▁Van ▁Bro ck lin ▁and ▁John ▁McK ay , ▁went ▁ 7 – 0 ▁in ▁conference ▁and ▁were ▁co - ch amp ions ▁with ▁California . ▁How ell ' s ▁relationship ▁with ▁Id aho ▁fans ▁and ▁the ▁administration ▁was ▁stra ined ▁following ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁season . ▁The ▁V and als ▁went ▁ ▁and ▁ ▁in ▁conference ▁that ▁season , ▁defe ating ▁only ▁depart ing ▁Mont ana ▁again . ▁Their ▁two ▁non - con ference ▁wins ▁were ▁against ▁over match ed ▁oppon ents ▁Will am ette ▁and ▁Port land , ▁and ▁the ▁V and als ▁were ▁sever ely ▁out sc ored ▁ ▁in ▁their ▁five ▁losses , ▁c apped ▁by ▁a ▁ ▁loss ▁at ▁Stan ford ▁to ▁end ▁the ▁season . ▁How ell ▁felt ▁comp elled ▁to ▁public ly ▁den y ▁rum ors ▁in ▁April ▁that ▁he ▁would ▁leave ▁before ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 ▁season ; ▁the ▁V and als ▁went ▁ ▁record ▁ ▁in ▁conference ), ▁and ▁How ell ' s ▁contract ▁was ▁not ▁renew ed ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 5 1 . ▁ ▁Ass istant ▁coach ▁Raymond ▁" B abe " ▁Cur f man ▁remained ▁on ▁campus ▁as ▁inter im ▁head ▁coach ▁for ▁the ▁up coming ▁ 1 9 5 1 ▁spring ▁dr ills ▁after ▁How ell ' s ▁departure . ▁The ▁administration ▁was ▁im pressed ▁with ▁his ▁handling ▁of ▁the ▁team ▁during ▁the ▁first ▁week ▁of ▁practice ▁and ▁made ▁him ▁the ▁permanent ▁head ▁coach ▁in ▁mid - A pril . ▁He ▁gu ided ▁the