Evening star., 1932-12-10
NOTRE DAME GIVEN
EDGE IN bACKF|ELD
Made f0-7 Favorite to Win
West Coast Tilt Before
Crowd of 100, 900.
BY PAUL ZIMMERMAN,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

r OS ANGELES, December TO-
Coach Heartley (Hunk) An
- derson led his influenza
ridden Notre Dame foot ball
team within the ramparts of Troy
to do battle today with the Uni
versity of Southern California.
More than 100000 were expect
ed to sit in on the struggle, which
may have important bearing on
the mythical national champion
ship.
Weather permitting forecasts
made no mention Of rain-this record
crowd hoped to see two stalwart elevens
tussle to draw on running plays and
settle their differences through the
air, with the invading Ramblers 10
tot favorites
Barring further and unlimited pre-
cipitation, the field will be fast and
the weather crisp for the torrid strug-
gle. which will see Notre Dame en-
deavor to terminate the Trojans string
of 18 consecutive triumphs just as
these same Southern Californians
abruptly ended the Rambler reign after
going through 26 games unbeaten.
Southern California boaSted the ad-
vantage in weight, averaging 1875 pounds
to 1877 for Notre Dame. Superior speed
and experience seemed to balance the
ledger in behalf of the invaders. The
TrojanS have won all of their eight
games this year. The Ramblers lost
only to Pittsburgh in as many contests.
A SPECIAL touch of sentiment has
"A been attached to the game. BY
permission of Coach Anderson,
Orville Mohler, whose brilliant career
as a Trojan quarterback was halted
by back injury. will participate in
one play.
If Southern California wins the toss,
Mohler will hold the ball for his team
mates, Ernie Smith, All-America tackle,
to execute the opening kickoff. Other
wise he will appear at the start Of the
second half, and then will be sub
stituted.
Despite the talk of influenza in the
Notre Dame ranks as the team moved
Westward, Coach Anderson feels he
will be able to start his eleven at full
strength. Coach Howard Jones play
ers also are in top form.
There was much doubt over the pos
eibility Of rain. While a slow field
usually is considered advantageous to
the more ponderous aggregation, the
TroJans are without experience in mud
while their opponents have become ac-
customed to this sort of thing A wet
field necessarily would cramp the over
head style of attack for both elevens.
Notre Dame holds convincing edge
In the six games of the series between
the two schools, winning four of them
There have been no ties.
THE two veteran lines appear evenly
l. matched But Southern Cali
fornia backfield quartet is COM
posed of men who did not participate
In Troy's 16-to-14 victory last year.
Coach Anderson said he had decided
to start Joe Sheeketski and Nick Lukats
at the halfback posts, Emmet Murphy
at quarter and Steve Banas at full.
Bob Erskine and Kenneth Bright
two men transplanted from the line
probably will be Southern CALIFORNIA;
halfbacks, with Homer Griffith calling
signals, and Gordon Clark, formerly a
blocking half, at fullback.
Notre Dame will have Mike Koken,
Ray .Brancheau, Charles Jaskwhich,
George Melinkovich and Laurie Vejar
In reserve Irvine Warburton. a small,
but rugged ball packer; Bob McNeish.
expert pass thrower; Cal Clemens and
Bob Getz represent the Trojan REIN
forcements in the backfield
The game is called for pm EAST
ern standard time) 1t will be broad
cast by the National Broadcasting Co.
(Station WRC in Washington.
The probable starting line-ups follow: