Evening star., 1945-11-14
De Groot, Others Doubt
Cadet Eleven Could
Whip Paid Outfit
BY GAYLE TALBOT,
Associated Press Sports Writer.


NEW YORK, Nov. l4.-Stout
Steve Owen Of the New York foot
ball Giants can expect to have his
previous high standing among the
professional gridironers seriously
impaired If he doesn't cease and
desist from raving about Army's
football team.
The Giants mentor is Haunting
one of the Oldest rules and tradi-
tions of the play-for-play circuit
by refusing to say that any team
in the national professional league
could lick Army or any other college
outfit three times in an afternoon
If the light held out.
I'm simply not going to say one
way or another" he replied firmly
when asked how he thought the
Cadets unbeaten eleven would fare
against one of the good professional
clubs. "All I would do is make some
people mad at me. Besides, it's like
trying to say whether Joe Louis
could have licked Jack Dempsey u
Asked, then. If he would appraise
Coach Earl Blaik's team strictly on
it's merits, Owen frightened at once
and threw his 300-odd pounds head
long into what plaintly was one OF
his favorite topics.
Davis, Blanchard Incompatible.
TITS one Of the greatest football
teams I ever saw" he said. 1--WE
never seen two such backs as Glenn
Davis and Doc Blanchard in the
same backfield, and that big, swift
line Of theirs is nothing short OF
wonderful.
1T would be difficult to think back
to a college team that might have
played on even terms with Army
Stanford's Rose Bowl team Of Al
had a fine set of backs, but it's line
didn't compare with Army's. Maybe
some of those great big Minnesots
teams would have made it close.
didn't see them. But I can't name
any college team I ever saw that
would say was the equal of this one
owen was asked if he thought
Davis and Blanchard would be able
to eat up yardage in the professional
game.
Look" he said, sediously, carry.
ing the ball in the pro game is M
different from carrying it in college
Stars like Davis and Blanchard
given a line in front of them, car
run anywhere. Davis run for hi.
third touchdown against Notr,
Dame was one of the prettiest ",
ever seen. He feinted both defensiv,
halfbacks out of position.
And don't think Army doesn'
have some other fine backs in Nc.
Williams, Stuart and Tucker. Tuck.
er was like Sammy Baugh throwing
that ball last Saturday."
Declare Pros Superior.
While Owen, at least, sounded liks
he would give the Cadets whale o.
chance against a pro team, thre,
other coaches of professional club.
said:
ANY of the big pro teams coule
beat Army. 1t would be one hell O
game, but we'd win. I don't wan
to take anything away from Army
great backs, but we have some toe
and We have some all-Americas Ii
the line-Earle Greasy" Neale
Philadelphia Eagles.
II doubt very much If Army, a
good as it is, could beat a pro team
Like good amateur boxer fightinI
a professional, the professional i
too ringwise. If that isn't true
then the pro teams aren't wha
they're cracked up to be. We prac
tice three hours day and spen,
almost that much time in chall
talks. We may not be any NOR
rugged than Army, but we hav
more versatility "-Dud De Groo'
Washington Redskins.
i I've been in college football 2
years and only one year in pro bal
but personally I believe a top fiigh
/ pro club can beat a top-fiight col
lege team any day."-Adam Walsh
i Cleveland Rams