Evening star., 1950-09-01
Maryland Is Short
OF Defensive Backs;
29 9Lettermen on Hand
By George Huber

Maryland starts football practice
today with 20 of last years 80
lettermen back. On the face of
it, that should reduce to mini
mum such problems as to who will
play and where. But Coach Jim
Tatum confesses to several wor-
ries.
One has to do with his defensive
setup. The Old Liners were one
Of the best defensive teams in the
country last year but graduations
practically stripped Tatum of his
defensive backs. Gone are Half
backs Jim LaRue (now an assis-
tant coach) and Vernon Seibert,
Safety Man Joe Tucker and Line
Backer Jim Brasher.
Also gone is Stan Lavine, who
with Tucker shared the offensive
quarterback duties, which means
Tatum must find a new signal
caller for his split-T. Apparently
the best available is Johnny 1dzik,
who last year completed Tatum's
talented defensive backfield. If
Tatum moves Idzik into the quar-
terback slot it leaves him with
none Of last years defensive backs.
Face Tough Schedule.
1t is quite a problem when fac
ing a schedule that includes
Navy. Georgia. Michigan State
Duke and North Carolina. One
minute Tatum and his assistants
are deciding to make Idzik the
quarterback and thus have an
experienced and confident man
at the helm but leaving all green
hands on defense, the next min
ute they think maybe they'd bet
ter concentrate on defense. They
have three weeks before the Sep
tember 23 opener at Georgia to
make up their minds.
Yesterday Tatum trotted about
IS varsity candidates out on the
field for the benefit Of news
papermen and photographers, and
it was an impressive sight. They're
big and healthy and look ready
to go. Many are familiar to fol-
lowers of collegiate football, hav-
ing played for Maryland last year
and the year before. On hand
are such well-knowns as Tackle
Ray Krouse, Guard Bob Ward
End Elmer Wingate, Center Jake
Rowden and Backs Ed Modzelew-
ski, Bob Shemonski, Jack Tar
garona and Lynn Davis.
Although 'Tatum can count on
mostly a senior team, he does have
some likely sophomores taking a
first crack at the varsity. AS a !
sample of the talent coming up.
Tatum pointed to Halfbacks Ed
Fullerton. a 185-pounder from
Pittsburgh, and Joe Petruzzo, a
175-pounder from Mamaroneck,
N. Y. AS Tatum put 1t yesterday,
Nothing can keep those two from
becoming crackerjack football
players unless they funk out or get
injured. They're smart enough not
to funk out and they're tough
enough not to get hurt"
Shortage of Pass Receivers.
Petruzzo runs and punts with
the best of them, and Fullerton is
in the same league with his run
n-ng and passing.
And speaking of passing, Tatum
doesn't know if Maryland is going
to do even an average amount
Of passing this season. We've
got the boys who can pass all
right, guys like Shemonski and
Fullerton at halfback in addition
to all our quarterbacks, but it's
the receivers that bother me.
Wingate is the best we have, and
he's so good on defense I may
have to keep him there"
1t is three weeks to the open
ing game and plenty of time to
make changes. but the first team
offensive lineup right now would
have Idzik, Shemonski, Modzelew-
ski and Ed Bolton in the back
field, and in the line would be,
starting at left end, Stan Kar-
nash, Joe Moss, Tom McHugh,
Tom Cosgrove, Rudy Gazur, Ed
Pobiak and Pete Augsberger.
Wingate, Krouse, Ward and some
other big wheels among the line
men are ticketed for the defen-