Evening star., 1940-12-31
HoYas in Finest
Trim for Game
On Miami Grid
Hogerty Will GumbIe
On Daniels Punting;
Ghecus to Sturt
Of The Star.

n
MIAMI BEACH, Dec. 31.-The
greatest team in Georgetown s
history was ready today for the
first bowl test in Hoya football
annals.
AS the big Blue and Gray squad
romped through its final workout at
Burdine Stadium before meeting
Mississippi State in the 1941 Orange
Bowl game, Tackle Joe Daniels OF
Bloomfield, N. j., found himself sud-
denly subjected to the spotlight.
In announcing that an aII-senior
team would face Mississippi State
at the whistle tomorrow, Head
Coach Jack Hagerty put his trust
in the 200-pound tackle because it
means that Daniels will do at least
the early and possibly crucial punt
ing for the GeorgetoWns as they
make their greatest bid for national
notoriety.
Regular Backfie1d Intact.
This is what Hagerty's decision
means. The best all-around punter
on the Georgetown squad has been
Mike Kopcik, an end who now is in
his home town of Endicott, N. Y,
awaiting knee operation. The
second best punter is Frank Dorm
field, a Stocky sophomore back.
Hagerty tentatively had planned
to start Dornfeld in the backfeld
in place of non-punting Lou
Ghecas. Yesterday. however, he
changed his mind. For three years
Daniels had been the longest punter
at Georgetown and in practice ses-
sions here he has kicked so well
that Hagerty has decided to keep
intact the backfeld of Ghecas,
Jules .Koshlap, Jim Castiglia and
Joe McFadden.
This means that, in order to have
a kicker, Al Blozis will be replaced
by Daniels. who will do the punt
ing until Dornfeld or Quarterback
Lou Falcone, second stringers, are
in the game.
All Seniors to Start.
Daniels has not been used as a
punter because. while capable of
tremendous distance. he has been
too slow in getting of his kicks.
Joe has been taking three strides
instead Of the usual two while kick
ing and, as a result. he only has
made two punts during the last
three years. One was partially
blocked and good for only 10 yards.
The other was from behind the goal
lire and good for 55 yards.
Thus 1t would seem that Hagertv
is taking no little gamble in using
Daniels, but the old-time George
town halfback turned coach doesn't
appear worried. Daniels has looked
so good in practice he said
today, that I'm ready to go along
with him"
BloZis, OF course. will see plenty
of action. The national shotput
champion is a terrific tackle. He
was and will be all-America mate
rial If ever there was such. Like
wise, Dornfeld will play. This back
has been handicapped by a bad
ankle. Even if it were in good
shape, however. it IS doubtful if
Hagerty would have started him.
Jack is witnessing the breakup OF
his first great team and he is de-
termined to start all the seniors
possible
Miami's Pulse Quickens.
Some idea Of the grim sentiment
behind the Georgetown end of this
game tomorrow was the appoint
ment of two second Stringers as CO.
captains. They are Bill Nealon, big
tackle from Scranton. Pa, and Jim
Reichey, center from Bradley Beach.
N. j. This happens to be the oniv
pair of players to be hurt during
Florida rehearsals and they happen
to have been among the unappreci-
ated.
The pulse of Miami and of Miami
Beach quickened today following
last nights gaudy Orange Bowl pa
rade, marked chiefly by many bands.
the Sun Girl, the Orange Bowl
Queen and much noise and bolster
Gus exhibitions.
The program for today was pretty
much the same, all of it designed to
work up the populace to tomorrow's
battle, which is said to be certain to
draw nearly As 900 customers for the
seventh of these Orange Bowl games.
The chances are the game will draw
less than $4,000. probably because
there is not enough room for that
number, but why spoil a press
agents statement?
Georgetown is ready-ready to
prove that it has one of the great
teams of the country. Possibly it
has. Anyway, tomorrow will tell.