The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-17
NICE BLOCKING, BOY
CHAPTER XII

George Landers looked up from his hospital bed and saw Pete Laird in the doorway. "GeS out of herel" he growled.
 "Not until you hear what l have Co say." Pete moved toward the bed. "Even a criminal gets that break"
 Make 1t quick" Landers didn't even look at him.
 "Ive got an idea said Laird, ''an idea how we can beat Notre Dame Saturday"
 "Yeah," sneered Landers. "Send stephanie to South Bendl"
 ''Forget her." said Pete evenly. T have. By request"
 "You mean" Landers bolted upright in bed. Whats your idea, PeteP"
 Twenty minutes later Laird got up from the bedside. Well, George" he said anxiously, what say2 VIII you back me upP"
 "All the way, son" Landers Grinned and Laird felt Q thrill. RIAG UhAKASA WaS ASNAs
 Dinty Dugan Sprang bombshell Monday. After running over movies of the Minnesota debacle he stepped before the squad. "Therell be a change in the lineup Saturday" he anonunced. Sheridan will start at Aailback."
 Several squad members looked at Laird and sheltered. And" continued Dugan, Pete Laird will De at quarterback"
 Stunned, the squad stared at Dungan. Laird Q blocker2 Was Dugan crazy7 Why that guy wouldn't dirty his hands if there wasn't c headline in 1t. Pete sat there grimly, expressionless.
 Pete Laird learned to be Q fall guy that week. Ills body and shoulders pained him, and his head was fllled with new assignments and plays. Pat Lester spent hours with him every afternoon and at night Pete would drag himself to the hospital for . session with George Landers.
 They charted plays, talked Strategy. tapped Landers' vast gsbre of knowledge. Anne opened the door one night and found Pete administering a body block on the bed post and George sitting up in bed yelling: That's 1t, Petel Ride that end out on 62, else you're all damned upl" Landers noticed Anne standing there and winked. Her face was aglow and her eyes shining. She willked back and shut the door silently.
 Saturday came - hrHsN and clear. Despite a weeks cramming, Laird felt leery. As he dressed in the locker room Dugan came over and rested his hand on Laird's shoulder.
 "pete,' he said, you've done a marvellous job. I know your heads full of plays, but I want you to help Billy Sheridan all you can cut there today. Keep on feeding him advice. He can use It."
 "You bet" Laird nodded. "I fig. ured on doing that
 They trotted out on the field 1t felt strange yelling signals as tk1Sy xdu btIOuBu pAhyS. One- two - three - hike" "one = two = three - hike"
 State received the kickoff, Sher- adan spearing 1t on the 10-yard line and moving up the sideline behind Pete. Anderson and Won. eocki sent two would-be tacklers sprawling. A big Irish lineman bore down on them at the 30 and Pete, charging low. hit him with a vicious shoulder block right above the knees. He felt a jar, his face banged into the turf, but when he looked up, Sheridan had moved IS yards more for Q nice runback. The crowd liked 1t.
 '.rglce going, Bill" he whispered an the huddle. "Next time cut bacI toward the middle. Those guys were sucked way over."
 He snapped out play. almost forgot himself and moved in the kaAlback slot, but remembered in