Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-09
HaIfback Even Faster
Than Caroline Fails
10 Cheer IIIini Coach
BY the Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill, Sept. ga
new halfback faster than the
sensational holdover. j. c. Caro-
line, has failed to dispel the
perennial gloom of Coach Ray
Eliot of Illinois defending Big
Ten co-championship team
The new Illini speedster is Abe
:Woodson, 182-pound sophomore
from Chicago who is the Big Ten
indoor low-hurdling champion.
He'll be paired at halfback with
Caroline, who led the Nation in
rushing as a sophomore last sea-
son.
= The latest cry of pessimism
from Eliot, Big Ten coaching
dean in his 18th season. is that
his team will be 80 per cent
weaker than the 1858 Illini, who
shared the title with Michigan
State at 5-1-0.
This is SO, Eliot contends, be-
cause Illinois has lost swift, key
linemen who punched the holes
for Caroline and Stan Wallace's
great defensive skill is missing.
IA Returning Lettermen.
If the Illini are 80 per cent
less effective than last year, 1t
will confound a host of experts
who already have awarded them
the conference crown. Eliot has
a ray of comfort in the fact
neither Michigan State nor
strong Iowa, is on Illinois SIX
game card.
Eliot has IA returning letter
men, considerably fewer than
other Big Ten contenders. Only
eight rank as first stringers ana
hrt four were 1853 regulars:
The real varsity nucleus Is |
Caroline, Mickey Bates being
shifted from halfback to full
hack-Capt. Jan Smid at left
guard and Don Tate at right !
guard. |
Eliot contends the job of |
auarterbacking his attack is up
for grabs among EN- Lindbeck. !
Junior letterman; Bob Gongola, |
1852 letter winner out last sea-
son with injury; HileS Stout,
6-foot, 4-inch, 2l0-pound Sopho-
more.
Iindbeck Is Favored.
However, Lindbeck, an accu- !
rate passer and fine runner. is .
expected to call the shots for the
ball carrying department OF
Caroline, Woodson and Bates.
Woodson can step away from |
Caroline in straight running, but |
he has to prove he can flash his
speed against rugged Big Ten
-opposition as j. C. did last
see son
Behind Woodson is another
highly-regarded Negro sopho-
more halfback. Harry Jefferson,
from White Plains. N. Y.
Bates demonstrated line
smashing ability as a halfback
last season. With Bates up-the-
middle threat, the thanking
dashes of Caroline, Woodson and
Jefferson should pose a game
breaking menace for all foes.
But shaking the Illini ball.
carrying stars loose is still
problem that rests with a re-
built line
Nine candidates are scrapping
for the end posts vacated by
John Ryan and Cliff Waldbeser.
The lone letterman is Steve
Nosek, No. l choice at right end
while the left flank starter prob
ably will be Herb Badal, good
pass receiver, who was benched
last season with a shoulder in
jury.
Roger Wolf, 2O7-pound senior,
Is the sole returning tackle letter.
man. He'll probably be at left
tackle with the other tackle job
going either to Percy Oliver. 1884,
pound Soph, or Floyd McAfee,
40, a returning squad member.
Smid, Tate and Walt Vernasco
provide Experience guard
strength, while Jack Chamblin.
a letterman, succeeds graduated
Herb Borman at center.
Illinois opens September Is at
home against Penn. State. The
six Big Ten Illini opponents in
clude Ohio State. Minnesota.
Purdue, Michigan. Wisconsin and
Northwestern. Two other nom
conference foes are Syracuse and
Stanford.