Evening star., 1953-08-19

practically guaranteed and he seemed to know whereof he
spoke Come to think of it, his Francis Wallace
STEPHEN sWARTz EIsENHAUER is a holdover ALL
America defense who rechrStened Ike after
exArmy general by the brigade of Mdshpmen spring.
AT Annapolis they are nothing If not unidcation minded
SteveIke that isis 22yearold Pennsylvania who
out of nowhere to become the big wheel of Navys ground
defense which ranked No. 2 in the Nation
This year Coach Eddie Erdelatz after glance at the
anplaoon rules announced that Esenhauer will play
two wayguard ofenSe and lnebacker defense They
unfamiliar positions and therefore constitute challenge
but nobody at Annapolis is much worried challenge is kes
cup of tea.
kid was little bit different other kids.
One day in 1948 for example, he playing for Sheffield
(Pa) High against Ridgway and broke his neck the
opening kickoff Most young would have retired,
whether realizing their necks broken not but Ike
played the entire game He proved he human late the
next week. however because he went to the hospital for
x-rays followed by appropriate repairs Until he had the
poor taste to break his public several schools
after him, but they dropped him like hot potato and Ike
set his sights on Navy
IN FALL 1850 Eisenhauer almost quit football.
There six pebe teams that fall and Ike the sixth
didn't training table" he recalls "They
only the first teams had just about decided to
retire when the coach moved to the fifth team
finally made the first team before the over"
year ago the name everybody's tongue but it
spelled Eisenhower The football player just another
young man bug heads with other young men on the banks
of the Severn But in Navy second game Ike came into
his
Navy was playing Cornell at Ithaca and Eisenhauer
many tackles and mentioned frequently the
public address system that people wondered the Republican
National Committee wasn't behind ALL blocked punt
recovered two fumbe intercepted pass and made three
successive tackles in the third period alone that cost Cornell
a total loss of % yards
When the Associated Press asked nominations
the deuge mail inspired somebody
comment that Esenhauers the greatest wrte-in
since New Hampshire
WHEN NAVY WHIPPED Duke in upset. Eisenhauer
again starring Middle Capt John Gursk and Lnebacker
Tony approached Cox the athletic pubicist
the lobby of their Durham hotel "The boys the team
have raised fund to boost Ike for A-America Gursk
who selects the teams? Where should send
the teegrams?"
Monday morning sports editors Of the wire services and
chairmen of AAmerca selection committees found the
following message Navy squad members would appreciate
your consideration of Guard Ike Esenhauer for AAmerca
Entire squad thinks he deserves the honor He's
great team player Thank Signed) MdShipman John
Gurski, Captain Navy Football Team"
Sheffield is than slightly what with real,
live All-Amerca for product when the Mdshipmen went
Christmas little town laid plans for
welcome home celebration for the local
paper put it. he boy who has brought fame to all Warren
County 1t almost missed fire because train was on time
ANTICIPATING 1KE's ARRIVAL the Monday train the
high school band and other ownsfok stood the platform
waving What they didn't that Eenhauer
and his wife" roommate George Knutkowsk had elected
to drive to Sheffield and had arrived late Sunday night When
of the reception they jumped into the Monday
morning and drove to Kane IL miles away intending to board
the train and ride back into Sheffield.
Normally an hour late, the train schedule at
Kane and Ike and George missed it, Turning the around
they mady back, just the welcoming throng
dispensing after finding football hero the train Just in
time the celebration reorganized.
The day Warren Mirror front-paged the
with the biggest type in the shop One headline read
Train On Time" three-coumn headline said: "Pennsy
Outruns An Al-American." four-column banner pro-
claimed: "Sheed Halls Martha And Lesser Eisenhauers
Son Steve"
Back home Sheffield and in Annapolis you could say
they like Ike and it is no political slogan, either.
AA-:~. l~> cLI: