Shaughnessy Offense Fit the Bears to a T
The article concerning the 73-0 score of the Chicago Bears-Washington Redskins game was interesting, but there is greater depth to that story--the involvement of Clark Shaughnessy.
While coaching football at the University of Chicago in the 1930s, Shaughnessy consulted with George Halas and was instrumental in developing the T-formation of the Bears. When the University of Chicago eliminated football, Shaughnessy went to Stanford, where he coached the team into the 1941 Rose Bowl game.
After losing the regular-season game to the Redskins, George Halas telephoned Shaughnessy at Palo Alto and asked for his help in preparing for the championship game. Shaughnessy did go to Chicago and developed the Bears’ offensive plan--including the first offensive play to test and establish the Redskins’ defense.
Shaughnessy did not stay for the final quarter of the game. He left to get back to Palo Alto to prepare for the Rose Bowl against Nebraska.
E.D. THOMPSON
Manhattan Beach
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