Evening star., 1947-11-07
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$4,000 to See Finale
Of Footballs Most
CoIorfuI Rivalry
By Jerry Lisko
Associated Press Sports Writer

SOUTH BEND, Ind, Nov. T.
Undefeated Notre Dame is favored
to whip once-beaten, once-tied Army
by as many as five touchdowns, but
an overflow crowd of $1,000 may be
treated to a rip-roaring, If mud
coated, surprise ending to footballs S
most colorful rivalry tomorrow.
AS this Northern Indiana COM
munity began to pulsate with excite
ment over Armys flrst-and last
invasion, the weatherman threatened
to throw a monkey wrench into the
best laid plans of the aerial-minded
Irish and the bet-makerS.
The weather prophet wasn't sure
but he said showers loomed for to-
morrow which might cut the Irish
down to size for Army's yeoman
line and perhaps turn the fray into
as ding dong a standoff as last
years scoreless tie, or other thrilling
impasses in the feud dating back
| to 1913.
Even if it dawns bright and CHEEKY
this may be a red letter day in the
football annals of both schools which
abruptly announced cessation of
nostilities last December because OF
overemphasis of the classic, tradi-
tionally a New York feature.
Series End Saddens Harper.
Army, reported stronger than last
year from tackle, to tackle and
boasting a speedy backf1eld to de-
fend against Notre Danes heralded
passing attack, has everything to
gain and nothing to lose.
Just such West Point machines
battled favored Notre Dame to q
scoreless tie in 1922; trounced the
unbeaten Irish, 1870, in 1927; belted
the powerful 1881 Irish, II to 0, and
ended Notre Danes chances fol
perfect season in 1941 with a
scoreless tie in the mud at Yankee
Stadium.
It may take both schools a little
while to realize what the end OF
their great rivalry means to the
collegiate football realm. But the
man who sent the first Notre Dame
team against Army in 1913 already is
moaning low.
He is Jess Harper, now Kansas
ranch owner, who will be in at to-
morrow's windup, a saddened man
II am deeply disappointed in the
termination of this SERIES" said
Harper as he watched the Irish
practice yesterday. "It takes years
to build up such a magnificent
rivalry and that it is now ended is
difficult to believe"
Army Upset Chance Slim.
There isn't much in the records
to hint an Army upset OF Notre
Dame.
The Cadets have sunk their teeth
into only two substantial foes in six
games and then emerged with q
scoreless tie against Illinois and an
astounding 21-20 defeat by Colum-
bia.
The fighting Irish, on the other
hand, have rolled up victories over
Pittsburgh, Purdue, Nebraska, Iowa
and Navy, yielding only 13 points
and holding their opponents score
less in the last is periods.
Be that as it may, the Irish coach
ing staff fearfully predicts that
Notre Dame will be lucky to turn
back Army by one touchdown, OF
even one mint
Scout Jack Lavelle, who has
secuted Army so much he is mis-
taken for the Cadet water boy
thinks Notre Dame will do well te
win by a TO score. He anticipates
an Army passing attack that will
rival the most spirited test of the
Irish line this season.
Coach Earl Blaik will lead his
Cadets into town shortly after moor
today and, after a workout at Notre
Danes practice field, will whisk
them to Lake Wawasee, 40 miles
away, for a secluded night. The
Army squad will return to South