Evening star., 1938-09-20
SEVEN RACES DUE
ACT|0NFORC CARDS
Italians Predominant on
Teams, With Guyon Only
Full American.
BY BURTON HAWKINS,

BY BURTON HAWKINS.
The annual distribution of aspirin
IN the newspaper composing rooms has
started. for Catholic University's foot.
ball team, a small section of trans
planted Europe, Is wiggling its way
into the public print. Linotypers are
tuning. fumbling the keyboard and
uttering occasional oaths, for the Car
dinals are a heterogeneous mixture
OF confusing monickers.
While the Cards boast the only all
American football player in this Sec
tor in Joe Guyon. several generations
removed from a wigwam and descend
ant of notable Indian gridiron greats,
the remainder OF Catholics first team
is composed of five Italians, a Serbian,
Bohemian, Greek. Hungarian and
Pole.
One of life's little dramas is being
played by Bohemian Joe Bunsa, who
will operate at right end. for less than
year ago Joe courageously was bat
tling the man with the scythe, victim
of an abdominal infection caused
either by a football or boxing injury.
Bunsa Makes Brave Recovery.
This isn't the story Of a guy who
broke collarbone or arm and re-
turned to the field next season to be
imbued with a false sense of import
ance. Joe actually was at deaths
door. From 165 pounds he shrunk to
lit. From October through January
he was on a hospital cot and for sew
eral weeks after being released he
hobbled about on crutches. There
were transfusions and there threat
ened to be tragedy.
1t happened last October after c. U.
had played st. Louis University
Whether it was the result of participa-
ton in football or boxing never has
been determined, but Joe was rushed
to the hospital and remained there for
four months. For a time the odds
against his survival. much less his be-
coming active in sports again, were
prohibitive.
But Bunsa was fortified with an
amazing reservoir Of energy, courage
and stamina. He pulled through. He
returned to the campus and 1t was an
unforgettable moment when, supported
by crutches, he arose to receive the
laundering cheers Of q capacity box
ing audience In February at the c. u.
gym. 1t was one of those occasions
when men brush away stray tears, for
there stood Joe, shadow of the clean
cut fellow who had performed so
creditably for Cardinal football and
boxing teams. His trim physique had
been reduced to a pitiful wreck of 4
body.
Regular Post Won by Joe.
Joe started all over again. This
summer he rebuilt that body 1T .
nearby boys camp. Now, at 167 pounds,
he weighs more and appears healthier
than ever. He never was persuaded
either to turn out for the team or to
stay away. The decision strictly was
his own.
We wouldn't know whether that de-
cision is foolish. It was Bunsa who
suffered for months and it Is Bunsa
who is choosing the hard way back.
He has battled his way to a regular
berth, ignoring the consequences of a
possible recurrence of that injury.
Catholic University won't have the
greatest right end in collegiate football
this season, but it's highly probable
he'll be the most respected. Yes, he'll
also box again next season.
At the other end of the line will be
Italian Al Calabrese, with Frank Cairo
and Rocco Pirro, Italians, functioning
at tackle posts. Art Sabo, 4 Hun
garian, and Johnny Carvelas, a Greek,
will plug the guard gaps, with Polish
Pete Osinski at center. F1anking
Guyon in the backfield will be Italians
John Fiorellino and Henry Sant'Am-
brogio and Serbian Burke VidnoVc.
Cards Outlook Favorable.
Among those on the second team
ticketed for frequent service are Dave
Guadreau. French tackle; Pete Sochon,
Lithuanian quarterback: Charley Mou-
tenot, Belgian halfback; Hank Brostek,
Hungarian halfback, and John Matu-
kaitis, Lithuanian fullback.
Continuing the geography lesson,
Head Coach Dutch Bergman is of Ger
man extraction. OF his assistants,
Eddie La Fond, Is French-Canadian !;
Fod Cotton is English and Winnie
Fraatz is German. Trainer Herman
Lauritzen is Danish.
Prom that League Of Nations Berg
man expects to draw scrappy. sue
cessful club. His first string line is
smooth and rugged and he has two
sets Of fleet backs to carry the mail,
but there is distinct drop in caliber
from the first string forwards to those
Of the second team. With q break or
two. however. Catholic University ap-
parently will enjoy a gratifying season.