Evening star., 1941-12-03
Pro Football Eagles
Numbering System
Aids Fans, Officials
D. c. Gets First Glimpse
Of Quick Identification
Plan Next Sunday
BY BILL DISMER, Jr.

What has been suggested as a
universal method for numbering
football teams for the benefit of
fans, players and officials alike, will
be shown here for the first time by
a professional squad Sunday when
the Philadelphia Eagles come to
town to help the Redskins ring down
the curtain on the Capitals 194l
grid season.
The oft-proposed but rarely fol-
lowed principle involves assigning
players number on the basis of the
positions they play. The first OF
the double digits Identifies the po-
sition played and the second the
name of the player
Thus, all quarterbacks are num-
bered from 10 to 10 inclusive, right
halfbacks, from 20 through %; full
backs, 80 through SO; left halfbacks,
or tailbacks, 40 through 40; centers,
so through SO; guards, go through
SO; tackles, 10 through 70, and ends,
80 through SO.
Helps Quick Identification.
There's no doubt that the system
is big help in identifying players
on the field, or substitutes, quickly
and definitely. Why other teams
haven't adopted the plan before is
a slight mystery. There's no system
to the numbering of any other teams
in the National Professional Football
League.
The innovation is the child
OF the leagues youngest owner, 29-
year-old Alexis Thompson-the same
guy who's signed up Bobby Riggs,
Frank Kovacs, Don Bulge and Fred
Perry for the winter tennis exhi-
bitionS
Thompson is giving all credit for
the Eagles best record in three
years to Earle GREASY Neale, the
veteran college coach who has led
a squad dominated by 26 rockies
to two victories and a tie in 10
games. Always one to emphasize
offense, Neale has seen his team
held scoreless by only one opponent,
the Giants. while scoring two touch
downs in five Of the remaining eight
games.
Gave Redskins Scare.
Not forgotten by the Redskins is
the scare the Eagles gave them in
Philadelphia back in October when
Neale's IT, formation rolled up a
l4-0 lead in the first quarter. The
Skins finally won, 21-17, on Sammy
Baugh's two touchdown passes. but
the winning marker didn't come
until there were less than -four
minutes to play.
Aside from the three former
Georgetown stars-Jim Castiglia
Lou Ghecas and Joe Frank-and
the Southern California rookie. Jack
Banta. who started the season with
the Redskins, Philadelphia's most
notable first-year men are two Ten
nessee products All America
Guard Bob Suffridge and Fullback
Sam Bartholomew. captain of the
Vols 1889 Rose Bowl team. The
Eagles only real "old" men are
Phil Ragazzo, a 220-pound tackle
who served two wears with Cleve-
land. and Len Foots) Barnum, q
former West Virginia Wesleyan star
who played three years with the
Giants.
Long an admirer of Barnum. who
comes from his home town OF
Parkersburg, w. Va, Neale lost nc
time in acquiring the kicking anc
passing back. giving the Giants
draft rights to Chester Gladchuk
Boston Colleges All-America center
last year. in exchange for Barnum
Barnum once demonstrated his
talent by winning a kicking con.
test with Ace Parker. Ralph Ker-
cheval and Ed Danowski. averag-
ing 10 yards on three boots, one Of
which scared 70 yards on the fly.