The Washington times., 1937-09-29
Illinois Has Great Linenuen
But Lacks Seasoned Backs
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INJURY JINX

linz ~ ~ L O14NN
This is one of a series OF ar.
ticleS summarizing football pros
poets for readers OF the Wash
ington TimeSO
By LEO FISCHER
CHAMPAIGN, ILL.,, Sept. 20
1.-TWO lines and half a back
field"
There, you have Bob zuppke's
summary of Illinois football on
the day of the opening game
with Don Peden's tough aggrega'
ton from Ohio University last
Saturday, which the 1llini won
20 to 6.
I'VE haven't any punters, we
haven't any throwerS, but we
got a swell line from end to
end" he repeats, scowling from
under the SLOUGH hat, which
seems to be his sole concession
to his twenty-fifth anniversary
season at this school.
THE linemen are running
hard, they're playing hard and
most Of them are Sophomores
who'll develop. They can take
it. But those backs"-a shake
of the head-"they're the frail
type. Yep, we've had to cut
out scrimmage, or we wouldn't
have any of 'em left. But we
got q good line now-two Of
'em so good that we can change
back and forth and not know
the difference"
USINGER INJURED
Bill Usinger, a sophomore from
Alton, Ill, who scintillated in the
contest with the freshmen two
weeks ago, sprained his ankle. He
may be out for a couple of weeks
Wardley, who cracked bone last
week, was figured on as regular
quarterback. Carson was the No.
fullback last season. Rettinger is
a 185-pound ball carrier from Chi
cago, slated to be regular until
he missed out in rhetoric.
That leaves the backfield duties
to q rather miscellaneous group
John Berner, who played in the
line last year, is moving his 1876
pounds to the signal calling post
Ralph Bennett, a 19-pound sopho
more from Alton, ILL.,, seems to
have first call at fullback.
Tony Mazieka, of Chicago, who
won a letter last year; Bob Wehri
a member of last seasons squad
Merlyn BurriS, another 1886 re-
serve: Ken Zimmerman, and John
Kanosky, a fairly capable senior,
are temporarily filling the back.
field positions.
PLAYS REGULARLY
Capt. Lowell Spurgeon also will
play regularly when he gets back,
No wondsr, however, Zuppke beams
when he comes to the line. Not
in half dozen years have there
been so many big. rangy boys
around the little giant as this
season.
Here's how he expects to use
them:
Left end-Robert zuppke, jr.,
1876, and Ralph Hathaway, 1865;
left tackle-Harry Lasaster, 1877
and Jim Reeder, 1874; left guard
Melvin Brewer, 205, James Hodges,
ITS and Dick Fay, 1893: center
William Lanich, 1872, Jim McDon-
aid, 1876. Pete Kovachic, ITS; right
guard-Bill Haviland, 1873, Harry
Siebold, 1877; right tackle-Albert
Lundberg, EOS, Willard Cramer,
202: right end-Bob Castillo, $50,
Keith Kemper, ITS.
Only Lasaster, Fay, Mcdonald
and Castillo have had previous
squad experience. The rest are
sophomores or are playing their
first season on the varsity.
ACTIVE PLAYERS
The new linemen have more
than just weight. Most of them
act like football players. The II.
lini, always a great defensive team,
are going to be even tougher this
coming season.
The teams success, however,
against a schedule which in.
cludeS Notre Dame, Indiana, Mich.
igan, Northwestern and Chicago
depends on how fast the backfield
catches up with the forward wall
If injuries, ineligibilities and
other handicaps are overcome
soon enough to give Zuppke some
speed, deception and kicking in
his backfield. you can put it in
the book right now that his silver
anniversary is going to be 6
mighty happy one.
October .. De Paul. at Champaign
g. Notre Dame, at Champaign; Is, In
diana, at Bloomington; 30. Michigan
at Champaign.
November 6. Northwestern. at Evan
eton; 10, Ohio State, at Columbus. 20