Woody Hayes Says "Happy V-Day. NOW!!!"

Woody Hayes was born 96 years ago today. He was a great Miami of Ohio head coach, and he also had success subsequently. Hayes was a high school football coach for a couple of years before he enlisted in the Navy in 1941. He rose to the rank of of Lieutenant Commander. After his service in the war, he returned to his alma mater, Denison, as the head coach. Hayes "drove his first squad at Denison so hard that school authorities warned him to ease up on the team or face the consequences," according to WOSU. He had a 19-game at Denison, which led to the Miami job. Sid Gillman had been the Miami coach, but moved down state route 27 to the University of Cincinnati--Miami's rival. So, before Woody's rivalry with Bo Schembechler and Michigan while the Buckeye coach, Woody was rivals with Gillman and UC. Gillman disliked Woody, as well. By 1950, Woody had the Redskins in the Salad Bowl, where they defeated Arizona State. He was hired by Ohio State in 1951. The story is that Paul Brown was interested in coming back to Ohio State, but the school hired Woody instead. (The image is from buckeyefansonly.)

Paul Dietzel, Cradle of Coaches Coach, Turns 84

Paul Dietzel, one of the four I believe Miami University Cradle of Coaches coaches who have won a National Championship, is 84 today.

Born September 5, 1924, Paul Dietzel served in World War II. After serving, he was an All-American center from Miami University. After he was graduated in 1948, Dietzel was an assistant under Red Blaik and Bear Bryant, two of the greatest coaches in history. Blaik was one of the four Miami coaches who went on to win a National Championship. The others were Paul Brown (in my opinion the greatest football coach of all time), Ara Parseghian, and Woody Hayes.

Dietzel became the head coach at LSU in 1955. He was credited with popularizing the platoon system when, in 1958, he won a National Championship with a starting team, the White Team, that was the starting offensive and defensive unit, the Gold Team, which was the second string offense, and the Chinese Bandits, the second string defense. The Chinese Bandits have gained fame for being smaller, quicker, less talented but more ferocious players. Dietzel went on to coach at Army and South Carolina.

There is a great article from Bud Johnson of the Advocate on the magical 1958 LSU Season. That is where the image is from.

thankyouverymuch,

OldCleat

Jim Parker's Stays at Woody's Dorm; NCAA Blows Football History Top

I was saddened to read about the passing of Jim Parker, the legendary Ohio State Buckeye and Baltimore Colt lineman, who was one of the best players in football history.

In reading the obits, I was struck with one in the Baltimore Sun recounting his history as an Ohio State football player. First there was a little item on the weight that he gained. But the bigger item was where he stayed.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-sp.parker19jul19,1,2919229.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines

"When I'm gone, I'd like to be known as the best offensive lineman that
ever lived," Parker told The Sun in a 2000 interview. "I set that goal as a
college freshman, but I didn't get bodacious about it until later.

"You don't broadcast goals 'til it's all over."

Four years later, Parker had gained nearly 100 pounds and a college football scholarship. At Ohio State, where few blacks lived on campus, he stayed at the home of the late Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes' head coach, who would introduce Parker at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

First of all, he gained nearly 100 pounds. Parker was a big lineman for his time. So if he weighed 290 pounds, let's say, he would have had to have been about a 200 pounder as a high school player for the nearly 100 pounds he gained.

But, second of all, he stayed at the head coach's house. How do you think the suits at the NCAA would react to that today? Can you imagine the hubbub that would ensue today? It would be the biggest uproar in football history.

Hard to imagine.

thankyouverymuch,

old cleat