Page Twenty,
THE REGISTER. GUARD, EUGENE, OREGOR
Highclimber
By DICK STRITE
Henry Picard Leads Rio Grande
Pro-Golfers
Hobby Hobson was plenty smart when be arranged the
Webfoots' current eastern basketball invasion by booking
a flock of good opponents, including five sophomores on the
traveling squad, and returning home more than two weeks
before the ooenine of the northern division season.
This 1941-42 hoop race is going to be a "toughie" in the
Pacific northwest, from all indications . . . Washington State
isn't noticeably weakened by the loss ot all regulars except Kirk
Gebert . . . Idaho will be no pushover, pre-season games indicate
Washington admittedly has the strongest lineup in years . . . And
Oregon State is the "team to beat," what with a veteran squad In.
cludine the invincible John Mandic.
Coach Hec Edmundson of the Huskies and Slats Gill of the Bea
vers will not have the advantage of Hobson's crew in regard to the
eastern jaunt.
'Both Washington and Oregon
State will entrain for the east this
week-end when the Webfoots are
hiSmeward bound.... Washington
was to leave today and will likely
return home only a few days be
fore the opener in Seattle, Janu
ary 9, against Idaho... Oregon
State doesn't play Bradley Tech in
Illinois until January 3, nine days
before meeting Washington state.
And Oregon squad, regardless of
wins and losses, is certain to gain
the experience and poise needed in
the coming conference race and
the necessary rest that former
Oregon squads have not had before
opening January 9 against USC.
The Pacific coast conference
football coaches' association will
present two new rule changes to
the National Football Coaches' as
sociation when the national group
holds its annual meeting in Detroit
December 30 and the rules will
be those Tex Oliver has been ad
vocating these many years.
Neither of the proposed changes
will be as radical as the "unlimited
substitution" rule adopted with
surprising success last season.
Need for the new rules is "as plain
as the nose on your face," is the
way Tex puts it.
fchange No. 1 That a penalty
against a defensive team within
its, 15-yard line should never be
more than half the distance to the
goal line. An excellent example
of, this was the recent Oregon-OSC
game when a penalty advanced the
b$H from the 24 1 to the three
yard line, resulting in the confer
ence champions' first touchdown.
Ujider the proposed rule the ball
would have gone to the 7.
The three-yard line is much dif
ferent than the 7, if you've ever
noticed how much more difficult
it is to advance those last 10 yards
then the same distance further out.
The- surprise' of a penalty within
"diving distance" wrecks the mor
ale of a defender.
Change No. 2 That distance
gained through forward passing or
rushing be allowed after an illegal
laferai.'pass. The present regula
tion tends the ball back to the line
of scrimmage and nullifies all
yardage gained on either a legal
forward pass or a rushing advance,
ifeadopted, the rule will give the
teem 'possession of the ball, minus
the, penalty, at the point from
.where the forward lateral was
fossed and allow the passing or
rushing gain.
Tex will attend the national
meeting in Detroit and is Sched
uled to give talk on "Defense
Against the T". ... The Oregons
played Clark Shaughnessy's "T
Tormation Indians in the first game
of the season, and while the Web
foots didn't perform exactly as
Tex had planned, the club gave
Stanford a terrific battle... No
dojubt Tex will gather material
frm Stub Allison of California,
Bajbe Hollingbery of Washington
State, and Lon stiner of Oregon
Stlte three coaches and three
teajns that did stop the "T.'
Game," please refer your selection
committee to the American Foot
ball Statistical Bureau, Seattle,
Wash. Homer Cooke, manager of
this gridiron service, will probably
be happy to send you the statistics
on the 1941 football season, statis
tics that definitely prove that of.
fensively Mecham was the best
all-around backfield man on the
coast. You don't have to take our
word for it, or the opinion of his
coach, Tex Oliver, but ask any of
the boys in San Francisco, Los An
geles, Portland or Seattle about his
sterling defensive ability. The
AFSB will likely be able to give
you the number of passes he in
tercepted, and the total will as
sure any skeptic that Mecham was
good in this department. The only
thing to be proven by opinion is
his blocking and tackling and it's
been good all season.
The Seattle bureau hasn't re
leased the final figures, but we
know Mecham is the top punter on
the coast with a better than 41
yard average, that his total of
fense record (rushing, passing and
pass receiving) is 863 yards for the
season.
Curt probably couldn't make the
jaunt to New Orleans, but we do
believe he should have had the
honor in any case. ... His only
fault is that he does things the
easy and not the spectacular way.
But listen, friend Lykke, come
next September, October or No
vember when you send out your
annual letters asking sports writ
ers to select their candidates we'll
take it with a grain of salt. You'll
have a tough time making us be
lieve tnat we were one of only
a few scribes who named Mecham,
ana tnat me Bay Region pressure,
tne pleasure of Babe Hollingbery
of Washington State, and Percy
Locey of Oregon State doesn't just
about seal the invitation- telegram
envelopes.
But the East-West games must
Be great contests even thoujh it
reeKs witn pontics ana we hope
to see one some day.
Yours truly,
DICK STRITE.
Lane count? sportsmen who
have reviewed with us Carl Bak
er's fish committee report recently
presented" to the Oregon Wildlife
Federation meeting in Corvallis
have asked, "What can we do to
help bring about a remedy for
these evident faults in hatchery
management?" The answer is
quite simple. We would recom
mend membership in the Federa
tion (at si per year) for everv
sportsman interested in saving our
natural iisning and hunting re
sources for their children and
grandchildren.
One frosty nleht last Sintemher
after a late evening Dortion of
mince pie, we dreamed that Prink
Callison. former Medford hieh and
University of Oregon football
coach, had been invited to return
to collegiate grid coachina.
-WHS iwnv U1U otuu uic a. cm i- i ..
6 the new rules proposed by the f'Uy' s(ureJ, f5"1 J fy intended
ost coaches are accepted by the .m,te Prink about the flinch,
national association, a recommen
daiion will be forwarded to the na.
tiojial rules committee, a group
thjt is very, or has been very hesi
tasrt in setting up new regulations.
An open letter to
C'hMs Lykke,
Publicity Director Annual Shrine
football Game,
20 Civic Auditorium,
Saf Francisco, Cal.
Dear Mr. Lykke:
if Curt Mecham, right halfback
foifthe University of Oregon dur
ing the past gridiron season, has
been tendered an invitation and
refused the bid to play in the East-
West football classic, pardone me
all'to hell.
But if he hasn't been asked to
play in the "Player for Player,
America's Greatest Football
Just Received
. 1942 MODEL
Johnson
Outboard
Motors
We have been notified that
no more will be available
until further notice. These
A are all popular sizes. . . ,
It may be your last chance
for a long time. See us Mon
day if you are planning to
buy a motor in the near fu
ture. Easy Terms Arranged
Carl R. Baker
FILM SHOP
7th & Willamette
but never mentioned the incident
until we saw him at the California
game in Portland more than a
month later.
Prink laughed at the dream, and
tne very idea that he would re.
turn to tne coaching game. . . He
explained he was very happy do
ing his present work holding a
position with Marine Electric at
me .Portland ship-yards and sell
ing insurance on the side. . . But
rnnK loves football, and a lucra
tive offer from the University of
Washington, a school he jinxed for
so many years while coaching the
wcuioois, mignt persuade Callison
10 return to tne coaching game.
Playing time figures on Oregon
football players during the past
season aeiinueiy Indicate the rea
son why Tex Oliver's Webfoots
were not stronger championship
contenders. ... Out of the first five
piayers in "minutes of service,'
tnree were backs... Out of the
nrsi ii, live were backs and two
were ends... Figure It out for
yourself.
Duke Iverson. quarterback, was
the "iron man" of the entire
squad with 513 minutes of service
out of a possible 600 minutes, an
average ot 51 minutes per game. ,
. . Curt Mecham, although he plav
ed a very short time in the Santa
Clara tilt, was second with 446
minutes, End Tony Crish third
with 413, Center Elliott Wilson
fourth With 392. Knii TVimm-u
lin fifth with 388. These figures
definitely show how hard-put Tex
Was for barlcfiplri mstanal
Thirty-three men saw service dur
ing the season with only End Huss
Nowling and Center Hershel Pat
ton giving 60-minute perform
ances, against Washington.
Turkey Tourney Ends At
Country Club Sunday
The Eugene Country club's "tur
key tourney" closes Sunday when
the two golfers who have posted
the best net scores, using full han
dicaps, will be awarded turkeys.
The competition opened last week
end when Don Leal and Bob Ark
ley took the lead with net 72s,
Undercut Par
Picard Snatches Early
Lead From Ben Hogan
HARLINGEN, Tex., Dee. 20.
W) Henry Picard Ignored a driv
ing rain today to rush home with
a seven-under-par 31-33 64 in
the first round of the Rio Grande
Valley open golf tournament
That was a stroke better than
Toledo's Byron Nelson, who
learned his golf In Texas and is
former V. S. Open king.
The Karlinven muna all Vtnt
fell apart at the seams under the
nammenng or tne touring pros, 25
of whom bettered par, which, is
aa-av.
Picard. Oklahoma CSf-ir nrnfat.
sional, pounded the soggy course
for seven birdies nnA nv, wmt
over par in the first day of the
?3,uuu meeting. Nelson, got as many
Diraies DUt nis 3Z-33 65 Included
bogie four at No. 5.
Lester TtPnnAriv A T.Win. Mace
nosed out smiling Jimmy Demaret
of Detroit for third nlar
with a 32-3466. Demaret, a Hous
ton iaa wno was in the lead un
til the late hours of the round,
fired a 33-34 67. .Toe 7.rhiri1 nf
Morristown, Pa., did just as well
wnn a 3Z-35 67.
Picard clrieAj liir pV,
to take over the lead from Nelson.
rie mraied No. 18.
The rain started while Nelson
'as on the fourth fai rwav hut h
wobbled only on the fifth, where
he WOUnH tin until the ViAB-i'a t;
r- ...... . uwq.i.. 4 .v.-
ard. whose 31 wa th inwnt nine-
hole score of the day, was five un-
aer inrougn tne 14th and clipped
two more strokes off par, one on
16 and the other at No. 18.
Ben Tfnnn urinnoi. v,a.ira
don trophy and the leading money
winner of the year, was 26th in the
standings with an even-par 71.'
McKee, CIO Quints
To Battle Monday
SPRINGFIELD, Dec. 20 (Spe
cial) Local basketball fans will
have the opportunity of watching
o potentially fine basketball game
and aid the Red Cross War Re
lief campaign at the same time
here Monday night. The Lane
county AAU basketball league
game between the McKee. Bakers
of Springfield and the Sorinirrield
C.I.O. has been shifted to Monday
night and will be played on the
Springfield high court at 8 o'clock
The McKee Bakers have won the
state "B division AAU cham.
pionship for the past two years
and are favored to annex the
county crown this season. The
C.I.O. aggregation, however, has
title hopes and will be leveling
au guns at the Bakers Monday
nignt.
The Baker aggregation includes
the Fox family (Howard, Kenny
Everett and Delano), Kenny and
Falmer King, Lloyd Mallatt and
Hex McCready.
C.I.O. will have Big Bob Pol.
lard at center, Del Koch at for
ward, Pete Taylor and Bill Smith,
guards, all ex-Springfield high
stars; Marsh Dannen, former OSC
Rook, and three former Washing
ton high school stars the Dough,
erty brothers and Bob Biedel.
All expenses have been held to
zero, the high school providing
facilities and Doc Taylor donating
his services as referee. The high
school history class has taken
charge of advance sale of tickets,
costing 40 cents for adults and 25
cents for students, tax included,
Bowling
Roberts of the Dotson Radio
team at the U-Bowt alleys was
the top man in the league bowl
ing for the week with a high
single game of 258. Andrews of
the Irish Bakery team at the
Recreation alleys waa next with
a single game of 243.
Johnson of the Arrow Am
bulance team at the U-Bowl had
the highest three game series
with a 628. He was closely fol
lowed by Roberts with a 627.
Johnson also recorded s high
single game of 233.
Other high single game scores
were turned in by Hughes for
the Planters Peanuts team and
Androotnos for the Sigwart
Electric team with a 227 and a
226 respectively. Both bowlers
performed at the U-Bowl alleys.
Riley of the Jim the Shoe Doc
tor team at the Recreation scor
ed a 225.
Daisy SUlier was the high
performer of the week among
the women bowlers. She scor
ed a single game of 223 and a
high series of 653 for the Scherer
Bulck team at the Recreation
alleys.
BOB SMITH-1939
BOB SMITH was the first
Hoffman Award winner. The
ace right-halfback from Med
ford played for Oregon three
yean.
Ji22Ui
Open Golf Tourney
D'CK HORNE-1940
nvitrrvii' .. .. I
end Hoffmn AHtl
The talented enufu:l?,,e,
?!. Ca... pi"! r?-H
sons lor Orernn
.gnx
i:r-:' El I CURT MECHAM-1941 IMnl
I ' CURT MECHAM is the lat- Wjt B - )V
Mfew." .a , t'iJ?fl est Hoffman Award winner. 't l&iSX ; - W
--" . ' l&sS- The great right-halfback from Spot,. " Tifl?Sw!&
ft'XVST- ' ' Glendale, Cal., completed two !iSU MMliiK
fo;V, ;i- i years for Oregon this season. 11
: -,"WSKSK,KS (Teter photos, Wiltshire engraving) BS.4N9
Curt Mecham Wins Hoffman Football
Duck Halfback
Awan
Give the Best !
SOCIETE'
CHOCOLATES
XMAS BOXES
' 60c
ED'S DEPOT
49 E. Bieadway Ph. 809
Best on Coast
' Curtis L. "Curly" Mecham, 21-year-old
Bakersfield, Cal., half
back, has been named the 1941
Hoffman Football Award win
nerthe outstanding senior mem
ber of the University of Oregon
squad during the past season. Me
cham, the only married man on
the 1941 Webfoot gridiron squad,
was selected for this honor by his
teammates who annually select the
award winner a 21-jewel Bulova
wrist watch.
Thirty Oregon squad members
took part in the voting and Me
cham collected 19 first-place votes,
eight. second-place and one third
place selection for a total of 120
points (figured on a basis of five
for first, three for second and one
for third) out of a possible 145,
taking for granted he did not vote
for himself. Strongest contender
was Ray Segale, three-year veter
an guard from Seattle, who was
given, nine first-team votes and a
total of 101 points.
Smith First, Home Second
Others figuring in the balloting
were Bill Regner, end from Port
land, 43 points; Morris Jackson,
guard from Roaring Springs, Tex
as, 12 points, and Frank Boyd,
halfback from Riverside, Cal., four
points.
It was the third annual award,
made by Vernon Hoffman of the
Hoffman Jewelry store, a former
University of Oregon swimming
star. Previous winners were "Lef
ty Bob" Smith, halfback from
Medford, and Dick Home, end
from Long Beach, Cal., in 1939
and 1940, respectively.
Mecham came to Oregon in the
spring of 1940, a transfer from
Bakersfield Junior college. In his
first season, as. an understudy for
Len Isberg, a Portlander who was
one of two married men on the
1940 team, Mecham was the lead
ing ground-gainer on the Pacific
coast. He carried the ball 37 times
for the astounding average of 8.9
yards per play. Mecham, a south
paw kicker and passer, punted 21
times for a 37.8-yard average.
Although given only honorable
mention on ail-American teams
and second-team' berths on all
coast selections, the Oregon right
halfback was one of the finest all
around backfield men in Pacific
coast conference football history
during tne past year.
Best Coast Punter
The Webfoot halfback blossomed
Bud Ward Joins
Army Air Corps
SPOKANE, Wash., Dec. 20. (U.R)
Marvin "Bud" Ward, national ama
teur golf champion, on Monday
may become Private Marvin Ward,
U. S. army.
While photographers' flash bulbs
popped, the slender, blond veteran
of the nation's golfing wars today
volunteered for service with the
army air corps.
"I just thought it was the thing
to do," Ward said.
out this season and statistics defi
nitely establishing him as an out
standing performer. He won the
Pacific coast punting championship
by booting 60 times for an aver
age of 41.1 yards per kick, arid
many of his punts were out of
bounds or grounded for no re
turn by opponents. He carried the
ball 97 times for 525 yards rushing
and a net average of 4.72 yards per
play. He passed 36 times, com
pleted 15 for 230 yards with only
uiiee interceptions and a .417 aver
age on completions. He caught
eight passes for 108 yards, scored
seven touchdowns for 42 points
and passed to several other touch
downs. Mecham, besides being a fine
offensive player, was a sterling
performer on defense. He blocked
well and did a good job of quar
terbacking. Tex Oliver, Mecham's coach,
said, "I've never coached a better
oi more conscientious player. Curt
played better football with a lame
ankle than many good players
could perform in top condition. As
far as defensive ability is con
cerned. Curt was a fine tackier and
opponents made few long gains in
No Special Trains
For Bowl Game Crowds
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20. (IP)
The nation s railroads told bowl
game managers today that . be
cause of war-time demands it was
doubtful if special trains or cars
could be provided to handle foot
ball crowds.
The advice was telegraphed by
J. J. Pelley, president of the Asso
ciation of American Railroads, to
universities whose football teams
are scheduled for bowl games.
his territory. The record of his
many intercepted passes vouch
for his pass defense. He is also a
good blocker."
Mecham s performance during
me past season was more remark
able -in that he handled a man
sized job in addition to playing
football. He and Mrs. Mecham
managed the Alder Court apart
ments nere in exchange for a fur.
nished apartment and a small cash
compensation. One of Curt's many
duties was to build the furnace
lire in the wee hours of the morn
ing. Married January, 1941
The Bakersfield lad married
Jerry Weaber at Las Vegas, Nev.,
January 2, 1941. Jerry, a very at
tractive blonde, was a schoolmate
sweetheart at Bakersfield high.-
The Meehams have returned to
Bakersfield and are living at 1920
Roosevelt avenue. Curt plans to
return to Oregon real soon to com
plete his college work for a de
gree in the school of physical edu
cation. Voting tabulations follow:
lit m ra tit.
Curt Mecham 19 " S 1 ISO
Ray Segale 9 IS T 101
Bill Regner I T 17 43
Morris Jackaon , 1 - 1 ' 4 l J
Prank Boyd 0 1 - 1 4
Possible n 29 14
Uni High, Junction City Sked
Vacation Games; Others Rest
AU district six basketball teams
except University high will lay
off basketball during the Christ
mas vacation. Springfield;. Eugene,
Junction City and Cottage Grove
will not see any more actual game
action until January when the
regular league season begins.
The campus five of Henry Ku-
Thienes Twins Backs
Elected Springfield
Co-Captains of Football
: SPRINGFIELD, Deft 20. (Spe
cial) Carl and Earl Thienes, twin
halfbacks, were elected co-captains
of the 1942 Springfield high school
football squad here-last-week at
a banquet held in honor of the 1941
Millers. The event was sponsored
by the Springfield high "Pep Club"
girls. .. . .. . ..
Lee Todd, Wayne Seaman and
John Radmore, Tri-County league
all-stars, were presented with
minature sterling sliver footballs.
emblematic of their grid feats dur
ing tne past season.
Coach Eldon Fix, Assistant Coach
Paul Johnson and Captain Rad
more gave short talks.
chera, however, will play (J
games during the vacation
Monday December 22 the ra
will entertain the Marthii
quintet at McArthur court.
December 23 the Tiders bivtlj
Albany for a return game with
Bulldogs and then on Dec
30 they travel to Marshfleld W
return game,
District six league pity A
start on January 9 when spra
field entertains University bj
and Junction City travels to a
tage Grove. Eugene nun ooa
district action untl Jinulrj
when the Axemen travel toCl
tage Grove.
. Eugene high's next gum, h
ever, will be against the Sal
Vikings at Salem on Jnnr
Ijine countv B league teuM
alsn desert the casaba sport u
January 9 when they again reM
full weekly schedules. I
The Junction City TIgM 1
cut a few davs off of eacn rao
their vacation by playing I Pi
with Independence Decemwr
n .ftnu-tlrm f!itv floor. TOW
January 2 and 3 they travel j
4. .1 -.ilk MvrtlK POinU
VO UIIIGJS win. -
Roseburg in a pair of game).
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