Jennings, Morley

Morley Jennings, former Athletic Director at Texas Tech, reviews his life and background, his athletic career, and makes valuable comments on the development of football rules and techniques and interscholastic athletic rules.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Morley Jennings

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: November 29, 1972; December 5, 1972

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: David Murrah, Ralph Sellmeyer

Length: 4 hours, 45 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Career, Athletic director (1926-1941), Baylor University, Athletic director (1941-1951), Texas Tech, Education, Mississippi State (1909-1911), Albon College (1908-1909), Texas Tech, Athletic program, Structure, Scheduling problems, Border Conference, Financial situation, Budget (1941), Early Texas rivals, West Texas State, Hardin-Simmons, Stadium built (1947), Clifford B. Jones, Funds, Total cost, Basketball program, Minor sports.

Tape 1, Side 2: Recruiting, Dell Morgan coach, Football, World War II, Jones Stadium, Playing field, Construction, Memorable players, Walter Schlinkman, Ed Irons, J. R. Callahan, Professional baseball, World War I, Military service, Sports, Seasons, Scholarships, Student employment, Southwest Conference, Texas Tech, Teams, Crowd attendance, Out-of-town games.

Tape 2, Side 1: Rice University, Enrollment, Finances, Athletics, Baylor University, Athletics, Southwest Conference Football, Games, Coaches, Kansas City Blues team.

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

Tape 3, Side 1: Background and early life in Michigan, Review of coaching career, Playing football in high school at Albion, Michigan (1908), Notes changes and innovations in high school football rules and techniques, Playing baseball in high school and college, Reviews athletic program at Mississippi State (1910), Explains lack of interest in basketball, Recalls traveling for athletic events in Michigan and Mississippi, Public interest in football discussed, Physical changes in the late twentieth century athlete, Semi-pro baseball career recalled, Pro baseball players mentioned, Describes football program at Ouachita College in Arkansas.

Tape 3, Side 2: Recruiting practices at Ouachita explained, Training program reviewed, Lists colleges scheduled for playing at Ouachita, Athletic facilities equipment and uniforms available at Ouachita, Explains decision to stop playing baseball, Baseball leagues reviewed, Traces development of T-formation, Growth of athletic facilities, Describes athletic program at Baylor, History and abuse of "athletic scholarships", Practice of providing jobs for athletes noted, Discusses present scholarship program, Recruiting at Baylor, Organizing financial aid for the athletic program, Baylor’s rivals named.

Tape 4, Side 1: Reviews career at Baylor (1926-1941), Explains move to Tech as athletic director (1941), Mentions Tech’s expulsion and re-admission to Border Conference, Scheduling Southwest Conference teams, Tech rivals listed, Planning and building a new stadium, Efforts toward re-admission to Border Conference, Discusses Border Conference rivals, leaders and character, Role of Athletic Council at Tech, Studies athletics’ relationship to the administration, Traces growth of facilities for Tech physical education program, Division between duties of athletic director and physical education director (1951), DeWitt Weaver’s program characterized, Describes personal work, Tech’s attempts to enter Southwest Conference.

Tape 4, Side 2: Praises Tech as a Southwest Conference member, Tech basketball reviewed, Changes in athletics discussed, Notes positive and negative aspects, Speculation about small schools’ decisions to stop football, Questions changes in discipline policy Explores social problems of the black athlete in certain environments, Favors area recruiting, Defense of athletics as educational development, Discussion of personal scrapbooks and career record, "Free substitution" rule as protector of small schools.

Tape 5, Side 1: Introduction to speech, States origin of interscholastic athletic programs, Need for interscholastic athletic rules cited along with lack of organization, Notes importance of "Oil Belt" in the development of athletics, Need for eligibility rules stressed, Great Lakes regional development of national rules mentioned, Review of rules, Educational administrator’s role in developing state athletic rules, Origin and logic of rules presented, Examines role of community leaders in the development of athletics, Anecdote concerning Dr. Pepper Company’s role in athletics.

Tape 5, Side 2: Presentation of each rule accompanied by explanations and examples (continued), Definition of "professionalism", The question of scholarships explored, Return to presentation of rules.

Tape 6, Side 1: Interscholastic rules presented accompanied by explanation, Athletic officials associations discussed.

Tape 6, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1908-1972

Bulk Dates: 1908-1965

Access Information

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Transcript:

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