PAGE SIX a dean's view , - 4; .^« - of sports While everyone seems to be throwing punches at the helmet and blaming it for.this year’s high grid fatality rate, at least one football coach is not placing the blame solely on the headgear. And that coach is none other than Rip Engle, the silver-haired mentor of the Nittany Lions. “I think the whole problem is being brought on by a stronger, quicker, faster and more dedicated athlete,” Engle said yesterday in his office. ‘The game is more wide open than it used to be and the kids are hilling harder than they ever have before. “Ou!- problem with equipment is that the kids have just outgrown it. It’s just like the Army and Navy, who keep developing more powerful projectiles and then have to find defenses for them. If they don’t, somebody is going to get hu£t.” Engle said that the football player coming into college today is a healthier specimen because of better training and coaching in high school. "We are getting a belter athlete into college now than we have ever had before," Engle said. Oldtimers might not agree with Engle’s views, but statistics seem to bear out his statement. Over.the past couple of decades the human male has shown a slight, but steady increase in height. And oldtimers who like to think that their athletes were better must admit that a guy who has been coaching since 1930 is well qualified to speak on the comparison of athletes. HORSE COLLARED: Buddy Torris demonstrates the device that doctors and trainers predict will aid in reducing the large num ber of head and neck injuries which have occurred on gridirons throughout the nation this year. The back pari of the horse collar keeps the helmet from slamming into the player's neck on head-on blocks and tackles. “Personally I’m not alarmed until I see more convincing fig ures," Engle said, explaining his reluctance to put the blame on the helmet. "There are some 750,000 kids playing amateur football and when it comes to mortality rates, I doubt if football ranks any higher than sports such as hunting and auto racing. "Don't gel me wrong, one death Is too many if it can be avoided, but I'm not one to be an alarmist on this helmet prob lem," he said. "I'm waiting unlil the coaches' convention lo see what recommendations will be made." The veteran coach voiced concern over some people he termed alarmists who are trying to hurt football. “A lot of the people who are making an issue of this are just trying to make trouble for the game of football,” Engle said. "They seem ad\erse to a barrel strong America. Football has strengthened America tremendously,” he said. However, Engle was quick to note that if improvements are made in the helmet, Penn State will certainly try them. "I don’t know of anything more satisfactory than what we are using now, but if the equipment people do come up with an improved helmet, certainly we will think seriously about making the change,” he said. One change that Penn State players are making in equipment this season is the wearing of what is commonly called a "horse collar.” The horse collar is a core of ensolite protection that is worn around the neck. The ensolite is wrapped in felt of two to three Inches and covered v/ith stocking net. The collar breaks the forward, backward and sidew'ards snap of the neck when it is jolted and cushions it from snapping into the helmet or shoulder pads. It also protects against artery damage in the neck area. To fans this collar might look awful funny and. even cumber some, but to the players the horse collar is no joking matter. "If we give a neck collar to a player, we never get it back,” Lion team physician Alfred H. Greiss said. “We have about eight of our players that use the collar all the time and about 50 per cent of them have used it at one time or another. I think it is definitely part of the answer to the helmet problem.” The horse collar is custom-made for each player. "We have to make a different ona for each player because each individual's hyperexiension and hyperflexing is different." Dr. Greiss said. "But they are very cheap and the net can easily be replaced if it gels dirty or wet." Aside from the horse collar, at least one more drastic change will be made in Penn State equipment. Beginning in the spring of 1962; each freshman football player will be required to wear a custom-made mouthpiece "If it is decided to remove or modify the face guard, we have got to protect the teeth and face,” Dr. Greiss said. “A mouthpiece reduces concussions and softens blows to the chin and face. "Syracuse has been making them compulsory for four years (Continued on page seven) Collar May Cub Football Injuries By DEAN BILLICK Assistant Sports Editor • « THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. UNIVERSITY PARK. PENNSYLVANIA WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 15. 1961 Lion Harriers Follow Rigid Schedule The weather-has been nasty lately, but this hasn’t stopped Penn State’s cross country (team from following a rigid training schedule in prepara tion for the defense of its IC4A title at New York Monday. The Lion harriers have been working out six days a week, three on the University golf course, and three on the Centre Hills links where the terrain is closer to the conditions of Van Vo/ Halfback Honored by AP By The Associated Press Mallon Faircloth, a rugged sophomore who spearheaded Ten nessee to one of the biggest up sets of the Southeastern Confer- j ence football season, was named Associated Press back of the week yesterday. j The 19-year-old tailback gen- 1 erated much of the impetus as ■ the Vols turned back nationally, ;ranked Georgia Tech, 10-6. ! | NEW "Voßk” (AP f —~Guar d * Dick Wilson of Penn Stale was named lo the All-East major college weekly football team announced yesterday by the Eastern College Athletic Con ference. Faircloth was closely pressed for the honor by another 19-year o’d sophomore, quarterback Frank Budka, an all-purpose lead er in Notre Dame’s 26-20 victory over Pittsburgh. Record Company Wants Campus Rep For Sales & Promotion Work A terrific opportunity to break into the exciting entertainment field with a national recording label. Pick up extra money by direct album sales and assist with campus promotion of lead ing artists. Write at once. Give complete details on age, class, campus activities, draft and marital status. Include three personal references. Selected applicants will be contacted by mail with complete job descrip tion. Write to: GALBRAITH, HOFFMAN it ROGERS, INC. Advertising Agency 29 West 56th Street New York 19, New York Attention: Mr. Rogers By DAVE LEONARD The Hotel Greeters present THE AUTUMN LEAVES BUFFET NOVEMBER 19 Maple Room and Cafeteria Home Ec Building For Reservations Call: UN 5-7851 or AD 8-2789 Courtland Park, the site of the big meet. Last year the harriers copped the title by defeating a strong field which included Michigan State, the only team- to beat the Lions the past two years. Despite the fact that prospects look good for another title, Werner has shown concern about the meet. ; “All season long the teams we have met in dual meets have been pointing towards us,” Werner said yesterday, “and it will be the same way in New York.” Frosh coach Norm Gordon backed up Werner's statement. "Manhattan was pointing to their meet with us and they ran all out trying lo defeat us," i Gordon said. 'They ran the | Metropolitan Champions hips j three days after onr meet and Manhattan came in second to : St. Johns, a team they easily defeated in a dual meet earlier in the year." The Lion harriers are fit and ready to defend their champion isTiip. ! “We don’t have any injuries and I hope it stays that way,” Werner said. Seven varsity men will make the trip to New York. The first five Penn State run ners to finish the race will de-; termine State’s score. 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