build • 1ng • a winner

praise his coaching staff and his players. He accepts congratulations graciously and accolades reluctantly.

The clock reads l 0: 37 a.m. The butterflies begin. He tries to remember if anything has been left out. His conversation dwindles now He responds but his mind is on football. Perhaps this is the key to Roy Kidd's success. Organization. He covers his strategy thoroughly .

At noon, Kidd eats a light lunch and heads for the locker rooms. There , it's more football talk. The aroma

Eastern's offense has ·been potent by land and by air. Jimmy Brooks will provide much of the firepower for this year's team. · of analgesic rub is familiar to Kidd. Athletics have been his life. These Saturdays are the highlights.

Kidd and his players hit the field a little after 1 p.m. Already the crowd is beginning to fill the stadium. Roy Kidd is a big reason. He has built a football program on a par with any college division school in the country. His teams are exciting. And, most important, they win. They have basked in the national spotlight and sent several players to the professional ranks.

Three players have gained All-American recognition and five others have been honorable mention. His 1967 outfit won the NCAA's 10-state Mideast Region by capturing the Grantland Rice Bowl , 27-13 over Ball State.

It's difficult to pinpoint the reason for this success. It's a combination of many things. Kidd will tell you it's a solid coaching staff and dedicated players. But it all goes back to the same answer. Organization.

Roy Kidd is a matter-of-fact man who fits perfectly into this so-called age of telling it like it is. He does not possess the effervescent personality that glories in controversy He is a natty dresser-by no means flashy-who recruits with the same sincerity he expects from his players on the field. His greatest source of pride is his team. Not just its success, but the progress of each individual player both on and off the field.

Kidd meets with the officials briefly and then watches drills. He paces back and forth on the 30 yard-line. His hands remain in his pockets most of the time and he stares at the ground as he paces. More organization.

A last second talk in the dressing room prepares his players. Then it's back to the field for the kickoff. For the next three hours, it's all football for Roy Kidd. His savvy and derring-do have pulled more than a few games out of the fire. Eighty per cent of the time the past three years.

The horn sounds and in most cases it signals another Eastern victory. The congratulations and accolades follow.

Saturday night is a time for relaxation and a mental replay of the game-unless, of course, there happens to be a Saturday night high school or OVC game. In that case, Kidd will be there.

After church on Sunday, the movie projector affords closer examination of Saturday's game. The weak spots are found and plans are made to patch them up at Monday's practice.

Time to start thinking about next Saturday's game.