Evening star., 1954-01-04

Danes 1918 conquest of Army at Point he and his
teammates revoluonized the through the medium OF
their passing attack But Dorais didn't invent the
Notre Dame quite the legendary school that careless
historians make out
AS matter of fact when Army announced its 1913
schedule special attention called to the Irish invasion
with this ne "The most Interesting home is likely
to be that with Notre Dame"
IT WAS SMALL. SCHOOL and impoverished, true, but
Noe Dame already had football reputation when it came
East to tackle West Point The Irish indeed record
of lis victories 1 ties and only 81 defeats when they first
Army. mighty Michigan had fallen in 1909 which
the the Chicago Tribune named the Irish unofficial
champions of the West In IL the Spaldng record book rated
them par with Wisconsin, the Big Ten champion.
Army knew what it up against Charlie DAILY, the
West Point coach and ame great quarterback had
sent Tom Hammond his former teammate to South Bend to-
scout Notre Dame against Alma He got eyeful 1t
62-0, Notre Dame.
Partly on basis Hammonds scouting report plus
the fact that Yale had pulled out the Cadets in 1912 the
Army Athletic Association reluctantly agreed to guarantee
Notre Dame $1,000 to make the trip This big in
those days. although hardly sufficient to travel in comfort
The squad travelled light rode much OF the way IN day coaches
ate sandwiches made the campus in South Bend
There were 1s players but only IA pairs OF cieats
IT WAS THE CUSTOM in those days to throw forward
passes the style in vogue underhand. Yet Army
knew that Doras did it differently. Gus threw overland
threw his ends Rockne and Fred Gushurst he
led with his sprals But least equally effective
his short obs the line to Halfback Joe Pska All
of passes worked chalk marks the gym
floor
AS the story is told so often now Army completely
bafed by the forward pass. Actually the Cadets had
reputation Of their passing team Their Pitchard-
to-Merrat and PrehardtoJouett combinations rated
the best in the East What baed Army the length Of
Dorais passes, some travelling IS or 40 yards
The authors of Army Versus Notre Dame" (Random
House, Jim Beach and Daniel Moore destroy
other legends in their reracng of the rivalry One that
Harper Rockne Dorais stayed at the
Military Academy to teach the Cadets their technique for
passing receiving "Ths is false information Beach
and Moore fatty state Both Army and Nore Dame men
1947 said the team left West Point
late that Saturday afternoon"
Army nevertheless did not have be hit with hammer
to the light Bringing the Irish to the Plains cost them
81 1000 and beating, but it bargain. month later
Army swamped Navy % to stressng Notre Dame passing
plays.
IRISH 1t the beginning Of wide recognition
Heretofore only their back yard and feared to such
an that games difficult to book Noe Dame began
its heights Until 947 when Army to South
Bend for the finale the IshWest Point annual
classic although 1t wound with opsded overall record
% for Notre Dame, for Army and four ties
Interest reached ame peak in 1946, when the two
powerhouses that met in New York The game had
sold out in June Nore Dame alone refunded $00OOO
to applicants for tickets
It was cry from that first game, witnessed by fewer
than 5000 sitting circus benches Far from that p
which, Authors Beach Moore note, Notre Dame made
Just that result of freak accident
Sam Finegan right halack broke shoe lace in the waning
minutes Coach ordered Bunny Larkn to
his shoes and give them to Fnegan Larkin refused the
record reveals after ALL he hadn't 900 miles to sit
bench. (Harper) had choce-Larkin went in at