Evening star., 1939-10-11
The
SpoRTLlGH7
Wild Scramble Ahead
For Football Lead
By GRANTLAND RICE,

NEW YORK, Oct. IL MANA Al
With the World Series out of the
way until the Yankees start after
four straight next year against st.
Louis, Brooklyn or Cincinnati, it Is
high time to give more attention to
an already wildly hectic
football season.
We get back just in time after
the opening salute to find Ford
ham. Northwestern, Minnesota, T.
C. u. Holy Cross, Rice, Indiana,
Stanford, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin,
Missouri, Georgia Tech, Colgate,
Syracuse, Columbia, California and
other strong teams beaten, with
Southern California, Oregon, S. M.
u, Oklahoma. Nebraska, Santa
Clara and few more already tied.
The casualty list has been heavier
than usual Why is this? One rea-
son is that certain teams are more
advanced than others. The other
is that we have a greater number
of good teams for whom the
advance bugles had played too
lightly.
Out of the first scramble one of
the features so far has been the
strength of the South.
Dixie Advances Strongly
In First Charge
Dixie has moved forward at the
first charge with Alabama, Ten
nessee, Tulane, Duke, North Caro-
lima, Mississippi and L. S. U. NOV
ing in what seems to be a big
hurry.
For example, Harry Mehre's soft
" heralded Ole Miss team was good
U. in turn almost was good enough
to annihilate strong Holy Cross
team that had nine senior stars on
hand from last years powerful elev-
en-. Think that one over.
There is every indication so far
that 1889 will be one of those mad
house years.
figured the Big Ten plus Notre
Dame as the strongest single sec
tor, which indignant partisans from
the South promptly and loudly dis
puted.
Since Nebraska whipped Mime
sofa and Oklahoma beat Northwest
Wisconsin-to mention only few
casualties-the rebuttal from the
South seems to be in order. Also the
rebuttal from the Big Six, which
includes Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Thomas Claims South
Hos No Superior
As Frank Thomas told me over
the long distance phone last Satur-
day night, this is one of the big
years for the South.
1--we never seen as many strong
teams in that section before" he
said. II can give you Tennessee,
Tulane, Alabama, L. S. u, Duke, Ole
Miss, North Carolina and Auburn.
I also can add Clemson, Furman,
Kentucky, Vanderbilt and several
more. I don't believe the Midwest
can name 10 teams that are better
than the 10 best teams in the South.
I don't believe any section can. We
were good enough to beat Fordham.
but I'd hate to say we were good
enough to beat Tennessee or Tulane
can tell you right now these are
two of the best, no matter where
you look"
So far Pittsburgh, Carnegie Tech
Cornell, Fordham and Clipper
Smiths Villanova outfit are around
the top in the East. Bert Bell, head
coach of the Philadelphia Eagles,
rates villanova among the best any
where from coast to coast.
Cornell Leodinq Threot
Among Ivy Leoeuers
Pittsburgh gets its baptism OF fire
Saturday against fast, powerful
Duke eleven that Wallace Wade is
bringing to the Panther lair. Well
know lot more about the status of
Duke and Pitt after this hookup.
At this extremely early date Cor
nell's Big Red team steps out as the
main threat in the Ivy League.
Carl Snavely has quite a squad
ready to handle the situation, and
his game with Ohio State later on in
the month will be one of the seasons
leading intersectional arguments. 1t
will help to clear up number of
hot disputes.
Cornells game with Princeton on
Saturday will be one of the best the
Ivy League has to offer-a hard
game for Princeton to win but a
better line on Cornell.
The Southwest, as usual, Is in
another heavy tangle.
When Texas A. and M. faces Villa
HnYa this week and 6 M II meets