Evening star., 1954-11-23
Way aykCIeared
If kiddies Avoid
Defeat by Army
Officials Reluctant
To Comment, Lest
They Arouse Cadets
Special Dispoteh 10 The stor

Special Dispoieh 10 The siar
ANNAPOLIS. Nov. 23.-Mum's |
the word at the Naval Academy
concerning reported overtures to
play in the Sugar Bowl, but if
the Middies beat or tie Army
Saturday they are regarded as
certain to be performing in New ]
Orleans New Years Day. against
Baylor or Mississippi.
Navy officials, reluctant to add
possible fuel to an already fred
up Army team. are employing
evaSive tactics In any chatter
about the Sugar Bowl, but the
decks will be cleared for quick
acceptance of an invitation al
ready tentatively offered II Navy
whips or ties Army in Philadel-
phia.
An Army victory would put q
sudden end to Navy consideration
of the Sugar Bowl bid. but the
way has been paved for the
Middies to make the trip II they
come through.
A Sugar Bowl official who
asked to remain unidentified,
told the Associated Press that
the Naval Academy has ex-
pressed keen interest" in an in
vitation but added that Navy
must defeat or tie Army in their
traditional contest Saturday
Erdelatz Favorably Inclined.
Capt. Elliott Loughlin, Naval
Academy director Of athletics,
said: Fright now we're inter-
ested in only one game. That's
Army VS.. Navy at Philadelphia
Saturday =
Eddie Erdelatz, Navy coach.
refuses to comment, but it is be-
lieved he is favorably inclined
toward a bowl appearance.
The mechanics of accepting,
from Navy's standpoint, would
necessitate approval of the bid
by the Executive Council of the
Navy Athletic Association, then
an okay by Rear Admiral Walter
F. Boone, Academy superintend-
ent. He would submit the prop ]
osition to Secretary Of the Navy
Thomas.
Capt. Loughlin spent consid-
erable time at the Pentagon
Building yesterday. presumably
smoothing the way for accept
ance Of the Sugar Bowl bid If
things work out satisfactorily
for the Middies Saturday.
Last Bowl Trip in "a.
Navy's football team hasn't
appeared in a post-seaSon game
since 1t played the University of
Washington to a 14-14 tie in the
Rose Bowl in 1924, but its minor
sports teams have participated
in post-season activity regularly.
Mississippi and Baylor also
hold inside tracks to the Sugar
Bowl but, like Navy, must win
or tie against traditional rivals
Saturday.
Once-beaten Mississippi can
wrap up the Southeastern Con-
ference championship and the
hosts role in the Sugar Bowl by
downing Mississippi State. Mis-
sissippi rules a tWo-touchdown
favorite to win it's first SEC title
since 1947, but State knocked
the Rebels out of a bowl bid with
a TT tie last year and has shown
power at times this season.
Baylor'S Bears have a chance
to add gloss to their season. since
a victory over Rice would give
the Bears a share Of the South
west Conference championship
with Arkansas, the Cotton Bowl
host.
No Tieup With Southeast.
A Sugar Bowl spokesman said
that while bowl officials like to
have a Southeastern Conference
team as host, it is not necessary.
The official added that the
Sugar Bowl always has
attempted to obtain the best
game possible, regardless OF
team affiliation.
During the past 20 Sugar
Bowl games, there were four
occasions in which neither team
came from the Southeastern
Conference. Only in 10 of the
20 games have the SEC cham
pions or co-champions ap-
peared. This leaves the door
open for a possible Baylor Navy
game. Baylor has won seven
and lost two, Navy has q 6-2
record and Mississippi's only
loss was q. 60 decision to
Arkansas.
ADVERTISEMENT.