The Washington times., 1928-10-26
By Louis A. Dougher

BY Louis 4. Dougher
The spirit Of fun, absent
from most varsity football
squads, is right at home among
the lads working out under
Jack McAuliffe in the big
stadium at Brookland these
days.
And the remarkable thing about
it IL that the Catholic University
squad doesn't begin to rank with
many of its professors. 1t goes up
against many rivals with little or
no chance of winning. Yet the
yotngsters get lot of kick" out
Of their work and their banging arg
betting around.
Jack MaIevIch, one Of the few
bacAfield stars. IS out Of the
lineup for two or three weeks
with 4 splintered bore In his left
ankle. He totes iiis wounded
leg in 3 plaster cast and hobbies
around on crutches. But ID he
downhearted? Huh!
Just before Coach McAuIiffe canla
running down the stairs from the
gymnasium yesterday, Maleyich
Joined his mates on the sideIinet
and proceeded to show how speedy
he was by running an imprOmptu
race. He could hop along on his
crutches with surprising speed.
Was McAuliffe surprised? Well
no. he wasn't. It was simply one
more demonstration Of the spirit Of
the G. q. varsity squad.
What sort Of q coach Is Nc.
Auliffe? What is his attitude to.
ward his squad? Well, here's an in
cident happening only yesterday.
The practice, mostly signal drill
with passing and bit of kicking
had gone along for 20 minutes %
50 without showing much pep. Sud
denly McAuliffe noticed & big black
sedan up on the cliff. It seemed
to be attracting most Of his atb,
letes.
And why not? It was driven
by pretty girl. accompanied by
two other pretty girls.
Hey, stop All work and come
on with me, shouted the
BrOOkIand mentor, as he headed
Tor the stairs running mp tO tIle
parked ear on the cliff. Come
on, you fellows, come on up
here!''
Seeing the squad OF athletes
headed in their direction. the
amazed and abashed girlies quickly
got their car in motion and dis
appeared amid wild shout .of
laughter from the boys in uniform.
After that 1t was not difficult for
the gladiators to keep their minds
on their work.
No / haven't much of q squad
this year" admitted McAuliffe in
his friendly way, I'VE lost lot
of fine men last year, you know.
I've got some good backs, but the
line is green and bit too. light.
My hope Is in that freshman squad
over there. Next year we ought
to get somewhere.
Look at that kid over there
with his arms crossed. That's
Johnny Oliver, as good kid player
as I've ever seen with a freshman
team. He can do just about every
thing and, If he continues to show
improvement. he shd&ld be wizard
with the varsity"
And McAuliffe ratified on with
praises for this and that lad cut
there in the dummy scrimmag0
practice. Perhaps that's the most
noticeable difference between him
and the average football coach.
Gloomy" Gil DObie is, per.
haps, the worlds worst under.
taker among football coaches,
but he has plenty of followers.
1t seems to be q habit with
football coaches to pull 4eHg
faces. shed tears and plan for
sudden death.
McAuliffe isn't that sort. He
sports his ancient Dartmouth sweat.
er and baseball trousers. running
around behind his varsity squad,
issuing commands loudly and surely,
always ready with a laugh and q
qnip. Were it not for his odd uni
form, he might be suspected of be-
ing one of the players. There is
nothing of the commanding officer
type in him.
Perhaps that's the whole thing
with football at Catholic University
the boys are enjoying it. With
many squads the boys act as though
shackled, in treadmiIl. Grim of
f1ce. they trot out on the field as
though ordered over the top. They
may enjoy it, but if so. they sure
succeed in hiding their pleasure.
Out at Brookland the air is filled
With merry jokes, as well as flying
footballs. The substitutes run
around kidding each other. And
'ver on the sidelines Jack Malevich.
With his left leg in a cast, forgets
Ill about initiating a wounded hero
o stage a race with a pal, hopping
Ilong rapidly on his brand.new
rutches.
CnDIhlrIkIn eHARN