Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/368554
(San Francisco). (Hosterman's 1955 championship is shared with Brock- port.) The 1935 team that is considered Jef- frey's best was denied a national cham- pionship because of petty politics and jealousy within in the ISFA. The Lions were undefeated and unscored-upon in seven games and scored four or more goals in four games. Although the American Encyclopedia of Soccer declared the 1935 Penn State season "a model for intercollegiate soc- cer performance," Yale was named na- tional champion, ostensibly because it was unbeaten in 12 games. However, the true reason, according to the encyclo- pedia, was because "the association had frowned upon the fact that Jeffrey had played in some games on Penn State's (1934 preseason) tour of Scot- land." How Jeffrey can be faulted for playing in such exhibition games in his home- land is truly narrow-minded. That's where he learned to play and love the sport before emigrating to the United States when he was 17 years old in 1909. The next time Jeffrey took his team overseas to play soccer, it was major in- ternational news. It was in March 1951 when the U.S. State Department arranged a three-week, four-game goodwill tour of Iran for the 1950 team, whose only loss in 10 games that season was to eventual national champion West Chester, 1-0. Then, as now, there was political tur- moil in Iran, and the Iranians had a strong anti-American attitude. The trip was almost canceled a few days before it started in mid-March when 5,000 peo- ple angrily demonstrated outside the American embassy after the assassina- tion of the minister of education on the steps of Tehran University. Soccer is Iran's national sport, and Jef- frey and his 15 players charmed the Ira- nians on and off the field. Upwards of 6,000 jammed the stadiums in three cities to watch them play, and fleets of youngsters on bicycles followed them throughout their stay. The tour was covered by the wire serv- ices, and the weekly newsmagazines and National Geographic later did a major photo story entitled "Journey Into Trou- bled Iran." One diplomatic cable report- ed that "there has never been a group of Americans who have caused so much enthusiasm on the part of Iranians, from officials to the man in the street." However, the tour had to be cut short, to 16 days, and the final game was can- celed when the players fell ill with dysentery from eating the Iranian food. The Lions did win the second of the three games, 3-0, and Ron Coder, the Penn State goalie, came in for special praise. "Coder has been outstanding in staving off attacks of the speedy, well- coordinated Iranian teams," The Daily Collegian reported on March 30 after the second game. "I remember the fans being all around the field and the goal, and I kept talking to them throughout the game," said Coder, who was an Olympian in 1956 and now lives in State College. "We'd score and they cheered, and when I made a couple saves they would cheer for me. After the game, they mobbed me and I didn't know what was going on. And they picked me up and carried me over to our bus. It was unbe- lievable." What's also unbelievable is that Coder had never played soccer before going out for the team. "Bill asked me if I could catch the ball," he recalled. "I said yes and he said, 'Go over to the goal and stop everything that comes to you.' He taught me to play goal and was just a fantastic coach." Jeffrey's National Soccer Hall of Fame career is well documented. It's up to the Penn State athletic department to give more recognition for his accomplish- ments. It could start with the years of his national championships posted out- side the press box wall at Jeffrey Field, a large plaque at the main entrance and full-page spread about him in the annual yearbook. And sometime in the near fu- ture, why not a life-sized statue to hon- or the most successful coach in college soccer history? ■ The Remarkable Journey of the 2012 Nittany Lions A diary by Lou Prato, author of the Penn State Football Encyclopedia and four other Nittany Lion books Personalized autographed copy available through Lou Prato and Associates Call 814-692-7577 or email louprato@comcast.net Price: $19.95 plus tax and shipping