Evening star., 1950-10-06
Michigan State Game
Gives Terps Chance
For High Rating
By MerrelI WhittIesey
Sfor Stoff Correspondenf


EAST LANSING, Mich, Oct. 6.
Maryland can make 'em forget
that defeat by Georgia by beating
Michigan State here tomorrow.
The Terp followers were sad
lot after Georgia beat Maryland,
27-7. nearly two weeks ago. This
was supposed to be Maryland's S
greatest football team and the
Georgia drubbing was shock. 1t
didn't help last week when
Georgia went to the West Coast
and was tied by st. Mary's after
the latter had lost. 400. to Col
lege of the Pacific.
But all will be forgiven and al
most all forgotten if Maryland can
beat the Spartans. the Nations
Second-ranking team in the As
Sociated Press poll this week.
Michigan State climbed over all
but Notre Dame by beating Michi-
gan, 14-7, after thrashing Oregon
State, 1918.
Maryland regained some pres
,tige in humping Navy. 1921. last
week, after leading 35-7 at one
time. And most of the football
intelligentia who watched that one
predicted that would be Navy's
worst beating this season.
Crowd of $4,000 Expected.
Michigan State is a 14-point
favorite here, but in other Sec
tions the Spartans rated only a
712-point edge late yesterday.
That is tribute to Maryland.
The Terps drew only $4,000
here last year the week after
Michigan beat Michigan State and
the same day that Michigan was
playing Army less than 100 miles
away. But with Michigan playing
Dartmouth tomorrow and the
Spartans having upset their State
rivals last week. the Michigan
State stadium is expected to be
filled to its 50,089 seat limit for
Maryland's invasion.
Maryland left Washington Air
port this morning and was to visit
the stadium merely on sightsee-
ing tour upon arrival here, but no
workout was scheduled.
For the first time in Jim Ia
tum's coaching tenure at Mary
land, there was no room for news
papermen, photographers and ra-
dio men on the plane. The usual
extra seats were filled by players
and coaches who usually remaiz
at home. but Tatum is putting
everything into this one, taking
extra players who might be used
to advantage in the platoon sys-
tenn.
Terps Keyed for Tough Tilt.
Maryland lost, 14-7, here last
year despite an excellent day on
defense and a competent running
attack, as the Terps were weak
in passing. Against Georgia and
Navy this year, the Terps have
completed II of 33 passes, two
for touchdowns. percentage that
will have to be bettered if they
hope to beat the Spartans.
Tatum and his scouts have been
drilling into Maryland all week
that it will be meeting the top
college team in the country. De-
spite statement that the Terps
have been preparing for the Spar
tans in usual fashion, there has
been an added air of preparation
at College Park.
Maryland is hopeful of a nat
ural letdown by Michigan State
after the latter's brilliant triumph
over Michigan. Notre Dame and
Minnesota are among the teams
ahead on Michigan States back
breaking schedule and the Spar
tans could be excused for not get
ting worked up over a team they
have beaten four times since 1914
and never lost to.
Maryland will have a roofing
section of several hundred who
we're arriving here by air, special
train, bus and car. That's all
right with Tatum, who would like
his chances in the familiar sur
roundings of Byrd Stadium, but
who is skeptical Of beating the
Spartans here.