The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-16
REDSKIN MADE
.INAUSPICIOUS
DEBUT ON GRID

Editors Note: This Is the
fourth of a series of stories re.
Uealin0 the personalities and
background of members OF the
Washington Redskins pTotes-
Siondl football team. Similar
sketches tDill be published dGtly.9
By HARRY COSTELLO
Ed Justice, Redskin halfback
who once starred at GonZaga Uni
versity out on the Pacific Coast,
knows his way around now, but
there was a time when direction
meant little or nothing in his
young life.
You've heard Of men in dense
forests without compaSses losing
their way and going East when
they should have gone North. but
this is the tale of a man on foot
ball gridiron who was supposed to
60 North and went East instead.
Gonzaga was playing the Uni
versity of Idaho eleven, and hav-
ing tough going of it. Ed was q
first-year man and, like all first
year men, was literally itching to
get into the game.
SLID ALONG BENCH
Throughout the first three quar-
tiers of the game, the youthful JUS
tice slid up and down the bench,
narrowly missing collecting a few
slivers on numerous occasions. The
coach turned to Ed and said:
whats the matter with you,
can't you sit still?"
Justice responded:
mo, I can't, Coach. I'm so
anxious to get into the game
that I've become almost a nerv-
GUS wreck"
The coach looked at Justice for
a few moments and, being an
understanding man, patted Ed on
the shoulder and said:
"I'll put you in there in this
next quarter"
Justice jumped up from the
bench and started warming up.
His excitement became intense.
Just think-hiS first game for
Gonzaga! Ed ran up and down
the sidelines, picturing himself a
gridiron hero in his very first
game. Idaho was out in front,
Is. The battle was nip and
tuck, touch and go.
The coach'S voice doomed out:
"An right, Justice. Get in
there, and let's see you do some
thing"
JUSTICE INTO ACTION
Ed grabbed headpeice and ran
onto the field. He reported to the
proper official and took his place
in the lineup. The Gonzaga quar-
terback was speaking his piece in
the huddle:
"It's first down and Idaho will
not expect a pass here. Well
have that short pass, outside,
on the right. Justice, the ball
will come to you. We can win
this ball game right here and
now, if this play clicks"
The Gonzaga players rushed
out Of the huddle and into posi-
ton. The excitement within
Justice was even more pronounced
as he got set to scamper down the
field to receive the forward pass.
The quarterback barked the
signals, the ball was snapped, and
Ed Justice was off like a flash,
up the field toward the north goal
line.
JUSTICE MAKES DIVE
The Gonzaga quarterback faded
back, looked the field over and
cut loose Of the ball. The leather
sped straight and sure into the
arms of Justice, who by this time
was so excited that he could
hardly restrain himself long
enough to make the catch. The
ball hit Eds chest, and he grabbed
it, held it tightly in his grasp.
He glanced around. Not one
Idaho player was in his way. The
goal line was only three yards
away! Justice was determined to
make sure Of that touchdown. He
dove!
Yes-yes, indeed, Ed Justice
dove, but he dove across the side
line, and it was Gonzaga's ball
four yards short of a touchdown!
Idaho won the game, Is.
It was a funny situation, in a
way, but in another way it ap-
peared tragic. However, Gonzaga'S
coach, an understanding man.
quickly forgave Justice. The men
tor well knew what excitement
within a youngster playing his
first game for his alma mater
meant. Ed Justice went on to
become a great player, one of the
greatest Gonzaga ever has had.
"Sideline" Ed Justice became
"Goal-Line" Ed Justice, and for
three years Justices name was
synonymous with victory for Con-
Zaga.