Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012, September 29, 1955, Page Four, Image 4

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By Al Johnson
Emerald A*»'t Sports Editor
Last weekend's round of collegiate and professional foot
ball action, the second game for most of the college elevens
and the first regular season game for the pro clubs, proved
once more the vulnerability of any team on any given day
to the oldest of gridiron bugaboos—the upset.
Football, by its limited activity in comparison to base
ball and basketball, sees many more reversals of predicted
form. One chance is all a team gets and must make the
most of it. In baseball, for instance, so many games are
played during a season that a majority of wins over the
same team establishes superiority. This is, of course, a
fairer method, but hardly practical in football.
Oregon State's 10-0 victory over Stanford last Saturday
night fell into this upset category. Prior to the game, the
only yardstick for judging the merits of the two elevens was
by their performance against one other opponent each. With,
Stanford’s 33-14 win over a fairly strong College of Pacific
team and the Staters’ 33-0 triumph over a weak Brigham
Young club, the Indians figured to be a bit better.
Clippings Don't Decide Game
But. of course, all this conjecture goes by the way when
twenty-two men line up for the kickoff and press clipping
go out the window. OSC was evidently pointing for the
Stanford contest and. according to the final score, was ten
points the better team. Whether this was true or not will
never be known to any further extent. The upset has prob
ably removed a good deal of the incentive from the rest of
the Indian season.
UCLA, in losing to Maryland, perhaps did not suffer
a true upset, in the sense that they were generally favored
to win. The Terrapins were quite probably up for the Bruin
game, and the result showed in the final tally. This out
come ought to square things with Maryland boosters, after
last year’s loss to the west coast club.
In other collegiate upset contests over the past weekend,
several surprising results either saw the favorite losing or
being freightened thoroughly before winning. Ohio State’s
1955 Rose Bowl champions trailed badly before rallying to
defeat Nebraska, 28-20. And only the weekend before, the
Cornhuskers fell before little Hawaii bv a 6-0 count.
Near Upsets Also Many
Texas Tech, a rising power in the Southwest although
not yet a member of the conference, failed to find the right
combination against TCU that had worked to give the Red
Raiders a 20-14 win over Texas the week before. Texas
Christian walked off with an effortless 32-0 win. And near
upsets were almost posted by North Carolina against Okla
homa and COP against Purdue’s Boilermakers.
Even in the professional circles, upsets hit home in
Sunday’s action, though the play-for-pay boys play most
of the other teams in their division twice a season. The
Los Angeles Rams, who looked less than spectacular in
pre-season games, came up with a season-opening 23-14
win over the power-laden San Francisco 49ers. This came
despite a 31-10 triumph by the injury-ridden SF team two
weeks ago in an exhibition contest. It must be remem
bered, though, that pro teams are able to draw the best
from college talent and usually are rated as fairly likely
to be upset.
Baltimore, the doormat of the NFL in recent years, has
come alive this year behind Oregon’s George Shaw, Wis
consin’s Alan Ameche and Baylor’s L. G. Dupre to give the
other teams fits. The Colts opened their campaign with a
23-17 win against the top-rated Chicago Bears.
All Pro Tilts Surprising
In the other pro contests, all surprising, the world cham
pion Cleveland Browns lost to the Eddie LeBaron-led Wash
ington Redskins. 27-17; the runner-up Detroit Lions«dropped
a last-second decision to Green Bay, 20-17; the Philadelphia
Eagles downed the New York Giants, 27-17 and Pittsburgh
topped Chicago, beating the Cardinals, 14-7.
Upsets being what they are, the game of football is cer
tainly livened up by them. For evidence of the concern of
the upsets, conversations with such upset-plagued coaches
as Stanford’s Chuck Taylor this year, Cal’s Pappy Waldorf
last year, and USC’s Jess Hill the year before.
Casanova Works
Defense Over
For Husky Tilt
Coach Len Casanova's Webfoot
gridders spent most of Wednes
day's practice working on a de
fense for their Saturday night
game with the' Washington Hus
kies.
The Huskies. 30-0 upset winner
over Minnesota last week, have
their best running attack since
Hugh McElhenny left the Seattle
campus.
Jim Jones, Bob McNamee, and
Credell Green are all ranked in
the top eight rushers in the con
ference. Jones ranks third, Mc
Namee sixth, and Green eighth.
Quarterback Steve Koake is in
fourth spot in the passing list.
The Ducks hope to come up
with a defense to bottle up the
highly touted Huskies. Coach Len
Casanova had his linemen work
ing on blocking and charges, and
the backs stressed defense and
offensive pass patterns.
The Webfoot lineup is expected
to remain unchanged for the
game, as the few minor bruises
received in the Southern Cali
fornia game were coming along
in fine shape.
♦ ♦ ♦
Cher berg Cracks
Washington Whip
SEATTLE i.Ti — Players were
shifted, a stiff running scrim
mage was held and everyone got
a chance to boot the ball Wed
nesday as the University of
Washington football team sought
a smooth-clicking answer to Ore
gon's Tom Crabtree.
Recognizing the aerial threat
always posed by a capable Duck
quarterback. Coach John Cher
berg continued to stress pass det
fense in a lengthy drill.
Then he worked his linemen
hard against Oregon plays and
held an extensive punting ses
sion to seek the still unfound
man with a toe.
His line prospects looked the
best this season as Gene Peter
sen, a junior letterman guard,
reported off the sick list for the
first time; Ed Sheron was shifted
back to left tackle from end, and
Don MeCumby moved from left
tackle to guard.
Sheron went back to his old po
sition because of the fine per
foromance turned in by the regu
lar ends against Minnesota.
Beaver Bruisers Hurt,
No Game This Week
CORVALLIS OPT — Minor ail
ments sidelined two Oregon State
football linemen Wednesday, and
hobbled several others in scrim
mage practice.
Tackle John Witte missed the
drill because of a slight attack of
influenza and end Dan Naranche
was out with a bruised shoulder.
Tailback Ray Westfall, wing
back Sam Wesley and tackles
Andy Skief and Dave Jesmer
took part, but were bothered by
ailments.
They all will have time to re
cover. The team is not scheduled
to play next weekend.
Oregon, OSC to Host
Rice Institute Five
HOUSTON, Tex. UP) — Next
year’s Rice Institute basketball
team will make a December tour
of the West Coast.
Coach Don Suinan said Wed
nesday contracts have been
signed for games with Oregon.
State and the University of Ore
gon. He said negotiations also
are under way with UCLA and
Southern California.
It will be the first basketball
trip to the West Coast for Rice.
IN THE SNOW, BUT
Early Bowl Bids
Excited Campus
By run. HAGER
Emerald Sports Writer
Oregon nmy not play in the
Rose Bowl this season, but twice
the Dtirks played In the Pasa
dena classic and when they did.
they were the campus’s first
topic of discussion.
The Webfoots broke even In
two Rose Bowl outings. The
Ducks humbled Pennsylvania in
1917, 14-0. The next time the
game was played, in 1920, Ore
gon fell to Harvard 7-6.
“G rea test Intersections!"
In 1920 the fray was descrilied
by Emerald reporter Herman
Lind ns "the greatest intersec
tional classic that has ever been
arranged."
The Duck coaching staff was
increased to six and several
letters were reported to have
been sent out in a plea for more
help in the coaching department.
Snow Hits Practice
When Coach “Shy” Hunting
ton’s squad was notified that it
was to play in the Bowl, Kincaid
field was covered with seven
inches of snow. Trainer "Bill"
Hayward reassured the doubters
however, by announcing that he
would get his Ducks in shape,
"snow or no snow.”
C. N. "Pat" McArthur, repre
sentative in Congress at that
time said in a letter to the Em
erald: "It is my candid opinion
that if the six teams of the Pa
cific Coast conference were to
meet six of the leading teams of
the east on neutral fieds . . .the
IM Managers Will
Meet Today at Four
House intramural managers
will hold a special meeting today
at 4 p.m. at the IM office in the
men's physical education build
ing, according to Virgil Erickson,
intramural director.
The managers will vote on In
cluding wrestling in IM compe
tition this fall. Erickson also
emphasized the need for more
officials. Those interested may
contact him at the IM office.
Sports Staff
Desk Editor: Jack Wilson.
Staff: Phil Hager, Joe Raabe,
Web Ruble, A1 Johnson.
READ EMERALD WANT ADS
Pnclfle coast elevens would win
ii majority of the rnx games."
Rut McArthur's hopes withered
as the easterners slipped by Ore
gon, 7-6.
In 1917, It was a different story.
The Webfoota faced Pennsylvania
before a crowd estimated at 27.
000. Final score: Oregon 14,
Penn 0.
Penn Passing Fndefentahle
According to an Kmerald re
porter, "The easterners were con
sidered the ultimate in football
perfection. Their system of aerial
attacks was lauded ns undefeat
able.
"Pennsylvania's veteran coach
R. C. Folwell conceded that the
1917 Oregon team wuh better
than his own," the Kmerald re
port said.
Anyway, If Oregon does miss
out on the Hose Bowl this year,
just remember the good old days
35 years ago.
Work Progresses
On Field, Lounge
Improvements In the outfield
of Howe field and construction of
h letterman’a lounge In McArthur
Court highlight Athletic depart
ment work this year.
The lounge, rated a $10,000
improvement, is at the north end
of Mac Court anil will contain a
kitchenette, sofas and tables and
chairs. The outside wall facing
the hail will house new Oregon
trophy cases.
l-ett«-rmen Financing
Lettermen are donating the
money for furnishings. At pres
ent, however, the lettermen have
had difficulties In acquiring se
eded cherrywood.
Ted Bouck, athletic business
manager, stated that the project
should be completed by basket
ball season.
Howe Field Get* Fenee
Improvements in Howe field in
clude leveling left field and rig
ging a fence around the entire
outfield. Upon construction of
the wall, a ball clearing the
fence in the air will be an auto
matic home run and one bound
ing over the barrier will be an
automatic douoble.
"This project should develop
Oregon's diamond Into the best
collegiate park on the coast, with
the possible exception of Stan
ford," Bouck stated.
Students:
YOU CAN FLY
Piper Tri-Pacer "53" Model. Fred Savage, Instructor
IN 8 HOURS
• A small down-payment and you're in the air.
• Small monthly payments keep you there.
• Gl approved.
Phone 7-2366
McKenzie flying service
Springfield Airport 1300 28th Street