Evening star., 1939-09-26
5trang Of Cardinals
Sheds Appendix;
Hoyas Backed
Special Tfoin to Garry
Rooters to HiIItop's
Opener With Temple
By LEWIS ATCHISON.

ny LEWIS AxCnlSON.
That all-America pest and triple
threat nuisance, "Old Debbil In
jury" slipped into a Maryland uni
form today and began bowling over
lanky Frank Dobson's carefully laid
plans by aiming a telling blow at
the key position in the Terps' line.
The jinx that joined the squad
last season and apparently refuses
to be dislodged has laid a clammy
finger on Wiry Bob Smith, regular
center, on whom Dodson counted so
heavily this year and who has been
on the sidelines since last week
nursing an injured knee. Today
Dobson faced the gloomy prospect
of wading through another gruell-
ing campaign without his crack
pivot man, for word has been
spread that Smith is through with
football for good.
Smiths Chances Slim.
There is a slim possibility that
the tall, rangy youngster who made
such a favorable impression last
season will be able to take his
place in the lineup, but it is an
outside chance at best. Dobson ad-
mitted as much today when he said
Smiths return would be akin to
finding money on the street "a
wholly unexpected pleasure.
Dobson has had too much ex-
perience with injured knees to gam
BILE a boys future against a few
football games. The most impor-
tant game in the world isn't worth
the risk of serious personal in
jury" he has said before and proved
his seriousness in the case of his
own boy, Jack. who held down q
wing on Army's eleven last season.
Jacks trouble was a floating carti-
lage that seriously hampered his
work. An operation probably would
have enabled him to get around bet
ter, but Frank vetoed the idea.
Football-as much as he loved 1t
and as much as Jack wanted to play
wasn't worth it.
Both Knees Now Lame.
Smith suffered an injury to his
left knee in the waning weeks of
the '38 campaign and this time he
injured the right joint, so Dobson
has just cause to be wary of using
him. Smith is getting every rea-
sonable chance to play. He hasn't
been permitted to work since being
forced out of action, and will not
see service this week against Hamp-
den-Sydney. If the knee responds
favorably he will get his first chance
against Western Maryland next week
under the arc lights at Baltimore,
and until then his activities will be
confined to exercises designed to
keep him physically fit.
Misfortune also raped on Dutch"
Bergman's door at Catholic Univer-
sity as Gerry Strang, crack Cardi-
nal end, was rushed to Providence
Hospital for an emergency appen-
dectomy. Performed yesterday morn
ing, the operation was a complete
success, and at the hospital it was
said Strang will be able to leave in
about 10 days His football playing,
and possibly boxing, is over for the
time being at least.
Gamecocks Primed for C. U.
F'od Cotton, line coach who
secuted South Carolina last week,
returned with pads of information
on the Gamecocks, all of which in
dicates Rex Enright is laying for
the Cardinals. Catholic u, how
ever, figures to win its debut, and
probably will have its full strength
excepting Strang, of course, avail
able for the fray. The team will
depart for Columbia tomorrow night.
Jack Hagerty put his Georgetown
pupils through their perspiring PAGES
until dusk enveloped the Hilltop
last night in an effort to smooth
the wrinkles in their offensive work.
Hagerty is satisfied the team will
be hard to score on when it opens
against Temple Friday night at
Philadelphia but may have trouble
reaching pay dirt itself.
Hagerty has about decided to
abandon his spread plays for this
game and will rely on straight
power thrusts and passes, as he
has yet to find a back who salts
factorily can handle the tailback
position. 1t is on this one forma-
ton, incidentally, that Joe Mellen-
deck is missed most of all, because
his speed and triple-threat qualities
made him a most dangerous per-
former. Georgetown will use the
spread, however, if Temple succeeds
in stopping orthodox plays.
HOya RO0ters to Attend.
A special train has been char
tered to transport Hoya supporters
and students to Philadelphia and
will depart from Union Station at
4 pm. Friday. The university's Co.
piece band, cheering section and
cheer leaders will accompany the
team, and heavy demand for tick
cts from alumni indicates large
attendance by this group.
With still another week to apply
the finishing touches before their
own teams curtain-raiser, Bill
Reinhart, George Washington field
general, and "Botchy" Koch, his as
sistant, will make the Philadelphia
trip to scout Georgetown. Hagerty's
men are fourth on the Colonials'
schedule, but Reinhart is pointing
for the Hilltoppers and will see them
play at every opportunity.
bition match and the tournament