The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-08-29
GRANGE ROOTS FOR
FRESHMAN M'AFEE
Believes Duke Back Will
Be First Year Sensation
With Chicago Bears

Chicago, Aug. 29-George McAfee
of Duke University is destined to
be the rookie sensation Of the Ma
tional Football League this season.
Harold E. Red" Grange, the
Galloping Ghost of Illinois and now
the backfield coach Of the Chicago
Bears, is the authority for that
statement. Grange, generally reti-
cent in his predictions, thinks Nc
Afee will burn up the league in his
freshman season, just as Cecil Isbeil
Of the Green Bay Packers and
Parker Hall Of the Cleveland Rams
did In 1898 and 1889. respectively.
Here's what Grange has to say about
the Bears prize rookie and his new
est pupil:
"McAfee is one of the finest backs
I've ever seen. He's got everything
and I don't see how he can miss
being a sensation this season. He
runs with such ease and with such
high knee action that he gives no
indication of his tremendous speed,
unless you note the manner in
which he separates himself from
players, who try to catch him. It Is
positively distressing to see defen-
sive backs try to keep up with him
when he goes out for pass.
ut will surprise me If he isn't
ranked with Don Hutson Of the
Packers as pass receiver before
the season is over. In addition, he
Is a terrific blocker and tackler and
how he can punt and pass. He
passes left-handed and punts with
his left foot. You Just can't build
a defense for a boy like that"
A glance at the statistical record
compiled by the Bears Blond Bull
let at Duke last year, indicates that
Oranges superlative endorsement Is
well founded.
High Average.
McAfee carried the ball from
scrimmage So times for Duke and
gained $40 yards net for an aver
age of 6.6 yards per try. He COM
pleted nine passes In Is attempts
for gains of 1873 yards. The aver
age gain was 1873 yards and, more
important, none Of his passes were
intercepted.
McAfee also did the punting. He
punted 40 times for Q total yardage
Of 1881, an average Of 38.2 per kick.
AS Dukes safety-man, he ran back
81 enemy punts for a total Of 365
yards, an average of 90 yards for
each boot handled.
In addition, McAfee scored seven
AZ points; returned i've
kickoffs for Ill yards. an average
of 22.2 per return; intercepted three
passes and returned SO yards: caught
ten passes for gains Of 229 yards,
an average Of 22.9, and he was loose
% times during the season for gains
Of 20 yards, or more.
All Of which conveys the idea that
the Bear rookie goes places and does
things with football.
Bears Got Him.
McAfee was the Philadelphia
Eagles first choice In the leagues
1910 selective draft. The Bears OBJ
tanned negotiation rights on him in
the biggest trade of the year, along
with Joe Mihal, Purdue tackle, In
exchange for Tackles Russ Thomp-
son and Milt frost. Guard Dick
Bassi. End Les Mcdonald and an
cash sum. Thompson,
Bassi and Mcdonald were Bear reg
ulars last year. which Is the tipoff
that Owner George 8. Halas had
better than vague idea Of McAfee's
ability before the deal was consuni.
mated because he gambled on the
chance that he might not be able 10
sign him.
McAfee Is 8 feet II Ia inches tall
and weighs i7e pounds. It Is IN.
teresting 10 note that his height and
weight u exactly the same a.
Oranges when ne was footballs
Phantom Filler. first at the univeF.
sity OF Illinois and later as the
greatest Of the long line OF famous
Bear ball.carriers.