Evening star., 1940-09-08
6. VS. Ball II-Carrying
Department Of '39
Returns Intact
6. u, Maryland, c. U.
Also Well Fixed in
Attacking Power
By LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

this season If the complicated
curlycues chalked on the black
boards of Messrs. Bill Reinhart.
Jack Hagerty, Dutch Bergman and
the Maryland coaching staff mean
anything
There will be some defensive work,
OF course. but only enough to hold
the foe long enough to grab the
ball. Then, without any preliminary
fiourishes, they'll dip into their bag
OF tricks and start firing.
Such talk sounds scandalous, not
to say downright libelous to old
sters who have watched feeble of
fensive efforts of past years. But
it's gospel truth and you can figure
1t out for yourself. Look, G.. w.
has its 1899 backfleld back intact:
Georgetown has more backs than
Hagerty has seen in the whole eight
years he's been here; Bergman has
Charley Moutenot and Pete Sachon
back, and Maryland has that half
pint of mercury called Joe Murphy
plus sophomore it's keeping under
cover.
The Colonials and Hoyas appar-
emily have the man power and class
to manufacture a high-geared at
tack and both are anxious to roll
up a few scores this season. Catho-
lie U. and Maryland probably figure
they've got nothing to lose and
everything to gain by a few un-
orthodox tactics and are willing to
gamble on that proposition. 1t
doesn't sound unreasonable.
Save Best of '39 Plays.
OF course they aren't heaving
everything out the window and re-
writing the book. Far from it.
Most of them, as matter of fact,
intend to take some of last years
best plays, change a step here and
there, give the ball to a freshman
and send him off in the opposite
direction and see what happens.
Whatever results it's bound to be
an interesting experiment.
Take old No. 76, one of Reinhart's
pets. The spirit of '76 permeated
the squad last year-gave 'em a lift
when they needed it badly and pro-
duced more than one touchdown.
1t started with Eddie Wilomaski
taking the ball from center and
pitching pass directly over the
line to Sam Babich. Bob Nowaskey
came over from end and when
Babich was tackled took a lateral
pass.
The play went for 60-yard touch+
down against Kansas and another
when one of the G. WIS was offside.
1t should work this year if Frank
August fits Nowaskey's big brogans
acceptably. Reinhart thinks he will,
although Frank is a trifle slower
than Bob, who was rated the fifth
backfield man on the first team.
Catholic University has a similar
play. It's an old one, but appar-
emily improves with age. A couple
of years ago it was responsible for
the winning touchdown against De-
troit, when Hermie Schmarr took a
long pass, ran 40-odd yards and
lateraled to George Muligan on the
10-yard line. George went over un-
molested.
c. U. Play Has Variations.
1t starts behind a balanced line
at G. U. and ends in several different
ways. Sometimes the enemy inter-
cepts, but that's rare. When the ball
is snapped from center, the ends i'm
mediately go downfield and criss-
cross. The halfbacks cross, too, as
II pulling reverse. The fullback
blocks the defensive right end mo-
mentarily, then runs about 10 yards
downfield, where he buttonhooks, or
turns around.
Meanwhile, the quarter takes the
ball, delays two counts, then runs
to the fiat on the weak or short
side-uSually the left after the line
shifts. The first time he throws to
the fullback, who promptly is picked
up by the end cutting over to that
side Of the field, and trails along
until the fullback is tackled. That
leaves the end in position to take
the lateral. If the original pass goes
to the end, the fullback comes up
for the lateral.
Hagerty says his best play probably
will be a field goal from placement,
which has Notre Danes blessing
along with that of several other
clubs. 1t saved the Hoyas' record
a couple of times last year, but this
autumn, seriously, Jack is going to
have lot of fun with II backs to
work with.
His best play last year was a fake
end run with the ball carrier cutting
back and skirting tackle. It was the
against Maryland for a 20-yard
touchdown late in the game. 1t also
worked to perfection in the New
York University game.
Retains Spread Formation.
Georgetown also is going to stick
by the spread formation inaugurated
two years ago. Although many
critics didn't think the team got
enough out of it to make it worth
while, Hagerty and his aides think
the spread can be fashioned into a
potent, dangerous weapon now that
they have an ample supply of fast
backs.
Maryland's best bet last year was
a sweeping end run with Joe Murphy
Juggling the apple and all indica-
tions are that the coaches will keep
that one, although Murphy will not
be used as constantly. Several
times last year, particularly against
Rutgers and Syracuse, Joe would
have been touchdown bound with
more blocking. He did get away for
a 5e-yard gallop against the Orange
but the secondary nabbed him most
Of the time.
The Terps also are going back, to
sine extent, to the old reliable dou-
blowing offense which was aban-
doned a couple of years ago. The
Terp coaches are from the Byrd
school of two flankmen and think
1t has tremendous possibilities If used
properly. One thing certain, it is