Evening star., 1938-10-24
BY GRANTLAND RICE.
ueeiaI CoyyeseonA>nt ~ Tha ata

NEW YORK, Oct Alt Is easier
to throw 4 football 80 yards than to
take 1t that far through the line. It
is easier to take it through the line If
the other side knows you have q fellow
who can throw 1t. The forward pass,
actually uaed or held as Z threat, is
the most powerful weapon in football.
Few coaches who have failed to make
full use Of 1t have survived. Jock
Sutherland IS notable exception. But
even Jock declares he doesn't scorn
the pass. He merely hasn't had to
use 1t with the type Of football he plays
and the kind Of material he has.
When We need it, ve'u use it." Jock
says
But most teams count the pass Is
an integral part Of their attack. The
scoMl that once was visited upon it
the old-timers referred to it scathingly
as basket ball play and wanted no
part Of it-has been dissipated by the
striking results 1t has achieved. A
sharply executed aerial game makes an
exciting display. A team with a stand
out passer goes to glory when he clicks
and may fail when he doesn't.
Star Heavers Stud Gridiron.
The day that sidat-Singh of SYRIA
cuse brought Cornell crashing down
in the closing minutes Of the most
thrilling game I've seen in years, right
here in New York Columbia was
throttled by Colgate because the
Raiders broke down the passing Of
Sid Luckman-who. on the two previ-
GUS Saturdays, had knitted Yale and
Army into submission with his un-
earring thrusts.
The studry lineman-the crashing
halfback-the loose jointed, rubber
legged halfback-the boy who can boot
the ball down the field or angle it out
through CONN corner-these still are
and always must be main cogs in any
football attack. But the fellow who
can whirl the ball through or over
the enemy defense is invaluable. When
time is running out and the enemy
is In front, he is the fellow who can
snatch q victory for you-snatch 1t
literally out Of the air.
This season has known finer
passing average than any campaign
I've seen 50 far. Here's just . partial
list: Dave OBrien of T. c. u, Sid
Luckman Of Columbia, Vic Bottari of
California, Sidat-Singh Of Syracuse,
Lube of Colgate, Humphrey Of Yale.
Van Every Of Minnesota, Mosley Of
Alabama, Pingel Of Michigan State,
two or three at eArkansas-as air
minded ~ 4 transcontinental plane
Lain of Rice and Paetterson ut Baylor,
q brilliant sniper. There are many
others who might be included, show
ing the greater interest in pegging
the bail from prep school days.
Giants Rasser Is Master.
curiously enough, in the profess
sional ranks, the best week-in-and-
week-out passer hasn't had the ac-
claim he deserves-because OF the
wide attention commanded by an
other passer.
Last year Sammy Baueh completed
Sl passes for the washington Red
skins. That was . record performance
in professional football and 1t was
climaxed by a terrific show that
Sammy put on against the Giants on
q cold, gray Sunday afternoon at the
end of the season on the Polo Grounds.
sammy's long heaves and short, bull
let pegs-coupled With the great run
ming Of Cliff Battles-blew the Giant
defense wide open. Baugh was hailed
as footballs greatest passer.
Naturally. . great deal q interest
eentersd a him this yeaS md hi