The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-07
Professional Grid
 Rivalry Gets Under Way Sunday

Chicago, Sept. 7-The National Football League will officially begin its 1940 championship campaign to- morrow afternoon when the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steel CTS tangle at Forbes Field, Pitts burgh, in the first game of the 55- game schedule.
 This skirmish is the only cham pionship contest scheduled this week, but the title scramble will be on in earnest next week, with five games down for decision, four on Sunday afternoon and the fifth Friday night. When these five games have been written into the records, nine of the ten league teams will have made their debutS in title competition. The Chicago Bears will be the last league team to engage in championship traffic. They will not open their title drive, until they meet the worlds champion Packers in Green Bay Sunday, Sept. 22.
 Oddly enough, tomorrow's game brings together a pair of teams, which are regarded as the clark horse threats" in their respective divisions, the Cardinals in the West and the Steelers in the East. The Redbirds will be making their first start under their new coach, Jim my Councilman, who has succeeded Ernie Meyers. They did not engage in any preseason exhibition con- tests, which might be used as a yard-stick for gauging their capabil- itieS. Councilman has adopted a new offense for the Cardinals, which is basically the Rockne system. Also. he has shaken up the personnel of the squad pretty thoroughly.
 garded lightly, despite these rather confusing procedures. It is mat ter of record that he coached the old Providence Steamrollers to the league championship in 1928. Last year his Washington University team won the Valley Conference championship.
 Walter Kiesling will be beginning his first season as head coach of the Steelers when they step out to battle the Cardinals. He Supplanted John Blood" McNally in mid-sea- son last year and the team showed steady improvement under his guid- ance.
 Further proof that Kiesling has succeeded in making the Steelers 8 force which must be reckoned with was offered in evidence last week when they edged out a surprising 10 to g victory over the mighty Bears in a preseason exhibition game at Erie, Pa.
 During the offrseason, KieSline managed to separate our talented and seasoned players from rival league teams. Boyd Brumbaugh, Duquesne fullback; Hank Bruder, Northwestern blocking back; Billy Patterson, Baylor passing wizard, and Frank Sullivan, Loyola CNew Orleans) center, make up this group. The Steelers obtained Brum- baugh from Brooklyn, Patterson and Sullivan from the Bears and Bru- der from the Packers. In addition, Kiesling has picked up several fine rockies, who figure to be important factors in his plans later in the sea- son.
 Conzelman, too, has made several deals, which were designed to add strength to the Cardinals where they needed 1t the most. The Card inal coach is a bit pessimistic about his teams chances during the early part of the campaign. However, he is confident that the Redbirds will improve as they go along and figures he will be able to tip over some of the teams, which harbor title as- pirations, before the season ends.
 The Cardinals acquired Ed Bel" nor, Notre Dame tackle, and Joe Kuharich, Notre Dame guard, from Brooklyn in exchange for draft rights on George safego. Tennessee back. and Ben Kish, Pitt back. They also obtained e badly needed passer by trading Stan Anderson, Stanford tackle, to the Cleveland Rams for Hugh Mccullough, triple-threat Ok. lahoma back. The Cardinal rookie crop Is better than average. too, ana it will be interesting to watch these "daFkhorse" teams.