Milford chronicle., 1954-10-29
Don Miller Gets
Maxwell Award


Don Miller. brilliant Wine-T
quarterback for DelaWare's Fight
ing Blue Hens d S B en- p esented
win the Maxwell Award by the
Well-knoWn Philadelphia Touch
ne presentation to the Prosp0ct
tark, Pa, senior came in recoeni-
uqn Of his nsational performance
asalnst the Temple Owls on October
Sth, one OF his outstanding efforf,
ln football career of stellar
achievements.
Against the Owls, Miller threw 2
passes and completed them an AL
tnough one was nullifed when tho
receiver was declared ont Of bounds
hls total passing gain OF 167 wards
included l-y2rd touchdown pass
" ieft end Marty Apostolico, a 64-
gafd scoring aerial to right end
Tom Redfield and a 4S-yard toss to
hedheld that set UP another tally
~ the Blue Hens 51-1S victory. IN
addition, the little quarterback re-
turned a punt n yards for a score.
~ the hfst three games of the
season. Miller has completed 16I
passes IN 25 attempts for 328 yards
and four tOuehdOwms. He has
scored three times himself, twice
on punt returns Of "a and ~ yards.
endef neld generalship. Delaware
Won the last three games Of the
1852 season, seven Of the eight con-
tests in 1858. and three In q row in
1854. In his career as Delaware
quarteshack. he has thrown 80
touchdown passes.
For the past four seasons. the
46o-pOund aerial ace and ball
handling magician has held the key
70 Delaware's 0ffense, and as Miller
goes, so 90 the Blue Hens.
As a high school player, Miller /
was a center. When the teams /
regular signal caller was injured
however. Miller stepped into the /
gap and did such an outstanding /
Job that he never left the backfield /
ranks again. After one scrimmage
with the Delaware varsity in 1851 /
be moved from the third team to /
the first and has never been seri-
onsly threatened In his claim to /
the No. / berth.
In 1851 his freshman year. Miller I
threw 123 passes, completing So I
for a gain Of 724 yards. Twelve Of \
bis tosses meant touchdOWns for /
the Blue and Gold and spanked /
Delaware to q 5-3-0 season. In 80 1
be threw only SO times. hitting on /
40 attempts FOR 483 yards and 5TDs.
Last year his best year to date, he 4
completed 60 Of ia tries for 87g 4
yards and III touchdowns. His per- /
formnnce led To his selection on the /
Little All America third team and /
Mythical Middle Middle Six first (
team. He was also given honorable 4
mention on the AP All East squad /
and named IN the b. l. +. A. poll OF
most valuable players. Delaware
captured the crown In the first
Mythical Middle Six competition
and rolled to a 7-l-0 season record.
scoring 201 points while limiting
opponents to 80
To see Miller on the Newark cam
pus. the uniformed visitor would
never suspect that Miller Is the
cog In the Blue Hen Wheel. His
round. boyish face has caused his
.eamniItes to dub him Humphrey
after the Joe PaloOka comic strip
character On the field, however.
here Is nothing cOmical about his
His clever taking.
accurate passing. and clever ball
rivals that Of major col
.ege quarterbaeks. making Miller
lne Of the teams most aggressive
md dependable players on Offense
md defense as we'll In Delaware's
1858 victory over the University Of
Connecticut, broadcastors for Con-
lecticut radio stations described
ifiller as the best quarterback
we've seen since Eddie LeBaron.p
liller's two touchdown passes in
0elaWare's 30-7 triumph no doubt
influenced their opinion.
DelaWare's passing ace Is one Of
~ unusual group Of three-letter
nen upon whom Coach Dave Nelson
'an call this season. In 1851. Della
ware freshmen were permitted to
compete with varsity teams and a
-ew were able 20 win varsity a.
yards In that season. Miller. to-
gether with Capt in Dan Ford
ialfback Jimmy Flynn and Tom
2edheld, and tackle Steve Butcher
comprise the group.
In addition % his stellar play on
he gridirOn, Miller has won lettors
n baseball and basketball He will
Ierve as cO-captain of the court
Iuintet this year. Miller's deans
ist average Of 3.44 during the past
semester. indicates that he is as
dept in the classroom as he IS on
he gridirOn.