World War II Chronicle: April 28, 1941
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Page two reports that the Army has recalled University of Tennessee head football coach Robert Neyland. Neyland played one season of football at Texas A&M before accepting a nomination to the U.S. Military Academy (Class of 1916). While there he was an unbeaten heavyweight boxer, played lineman on the football team and on the pitching mound threw Army’s first no-hitter. Neyland turned down an impressive contract offer from baseball’s New York Giants and remained in the Army. Was an engineer in France during the First World War, then returned to West Point where he was aide-de-camp to supervisor Douglas MacArthur.
Knute Rockne, himself perhaps the greatest coach in college football history, honored Neyland by calling him “football’s greatest coach.” That should come as no surprise when you consider Neyland’s Tennessee squads between 1927-32 sported a 53-1-5 record and outscored their opponents 1514-172. This marks the second time the Army has cut into Neyland’s coaching career: he was recalled in 1934 for service in Panama Canal. We will have more on Neyland in forthcoming pieces…
The man in the Camel cigarette advertisement is Cincinnatti Reds pitcher Bucky Walters, who was the National League MVP in 1939 and also won the Triple Crown that season. Walters was a six-time All-Star and his pitching numbers would have even more impressive had he not played as an infielder for his first four seasons…
Sports section begins on page 14… Pictured on the next page is Kentucky State lineman Herb Trawick, a colored college All-American. After graduating he joins the Army, then becomes the Canadian Football League’s first black player. He played 11 seasons and was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1975.
Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 28 April 1941. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1941-04-28/ed-1/