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COACHES A fact long known by Oklahomans should be quite apparent to the entire sports world nowthat the Aggies have one of the best coaching staffs in the nation. The staff is headed by Henry Iba, who also serves as basketball coach. Below is E. M. "Jim" Lookabaugh, coach of the 1946 Sugar bowl champions. The athletic tidal wave that started in the autumn of 1944 continued to mount to higher peaks in 1945-46 as the very capable Oklahoma A. and M. coaching staff produced teams that got the maximum of ability from the Aggie players. Led by Henry Iba, director of athletics, the A g g i e s reached an all-time high as Jim Lookabaugh's footballers swept through an undefeated season, the first in the college's history, incIdentally, and the Missouri Valley champions went on to win the Sugar
Henry lbo, basketball coach; Jim Lookabaugh, football coach; Ralph Higgins, track; Art Griffith, wrestling; Toby Greene and Jack Baker, assistant lootball coaches.
bowl by the widest margin in the history of that event. For the first time since 1942 the Aggies resumed a full time athletic program. Iba had carried on basketball, Lookabaugh had continued football, and Ralph Higgins had remained in competition with a skeleton track team, but for Art Griffith, wrestling coach, and Toby Greene, baseball mentor, it was the first time their teams had seen action since their varsity men in '42 packed their duds and marched off to war. Jack Baker, Merle Collins, Al Paddock, along with Greene, helped Lookabaugh with the college's best grid team. Griffith doubled his wrestling chores with tennis, and Harry Dolman was in charge of the golfers. Top row, left to right: Backfield Coach Jack Baker, fred Lang, Bill Wilson, How II Tail, Harvey Griffin, Ross Duckett, Maurice Brewion,
Steve Bakajza, Burl Bartlett. Fourth row: Head Football Coach Jim Lookabaugh, Bob DeMoss, Sammy Howell, Bob Faucelle, Cecil Hankins, Gene McDaniel, Don Wie-
bener, Donnie Williamson, Bob Meinert, George Ivie, Line Coach Al Pedcock. Third row: End Coach Toby Greene, Don Van Pool, Nate Watson. Clarence Tully, T. W. LedbeHer, Altor Kelly, Jim Parmer B, b Hargrove,
Sam Bratcher, Mack Creager, J. D. Cheek. Second row: Wayne Weaver, Jean Fitter, Carl Jackson, Orville Makintubee, Otis Schellstede, Bill Grimes, Neill Armstrong, Bob Fenimore, Franklin Spruiell, Joe Thomas, John Carey, Bill Long. Bottom row: Thurman Gay, Glenn Moore, Jim Reynolds, J. C. Colhouer, Tern' Monroe, Alex Loyd, Joe Shunkamolah, Bert Cole, Holly Pearce.
With big Gallagher Hall fieldhouse looming in the background, Bob Fenimore takes off down the field with the pigskin chased by players of the Tulsa Hurricane.
FIRST WIN
BOB FENIMORE, LHB
NEILL ARMSTRONG, E NATE WATSON, BB
First Win
Coach Jim Lcokabaugh's 1944 Cotton bowl champion footballers took up where they left off the previous season, September 29, 1945, at Fayetteville, Arkansas, against the hefty Arkansas Hogs. A. and M. won the game, 19 to 14, on a rainsc:aked field before 10,000 thrilled, but chilled fans. The Cowboys were the dominant team all afternoon and were never behind. They drove 82 yards to score in the first quarter with Fullback Jim Parmer carrying over from the seven. Mack Creager converted to put the visitors out in front, 7 O. But Alton Baldwin, the best back the Razorbacks had that day, tied it up in the third period for their lone minute of glory. Baldwin raced wide to his right and took a pass from Calvin Smith to pull in the Aggie defensive. He then tossed a 3D-yard pass to Mike Schumchyk for a touchdown. The Porkers kicked the extra point, and the game was all tied up. But Bob Fenimore quickly dimmed the Hoys' hopes with an 80-yard jaunt on the first play after the kick-off. The All-American sliced off right
J. C. COLHOUER, LG ROSS DUCKETT, G MACK CREAGER, WB JIM REYNOLDS, FB
TWO DOWN tackle reversed his field and it was all over. Both teams scored after thaC but the Aggies had the game in their hip-pockets. l
Two Down
The offensive-minded A g g i e s made it two straight in Denver October 51 with a 31-7 trouncing of Den v e r university. A capacity crowd of 20 /000 packed the Denver stadium to watch Fenimore Parmer Jim Reynolds and Franklin Spruiell dish up six-pointers that took the measure of the home team. Parmer placed the Cotton bowl champs out in front early in the first quarter. The big fullback crashed over from the one-yard stripe after an 85-yard drive. The second tally came after several Fenimore passes had brought the pigskin 80 yards up the field to the Denver one-yard line. Fenimore went over for the score. Reynolds went through the middle for a 34-yard run after the second-half kick-off. The Blond Bomber tallied again with a 70-yard dash. The quick-opening play came around right end with a lateral coming off a fake line plunge. Little Joe Thomas hurled a pass to Spruiell which went for 34 yards l
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This bit of action was seen when the Aggies tried a line plunge agains the Texas Tech Raiders on Lewis lield.
rTHREE IN A ROW
with the Lawton freshman lugging it the final eight yards. Up in front, substitutes J. D. Cheek, Don Van Pool, Bill Long and Bob Hargrove were making the Denverites wonder which was the Aggies' first line. Three in a Row
JOE THOMAS, LHB MARVIN WILKERSON, C TIM PARMER, FB
State fans got their first look at the powerful and still undefeated Punchers, October 12, at Oklahoma City. The Mustangs from Southern Methodist university were the victims this time, going down before the wrath of Lookabaugh's speedsters, 26 12. For the second straight time, a capacity crowd was on hand for the battle-this time some 18,000 jamming Taft stadium. It was a fight between two of the finest teams in the Southwest as 53 aerials whizzed through the air. SMU pitchers connected on 15 of 32, and A. and M. was successful eight times in 21 tries. While it was Fenimore's running that again broke the opponents' backs, Freshman Bill Grimes came into his own this night. Grimes broke into the scoring column in a big way, breaking loose twice with fast and slippery running which proved too much for the Mustangs. Most spec-
MAURICE BREWTON, LE BOB HARGROVE, C BOB FAUCETTE, G CECIL HANKINS, WB
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FOUR WINS tacular play of the night came when Fenimore intercepted a pass, fell in behind a hastily organized interference, and put on a burst of speed unprecedented for the night. It was a 66-yard scoring play, and his third in as many games which went more than 60 yards. Four Wins
Grimes continued his sensational playing as the Cowboys completed the first half of their eight-game s c h e d u I e unbeaten. Grimes snagged two aerials and crossed into paydirt twice for his fourth sixpointer in two games. His first came on a pass from Reynolds, and the second was a peg from Fenimore. Aggie reserves played a majority of the time. Veteran center Marvin Wilkerson was unable to play and the next day underwent an appendectomy in Denver. Reserve center Otis S c h e I I s ted e started, and was relieved by Gene Fitter who saw much action. Neill Armstrong, G. O. Moore, Terry Monroe, Bert Cole, Jake Colhouer, Thurman Gay, Schellstede, Nate Watson, Fenimore, Parmer, and Grimes started the game. The second half got underway with a slight
The Oklahoma Aggies win another one!
FIVE STRAIGHT
rainfall. The Aggies' starting lineup stayed in just long enough to score once more, then left it in the hands of the subs. Utah finally scored against the third team. Five Straight
BILL GRIMES, WB TERRY MONROE, RT DON V AN POOL, LE
Fenimore, after having kept thousands of A. and M. fans on edge with a slight illness, got out of the College infirmary in time to lead the Punchers past Texas Christian university, 25-12. Fenimore was confined to the infirmary for two days, and there was much doubt throughout the week that he would be able to see action. Reynolds, who in this game, for the first time, seemed to be reaching his top 1940 form, and Cecil Hankins, back in actIon for the first time this year, were the other two cogs in the Aggies' ground-covering backfield. Parmer was out of action with a knocked down shoulder. He entered the game, but lasted exactly two plays before rehurting the shoulder. Twenty-five points were scored in the thrill-packed first quarter. The Aggies drew first blood with Fenimore climaxing a 72-yard march. TCU came back with two quick touchdowns, the first on a 51-yard
J. D. CHEEK, T BILL LONG, RE FRANKLIN SPRUIELL, WB BERT COLE, LT
SIX WINS pass play. FIve plays later, after a pass interception, the Horned Frogs had scored again. This was the first time the Aggies had trailed in a game this year. But that powerful Aggie offense came through, and it was five in a row. Six Wins
November 10. What a day in A. & M. athletic history. Never had there been such a demand for tickets. The ducats had been on sale for weeks, had been sold out immediately afterwards. More seats were built, more tickets sold-and still a tremendous demand. 18,000 filled tiny Lewis field stadium to more than overflowing on that chilly Saturday afternoon. It was to be a replay of that never-to-beforgotten 46-40 Aggie win in Tulsa the year before, and everybody in the country wanted to be there to see it. And those lucky 18,000 saw the Tulsa Hurricane hurry into a 6-0 lead and hold on for dear life. Tulsa recovered their own kick-off deep in Aggie territory and a tricky double reverse play put them in the lead. It wasn't the thrilling offensive game fans had seen the year before. Rather this was a game where the best defense paid off,
It's the Texas Tech game and Mack Creager tries a conga step to no avail in the closing minutes of the Aggies' 46-6 romp_
SEVEN STRAIGHT
and after Fenimore had passed to Grimes for one score, and lateralled to Armstrong for another after returning a punt, that stout A. & M. line repulsed Camp Wilson and company, and the Aggies had passed the most severe test in their quest for the first undefeated season of all-time. Score: Aggies 12, Tulsa 6. Seven Straight
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OTIS SCHELLSTEDE, C
THURMAN GAY, RG WAYNE WEAVER, G
Ranked eighth in the nation by virtue of their Tulsa triumph and in view of an undefeated season, A. & M. next trimmed Texas Tech, 466, at Stillwater. Every man on the Cowboy squad saw action as Lookabaugh swept his bench clean of 44 players. The regulars saw only limited action, playing most of the first period and only a few minutes of the third. Best play of the game came midway in the second quarter when Walter Schlinkman, highly regarded Tech fullback, fumbled deep in Aggie territory. Alex Loyd caught the ball in midair on the two-yard line, carried to the 10, lateralled to Hankins, who went all the way. Loyd and Colhouer took out two would-be tacklers with beautiful blocks. Bobby Meinert, third string fullback, oddly
GLENN MOORE, RE HARVEY GRIFFIN, E AFTON KELLY, G SAM HOWELL, T
EIGHT IN A RO enough, led the Aggies in ground gaining that day. The Tech victory left only the pesky Sooners from down Norman way as the only remaining obstacle on the road to that unblemished season. Eight in a Row
Fenimore, Reynolds and 38 other Cowboys played the game of the season in Norman, November 24, to send the Aggies into their second consecutive New Year's day bowl game, with a resounding 47-0 thrashing of the Sooners. The victory, which catapulted the Punchers into their first unbeaten season In 43 years of footbalt also constituted the worst defeat ever rung up against a Sooner team. And for those countless Aggie fans who remember that 41-0 beating the Sooners handed out back in the late '30s, it was sweet music. 33,500 screaming fans saw the unbeaten Orange and Black Aggies thunder past the hapless Sooners. For Reynolds, victory was especially pleasing. In his former stay at Aggieland, the big fullback had sparked a late A. & M. rally that fell just two points short of giving the Punchers the first win in several years. He played his best game of the year.
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The highest peak ever reached by an Oklahoma or Missouri Valley eleven was achieved by the Oklahoma Aggies when they defeated St. Mary's in the Sugar bowl on New Year's day, 1946. On these pages are shown "Daily Oklahoman" photographs showing the arrival of the Cowboys In New Orleans. Here Fullback Jim Parmer, scrimmage black eye shining, checks his weight at the railway station scales, and, below, a group of Aggies enter their bus enroute to Keesler field, at Biloxi, where they trained. Capt. Carl Sears, Oklahoman at Keesler field, chats with Bob Fenimore, as Aggie stars look on. Captain Sears arranged training quarters at Keesler for the Aggies.
Above, the sturdy A. & M. squad holds up a moment in the New Orleans railway station, while awaiting departure to their pre-game training camp. The lads had just completed their crowded and delayed tram trip from Stillwater, and most of those you see here making inquiry of teammates are asking, "Wonder when we eat?" Below, another casual shot of a group of Aggies, just off the Texas & Pacific train, upon arrival at New Orleans. In the picture, Marvin Wilkerson, Neill Armstrong, Nate Watson, Wayne Weaver (center), Bob Fenimore, Mac k Creager, Jim Parmer.
Those grand hosts, the New Orleans Mid-Winter Sports association members, made the Aggie stay pleasant at Biloxi. Above, Donnie Williamson gets his Christmas gift, while Coach Jim Lookabaugh watches. Below, Bill Grimes and Nate Watson file wires home, and Mrs. Lookabaugh and Mrs. Toby Greene test the Yule dinner.
What a Christmas dinner at Hotel Buena Vista! Joe Thomas and Frankie Spruiell carve the bird.
Upper right: Dancing on th2 deck at the Buena Vista, and that's Thurman Gay, left, and Bob Fenimore, right, with two southern belles from Biloxi. Below: What was in those Christmas boxes? Bob DeMoss and Bill Long, at the table, are finding out as dancing partners help with the ribbons.
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General Wainwright, Governor Kerr of Oklahoma, and Governor Davis of Louisiana, upper left, are wailing for the kickoff. Center: Dr. Henry G. Bennett, president of A. & M., and Governor Davis at their box. Mrs. Bennett and Navy Lieutenant Joe Preston, son-in-law of the Bennetts, are shown just behind the doctor, and Mrs. Jim Lookabaugh can be seen to the right of Mrs. Bennett.
Below: It's an Aggie touchdown and here's part of the Aggie bench. Standing, left to right: Holly Pearce, Maurice Brewton, Alex Loyd, Coach Lookabaugh, Bob DeMoss, Bob Meinert, Donnie Williamson, and Bill Grimes.
Here's the second A. & M. touchdown, a slashing slant off tackle by all-America Bob Fenimore, as he tears through a tremendous hole in the Gael line to go over standing up and make the count Aggies 14, 81. Mary's 6. Below is shown part of the record-shattering crowd of 75,000 that watched the classic, wiih the Aggie yell leaders busy in front of the west stands.
(All Sugar bowl pictures are DAILY OKLAHOMAN staff photographs)
ROBERT DALE FENIMORE, All-America, 1944-1945 The brilliant Oklahoma Aggie left halfback was a unanimous all-America selection both in the 1944 and 1945 seasons. Fenimore was the nation's leading ground gainer in 1945. A junior from Woodward.