Meyer, "Dutch" (Leo R.)
Football
b. Jan. 15, 1898, Ellinger, TX
d. Dec. 3, 1982
Meyer entered Texas Christian University in 1917, but was sent to Transylvania College in Kentucky as an ROTC instructor because of World War I. He returned to TCU in 1918 and became a starter at end. However, he didn't play in his senior season, 1921, because of a falling out with the coach.
After playing minor league baseball as a pitcher for a short time, he became a high school coach in Ft. Worth, then returned to TCU to coach baseball and freshman football in 1923. Oddly enough, he recruited Sammy Baugh after seeing him play sandlot baseball in 1932. When Meyer became head football coach in the 1934, he installed Baugh as his starting tailback.
To take advantage of Baugh's great arm, Meyer designed a double-wing formation in which the ends and wingback were split wider than usual, allowing them to get into pass routes quickly. With Baugh throwing from the "Meyer spread," as the formation became known, TCU had a 27-7-2 record over the next three seasons. The Horned Frogs beat LSU, 3-2, in the 1936 Sugar Bowl and Marquette, 16-6, in the 1937 Cotton Bowl.
After Baugh graduated, Meyer had little Davey O'Brien to replace him. Not quite as great a passer as Baugh, O'Brien was a fast elusive runner and an outstanding field general. With O'Brien leading the way, Meyer's 1938 team won all 10 of its games, outscoring opponents 254 to 53, and beat Carnegie Tech, 15-7, in the Sugar Bowl.
After a couple of lean years, Meyer's 1941 team went to the Orange Bowl, losing 40-26 to Georgia, and his 1944 team lost 34-0 to Oklahoma A & M in the Cotton Bowl. His 1951 team was beaten 20-7 by Kentucky in the Cotton Bowl.
Meyer retired after the 1952 season. His record in 19 seasons, all at TCU, was 109 wins, 79 losses, and 13 ties.