The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-06
Final Critics Refuse to PutArmy in Glass Apart
They'd Like to See Their Best Test Soldiers
By HARRY CRIMSON NEA Sports Editor

New York, Dec. 4-Thousands of competent judges saw Army for the first time as the Cadets made 1t IS straight letting Navy down comparatively easy, 32-13.
 While the unanimous opinion was that West Point had something extraordinary, few, if any, of the final judges place the young men of the Hudson Highlands in class apart.
 Charley Johnson's observation is perhaps the more pertinent.
 Army was the best football team I saw in two years" says the vet eran sports editor of the Minnea- polls Journal and Big Ten authority.
 Everything in sports and all else is relative.
 It's the competition that gives the star the opportunity to shine. When Gene Tunney retired, for ex- ample, it was the caliber of the other blokes that inflated Max Schmeling's stature to that of 8 good heavyweight. Why, they even made the cumbersome clown, Primo Camera, champion.
 Not that we are comparing Army with the dregs of the sour science, for the Plainsmen would stick out in any company, but the truth is that they haven't tackled too much the past couple of falls. Navy or last autumn was the best, proved it by giving the boys in gray their most robust exercise.
 But while sharp-eyed appraisers marveled at the speed of Junior Davis, the blasting of Doc Elan chard. the strategy of Young Tucker and the Army line, especially guard Capt. Jack Green and tackle De Witt Coulter, they promptly named college teams, let alone profes- sional, which, in their opinion, would have given Army fits.
 Charley Johnson nominated the Minnesota varsities of 1884 ana 40 and the Michigan of 1925-26, featuring Bennie Friedman ana Bennie Oosterbaan.
 California men recalled Andy Smiths wonder teams, notably the one of 1920, for which the fabulous Brick Miller threw his disputed 7O-yard pass as the Golden Bears smacked Ohio State, 28-0, in the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
 Old Blues of Washington and Jefferson reminded you that the Presidents outplayed California, holding Berkeley to a scoreless tie a year later, and wanted to know what the current Army comblna- ton would have done against Russ Stein, Swede Erickson, Brenkert, Herb Kopf and that bunch.
 How about some of Knute Rockne's clubs at Notre Dame, those of Howard Jones at South ern California and Dr. Jock Suth- erland's at Pittsburgh?
 What about Wallace Wade'S last Alabama team that belted a sup posedly outstanding Washington State crew, 24-0, in the Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, 1881? Tennessee men would like to see the Volunteers of 1888 against this Army creation, ana there was vote for the Texas A. and M. squad of 1889 and Frank Leahy's Boston College Sugar Bowl champions of 1940. The thing went on and on. ~
 "Yes as good as they are I'd like to see Glenn Davis run outside of Larson and Tenner, the Min nesota ends of 1884" beams Charley Johnson. "and Blanchard blast through that teams well backed up line
 You can't run if they can't shake YOU loose, and when he has had the material Bernie Herman has never failed to build a oe- fense against standout ball-carr1ers It is true that he would have two to contend with in this Army team, but Bob Westfall was Blanchards counterpart at Michigan, and Tom Harmon made exactly one point against Minnesota in three years.
 He had to kick point a1tel touchdown to do it"
 Army impressed those who sa" it for the first time at the f1nlsn but not enough to dispel indelible feats of others.
 Maybe it's because all old teams and athletes of happy memory are seen in the flattering light of dis