By Dave Brady
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 1966; Page D1

Bermuda Dunes, Calif., Jan. 25 — Otto Graham, declaring "I am not a conservative coach," today promised Washington fans an exciting Redskin football team. The team's new head coach said he rated a good show on the field second only to winning the ball game.

"I think my histoy oas coach of the College All-Stars will prove that," Graham said.

"Two years ago I used two quarterbacks in the same backfield and George Halas' Bears never did figure it out.

"But it was only because I came up with a quarterback who could run, George Mira, that I was able to put in an offense like that. We had some fun with it."

"I realize that winning is the most important thing in pro football, but I think you have to put on a good show, too.

"Let's say Charlie Gogolak kicks a field goal and we win, 3-0. That's good. Maybe we will win close games like that. Fine.

"But I'd rather risk losing some games by say 35-28 and have the fans up off their seats with excitement. I think the players would have more fun, too," the new Redskin coach said here today before taking to the golf course to hone up his game for Bob Hope's Desert Classic here next week. Graham says he plays a ten handicap.

"I think hard work wins football games, but I think football can be fun, too. I am not Vince Lombardi," the 44-year-old Graham said, referring to the strict Green Bay coach. "But I am tough. I am firm but fair."

"Who's my quarterback at Washington? Sonny Jurgensen. We won't have any two-quarterback offensewith him. He's a dropback quarterback."

"I remember my All-Stars playing against Jurgensen, when he was with the (Philadelphia) Eagles. That guy kept a drive going by flipping a pass left-handed. I did not like it then, only because he beat us.

"I believe the trend is toward running quarterbacks with a fellow like Tom Matte of the (Baltimore) Colts showing how much pressure can be put on linebackers with rollouts. The linebackers used to drop off more than they do now.

"I do not know yet what sort of offense I will use next season because I will not see any Redskin films until after I go to the National Football League meeting at Palm Beach, Feb. 13. I am going to stay on vacation until March 10, because I think it is important for every man to get away from everything once a year.

"I saw the Redskins on television a couple of times last season and I think they have the nucleus of a good team or I would not have taken the job. But I do not pretend to know the personnel well enough to say which players should be made available to the new Atlanta franchise. I'll hvae to take other people's advice on that (presumably that of defensive backfield coach Ed Hughes, who is expected to be retained from Bill McPeak's staff, and Redskin President Edward Bennett Williams.)

"Why did I finally accept a pro coaching offer? Well, all along I have said I would listen if someone would offer a long-term contract and other things. One of the main factors in my decision was Edward Bennett Williams.

"No amount of money or length of contract," Graham told a cohort, "would have attracted me if I could not have found the man I could work with. Williams understood my emphasis on how important it would be for me to get the assistant coaches I wanted because a head coach is only as good as his assistants.

"I have had great confidence in fellows I had on my College All-Star staffs — Marion Motley, Mike McCormick, Johnny Sauer, Tommy O'Connell, Mike Scarry, Don Doll, Pete Pihos and Dick Stanfel (and former Cleveland teammate Dante Lavelli, although Graham didnot mention him in that grouping.)

"I have differed with Paul Brown, my old Cleveland coach, about him calling the plays when I was his quarterback but I admire him. I was his house guest in La Jolla for a couple of days there last month when I came to California as the radio 'color broadcaster' for the New York Jets.

"I am going to talk to him again Wednesday and ask him to tell me what to expect as a pro head coach and general manager. After all, that is what Paul was The Best.

"I have my own ideas, but I realize that I am a neophyte. I am not going to say that pro offenses are stereotyped and that I am going to be the one to change all that, but I do think I can win with hard work by the Redskins and with the help of good assistant coaches.

"I had mixed emotions about leaving the Coast Guard Academy, which is the best cllege coaching job in the country, but Washington is one of the best — if not the best franchise — in pro football and represents a wonderful opportunity and challenge.

"Everything I have has been the direct or indirect result of my association with pro football. There is no question that I have taken a lot out of pro football. And now I hope to put a little back in.

"My biggest regret will be leaving a bunch of wonderful Coast Guard Cadets. Especially my football players. They are youngsters like my own 18-year-old boy, and I would like to think I have had some influence in molding them into young men and Coast Guard officers."