The Washington times., 1937-11-22
Trainer Gives Pep Talk
And Redskins Play Ball.
Defeat Rams
In Easy
Fashion
WIN, 16 TO 7
BY HARRY COSTELLO

by hAhh1 OOS AEAAO
Roy Baker, former University
of Southern California gridiron
great, and captain of Southern
Calls first great Rose Bowl eleven.
is now the competent trainer of
George Preston Marshall's Wash
ington Redskins.
Quiet-spoken Roy, who seldom
speaks more than three or four
words at a time, delivered fiery,
3O0-word, before-the-game speech
to the Washington Redskins in
Cleveland yesterday. Result:
Washington, 16; Cleveland, 7.
In the Redskin dressing room,
before yesterdays game, Coach
Ray Flaherty assembled his play
ers around him, pointed out the
importance of the game about to
be played, and appealed to the
Redskins to win the contest. Fla
herty's talk was short, to the point.
Immediately upon completing the
short talk, Ray left the dressing
room. to discuss with officials OF
the game the various ground rules
for the day.
BAKER TAKES FLOOR
Shortly after Ray departed the
dressing room, Baker took the
floor. The Redskins, supposedly
hard-bitten professionals, actually
lust a lot of college boys at heart.
were astonished as they heard
Bakers voice rise above the noise
in the room.
Listen, Redskins!"
Bakers voice was sharp, in
sistent.
Assemble around me-every
one Of you'll"
The Redskins gathered in a
bunch around the trainer. Slowly
at first, then with quickening pace,
Baker gave tongue to his thoughts.
The alleged hard-bitten Redskins
now became just a bunch of college
boys, indeed, as Roy's voice
warmed to its task and words
GL11lU1CA O1l4 OASA4 LAO apo
Men, we must win this game
today! We must win it for Ray
Flaherty, as fine a coach as there
is in all America. We must win
it for the whitest guy who ever
owned a football team-George
Marshall! We've made some
mistakes this year-some bad
mistakes. We lost to the Pirates
last Sunday-lost a game we
never should have lost"
Bakers voice was keen, piercing.
The very sincerity Of the man held
the attention Of every Redskin.
Roy went on:
TEST OF LOYALTY
"This game today is a test
a test of loyalty Of all you men.
It's q test of your pride. We're
all college men, all with the
ideals of a college man in our
minds and in our hearts. It's
high time we realized our duties
toward our coach, our club owner
and the public of Washington
who have so Loyalty stood by us"
The Redskins stared, Spellbound.
AS Roy paused, to catch his breath
before continuing, you could hear
a pin drop. Roy went on to point
out conditions existing in the Ma
tional Football League, the value
of Q championship team to coach,
club owner and the public Of Wash
ington. The fervor of the man-the
fire and sincerity of his remarks
were not wasted. Every Redskiln
gave Roy his individual attention.
Concluding what probably will
go down in professional football
as the sincereSt before-the-game
talk ever delivered to a pro foot
ball squad, Baker said:
TO BE MARRIED
There's a man over there
(pointing to Cliff Battles who
has time and again made you
fellows look good. He's going
to be married tomorrow. It's
your turn now to make him look
good. He's pro footballs great
est back, and he deserves a
break. Men, go out there today
and win this game for Ray
Flaherty, for George Marshall,
for Cliff Battles, for me-and,
for the Washington public"
Bakers talk-unuSual through
its very concept-Sent the Red
skins out into driving snowstorm
to win from a Cleveland team that
is far, far from a bad eleven
Last night, on the train carrying
a number of RedSkin rooters back
from the Forest City, it was agreed
that Roy Bakers address to the
Redskins not only was a classic
but was a major factor in the Red,
skin victory.
The game was only minutes old
when the Redskins scored Their
first touchdown, Cliff Battle!
started the Redskins on their vic
torious way by recovering dumblI
by Ed Goddard at the Washington
45-yard line. Immediately after
ward, the Redskins, flashing &
powerful running attack, went S!
yards across the Cleveland goa
line in IA plays, Battles carrying
the ball seven times, Don irwin
carrying it six times.
The point of attack was the lef
side of Cleveland's line. The fiftl
play was a forward pass, good TO
IS yards.
Irwin scored the touchdown b,
cracking right tackle for fou
wards. On this 55-yard march