WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1964 p* « a lo ft on sports r St •< • V $ 1 ' v v <• Penn State’s “no-bowl” decision, announced last night after a closed meeting of the players, came as a stunning surprise to some observers. Why, they say, would a team give up a chance to enhance school, squad and individual prestige by playing in a bowl game? For Penn State, the reason is relatively simple. The Nittany Lions, whose late-season surge put them on top of the world (and the East), decided to quit while they were right there: at the top. It was a long season. The team performed what some would call a miracle, winning six of its last seven and the last five in a row. The same team that got off to the worst start in Penn State history finished up as the best team in the East. The Lions have the Lambert Trophy to prove it, and although some (notably from Princeton and Syracuse) would dissent, there’s no question about it. They are the best. Players Need Challenge to Get "Up" The three bowls which expressed interest in Penn State (Liberty, Sun and Gator) offered little incentive to a team that had just knocked off such outfits as Ohio State and Pitt. To get themeslves “up” for a ball game, players need a challenge, especially if they have to practice a whole month for it. This team has been drilling daily for three months. Why risk losing every thing for one game—a game against a team inferior to those on the regular schedule? No one expected the Lions to finish with a winning record, but they did. No one expected them to beat Ohio State, and they blew the Buckeyes out of the stadium. No one expected them to win the Lambert Trophy, but they did that too. A team that did that kind of job has a right to be tired and a right to be satisfied. The Lions are both. Students who pack up after exams and spend the term break at home and watch the bowl games on television may find all this difficult to believe. But football players are students and human beings too. It’s nice to say “Go out there and get ’em for the glory of old State.” The Nittany Lions have done it plenty of times this year. But there comes a time when a guy has to think if himself, and in this case it means reject ing a hectic, travel-filled December for a return to normality. Team Realized Weight of Decision The move was no snap decision. The players all knew it’s “the thing to do” for a team to go to a bowl if the invitation comes. They knew a lot of criticism might come their way if they decided in the negative. But they also realized that a whole season could go down the drain if they went to a bowl just out of re sponsibility to Penn State. In a decision such as this, a player’s responsibility is to himself and to himself alone. To be sure, the players owe a lot to Penn State. For many of them, a football scholarship is the only way they could ever make it through college. But this out fit has more than paid its debt to Penn State. It never gave up, even when it lost four of its first five games. It came back for a miraculous finish. It kept a 26-year winning tradition alive. And after all this, Penn State’s players decided to think of themselves and not to worry what the public thinks. They deserve our respect, not our disdain. Ressler Makes All-East for 4th Week NITTANY NOTES: Glenn Ressler was named to the weekly Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference team for the fourth time this season yesterday. He joins Princeton’s Cosmo lacavazzi as the lone four-time choice . . . Tom Urbanik, who finished the season only two yards shy of the all-time State fullback rushing record, was selected to United Press International’s Backfield of the Week. Fran Rogel set the mark with 627 yards in 1948, but long-time fans have expressed agreement that Urbanik is the better all-around player . . . Classic quote from Lion center Bob Andronici, as he placed an arm around Ressler after the Pitt game: “My All- American substitute” . . . Princeton (9-0 in the Ivy League) was only a half point behind State in the final Lambert ratings. Syracuse, already in the Sugar Bowl, was third. helps "educate" your hair, grooms naturally, prevents drying (sfld that cris P* clean masculine aroma! Why No Bowl? | By JOHN LOTT ' Collegian Sports Editor JOE CORREIA At Annual Banquet Booters Tab Correia MVP; Elect Flanagan As Captain Little Joe Correia, Penn State’s leading scorer and most consistent performer, was chosen the most valuable player on the soccer team. The 5-5 sophomore who accounted lor seven goals was selected by his team mates at the annual banquet held by the players at the end of the season. Tom Flanagan, who performed admirably for the hooters at both left wing and at halfback, was chosen captain of next year’s squad. In a season when the seemed to draw praise from Cardinals' Ken Boyer Wins MVP ST. LOUIS (AP) - Third baseman Ken Boyer of the champion St. Louis Cardinals savored with pride and humility yesterday the National League's 1964 Most Valuable Player award. But, he said graciously, it also belonged to his teammates. "This is an honor every base ball player dreams of winning." said the big, quiet slugger. "To get it. you have to get a lot of breaks and have a fairly con sistent year. But most impor tant, you have to have team- I mates like I had and they should feel they share it." Boyer was named first on 14 of the 20 ballots cast by the Se lection Committee of the Base bail Writers Association of America. He drew a total of 343 points, with ballots counted on the basis of 14 points for first place, nine for second, eight for third, etc. .Johnny Callison. the Philadel phia Phillies' outfield star, was second with 187 points and Boy er's teammates, first-baseman 'Bill White, was third with IOG'-i. Last year, Sandy Koufax, the left-handed pitching star of the Los Angeles Dodgers, won the award. Last week, Brooks Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles won the American League’s 1961 MVP award. Coupled with Boyer’s award, this gave third basemen a sweep of the coveted honor this year. Sports Staff Meeting A meeting of all members of the Daily Collegian Sports staff will be held at 7 p.m. tonight in the Collegian of fice, basement of Sackelt Building. Winter term as signments will be given at this lime. Bowling Schedule The new bowling lanes will be available for open bowling tomorrow. Thanks giving Day, in the afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. and in the evening from 6 till 11 p.m. speeds