Evening star., 1954-11-26
NIiddies Given
Rousiing Sendofi
At Annapolis
ErdeIutz Schedules
Light Workout at
Philadelphia Today
Special Dispaish to The ssor

Special Dispuieh 10 The Stor
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 26.-
The Navy football squad. the
ears Of the players still ringing
from the cheers of a razzle-
dazzle pep rally at Annapolis last
night, now is awaiting the real
business Of trying to give Army
the business here tomorrow.
Coach Eddie Erdelatz and his
squad arrived here shortly after
noon today, tense but con-
tldent about the 55th struggle
between the two service acade-
mics at Municipal Stadium
starting at 1880 tomorrow.
Erdelatz planned a light work
out at the battle scene this after
noon. It figured to be just a re-
minder that cheers and back
slapping alone will not give the
Middies their 23d victory in the
series which started in 1890.
Army has won % times, while
four games were tied.
A trip to New Orleans prob
ably awaits Navy if it wins.
Sugar Bowl officials will be
watching the game closely.
Navy Is Underdog.
A cheering crowd of more than
5000. including 5000 Midship-
men. 1000 townspeople and the
Governor of Maryland made the
Navy players forget for a while
last night that they were six
point underdog to the team
ranked fifth. one step above
them, in the latest Associated
Press poll. A big. bright bonfire,
cheers. praise and marching
music were more than enough TO
dispel any nonsense about
Army's chances to win.
AS Phil Monahan, team cap
tain, told the gathering:
Never in my four years with
Navy teams have I seen a team
so ready to go out and play
Army as this one. ! never like
to make a prediction, but I can
tell you one thing: Our boys
aren't going up, there to lose"
Gov. Theodore Roosevelt Nc
Keldin, quoting from the former
President for whom he was
named, told the team: Don't
finch, don't foul, but hit the line
hard" He added: "On Satur-
day. beat Army"
Line Coach Dunked.
Earlier in the day the players
took their spirit out on Line
Coach Homer Hobbs. They threw
him in the Severn River as Rear
Admiral Walter F. Boone, aca-
denny superintendent, looked on.
It was the second dunking for
Hobbs in two days. He and the
other coaches, including the head
man, Erdelatz. were tossed into
the swimming pool Wednesday.
A dripping Hobbs climbed out
Of the river and said, All right,
men, I won't call any one a
creampuff again this season.
unless you make me change my
mind on Saturday"
More foolishness was in order
at the traditional Thanksgiv-
ing dinner last night. Anything
goes for this one, and the nor
mally regulation conscious Mid
dies turned up wearing coats
backward, gaily colored vests
and berets and sombreros picked
up on summer cruises.
But enthusiasm alone won't
win the game, and for victory
the Middies will be depending
on their smart. fast-moving line
and a running and passing game
that has brought them i've VIC
tories in seven games. Their
losses were to Pitt and Notre
Dame by a total Of eight points.
CAPTAIN Unlikely to PLAY.
Starting for Navy up front
probably will be Ron Beagle,
John Hopkins. Lou Benzi, Will
son Whitmire, Alex Aronis, Jim
Royer and Bin Smith. George
Welsh. the No. / quarterback,
will have Jack Weaver, Bob
Craig and Dick Guest working
with him. A second backfleld
unit. practically as good as the
first, viii have Dick Echard at
quarterback. Jack Garrow and
Bill Hepworth at the halves and
Joe GattuSo at fullback.
Capt. Monahan, the hard-luck
back who has been sidelined
most Of the season with a leg
injury. probably will not see ac-
ton. He pulled q leg muscle In
the workout yesterday and
probably will not even make a
token appearance unless Navy
runs UP a big margin early.
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