Spike Nelson Succeeds Pond As Head Grid Coach at Yale

A 69 years old tradition of graduate coaches went by the boards last Saturday as Yale named Iowan Emerson W. "Spike" Nelson head football coach to succeed Raymond "Ducky" Pond and gave Nelson a free hand in forming a new grid staff.

Pond's first lieutenant Earl "Greasy" Neale resigned a few weeks ago, and the status of the rest of the Yale grid mentors is uncertain. Nelson is free to purge the staff at will, but apparently lie must make some kind of a showing in short order. He was given a one-year verbal contract.

Pond's contract, at $8,000 per annum, was not due to expire until next year, and some settlement will have to be made. Nelson is understood to have agreed to a salary of $5,000, right in line with Yale's recent decision to slash the athletic budget wherever possible. Yale's grid gate receipts were $100,000 below expectations this fall, making it necessary for Ogden Miller to tighten the Blue athletic belt without giving up big-time football.