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
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. 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!