The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-07-30
BOB ODELL KEY
MAN OF PENN'S
'43 GRID TEAM

Philadelphia, July 30-Bob Odell
Pennsylvania veteran halfback
passer, punter and ball carrier, will
add to his manifold duties such ad-
ditional chores as blocking back,
signal caller and general utility
man, when the season gets under
way, George Munger, head coach
of the Red and Blue has announc-
cd.
One of the only three veterans
from last years varsity squad, Odell
will share a ,ajor portion o. the
ball carrying with Joe Kane, the
Wingback Of the past two seasons.
Last year Kane reported late and
did not see ~egular service until the
last few weeks of the season.
Odell will lock and call signals
for the first ime in his college car
eer Heretofore he has played both
the tail and wingback position and
has done some punting and passing
Judging by his play calling in recent
signal practices, Odell has the
knack of making his commands not
only heard, but oheyed.
A regular tudent, Odell is en-
rolled in the Navy aviation program
but does not expect to be called to
active duty until after the football
season.
More Hard Work
Odell and the entire squad will
don heavy regalia next week Tor
the first time, a Munger plunges
into the second full week of the
five planned weeks of practice.
The work on the charging ma
chimes, line scrimmages and other
bodily contact drills will give the
coaches their first opportunity TO
test the players individually. A lack
of linemen of experience and weight
is the main worry Munger and MS
assistants have at the moment. I'm
less guard and tackle candidates
display more ability than they have
thus far in the light workouts,
PENNSYLVANIA will be sorely press
ed to win any games this Fall.
The average weight of the tackle
and guard candidates is ITO pounds
which is many pounds under the
average of a major college football
team. In addition to the lack OF
avoirdupois, none of the lineSmen
have had any college experience.
In making } lir elps for the flrSt
time, Munger placed George Bird,
the heaviest player on the squad-he
weighs 215 pounds-at left tackle on
the first team. An undergraduate
for three years, Bird reported Tor
football ten days ago for the first
time. He played three years OF high
school football at Collingdale high.
Mike Sotack, Pitt. freshman
from Colorado, left end; William
Angus, Collingwood High, LETT tao
kle; Bird, left guard; Don Bitter,
veteran center and marine reserVlst,
center; Jay Rubin, West Phila. high
right guard; -Iilyard Barr, Glen Nor
High, right tackle; Francis Kane
West Cath, High and Temple, rlght
end; Bob Odell, blocking back and
signal caller; John IGakar, fresh
man last season, tailback; Joseph
Kane; Wingback and Ray Stengel,
freshman last season, fullback, COM
prise the first lineup.
The second team includes Ken
Pickens, Peoria High and ILLINOIS,
left end; Robert Matthews, Norris
town High, left tackle; John NC
Closkey, Pitt Fresh, left guard; BOD
Mostertz, Germantown High, CEN
ter; Robert Bergner, Swarthmore'
right guard; Herbert Aigner, Altoo-
ma Catholic, right tackle; Walter
Bubien, freshman end last season,
right end; John Noble, freshman
last year, blocking back and signal
caller; Dudley Brundage, Blakeley
High, a freshman, tailback; Joseph
McGlone, West Catholic and Tenn
pie: wingback and George Yelling,
James Madison and Villanova, full
back.