Captain Kangaroo Posted June 14, 2005 Report Posted June 14, 2005 Former Akron football coach Gordon Larson dies 6/13/2005, 5:50 p.m. ET The Associated Press AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Former University of Akron football coach Gordon Larson, who led the school to its first bowl game, died Sunday in Florida. He was 80. In 12 seasons (1961-72) as the Zips football coach, Larson had a 74-33-5 record and just one losing season. His .683 winning percentage is the best of any coach in program history, while the 74 wins are six fewer than Jim Dennison (1973-85). Larson led Akron to the Grantland Rice Bowl in 1968, a first for the school. He coached at Twinsburg High School before serving as an assistant to Woody Hayes at Ohio State. As Akron's athletic director for 15 years (1970-85), Larson helped establish the women's intercollegiate program, pushed for buying and refurbishing the Rubber Bowl and created a $20 million initiative to construct what is now James A. Rhodes Arena. Quote
Buckzip Posted June 14, 2005 Report Posted June 14, 2005 If we get the new on campus stadium, we may now have a name for it. Quote
KingZip Posted June 14, 2005 Report Posted June 14, 2005 Not. Any new stadium is not going to be named after a dead guy but for who puts up the jack to get it built. Maybe a lockerroom or suite, but not a stadium. They could name the restrooms for Faust and Owens. Quote
zip37 Posted June 14, 2005 Report Posted June 14, 2005 Red Cochran told me once that the worst thing he ever did was name Larson A.D., Larson was the reason Wyatt Webb resigned-- followed by Cunningham and Rupert which were disasters! With ball ammuniton lock and load. Quote
Captain Kangaroo Posted June 14, 2005 Author Report Posted June 14, 2005 Red Cochran told me once that the worst thing he ever did was name Larson A.D., Larson was the reason Wyatt Webb resigned-- followed by Cunningham and Rupert which were disasters! With ball ammuniton lock and load. The fact that he championed the JAR isn't one of the most impressive things on his resume either. In general, seemed like an ok guy. I loved his "Far Side" comic strip. Quote
zip37 Posted June 15, 2005 Report Posted June 15, 2005 hIS BROTHERS BOB AND RALPH, WHO WORKED AT THR UNIVERSITY, WERE MUCH MORE CLASSY THAN G0RDON WHO WAS A GREAT COACH BUT, IMHO, TOO MUCH OF A FOOTBALL MAN TO RUN THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM WITH AN EVEN HAND. WBALAL Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.