The White Falcon - 06.03.1943, Blaðsíða 7

7
School Days
For Navy
By Gene Graff
The anticipated curtailment of intercollegiate
athletics for the duration gets a swift boot in
the pantaloons by the Navy Dept., according
to a recent announcement. The Navy lias re-
cruited several campuses for training purposes,
and full student privileges will be extended
to Uncle Sam’s chattels. The only restriction
set down by the powers-that-be is “participa-
tion in campus activities shall not interfere
with the daily 12-hour compulsory Naval pro-
gram.”
Of course, collegiate conferences may rule
that Naval students having already dissipated
their three years of eligibility will be barred
from the varsity teams. But with the 'steady
drain on manpower the Armed Services and
vital war industries have injected into the pic-
ture, it’s highly plausible that athletic direc-
tors will welcome the appearance of veteran
athletes. Football and its lesser satellites have
lifted more than one mortgage hovering over
a college campus, and winning teams are what
attract the cash customers.
The migration to classrooms could very easily
produce its share of laughs and headaches, wifh
the fans enjoying the laughs and . collegiate
coaches incurring the headaches. Suppose Bobby
Swisher, star halfback of Bernie Bierman’s
Iowa Naval eleven, is sent to the University
of Michigan for a semester. He has already con-
cluded his collegiate career, and even spent
a couple of seasons with the Chicago Bears in
the pro conference, but he’d be eligible to play
on the Wolverines.
Imagine oT Pappy Waldorf grimacing and
wailing on the bench next season on that un-
fortunate Saturday afternoon when Michigan
tackles Northwestern. Waldorf used to praise
Swisher’s brilliant running when Bobby attend-
ed Northwestern. But now the Wildcat coach
finds himself confronted with the problem of
stopping a fellow whom he taught how to do-
or-die for Northwestern a few seasons back.
Perhaps Waldorf—if he has been fortunate
in the “Naval draft”—doesn’t mind Swisher’s
appearance in enemy colors. He certainly would
be carefree and happy if he looked down the
bench and sighted Bruce Smith or Forrest Eva-
shevski or George McAfee garbed in the purple
and -white Northwestern uniform. Also the Navy
ruling may prove beneficial to the old-time fans
who invariably believe the current local pride
“is a bum compared to that great triple-threat
halfback we had five years ago.” Bring Tommy
Harmon back to Michigan in the same back-
field with Tommy Kuzma, or combine any si-
milar pair, and then take your choice.
The noble Navy is' above reproach so prose- *
lytizing wouldn’t be considered. But what’s to
stop a coach from pointing out the benefits
of his school to a fellow who can’t decide
between the Signal Corps and Administration?
Regardless of what branch a man chooses, he’s
doing his part to win the war. If he desires
to play football or basketball or marbles dur-
ing his leisure time, that’s his' own business.
Cagers Point Toward
‘Command’ Playoffs
Unless the Bears and Gophers get derailed enroute to the Navy gym this week, nothing remains for
other teams in the Command basketball tourney except the disposition of second place in each bracket
and a chance for also-rans to enjoy one last fling before the schedule ends tomorrow.
Assuming that the formid-
able Gophers and equally
as impressive Bears protect
their unblemished slates • this
week, the championship contest
will highlight next Sunday’s
playoff card. In addition, run-
ners-up in each flight will meet
for third place.
Present occupants of second
place are confronted by severe
threats today and tomorrow, and
it’s very likely that at least one,
and perhaps both, will be topp-
led from their lofty perches. The
Steejers, winner of five out of
six', open tonight's four-game
Pro circuit card against the
Rams, beaten twice in six starts.
A victory for the Rants, who
uncorked plenty of power in
routing the Redskins, 53-18, Sat-
urday, will drag the Steelers into
a second place tie and necessitate
a playoff next Saturday. Of
course, if the Packers can upset
the Bears tonight and the Sleel-
ers defeat the Hams, the Bears
and Steele.rs will share first
place. But the Bears are expect-
ed to romp over the Packers
without being extended.
In other games tonight, the
Eagles face the Lions, ,and the
winless Giants make a final effort
to reach the win column against
the Redskins.
Gerald Tucker, Oklahoma center (14), is cornered with the ball in game with
St. John’s of Brooklyn at Madison Square Garden, New York. St. John’s beat
Oklahoma, 51-43, for fourth straight victory.
The high-scoring Gophers
tackle the .500 Wolves in to-
morrow’s Collegiate feature, and
nothing short of catastrophe can
retard the Gopher’s bid for an
unbeaten season. But the second
(Continued on Page 8)
Wrens Confront Pigeons
For ‘Ace’ Bracket Lead
It’ll be showdown time in the Ace of Diamonds cage
marathon Monday when the Wrens and Pigeons, each
undefeated after six starts, square off in the opener of the
three-game card at 1830 hours.
The Pigeons will depend on
the sharpshooting of lanky John-
ny White, current high scorer
of the tourn,ey, while the Wrens’
hopes for victory ride with
Johnny Culp, Bill Bishop and
Vic Brown. The victor will move
into undisputed possession of the
League A lead. v
Both teams turned in easy
triumphs this week as final prep
for their “crucial” battle. The
Wrens wrecked the Pelicans,
61-11, as Bishop swished the net
for 18 points, and the Pigeons
spanked the Crows, 61-19, with
White setting the pace by regist-
ering 26 points.
Thq Herrings and Cods con-
tinued along the unbeaten path
in League B by winning over the
Sardines, 43-16, and Sharks,
35-14, respectively. Jack Palmer
headed the Herring attack with
12 points, while shifty Harold
Fritz generalled the Cod cause.
The Yanks just barely staved
off the Browns in League C, win-
ning 33-32. The Browns led most
of the way, hut Mitch Ward and
Irv Slumbo found the range
shortly before the final whistle
to protect their hold on fourth
place in the standings.
The Cobras, 'Garters and Cop-
perheads sailed through their
assignments to remain in a dead-
lock for first place in League D.
Pete Barbero’s 21 counters led
the Cobras to a 30-17 verdict
over the Corals; the Serpents
fell before the Copperheads,
24-11, and the Garters defeated
the Reptiles, 43-26.
Scores of other games during
the week follow:
Owls 30, Orioles 20.
Penguins 22, Robins 21.
Eagles 39, Larks 36.
Trouts 37, Bullheads 16.
Salmons 24, Whales 12.
Braves 37, Athletics 9.
Phillies 37, Indians 27.
Pirates 34, Trotters 16.
Racers 64, Rattlers 34,
North Carolina captured the Southern indoor
track and ffeld championship this week with
a total of 40.2 points in the title meet in Duke’s
fieldhouse .... Navy finished second with 31
points.... Donald Budge, ex-tennis king, and
Outfielder Walter Judnich of the St. Louis
Browns were inducted into the Army at Mon-
terey, Calif...The field for the annual invita-
tional basketball tourney is now trimmed to 38
candidates... .Eight quintets will be chosen next
week by the New York Metropolitan Basketball
Writers’ Assn.
•
Jimmy Gallagher, general manager of the Chi-
cago Cubs, disclosed that Catcher A1 Todd has
been purchased from Los Angeles, Cub farm in
the Pacific Coast League... .Todd was with the
Cubs in early ’41, then was shipped to Toronto
of the International League... .Last season Todd
starred with Milwaukee (AA), and later was
sold to Los Angeles... .He batted .285 last year.
.. .The N.Y. Giants announced that signed con-
tracts have been received from Second Baseman
Blondie Ryan and Catcher Gus Mancuso.
•
Ray Robinson, Harlem welterweigh’t, avenged
his only setback in 132 amateur and professional
fights this week when he outpointed Jake La-
motta, Bronx middleweight,^ in ten rounds at
Detroit... .Robinson opened a substantial lead
in the first five rounds, then tired....Ray was
dropped for the count of eight in the seventh
round, but rallied to stall off Lamotta’s bid for
a kayo, and finished gamely... .Robinson was
furloughing after induction into the Army
Feb. 23.
•
Horse racing will be suspended in New York
for the duration, the State Turf assn, decided.
.... Babe Didrickson clubbed a sizzling 34-33
for a new course record at the Palm Springs,
Fla,, Golf Club .... Babe’s husband is Wrestler
George Zaharias, who was irul«ete<| into the
Army this week.