Evening star., 1940-12-20
Maroons Too Strong
In Line for Hoyas,
Ventures Mehre
Blue and Gray Stronger
Than Analyst Thinks,
Writer Contends
BY GRANTLAND RICE,

MAJ .-GeOrgetOW with one l.
point defeat in % games, one OF
the star teams of the East, may be
headed for trouble at Miami in the
Orange Bowl test New Year Day
Georgetown is one of the best teams
I saw all year, including even Michi-
gan and Harmon.
I recall the warm debate between
Herb Kopf of Manhattan and MAJ
Stevens of N. Y. U. as to which had
the greater team-Boston College OF
Georgetown. Both went skyhigh in
their praise of line and backfeld
weight and speed, spirit and coach
ing.
When they finally met, Boston
College won, 10 to 18.
I know Nal Stevens, one of the
top coaches of the country, one of
the smartest students of football
rated Georgetown far up in the
higher brackets.
This team" Nal told me, "has
about everything. 1t is big and
fast. 1t is experienced. 1t has a
fine line and a fine backtield. 1t
has unusual spirit Only a really
great team can beat it"
But now 1 get word from an old
friend of mine by the name OF
Harry Mehre, head coach at Missis-
sippi.
Harry Mehre led his Georgia
teams to five consecutive victories
over Yale-when Yale was Yale
and good. Then Georgia let him
out. At Mississippi Mehre has had
one of the best records of the last
two or three years. Mehre is one of
the finest offensive coaches in foot
ball. Good defensive coaches are
as thick as alfalfa on a Western
ranch.
Mehre Sound Analyst.
You can respect Harry Mehres'
opinion. He is analytically sound.
I asked Mehre to give me his opin-
ion of Mississippi State, George
towns Orange Bowl opponents.
II do not know how good George
town is" he began, but George
town will have to be extremely good
to have a chance in this game. l
have the feeling that Mississippi
State will be too strong in the line
for Georgetown. We had much bet
ter than a fair offensive team last
fall. We managed to move along
the ground and through the air
against every one we played-untll
we encountered Mississippi State.
I'VE had two fine backs in Hapes
and Hovious, both big and fast. I
mean two of the best. But the Mis-
sissippi State line stopped us COM
pletely and so gave neither Hapes
nor Hovious any chance to show
their stuff.
my guess would be that Missis-
sippi State will take Georgetown by
one or two touchdowns.
State" Mehre continues, "has
three fine ends in Elrod, Moore and
Harrison. Tripson at left tackle is
by far the best tackle we met all
year. Corhern and Mcdowell at
guards are every bit as good as
and Molinski of Tennessee.
They just happened to miss the
they had justly earned
johnson and Jefferson are really
fine backs. I mean as good as any
body. The rest of the backfeld is
just average.
State Gained Late Momentum.
mississippi State is a team that
has unusually fine spirit, and they
all do an exceptionally fine job OF
blocking. They take you out all
the way. If Mississippi State makes
up its mind to play real football 1
don't think Georgetown can win.
Here's one angle. This team
came like streak toward the end
of the season. 1t may be just hit
ting it's peak form-or it may be
over the top. No one can figure
that part of it. They may drop
back to their Auburn form, their
only bad game. And Auburn was
pushover on good day.
IT would say that if Mississippi
State plays the football it played
against us and against Alabama it
would have an even chance against
Minnesota, Michigan. Stanford or
any one else. That's how good it is.
You may remember some years ago
that I wrote you what Alabama,
with Howell and Hutson, would do
to a great Stanford team. Don't
sell this State team short. 1t is as
good as any football team in Amer
lca-if it plays its game
We pass these expert words along
to Jack Hagerty and to the George
town team.
It is my belief that Georgetown
Is a better team than Harry Mehre
knows about. He hasn't seen
GEORGETOWN haven't seen Mis-
State.
Georgetown Stars Extolled.
I can't believe Mississippi State
has any better center than big
Matuza of Georgetown-any tackle
as good as 25O-pound Blozis, the
record holding shot-putter. I can't
believe Mississippi State has any
back as fast as 81 Doolan for the
lOO-any better fullback than Cas-
tiglia-or any guard as good as
Augie Lio-or any better back than
Koshlap.
1t might interest my friend Harry
Mehre and Mississippi State to know
that six members of this George
town team were drafted by the pros.
And they will all make good.
Most of these bowl games come
down to a matter of spirit and con-
jition. The team that takes one Of
these games as a holiday jaunt is
likely to be chased off the reserva-
lion.
I happen to know how good
is. but also know that
GEORGETOWN isn't going to take Mis-
sissippi State if it is just out for a
holiday.
Mississippi State is just about as
good as Stanford, Boston College or
tennessee. So is Georgetown, at
It's peak. Condition and spirit will
u.