football player and very successful New York advertising executive. Chet was followed as Chairman by Vincent dePaul Draddy, president of the David Crystal company. Draddy also teamed with Rene LaCoste in launching Izod is North, South, and Central America.
When Harman died Draddy promoted me to Executive Director, and I worked for Draddy until he passed away. Before he died the Board told him that the Best of he Best Scholar Athletes would carry his name with the creation of the Draddy Award. Earlier this year the current Board changed the name of the Trophy to the William Campbell Award. Campbell was the former Columbia coach who had joined the NFFHF Board.
When Campbell left coaching Draddy told him he should pursue a career in Business which he did and has been most successful.
Draddy's nephew Bill Draddy was outraged that this happened and protested strongly to the Current Board, which includes Draddy's lawyer George Weiss, a NFHF Vice Chairman.
Bill Pearce succeeded Draddy as Chairman. I recommended that Pearce of Coca Cola join the NFF Board. I also recommended Maxwell Club President Reds Bagnell as a Board member. After Draddy died, Pearce and Bagnell invited me to lunch in Princeton. At the luncheon they told me I should retire when I became 65 and become a consultant which I did.
In my second year as Consultant Pearce told me he wanted to honor me at a Waldorf Dinner., He later called to tell me that as the awards committee meeting started Weiss told Pearce they needed him to sign some papers in the office. While Pearce was absent Awards Chairman Bob Mulcahy, who was fired as Rutgers Athletic Director a few months ago, recommended NACDA'S Mike Cleary for the Contribution to Football Award and Mike was chosen. He is a good man, most deserving and 10 years younger that Mississippi Red.
Pearce and Bagnell, as Casey Stengel would say, are deceased at the present time,
I still have my Golden Tiffany clock for 27 years old dedicated service to the NFFHF, presented at a luncheon.
After Pearce died Jon Hansen, who I also recommended to Draddy as a Hoard member told me my Consultant Agreement would not be renewed. Hansen later received the Gold Medal, the Foundation's highest honor.
Archie Manning, the Ole Miss All-American, is the current Chairman of the Naztionalk Football Foundation. When Archie was inducted in the Hall of Fame I recommended to Draddy that Archie resond for the Inductees which he did,.
After the Hall of Fame Dinner, the Heisman Dinner and the American Football Coaches Dinner follows, the Heisman and the AFCA dinners are the same night Dec. 13
This year's Army-Navy game is a week later than usual , the second Saturday in December in Philadelphia. I have attended every Army-Navy game but one since 1962. I have attended every Heisman Dinner since 1962, every Maxwell Trophy Dinner since 1963. The Maxwell returns to Atlantic City in early March.
I was succeeded as Executive Director by former Princeton Coach Bob Casciola, whose title was changed to President after I launched the All-American Football foundation in 1964, Casciola was succeeded by currne President and CEO Steve Hatchell, a former Commissioner and Bowl Executive, who was honored by the All-American Football Foundation when he was President of the Rodeo Association who we have known for many years., I thought his selection was a good one.
Like Joe Paterno, our idol is Amos Allonzo Stagg who worked until he was 90.
Hugh Hefner is also a member of our Class of 1926. So was Marilyn Monroe, who unfortunately died when she was 36.
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The NFF will also award scholarships to l6 top seniors for graduate study. This program was launched with Colonel Earl (Red) Blaik providing the income from his syndicated column, with the help of Stanley Woodward, famed New York Herald Tribune columnist. Another famed NY scribe Harold Rosenthal followed Stanley and it was our pleasure to succeed Harold. The predictions were Blaik"s.
Red Blaik, famed Dartmouth and Army coach, was one of the founders of the National Football Foundation. Arthur Evans of Syracuse had the original dream. He was followed as Executive Director by George Little or Rutgers and Harvey Harman, former Scarlet Knights coach, followed Little.
I followed Harvey after working with him as the Director of Public Relations and Administrator of Chapters. I also followed Harvey as Secretary of the Honors Court which selects the Hall of Famers. I was hired by Chester J. LaRoche, the former Yale football player and very successful New York advertising executive. Chet was followed as Chairman by Vincent dePaul Draddy, president of the David Crystal company. Draddy also teamed with Rene LaCoste in launching Izod is North, South, and Central America.
When Harman died Draddy promoted me to Executive Director, and I worked for Draddy until he passed away. Before he died the Board told him that the Best of he Best Scholar Athletes would carry his name with the creation of the Draddy Award. Earlier this year the current Board changed the name of the Trophy to the William Campbell Award. Campbell was the former Columbia coach who had joined the NFFHF Board.
When Campbell left coaching Draddy told him he should pursue a career in Business which he did and has been most successful.
Draddy's nephew Bill Draddy was outraged that this happened and protested strongly to the Current Board, which includes Draddy's lawyer George Weiss, a NFHF Vice Chairman.
Bill Pearce succeeded Draddy as Chairman. I recommended that Pearce of Coca Cola join the NFF Board. I also recommended Maxwell Club President Reds Bagnell as a Board member. After Draddy died, Pearce and Bagnell invited me to lunch in Princeton. At the luncheon they told me I should retire when I became 65 and become a consultant which I did.
In my second year as Consultant Pearce told me he wanted to honor me at a Waldorf Dinner., He later called to tell me that as the awards committee meeting started Weiss told Pearce they needed him to sign some papers in the office. While Pearce was absent Awards Chairman Bob Mulcahy, who was fired as Rutgers Athletic Director a few months ago, recommended NACDA'S Mike Cleary for the Contribution to Football Award and Mike was chosen. He is a good man, most deserving and 10 years younger that Mississippi Red.
Pearce and Bagnell, as Casey Stengel would say, are deceased at the present time,
I still have my Golden Tiffany clock for 27 years old dedicated service to the NFFHF, presented at a luncheon.
After Pearce died Jon Hansen, who I also recommended to Draddy as a Hoard member told me my Consultant Agreement would not be renewed. Hansen later received the Gold Medal, the Foundation's highest honor.
Archie Manning, the Ole Miss All-American, is the current Chairman of the Naztionalk Football Foundation. When Archie was inducted in the Hall of Fame I recommended to Draddy that Archie resond for the Inductees which he did,.
After the Hall of Fame Dinner, the Heisman Dinner and the American Football Coaches Dinner follows, the Heisman and the AFCA dinners are the same night Dec. 13
This year's Army-Navy game is a week later than usual , the second Saturday in December in Philadelphia. I have attended every Army-Navy game but one since 1962. I have attended every Heisman Dinner since 1962, every Maxwell Trophy Dinner since 1963. The Maxwell returns to Atlantic City in early March.
I was succeeded as Executive Director by former Princeton Coach Bob Casciola, whose title was changed to President after I launched the All-American Football foundation in 1964, Casciola was succeeded by currne President and CEO Steve Hatchell, a former Commissioner and Bowl Executive, who was honored by the All-American Football Foundation when he was President of the Rodeo Association who we have known for many years., I thought his selection was a good one.
Like Joe Paterno, our idol is Amos Allonzo Stagg who worked until he was 90.
Hugh Hefner is also a member of our Class of 1926. So was Marilyn Monroe, who unfortunately died when she was 36.
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Sunday, September 20, 2009
Southern Mississippi's Great Come Back
HATTIESBURG----Southern Mississippi's remarkable comeback victory over the University of Virginia in the third week of the new football season was dramatic and important to Larry Fedora's football program.
The Cavaliers led by 17 points before bowing 37-34. UVA will still shock some Atlantic Coast conference teams before this season ends. The Golden Eagles have now won eight straight games including the strong finish and New Orleans Bowl victory.
Southern now goes on the road for its next three games including the visit to the University of Kansas, one of the Big Seven powerhouses.
The weekend in the Hub City was special. A new class was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame, including Jim Carmody, whose Nasty Bunch scored some important wins including the defeat of the University of Alabama in Bear Bryant's final home game in Tuscaloosa.
Carmody who coached at Ole Miss and should have been named Billy Brewer's successor rather than Joe Lee Dunn--a Chancellor Gerald Turner miscue---was saluted by former players at his M Club induction. It has been a big year for Jim, who was elected to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Besides Carmody other M Club honorees include" Marchand Kenny. Lee Roberts and the late Louis MeGhee, former players, track star Pokey Faggard and Erin Doyle Parker, ace golfer. Roberts quarterbacked the Eagles to two Bowl seasons including the impressive Liberty Bowl triumph over the University of Pittsburgh. Kenney was on Southerns top defensive backs as a tackler,pass interceptor and fumble recoverer.
MeGhee was the Old timer elctee chosen by the veterans committee. He played in the late 1920's.
It is a pleasure to be in the USM Sports Hall of Fame. My tour of duty there as the Director of Public Relations for the University and Director of Athletic Publicity was a job most enjoyed. I had one assistant, a student who typed and cut stencils. I also was involved in Recruiting, landing P. W. Underwood and recommending Southern play Villanova in the Catholic City of Mobile.
Two straight wins over Alabama in 1953 and 1054 and a 14-0 win over the University of Georgiain Jackson before a standing roon only crowd leading to a Stadium expansion were important to the schools football history.
Billy Jarrell, the fine Quarterback of the 1952 and 1953 Southerners is rounding up his teammates for another Reunion Oct. 23 prior to the Homecoming game with Tulane. The All-American Football Foundation will have its 102nd Banquet of Champions Oct. 22 at the Hattiesburg Convention Center and will be dedicated to the late Pat Ferlise who passed away this year.
Ferlise was one of Pie Vann's favorite players. He was one of the few players who had a car. Coach Vann asked Pat to turn in his car keys which he did. He forgot to tell his Coach he had a second set of keys.
He later contributed and made possible the beautiful Pat Ferlise Building near the Stadium. In 1951 Reed Green scheduled the Carswell Air Force Bombers, which incluided many All-Americans. Texs' king sized Bud McFadin a 240-pounder, who would face Ferlise across the line of scrimmage. Felise weighed 186. Pie Vann told Pat the last thing he would want to do was to make Bud mad.
On the game's first play from scrimmage Ferlise gave Bud his best shot. They did not have face masks then. Bud did not even blink. Pat looked at Bud and smiled and said Excuse Me with 59 minutes plus left to play. Carswell won, 41-0, and went on to win over the Armed Forces Championship, topping the Fort Jackson team which included many SEC and Independents stars.
It is always good to get back to Hattiesburg.
---30-----
The Cavaliers led by 17 points before bowing 37-34. UVA will still shock some Atlantic Coast conference teams before this season ends. The Golden Eagles have now won eight straight games including the strong finish and New Orleans Bowl victory.
Southern now goes on the road for its next three games including the visit to the University of Kansas, one of the Big Seven powerhouses.
The weekend in the Hub City was special. A new class was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame, including Jim Carmody, whose Nasty Bunch scored some important wins including the defeat of the University of Alabama in Bear Bryant's final home game in Tuscaloosa.
Carmody who coached at Ole Miss and should have been named Billy Brewer's successor rather than Joe Lee Dunn--a Chancellor Gerald Turner miscue---was saluted by former players at his M Club induction. It has been a big year for Jim, who was elected to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Besides Carmody other M Club honorees include" Marchand Kenny. Lee Roberts and the late Louis MeGhee, former players, track star Pokey Faggard and Erin Doyle Parker, ace golfer. Roberts quarterbacked the Eagles to two Bowl seasons including the impressive Liberty Bowl triumph over the University of Pittsburgh. Kenney was on Southerns top defensive backs as a tackler,pass interceptor and fumble recoverer.
MeGhee was the Old timer elctee chosen by the veterans committee. He played in the late 1920's.
It is a pleasure to be in the USM Sports Hall of Fame. My tour of duty there as the Director of Public Relations for the University and Director of Athletic Publicity was a job most enjoyed. I had one assistant, a student who typed and cut stencils. I also was involved in Recruiting, landing P. W. Underwood and recommending Southern play Villanova in the Catholic City of Mobile.
Two straight wins over Alabama in 1953 and 1054 and a 14-0 win over the University of Georgiain Jackson before a standing roon only crowd leading to a Stadium expansion were important to the schools football history.
Billy Jarrell, the fine Quarterback of the 1952 and 1953 Southerners is rounding up his teammates for another Reunion Oct. 23 prior to the Homecoming game with Tulane. The All-American Football Foundation will have its 102nd Banquet of Champions Oct. 22 at the Hattiesburg Convention Center and will be dedicated to the late Pat Ferlise who passed away this year.
Ferlise was one of Pie Vann's favorite players. He was one of the few players who had a car. Coach Vann asked Pat to turn in his car keys which he did. He forgot to tell his Coach he had a second set of keys.
He later contributed and made possible the beautiful Pat Ferlise Building near the Stadium. In 1951 Reed Green scheduled the Carswell Air Force Bombers, which incluided many All-Americans. Texs' king sized Bud McFadin a 240-pounder, who would face Ferlise across the line of scrimmage. Felise weighed 186. Pie Vann told Pat the last thing he would want to do was to make Bud mad.
On the game's first play from scrimmage Ferlise gave Bud his best shot. They did not have face masks then. Bud did not even blink. Pat looked at Bud and smiled and said Excuse Me with 59 minutes plus left to play. Carswell won, 41-0, and went on to win over the Armed Forces Championship, topping the Fort Jackson team which included many SEC and Independents stars.
It is always good to get back to Hattiesburg.
---30-----
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