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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1949)
|DUCK TRACKS By DAVE TAYLOR Emerald Sports Writer Has anyone noticed how track and field competition lias al most replaced baseball as the leading spring sport among the high schools and many of the smaller colleges throughout the state during the last year? Look on any sports page and compare the amount of space given each of these activities. It's obvious enough for any weazened little man to sit up and notice the trans formation. Main reasons behind this rejuvenation are the labors of Bill .fciowerman, W e b t o o t head track mentor. In his battle to bring his chosen sport into the spectators’ eyes, Bo w e r m a n has had an uphill fight all the way. First of all, track and field meets had no following among sports enthusiasts and coaches in the Northwest. Bowerman went about remedying this by producing a better than aver age outfit at Oregon in his first year. His team is almost certain j of winding up in second place j in dual meet standings and the ] Northern Division champion- I ship meet in Seattle on May 21. j He has given the spectators BILL BOWEBMAN something to look at and the sportswriters something to write about. Secondly, when there is an open date on the schedule, Web foot stars like George Rasmussen, Dave Henthorne, A1 Bullier, Jack Hutchins, and Don Pickens have given exhibition per formances at prep school meets in various parts of the state. Thirdly, Bowerman has introduced a new track coaching aid this year by taking moving pictures of both Varsity and Fresh man candidates during practice sessions. The men study these photos to find errors and perfect their form. Films Sent Throughout Entire State After the Oregon men are through with the films, coaches from state high schools everywhere write in for them to help mould their prep athletes into top flight performers. Besides these reasons, Bowerman has excellent personality for public relations. He gets along with the men under him without the slightest sign of friction like the O. B. Hughes Doc Swan affair. Although he may need points badly to win a dual meet, Bow erman has time and again refused to force a man to enter an event for which he wasn’t prepared. An example of this is not running Pete Mundle and A1 Kraxberger in both the mile and the two mile unless they feel up. to the task. Bower man Sacrifices Own Prestige for Individual n,uuiHCi vvay uunciuuiu aavn (ices his own prestige as a coach to give the individual athlete more recognition can be seen in his handling of Pole Vaulter George Rasmussen. The Webfoots need another hurdler badly to round out their lineup to full strength. Rasmus sen was a first-rate high and low hurdler during his high school ca reer at Bend, but Bowerman re fuses to use him in this event, fearing a pileup in the cinders v* uuiu & uiu iiass i/u«iu,v ci iu gum nationwide recognition in the pole vault. Always a devout believer in the coaching methods of the late Col onel Bill Hayward, whom he per formed for in the middle distan ces until he was graduated in 1935, Bowerman does not believe in overwork. He remembers well that Hayward used to say the best prformances could not be expected if the sport becomes a grind. Has Impressive Prep Coaching Record Bowerman’s coaching record shows that Hayward's coaching philosophy is sound. The Duck boss brought seven teams from Medford to the Hayward relays and won evvery time. Two of the trophies for the Class A competition have been retired by the Medford cindermen, and theree of Bowerman's Medford teams won the official state championship meet. Track and field competition is the best diversified sport available to the modern athlete, Bowerman believes. It gives the individual man an opportunity to develop his own talents. If a fellow is small, but can run fast, he can.try the racing events of the tracks. If he has strong arms or lots of spring in his legs, he can tackle the javelin, shot put, discus, broad jump, and high jump. While turning out a rugged track aggregation this year, Bow erman is priming his men for the Pacific Coast Conference championship meet next year. His Ducks will be gunning for their second title since the conference was formed in 1919. With the addition of men like Hutchins, Art Backlund, Chuck Miss feldt, Ed Robison, Phil Jones, Bill Singler. and Jack Smith from this year’s Frosh squad, while losing only one man, big Lou Rob inson, the Webfoot thinclads could easily grab their first PCC crown since 1924 when they edged Washington 37-36. Sports Sketch-— Yes, Dick Bartle Plays Baseball-12 Years of It Strictly speaking, Richard S. (Dick) Bartle is a baseball play er—and has been one for some 12 years. And that’s starting in pretty young if you are count ing the years toward his retire ment of social security benefits. DICK, who throws and bats right handed, collected four baseball let ters at Benson high school in Port land, and was named all-city two years. He was team captain at Benson in his senior season. After his graduation January, 1944, Firstsacker Bartle tried his luck with the Navy for 26 months, during which time he played with a service ballclub at the University of Illinois, and at Fleet City. AFTER a gentle cruise through the South Pacific, where Dick saw "practically no action at all,” the 6 ft., 2 inch, 190-pounder enlisted at the University of Oregon for a four year hitch, starting in the fall of 1946. Hard-hitting Dick, who slugged out a .390 batting average last sea son, played the last two summers with the Hillscreek Billies in the Cascade league, where he was rat ed one of the top first basemen in the state. He also participated in the na tional semi-pro tourney at Wichita, Kans. in 1943 with the Portland Fire department, and in 1946 with the Gilbert Furniture company of Portland. WALT AND DON Kirsch were teammates of Dick’s on the 1946 Kansas junket. He praised the Oregon baseball fans for their turnouts and attitude at ball games, and expressed a hope that he might be able to continue with baseball in the professional manner when his days as a Duel* are over. A Sigma Nu, Dick is majoring ir history, with a strong minor in P E.—in case the pros say “no,” at which time he plans to turn tc coaching. Susan Campbell1 Reaches Finals With 22-5 Win TODAY’S SCHEDULE 5 p.m. Rebee vs. Susie Hendricks vs. Pi Phis Susan Campbell overewheelmed Kappa Kappa Gamma, 22-5 yes terday to advance to the finals of League II play in girls intramur-* al softball. The Kappas had defeated Zeta Tau Alpha 7-4 in a prelim. The other game yesterday found the Pi Phis downing Kappa Alpha Theta 23-1. • Beverages • Fruits • Delicacies • Tasty Lunch Meats For Spring Term Picnics Buy at HOGAN'S GROCERY & COOK'S MARKET 544 E 13th Ph. 2066 fjuAt /IvUued TO COMPLETE YOUR AFTER SIX ENSEMBLE we have just received a new ship ment of the famous after-six white dinner jackets. Made of the finest rayon, palm beach material, and fully lined, they are a tribuate to your taste. i ; as advertised in Esquire... 27.95 All Formal Wear Accessories II I' ' • «■ II "njaaM