Evening star., 1947-09-20
Tradition Cast Aside
AS Schedule Makers
Iqnore 'breathers'
"a
By Bob Grub
Associated Press Sports Writer

As.eeiated Prs.. Sports Writer
College football sneaks in the back
door, today In its usual early-season
attempt to push baseball OF the
sports pages.
The schedule have cast
aside tradition in some cases, and
not all of the several score openers
are OF the September "warm-up" va
riety. In fact. some of these games,
come late November, may have a
bearing on sectional or national
rankings.
Many a coach Nhis year, boasting
the best material since the war shat
tered promising 1912 squads, has the
thought Of a post-season bowl bid
somewhere in the back of his head.
This is the first real postwar season
in many respects and preseason
ticket sales indicate record attend
ances, with several OF the major
contests already sold out.
While a certain number of big
colleges open against comparatively
easy opposition, the results of at
least half f-dozen games are going
to be watched for what the politi-
clans call Significant trends"
Cougars Play Penn State.
One of these is tonight's Penn
State Washington State tussle at
Hershey, Pa. The power packed
Nittany Lions are regarded as one
of the East's stronger teams, while
the experienced Cougars~may be the
surprise team in the Pacific Coast
Conference race.
Down at oxford, Miss, Kentucky
and Mississippi get the Southeastern
Conference proceedings off to an
early start, with Kentucky's Wild
cats slightly favored over aerial
minded Ole Miss If the going is
sloppy. Kentucky bumped Missis-
sippi, 20-6, last year and then went
on for record of seven wins against
three losses.
Kansas, favored in the Big Six
Conference, has tough assignment
IN Texas Christian, although the
Horned Frogs don't figure to cause
much trouble in the Southeast Con-
ference race. A capacity crowd of
81 900 is expected at the Kansas
City Blues Stadium for the night
contest.
Kansas state Starting.
Kansas State also gets away under
the lights and the night air may
turn the fortunes of the Wildcats,
who haven't won a game since late
in 1914. The opponent is Oklahoma
A. and M, turned down in bid
for Big Six membership and also
looking forward to better days.
Alabama ought to put on an inter-
esting show with 10 veterans start
ing their fourth year as the tide
opens against Mississippi Southern
at Birmingham.
At Texas, where Blair Cherry has
installed the T formation with Bob
by Layne as key man, the Long,
horns get their first test in Texas
Tech. The other teams seeking a
return to power, Missouri's Tigers
and st. Louis u. clash at Columbia,
Mo. The Arkansas Razorbacks,
co-owners of the Southeast Confer
ence championship last year. open
against Northwest Louisiana State.
Other curtain -raisers have a
veteran Iowa team, first of the Big
Nine ia action, entertaining North
Dakota State; Iowa State VS.. Iowa
Teachers. Texas Aggies against
Southwestern (Texas), Clemson VS..
Presbyterian. Richmond facing
Randolph Macon, South Carolina
VS.. Newberry, Tulsa VS.. West Texas,
Brigham Young VS.. Colorado West
ern State and Montana State vs..
Oregon.
Villanova Tunes for Army.
Villanova hopes to get ready to
crack Arrny's three-year unbeaten
streak next week by tuning up with
the Kings Point Mariners at Phila-
delplnia. At Pittsburgh, Duquesne
revives the sport after four years
by tuning up with little Geneva.
Georgia's Bulldogs, unbeaten last
year, had scare as they opened
against a stubborn Furman eleven
at Athens, Ca, last night. the
Southeastern Conference co-chan1-
pions finally pulling 1t out of the fire
1877. Other games last night saw
Buffalo surprise Niagara, 27-l4: De-
troit turn back Central Michigan,
34-14; Baylor swamp Stephen F.
Austin, $40, and Texas Mines beat
Drake, 1871.