Miami University - Recensio Yearbook (Oxford, OH)

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ATHLETICS C, ampus athletics have for generations served as a unify- ing factor at Miami. Although at times opposing arguments have been raised, intercollegiate sports have re- mained an important Miami image-factor. A winning Miami team did not mean a liner school, but a winning team did mean that its success would be equated with the name of Miami University. Sports were a mode of self- expression incorporating the qualities of desire, endurance and determination, prerequisites for success anywhere. This past year saw the 0Miami imagei, carried through- out the world. As Doug Shepherd, Sports Editor of the Miami S tudent mentioned, llThis year should return Miami to the level of superiority they occupied before 1958. A11 sports indicate that Miami should garner the coveted MAC All-Sports trophy held for so long by lyou-know-whoi? A repeated top showing by the wrestling squad looked promising. Basketball surprised the national sports writers. The llMermenW, season proved to be the biggest shock with a wet Hip to the IVIAC top and then what? Defeat notwithstanding, prestige had returned. 9.6 This year saw the death of John Brickels, Bob Schulls victory in the Tokyo Olympics, the completion of plans for proposed, new athletic facilities, a Miami basketball team that hnally whipped O.U. and a real Big Ten killer in football. All these accomplishments seemed to indicate that Miamiis place in national recognition could only go up. Bob Schul, a twenty-seven year old part-time student, brought a satisfying tlinternationalll victory to Miami and the country in the 1964 Olympiad. He llkickedl, his way to world acclaim with a searing 200 yard finishing burst that brought Miami to the minds of track enthusiasts around the world. His victory represented the first time an American had ever won the 5,000 meters. Bob returned to campus in December and was honored at a special Uni- versity convocation. Students avidly listened to his minute by minute recount of the tense moments of the historic race. Twenty-five years ago the Mid-American Conference was an unknown entity. Today it has a valid and highly respected reputation in sports circles. Miami,s standouts of the past and present would never have received the recognition due them if the MAC had remained in its state of lethargy. Athletes like Bob Jencks and Wayne Embry would undoubtedly still have played professionally, but their acceptance might not have been as swift had it not been for the efforts of one of the most influential men in the creation of the MAC itself. John Brickels was the man. His stature stood behind much of the growth of the MAC. The death of John Brickels in the spring of 1964 was a shock to Miami, the MAC and the sports world in general. His funeral saw such greats as Woody Hayes and Johnny Pont among the host of others that came to mourn.

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For those students who were married the University pro- vided apartments at Miami Manor. The facilities were capable of accommodating 108 couples and had been avail- able since 1955. The eighty one-room eHiciencies were occupied by newlyweds, while couples with Children sought the larger apartments with an additional bedroom. Statis- tics showed that during the ,64 fall semester, 125 of the Manoris residents were students and in seventeen instances both husband and wife were attending the University. Campus lives of the above variety were common know- ledge to upperclassmen, but for the disillusioned freshman the most diHicult problem was adjustment to group living. Freshman counselors did an admirable job, and soon the freshman worked his way out of the neophyte stage. Evidently some people could live in rooms with no curtains or bedspreads. These people also tolerated running the obstacle course of dirty laundry, soiled sheets, cigarette ashes and butts to reach their desk hvhich was buried in piles of books and notesi. Others managed to liVe in a more civilized fashion. They gathered together the neces- sary, but scarce, dimes in order to launder on Saturday. Their rooms ran the gamut from the luxurious tstereos and multiplex tunersi to the staid in decor and furnishings, but always they were neat. Perhaps a personis surroundings indicated his iiFreudianii character, perhaps not. The only sure conclusion seems to be that dormitory life brought the best and worst from the Miami student body. Problems did arise, and each dormitory had a resident advisor to offer assistance. He or she had to be at least a graduate student. Resident Advisors had to be oblivious to nocturnal noise, patient and quite often protective. In return, they received a $1,400 salary, room, board and fees including staff privileges. The primary task of an advisor was to preserve the iiindividuaP, and to help in academic problems and dormi- tory decisions. His most important function, from a stu- dentis point of view, was the assistance he rendered in scheduling, guidance, hints on study technique and disci- plinary measures. In menis residence halls especially, the advisor might serve much of his time as a referee. All things considered, though, the freshmen quickly found their place on campus and established their own routine and schedule. They soon outgrew the iibig happy family, idea of the freshman dorm and looked forward to the more sensibly lenient atmosphere of the upperclass residence halls. tF or Greek living, see pp. 42-431 ' 7-5

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nder the eye of the former Director of Athletics, Ara U Parseghian, Hayes and Pont all gained their experience starts here at Miami. Mr. Brickels was well loved. Without his incentive and administrative ability the MAC might not enjoy its berth in the NCAA Basketball Champion- ships, as it does now. Undoubtedly his assistance was partially responsible for the proposed multi-million dollar athletic center to be located east of Tallawanda Creek. This new facility will contain a new auditorium, a new stadium initially seating 16,000 fans, a new nine hole golf course and a gigantic new parking lot twhatis thatPl. While Brickels lived, the grossly underrated Miami teams ravaged highly touted Big Ten teams and earned UPI and AP ratings until, finally in the sixties, she became the national power that John Brickels hoped she would be Miami basketball revived in 1963-64. The 1964 squad started all juniors and threw a scare into the MAC. Every- one knew that Miami would be tough in 165. They were. Near the end of January, the Skins were 13-1 on the season, and predictions were coming true. Under young, ambitious Coach Dick Shrider this exceptional team seemed to be racing to a MAC triumph. Coach Shrider had molded this squad since they were sophomores. Per- haps this yearls Miami Redskins would be the standout team for which the campus hoped. At least they managed to reverse the psychological effect of arehrival Ohio Uni- versity. Using the height of Charlie Dinkins and Jim Pat- terson, the defensive ability of Jerry Peirson and Walt Williams, along with the shooting genius of JeFf Gehring, Charlie Coles, and Johnny Swarm, the Skins trampled most MAC foes. Miamians also remember the ups and downs of football glory. In his second season, Bo Schembechler coached the team to a 6-3-1 record. The highlight of the fall must have been Ernie Kellermann,s personal triumph over North- western, 28-27. This marked his second Big Ten win as he and Bob Jencks combined to stun ninth-ranked Purdue 10-7 in 1962. With Joe Kozar and Don Peddie, Bo strengthened his running game while pass receiving was ably handled by Frank Dwyer, Jack Himebauch, and John Erisman. Defensive Captain Mike Cohn and third Tri- Captain, Bill Williams, were the other coordinators of the defensive and offensive efforts. The Wrestling Redskins brought home the MAC crown and under first-year coach, Joe Galat, had high prospects of repeating their fortunes again this year. Galatls most successful grapplers last fall were Dave Range, John Schael, Jay Black, Wally Hale, and Paul Sammis. They headed into the MAC Championships with only two losses in the whole dual meet build-up to the MAC finals. Coach Raymond Ray, always conservative in his estima- tions of what to expect, yet always training his team to new records, had reason to be encouraged about the 164-65 season. All-American Terry Barnett, a record relay team, superb diver Brad Smart, Todd Grant and the rest of the strong squad made winter the most promising of seasons for University athletic success. The hockey team, newly formed-by Jay Holcomb and self-linanced from members pockets, began their first sea- son with stars Steve MaCInnes, Bob Hartman and Howie Simms on the ice. Miamils skillful, internationally-manned soccer team continued its fighting emergence with Deme- trius Paximadis a star in the spirited array. Last spring Bob Epskampls track team, with a record- holding mile relay team, pulled to second in MAC honors. Woody Wills, baseball hit the doldrums of rebuilding simul- taneously, but venerable Coach Al Moore,s tennis team finished tied for first in MAC competition. We came back in the fall to football fortunes and cross country records. Andy Schrammls defeat by mono being partly offset by John Bachelerls harrier leadership and seventh place finish in the NCAA competition. Miami ran the gamut of conference competition and forged ever-Closer to the Tribe Miami goal of bringing home 2to its rightful place,, the coveted MAC All-Sports Trophy. Besides this spirited goal, the Mike Dane-led Tribe filled the calendar with sponsorship of the annual Miami High School Track Relays, with selling programs and cokes at sports events and with ogling sponsor Judy Sorg. They encouraged the start of a new tradition- wearing red on F ridays to show student support for mem- bers spirited efforts. Another new event this year was the Faculty-Varsity basketball game. The faculty showed their stuff, pulling down a stunning two point victory. Phi Epsilon Kappa, physical education majorls honorary, sponsored this novel game, with Dean Robert Etheridge mentoring the varsity and John Swann and Jerry Peirson coaching the faculty point-piling. Such a combination of intraschool, conference and in- ternational sports progress has spelled out Miami,s linesf athletic year in the past seven seasons.