LOU "BIMBO" CECCI Nation's fourth highest offensive star who faces Lions today. Lion-Quaker Meeting Makes Hotel Man Gay Probably the happiest man in the United States when the news was released that Penn State had signed a contract to play the Uni versity of Pennsylvania football team at Philadelphia this year was the manager of the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh. That harried individual, remembering last year's debacle in the Steel City's largest• hostelry, can well be forgiven if he smiles at the thought that this year's Pitt weekend; at least to Lion sup porters, is an anti-climax to the Philadelphia outburst. A preliminary survey, based on a straw poll of IFC repre sentatives, indicates that only about 50 per cent of the 2200 fra ternity men at the College will be on hand to root for the team against their Blue and Gold rivals. The percentage of independent men making the trip is expected to be even lower. This contrasts with well over 75 per cent of fra ternity men and a liberal pro portion of independents at the Penn contest just two weeks ago. Unlike the Philadelphia holi day when organized parties, both formal and informal, dotted the city's hotels, there is practically no concerted group action planned for tonight. Most victory celebrations will probably consist of individual parties either in one of the city's nightclubs or in some hotel other than the William Penn (that hotel has refused to reserve rooms for Penn State students). Even the steam generated by a ELWOOD PETCHEL Tops Mini um Moss "Beat Pitt" pep rally will not be present this weekend. Thursday, Harold Gilbert, graduate man ager of athletics, announced that no such rally would be held in Pittsburgh. Fear that a recur rence of last year's damage would result was the reason given for his action. What a contrast to the gigantic rally at the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia on the eve of the ' (Continued on page three) Tip Baitg VOL. 48-NO. 43 Lions, Pitt Clash Still undefeated in 17 games over a two-year period, Penn State will take on its oldest and moll oitter grid rival, Pittsburgh, for the 48th time, this afternoon in the Pitt Stadium. Although this will be the final battle for the Panthers, the Nittany eleven has one more game, a return match widt Washington State at Tacoma, to complete its schedule. Today's clash will mark the first time since 1941 that the Lions haven't closed their season against the Blue and Gold gridders. In '4l, the Nittany team went to Columbia, S. C., a week Lion Seniors Pick Spartans As Top Choice Although there has been no official word on bowl games, the graduating seniors on the grid team have stated Michigan State as their New Year's day prefer ence, if Penn State gets a bowl bid. The Nittany Lions have played both Southern Methodist and Michigan State and rate the Spar tans as the team they would rath er face this January first. "Michigan State is stronger than both SMU and Penn and I'd rather face them in a bowl•, said left guard John Simon. Simon played an important role in the Cotton Bowl tussle last year a gainst the Mustangs and was a valuable asset in this year's Penn battle. HOGGARD End Dennie Hoggard, who will be playing his last eastern game for the Nittany Lions today a gainst the Panthers mentioned the racial situation in Louisiana when the subject of playing Michigan State in the Sugar Bowl was brought up, but if a southern meeting can be arranged his choice is the Spartans. Statistics uphold the players opinions that Michigan State is stronger than the Texans. The Spartans are second in the nation in points scored with 298 to their credit, and have lost only to Mich igan and Notre Dame, the first and second teams in the country. COONEY "rd like to play in another bowl game before I graduate," said halfback Larry Cooney. Cooney, the defensive star played the game of his college career in the Cotton Bowl last January. Today's encounter with the Panthers marks the last eastern appearance for John Finley, Wal ly Trilett, Larry Joe, Elwood Petchel, Rip Scherer, Bob Urion, Tom Smith, and extra point spe cialist -Carl Sturges. "FOR A BETTER PENN STATE" STATE COLLEGE, PA., SATURDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 20, 1948 after the Pitt game, to top South Carolina, 19-0. '47 WIN Last year, for the first time since 1943, the Penn State squad topped the Panthers, a victory which concluded an undefeated and untied season for the Lions. It was the first perfect season in 36 years and the first undefeated streak in 26 years. Ever since 1893 the Panthers and the Lions have traditional* clawed at each other, with the Smoky City team holding a decided 27-18 edge over the Centre County eleven. In 1946, a 37-yard aerial from Carl DePasqua to Cecconi set up one touchdown and a 78-yard drive climaxed by a 10-yard pass from Cecconi to Leo Skladany produced another as the Pittsburgh team triumphed, 13-7, over the Lions. LAST TIME That game marked the last t feated. Both Cecconi and Sklada Mara Meets ()Tara Today Vince O'Bara bent down and pulled the strings on his cleats a little tighter. "Yoti see these football shoes," he smiled, 'I wouldn't be pulling them on if it wasn't for my broth er Joe. I sure hope I get to play against him this week. And chances are the two o'- Bara brothers will meet on the gridiron Saturday when Penn State pits its undefeated string against a ferocious Pitt Panther. Joe, the older of the two, is a rugged defensive halfback on the Pitt eleven. Although a couple years older than the Nittany Lion halfback, he's 'a sophomore just like his brother, having been in the service a couple years. Both boys played for Johnstown high, but Joe graduated before Vince made the varsity. Vince, summed up his feelings: ",Yoe can run rings around me, but it'd be nice if I could get in against him and show him I re member a few things he showed me." It's a cinch, no matter if Penn State or Pitt wins Saturday, Mr. and Mrs. 0' Bara will have rea son to be proud of their sons. For how can they lose? Tottrigiatt me the Penn State team was de -137 will have another crack at the Nittany team and the entire Pitt squad is aiming at another upset in the long series. With a season record of five victories against three losses, the Pittsburgh team appears only fair, but the wins were recorded only after the Panthers put up a teriffic struggle. Two Big Nine teams have felt the claws of Pitt as the Panthers upset both Indiana and Purdue by taking command of the game in the first period and holding the reins for the remainder of the contest. Little Cecconi, fourth-ranking offensive ball carrier in the na tion, will lead the Pitt attack this afternoon. Cecconi, who will play his final collegiate game today, has gained a total of 798 yards in seven games and is only three yards out of third place. CECCONI RECORD The 160-pound halfback has run the ball 91 times for a net gain of 266 yards and tossed the ball 75 times for 30 completions, four touchdowns and 532 yards. The last time Penn State was shut out by an opponent was in 1945 when Jimmy Joe Robinson raced 84 yards with a punt for the only score in Pitt's 7-0 vic tory. Still up to his old tricks, Robinson zipped 100 yards against Purdue this year to score one of his team's three touch downs. Both Robinson and Lou Cec coni do the passing for the Pitt „squad while H Bobby Lee, an other halfback, fills in as an aer ial artist when the other pass ers are benched. Lee has com pleted 10 out of 25 aerials for one touchdown and 189 yards, .41 _a n d Robinson ROBINSON has a record of seven cocple tions in eleven attempts for one TD and 71 yards. Not only does Robinson throw passes, but he also is the leading receiver on the Panther squad with 206 yards and one touch down in just eight catches. End (Continued on page three) JOE COLONE Captains Lion kaggsrammut
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