Post Under Yost

During the quarter-of-a-century coaching regime of Fielding H. ("Hurry Up") Yost, Michigan football teams were hailed from coast to coast. Proud alumni monopolized parlor conversation with tales of Michigan's point-a-minute scores, its four undefeated, untied seasons, its twelve All-Americans, including amazing young Harry Kipke.

When Fielding Yost gave up coaching in 1929 to devote all his time to the administrative post of director of athletics, amazing young Harry Kipke took his place. In four years (1930-33) his teams lost only one game. But in addition to being a good strategist, teacher and psychologist, a modern coach must have a capable staff of scouts. He must develop sensational stars, draw crowds that can retire the bonds on an expensive stadium. In the past four years Coach Kipke has had no Willie Hestons, no Benny Friedmans; his teams lost 22. out of 32 games. Alumni were embarrassed. Last December they impolitely kicked out Kipke.

While Kipke accepted a job in the motor industry and rumor placed dozens of coaches--from Harvard's Dick Harlow to City College's Benny Friedman--in his shoes, Michigan authorities set their hearts on Herbert Orrin ("Fritz") Crisler. But Coach Crisler was snugly ensconced at Princeton; his $7,000-a-year contract had two more years to run. It would take more than a coaching job to pry him away, particularly a job in the dog-eat-dog Big Ten.

He was just the man Michigan wanted, however. He knew his way about the Big Ten, having spent eight years as assistant to Chicago's famed Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg and two years as head coach at Minnesota before going to Princeton in 1932. He had rescued Princeton football from temporary ignominy, developed two undefeated, untied teams (1933 and 1935). To make the position attractive enough, Michigan last week offered Crisler not only its coaching job but a professorship (Physical Education) and the post of assistant to Athletic Director Yost, now 67 and almost ready to retire. With the guarantee of inheriting a stable athletic berth. Coach Crisler succumbed.

Meanwhile, all over the land Michigan alumni were agonized by rumors that Chicago's high-scoring high-school hero, Bill de Correvont, No. 1 football prospect for 1938, had intended to enter Michigan this fall, had decided on Northwestern after Coach Kipke was ousted.

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