Evening star., 1954-12-31
Craig Illness
Blow
In ThreeDays
Odds Swing to Rebs
As ErdeIutz Tries
To Mend Fences
By Francis Stonn
stas Staff CORRESPONDENT


for a team that has suffered as
many injuries in the late stages
of training as Navy. and they
were finding no precedent.
With Right Halfback Bob
Craig in the Algiers Naval Sta
ton Hospital, across the river,
with what was described as an
acute case of tonsilitis. Navy
now has four veterans-three
regulars all season, plus Capt.
Phil Monaf1ar1-who are doubt
full starters in tomorrow's Sugar
Bowl clash with Mississippi.
The odds, which had been
swinging toward Ole Miss in
recent days, UNDERSTANDABLE
heightened against the Middies
as a result of Craig's illness.
Now two of Navy's backf1eld
regulars-Craig and Left Half
back Johnny Weaver-are ques-
ton marks, along with Right
Tackle Jim Royer and Monahan.
Wave Began Tuesday.
Monahan. a fullback and half
back who has played only 80
minutes this season because Of
a knee injury, set off what may
have been an unparalleled series
of pre-bowl game injuries when
his leg collapsed during work.
out last Tuesday. The same
afternoon Roger, biggest man
on the Navy squad at 2l0
pounds, wrenched his back.
Weaver. a rugged and useful
back who carries the ball.
catches passes and defends
ably. came cropper the fol-
lowing day when he pulled a
muscle in his leg. Actually.
Weaver hurt his leg at about
the same time as Roger and
Monahan were felled. but he
withheld the bad news from
Coach Eddie Erdelatz, who f.
nally detected him moving with
a marked limp.
Erdelatz. who had bravely
maintained his grin after
Weaver. Roger and Monahan
became casualties. was properly
stunned when Craig failed to re-
port for yesterdays workout at
Tulane. The l68-pound half
back from Altadena. Calf. al
ready had been transferred to
the Algiers Hospital. depriving
the Middies of their swiftest
man.
All May See Duty.
There still is a chance that
Craig, Weaver, Roger and Mona
han all will play. but Erdelatz
today was busy mending his
fences.
I'D like to have Phil available
for use in a pinch, Erdelatz said.
"but if we lose those others. too.
it's going to be rugged.
Mississippi has two big rugged
lines and without Roger we could
be in deep trouble. Hugh Web
ster will move up in his place.
but l could use both Roger and
Webster.
Il don't think I have to re-
mind anybody who followed
Navy last season what Weaver
and Craig mean to the team.
Their records speak for them
Selves"
Craig Second i'm Yardage.
Next to Fullback Joe Gattuso,
Craig was the biggest ground
gamer on the team. He carried
"A times for 476 yards, averaging
Ga yards per carry. Weaver
gained 225 yards, averaging a.
yards. Both are outstanding on
defense and both starred against
Army in the memorable 27-20
conquest November q.
Weaver was not permitted to
work out yesterday by Erdelatz,
who moved Bill Hepworth into
his spot on the No. I team. When
Craig failed to appear, Jack Gar
row took his place. Both Hep
worth and Garrow distinguished
themselves during the season.
but they yielded in rank to
Weaver and Craig.
This is the second year in a
row that bowl team from the
Washington area has been
shocked by the injury jinx. A
year ago it was Maryland. when
Quarterback Bernie Faloney's
knee caved in on the eve of the
Orange Bowl game with Okla
homa. That was the time when
Coach Jim Tatum publicly and
despairingly uttered the words
he couldn't take back:
There goes my team"
Erdelatz hasn't said anything
like that so far, but he is be-
ginning to wear the look of a
man who would welcome lucky
break.