MDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1952 The Lion's Eye By JAKE HIGHTON Collegian' Sports Editor Several .days ago Phys Ed Dean Ernest McCoy was deploring the tremendous emphasis the newspapers have - put on All-American selectiOns. "r 'can't see. naming All-American teams even with 33 player.S. Sure, 'All' selections make good, reading, but it is very dangerous to the kids involved." McCoy, a gentleman heavily steeped in athletics; went on to support his complaint, with case histories he had observed while serving as assistant athletic director to Fritz Crisler at Michigan Universitir. McCoy pointed to • Tommy Harmon, Michigan's bone , . jarring' All-American terror in 1939-40. The fabulous number "98" simply "couldn't get his feet on the" ground" once out. of college. Citing another proof, McCoy said the Wolverine's Whitey Wistert, brother of Eagle pro, Al, "could have been thrown away his junior year" after All-American rating as a soph. Following the same clear logic of Mr. McCoy, how can the sports pages possibly list Penn State as a Cotton Bowl choice—as they did threes days ago—when the Lions still must play three of the biggest powers in the East; to whit, Penn. Syracuse, and Pitt? Yes, the %Lions certainly would be an excellent potion Bowl se lection if they should- win the next four. So dazzling a finish would give State an eye-opening 8-1-1 record against a booby trapped schedule. But taking first things• first, look to Franklin Field ,tomorrow— instead of Dallas Jan. I—where a Penn'team is waiting to defend its Eastern supremacy after unseating the 1950 and 1951 ruler, Princeton. No ,one seems aware of the fact that Pennsylvania is an 'unbeaten football ' team. It has been twice tied, but no one—not even Notre Dame's Fighting Irish—has licked it. It has been shouted about that Penn lacks offensive power, that Penn has had close calls. True, but it is characteristic of the current Quaker team to be only as -good as it has had to be. As to.lacking.offense, Penn follows the formula of the ancient adage, "the best offense is a good defense." The Red and Blue has not allowed its goal to be crossed more than once by any team except Columbia. Lou Little's Lions' had the audacity to score twice, but the Quakers rose to the occasion to score four touchdowns, their highest single point production in one game. See there—as good as they have to be. What's the story behind Penn's defense? State's Assistant Coach Sever .Toretti calls it "great pursuit," the Westr•Point style of play. A brand of play which finds the defense constantly "hitting hard and holding position and then getting to the, ball- fast." In fact, Penn's big, strong forwards have so well-mastered the pursuit de fense that an Army scout marveled to Toretti about the resemblance of Penn to past-master Army. As to the lack of Penn offense, one - shouldn't be too complacent in thinking Penn has none. Of Penn's. nine touchdowns thit_year, six hav'e come via the forward pass—and 6h, what 'Temple. Pur due, and Michigan State passing did to the Lions., From the Nittany side of the field, the Lions appear better than the 34-7 Michigan State rout Which led the ekperts to install Penn as favorites. At worst, :the game should be listed as a tossup on one factor aldne—Penn has not defeated State ih five attempts since 1936. At any rate, with the Lions sticking to the Keystone State instead of trying to-wrest state championships from Michigan, they could very possibly grab a first. leg on Pennsylvania and Eastern supremacy. The potential is within the 1952 Nittany, squad to get a Cotton Bowl bid, even if it is too dangerously early to pick it for such post-season play. *** * * * From the accounts in the Philadelphia press Hi - 7.s fall, it is hard to tell whether Penn State plays Penn or Bd Bell tomorrow afternoon. Seldom have' the Philly- Scribes lionized any other Penn players, to such an extent since the days of Frankie Reagan between 1938-40. One almost suspects the biggest buildup since fight manager Jack Hurley made lid Matthew a "heavyweight chaMp." With such doubts in mind, the question was put to Coach Toretti —who twice saw Bell perform—"ls Bell really that good?" Quoth El Tor, "Bell is great. He is catlike, has great speed; and is very big. Quickness is his greatest asset. But, all local areas like to build up an outstanding , player to All-American stature." Tor's halt-and-half answer, leaves you with only one choice, "know what. we read in ,the newspapers." Bell's "newspaper" deeds in his last three seasons have been right from Hollywood scripts. Last year -Penn was playing Wisconsin. On one play Bell raced from his defensive end position• 30 yards downfield to bat down a pass. The next play he spilled a runner for a three yard loss. , Or,' in the Navy game just last week! The Middies pulled one of their favorite Statue of Liberty plays with the runner off for 50 yards and an apparent touchdown. Racing across field from the opposite end., Bell spilled the TD-bound ball carrier. To conclude the act, Bell blocked a field goal attempt. , ' It is guessed -here that by four o'clock tomorrow afternoon thousands of Penn Staters will belie ve _ what they read in the papers—which may drathatize, but Yeldom fictionalize. Browns Sign Brecheen ST. LOUIS, Oct. 30 (W)—Harry "The Cat" Brecheen, veteran left handed pitcher, today signed a contract with th e St. Louis Browns "afterbeing given his un conditional release by the Card inals. Sports. Thru THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. StATE COLLEGE. PENNSYLVANIA ROLLER SKATING .AT KOLA PARK , WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY ' and SUNDAY NIGHTS Soccer Team to Play Cadets Tomorrow in FinalHomeGame In a match that could very well decide who will represent the East in the annual Soccer Bowl classic this year, Penn State's booter team will clash with- the powerful Cadets of Army tomorrow on the baseball diamond. Starting time is 10 a.m. The Lions' fifth straight home tilt will end their season's activity at, the Nittany booter ground. If the Jeffreymen can defeat the Cadets 'it should place them on. the top of the East's hooter standings, for only last week the high-flying Cadets trimmed the top-rated Temple Owls,, 4-2. The Jeffreymeri, however, must still face the Owls when they travel to Philadelphia Nov. 15. No. Lineup Changes As Lion soccer Coach Bill Jef frey aptly put it, "The Army game, is the big one." And this is the way the Nittany booters feel about the Cadets engagement, for if they drop this match, their Soccer Bowl hopes will virtually be gone. Jeffrey announced that there will be no changes • from the lineup that has won three matches and lost only one—with the • ex ception of Hub i e Kline, who started the game againstßuck nen. Kline is still limping' badly from a . leg injury and will see little or no action against the Cadets, At goalie, Jeffrey will stick with Red Harris, who has been doing a bang-up job of guarding the net. Jack Krumrine will be held in • reserve behind Harris. Tall Paul . Dierks and Hap Irvin provide the second line - of de fense for the Nittanies at right and' left 'fullback. Although 'both ered by an infected blister on his heel, Irvin is expected at full time duty tomorrow. Forward Wall At the halfbacks Jeffrey- will intact withhis starting array with Vrank Follrner, Captain Kurt Klaus, and Ralph ,Hofmann handling" the duties. JaCk Charl ton, who has been seeing heavy duty lately, will be kept in re serve. I The Nittany bobters' forward wall will have Bill Norcik and Lynn Thomann at the wings, and Ellis Kocher and Don Shirk at inside left and inside right. The Lions' ace scorer. Sack Pinezich, will continue to operate from his usual center forward slot where he pocketed the two goals that beat Colgate last week. Jo e Mijares, who passed in beautifully to Pinezich in the Red Raider game to set up a goal, will be held in reserve at the left or right wing position. The Jeffreymen will also be seeking revenge from a 4-1 set back the Cadets applied last year. In this tilt, the Lion booters' ini tial 1951 loss, the 11 gentlemen from West Point held the Nit tanies scoreless until 'the fading 'seconds of the last period when Captain 'Ron Coleman scored a goal. By 808 SCHOELLKOPF- 2 Indie's Gain in IM's Beaver House and the Mus'tangs advanced into th e Intramural football semifinals last night. Beaver House edged Dorm 35, 7-6, in overtime, while the Mustangs shut out Dorm 30, 6-0. Fraternity action saw Alpha Phi Delta trip Phi Epsilon, 1-0, in what .was probably the closest— by actual winning margin— game of the season. On the second play of the over time period, Alpha .Phi's Chuck Russo hit Ange Rorzillo with a short pass, putting the ball on Phi Epsilon's 45. Undaunted, the • , „ 14:10 4 .-* 4 .e" 'f or ( ~~ • --~ _.__ . 0 Al .; <l 5 , , ?PK 4 . • • "N - • '4; can't be beat for coin SHIRTS • TIES • UNDERWEAR •v HANDKERCHIEFS • SPORTS SHIRTS losers attempted to pull it out of the fire on the last play. A quick toss over center was completes but fell slightly short of midfield, giving Alpha Phi Delta the win by a scant six inches. Both teams failed to capitalizis on numerous scoring chances in the second half, setting the stage for the dramatic finish. Because of the heavy social schedule this weekend, there will be no IM football tonight. Arrow Underwear Arrow ,Shorts_ 1.45 up Arrow Urldershirts 1.00 up ARROW PAGE SEVEN BEAT PENN! Meet The Champs!
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers