QB William Henry Harrison "Tippy" Dye (Official Thread)

[BB73]

Tippy Dye was the quarterback from 1934, the year that Head Coach Francis Schmidt originated the 'Gold Pants' for beating Michigan, through 1936. The Buckeyes defeated TSUN each of those years. The feat of winning three games as the QB against TSUN has now been duplicated by Troy Smith, from 2004 through 2006.

Dye also played baseball and basketball (team captain) at tOSU, and later was Ohio State's head basketball coach from 1947 to 1950.

wikipedia

William Henry Harrison "Tippy" Dye is a noted former college athlete, coach, and athletic director in the United States. As a basketball head coach, Dye led the University of Washington to their only NCAA Final Four appearance. As an athletic director, Dye helped build the University of Nebraska football dynasty.

Dye entered the Ohio State University in 1933 and became a star three-sport athlete. He earned three varsity letters as a football quarterback in 1934, 1935 and 1936. His team finished those seasons with records of 7-1, 7-1, and 5-3, respectively. Dye also played guard on the school's basketball team, lettering in 1935, 1936 and 1937. He was an All-Conference selection in the Big Ten in 1936 and 1937. In 1937 he was also the team's captain. Dye lettered in baseball in 1935 and 1936.

After graduation, Dye entered coaching. He was the basketball head coach of the Ohio State University from 1947 to 1950. In 1950 Ohio State won the Big Ten Conference title and finished in the Elite Eight of the NCAA basketball tournament. Dye then moved on to the University of Washington, where he served as the basketball head coach from 1951 to 1959. Washington won three consecutive Pacific Coast Conference titles (1951-53), and in 1953 went to the NCAA Final Four. Dye's 156-91 record in Washington ranks him as the third winningest coach in the school's basketball history, behind Hall of Fame coaches Hec Edmundson and Marv Harshman.

Dye was hired as the athletic director at the University of Nebraska in 1962. Prior to hiring Dye, the University of Nebraska football team had an all-time winning percentage of less than 62%. Since 1962 (ending 2005) the University of Nebraska football winning percentage is just over 81%, which is by far the highest winning percentage in that period in the nation.

Dye was named after former United States President William Henry Harrison. Harrison used the campaign nickname of Tippecanoe, which led in turn to Dye's nickname of Tippy.

 

[OhioState49]

Any relation to Daniel Dye from OSU?

 

[Moose]

BB73,
Nice article on Tippy. Hope the question "Who (if any) was the last QB to beat Michigan 3 times in a row", was a good brain teaser. Props to VG and you for the digging required to share this info with the buckeye faithful. Ah, I love good buckeye trivia, and facts bout the Bucks. Kinda itching to see what Troy is gonna do at "The Game". Again, thanks for the great read.
Moose

 

[nfisher2]

Speaking of Tippy....

 

[BB73]

Tippy Dye will be here to see if Troy matches his feat of defeating TSUN 3 times.

official.site

TUNNEL OF PRIDE
As has become the tradition in recent years for the Michigan game, former Ohio State football players will form a tunnel of pride for the Buckeyes to run through when they enter the field before the game. The list of returnees includes 94-year-old William H. "Tippy" Dye (1934-36). Tippy, who later served as the Buckeyes head basketball coach and was athletics director at Northwestern, currently lives in Los Angeles.

 

[nfisher2]

That is awesome! I'm going to have to figure out how to get him one of my posters as a thank you for coming back and blessing the Bucks!

Nate

 

[Steve19]

It will not be easy for someone his age to travel that distance and take the cold. Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye!

 

[Steve19]

It will not be easy for someone his age to travel that distance and take the cold. Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye!

 

[IronBuckI]

It will not be easy for someone his age to travel that distance and take the cold. Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye!

7 minutes later.

It will not be easy for someone his age to travel that distance and take the cold. Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye!

Alright. We get it. :tongue2:

 

[nfisher2]

I was thinking of sending him one of my posters I made for the game. I didn't even know he was still alive? I know he lives in LA. Anyone have any idea how to go about locating his address and sending him one?

Should i call the Athletics Dept?

EDIT: I was able to locate the guy who is picking Tippy up at the airport and taking him to the game. I framed up a poster for him and he'll be getting it tonight! Also a chance I'll get to meet him to give him the poster. ABC is going to do a couple of pieces on him during the game. SWEET!

EDIT: I'm meeting up with Tippy at 6 pm tonight...awesome!

GO BUCKS!
thanks in advance,
nate

 

[nfisher2]

UPDATE:

Just got back from the Tippy Dye signing....it was amazing stuff....dude is a legend and still sharp as a tack. That was one of the coolest things I've been a part of in a LONG time.......

They were heading out to Les Wexner's house for dinner with Tressel

Pictures.

Gold Pants from 1944 Ohio State vs. Mich

 

[Buckskin86]

At 91, Dye still remembers glories from rivalry games
By RUSTY MILLER
Associated Press Sports
Updated: 9:14 p.m. CT Nov 18, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -William Henry Harrison "Tippy'' Dye has a particularly vivid memory from his years quarterbacking Ohio State in the 1930s against archrival Michigan.

"Beating them,'' he said.

Now 91 and living with a daughter in California, Dye was in attendance for Saturday's latest showdown between Michigan and Ohio State, which the top-ranked Buckeyes won 42-39, winning the Big Ten title and a spot in the national title game.

Dye's hearing isn't very good, but his memory is pristine despite saying that he can't remember what he did an hour ago. Over the course of a brief conversation, the Pomeroy native talked about the stars of the opposing team in the state high school baseball championship in 1931, of coaches he hired during stints as the athletic director at Northwestern, Washington, Wichita State and Nebraska, and of the long and accomplished life he has led.

The Buckeyes shut out Michigan all three years he played, 34-0 in 1934, 38-0 in 1935 and 21-0 in 1936. Dye earned his spot in the Ohio State athletic hall of fame also by lettering in basketball and baseball those three years.

He returned a punt one year for a touchdown - and almost brought back a second one but was brought down at the 4.

"I must not have been very fast,'' he deadpanned.

Another time he was hit hard on a tackle and his helmet flew off. He kept a cardboard sheet inside his headgear with the Buckeyes' plays written on it, and the list lay there on the ground for all the Michigan players to see until someone picked it up.

The Michigan game was big back then, too.

"It was a full stadium, although it wasn't nearly as large as it is now,'' he said while flanked by his nephew, Mike Dye, an Orange Bowl representative.

"They weren't very good in those three years,'' Dye said of the Wolverines. "Michigan was our rival and fortunately, we beat them again in 1937 after I graduated. But then Fritz Crisler came to Michigan and that's when they started winning.''

The Buckeyes of coach Francis Schmidt won the Big Ten title in 1934 and finished second two other years, losing one game by a point.

One of the opposing Michigan players during Dye's years was Gerald Ford, an All-Big Ten center who went on to bigger things.

Asked if Ford was better as a blocker or a president, Dye laughed and said, "I'd better not answer that. But he was a pretty good football player.''

During his distinguished career as an athletic administrator, the Michigan-Ohio State game was always in his thoughts even if he couldn't overlook his own school's game that day to watch it.

Of the showdown between the nation's No. 1 (Ohio State) and No. 2 (Michigan) teams, he said, "This one will be tight as the dickens.''

? 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15791173/

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Telegraph-Forum

Dye was cast for Buckeyes, 70 years ago
By Larry Phillips
BuckeyeBuzz.com

COLUMBUS -- Former Ohio State quarterback William "Tippy" Dye joined the record throng of 105,708 zanies at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, relishing in the 42-39 OSU victory. Last week it was erroneously reported the 91-year-old Dye was the last Buckeyes starting quarterback to beat Michigan three times, a feat Troy Smith accomplished Saturday.
Dye was a quarterback, and his teams dumped the Wolverines in 1934, '35 and '36. However, he said he didn't start each of those games. It didn't take away from the accomplishment, though.

"They really weren't very good then," Dye said of Michigan. "They didn't score a point against us. It was 34-0, 38-0 and 21-0. Of course, we were pretty good."
Dye played for colorful coach Francis Schmidt, who guided his first four squads to lopsided wins over the Wolverines, by a cumulative 114-0 score. Schmidt also established the tradition of awarding gold pants to everyone connected with a Michigan victory. It was his famous line "They put their pants on one leg at a time like everyone else," that launched the OSU tradition.
Dye, who lives in California, said Saturday was his first visit to Ohio Stadium since 1970. He was the athletic director at Northwestern that season, and watched the Wildcats fall 24-10.
"It looks a little different, but it looks great," Dye said.
RECORD DAY: Smith completed four touchdown passes Saturday, giving him 30 for the season. That broke Bob Hoying's record of 29 established in 1995. The two teams combined for a staggering 900 yards of total offense. Ohio State's 42 points was the most in the series since the Buckeyes earned a 50-14 win in 1968.
NEW ERA: Interestingly, each of the 10 games Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler staged were brutal defensive battles, nothing like Saturday's shootout. Ohio State managed three touchdowns only once in that stretch (a 21-14 win in 1975). Michigan turned the trick once, too (1969 and 1976).

 

[ChicJanowicz]

Nate, great pictures.
I'm the guy who wrote that Wikipedia article.

You might notice that the article does not include date- or place-of-birth information. I'm hoping to fix that. Nate, did you get any contact information from Mr. Dye?

 

[Buckskin86]

January 19, 2010
Tippy Dye on Lorenzo Romar: "He's a fine coach"
Posted by Percy Allen

Photo credit: Seattle Times Archive

Talked to legendary UW coach Tippy Dye (above, far left) this week. Turns out, he's a fan of Lorenzo Romar, who passed Dye and moved into third place on the school's all-time coaching wins list. Here's our story.

Thought I'd pass along excerpts from my interviews with the 94-year-old Dye

(Was it difficult to leave Ohio State for Washington?) "It was kind of difficult. We just won the Big 10 championship. ... You always hate to leave your alma mater, but I wanted a new challenge. I really didn't know what type of players I was going to inherit when I came to Washington, but they were outstanding. They were a great group my first year. We had so many older and senior players. I inherited that group Houbregs and (Joe) Cipriano and a lot of gook kids so there was no reason I shouldn't have had a good team."

(Why did you pick UW?) "I don't know. I had a chance to take UCLA prior to that. It was just the way I felt at the time and I'm glad I did. ... John (Wooden) took that job after I turned it down."

(Why did you leave UW?) "I wanted to be an athletic director. ... I had nine letters at Ohio State. I could play all the sports. I knew the coaches. I wanted to be a director. I wanted to do it at WAshingotn, but I didn't get the job there. When I went to Wichita, I was only there a 1½ years before I went up to Nebraska."

(What do you do these days?) "As little as possible. I don't do much of anything. I exercise quite a bit. I walk a couple of times a day. A mile each time just to keep my legs in shape. I'm using a hand thing now to be sure I don't fell down.

"I do quite a few exercises. I sleep quite a bit. I read. I enjoy Westerns."

Husky Men's Basketball Blog | Tippy Dye on Lorenzo Romar: "He's a fine coach" | Seattle Times Newspaper

Born April 1, 1915 in Harrisonville, Ohio, William Henry Harrison Dye was named after the country's ninth president, a general and hero in the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe.

When Harrison campaigned for president in 1840, his running mate was John Tyler, and their motto was: "Tippecanoe and Tyler too." And the nickname was born.

Standing 5 feet 6 inches and weighing 142 pounds, Dye was a naturally gifted athlete who lettered in basketball, football and baseball at Ohio State.

After serving three years in the Navy during World War II, he returned to Ohio State and coached the Buckeyes to a 53-34 basketball record, with a conference championship in 1950.

The next year, he took a job at Washington, where he was paid $12,500.

"I had a chance to take the UCLA job prior to that," Dye said. "I don't know why I chose Washington. It's just the way I felt at the time."

One of Dye's early accomplishments was teaching Bob Houbregs the hook shot and developing him into an All-America center.

"The first time we saw him, we had no idea what to expect," Houbregs said. "When he walked in, we just kind of looked at one another. Here he was at 5-6, but his presence was astounding right from the start.

"He controlled things. He told you what he was going to do and what we were going to do, and he just took over."

In his first season, Dye led UW to a 24-6 record. The next year the Huskies were 25-6.

During the 1952-53 season, he guided them to a 28-3 record. Washington was the favorite to win the national title but lost 79-53 to Kansas in the semifinals. The Huskies then beat LSU 88-69 to finish third.

"We played against the only team that I knew that might stop us with the type of defense they used (and it) was Kansas," Dye said. "I knew it was going to be difficult for us, and it was."

Dye said he was the first UW basketball coach to recruit black players and in 1959, he fielded one of the tallest teams in the country, with 6-9 Bruno Boin and 6-7 Doug Smart.

"He coached the old style of ball where everything was around the center, from Houbregs to (Dean) Parsons to Boin and I," Smart said. "I liked him very much. He was a good coach to play for. He wanted to win. He instilled all of the right values.

"You ended up wanting to win for coach as well as the team, and that can't be said for all the coaches out there."

After nine years and a 156-91 record, Dye resigned in 1959.

He took a job as Wichita State athletic director. A year later, he took the same position at Nebraska, where he hired Bill Devaney as football coach and helped build the Cornhuskers into a dynasty.

"I wanted to be the athletic director at Washington, but I didn't get the job," Dye said. "I would have been happy to stay at Washington the rest of my life, but I wanted to be an athletic director."

When Mary, his wife of 64 years, died in 2001, Dye moved to Camptonville, Calif., about 75 miles northeast of Sacramento, to live with his son-in-law and daughter, Roger and Penny Carnegie.

"Washington is one of his favorite places," Penny said. "He started at Ohio State and finished at Nebraska, but Washington is very special to him."

Dye's hearing isn't good, but otherwise he's in great health for 94. He walks nearly a mile twice a day and enjoys low-impact exercises.

"Mostly I sleep and do as little as possible," he said, laughing.

Dye returned to Seattle in 2008 for a gathering arranged by his former players at the Founders Club in Edmundson Pavilion, where he met Romar.

"I thought he was going to be a great coach there, and I think he is a great coach," Dye said. "He's a good man for that job and will do a good job for all of our followers up there."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskies/2010835997_umen20.html