Evening star., 1938-06-06
SQUAD HASPOWER
FOR CLEAN SLATE
Even Coach Jones, Pleased
With Spring Workouts,
Admits He Has EN-
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.

ny hhNS1S Js IoN EMS.
LOS ANGELES. Calf, June 6.-The
Hollywood and Vine quarterbacks, at
this early date. are predicting cham
pionship eleven for University Of
Southern California. For the first
time since 1882 the H. and v. quarter
backs are causing Howard Harding
Jones no embarrassment Jones has
'em" in large numbers and spring
practice left the old Yale man in the
best humor of several years.
Braven Dyer, the Los Angeles au-
thority, tells me that, with the ordinary
breaks in luck. Southern California
should march through the 1888 season
without a stumble. I reminded Mr..
Dyer that the Trojans had Ohio State
and Notre Dame on schedule, but the
implied warning brought only a loud
laugh from the man who once starred
at end for dear old Pomona.
Jones Fine Line Mentor.
Jones was telling me last fall, after
the Notre Dame game, that the Tro-
jams would be up and rearing this year
II he could come across couple of
ends the likes of Sparkling and Arbel-
bide. Such ends were located during
spring work and the Trojans will show
great line next October. Jones comes
very near to being the best line coach
In the game, and when he is satisfied
with his forwards, you can bet there
will be no weakness at any position.
Trojan followers expect much of
Bob Peoples, big Oklahoma boy, who
was entranced with the climate of
Southern California. Peoples was ma
tionally known as javelin thrower
while still in high school. He can
pitch the spear farther than any other
American and for that ability was
sought by dozens of universities.
Peoples is a fullback in the football
trade and much on the order of Gus
Shaver, who will be recalled as the
mighty man of the 1881 Trojan team,
which stopped Notre Danes long vic
tory march in the thrilling 1914 game
ct South Bend.
Shaver was one OF the three great
est all-around backs I ever saw, and
If Peoples is rs per cent of Gus, the
Trojans can pack up their backfield
worries.
Pair of Great Linemen.
A couple of other Trojans who
will be in the national picture are
Harry Smith and Stecher. Smith
was on the bench most of last sea-
son, but he came off the seats against
Notre Dame and finished the game
one OF the best guards seen through
the 1887 campaign. His play surprised
even Jones, and. with any luck, the
big kid should follow Rosenberg, Baker
and other Trojan guards who won all
America ratings.
Stecher is lanky tackle out of
Mason City, Iowa. and last fall, when
Southern California was playing Notre
Dame. Dutch" Lonborg. the North
western basket ball coach, suddenly
stood up and exclaimed: There's my
center" Stecher once considered en-
tering Northwestern, and when he
changed to Southern California the
Wildcats lost a great athlete.
On paper, at least, Southern Cali
1ornla appears to be strongest in the
Pacific Coast Conference. California.
the 1887 champion and Rose Bowl
winner, has lost most of its team and
hardly will be a contender. Stanford
has an army of fine backs, but no
line. Washington will be much i'm
proved, and Chicago kid named
Mucha is likely to make the Huskies
standout team. The other coast
teams will be run of mine, so the Tro-
jams can figure their troubles will be
concentrated in one or two games.
Jones must get his team off to a
nying start, for he plays Alabama
IN the seasons opener and then goes
East to play Ohio State. Either of
those teams may bop the Trojans.
but Mr. Dyer cannot vision such an
occurrence, and until next October his
word Is good enough for me.