Evening star., 1946-11-07
Treatments Helping
Irish Ace's S Ankle,
Hurt in Practice
By Sid FEEDER
Assoeioted Press Sports Writer

SOUTH BEND, Ind, Nov. 7.-Dr.
Joseph Cation, Notre Dame school
physician, said today after examin-
ing Johnny Lujack. injured Irish
quarterback, that Lujack's sprained
right ankle has responded well to
treatment and he believed Lujack
would be able to play Saturday
against Army.
There is only a slight amount of
pain now after the overnight treat
ment and most of the swelling has
gone down." the doctor said. When
asked If the 21-year-old ace signal
caller would be ready for the game
Saturday in New York, he replied,
Eyes, I think so.'
At the same time DR.. Cation also
reported favorably on the condition
of Floyd Simmons, right halfback
from Portland, Greg, who ruptured
blood vessel in his right leg during
practice Monday. The physician
said the swelling in Simmons leg
went down 2 inches last night and
added he would recommend to Coach
Frank Leahy that the halfback leave
with the rest of the 36-man Irish
squad this afternoon.
Allowed to Attend Drill.
DR.. Cation permitted Lujack to
report for the final Notre Dame
practice session this morning, but
suggested that Leahy use him
sparingly both in the short drill
today and in the scheduled workout
after the team arrives at Bear
Mountain, N. Y.
Lujack hurt his ankle yesterday
as the final full dress drill for
Saturdays clash with the Cadets
was just another winding up on
Carter Field, and only a couple
of hours after teammates elected
him and Halfback Gerry Cowhig as
the Army game co-captains.
The news that Lujack doubtless
will play revived the hopes Of the
Irish. Without him the best Notre
Dame team in three years-the out
fit even the assistant coaches be-
lieve might whip Army by 20 points
to atone for the SO and 48 point
beatings of 1914 and 1945-hasnt
more than a prayer.
Must Be at Full Speed.
And he must be ready to 60 full
speed for just about the full so
minutes, because it's that kind Of
ball game. Some of his understudies
might be able to handle the passing
slim George Ratterman, for in
stance, or on the long ones. Pete
Ashbaugh. Some, too, are better
than green hands handling the T
offense. Ratterman, as matter OF
fact, steered the Irish to two touch
downs against Navy last Saturday.
And Frank Tripucka, a Bloomfield
IN. j. whizzer. isn't far behind
Lujack as a bah carrier.
But it Is on defense where he is
as necessary as aa parachute to q
jumping fyer-ard especially in the
secret defensive setups Leahy and
his brain trusters have been working
on to keep Doc Blanchard and Glenn
Davis from running the Irish right
out Of Yankee Stadium. Here john
ny is the man who makes 1t click.
Injured Blocking Pass.
And ironically enough, it was
while practicing defense against an
Army pass play that the quiet, like
able ex-sailor from the Pennsylvania
coal fields, who only returned in
June from a hitch on a subchaser
in the Atlantic, suffered his mishap.
He and End Frank Kosikowski, the
potential receiver, collided and went
down.
The squad takes off today with
the roof of the Notre Dame gym
still shaky on its rafters from the
wall-rattling cheers of the student
body in the annual pre-Army game
rally last night All 4,500 of them let
60 time after time-and each time
bulged the walls out. And the
loudest and longest ovation of all
came when a little, sweet-faced be-
spectacled woman stood up to take
a bow. They introduced her as MRS.
Knute Rockne-Mrs. Rock" widow
of the famed Irish c0ach