Evening star., 1939-11-01
The
-
SpoRTLIGHT
SpotIess States Likely
For a Major EIevens
BY GRANTLAND RICE,

optCidl NUTTcSpONucuC OI He otdI
NEW YORK, Nov. l (N.ANA).-
-Four top teams have a good chance
now to slip through the remainder
Of November's dizzy cavalcade un-
tied and unbeaten. They are Ten
nessee. Michigan, Texas A. and M.
and Cornell. There is no such mat
ter as complete security and safety
in this game of football and it is
quite possible all four may not reach
the spotless goal
But they have the better chance
Why not Notre Dame? Well. Notre
Dame has Army, Iowa, Northwest
ern and Southern California left
especially Southern California one
of the seasons powerhouse squads.
Michigan's main rival is Ohio
State. Michigan has too much
backfield speed for the Buckeye.
Cornell's barriers include Columbia.
Colgate, Dartmouth and Pennsyl-
vania, of which Penn should be the
main blockade. Tennessee should
have no great trouble against l.. S.
u. the Citadel, Vanderbilt, Ken
lucky and Auburn. Trouble, per-
haps. but not enough to leave any
blotches on her well-known escutch-
con. Texas A. and MS hardest
afternoon should be against South
ern Methodist, a pretty stout outfit.
Tough Eorly Schedule
Apt to Aid Irish"
Tennessee and Michigan look safe
enough. I believe Cornell has too
much smartneSs and keenness, too
much all-around stuff, to be halted.
One of the main problems is
Notre Dame
Here is a good football team that
has had to scramble its way through
five hectic afternoons. 1t had to be
ready for a good Purdue team in
September and 1t will have to re-
main ready for powerful Southern
California team late in November.
AS some sporting philosopher has
said, Form is the brief interval be-
tween getting ready and going
stale"
That. long stretch for Notre
Dame-from Purdue to Southern
California.
Army doesn't seem to be equipped
with the man power needed to roll
back the South Bend charge. Kim
nick of Iowa may give the Irish"
trouble later on. Northwestern
might well provide busy afternoon
late in November. Southern Cali
fornia is sure to. 81.
The nerve strain of all these close
calls may leave breaking spot in
the Irish" platoon later on. But I
am inclined to think that after
winning five close ones Notre Dame
may hit faster pace. When you
are walking good part of the way
on velvet the path seems softer.
A Bouquet Is Tossed
To N. Y. U. Eleven
No one tossed N. Y. U. into the
upper brackets when the season
started, SO there should be a few
sprays OF wild apple blossoms for
May Stevens and his big back, Boell.
N. Y. U. has beaten Colgate, Car
negie Tech and Georgia. 1t had the
jump on North Carolina, one of the
best, until the Tar Heels put on
their famous garrison finish-the
same finish that tied up Tulane with
a 14-point lead and that wrecked
Pennsylvania. Here's the stretch
team of the year.
The good Doctor, who was one of
the great backs of Yale history, has
put a smart, fast team upon the
field in every game. He still has a
rocky way to 60, against Lafayette,
Missouri. Georgetown and Ford
ham, team that has begun to find
itself. He still will win his share.
Michigan, Tennessee
About Even at Top
They still are debating the name
OF the country's top team. Michigan
and Tennessee are close to q draw.
Michigan probably has the great
est four-man backfield in the game
Harmon, KRONER, Evashevski and
Westfall-all big and fast.
Tennessee has the strongest SQUAD
I've seen in years-at least two
teams almost of equal value. Ten
nessee has eight high-class backs,
headed by Cafego, Foxx and Butler.
A meeting between Tennessee and
Michigan would be the dream game
Of the season.
You can't overlook this Oklahoma
team IN a high rating. The same
goes for Cornell and Texas A. and
M. Well know more about North
Carolina after the Duke party-and
more about Tulane after the Ala
bama test. Alabama also will be the
test that measures Kentucky's real
value,