Evening star., 1942-06-24
Fine Backfie|d Array
To Be Sent 10 Grid
By Big Ten, Irish
Material Apt to Prove
Best in Lond Against
Crack Service Teams
BY GRANTLAND RICE,
Special Correspondent Of The Star.

Special CORRESPONDENT Of The Star
CHICAGO. June 23.-Even grad
uations and enlistment losses won't
slow down football in the Midwest
this fall. AS starter the Big Ten
loop, plus Notre Dame, will send into
action the finest crop Of backs any
single section has yet known. Most
Of these were sophomore stars a
year ago. They will be even better
before the first autumn frost arrives.
In addition to this collection Of
talent there will be a new run of
1912 sophomores to help round out
all the action any football crowd
would like to see. The Midwest
may be the one spot that can handle
the stronger, more experienced
service outfits that will be harder
for weaker sections to handle.
Here are few of the star backs
ready for Midwestern play:
Minnesota-Garnaa Frickey and
Higgins, all juniors. Not overlooking
Bill Daley.
Indiana - Hillenbrand, Jacoby,
Saban, plus Jimmy Dewar, soph.
Michigan-Kuzma, White and
Wiese.
Wisconsin-Elroy, Hirsch, Pat
Harder.
Notre Dame-Bertelli, Clatt, Cow
hig.
Northwestern-Graham, Serbia,
Franck.
Ohio State-Sarringhaus, James,
Slosser.
Illinois-Don Griffin, Ray Flareck.
Hillenbrand Is Rated Best.
The. verdict through the Middle
West Is that Bill Hillenbrand OF
Indiana, a Bo McMillin pupil, Is
and will be the greatest football
player in the country.
Hillenbrand is 100 pounds OF all
around football greatness. He is
great ball carrier, fine passer.
good kicker and a defensive star.
In addition to all this the Hoosier
Hurricane has an ideal football
temperament. He is rated one OF
the leading competitors of his time
"a fellow who loves the game and
knows most OF the answers.
There is a general belief that II
given the chance before war calls,
Hillenbrand will be listed on the
all-time parade.
But Hillenbrand isn't the only ex-
ceptional player in this strong foot
ball sector.
There is Angelo Bertelli of Notre
Dame, a great passer. There is Pat
Harder Of Wisconsin, fine fullback,
who mas both power and speed.
There is Otto Graham of North
western, another brilliant. And
there are both Tom Kuzma and
Paul White of Michigan-answers
to almost any coach's prayer.
Minnesota has group OF great
backs in Daley, Herman. Frickey,
Bill Garnaas and Midget Higgins.
Ohio State, with two sophomores
from Massilons winning group, will
be on par with the others in all
around tackfield strength.
Midwest Likely to Lead.
The Big Ten Conference, plus
Notre Dame, easily may be foot
balls stronghold for the new cam
paign. And this isn't overlooking
Iowa.
There are linemen on hand to
match the backs, especially at Min
nesota, where Morse forwards usual
" have the call Minnesota's big
line will be led by Dick Wildung.
one of the greatest forwards in
l94l-a sure bulwark in the season
that Is not too far away.
1t has been the wish of the War
Department to keep football espe-
cially at top strength this season.
This is not guess nor a surmlse.
1t is a message that comes direct
from Washington, and the Midwest
is one big sweep of the country that
intends to carry this idea to the
limit.
Star coaches, here and there, will
be missed, including Bernie Bier
man of Minnesota. But there will
be able instructors to look after
some Of the best material of many
wears. It will be needed in facing
those powerful Army and Navy
teams now on their way.
North American Newspaper Allance)