Evening star., 1950-11-01
Mighty Mo and Little Mo Team Expanding
Tiny No. 6, Wants to Play Football, Too
By MerreII Whittlesey


ers, Mighty Mo at 205 pounds
and Little Mo at 235. are showing
a lot more discipline in school
than another member of their
family-if not they wouldn't be
available against George Wash
ington Saturday at College Park.
The Polish boys from West
Natrona, Pa, are two big reasons
why Maryland is an 18-point
favorite. Ed, Maryland's lead
ing ground gamer, is 21-year-old
junior fullback who was nick
named Mighty Mo soon after he
started crashing through opposing
lines last year. Dick. or Little
Mo, is a 19-year-old sophomore
who alternates between guard and
tackle.
But the fellow Pop Modzelewski
is having trouble with his 6-year-
old, 98-pound Genie. The first
day in school the youngsters were
told to cradle their arms for
Rock-a-By-Baby. but Genie
wouldn't do it, and stubbornly
folded his arms behind his back.
I'm going to be a football
player" Genie Modzelewski told
his teacher, I'm not gonna play
those sissy games"
Brother Is Boxer.
Maryland'S Mos have an older
brother, Joe Modzel, who dropped
the last five letters off his name
when he took up boxing. Joe is
in the Ezzard Charles stable, and
although he has a fair record he
was knocked out in the first round
of a preliminary to the Charles
Joe Louis bout.
The Mos also have a sister, II, |
and a baby sister, 3.
George Barclay, Washington and
Lee coach, persuaded the Mod
Zelewskis to come to Maryland. |
West Natrona was in Barclays
territory when he was line coach |
under Jim Tatum. AS Barclay
used to tell it, every time he would
go to the ModzeleWski home there
would be cars out front with out
-of-State tags - football scouts
waiting to see Dick and Ed.
Tennessee almost shared Mighty
Mo, and because he wasn't sure
his brother might have a chance
on the same team, Dick leaned |
toward South Carolina for a time, |
but fortunately for the Terps'
football fortunes. both boys came
to Maryland.
The Modzelewski brothers look
much alike. Both have crew-cut
blond hair, wear glasses except
when playing football. and both
are the rugged type.
Mo is the power-type back. Last
year he gained 625 yards for a.
SIS average. which was more than
a third of Maryland's rushing
yardage. This season he has
missed one game and still tops
the Terp ball carriers with BIT
yards for So per try. -
Little Mo Gets Chance.
Dick was off to a slow start this
season, but with Ray Krouse ailing
in the Michigan State game, Little
Mo got his opportunity. This was
a pressure game for soph, because
special trainloads of fans from
the AlIegheny-Kiski Valley were
in the stands to watch the Mod
zelewski brothers and the other /
boys from the valley. His family
was among them.
Dick was a terror on defense
against the Spartans and Ed
scored two of Marylands five
touchdowns. The players were
given special permission to attend |
a dinner of the valley fans that
night. and the proudest man was
Pa Modzelewski. He was called
on to speak, but choked up and
CUulUIl Say d WOTO.
Mighty Mo played basketball at |
Hanback, School, but he's a foot
ball specialist with the Terps. He
is a good student, Dick about aver
age. Mighty Mo has a steady fan
from home, Mary Otis, who at
tends most of Maryland's games. |
In the summer the Modzelewski
brothers keep in shape by cleaning
furnaces in a steel mill in their
home town. That kind of work in
high temperatures helps keep off |
the extra pounds.
Maryland has had its brother
acts, but no family football team |
to equal the Modzelewskis.