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This file contains material relating to Benny Oosterbaan, University of Michigan.
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Touchdown Club Speech, Washington, DC, January 8, 1949
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4525624
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Touchdown Club Speech, Washington, DC, January 8, 1949
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This file contains material relating to Benny Oosterbaan, University of Michigan.
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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1949
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1949
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The original documents are located in Box D13, folder "Touchdown Club Speech,
Washington, DC, January 8, 1949" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and
Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Touchdown Club speech -Rep. G.R. Ford Jr.
Washington, D. C. Jan. 8,1949.
Gentlemen and honored guests:
This is for me one of the most enjoyable occasions you can imagine.
Benny Oosterbaan is a close and long-standing friend and to see him right-
fully acclaimed on this occasion gives me a real thrill.
Benny Oosterbaan comes from our part of Michigan. He was a great
all-around highschool athlete in Muskegon, Michigan. At the University of
Michigan he won nine varsity letters, three in football, three in basket-
ball and three in baseball. His feats on the gridiron, the basketball
court, and on the diamond are unsurpassed at the University of Michigan.
As a highschool student in Grand Rapids at the time Benny was making Ann
Arbor history, I admired him as the ultimate in athletes, which he was.
I can truthfully state that he was the idol of all of us who were embryonic
or would-be college athletes.
My next contact with Benny occurred when I matriculated at the Univer-
sity. He at that time was end coach under Harry Kepke. In short order I
learned that his knowledge of the science of football was unlimited. He
developed some great ends, such as the late legendary Bill Hewitt of pro-
football fame, All-American Ted Petoskey, now a coach at South Carolina,
Ivan Williamson, Lafayette's present head coach, and more recent Michigan
greats such as Len Ford and Bob Mann. From a player's point of view his
scouting technique was something to behold. The success Michigan has had
over the years against Minnesota was due in a large measure to Benny's
ability to analyze the Gopher powerhouse teams and build an attack and
defense against them.
While I was coaching at Yale University Benny and I conferred periodi-
cally on scouting methods. It was interesting to note that he was always
GERALOP FORD LIBRARY
Digitized from Box D13 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
- 2 -
seeking new and possibly better methods of doing his job; and I might add
that this is why he is receiving this wonderful honor tonight.
As a spectator at Ann Arbor the past three seasons, I have seen
Benny Oosterbaan in two of those years as backfield coach develop one
of the smoothest and most deceptive backfield combinations in football
history. Chappius, Yerges, Elliott and Weisenberger were magicians with
the ball. Just ask Southern California-they never saw the ball during
the entire game a year ago at the Rose Bowl.
When Fritz Crisler retired to become athletic director after the
undefeated and untied 1947 season and Benny was elevated to the position
of head coach, many Michigan alumni were somewhat dubious. Hardly an
enviable spot with so many Michigan stars graduating. He fielded
practically a new team in 1948 and welded them into as fine a team as
Michigan ever produced. He took sophomores and left-overs and made them
into the number one team for 1948. For this superb and brilliant effort
the T.D. Club is honoring my fellow Michigander. I only wish Benny
Oosterbaan were here tonight so I could be in the audience paying tribute
along
with
each
of
you.
However, on behalf of a swell guy, an outstanding
coach and a real American, I take great pleasure in accepting this trophy.
January 8, 1949
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD