SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1942
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE. KANSAS
PAGE FIVE
Oklahoma A and M Track Star 'Swiped' Sooners Are At It Again
By CHUCK ELLIOTT Kansan Sports Editor
Oklahoma has done it again! Seemingly not content with theeners supply of athletic talent on the Norman campus the Oklahoma athletic officials have gone recruiting again and this time they have come up with
probably the outstanding track prospect of last year's high school crop.
The star in question is Burton Cossey, a freshman in the School of Engineering at Oklahoma A. and M., Stillwater, during the past semester. Last year he attended high school at Centerview, Okla., and gained All-American rating as a result of his
O. U. Being Unfair
(The following article appeared in the Wednesday edition of The Daily O'Collegian, official student paper of Oklahoma A. and M. College, as an open editorial on the front page. It was written by Don Boydston, editor of the O'Collegian and a famous track star in his own right. Two years ago in an indoor meet he high jumped 6 feet 8 7-8 inches—Sports Editor's Note).
Oklahoma University is going too far in open subsidization of athletes.
We aren't calling anyone names, we are not stating the opinion of anyone but this writer's, and we aren't whining, but from all indications the policy of the University of Oklahoma in obtaining their athletes is unfair and dishonest.
Perhaps the best way to let you know about this little debacle is to give you the facts and let you decide for yourself to see if it was A. and M. that was Tuckered out this time.
Last year Burton Cossey, a limber-limbed lad hailing from Center View, Oklahoma, a whistle-stop near Prague, leaped six foot four and one-half inches in the state interscholastic meet, setting a new state high school record and also earning an All American rating as one of the best high school jumpers in the nation.
He also excelled in the broad jump and the hop-step and jump.
He was a fine student, valedictorian of his class and wanted to come to Oklahoma A. and M. and study engineering.
He enrolled here last fall and made high enough grades this last semester to make the dean's honor roll.
In the early season practice session he jumped far enough in the hop-step-and-jump to give Coach Ralph Higgins the vision of a national A.A.U. championship in the event.
They wrote him letters, called him long distance, came to see him and just generally made life miserable.
A week ago Burton told some of his team-mates that he wished the O.U bunch would leave him alone and that Jap Haskell, athletic director at Oklahoma university, had called him the night before.
Then last Saturday night Dick Smethers, distance man at the University and Bob Seymour, former football player for the Sooners, came to Stillwater to see Cossey.
Evidently they put the pressure on the lad because three hours after they blew in, they had Burton in his room helping him to pack his bags for the trip to Norman.
A friend of Burton's, Wendell Wilson, tried to walk into the victim's room for a visit but the door was abruptly slammed in his face and the Norman visitors went on with their preparation.
If what Cossey has said is true, and if the University of Oklahoma had the gall to come on the A. and M. campus and pack a boy's clothes and transport him to Norman after he had already enrolled and attended classes here this semester then, its a pretty lousy deal.
Of course the kid is somewhat to blame. He shouldn't allow stories of sugar plums and a clock-winding job to turn his head, but then too, high-pressuring a kid is sometimes pretty easy.
From personal experience we remember how O.U. promised everything within reason and more too, but on our arrival there it was found that we didn't even have a place to sleep.
That's about all we have to say.
You can draw your own conclusions from the above statement of facts. As we said before, we think their actions unfair and dishonest.
track efforts. He high jumped six feet four and one-half inches and this leap was the best in the nation. The jump also set a new Oklahoma record and was recorded during the state interscholastic meet. Besides being a high jumping expert, Cossey starred in the broadjump and the hop-step and jump events.
Sooner Athletes Persuaded Cossey
The Centerview star enrolled at Stillwater this fall and impressed the officials there very favorably. Not only was he in the upper third of his class in engineering and on the dean's honor roll but he was popular with schoolmates in A. and M.'s big Cordell hall and performed well his campus job which provided him with room and board.
Everything was going along smoothly for Cossey and for the Aggie authorities until last Saturday. The track star was already re-enrolled in school and seemed set for this semester until Dick Smethers, Sooner track star, and Bob Seymour, former Sooner football ace, dropped in at Stillwater to see Cossey. Within a few hours the three of them were on their way to Norman where Cossey enrolled in the School of Aeronautical Engineering.
No Official Action Yet
No Official Action Yet
Feeling on the Aggie campus at Stillwater was running quite high this week although no official action had been taken as yet by Henry Iba, director of athletics at the Aggie school. Reason for no action as yet is that Iba left Stillwater late Tuesday with his basketball squad on a swing to the North where they faced Drake University at Des Moines Wednesday night and Creighton University at Omaha last night.
Before leaving on the trip Baa stated "I believe this will be worked out without trouble for the boy. I will have a conference with Jap Haskell (Oklahoma's athletic director) early next week when we are to meet in Oklahoma City about some other matters. I am sure that when we have all the information before us, this can be settled." Only Cossey Wise Tolliver
Only Cossey Was Talkative
On the Norman campus athletic officials refused to become excited about the affair. Haskell was not too talkative but did remark that the transfer of the athlete was regular. John Jacobs, Sooner track coach, was another who offered no comment.
Cossey however was entirely different. He seemed willing to talk on both campuses but with conflicting statements. While at Stillwater he objected to the many letters, phone calls, and visitors whom he was re-
(continued to page seven)
State Guard to See Army Equipment
Monday night the local unit of the state guard will be the guest of the University R.O.T.C. department to inspect new military equipment which has been brought down from Fort Riley for inspection by military units here.
Col. James Dusenbury has made the facilities available and the demonstration will be in direct charge of Col. J. R. Gage, associate professor of military science, and his assistants.
Wait a Minute!
Why don't you bring your alteration jobs to us? Our craftsmanship pleases.
Suiting You—That's Our Business
An Iowa State Idea Worth Looking Into
(This article appeared Wednesday in the Iowa State Daily Student and is inserted as an indication of what is being accomplished at other schools in obtaining the cream of each state's high school athletic crop. It is not the intention of the Daily Kansan to set Iowa State up as the pinnacle in athletic proficiency but it does provide an idea by which the University of Kansas could improve her athletic squads.-Sports Editor's Note.)
When you walk unexpectedly into a dormitory where 16 men sleep and all 16 beds are made, you might wonder. But not when you know the "fellows" who room in West Stadium like Doug Kerr, of the Physical Education Department for Men and assistant line coach of the Cyclone grid squad.
This is a strictly freshmen residence hall, Kerr emphasized. Only Iowa men are residents and their scholastic average must register 2.0.
Men Are Selected About Now
Selection of these athletes actually begins about this time each year. Prospects throughout the state who seem to be outstanding in athletics, have reputable character, and have
These men are interviewed carefully by George Veenker, head of (continued to page eight)
good academic standing are contacted through an alumnus in that particular town.
Intramural Basketball Starts Again Tomorrow
TOMORROW'S SCHEDULE
TOMORROW'S SCHEDULE
6:00 Alpha Chi Sigma vs. Kappa Sigma
6:00 Kappa Eta Kappa vs. Sigma Nu
9:00 Pflugerville vs. Phi Kappa Psi
9:00 Jayhawk Coop. vs. Newman II
10:00 Delta Upsilon “B” vs. Alpha Alpha “B”
10:00 Kappa Sigma “B” vs. Alpha Tau Omega “B”
Bu DON YEWN
By DON KEOWN
In 9 o'clock tussles the tough Pflugerville Pflashes will attempt to upset Phi Kappa Psi, and a Jayhawk Coop team sparked by Clarence Rutherford will collide with a favored Newman H squad. At 10:00 four "B"◎
Intramural basketball play will be resumed at 6 o'clock tomorrow night with the Kappa Eta Kappa and Sigma Nu squads both seeing their first victory in Division II competition. At the same time another victory-less outfit, Alpha Chi Sig, will tangle with the Kappa Sig's.
In 9 o'clock tussles the tough tempt to upset Phi Kappa Psi, and by Clarence Rutherford will coll squad. At 10:00 four "B" teams will make their appearance with Delta Upsilon meeting the fast-stepping men of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Kappa Sigma meeting Alpha Tau Omega.
Highlight of the Tuesday night program will be the Newman I-Alpha Kappa Psi battle at 10:00. The already powerful Newman outfit has added Tony Coffin, twice All-Intramural guard to its roster. Alpha Kappa Psi boasts a well-rounded quintet which may give their undefeated opponents trouble. At the same time on the other court the Union Fountainees and John Moore Coop will meet in a Division DI contest.
Absent Minded Moon
In afternoon games at 5:30 Alpha Tau Omega and Tau Kappa Epsilon, and the "C" teams of Phi Kappa Psi and Kappa Sigma are scheduled to tangle.
Records of the Week
The Lamp of Memory ... Tony Pastor
Fun to Be Free
I Remember You ... Freddy Martin
How Do You Do Without Me?
All Through the Night ... Teddy Powell
Tica Ti - Tica Ta
Tangerine ... Vaughn Monroe