Evening star., 1948-09-01
Gloom in Skins Camr
May Be Healthy Sign
For Rams Battle
BY a stoff Correspondent Of The stor

LOS ANGELES. Sept. by
unanimous vote of their coaches,
the worst collection of players to
wear Redskin war paint, the Wash
ington eleven is ready for tomorrow
nights kickoff against the Los An
geles Rams. I'VE look lousy" COM
mented Coach Turk Edwards as the
squad dragged itself off the field
after yesterdays final workout at
Occidental College. mo life, no
fire-we'n be lucky to hold 'em as
well as We did last year."
Edwards four assistants nodded
in solemn, silent agreement. The
outlook was darker than midnight
in the cemetery and the Redskin
carcass was as good as fried But
you may take the masterminds
pessimism with grain of salt for,
although they may see flaws in this
new model, no previous Washington
eleven was better prepared to go the
full Commute route.
Edwards displayed good broken
field oratorical skill in refusing to
be pinned down and had to admit
the Skins sluggishness might be a
good sign at that" A year ago the
Tribe staggered into the coliseum
before record-breaking crowd of
almost 81, 900 fans, expecting to park
the Rams in the two-bit seats and
to win in a walk. They were sur
prised, putting it mildly. and lost by
Ia 20-7 count. Thoroughly chastened
and better conditioned, they are in
good position to reverse the count
this. time.
100000 May See Game.
Speaking of crowds, mounting
ticket sales indicate tomorrow
nights turnout will be near 100000
-the largest crowd to see a profess
sional team play.
Part of the lure is Glenn Davis,
an atomic football weapon borrowed
from the Army for this one game.
Davis fired the fans imagination
last week and they'll be out in
wholesale quantities to see him in
his first and last pro game.
Davis would like to continue in
football, but Army orders will send
him overseas after the game. The
small, mercurial halfback is getting
a tremendous kick out of playing
before neighborhood gallery for
the first time since graduating from
a nearby high school, and it's plain
that the flying cleats, booming
punts and roar of the mob have
more appeal for him than drab
Army life.
The former West Pointer could
make a fortune in football, and
make a tidy profit for other clubs
in the circuit as well. Nobody knows
what the Rams are paying him, but
a good guess would be $4,000. He's
got color, speed and savvy, and his
mere presence in the backfeld is
enough to add a new wrinkle to
most coaching broWs Davis is part
ly responsible for the ticket boom
and largely responsible for the Tribe
coaches gloomy outlook. He could
oreak up the ball game.
Baugh Pronounced Okay.
With Rookie Harry Gilmer on the
bench, the Redskins will not have
their full fire power for this game,
but Sammy Baugh tested his aching
back yesterday and found it okay.
The old gentleman will be at the
throttle for his side most of the
way and it's safe bet the Skins
will go high-ballin' for a couple of
touchdowns. But the key figure in
Washington's plans may be Tommy
Mont, who will spell Baugh on
offense and play an important role
on defense. Terrapin Tommy looms
SO big in Edwards plans the coach
is considering turning over most
of his defensive chores to Bob Nuss-
banner to keep Mont fresh for other
duties. Toms throwing has been as
good as Baugh's this week and If he
gets the chance he should deliver
the touchdown passes.
Irish Ed Quirk, Sal Rosato and
Jim Hefti will handle the fullback
work on offense and Rosato, the
No. man when camp opened, will
have to hustle to hold that rank.
Quirk is expected to bang holes in
the Ram line at opportune moments
and if used as a lihe-backer to put
reverse English on enemy running
plays. Hefti hasn't been outstand-
ing, but has shown too much ability
to be cut loose without a more care
full look. Rosato's work has i'm
proved and he seems to be faster,
but If Sal really wants to get in
good with his coach tomorrow night
will be good time to show his best.
Guard Ted Andrus has been ad-
vised to lay off a year and give his
ailing knee plenty of rest. DR..
Danny Fortmann says he'll be able
to play again in October, but an
other jolt might put him on the
sideline for the rest of the cam
paign.