The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-12
GAP ABLE SQUAD :. TO TAKE FIELD
 FOR SYRACUSE
Varsity Men Total IS, With ' Starters From
 l04O

Syracuse, N. F., Sept. li-(UP)- Big. broad d-shouldered Ossie Solem is keeping his fingers crossed these days as he drills veteran syra- cuse University football team for a tough eight-game schedule with only one breather.
 He well remembers last year when a series of injuries wrecked what started out to be one of the best elevens in his four-year reign here. In the early weeks of the 1S4O campaign, Solem lost his ace ball-carrier, first-string blocking back and three regular linemen. Syracuse never recovered and suf- fered overwhelming defeats at the hands of Northwestern, Cornell and Georgetown, while dropping a 7-6 decision to its traditional up- state New York rival, Colgate.
 Solem, seeking to avoid a repe- tition this fall, placed particular emphasis on conditioning to insure his squad reaching tip-top shape by the opening game with Clark son Tech, Sept. 26.
 SoIem Avoids Predictions
 The head coach has little inclt- nation to make any predictions TOT 194l.
 "Our prospects cannot be termed as good or bad" he commented we have several problems in per- sonnel to be solved before we are ready to tackle our schedule. How ever, our spirit is good, we have some capable players, and with little luck in keeping all our man power available, we may be able tt field a representative syracust team"
 Excluding any inroads from SC. lective service, Syracuse'S squad includes IS lettermen among 4 candidates. Seven were first-strlng' CTS last year-Paul Berthold, end Tom Kinney, tackle; Dick Weber and Dick Fellows, guards; Joe Watt halfback; Leo Canale, fullback, allt Ken Beehner, center. Others wiit saw considerable service were Le! Dye, end; Sal Mirabito, fullback and Leland (Bunky) Morris, dimin' utive halfback.
 Talent From Injured List
 Counted upon for strong come backs are Tommy Maines, had running halfback; Bob Heald, block ing back; Charles (Red) McPhail veteran end; Bill Mozur, who alter mated at guard and tackle, and cen ter Bill Schmidt, all of whom Wert forced out within juries in 1940.
 Eight lettermen were lost b! graduation and another, Car Johnson, sophomore end, has lief college. Most difficult to replaCt will be Dick Ranger, triple-tnrea back; Whitey piro, regular end fol three seasons; Ed Rodiek, first string quarterback, and Bill Esch enfelder and Joe Rigan, tackles.
 A dearth of experienced guar terbacks and tackles IS Solemn greatest problem. Heald, Q senior is the only quarterback with an! experience and likely will start il that blocking post. He will bt understudied by Ed Fox and Et Brennan, two SophomoreS.
 Gerald Courtney, senior speed ster, and Ralph Cordisco lend re serve power to the backfield. Botl saw considerable service the pas two years and can adequately i'll the shoes of Maines and Watt, wh, are expected to open the season a the halves.
 Following the Clarkson game Syracuse plunges into the toughe part of its schedule, meeting Cor nell at Ithaca, Oct. 1; Holy Cros at Syracuse, Oct. II; New Yorl University at New York, Oct. IS Rutgers at Syracuse, Oct. 25; Wis conSin at Madison, Wis, Nov. l Penn State at State College, Pa Nov. 8, and Colgate at Syracuse Nov. IS.