Bowling Green State University - Key Yearbook (Bowling Green, OH)

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story by dave thalman Summer 1970 was quite an exper- ience for the football fans in the BG area. For the first time BGSU was the headquarters for a professional football team's summer training camp. The New Orleans Saints moved into Bowling Green in mid Iuly, and trained until the latter part of August. They showed anyone who watched them just what pro-football was all about. The Saints are an expansion team of the National Football League. In their three years of existence, the team has put together a record of 12 victories, 28 defeats andltie. Each year the Saints have improved their record and have set the pace for expansion clubs. The Saints have the potential become a first class team in a f years because of the men compos the backbone of its organizationfl' president of the team is 31 year Iohn W. Mecom, Ir., pro-footba youngest owner. Another part is a trumpet player from New by the name of Al Hirt. The coach of the Saints is Tom F who was recently inducted into Football Hall of Fame in Ohio. The Saints played against Minnesota Vikings the day Fears inducted and gave him a v the last 4 seconds of that This summer has put prc through quite a test. The pulled a strike against their 00 , y 3 Saints coach, Brad Eckland, looked over offensive line. Number one draft choice, Ken Burroughs, showed his

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ey are a proud type of people Coach Brodt said, ey know they don't have facilities or opportun- 1. What they do have is interest. We learned this te clinics and exhibitions we held in Guatemala, duras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica. five men who conducted these clinics are now h more appreciative of what they have in the of athletic facilities and educational opportun- here in America. was the first year a program like this has been nlucted. The USTFF has tried to set up similar rams in the past but the Amateur Athletic Union up until now, blocked all efforts. The USTFF ves the program was very successful. It was orted well in all countries by their athletic ations who paid all the team's expenses during hree week tour. Plans are underway to continue rogram in Central America and the Caribbean hopes to expand into other countries in the e. can be certain of one thing-if Bowling Green on tour next year it won't be irony. - .. up- ...--r-nge. , - . i Wi.. L-.- fs- in f-i emwwin-aeaxw-ew ww- 4 ,:x.mexmamuv.a 1. me E Ssso Bowling Green track team members pro- vided instruction and demonstration in all areas of track and field. Paul Zitko Ctopj gives hints to Guatemalan hurdlers. Jeff Huston Cmiddleh talks about the javelin in Costa Rica. The shot is demonstrated in Nicaragua by lim Reardon tleftj. eltzei'

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more money in their fthe playersj sion plan. Before the strike finally ed, an observer of the Saints' ctice sessions could see that the ctices were not just what they re meant to be. As time passed, coaches seemed to be getting rt tempered with their 50 rookies walk-ons as the Hall of Fame e neared. It turned out that both ms fthe Vikings and Saintsl played game with mostly their rookies. strike ended eventually and the nts' practice sessions became lier. Saints had a rather exceptional p of rookies and walk-ons. ir first round draft choice, Ken rough, from Texas Southern Uni- sity is outstanding as a wide receiver. He's tall, 6 ft. 4 in., and has good speed. Their ninth round draft choice, lim Otis, is well known by people in the area and was watch- ed by many. Otis was injured in the Saints first contact drill, but seems to be up to par now. Out of the 50 players trying to make the Saints for their first year, only approximately 12 will make it, and as one can imagine, the competition was hot and heavy in rookie practice sessions. The overall impression of Bowling Green by the players and coaches seemed to be that it wasn't quite as swinging a place as last year's summer headquarters, San Diego. The trainers and coaches were impressed by the BG athletic facilities and the food prepared for them while they stayed in Kreischer Quadrangle. As with anyone else who has been inBowling Green for any period of time, the personnel of the team was not im- pressed or pleased with the weather. The Saints have probably gained a few more fans in the Bowling Green area. But it is rather doubtful that they will return. The reason for choosing BG was purely economi- cal-all of their exhibition games were east of the Mississippi River. The Saints won the first two of their three pre-season games and we'll soon know just how successful the Saints training in BG has been. Let's wish them luck! 'ff Us of the Saints post season scrimmages quarterback Bill Kilmer unleashed a pass, while coach, Tom Fears watched. 25