Evening star., 1938-11-22
Dixie Sector Close
To Eastern Group
In Grid Power
Midwest Ranked Third
Among Sections Filled
With Great Teams
BY GRANTLAND RICE,


Special Correspondent Of The Star.
NEW YORK, Nov. 22-The num-
Der of high spots through footballs
waning season have been thicker
than stars in summer nights sky.
For example. there is the case of
the Blue Devils of Durham-mean-
ing Duke. Almost anything can
happen at any moment in a football
game, but, after eight games, MOTH
ing has happened across the Duke
goal line. To hold eight opponents
scoreless Is something to talk about.
1t can be different next Saturday.
1t is quite possible that Duke can
beat Pittsburgh-but to hold the
Panthers scoreless is another matter
In the case of Duke, three of
her star backs, Upton. OMara and
McAlfee, were all injured at one
time or another, and this hard luck
has been a handicap to the Duke
attack. But they are ready to
travel now.
California in High Spot.
Another high spot belongs to Cali
fornia Stub Allison and Vic Bottari.
From last years Rose Bowl squad,
California lost HerWig, her crack
center-both guards-Meek, her 230-
pound quarterback-Sam Chapman,
her star fullback, and Perry
Schwartz, her crack end.
All in all, the Golden Bears lost
seven starting stars. Requirements
were thin. Yet Allison and Bottari
brought the remnants through with
only a single defeat to grab off at
least a draw for the Pacific Con-
ference title. Bottari had far more
to work with last fall than he has
had this fall, so the job he did was
even more impressive.
There also is the case of Missis-
sippi-Ole Miss-and Harry Mehre,
late of Georgia
Harry inherited flock of sopho-
mores and Parker Hall, one of the
seasons best backs He expected
little this fall. His first surprise was
an opening 20-to-7 defeat of Louis
lana State.
Ole Miss Bears Watching.
In nine games, Ole Miss has suf-
fered only one defeat-that from
Vanderbilt. But he still has Missis-
sippi State and Tennessee left. You
can keep an eye on Ole Miss next
fall, as Mehre is one of the better
coaches-especially on offense.
In a year Of fine backs, Parker
Hall certainly ranks among the first
five or six.
1t might be difficult to name the
best all-around backfield, with Notre
Dame and Pittsburgh in the lead, but
I doubt that any line this season can
match Cornell's Big Red forward
wall.
1t isn't often that you see as big
line carry as much speed and
quickness. Any line that can stop
Mcleod, Howe and Hutchinson is
something to break down.
The lone defeat, by Syracuse, came
from the air-not along the ground.
McKeever, Roth and Van RAM.
averaging well over 200, were flanked
by two fine ends in Holland and
Spang. Penn will get more of the
answer from this forward wall on
Thursday.
Great Winning Records.
Another high spot is Notre Dame.
carving her way through a sched-
ule that so far has included Kan
sas, Georgia Tech, Illinois. Car
negle Tech, Army, Navy, Mime
sofa and Northwestern.
Southern California still is left
but at least here are eight in a row,
Elmer Layden already has turned
in brilliant job.
Queries come fluttering in as to
how Notre Dame would finish
against Texas Christian, Duke, Ten
nessee, Oklahoma and Pittsburgh.
Any selector can be thankful he
doesn't have any such choices to
make. These five teams have won
80 out of 40 games, which offers
more eloquent testimony than any
large bale of words could hope to do.
1t might be mentioned that Notre
Dame, T. c. u. Duke, Tennessee,
Oklahoma, Pittsburgh. Carnegie
Iech, Holy Cross, Cornell and Dart
mouth have won 73 of their 78
games-which gives you a pretty
fair answer as to where. most Of the
national strength rests.
Rivals of Rose Bowl Grin.
Here is another angle about Notre
Dame. Within the next week or
10 days, the Rose Bowl committee
must nominate its Far Western
challenger. California already is
tied for the lead. But, if Southern
California can whip U. c. L. A. the
Trojans or Howard Jones, who out
played California decisively, prob
ably will get the call.
But what will happen If Notre
Dame beats Southern California
December 3 before 100000 specta-
tors? This would give the West
-