Evening star., 1939-09-29
The
SPoRTLIGH1
Diamond and Gridiron
Traffic in TongIe
Nv GRANTLAND RICE.

announcer Salty knOC. SGlll can see
no reason for not closing out base
balls business a week earlier to
clear the road for both sports. The
traffic tangle is getting to be terrific.
AS it is, we have one Of our
heaviest opening Salutes all over
the football map on Saturday, not
overlooking one of the big intersec-
tional affairs tonight when T. c. U.
and U. c. l.. A. meet head-on in
Los Angeles. There will be more
than a few full-blown championship
contests Friday or Saturday, headed
by Notre Dame and Purdue with
two of their best teams.
This South Bend contest should
be a nectarine replete with juice,
but it won't be the only big show
that belongs under the great white
spotlight. Indiana meets Nebraska,
Southern Methodist faces Okla
homa, Vanderbilt moves out against
Rice, N. Y. U. has busy afternoon
at Colgate, Tulane entertains Glenn
son, Pittsburgh has a hard after
noon with Washington, Florida
spends the day in Texas with Texas
u, Southern California is busy with
Oregon-and that isn't half of 1t.
Clash Of Irish" and Purdue
Books Promises Thrills
Among the high spots the clash
of fast backs at Notre Dame will be
something to see-Brock, Brown
and others trying to outgallop and
outlook Saggau, Sheridan, Zontini,
Thesing and more-quite a cluster
OF all-America flesh on one field.
This is a tough opener for both
teams which expect to 60 a long
way this fall. 1t is game that
either team can win, but Notre
Dame has the edge in reserve
strength and this should pull the
Irish" through.
There'll be high wall of dust all
through the Southwest when Okla
homa and S. M. u, Nebraska and
Indiana move into action.
S. M. U. is an improved outfit,
but Oklahoma has strong, veteran
team on hand-one of the country's
best a year ago and with few men
missing. I like Tom Stidham's
chances in the Norman conquest al
though it will be close affair
Both Bo McMillin at Indiana
and Biff Jones at Nebraska have ad-
vanced with sophomore squads now
turned into juniors. Nebraska is
much stronger this year than a
year ago, but so is Indiana with I'M
proved experience This will be
another close affair with the
Hoosiers granted a faint edge.
Pitt Will Be Better Than
Expected, Soy Coaches
One of the more interesting games
on Saturdays card involves Pitts
burgh and Washington.
This will be the first time in near
ly two decades that the Panther ever
left the ZOO minus the guiding hand
of Jock Sutherland. Jock goes back
to the football dynasty of Pop
Warner, which takes in many, many
yesterdays.
From the brilliant Panther team
of 1888 only one regular remains
Dick Cassiano, one of the years.
finest backs. But what else will
Pitt and Coach Powser have to
offer?
Jimmy Crowley and other coaches
tell me Pitt will be better than ex-
pected. Others, especially old Pitt
men, say the outlook is like one
of the late Mr.. Longfellow's best
known poems-"Cold and Dark and
Dreary."
Anyway, Jimmy Phelan's Husky
outfit will be all the test any clinic
needs. Washington reports with
another f1rst-class squad, close on
the heels of Southern California,
and Pitt will need something more
than few threatening gestures.
Pitts old-time talent may have
been scattered, but no one thought
of reducing her schedule-one of the
seasons hardest. Washington
should win this one.