Winter 2007

Library now home to “Cradle” relics

When Robert Kurz ’58, in his second year as sports information director at Miami, called his alma mater the “Cradle of Coaches” it was to call attention to the fact Red Blaik '18, Weeb Ewbank '28, Paul Brown '30, Paul Dietzel '48, Ara Parseghian '49 and John Pont '52 were doing something remarkable in the history of football. Decades later, the phrase “Cradle of Coaches” has stood the test of time and that history can be studied and appreciated.

Housed in King Library, the Cradle of Coaches collection includes playbooks and other memorabilia from a number of sports leaders in Miami’s history.

Miami already pays tribute to them in the Cradle of Coaches Plaza at Yager Stadium. But the library collection is meant as something more.

“These were really significant people in the history of football,” Kurz, who donated some of the artifacts, said. “This history should make Miamians very proud, and I’m proud of the minor role I played.”

The heart of the collection came from purchases made by Nick Selvaggio '88 and Steve Stout, two Miami football fans. As a reporter, “I used to cover the Cincinnati Bengals,” Stout said. “I would talk to Weeb and I knew he had quite a collection in his Oxford basement.”

Stout and Selvaggio were able to gather many of the items from the man who had distinguished himself as a coach and as an innovator. “Weeb invented the audible system and other football tactics that are now the norm,” Stout said.

Their donation also includes materials from Brown, Bo Schembechler '51 and Randy Walker '76.

Stout, who wanted to honor his father, Gerald Stout '52, with the gifts, said whether it is a play written on a gum wrapper or a “cheat sheet” of how to get around New York City, the collection will give researchers and football enthusiasts plenty to think about.

“But my favorites are where you find out the coaches’ personal thoughts,” he said.

The idea of donating such items is catching on. Already, Selvaggio said, Bill Gunlock '51 has donated 17 playbooks from legendary coach Sid Gillman, considered the father of the modern passing game. Selvaggio said the archives are a “virtual time capsule of historical documents that highlight the contributions of Miami’s coaching legends.”

Selvaggio said he was lucky enough to meet Ewbank when he was a student. “We talked about the charm of Miami Field and the coaches who had come through here,” he said. “He was certainly ahead of his time.”

When Aaron '94 and Michelle '94 Simmons were looking to make a campaign commitment to support an area that was “uniquely Miami,” they were intrigued by the Cradle of Coaches Archive. The Simmonses, who are Miami football season ticket holders now but had known little about the legacy when they were students, decided to establish a fund specifically designated to support the archive. They -- along with other contributors, including Selvaggio -- are helping to preserve and promote the items in the archive.

“We just wanted to make sure the material was preserved,” Michelle Simmons said. “Next to the academic excellence of Miami, this is what Miami is known for.”

Aaron Simmons said it is important for alumni to support historical collections like this. “I think you appreciate Miami more after you graduate,” he said.

“The material is still gold today,” Stout said. “There are rare, valuable pieces that will mean a lot to those doing research or just to friends of the game.”