The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-21
BY BURNS BENNETT United Press Staff Correspondent

BY BURNS BENNETT
 United Press Staff Correspondent
 Knoxville, Tenn, December 20. - 5OUP) - Tennessee, the team that won out because it was willing to be second choice" is satisfied with its underdog role in the Rose Bowl game against Southern California on New Years Day, hoping to capi- talize on it by making the Trojans over confident.
 The volunteers from the Great Smokes passed up chances for other bowl games when the annual bid- ding began and stood by waiting, well aware Southern California wanted Ohio States perfect record Buckeyes. Tennessee got only a provisional bid which meant that 1t would go only if the big ten re- fused to lift its ban on post-season games, thus cutting out Ohio State which is precisely what happened.
 This All-C Civilian football team refuses to be distressed over the fact that it didn't receive first consider ation. Practically everyone in the Southland, even remotely connected with football thinks it minor mir acle that the Vols are going any where on New Years Day, let alone to the geratest spectacle of all = the Rose Bowl itself.
 Fine Record
 Coach John Barnhil1, who re- sumed Tennessee's proud tradition of consistent victory on the grid- iron this year after the school abandoned football for the dura- ton" in 1943, finished with seven victories and tie and was cited as the Southeastern Conference coach of the year..
 When Barnhill started out last fall, he had only four lettermen, holdovers from his 1942 eleven. 8 scattering of fine freshmen prospects and few squadmen of previous linl- tied experience.
 At the finish he had well sea- soned team, with two players rating all-southeaSt consideration and with no distinct weaknesses any, where on the first squad.
 IEOn DEAUSCpOTb
 The All-Southeast players were halfback Buster Stephens, 180- pound home town boy from Knox vile and guard Bob Dobelstein. 200- pound junior, one of three players on the starting eleven from far away Bridgeport, Conn. The others are his brother 16-year-old Russ Dobelstein, playing alongside of him at tackle, and Charley Wildman. a 190-pound freshman end. Russ rated the distinction of being the youngest player ever to start for the Tennessee Varsity. but toward the end of the campaign he was one Of the standouts.
 One of the most experienced play CTS is halfback Casey Stephenson, who played with the Iowa pre-fhght Seahawks in 1942 and had two years at western Kentucky Teachers be- fore that. The workhouse of the backfield is Bill Bevins of Mariana. Fla, who received the trophy award- ed annually to the best blocking back in the conference. The full- Ud(h 10 1MdlA MdJOAS uA%OS1ACA AASAAS town boy from Knoxville.
 The other linemen are Bo Stewart, 205-pound freshman tackle from Chattanooga, guard E. J. Asbury of Kenvir, Ky, and Patrick Buddy Pike, 6-foot 2-inch end, who played with West Virginia last season.
 Lost of 29
 Barnhill, former All-Conference guard at Tennessee in 1926 and 1927. is another of the duration "fill-in' coaches, who has been doing all right for himself. Since taking over for Brigadier General Bob Neylanc in 1941, his teams have won 24 games, lost three and tied two. He's rot so sure that his kids" will add to that victory record in the Rose Bowl, but he adcises laconically that i've aren't going out there just for the trip"
 This will be the fifth Bowl ap- pearance for a Tennessee team. The Vols defeated Oklahoma IT to 0 in the 1899 Orange Bowl, lost to South ern California IA to in the 1940 Rose Bowl, lost to Boston College 19 to 13 in the 1941 Sugar Bowl, then beat Tulsa IA to 2 in the 1943 Sugar Bowl.