Evening star., 1947-10-20
Baltimore Fans Sold
On Colts in Spite Of
Losing Season
By MerrelI WhittIesey

By Merrell WhittIesey
Baltimore Is sold on its All-Amer-
lea Conference Colts and viceversa
The washington hackers of the
frst-year club in the second year
pro league were a bit wary as the
Los Angeles Dons rolled up a 1918
triumph yesterday fearing a few
boos as the Colts dropped into a tie
for the Eastern Division cellar, But
the 36,852 fans In Baltimore's Num-
cipal Stadium are solidly in back Of
their ball club.
The only cheers for the Dons came
from the Los Angeles bench and
from part-owner Don Ameche In the
stands. There was q dead silence
following all Los Angeles touch
downs and the cheers that followed
Ben Agaianian's 53-yard field goal
were IN admiration for the second
longest three-poirter in pro football
history. He hasn't missed a point
after touchdown in four years.
The Colts are only halfway
through their schedule and Maury
Nee, one of the Washingtonians
With a financial interest in the club,
points out that they have drawn
$4,000 at home, more than four
National League clubs drew in their
entire season at home last year.
Definite Figures Given.
In regard to the rumor that ALL
American Conference crowds are
padded, there was surprise in the
press box yesterday when the crowd
was announced as 36,852, as esti-
mates had run from $4,000 to AZ 1000.
The Colts are drawing despite
the fact that they did not get much
OF a break In the schedule. After
next week they will have played
the Dons and San Francisco twice
and the Cleveland Browns and New
York Yankees one each, with the
games they have the best chance
OF winning coming up. And as they
are the southernmost club in the
East, the Colts play their last three
games at home and the best they
can be Is third in the four-team
Eastern division at that time.
The Colts are a better drawing
card at home than on the road
Until they acquired Frank Sink
wich last week, the Colts only
Nationally famous college gridmen
were Hubert Bechtol, the All-Amer-
lea end from Texas and Ernie Case
who piloted U.CLA. into the Rose
Bowl last year. Case is a little fellow
who hasn't played much due to in
juries. He went out on the first play
yesterday with broken nose. Para
doxically, however, Cases injuries
led to Bud Schwenk's development
as the passer with the best average
in the league until yesterday.
Sinkwich will not be much of a
drawing card if he can't get away
any more than he did against the
Dons yesterday. The story is that
Frankie's trouble is mental and
that his knee is okay. Maybe one
good 75-yard run would restore his
confidence. His total gains against
the Dons were not much over 10
yards.
Dons' Losses Puzzle.
The Colts could use some of the
surplus personnel of the Dons,
coached by ex-Redskin Mentor Dud
De Groot. The Dons have Glenn
Dobbs, Charley O'Rourke and John
Kimbrough, among others, in the
backfield, and there was nothing in
O'Rourke's performance yesterday
to indicate he is slipping. The
question after yeterday's game is
how the Dons ever lost three games
The Colts stage an extravagant
half time show that runs we'll over
the IS minutes and have a march
ing band, swing band, drum major
cites, glee club, the man In the horse
act that smacks of Jack Espey, and
a bugler that precedes the team onto
the field.
They need name football players
and bigger and better line for next
year. Everybody is satisfied with
Coach Cecil Isbell. The Colts played
their worst game of the season yes
terday and apparently didn't lose
any friends.