The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-15
TODAY'S SPORT PARADE
By HENRY McLEMORE United Press Staff COrrespondent)

NOhitcu HTCSS Stdh NOTTCSpOHucntj Fort Worth, Tex. Nov. 15-CUP)- I was frolicking on the lawn with myfavorite pet, Antipathy, the other day when the thought struck me that it was high time I quit being sore thumb in the newspaper busi- ness and issue ranking of the foot ball teams.
 As you must have noticed, you sports page readers, the best way to be conspicuous these days, the best way to stick out like a sore thumb, is not to rate the gridderS from No. 1 to No. 589 Everybody is doing it. You can't pick up paper without seeing Professor Muzzlewumps' national standings. Or how Dr. Freezefoot rates the teams, the order in which Philton J. Slipstream places the various elevens, or why Cornelius M. High toyer thinks Slippery Rock Teachers deserve a .554 rating and Long Island Dental must be content with .445.
 The boys have made science of it, and the fact that there isn't any science in the silly business doesn't stop them from taking it as seriously as a normal man would a fractured leg or a burglar in the wine cellar. They throw themselves into frances, speak personally to decimal points, mix and mingle with higher mathe- matics, and come busting out all covered with football ectoplasm that barfely lasts from Saturday to Saturday.
 Green Eyed Monster
 Before you label this an attack based on pure jealousy, I'll say it for you. It is based on pure jeal- ousy. Here I go banging about the country, from New York to Califor- mia, climbing those weary steps to press boxes, freezing my feet and ears, eating the 1882 vintage hot dogs they serve you in press boxes and drinking the 1929 vintage coffee they give you as a chaser, in the hope of seeing enough football teams to get a pretty fair line on who is great, who is good, who is only ordinary. And who is no good at all.
 Since the season started have watched, among others, Columbia, Minnesota, Northwestern, Michigan, s. M. U.. Taxes A. and M., Georgia and Notre Dame. In addition, have talked to scouts and coaches who have seen Is or 20 of the other win- ming teams. I am quite sure that none of the-well, let's call them the brain trust" of football experts has seen so many top teams. Yet they go right ahead and give Mich igan they never saw so many demi- nal points, Minnesota they know only by what they read in the papers football I. @. of this and that, and, with a magnificent assurance, assign the Texas Aggies to such and such spot.
 Must Keep Mum
 That burns me up with jealousy, suppose, because I, as a man who has seen most of the teams, can't get a word in edgewise while football fans quote the statisticians who know only from hearsay.
 So, here goes my national ranking, the national ranking that I got from sitting in a press box and looking at the teams.
 1. The Texas Aggies. Power, spirit, savvy.
 2. Notre Dame. Power, spirit, savvy. But not quite the schedule.
 3. Cornell. I saw the Big Red last year and know what it is like.
 {. Minnesota. Not as good as lot Of folk believe.
 5. Tennessee. Saw them twice last year. Once in the Rose Bowl.
 6. P. s. Of Rochelle. Ga. l went to school there. played quarterback there, pure sentiment.
 To hell with 1t. Let's forget 'it. Nobody knows who is best.