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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1943)
Oregon State’s surprising showing back east when they walked off with four victories in five crucial contests came as a startling revelation to the majority of the hoop following popu lation scattered up and down the Pacific slopes. lo a few the Beavers’ scintillating achievemenst were mere fulfilment of prophecy. One of these prognosticators who es tablished the defending northern division champs as a tough bunch of gents without the aid of a crystal ball, zodiac read ings, et cetera, was Howard A. Hobson, Oregon’s own hoop «t)mpter. \\ hile nine out of ten coast writers were casting their lot with Hec Edmundson’s speed-driven Huskies'to make a clean up in the northern loop this year, the sagacious Webfoot men tor shook his head and jotted down a few mental notes of his own. Huskies Strong in All Departments \ es, Hobby agreed that with those five flashy veterans all hack to set up Edmundson with last year’s complete unit, the long-fanged Husky from the shores of Puget Sound, enjoyed a good opportunity of capturing the league rag. They had heighth in kurwards Boody Gilbertson and Doug Ford and Center k buck Gilmur, and they had speed in the backcourt in Guards A\ all}- Leask and Bill Morris. Reserve strength was g'ood, as well. But, he didn’t concede the pennant to the Washington ians on any walkaway. Oregon State is just as strong this year, if not even a little better fortified all around, as they were one year ago, he contended. The Beavers had lost ^Jarring John Mandic, extremely rugged and consistently high-scoring center who rated All-American honors in his senior year. Mandic was the biggest loss and left a terrific ally raw, yawning hole at center. Prophecy Comes True Slats Gill, OSC head boss, also saw depart from his ranks because of graduation Forwards Jack Mulder, Sam Dement, and George McNutt, not withstanding Guard Paul Valenti. J iiese losses were hard jolts to take, but not nearly such a smack in the face as when Big Mr. Mandic, the man who walks like a bear, tucked his diploma under his arm, waved good-bye, and plodded down the avenue. '1 hose were the losses for which Gill yanked down the old crying towel and proceeded to loose a flood of tears. But he didn't bawl long. The gains that he made this year seemed to more than offset the bad news. Back in harness was his ster ling guard combine of Don Durdan and Lewie Beck. Speed, deception, and scoring proficiency here in juicy abundance. • Who would replace the unduplicable John Mandic? That, of course, was the real stickler. Erland (Andy) An derson, a towering frosh, seemed to be the logical selection so Gill then put all his eggs in the Anderson basket. The green Mr. Anderson faltered not one whit and came through the pre-season schedule without cracking nary an egg. The Gill guess had flowered and borne luscious fruit. No comparison to the versatile Mandic, but Anderson is going great guns for just a soph. Help Comes Gill's Way Two of those lifesavers that happen along every now and then and for which a coach would swap his month’s salary, then put in an appearance on the Corvallis Campus. The names are Don Cecil and Bob Howard, two Jaycee transfers with a world of talent and adjustability. This pair fitted so well into the pass-pause-pass-pause, "waltz me around again, Willie” style which Gill dotes on, that they were first stringers from the season’s outset. What has happened is that the Orange head sachem has forgotten that Mulder and Dement ever ex iled, forsaking his old loves for something newer and seem ingly better. Yes. Hobby’s little prophecy has come true. Oregon State apparently is better off than last year, considering over-all strength. And so a new contender enters upon the scene, a contender which will be just as tough as Hec Edmundson’s pack of Husky casaba hounds. Rationing Hits Hard Sports attendance was expected to take a terrific scaling after the auto-riding public became confined to three gallons per week with the new “A” card rationing system. Athletic manager's moaned, and rightly enough. Attendance figures dropped and will undoubtedly be on the decline from now on in as each petrol fume will be guarded more stingily. ^ Rationing didn’t bother the Tournament of Roses big grid ™awl New Year’s, however. An unprecedented number of cars—30,000 in fact, which is 8,000 more than ever before— were driven by Rose Bowl onlookers to Pasadena who filled the stadium with a record-smashing total of 91,000 fans. PCC Swim Meet Slated Pacific Coast conference offi cials announced that February 28, at Pullman, Washington, the lair of the Washington State Cougars, will be the time and place, respectively, for the 1943 edition of the northern division conference swimming meet. Despite what happens this year, Oregon fans can think back over years gone by, 1942 to be specific, and review one of the most amazing athletic teams ever to participate in any kind of a meet. Last year, a bunch of Duck mermen went north to Seattle, captured first and second in ev ery event, and all but two thirds, and nonchalantly returned to Eugene. Somehow, a couple of Washington men managed to sneak in while Oregon wasn’t locking and grab off third in two events to break a perfect day for the Webfoots. Team Rates Fair But to bring things up to the present. Coach Mike Hoyman W'ill take a team to Pullman which, al though weakened by the loss of at least half of the squad to the services, still stands a chance of winning a few events. Best news of late from the Duck tank is the return to form of Dick Allen. For two years Dick has been paddling for Oregon, never showing ex ceptionally, but always plugging away at the seconds and thirds. This year as a senior, Dick will let plenty of people know he is around. With the season opener Janu ary 30 still three weeks away, Coach Hoyman has scheduled time trials under actual collegiate conditions to give the boys the “feel” of competition. The first of these meets comes off next Saturday, and is open to the pub lic. Courtesy Oregonian COUGAR HOOPER . . . . . . Scott Witt, witii one year’s experience under iiis belt, now holds down starting post for wsc. Gene Walgenbach, letterman guard on the University of Wis consin football squad, has been playing in the position all through his gridiron career. No More Horseplay; Buck Bailey’s in Navy Northern division baseball fans will note a decline in color in collegiate diamond clashes this year when Washington State's Cougars come up as the opposition. In the past Arthur (Buck) Bailey, the gay, raucous, portly Cougar mentor, could al ways be counted upon to break a bat or two, kick the water pail into the grandstand, or tongue lash the umpire. Those spectator appealing antics the Buck Bailey way will be a thing of the past this spring. A news dispatch from Seattle reveals that the veteran Cougar baseball boss and assistant foot ball coach has been sworn into the United States naval reserve and awaits orders which will send him to Chapel Hill, N. C., for a 30-day indoctrinal course. Bailey will assist in the conditioning program at the pre-flight school at Chapel Hill. A leave of absence was grant ed Bailey from Washington State college for the duration. MIGHTY MITE . . . . . Piiul Jackson, diminutive guard from last year’s hoop team, now serving under Uncle Sam. EXCITEMENT! THRILLS! SPILLS! I'vUL.iuNl', ICE ARENA ICE SKATING DAILY 3:15 to 5:30-7 :45 to 10:00 Sat. and Sun. Morning 10:15 to 12:30 Any organization may rent the arena for a pri vate party any evening between 10-12 p.m. for only $20. West 6th Ave., Eugene Figure Skating Club meets Sun., 5:30-7:00 p.m. Free instruction. Beginners and advanced. MEET YOUR FRIENDS HERE ! ! Make a regular weekly appoint ment to bowl here. Enjoy the benefits of heal thy exercise in our congenial atmosphere . . . where good fel lows always jneet! Complete Fountain Service 11 tli and Willamette