1961 New York Giants Coaches

ALLIE SHERMAN

Head Coach

"The new man on the spot is this 38-year-old Brooklyn native who couldn't even make his high school team. Recognized as an astute student of the T, he learned his basic fundamentals watching the pro game as a youngster.
Allie played at Brooklyn College and hooked on with the Eagles as a substitute quarterback where he impressed Coach Greasy Neale with his probing mind. He was a Giant offensive aide from 1949 to 1953 and then had head coaching experience in the Canadian League."

-1961 Pro Football Handbook

INTRODUCING ALLIE SHERMAN

New Coach of Giants Hails from Brooklyn

"New Yorkers can feel a particular affinity for the Giants this season. Allie Sherman, the new coach, is one of our own- a kid from the sidewalks of New York who fought his way to the top in football's big league against heavy odds.

It would be nice to be able to say that Allie was a high school whiz who became a college All-America and then tore the rough, tough National League apart.

That would be playing fast and loose with the truth. Allie played sandlot football around Brooklyn and he was good, in the league he played in. But he weighed only 120 pounds and when he tried out for the Boys High team they told him to get lost.

Undaunted, Sherman kept playing on the sandlots. Then, he went to Brooklyn College, and as a freshman in 1938 made the varsity- as a single-wing blocking back, of all things.

The next year, Lou Oshins, the Brooklyn College coach, switched the new-fangled T-formation. At last, Allie had found his metier. Nimble, agile, heady and a southpaw thrower with good control, he became an outstanding performer on his humble level of competition.

The pro scouts, who miss no bets, spotted him. Greasy Neale invited him to try out for the Eagles. The Sidewalks of New York kid from Brooklyn not only made the team but stuck with it for five years.

An understudy for Tommy Thompson, one of the great quarterbacks of the immediate post-War era, Allie didn't get to play much. But in staff strategical conferences and at Neale's elbow during games, he absorbed a lot of football culture.

Being in the inner circle stirred coaching ambitions in Sherman. He left the Eagles in 1948 and, under Neale's sponsorship, became player-coach of the Paterson Panthers. He promptly guided that team to the American Association title.

The Giants called on him in 1949 to mastermind their switch from single-wing A-formation football to T-formation. In this role it was he who converted Charlie Conerly from a single-wing tailback to a T quarterback.

Allie remained with Steve Owen's Giant staff as offensive coach through 1953. When Jim Lee Howell was put in command of the Giants in 1954, Sherman struck out on his own as head coach of the Winnipeg Bombers of the Canadian League.

But, by 1957, Allie, a New Yorker through and through, was back with the Giants as a  personnel scout and technical advisor.

When Vince Lombardi left to take charge of the Green Bay Packers in 1959, the Giant front office didn't have to look far for a capable and dedicated replacement as offensive coach.

They called on Allie. And when Jim Lee Howell decided to call it quits, the Giants again turned to the sharp-witted, nimble-minded trouble-shooter who had served the team so well for so many years in so many capacities.

Now Allie Sherman, the little guy from Brooklyn with the big heart and the keen football mind, is running the whole Giant show. There isn't the slightest doubt that he'll do a great job of it.

Football has been Allie's life since his kneepants days and he has attained stature in the game on merit. It's a warming thing to see one of our own guys up there on top and to feel confident that he'll be up there for a long time."

-Yankee Stadium Official Program, September 17, 1961

SHERMAN'S PROJECT: GROSSCUP

But Connerly Is Still Starting QB If He Plays In 1961

"Allie Sherman, the new head coach who has lived, studied and schemed in the T-formation for 20 of his 37 years, already has undertaken his main project for next season- the development of Lee Grosscup as the take-charge quarterback.

Of course, Chuck Conerly will rank No. 1 if the old pro decides to play a 14th season. But Grosscup in any case must prepare to assume command. Sherman thinks the brilliant young man will make it, after two years of practice and book learning with the team.

'I know he can throw, and I know he has the desire,' Allie comments. 'Lee's willingness to live in New York the year round will benefit us, too, because we have mapped out a program of man-to-man instruction and study which will firm up his background for competition in the fall.'

Sherman also counts on solid running. 'Joe Morrison is close to stardom,' he notes. 'Mel Triplett for a while ran better than he ever did, and Ed Sutton came on stylishly after learning our plays. Phil King will play more, and if his cutting ability continues to progress, he will be a big man.'

Although Frank Youso was drafted by the Vikings from the offense line, Allie sees Lou Cordileone moving with Rosey Brown, Darrell Dess, Jack Stroud and Ray Wietecha.

Bob Simms, rookie end who was injured much of '60, strikes Sherman as a top blocker and medium receiver, with Bob Schnelker and Kyle Rote in the catching brigade.

The defense, Allie judges, will be better organized with Harland Svare directing from the bench rather than in action. He believes second-year man Jim Leo can take the Swede's linebacking spot, with Sam Huff and Cliff Livingston.

Sherman estimates that defensive end Jim Katcavage and halfback Dick Lynch are about to claim places with the topmost NFL stars. He counts on a holdover line of Rosey Grier, Andy Robustelli, Dick Modzelewski and Katcavage, with Proverb Jacobs in reserve.

Jim Patton, Dick Nolan and Lynch will have a new backfield partner in Bears' regular Erich Barnes, who came here in the trade of Lin Crow to the Rams. Johnny Guzik, famous at Pitt three years ago, also checked in from LA and is pictured as a defensive end.

Allie tabs five rookies as prospective Giants. Bob Gaiters, New Mexico State halfback, has good pro speed (9.7) and size (210), the coach notes, and with him the backfield will be faster than in some years, with Sutton, King and Triplett also quick movers. Bruce Tarbox of Syracuse, as offense guard, Jerry Daniels as Mississippi as tight end, Greg Larson as Minnesota as center, and Glen Knight of Shaw as a potential surprise at flanker, are others prominent in the early prospectus."

-The Official New York Giants Newsletter, February 1961

COACHING STAFF KEEPS FAMILIAR GIANT LOOK

"Aside from finding a backfield aide to replace Al Sherman, now head coach, no major changes are planned in the Giant coaching staff for next season.

Sherman, the successor to Jim Lee Howell, is on record with being well satisfied with the work of the staff that has guided the club over the last few seasons.

'Coaches like Ed Kolman, Ken Kavanaugh and Harland Svare are as good as you'll find anywhere in the business,' states the new boss-man of the Maramen. 'I'm confident they'll do the job.'

As head coach, of course, Sherman is responsible for and in charge of the overall activities of both the offensive and defensive squads.

'I plan to give my assistants the leeway they need,' reports Sherman, 'but I also intend to stay in close touch with every phase of the team's operation.'

Following the patterns of recent seasons, Kolman, the former Chicago Bears great, will serve as line coach and also will dovetail with the yet-to-be-named backfield aide to set up blocking assignments for the running attack.

Kavanaugh, another all-time Bear performer, will be back to coach the ends and help formulate the passing offense.

Svare, who has announced his retirement as an active player, will start his second season as defensive coach, assisted by Andy Robustelli, line, and Jimmy Patton, secondary."

-The Official New York Giants Newsletter, February 1961

DON HEINRICH

HEINRICH RETURNS AS COACH

"For fans who may have missed the announcement in the newspapers recently, former Giant quarterback Don Heinrich is returning to the Maramen in 1961 as a backfield coaching assistant to head coach Al Sherman.

The 29-year-old Heinrich spent six years with the Giants (1954-59), then joined the new Dallas Cowboys last season as a combination quarterback-coach.

When a vacancy occurred on the Giants' staff this spring, Coach Sherman immediately tabbed Heinrich as the fellow he wanted.

'Don is a very capable football man,' says Sherman. 'He has a keen insight into the game. He will be a great asset to the Giants as a backfield coach.'

Heinrich should be no stranger to Yankee Stadium fans. He won a large following during his years as a Giant quarterback, even though he labored most of the time in the shadow of Charlie Conerley. In 1956, when New York won the world championship, Heinrich was the starting quarterback in every ball game.

In his six years as a signal-caller for the Giants, the ex-University of Washington All-American completed 112 of 269 passes for 1,475 yards and a dozen touchdowns. Last season with Dallas, he hit 23 of 61 for 371 yards and three scores. This gave him a lifetime NFL total of 377 attempts, 154 completions and 16 touchdowns.

Soon after signing a three-year contract in March, Don flew east from his Bremerton, Washington, home and has since been huddling with Sherman.

In addition to serving as an assistant coach, Heinrich will also work as a scout for the Giants during the NFL season."

-The Official New York Giants Newsletter, May 1961