TOM T. ROGERS, LINE COACH I 7.,, ,

·Tom T. Rogers, one of the greatest of all Duke ends, is return­ ing to Wake Forest for the second time as varsity line coach. Rogers' first period of service as line coach of the Demon Deacons was from 1938 through 1940. From Wake Forest he went to Clemson as end coach under Coach Frank Howard during the 1941 and 1942 seasons. Following the 1942 season Rogers went into the Navy's Ath­

letic program early in 1943. His first assignment was at the Chapel Hill Pre-Flight School where he assisted in setting up the athletic program. Other naval assignments included the Sand Point Naval Air Base in Seattle and the Kingsville Air Station in Kingsville, Texas. At the time of his discharge in December, 1945, he was a full lieutenant. Rogers made a fine all-round record during his four years at

Duke from the fall of 1930 to June of 1934 at which time he received his A.B. degree in Business Administration. He played three seasons under Coach Wallace Wade, "1931-33. He was named on Grantland Rice's All-America squad in 1933, made All-Southern the same year, and was selected at end on the mythical All-State teams his junior and senior years. At Duke he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa honorary leadership fraternity, a member of the Publications Board, and president of the Sigma Nu social fraternity. Following graduation he stayed four years at his Alma Mater

as line coach of the Duke freshman football teams ( 1934-37). From there he came to Wake Forest in 1938 as varsity line coach. Rogers, who is 36, married Frances Moore of Durham on

July 11, 1938. They have two children, Tom Jr., 6, and Robert Kent, 3.

Byrd's-Eye View PAGE 14-TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 29, 1955

I

By Carlton Byrd Wliat's Happening in Sports World

THE WAKE FOREST ATHLETIC COUNCIL will meet Saturday to decide whether or not Turn Rogers' contract as head football coach should be renewed-and few-people in Baptist Hollow are willing to venture a guess on what will happen ... "There have been stories pro and con about Rogers," said Deac Publicist Marvin Francis last night at Salisbury. "But I haven't found anybody in Wake Forest who has any idea what the Athletic Council will do. Of course, we will know something by Saturday night."

Athletic Director Pat Preston has been "quite surprised" by the advance sale of tickets for the Wake F'orest-N. C. State basketball game in Winston-Salem's Memorial Coliseum next Tuesday night ... The first day it was announced that mail orders for tickets were being accepted at Wake Forest, Pres­ ton said, a big bundle of mail orders were received from Winston-Salem ... "We're having a very good advance sale," Preston said yesterday.

Tickets can now, be purchased at the local Chamber of Commerce and at the Coliseum.

r'-/ 1/c-~ WIN~TON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA ~ '

B·yrd's-Eye View By Carlton Byrd

Rogers States His Case VTOM ROGERS, passing through the Twin City today on

I!. return trip to Wake Forest after visiting in Charlotte, said he had no idea whether or not his contract will be renewed as Deacon football coach when the Wake Forest Athletic Council meets Saturday ... "In my own mind I'm satisfied that I, along with my whole staff, did a good job this season," Rogers said. "We'd all like to be moving to Winston-Salem with the college. ·But that decision rests with the Athletic Council­ and I have no idea what the members will do Saturday.

The sports writers of the state are in complete agreement that Rogers has done an excellent job this season ... His record of five wins, four defeats (by Maryland, West Virginia, Duke and Clemson)· and one tie was much better than the writers expected of him . . . In fact, when they pick the coach-of-the-year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, I imagine Rogers is.going_ to be right at the top in the balloting.

Winston-Salem's only member of the Wake Forest Ath­ letic Council-and he's a very important member-is Egbert L. Da.-es Jr .. and he said this morning that "Tom Rogers has done a very acceptable job with the football team.

"I think his record this season has been very good, but I like to go a little further than a coach's record when I judge him. I want to know the type of man he is turn­ ing out.

"This is my first year on the Athletic Council and I don't want to go into Satur­ day's meeting carrying my opinion alone, so I've talked to a lot of people about what is best for Wake Forest. I can say that I have nothing against Tom Rogers. I understand the morale of the team this year was the best in years.

DAVIS "Just what do you, a reporter who has been with 'the players this season, think of the team?"

. My answer: "I've never seen a Wake Forest football team with better spirit and morale, and it's a fine bunch of II boys Rogers has. No bad· characters."

"J've heard the same thing," Davis replied. Reminded that the Deacons had lost only to four goodj'

college teams this season, Davis said, "Yes, and we could have beaten Clemson very easily and Duke had its hands full all afternoon!"

Personally, I think Egbert Davis Jr. will be solidly behind Rogers at the Athletic Council meeting.

Case Looks F oruiard to Deac Tilt JUST HOW GOOD is N. C. State's basketball team? Will

the Wol.fpack be a hot contender for the national champion­ ship? The pre-season experts have rated Everett Case's team from second best in the nationall the way down to seventh.

In an attempt to get the answer, a telephone call was made to Case yesterday.

"I'm .a little curious myself," Case said .. ','I'd like. to 1 know just how good this team is myself-and it s not going to take long to find out. I'll say Wake Forest will give me the answer next Tuesday night in your fine new Coliseum at Winston-Salem.

"Yes, we're opening our season with Florida State here tonight at Raleigh and play Penn State Saturday night, but I don't expect to uncover much in those games.

"You have to play 'a conference team before you can find out how good you are. If that team happens to be Wake Forest-well, that usually means a real tough game for us. I'm pretty sure I'll find out just what kind of a team I have when we meet those Deacons."

SECTION D

.............

Rogers, Preston Resign Positions At Wake Forest

WAKE FOREST-(A'l-Wake Forest Athletic Director Pat Preston and Head Football Coach Tom Togers resigned Sat­ urday. Dr. Harold W. Tribble, college ers began his coaching career as

president, read ~ letter f~om Pres- head freshman coach at Duke in ton to the athletic council request- 1934. H All s uth n end ing that he be relieved of his du- · e was an ·

11 · 0 erd

ties. under Coach Wa ace Wa e at At the same time, the council Duke in 1933.

was notified by Rogers that he He came to-Wake Forest as end "will not be available" for renew- h d W lk • 1938 He al of his three-year coaching con- coac ~n er a er. in _ · tract upon its termination Dec. 31, served in that capacity until 1940 1955. when he moved to Clemson

Dr. Tribble told the council that Preston's letter of reslgna­ tion was being taking under ad· visement and would be presented to the Board of Trustees at its next regular meeting tentatively set for Dec. 22 at Winston-Salem.

Formal action on Rogers' resig­ nation also will be taken by the Board of Trustees. No move will be made to name

their successors until the trustees act. ·

P;eston is in his second year as athletic director while Rogers re­ cently completed his fifth season as head grid mentor of the Demon

· Deacons.

Preston said later that he resign­ ed "in the best interests of my family and me."

Asked about his future plans, Preston said he had several offers outside of the college ath­ letic field but there was nothing definite.

Rogers' team finished its cam­ paign two - weeks ago. The club posted a record of five wins, four defeats and a tie.

His 1954 eleven won two games while losing seven and tying one. He was not immediately avail­

able for comment.

The four defeats suffered this season came at the hands of West Virginia, Maryland, Clemson and Duke, all considered among the nation's ranking teams. Wins were posted over VPI,

South Carolina, North Carolina, William and Mary, and Virginia. The Deacons and N. C. State played to a 13-13 tie. Rogers was elevated to the head

coaching post in March, 1951, when Douglas Clyde <Peaheadl Walker resigned to accept a coaching posi­ tion on the Yale University foot­ ball staff.

Wake Forest enjoyed its best season, under Rogers, in 1951 when it chalked up six wins against four defeats, including triumphs over N. C. State, North Carolina and Duke.

The 1952 eleven posted a 5-4-1 record and the 1953 team won only three while losing six and ty­ ing one. In his five seasons at the helm.

Rogers guided the Deacons to a I record of 21 wins against 25 de­ feats and four ties. A native of Hinton, W. Va., Rog-

Bosses Quit In Surprise

BY MOSES CRUTCHFIELD Daily. News Sports Writer

In a surprise move, Athletic Di­ rector Pat Preston and h d f b 11 C ea oot- a . each Tom Rogers resigned their positions at Walte Forest Col­ lege yesterday. According to best inform ti

av ·1 bl h a ion ai a e, t e moves were unrelated to each other Both . came unex- pectedly at the meeting of th 0 Wake Forest Athletic Council hel~ S on the college campus. The ~essi?n. supposedly, was to

consider primarily the matter of renewing the contract of C . Rogers h oacn ' w ose three-year tenure ~·~ns C ou( ~ec. 3-1. Rogers notified e . ouncil that he "will

available" after that date . Preston, a former Wake

football star, presented a letter ~ad ~o the council by Dr. Harold

. Tn~ble, Wake Forest president a ~equdesting that he be r.elieved of t is f uti~s "in the best interests of a

my arnily and me." It wa u d stood th t p s n er- v . a reston's request to be t rehe_ved of his duties as soon as le possible, but that he was willin l to continue in the post of athleti~

(Continued On Page Six)

l\J!__ Ct - director until the end of the current school year. ~ u Tec~ically, messages of both a

men l be submitted to the oard of Tr tees at their next me ting, tentat' ely set for Dec. 22 at, in­ ston-S lem. The board takes final action upon recommendation of the athletic council. • There was no mention of possible

successors to the two, or of possible effect upon the Wake Forest ath­ letic program. Preston is in his second year as

athletic director, while Rogers, former Duke University star, has completed his fifth season as head mentor of the Deacons. He stepped up from an assistant's role to suc­ ceed D. C. (Peahead) Walker in March of 1951. Rogers' 1955 eleven p o s t e d a

record of five wins, four defeats and a tie. In 1954, his team won two, lost seven and tied one. His best season C'l.{Ile in 1951 when the Deacons had a 6-4 record.

No Comment Rogers was not available

comment on his action, but it is known that when the Deacons played at West Virginia that he met with his brother, who lives in Hinton, W.Va., and that the two discussed going into business to­ gether. There also was no announcement

concerning the future of the Wake Forest assistants, including Red Cochran, Pride Ratterree, Don Hipps and Taylor Sanford, who also is baseball coach. A native of Hinton, W.Va.,

Rogers began his coaching career as head freshman coach at Duke in 1934. He was an All-Southern end under Coach Wallace Wade at Duke in 1933. He came to Wake Forest as end

coach under Walker in 1938. He served in that capacity until 1940 when he moved to Clemson as line coach in 1941-42. During the war years Rogers

served in the U.S. Navy Athletic program he was first assigned to the Pre-Flight school at the Uni­ versity of North Carolina and later served on the coaching staff of sev­ eral N av y Pre-Flight football teams. He was discharged in De­ cember 1945 with the rank of full lieutenant. In 1946 Rogers became affiliated

with Wake Forest football for his second tenure and served as line coach for five years before moving into the head coaching spot.

All-Time Great Preston, one of Wake Forest's all-1

time gridiron greats, joined the col­ lege's football coaching staff as line coach in 1951. He was ele­ vated to the job of athletic director when James H. Weaver was named commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1954. A native of Thomasville, Preston

11tarred as a tackle for the Deacons during the 1940-41-42 seasons. He made All-Southern for three suc­ cessive years and was captain of the team in 1943. When the war came along he 'oined the Marines and was as- 11igned to Duke University under the V-12 program. During his final college football season at Duke, when he played as a senior, he was selected an All-America. Following his discharge in 1946,

Preston joined the Chicago Bears of the National Professional Foot­ ball League and was a standout guard from 1946-50. He was a regu­ lar on the Bears' 1944 world cham­ pionship club.

Mio~,~ Tom Rogers To Promote Real Estate

\VAKE FOREST, Feb. 13 !A'! - Former Wake Forest Football Coach Tom Rogers announced to day he is leaving the eoachin ranks for good to promote a rea estate development near coastal Southport.

the second Big Four head coach to leave the gridiron ranks for ! n o t h e r field within less than a month. Former N o r t h Carolina

,, Coach G e o r g e Barclay, recently succeeded by Jim Tatum, has taken over the manage·

Ai ment of a filling station at Chapel Hill.

Coached 19 Years. Rogers, succeeded a few weeks

ago by Paul Amen, was in the col·ij lege f.ootbali coaching ranks for 19 years. He was head coach at Wake Forest for the past five seasons. Rogers, who was born in 1910,

said he has bought a home in Dur­ hem, his wife's hometown, and will establish - his headquarters there. "My work will carry me to all

parts of the state and I feel Dur­ ham will be an excellent location for my headquarters," he said. In his new capacity he will be

vice president in charge of public relations with G. V. Barbee, owner and developer of Yaupon Village on Long Beach. "I have been in the football

coaching business for a long time and I feel if I am ever going to get out of it now is as good a lime as any," he said. "This new job will enable me to spend consider­ ably more time with my wife and children."

Pulling For Deacs. He said "I'll always be interested

in the Wake Forest team. I am glad that I had such a wonderful group of boys during my final year, and I'll always be pulling for tbe Deacons in the future." He added "I know Paul Amen

didn't inherit a big squad at Wake Forest but he has got a great

, bunch of fellows. I know they will continue to give him the same sup­ port next year that they gave me." Rogers, a native of Hinton, W.Va.

played as an end under Wallace Wade at Duke, and was named to the All-Southern team in 1933. He began his coaching career as an assistant freshman coach at Duke in 1934 and went to Wake Forest as an end coach in 1938. He transferred to Clemson in

1941 where he was a line coach for two years. He then went into the Navy for three years and returned to the Wake Forest staff in 1946. In 1951 he became head coach upon the resignation of Douglas (Pea­ head) Walker.

Tom Rogers 'Released' · By Indians - Coach Returns ·To Wake Forest

By Morris Siegel The Tom Rogers-William and

Mary-Wake Forest case was closed last night with an announcement from Williamsburg taht the In­ dian coach "had been released at his own request." Rogers, · who Jess than five

weeks ago, signed a contract to coach William and Mary returns to Wake Forest under Peahead Walker where he served from 1938-41.

Rube McCray, W&M athletic director, last night said he called Walker, Deacon head coach, early yesterday mol'Jling and in­ formed him that Rogers "had been released by William and Mary." McCray reiterated the statement he made Sunday night when he said "neither Walker nor anyone else oonne4j!ted with Wake Forest has contacted me in regards to the situation. I called Walker first and told him Rogers was available." lt was l;;u:gely on Walker's rec­

ommendation that Rogers, forme Duke All-Southern end, was .hired at Williamsburg an dit seemed strange that Walker would re­ quest the services of a former coach when only several weeks ago he told Indiatt officials "I wish I had a place for Tom. H:e'll make you a good man." Walker said he couldn't assign

a specific reason for Rogers leav­ ing William and Mary "except maybe that living costs were high at Williamsburg." The W &M official who made the

announcement said Rogers was given more money at W&M than he originally requested and that several times he told athletic of­ ficials how happ yhe was with the Tribe.

"Rogers was one of three men under consideration for the job with us," the Indian spokesman said, "He was selected and the other two are no longer avail­ able. I haven't the slightest idea who we will i::;et to replace him." Late Sunday night The Times

Dispatch learned that W a k Forest was attempting to lur Rogers back. Dr. Thurman Kitch ins, Wake Forest president, to! I The Times-Dispatch then that "he was under the impression that Rogers would be at Wake Forest shortly,'' McCray said that "all of this is news to me and as far as I'm concerned Rogers is still a member of our coaching staff." Today, however, Rogers is no

longer a member of the Indian grid staff.