The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-27
CRISLER FEARS FOR VERNE
 SCORING PUNCH
Weakness Seems Likely At Hanks, Also
 In Backfield
BY NORMAN A. sCHoRR

United Press Staff Correspondent
 Ann Arbor, Mich, Aug. 2T-(UP)- Strong in the middle, Sweak at the tail and wings. That's not 8 bird, but the de-Harmon-ized Univer. sity of Michigan Wolverines.
 Having lost eight lettern1en in graduation and two to the air corps, Coach Herbert o. (Fritz) Crisler can count on having on hand the first day of fall practice Sept. 10:
 In the backfield-a power driving fullback, Capt. Bob Westfall, the only holdover of the 194l secondary. who ranked second to Tom Harmon among the teams ground gathers and kept plunging for yardage when Harmon was grounded on muddy turfs.
 Junior quarterback, George Gel thaml, 8 Chicagoan who relieved Forest Eyashevski and proved a heady field-marshal and 6 Sure- footed blocker.
 Tackles Are Husky
 On the line-three 200-pound ag- gressiye tackles, Al Wistert, Reuben Kelto and Bob Flora. Wistert, brother of Michigan's 1883 AL America Francis, is fast, 8 good tackler, expected to surpass his bro ther's performances. Kelto and Flora, are not as colorful as Wistert, but rank close in power and dependa- bility.
 A pair of experienced guards and two promising sophonoreS, Bob Kolesar and Bill Melzow, both re- serves at the start of the 1o40 sea- son, saw considerable frontline duty are good chargers, and rugged on defense.
 The newcomers from whom great things are expected at the guard spots are Mervin Pregulman and Julius Franks. The former, 210- pound all-state center from LaTi- sing, Mich., converted into guard, won the Chicago Alumni trophy for best all-around play. Franks. a strong Hamtramck Negro, was poi son for opposing linemen.
 IngalIs at Center
 At the pivot position Is be-spec- tacled Bob Ingalls, Marblehead, Mass, senior, 8 careful ball. snapper and steady secondary in Michigan's 6-2-2-1 defense. Behind him rates Ted Kennedy, who learned fast and is believed ready for more active service.
 Now for Nichigan's trouble zones. Joe Rogers, 6 foot 2, is ready to play one of the ends. He's a rangy, tWo- year veteran, good on defense, who may learn to catch passes. Harlin F.raumann is another rletterman wing, but he plays the same end as Rogers. Crisler doesn't know of any other ends, except among untried juniors and sophomores.
 All this doesn't leave many to carry and kick and pass the ball and score touchdowns. A tailback by the name of Harmon used to do it last year, but he isn't around any more. Missing also are Forest Eva schevski and Paul Kroner.
 Crisler doesn't attempt to mini- nize the loss of Harmon. "F1e's the greatest football player ! have ever seen or coached" he said. What Crisler liked most about the AL American was that he could do SC many things-well.
 Lettermem Dacks Return
 Among the returning letternler backs are Norm Call. the Norwsik O., senlory who can run some, but isn't the driving kind; cliff Wise who can't punt and is an expert passer; Harold '"Tippy" kockard, c hard runner bat weak on pass de- fense: and uavey Nelson, piucky lG0-pound pstroiter.
 Among the guphcmores, most promising is Paul White, le5sposind River Rouge back. who showed ID well An spring drills. others are Don nohlneon and Don 1oor. But nozae as q stnndollf.
 CFisler knows that he needs . scoring punch and reserves to match fast years receFd of seven won and sne lost. xin makes no bones nbgu