Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 16

fl Thursday, Nov. 23. 1950 DETROIT FREE PRESS ITS ONE THAT HAS DISMISSED A FEW COACHES AT OSU MM earn a Dim By TOMMY DEVIXE Qhio State long has had a reputation aa a "Grave Yard for Football Coaches." Personable Wesley Fesler has whistled his way by the tombstones that dot High Street for four years. But there's one ghoulish hurdle he hasn't yet been able to take that's the University of Michigan. Fesler gets another crack at the Wolverines Saturday at Columbus.

On form he figures to record his first victory in the series, but this Is an old and traditional series in which form frequently goes astray. COACHES SET themselves in solid at Ohio State with victories over Michigan. Conversely, they can be shaken loose from their job moorings if they go too long without one or the coveted triumphs. The late Franci3 A. Schmidt is a perfect example.

Schmidt took over the Buckeyes back in 1934 after his predecessors Dr. John Wllce and Sad Sam Willaman had produced only three victories in 12 seasons over Michigan. Schmidt, a salty Texan won favor with Ohio fans when he quipped about Michigan's might: "They put their pants on one leg at the time, the same as we do." That led rabid Ohio State fans to establish a "Pants Club" and players on Buckeye teams which beat Michigan were rewarded with a gold watch emblem. over the Wolverines. He lost three in a row.

The finale was when the great Tom Harmon closed hi scollegiate career in 1940 by leading the Wolverines to a 40-0 victory at Columbus. Harmon literally chased the Buckeyes out of their own stadium and Schmidt out of his job. He "resigned" two days later. Then came Paul Brown, currently head coach of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League; Carroll Wid-does, who was named "Coach of the Year" in 1944 and then asked to be relieved of his duties, and Paul Bixler, now at Colgate and Fesler. In the past five games the Buckeyes have found their point production extremely limited.

Once they were shut out. Twice they were limited to a field goal and in the other two battles to a single touchdown. That adds up to a meager 19 points in five seasons. With Vic Janowicz and company boasting 283. points in eight games.

Buckeye followers figure they'll make up for lost time. It will make the walk by the "grave yard" easier on Fesler if they do. MICHIGAN HAS dominated the series since the late days of the Schmidt regime. The Wolverines have won eight and tied two in the last 12 battles. Fesler is in the best position a Buckeye coach has been in years for a victory over Michigan.

He has a team of superlative strength going against a Wolverine outfit which is below the caliber of recent Michigan combinations. SCHMIDT collected four straight golden pants. More than that, in his first four seasons at the Buckeye helm, Michigan failed to score against Ohio State. Then Schmidt lost his charm Cam Job Ohi Hi jwjjuii.wwt''l.iiiaLiL ill.l. liiwii.ww'j.'iJiiiiutiiiLiiuilU-ll.ai.i'u.

i tin inn J' 1 if sC "AWX 3 i jr 1 U'4 TD Circus Seen as Lions Play Yanks 2 Already Filled Neiv York Puts Accent on Scoring COACH WES Victory will keep him out FESLER of coaches' 'graveyard Vols Face Texas in 'Cotton' As of TODAY Turkey Day Game Finds Ratterman on Spot Again I i Games LES BINGAMAN By LYALL SMITH -v "r- Av, TV 1 of the Lions' No. 1 front line defensive unit QUARTERBACK GEORGE RATTERMAN of the visiting New York Yanks must have a friendly and sympathetic feeling for the proverbial Thanksgiving turkey. Starting at noon Thursday, each will be on the spot. As the turkey is the key to a succulent Thanksgiving feast, Ratterman is the key to the football fracas, at Briggs Stadium which marks the farewell appearance of the local season for the Detroit Lions. For Ratterman, the experience of having a fire lighted beneath him is nothing new.

He has been one of the more controversial figures in the professional football wheel. It started when he dropped out of Notre Dame after his junior year to play pro ball. Despite denials, the story persists that Ratterman, tired of understudying Johnny Lujack, went to Coach Frank Leahy and tried to persuade him to move Lujack to left half in order that he (Ratterman) could play quarterback. When this was not done, George quit school so he could play quarter for the Buffalo Bills of the All-America Conference. He did for three years and then made more headlines midway last season when he signed to play in the National League in 1950 even before his Buffalo season had been completed.

Blaik Starts Fireworks BOTH OF HIS JUMPS seemed to have worked to the best BLACK IF a Rainbow possible to show a profit. Anderson declared that "it looks as though pro football is here to stay." "The close race and better Attendance Bowl JIMMY CAIN The job MAY FINISH IN Lions See Detroit Lion president Edwin J. Anderson declared that the local pro football team has an "excellent chance to finish in the black" for the first time since the Detroit Football Co. bought the franchise three years ago. Anderson, who is serving his first year as president of the Lions, said that several factors would determine the final financial status.

"If we have a good crowd for the final home game with the Yanks Thursday," he said, "we would be in good position to at least break even. "We set up an estimate before the season began and we have been mighty close all along. Of course, we are counting on the Bears being in the thick of the fight for the title when we play them in Chicago to wind up the season. "THE BEARS have been averaging close to 50,000 per game and that figure would help us tremendously. We are counting on the guaranteed $20,000 in Baltimore in our other game." This would be the first time since 1945 that the Lions have been on the right side of the ledger.

One of the principal reasons for the optimism is a successful exhibition game series. The club grossed better than $100,000 during the training season and that amount plus the reduced operating expenses as far as players are concerned helped materially in cutting down the red ink. The team lost more than $200,000 in the first two years of its operation. Anderson declared that eight of the teams in the National Football League would make money. There are three others that could get over the hump with a break in the final weeks of the season.

THAT WOULD MEAN that 11 of the 13 teams could show a profit this year. The cessation of the costly war between the NFL and the All America Conference for player personnel is one of the big reasons that it's MSC GIVEN SHABBY 199 Philadelphia Los Angeles Cardinals Bears Bulldogs Green Bay Total 20,103 19,839 19,465 22,912 11,956 9,722 104,059 advantage for the crafty passer and play-caller. But then when all seemingly was serene, Ratterman suddenly found himself in print again. This time he was singled out by Coach Red Blaik of Army as one of the reasons professional football was not all of the game it was cracked up to be. Blaik, blasting the pros, said in effect that pro ball couldn't be so hot if one of its greatest stars was Ratterman who was only a second-rate collegiate player.

This barb cast by Blaik nicked Ratterman rather sharply but certainly did not affect his pin-pointed passing. It does, however, cast him in rather a strange light if Blaik's arrow has an actual point. By being great, he is making the pro game lousy, according to the Army coach. As he leads the Yanks against the Lions at 12 noon Thurs OLD FOOTBALL STORY Kansas State day, he has clicked on 112 of 228 touchdowns. His yardage figures Can't Win-He Quits MANHATTAN, Kan.

(JP) Ralph Graham resigned as head football coach at Kansas State College. Ratterman Sparks High Power Attack BY BOB LATSHAW Professional football rings down the curtain in Detroit Thanksgiving Day when the Lions engage the New York Yanks in Briggs Stadium at noon. Doak Walker and Co. will be shooting for a .500 record and at the same time trying to play the role of "giant killer" against the Yanks. At present the Lions have a 4-5 record for the season.

New York, defeated last Sunday by the Los Angeles Rams, will be battling to stay in the running in the National Conference of the National Football League. It has won six of nine games. A DEFEAT for the Yanks would virtually eliminate them from the race. The Los Angeles Rams, leading with an 8-2 record, and the Chicago Bears, 7-2, tangle in Chicago Sunday. Biggest job Thursday will fall to the Lions' defensive unit.

In nine games the high power offense of the Yanks has scored 41 touch downs and a total of 294 points. The spearhead of the attack is George Ratterman, the wizard of the formation. He is an excellent field general and the leading producer of touchdowns via the forward pass. So far this season, Ratterman has thrown 20 scoring passes, four of them against the Lions when the Yanks scored a 44-21 rout in New York. The keynote of the Yank attack is speed.

They have Buddy Young, Zollie Toth, George Taliaferro and Sherman Howard to provide the running power, and all the backs are speed merchants. BOTH DAN EDWARDS and Art VVeiner are brilliant pass catchers and should provide plenty of exer-1 cise for the Lions' pass defenders. Edwards is the leading pass catcher, grabbing 40 for 649 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. This means that Don Doll, Bob Smith, Self and Don Panciera will get plenty of action on defense. It also means that Les Binga-man, Thurman McGraw, John Prchlik, Chuck Schroll and Jack Lininger will have the dual job of rushing the passer and at the same time being prepared to stop quick thrusts through the line.

The Lions, of course, will rely on Walker, Bobby Layne, Bobby Hoernschemcyer and Ollie Cline to smash the Yank defense. Walker, the second leading scorer in the league, is in the midst of a "hot" streak and could cause trouble. THE CONTEST should be a wide open scoring game. Coach Norman (Red) Strader is a be liever in. the football adage that a good offense is the best defense.

The Yanks have operated on the theory that they'd give the opposition a touchdown and then score two. Strader's crew might be handicapped by injuries suffered in last week's losing battle with the Rams. Eight of the Yank regulars had to receive medical attention after that game. ALL THE STARS, except End Jack Russell, are expected to at least start the game. Whether they operate at top efficiency for any lengthy period will be determined by the punishment dished out by the Lions.

A crowd of more than 30,000 is expected to see this last home game of the Lions if the weather stays mild. Strader is expected to start Ratterman at quarterback, Taliaferro and Young at the halves and Toth at fullback. Toth has aver aged five yards per try in 100 smashes at the line. Coach Bo McMillin is expected to counter with a backfield made up of Layne, Walker, Hoernsche-meyer and Clint. Kickoff is 12 noon.

Georgia, Texas Paired for Dec. 9 Free Preoi Wire Services Teams were selected for two bowl games. Tennessee accepted an invitation to meet Texas in the Cotton Bowl at Dallas, Jan. 1. Texas and Georgia were matched for the Presidential Cup game to be played Dec.

9, in the University of Maryland's stadium at College Park. Meanwhile, Pacific Coast Con ference schools were notified to cast their votes for the loop's representative in the Rose Bowl, fol lowing Saturday's game. Califor nia is an almost-sure thing if the Bears beat Stanford Saturday, TENNESSEE'S acceptance of the Cotton Bowl invitation was somewhat surprising since the Volunteers will play Kentucky this week. The winner of that game is in line for the Sugar Bowl game at New Orleans. Apparently, Tennessee players and officials preferred to take the Cotton Bowl while they could get it.

It will be the Vols first trip to Dallas, although they have played in the Rose, Sugar and Orange bowl games. They have an 8-1 record this year, with Kentucky and Vanderbilt still to be played. Their only loss was to Mississippi State, 7 to 0. Texas became host team by winning the Southwest Conference championship. The Longhorns were beaten only by Oklahoma, the nation's No.

1 team, and by only one point, 14 to 13. It will be Texas' fourth trip to the Cotton Bowl. The Steers also have plaved in the Sugar and Oranjre bowls. There are 75,439 seats in the Cotton Bowl and all are sold. Rice and North Carolina got $126,000 each from the 1950 game, richest payoff in the nation.

THE TENNESSEE-Texas pairing followed quickly Big Ten Conference refusal of Michigan State for the game. The Spartans, now members of the Big Ten but ineligible for the Rose Bowl, asked for a Conference poll, although Cotton Bowl officials said they had ex- i tended only a "feeler." The Presidential Cup game, which matches Texas and Georgia, is blessed by President Truman and sponsored by the American Legion for its rehabilitation program. Maryland is donating its stadium. Georgia, which has won five games, lost one ana uea mree, was chosen after Maryland withdrew. The Texas Aggies have six victories and three defeats, all close.

They still must play Texas. Losses wore to Oklahoma, Baylor and Rice. IN CASE CALIFORNIA is upset by Stanford, the Rose Bowl selec tion Saturday would be complicated, especially if Washington beats Washington State. That would leave the conference in a tie, although California defeated the Huskies. Commissioner Victor O.

Schmidt pointed out that the bowl Invitation goes to the team selected by the nine member schools, since they do not recognize an official champion. "In case of a tie vote," he said, underlining "tie vote," "the team most recently in the Rose Bowl is excluded and the other tied team is automatically selected." The rule on ties does not relate to ties in the standings, he reiterated. The Pacific Coast team's foe will be chosen in the Big Ten. Saturday when Illinois plays Northwestern, Michigan meets Ohio State and Wisconsin takes on Minnesota. All three have chances at the bid, although Illinois can sew it up by down ing the Wildcats.

Out in El Paso, a rush developed for tickets to the 16th Sun Bowl game, which will match West Texas State against Cincinnati. The bowl seats only 15,000. make him the best passer in a 13-team league where practically all other quarterbacks can shuffle AU-American clippings from collegiate daysJ Ratterman can not. Lujack Outshone in Pro Feud EVEN LUJACK, the man he couldn't oust from the pass-tossing slot at Notre Dame, can't match him. Johnny has completed 95 passes for the Chicago Bears with only three going for touchdowns.

Ratterman's sensational performance this season is no flash fire. In 1947, when he still could have been playing collegiate ball, he flipped 11 scoring passes for Buffalo. In 1948, he passed for 2,577 yards and then came back last year for 1,777 and a 57.9 pass-completion average to set a record in the All-America Conference. THURMAN McGRAW of Gold football provided in the NFL this year is making it possible for pro football to have its best year," Anderson said. LATSHAW Figures 1950 Pittsburgh San Francisco Los Angeles Chicago Bears Green Bay Xev York Yanks Total 18,707 17,941 32,589 30,410 17,752 117,399 13,340 Increase Coach Graham, whose teams have won only one out of 17 Big Seven Conference games since he took the coaching job three years ago, gave recent ill health as the reason for his resignation.

Graham was a football star at Kansas State before he began his coaching career at Indiana Uni- versity. The resignation was voluntary. i i KANSAS STATE College was i in its football depths when jGraham, with an impressive coach ing record at Wichita University, was called back by his alma mater in effort to rebuild its football prestige. The college has lost 32 of its last 33 conference games. U-D High Five Triumphs, 45-25 Ken Prather pumped in 16 points to lead U.

of D. High to a 45-25 basketball victory over Southeastern in a on -league opener to the City League cage season. in Big Ten nor fowl. They're not permitted to enjoy the privileges of the other members, but neither are they permitted to enjoy the freedom of an outsider. Under the circumstances the school might be expected to say to heck with your club, break its pledge and continue being a barb, as they call non-frat men.

If the Spartans had been accorded the privileges of other members this year we would say okay, abide by the rules concerning postseason games. But until they are eligible to compete for a chance to play in the Rose Bowl, it's our idea that they should be permitted the chance to compete somewhere else. i St htm! 4 GEORGE RATTERMAN Stopping his passing will Leafs Boost NkX Lead Sloan Stars in 5-2 Rout of Black Hawks Free Press Wire Service TORONTO Rookie Tod Sloan, enjoying one of his best nighta in a Toronto uniform, scored twice to pace the Maple Leafs to a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Black Hawks. It increased their 1" Lcauc lead over 1- i. to Luce points.

way to their 11th victory by scoring in the first period on a pass-out from behind the Chicago nets. puck went in off Goalie Harry jLumley's skate. THEN SLOAN capped the night by blazing a shot past Lumley early in the third period. Max Bentley, like Sloan, turned in a two-point performance. He got a goal in the first -period and an assist on Sloan's in the third.

Harry Watson and Johnny MeCormick collected the other Toronto goals in the second period. Bep Guidolin tallied for Chicago late in the second period, and Rod Morrison scored with 14 seconds left in the game. CHICAGO l.limley Mrw urt T. It IlewohiirT I) 1). Kmtlejr Kalinili TORONTO nil ins ThoniMin (iardnrr Meeker Watson upare Ulckens.

Ond-tliy I nnnrlier. J. Coii'irltrr. BcMlnnr, Morrikiin, Guidolin. StaKiuk.

Lund). Iirin n. Tornnln pnre Barllku. Jiir.da. Bolton, llrnllrr.

Klnkav. I.eirki. Kennedy. milli. MrCurmnek.

M-kell, Tim-pren. HRST l'KKIOD: 1 Toronto. Sloan (Kennedy), I Tnrontn. Bentley tl.enlrki). 1:04.

I'enaltiesr duidiilln, Barilko, Meeker. Juzda. SKCOND l'KKIOD: 3 Toronto. Watson ((iardner), Toronto. MaeCor-maek (Sl'ian-Morlson), ft Chleaco, t.uidolln (i.

Conacher-R. Conacher). 18:19. Penalty Nell. THIKI) PKRIOU: 6 Toronto.

Ploan (Bentley). 2: 17 7 Chleaio. Morrison (itodnar-Brawn). 19:46. Penalty Stewart.

iV. Y. Snips String, Tops Montreal, 3-2 NEW YORK (JP) The New York Rangers, victory-less in their previous 15 starts, came up with a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens before 12,568 National Hockey League fans. NEW YORK Ravner Evann Jtl I.anrlen I I) Mlekonkl f' Kullman Toppaxiinl MONTREAL McNeil Harmon I-ayeoe Mottdell Curry Maekay New York apares Kddolln. O'Connor.

Kxan. Stanley. I.unil. LaPrade, Leswiek, Wo lnki. Sinclair, UarrUon.

Montreal nare Hnrrey. Bnucliard, HlrM-hfeld. Rirhard, JohnMin. Reay, velle. Ijteh.

Kaler. Mael'herson, UiiMaiilt, Maonirk. KIKST PKRIOIl! No worinit. Pennine! Ijtnelrn. JnliiiMin, Horn lixrd, I.H.vroe, llartey.

Kullnmn. TopDanini. SK((NI PKRKID: 1 New York. Too- raxxinl New York, und (Slnrlilr-() 11:17: -I New York. LaPrade (Le.wlrk).

4 Montreal, Kaier Keaj-(irTelle), 19:83. Penalties Kullman, Ijinrien. THIRD PKRIOO: 6 Montreal. Harvey, No peoaltiea. f'4 19 from State Get Frosh Letters at Special tn the Free Pres ANN ARBOR Nineteen State of Michigan players are among 54 freshmen awarded Michigan numerals for 1950.

They are: Jack McConnaughey, Thomas smith and John Maas, of Detroit; Stanley Burns, John Conlin, John Matteson and Roger Maugh, of Ann Arbor; Robert Topp and John Stevens, of Kalamazoo; Joel Schmidt and Ray Chiapuzio, of Bessemer. William Downey, of Birmingham; Ronald Eckart. of East Lansing; Richard Leach, of Flint; Curtis Murton, cf Harrison; John Piirto, of Ishpeming; William Rahn, of Benton Harbor; Charles Bitter, of Cassopolis, and Thad Stanford, of Midland. When Ted Collins, owner of the Yanks, persuaded him to jump to the NFL even before the peace-making merger had been completed, he actually set the stage for the Lions to get their own passer, Bobby Layne. With Ratterman on deck, the Yanks didn't need Layne so he came to Detroit.

In the first meeting between the two throwers, Ratterman took the honors as he flicked four scoring tosses passes for 1,891 yards and 20 and his touchdown Droduction decision on the spot then. He is now. and It's Brief Denby on the East Side, and Redford, on the West Side, are sectional swimming champions of the Metropolitan League. Soup Bowl teams, St. Gregory and St.

Ladislaus, will be honored by the Capuchin Charity Guild in a banquet Dec. 6. Two hundred tickets are available to the general public. Melvindale's Ridering Field will be scene of fifth annual Turkey Bowl game at 2:30 p. m.

Thursday. Opponents will be Oakwood Blue Jackets and Carbon A.C., traditional Southwest Detroit grid rivals. Bartunek-Slavia soccer team, of Cleveland, will face Detroit Hungarian Sports Club Sunday in challenge cup match at East Detroit Memorial Park at 2 p.m. St. Ambrose College, of Davenport, is winningest team in 1950 football.

It won 12, lost one on 13-game schedule. TREATMENT, WHITNEY SAYS jwhi the Yanks took a 44-21 But like the turkey, he wasn't It's News Cleveland Indians have retained Mel Harder as coach, after releasing Ossie Melillo. Third Base coach, Al Simmons, still is on the agenda for discussion. Thomas A. P'arnworth was reelected president of the Gowanie Golf Club.

Henry Gajewczyk is vice president, William G. Jones secretary. Hockey NATIONAL LEAGUE Martin 'Disappointed1 You might say they are pledged to the rat but not initiated, and so not entitled to the privileges of the established members. But they have to do what they are told, just the same. Being hazed, maybe.

Michigan State had to practically shine the shoes of the members to be accepted, at that, and now that it is at least a probationary member it might be expected it would be given some privileges. It wouldn't hurt anybody if, as long as they are not eligible to go to the Rose Bowl as a member of the Big Ten. the Spartans were permitted to go to a bowl on their own. AS IT IS, they're neither fish BY WHITNEY MARTIN NEW YORK (TP) as a guy who was brought -up on Big Ten football, much as kids today are stoked with vitamins and crunchy-wunchies until they, leak out their pink little ears, we are mildly disappointed at the conference's treatment of Michigan State. The league, with all the solicitude of a big brother taking all the candy because it might give the kid brother galloping indigestion, has vetoed the idea of Michigan State competing in any Bowl game.

But it will permit one of its older members to play in the Rose Bowl THE SPARTANS, as Michigan State is known, are in a peculiar position right now. Pts. GF GA Toronto 11 4 3 25 60 40 DETROIT 9 2 4 22 41 25 Montreal 7 8 4 18 43 40 Chicago 7 1 2 16 42 42 New York 2 9 7 11 32 53 i Boston 9 4 10 25 33 1 WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS New York 3, Montreal 2. Toronto 5, Chicago 2. THURSDAY'S GAMES Toronto at DETROIT.

Boston at Chicago..