Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 33

DETROIT FREE PRESS Tuesday, Dec. 1. '64 1-D gleet Dies of Ne Sport Couldn't Pay Its Own Way Bn tt 'IJk p0 t1 its V. BY JACK BERRY The final University of Detroit football play was a fumble, Fullback Fred Beier, one of the finest backs U-D has had in 68 years of football, ran 56 yards to the Boston College 26-yard line, fumbled two plays later and that was it. On that sad note, U-D, which had produced collegiate and professional stars and All-Ameri-cans, dropped football Monday.

Alumni howled. So did some students, but many of them, the 4 iimhamiiiitifli'i'ifawttfiffiiiMitiirii rmii tnfti fiii tion was reluctant to make the final decision to abandon football and postponed doing so until all reasonable efforts had been made, under several coaching staffs, to test the football program's ability to survive and prosper as an integral part of the institution's total educational program. "UNFORTUNATELY, the administration is now forced to the conclusion that, as a private institution, with always limited financial resources, mounting academic costs and demands for many expanded programs, the University does not currently have and does "DESPITE concerted efforts to make the football program self-supporting, it has continued to be a deficit operation. This year's deficit will be well in excess of $65,000," said the Very Rev. Laurence V.

Britt, SJ, U-D president. Father Britt said that the football program hadn't made a profit since 1951 and the $65,000 loss this season was typical of rscent years. In a prepared statement he said: "Mindful of the university's long and honorable tradition in football and well aware of the fact that many of its football heroes have become truly distinguished members of their communities, the administra 'iiTiiiMimrifinia-'iffiartlBlii i mf -WiiiiflniM Fr. Laurence Britt, Bob Calihan explain move John Idzik, latest to become ex-Titan coach, talks to players U-D PLAYERS STUNNED LOSING TEAM LOSES FOLLOWERS, Hum at U-D Football eauiem Tears Take some sadness, mix it with a dash of regret, toss in a touch of bitterness, add a pinch of indifference and mix well. The result is a sampling of reaction on the campus and around the city to the dropping of collegiate football at the University of Detroit.

Announced Monday, the decision was made by university EY JOE DOWDALL The eulogy on the demise of football at University of De- troit was short and sincere. Only the assistant coaches and the 81 Titan players were on hand for the "family only" wake in a tiny classroom on the second floor of the Memo rial Building. John Idzik, the popular even if unsuccessful coach of the, Titans, conducted the service in his usual soft, easy i "I WANT TO thank every one for their sincere efforts," idzik addressed the players. "We were on the verge of cracking this thing with a really fine football team. "I have no regrets about coming to U-D.

You boys have, been Idzik spoke briefly on what mierht have been with 28 letter. men returning. Then he returned to his final message as their i coach with the words coming rom m3 heart. "I will help each and everyone of you in any way I can. Please, don't do anything too hasty and ra.sh.

You are fine football players and other schools have started railing about you al- ready." Idzik asked the players not to skip classes or drop out of school until the semester ends or until they were set to con tinue their education elsewhere. Turn to rag 2D, Column i to Ho Shannon Miss Bay 'dent morale. They should have got bigger players. MIKE SHANNON, Grosse 1 Point.e, sophomore: "I thought i they'd drop football I didn't go fourth varsity sport. I'm a hurdler and I'd like to get back into track and the sport doesn't coft that much." ANN BAY, Dearborn, senior, Arts and Science: "I prefer college football to pro football and I've gone to most of the games since I've been here, but I lost interest when they kept losing." RON DeVUYST, Detroit, officials last Wednesday, exactly 68 years After a Titan teamiSaw this coming and I hate to they'd drop it.

You'd think a played its first game against See them drop football. I thinklschool this big could support St. Ignatius College (now Loy-jit will have an effect on stu-! football. No, I didn't go to the TOO Scallen Miller Micnfn ner ships. It is like a small grocer trying to compete with a super-, market." RECORDERS JUDGE John Scallen, former U-D player and the man who brought in the late Gus Dorais to coach the Titans: "It is impossible for me to hir1f mv sadness at this Ho.

veioprnent It is useiess for me maka any other comment." Dzik Gillis He invited the players to to make any Texas- his guest at a quiet get-to- gether. tu i-' nnrr r-ocnor-f players held for Idzik was evi-l The names are rather gurpris- dent from the time the firstling, too Willie Horton, Jim i vj.nj Bruce Brubaker otherwise wyier WW DeVuyst Cottrell 'games; I had to work." ERIC COTTRELL, Detroit, freshman, engineering: "It just wasn't worth it going to the games because they were los- i neara mey were going hmlH ti nr rlrirmitAfioe rn tha football field." DICK DZIK, 1963-64 basket ball captain, senior: "I think they'll lose money in the long run by dropping football. It really surprised me. I thought they might make a change but 1 didn't think they'd do this." PROBATE JUDGE Joe Gillis, U-D player in 1920-21-22: "It was inevitable. Small schools with a small stadium can't com pete with those like Michigan NOW They Care For U-D Football ola University of Chicago) in los'b.

The campus was calm after the announcement. There were no student demonstrations. The attitude seemed to be that it too late to protest. Iln. alumni leader: "This is a trag edy for the University and a slap at the alumni and students inasmuch as they were given no voice in the decision." BOB MILLER.

Greens- burg, jun Keating AM rumor of football Sunday night. The players rallied to Idzik's side at his apartment across the street from the football practice field. And at the final team meeting Tom Beer, the Titans' finest football player, arose to pledge rumor oi iooioaiii passed across the campus latefnd his and the services of the other: trade talks involving their estab-Titan gridders to Idzik if hejlished stars Al Kaline, inolud-needed them wherever the'ed but not for these five ior. Commerce and Finance: "freshman. Arts and Science: "I went to most of the games Iiwas surprised.

I didnt think native Detroiters, had lived with1 the rumor so long that it didn't surprise them. Relatively few had bothered to attend the games in recent years. Hands Off 5 foxing i I Won't Trade Farm Hands RV JOE FALLS Fre Press Sports Writer HOUSTON The Tigers have started talking trades at the annual winter meetings here, but don't expect sizea aeais. That's because they've brand- five players as "untouch- known as the "boys from Syra cuse. "I've never seen such interest in our minor league players, but we're just not going to trade any of them," general manager Jim Campbell-declared Monday.

THE TIGERS will listen to youngsters. They're intent on rebuilding with youth and nothing ran deter them at least until they see how these kids look In spring training. Kaline's name came up in the trade talks but in a negative way. Manager Charlie Dressen admitted he was interested in Frank Howard, the big, brooding 'slugger of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but not at the price of Kaline OTHER developments as the meetings got rolling at the Shamrock Hilton Hotel included: 1 The return of Toledo to the International League, taking the place of Richmond. 2 The annual draft which produced only one real surprise the selection by the Yankees of outfielder Duke Carmel from the Met farm club at Buffalo.

3 A refusal by the Tigers to trade George Thomas to the Cleveland Indians for veteran pitcher Dick Donovan. 4 A refusal by the Baltimore Orioles to give up four players for a Kansas City out- Tum to Page 2D, Column 1 IRISH THIRD UPI Crowns Alabama as Football King NEW YORK (UPD The University of Alabama, bound for the Orange Bowl with a perfect 10-0 record, Monday was named 1964 national college football champion for the second time in four years by the United Press International board of coaches. The Crimson Tide accumulated a sizable margin over runnerup Arkansas, also un beaten in 10 contests, polling 22 first-place votes to seven for the Razorbacks and outdistancing them in total points, 333-301. BOTH TEAMS moved up one position when Southern California surprised Notre Dame, knocking the Irish from the top of the heap to third place in the final ratings. Rose Bowl-bound Michigan (8-1) remained in fourth place and picked up two first-place votes.

(First-place votes and won-lost records in parentheses) TEAM Points 1- Alabama (22) (10-0) 333 2- Arkansas (7) (10-0) 301 3- Notre Dame (4) (9-1) 27S 4- MICHIGAN (2) (1-1) 241 5- Texas(-1) 213 Nebraska (9-1) 16 7 Louisiana State (7-1-1) 99 8 Oregon State (8-2) 81 9 Ohio State (7-2) tb 10 Southern California (7-3) 48 the ferry wrap robe fay ENRO monogrammed free at HHS An ideal gift for any man this after-shower wrap-robe of thick 'n' thirsty terry. And it's as good looking" as it is practical, with two man-sized pockets, breast pocket and his own monogram at no extra charge. In white, blue or tan with matching scuffs. Sizes XL 11.95 DEATH CLAIMED U-D FOOTBALL, age 68, shortly before noon Monday Interment was immediate. Like many Irish wakes, this one is both sad and stormy.

There were head-shaking remembrances of what a stalwart gent the fallen Titan used to be; mournful sighs to the effect that isn't it a shame he had to go like this. There are recollections of his halcyon days, thanks to the likes of (ius Dorais, Lloyd Brazil, Andy Farkas, Vince Banonis, Tilly Yoss, Gus Sonnenberff, Chuck Baer and many others; including enough embryonic judges to fill even a king-sized court room. There are recriminations, too. They are loud and some have bitter overtones. When bunched together, they echo that the patient wasn't given the proper remedial treatment.

There are claims that the proper doctors in his case, the U-D alumni weren't even consulted about the seriousness of his condition. Attorney William Henry Gallagher, Class of '03 and president of the Gus Dorais Foundation, put it this way: "We feel that we should have been consulted on the situation. Our members are strong in the belief that when university officials buried the intercollegiate football program without even letting us know about it, they made it a personal affront to not only our organization, but to all alumni." Lisfoii jo TSio.se Aliismii EIovvE! THE DORAIS FOUNDATION, organized 10 years ago, contributes around $20,000 annually to the football program. Gallagher said he was certain that if university officials had talked to his group, those contributions could have been substantially increased. The claim, as expounded by the Very Rev.

Laurence S.J., university president, that football operated at a $65,000 deficit in 1961 also is being challenged by other alumni. Chief complaint is that the figure is a book-keeping device arrived at by estimating the loss of tuition from football players on athletic scholarships. Right or wrong, there is vehement reaction and it will take some definite and suave persuasion to salve the ruffled feelings of the men involved. For hell hath no fury as an alumnus scorned. Whirs in Charge Here or Was? THE SCHOOL'S FOOTBALL problems have been many 'in recent years.

U-D is too big to play with -the little colleges; too little to compete on equal basis with the big ones whose names and stars draw crowds. No longer a member of a conference, U-D has found it necessary to cast about for opponents. The choice has been generally bad and it stems from the fact that in recent years there has been no strong and capable hand in charge of the athletic program. Fantastic money was spent to bring in teams which weren't worth it as drawing cards. Compounding the problem is the Titans' won-lost record of 6-21 over the last three seasons.

Attendance skidded. With its fall came increased pressures to bring in a coaching staff designed to siphon off the cream of the crop of parochial high school players in the Detroit area. A tranfusion of fresh blood, that's what they were calling it. But it isn't necessary now. The patient is gone.

The cause of death debatable. And by coincidence, the obituary was read in a marble-floored room in the university's broadcasting studio on Puritan Avenue, just off campus. The building is a former funeral parlor! moved. Beer, a strong 210-pound Ail-State guard at Detroit St. Ambrose, selerted U-D over 85 other schools which solicited his services.

He lived up to his hilling, starring on offense and defense as a sophomore this season. Before his first class was out, Beer had offers to transfer to Miami, Cincinnati ana Aavier, three of the teams U-D played this season. "We all want to move to another school," Beer said. "If Idzik goes to a major school as an assistant, we will go with him if we can." Beer was the prize of the 35 sophomores to make the team. Like Beer, each player with eligibility left definitely, is interested in transferring to a football school.

GUARD FRED LAUCK, who came to U-D after attending New Mexico and the Air Force Academy, said he probably would go-back to school in the West but added that Idzik and his staff of Joe Clark, Dave Nusz and Tony Hanley, "are the best coaches a player will find anywhere." Fred Beier, senior captain of the Titans this year, said the players were shocked by the abruptness of the announcement. "Although I will stay here to graduate and the other players will go their separate ways, we will always remember John Idzik and the won derful friends we had at U-D," he said. "We gave 100 per cent and lost a few games on breaks or a costly mistake. It wasn't our fault and certainly not Idzik's." The players probably "von't turn up at Big Ten schools be cause the conference doesn't Turn to Page 2D, Column Tom Beer HUGHES HATCHER SUFFRIN 2301 WOODWARD, DETROIT 1, MICH. WO.

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