THURSDAY, DtcEmiStrt 15, 1949
Overcoming Big Obstacles,
Costa Hits Cage Heights
They chuckled while the angular, curley-headed kid held the
ball gingerly on the pivt..they laughed to see him tower over the
apposition, and they came darn near bursting their sides when he
salaamed at the foul line.
But this bewildered rookie took the crowd's good-humored
jockeying in stride, just as he had taken
.a painful wound as a
matter of course while fighting for Uncle Sam during 26 months as
an infantryman. . - -
Despite physical barriers, the 6-foot 6-inch, ever-smiling, Com
merce and Finance student had to overcome a technical difficulty—
he had never played with an organized basketball outfit in his life.
It is the Nittariy Valley's own Cinderella story of a boy who just
wouldn't quit, a boy .who made the grade -with' a big-name college
varsity without the benefit of high schdol or freshman training.
DIDN'T DUCK
•
In the thick of fierce fighting.'around Casino. the big guy
didn't duck fast enough one day and was shot through the right
side of his chest. He was taken prisoner but wasn't held long.
"I guess I lust sort of wandered off,! he explains.
Returning to action some months later, Costa again ran afoul
of Lady Luck when a burst of shrapnel halted his military career
with startling suddenness. Back to the familiar surroundings of
gauze and white blanlc?.ts he went. This time his convalescense
lasted about a year. All tole., he spent 13 out of 26 service months
in a hospital bed.
ENOUGH EXCITEMENT
After spending so much time flat on his back, Marty decided
that he had had all' the excitement he would ever want and was
content to settle back to the comparatively quiet life of a student.
But .he reckoned without the imnortant part John Lawther
would play in his life. A hard, strict-principled court mentor of
the old school, there was only one thing that Lawther liked more
than winning a ball game, and that was .determination.
)WILLING`' WORKER
As Lavither once put it, "I hate to see someone dog it when
they're on the court but I never have to worry about Marty. He's
the hardest working man cn the floor."
And as slowly as the form ofa - beatitiful woman forms under
the mallet of 'a master sculptor, Lawther's hunch began paying off.
Month's of constant practice exerted itself. The kid with the patched
up inSides.had come into his own.
. Last year, his . .firat full-time season as a regular, Marty came
through in grand style. Ranking ,second in .the Lion's scoring race
to Milt Simon, now a profess
ional' with Williamsport, he
dunked 45 field goals and 39 of
his' "Costa Specials" from the
foul circle for a grand total of
129 points.
Not bad for a guy who, in
addition to having his• insides
scrambled, had such outstand
ing centers. as Ernie Vande
.weghe, : Colgate, Red Wilson,
Navy, Royce 'Newell, Syracuse,
and Fred Schaus, of West Vit.- •
.gina; climbing all over his
. back. •
".T., was so darned nervous the
'first time I got into a' game that
I didn't know what I was doing.
,You should hear Milt tell 'about
it," he chuckles. "I felt better in
the shower - room after the game,
but everytime you play 'the but
terflies hop around. It's a feel
ing that never leaves you."
LIKES - LAWTHER -•
Although Lawther 'was a se
vere 'taskmaster; Costa bears a
great deal of affection for the 'grizzled veteran. "I think he's one
terrific, guy." He treated - me swell and 'I only hope 'I can,justify his
faith in me.
Graduatirig from high school Marty went right into the army
where he quickly rose to. the rank of sergeant. His first year on
leaving the service was spent at California State Teachers College
as a Penn State farm-.out.
Already the . possessor of an excellent team, the California
basketball coach tried to discourage Costa's interest' in the sport.
"I, wouldn't advise you,tp try out; you just haven't got the knack ,
for it."
That same mentor is probably eating those words right
now. , •
And so!' it was in Se.otember of 1947,'that a bewildered sopho
more first set :foot on - the spacious Nittany campus,' but as the tale
goes, basketball, this time, did an about-fate and sought him out.
' • • - TALL TALE ,
•
It is. jokingly told •among the 'college pciPulace that one day as
Lawther was walking down a -Sate College street he saw a hulking
beanpole of •a student striding before. him. Impressed with the
fellow's height he is supposed to have asked Costa to, try out for
the team.
Marty laughs off: thir-story . l:lt,
,nevertheless, his sophomore
year saw him in varsity spangles: 'The real story is 'that Lawther
picked him out while he was 'tossing a basketball - around in State's
Recreation Hall one afternoon. "I guess he liked my size. In fact
he almost had to, LhaVe any form to impress him
with."'
, .
Soccerite!,-
(Continued from rialie' four) -
or side of your foot. However he
was persuaded to wear shoes, or
else he would have suffered
broken bones 'in his feet, had he
gone against American boys wear
ing cleats. '
Recently he was_asked by his
coach to pose in hismulti-colored
costume on the soccer, turf for a
publicity picture, one where 'he
would be lifting his skirt and
kicking the ball.
He plays other games and
.pur
sures other hobbies. He's star
trackman broadjumps 20" 'feet;
he's an above average welter
weight, and also does a trick or
two on the tennis courts. He thinks
nothing of hiking 15 miles! Quite
a' guy this Olufunmi "Adekunle
Osibogun, son of a Nigerian noble
family and soccer player deluxe.
By, RAY KOEHLER
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LION
THE DAtLY COLLEGIAN, STATE 3 COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA
WISHES EVERYONE
MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Boxing Tips . . .
Acting Coach Ed Sulkowski is giving Lou Guthrie a few
Pointers on how to hit the punching bag. Guthrie, 135-pound
entrant on last year's Lion boxing team, has dropped to the 136-
pound class, which was left vacant by the graduation of Captain
Johnny Benglian.
' • • '
Only 3 Lion Regulars Return;
Prospects of Mitt Squad Dim
If previous records and -past showings are a criterion• for de
termining a future outlook, the Penn State boring outlook is mighty
dim.
,
In the fold are but three regular performers of last year's mit
unit, a team which turned in a mediocre 2-3-1 record:
About the only bright
. stars in an otherwise team- of unknown
quantity are two-time Eastern heavyweight Chuck Drazenovich,
the veteran 165-peund Paul, bet
ter known as PQ Smith and light
heavy Jack Bolger.
The Draz, after dropping, his
firist intercollegiate duel against
Western Maryland's Joe Corleto
as a sophomore, went undefeated
the rest of the way, scored im
pressive wins at the EIBA tourney
at Virginia
LAST YEAR
But last year his showing was
far from good and at the end of
the regular season showed a poqr
1-3-2 tally sheet. Then in the
Eastern Intercollegiates, held at
Rec Hall; he decisioned Bill Kel
lum of Army,• and Marty Cran
dell,' of Syracuse, to regain his
heavyweight crown.
Earlier, in dual meet competi
tion, he was held to a • draw by
Kellum, while Crandell decisoned
him at Syracuse. The Orange
heavy went on the NCAA'tourna
ment and copped the National un
limite'd title.
At 165 pounds. Paul Smith
seems to have the situation well
in hand, although '4B letterwinner
Bob Keller is pushing him. The
odd-gestured PQ, _a lanky .battler
with a lightning-like left amas'ed
four wins in seven bouts last year.
BOLGER •
Back also is, light-heavy Jack
Bolger. After. a season with the
jayvees, Bolger moved to the
varsity last year and, was one of
the Lions' most consistent point
getters: Until the Easterns 'he had
won four lghts, dropping but one
decision, to Army's Pete Monfore.
In the Eastern tournament he
again met Monfore and was de
cisioned. Traveling to the Nation
als it was the same Monfore, who.
for the third straight time handed
Bolger a setback.
And although Bolger seems to
STUDIO
—Photo by Leonard Friedman
hold the upperhand in his division
so far, Coach Ed Sulkowski • is
throwing some sharp
_glances . at
a stylish boxer who is currently
the rave of the Intramural tourna
ment, dynamite-punching • Chan
Johnson.
Johnson, a defensbie wingback
of Coach Joe Bedenk's . football
eleven, is as yet . hesitant • about
reporting to the varsity, but it is
hoped in Nittany ring circles, that
he will. . . • • .
COMPETITION
There's a mad scramble
. for
positions in the lower Weights
with the competition being, hot
and torrid. John Albarino, con
sidered tough in the ring, and ag
gressive Frank Gross, seem to be
the outstanding new. prospects
who'll most likely represent the
t iewelit,e
BY
PRO-PHY-LAC-TIC
Ladies' styles in ruby,
sapphire or crystal. Men's
styles in crystal or garnet.
li 0..01 . 1 k 111( --ma/0
FOR JUNIOR
Club Bruah and
GRIGGS and (,REAMER
"PRESCRIPTION, SPECIALISTS
ACROSS FROM '91.1). MAIN
College Ave:, Slate College
Three-Way Tie
In Independent
IM League C
League C of the independent
half of the intramural basketball
tournament went into a three
way tie Tuesday night as Dorm
5 and Dorm 14 won their second
consecutive victories without a
defeat to tie Dorm 35 for the lead.
Dorm 5 continued its undefeat- .
ed pace with a 37-5 walloping of
Dorm 33 Dick Hench was the big
gun for the winners as he tossed
in 13 points to take scoring honors
for the evening... Dorm 14 also
stayed on the right side of the
ledger by sinking Dorm 32, 22-7.
In another League C contest,
Dorm 26 eked out a 17-14 win
over Dorm 1.
The Bombers and the Tripods
of League D each notched •their
second victories in as many starts
to deadlock the number one posi
tion in that league. The Bombers
came through with a low scoring,
13-5, win over Atherton Hall
while the Tripods downed Dorm
37, 10-4, in another tight defens
ive tilt. •
EXTRA PERIOD
In the other League D game,
the Miner floormen had to come
through in an overtime to down
a persistent. Q-Quintet squad, 21-
18. The Miners had, a one pbint
lead at halftime bu the- Q 'boys
came back and tied the count at
18-18 before the final whistle:
ring Lions when they open fisti
cuffing against Minnesota's Bad
gers in Rec Hall on January 14.
Lou Guthrie at 130-pounds and
Pat Heims, at 155, are two .of last
year's lettermen, although neither
was a regular all year- long.
Guthrie, a hot-one-night—cold
the-next fighter battled in the 135
division and won but 'one bout in
four ring appearances. •
Heims, a lanky slugger has yet
to win one for the Blue and'White.
In three appearances - inside the
squared circle, he drew once and
was decisioned twice. • • • . •
As for the Coach's qpinion - on
the outlook; "it's too early to tell
about our potentialities,- but' One
thing I'm sure about," says Sul
kowski, "is that we'll be tough - in
the upper weight classes."
Do Your
I..Tr(Xmas
// r
N Xmas Shopp.
104
fil t s ,.. s I I ing in .. State;
College..
• •
v. k .\._ •, • Only - 4 •
shopping .
Days Till
Christmas
Vacation,
FOR MOTHER
Dresser Set
1
~~~.
`~~--~ ._
(1~ ktll6G~li ~
FOR BABY
Brush and Ccgab
Set..
tilt
!OR SISTU
Bair Brash,
PAGE FIVE