n o
Earl Blaik,
Army Mentor,
Hides Talent
New Quarterback
Subs far Galiffa
The sign on the door of West
Point's athletic, field spells in
bold, black relief the words—
KEEP OUT!
There is a certain anomolous
feature in this sign through which
Army keeps its grid technique
strictly in the dark. It also means
that herein is a secret weapon
which is as hush-hush and jeal
ously guarded as. an A-bomb ex
periment.
It is of such a highly incendiary
nature to one Earl Henry Blaik,
coach of Army's redoubtable
gridsters, that it is listed among
the top-ranking military secrets
at the institution.
But beyond the immediate mili
tary aspect lies the touching story
of a father's delemma. For the
weapon which is being melded in
silence is none other then Robert
Blaik, son of the renowned men
tor.
NEW QUARTERBACK
You'll be seeing young Blaik,
second-string quarterback on the
Cadet football team this year, as
an understudy to the varsity "T"-
handler, Arnold Galiffa.
However, you won't be reading
much about him in the newspap
ers—not if Blaik, senior, can pre
vent it. And therein lies the crux
of a personal problem that is
gnawing at the insides of one of
the sport's most successful emis•
caries.
SHARP DELEMMA
It is just like the big business
executive who prays each night
that his son will prove he has the
stuff to replace him, but who
cringes at the very though that
his personnel might accuse him
of. favoritism. "Red" Blaik finds
himself impaled on the horns of
• a sharp delemma.
So; as the first step of getting
out of his predicument, he gave
strict orders that all but the bar
est info should be let out of the
Academy about his ,boy.
NO PUBLICITY
All conclusions lead up to the
summary that Blaik has been
acutely stricken with "Fatherit
is." He's hoping with all his be
ing that his son turns out to be
the greatest quarterback in Ca
det history. But he realizes that
Robert might not come through
and he doesn't want his son s
chances jeopardized by the pres
sure that heavy publicity could
put on an athlete.
As Blaik said to George Tre
vor, noted football writer, when
approached for a story on his
son, "I don't want you to write
•the story, George, it would break
my heart." He might be guilty cf
over-dramatization but it is only
because he cannot be a father
first and a football coach second.
ATHLETIC HERO
Bobby went to high school in
Highland Falls, N.Y., a bustling
little community right outside
the Academy gates: Then he put
in a year at Phillips Exeter Acad
emy in New Hampshire. At High
land Falls, he was one of the
schools big athletic heroes.
At quarterback, he passed, ran,
called signals and caught passes.
As a plebe at the Point, Bobby ac
quitted himself with exceptional
skill on the football team.
Perhaps the elder Blaik is just
waiting for Bobby to prove him
self before he raises the curtain
of mystery from around him.
Many capable grid seers believe
that day is just around the corner.
Army Song
Sung to the tune of the "Wear
ing of the Green," the Military
Academy's famous song, "Benny
Haven's, Oh," is a tribute by ear
lier classes of West Point to a
man who, in his own way, soft
ened the hard life that early stu
dents of the Point had to endure.
Three things drew cadets to Ben
ny's—food, drink and Benny's
genial personality. In trouble
numerous times with the author
ities, Benny continued on his own
merry way and has become one
of the many legends found at the
rnint.
mitt, riAft,Y cot,r,GP, MINN!)YLVANIA
Lion Co-Captain . . . . End Bob Hicks
Army's Coach Earl Blaik
Makes Winning a Habit
In December 1944 while American men in , khaki faced the most
formidable foe in all history, the West Point Cadets fought the most
brilliant football game of their seventy-five seasons against the best
pigskin galaxy the Naval Academy had ever produced. •
Army's unbeaten "Black Knights" did it again.
Only five years earlier football at West Point was in doldrums,
the team having been pulverized in 1940 by practically every squad
it contested. Today, Army is "the pride and joy of every heart in
gray." The man credited with the resurrection is "metronomic drill
devil" Colonel Earl (Red)
. Blaik, head coach at West Point since
January 1941.
"It is nice to have such backs as Doc Blanchard, Glenn Davis,
Arnie Galiffa and Gil Stephenson and such lineinen as Coulter,
Green, Henvy, Foldberg, etc," commented Stanley Woodward, "but
it takes a real job df handling to keep a winning team on its toes
through a long season, to bring it up to full playing form each week
and to give it enough poise to stand prosperity."
Earl Henry Blaik was born in Detroit, Michigan, Feb. 15, 1897,
son of William Douglas and Margaret Jane Blaik. Graduating with
a B.A. degree from Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, during the
first World War and entertaining thoughts of entering the war as
an officer,,Blaik secured an appointment to West Point. After com
pleting the first two-year course in the academy's history, he was
graduated in 1920.
, Of his aptitude in sports Willis MacDonald, Blaik's roommate
at West Point said: "Blaik was a good end. He made Army's kick
ing game go because he got dol,vnfield fast under kicks. He was a
deadly tackler and an unusually keen defensive player. As a foot
ball, basketball and baseball player he won Army's saber for the
best athlete in his class."
Although not very proficient in all phases of mathematics, Blaik
was graduated from the Academy in the first third of his class.
Resigning. from the Army with the rank of first lieutenant,
Blaik went to the University of Wisconsin to teach the ends and
backs for a few months under George Little, who had been Red
Blaik's coach at Miami in 1916. The next year Blaik worked for
several weeks at West Point with BHT Jones training more backs
and ends. By 1929 Blaik's business had• proved itself lucrative enough
for him to devote more time to it.
In 1934, after • serving as a part-time coach at West Point for
seven years, he accepted a position as head coach at Dartmouth to
rejuvenate a team whose only 'major victory the year before had
been a victory over Penn State.
By 1936 Blaik had produed a'team that was almost invulnerable
to scalpings. His record , at Dartmouth reveals 45 wins, 15 losses and
4 ties. Blaik's men won the mythical Ivy League Hat in 1936 and '37
and tied Cornell for it in '3B. The Indians, now "a precisioned rock
and-sock team," were once again on the. warpath.
In Nov. 1940 Army suffered the most humiliating defeat in the
history of Cadet football when Pennsylvania routed West Point by
a 48-0 score. The new superintendent of the Academy, Major Gen
eral Robert L. Eichelberger, aware of th anomalous situation present
in the existence of a poor Army team when the country was in the
process of • setting up the largest and most powerful army of all
time, asked Red Blaik to consider Army before signing another
Dartmouth contract.
In 1942 when Notre Dame substituted the T-formation for its
own Rockne system, Blaik was slated for gridiron laurels, although
completely unaware of it at the time. (The "T" is an intricate system
9f cross-blocking and blind angle blocking on the .secondary and
when carried out correctly produces devestating effects.)
In order to set up the defenses against this new formation,
Blaik labored over its peculiarities. The more he studied it, the more
impressed he became with its potentialities. He finally scrapped the
single-wing and became known as the master of the "T."
In three seasons, from 1944 through '46, Blaik led his teams—
highlighted by the fabulous touchdown' twins Blanchard and Davis
—to twenty-five consecutive wins before' tying with an opponent.
With Earl Blaik's promotion to colonel, the leaf was displaced
by a new silver eagle on each shoulder, "but nary a chip on either."
Tall and thin, he has a personality which rallies the friendship of
all his players
Although a "human dynamo" on the gridiron, with .his .strict
hours, pounding work, and meticulous timing, he also, possesses a
great deal Of "Blaik the human" in real#Mg . "that all work.and no
play makes Jack a dull football player."
In 1946 Blaik was voted coach of the year and this season he
By RAY KOEHLER
ITS NICE
GOOD END,
DARTMOUTH RECORD
T-FORMATION
DYNAMO
Galiffa Aims for Sullivan Awctrd
As Outstanding U.S. Amateur
When Arnold Galiffa, Army's sterling "T" formation quarter
back, is maneuvering the Cadet gridiron juggei•naut, football mentor
Earl Blaik is not the only Army coach chewing his nails' in fear that
the 22-year backfield star will go on the injured list. ,
Behind Blaik, Army coaches stand in,file waiting with crossed
fingers for Galiffa to take off one
uniform and climb into anothm
The 190-pound backfield' star
from Stan Musial's hometown,
Donora, Pa., is adept at about
everything he turns his lanky- 6
foot, 2 inch frame to. In three
-ears of Army athletics, Galiffa
•as won 11 major letters: three
in baseball, where he plays first
'aase and is one of Army's power
hitters; three in basketball where
as captain-elect he cavorts for
points as a forward, and two in
football where he handles the
':all and 'throws touchdowns from
`he Black Knight's vaunted "T"
'irmation.
Barring injury, Galiffa , will
add three more letters -to. big
name this year, and in West
Point's modern history, only one
man, "Lighthorse" Harry Wilson,
has won.rnore letters at the Acad
emy. Wilaon was at Penn State
first. Galiffa also won 11 letters
at Donora High School.
And 'just for ~bis own amuse
ment, Galiffa likes to •b o x,
wrestle, swim and play squash
and tennis. To top it. all off, he
excels in about everything he
tries.
That's the main reason a shud
der shakes Army's ,Michie Sta
dium every time Mr: Galiffa goes
down under a hard tackle, or
throws a heavy block. But Blaik
worries more than anyone.
Coach Blaik is counting heavily
on Galiffa this season to carry
the Army to Eastern football su
premacy, and if dthe Army makes
it, much • of the credit will have
to go .to the Donora speedster.
This is Galiffa's third and last
season with the CadetS and he has
never been more ready for star
dom. Last season, he was on
Grantland Rice's All-American
third team, and this year he is a
strong candidate for the Sullivan
Award, annually handed to the
outstanding amateur athlete in
the United States. '
Galiffa does little running from
Army's offensive formations, but
his passes have been . a thorn in
the flesh for Cadet opponents
since he broke into the lineup.
In last week's Army encounter
with Davidson College, Galiffa
threw three touchdown passes,
and sparked the drive that culmi
Tift EarilH
Successor to THE FR
Published Tuesday through Saturday mornings inclusive during the,
College year by the staffNof the Pennsylvania State College.
Entered as second-class matter July 5, 1934, at the State College,
Post Office under the act of March 3, 1879.
Editor
Tom Morgan
Sports Editor Elliot Krane
Staff .... George Glazer, Ray Koehler, Bob Kotzbaucr, Mary Kra s .
nansky, George Vadpsz, Lynn Wilson.
has the satisfaction of seeing higloil Robert performing before him
among his great eleven-Mule team.
Blailes record at West Point
Won
5 •
6
7
9
1941
1942
1948
1944
1945
'BATtiltbAY, ()mann, is if34o
nated into a 47-7 victory for the
Black Knights.
Galiffa could be a success , in
professional football, baseball or
basketball after he graduates but
he isn't interested in a pro career.
After graduation from the Acad
emy, he expects to marry a home
toWn',girl and continue his ; Army
career either in the Infantry or
Aviation.
But until he has that commis
sion and Uncle Sam offkially
takes control of what he does and
where he goes, West Point
coaches are taking pretty good
care of Arnold Galiffa, most valu
alplej player of (name your sport).
Army Machines
Pile Up Wins
Two, losses in 40 games cover
ing five seasons of football—
that's the record of the: Army
gridiron machine the Nittany
Lions meet this afternoon.
•,. Riding the power and speed of
All-Americans "Doc" Blanchard
and. - Glenn Davis, the Cadets
swept - to - 25 victories in a r 01,4,
andivon'27 while only tying one
from 1944 to '46 inclusive.
hi 1947; the Knights had a "bad"
season—they won five, lost two
and tied two,—but last year, they
came.back to sweep through eight
straight ,opponents before a cour
ageous,',:Nary . eleven held them
to- a 21-21 tie in that "anything
can 'happen" season finale. ,
NATIONAL CHAMPS
During that Davis-Blancharci
era, the Cadet were the mythical
National champions of collegiate
football three years in a row. Last
year, despite their no-loss record,
they wound up fifth in the nation,
and this year, with 16, lettermen
returning, the, Cadets are out to
garner Eastern honors it not/tlit
national title.
Army has always been•-tiaugh
opposition on the gridiron. The
Cadets have chalked up a'total of
349 wins in 502 games•since they
started playing football ou',:the
Hudson. They've lost only.: 117
tilts, and tied 36 for a percentage
mark of ~695. , •-• •
During those 59 years, , ArMY
has recorded seven • undefeated
seasons, the clean slates coming
in 1914, 1915, 1922, 1944, 1945,
1946 and 1948. - • -
_
• WORST TEXAS
Two of Army's ,NurMy.pars
Were. 1939 and .1940, Atrilk;4*).der
the coaching of W. H. Woc4,:;',#le
Cadets . dropped' a 'total of;;
games, tying three, whil.6:=Win
...\`,:n,
ning only. four. :4:r-4; •
That slump resulted in tht'ac
quisition of Earl "Red" Blaik for
coaching duties at the ACademy,
and Blaik answered the challenge
by winning five, losing thre. and
tying one in his first season'4:'::
Since 1941, the calculating
has racked up 58 -wins, 10 16,40. S
and six ties at ;the helm of;ip
Black, Gold and Grey.
Getting back to last Year:st6e
Cadets piled up a total ofdVS
points as against the oppositidigs
89.. And already • this •sea•Cliri.
they've scored 47 Markers again
one opponent's' 7. It looks , "1;46
the Army mule is headed forsaTi.
other big season. .
Collegian
:E LANCE, eat. 1887
3'1947
1948
Business Manager
Marlin A. Weaver
Won Lod. Ti e
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