The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-24
BY JACK GUENTHER United Press Staff Correspondent


 United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, Dec, a --(UP)-- The Cotton Bowl football game won't settle any title claims, sectional arguments or standing feudS, put 1t should provide 60 solid minutes Of competition between the na- tlon's most aerial minded eleven and Dixle's most famous and per- SiStent poSt-SeaSon performer.
 The Lone Star State will pin its hopes on the pass conscious Aggtes of Texas A, Ss M, champions of the Southwest conference and Q team which has gained almost twice as many yards in the air us on the ground, And from the South will come Alabama for Its sixth bowl appearance in l6 years,
 The Crimson Tide has an eS. cellent record of three triumphs, Q tie and only one defeat In five Rose Bowl games and the 'Bama boys always take plenty of color with them wherever they go, They have been beaten twice thlS year, but in Holt RaSt and Jimmy Nell son they boast two of the finest individual performers in the South,
 The AggieS, on the other hand, lost only one game of 10 and with 'Bama rank among the nations offensive leaders. One look at the point and yardage records of these rivals leaves room for Just 0 single conclusion - that the scoring should come quick and often n Dallas on Jan, l.
 Texas Blank
 The statistics give the home team An edge, but the schedule shows that the AggieS also suffered the most decisive defeat--the 2S-0 plas. tering applied by the Texas Long, horns, A. x M, probably will tise or fall on the passing of Deraee Moser-and aerial defense IS Ala. bamas weakest point,
 Here is how the two teams stack up on various points;
 Offense - Texas Aggies holds slim advantage In everything but rushing, where the Crimson Tide has Q marked superiority. A. & M, scored 25S points, gained 2es4 yards-l, ,eS7 passing and 9Sl rush. ing--and scored li2 first downs for averages of 2S,S, 26s,A and il,2, Alabama, meanwhile, scored 2lS points, gained 2,A48 yards - i,6sS rushing Lad 7S0 passing-Nnd ran up l08 first downs, These figures break down to averages of 2l,S, 244,8 and l0,6- all slightly smaller than those of Texas,
 Defense Here too, the advan- tagc Is taken by the Aggles, They gave up only 46 points, l5SS yards ---e42 rushing and 6eS passing and e7 first downs. Too, most of these figures scared with the dc. feat by Texas, Alabama leads only ln the number of first downs sur rendered. The Tide was pierced for 57 points, i,7o2 ,ards-o9e rushing and 7oA through the air and 92 firot downs, However, the records gre close enough to be consid. cred strictly tossup.
 Manpower--Bo squads are fair ly deep but NioSer means more to the Aggles than does any single man to Alabama.
 Systems-Homer Norton Of A. & M, operates from the single and double wing. g.back formations and uses comparatively few plays but insists on perfect execution, Fos- nations arc worked from Q bal- anced line. This season the team lacks power in the baekfield 70 passes have been accented. The Aggles have taken to the air 293 times for almost 30p-ass per game average. Frank Thomas ct Alabama also operates from Or- thodox formations but uses the line on occasion and banks heavily on Q strong ground game. He has never before sent Q team against Q Southwestern ops ponent but ranks his present squad 1 as lone Of tho most versatile I've cver coached"
 Outstanding payers - Moser is the top paSSer in the Southwest and 6 very cool performer. His battery mate, Bill Henderson, an end, has used his Il l-4 inch hand | spread to catch 90 passes whue Cullen Rogers has nabbed lS. For Alabama the stars are RaSt and | Nelson, both of whom received many AllsAmerlca votes. Rast calls | signals from end while Nelson ear- ries tho brunt Of the work in tho running, passing and Between them they pro- vlded much of the Alabama often. slve fireworks.