Evening star., 1951-11-24
PariIIi, Main Relianc|
|0f Wildcats, Faces
Weather Handicap
By Francis Stann
Star Staff Correspondent

cold front. possibly accompanied
by snow or near-freezing rain
Threatened today to make Tennes.
isee's unbeaten, united Volunteers
a solid favorite over Kentucky in
what generally was regarded as
the Nations No. football game
of the week.
The Vols. No. ! team in the
land and three-deep at all posi-
;tions, were considered less vul-
nerable to the elements than the
Wildcats, whose offense mainly is
contained in the passing arm Of
Babe Parilli. all-America quarter
back.
Regardless of the outcome. both
teams will be in bowl games on
New Years Day. The Vols, win
ners of eight straight, will meet
unbeaten, united Maryland in the
Sugar Bowl and Kentucky. al
though thrice beaten. made q Cot
ton Bowl date this week with q
Southwest Conference champion
yet to be determined.
Game Is Sell0ut.
A sellout standing-room- only
crowd of $4,000 was due to pack
|Stoll Field today for this rekin-
ding of a feud that started in
1893. Throughout the years
Tennessee always has had the
better Of the rivalry. The Wild
cats haven't won since 1885 and
in the last six years they've
scored only one touchdown.
Furthermore. Bob Neyland.
Tennessee coach. never has lost
a decision to Kentucky during
his 10 years as the Vols boss,
(Neyland missed a few seasons
during World War II when he
was on active duty.)
On the morning Of the game
between the Nos. / and 9 teams
of the country. Coach Paul Bryant
of Kentucky was inclined to be
hopeful and Neyland pessimistic.
The Tennessee coach said:
"Our main weakness has been
pass defense. In Parilli, we're
up against the best passer in col
lege football. 7 think we'll be
lucky to win"
Bryant's reply was: when Ken
lucky and Tennessee meet. neither
side uses children. This is one I'd
really like to win"
Rain Seen Favoring Vols.
Even before today's threat of
snow and hand-numbing rain,
Tennessee had been rated a one
touchdown favorite. # the weather
became worse. the odds against
Kentucky may increase In defer
ence to the single-wing running
attack Of the Vols. headed by
Hank Lauricella. Bert Rechichar,
Dick Ernsberger and Jimmy Hahn
Tennessee has relied little on
passing up to date, depending
mostly on a ground attack, punt
ing and waiting for the breaks
In the Vols favor are depth
speed and-most Of all-experi-
|ence.
On the starting offensive and
defense units for instance. Ten
nessee was to field IL seniors
seven Juniors and three sopho-
mores. Kentucky was to counter
with eight seniors, seven juniors
six sophomores and one fresh
man. At least four of the Wild
cats were to play both offense and
defense. Only one of the Vols
Rechichar was to perform
double-duty. playing wingback on
offense and safety on defense.
Little Men Help Kentucky.
One Of Bryant's double-duty
Kentucky players. Halfback Harry
Jones. weighs only 152 pounds. He
plays left half on offense and
right half on defense. 1--WE didn't
start to win until we put little
Harry and three other runts on de-
fense." Bryant commented. "They
made a difference"
Despite Tennessee's dominance
over Kentucky, no game in the
last half-dozen years has been
one sided. The biggest margin
rolled up was in 1945, when the
Vols won, 14-0. Two years ago
they prevailed by only 60 and
last year it was TO.
The Tennessee squad, which did
not arrive here until this morning
lis considered almost q certainty
to finish the season with a perfect
record, provided that Kentucky is
beaten today. The Vols have one
game left-with Vanderbilt-and
they will be prohibitive favorites
to win.
If they were to hurdle Kentucky
and if Maryland today was to
beat West Virginia as expected
only the Sugar Bowl would be
able to offer two unbeaten, united
foes January /.