St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-09-16
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Pro Football
Gets Going: Tan
Players Listed
Associated Negro Press

Associated Negro Press
Chicago professional footballs
regular season gets underway
next week end, and this season
will produce more than the usual
quota Of cash and carry Negro
moleskin stars.
Headed by such established
names as Ollie Matson and Joe
Perry, tan talent is spread out
over both divisions Of the Nation
al Professional League. The only
lily-white team Is the Washington
Redskins, where owner George
Preston Marshall isn't yielding on
the color line.
Perry the jet propelled full
back Of the San Francisco 49ers,
Is expected to be one of the sea-
sons headliners. For the last three
seasons, he has gained more than
1000 yards.
Teammates OF the ali-pro full
back are John Henry johnson,
the hard-running halfbaclx, who
is the father OF seven children,
and Charlie Powell, the defen-
sive end, who Is back after a
fling In boxing.
The Los Angeles Rams, co-fav-
orites in the western division with
the 49'ers, again boast an inn
pressive array of Negro players.
The veterans, Deacon fowler and
Tank Younger, who alternate as
fullbacks and halfbacks, are
standouts. Bob Boyd, an end and
halfback is about the fastest thing
in football cleats. Woodley Lewis,
the teams kickoff specialist:
Harry Thompson, a fine guard,
and Gerald Lipscomb, huge de-
fensive tackle. comprise the list.
Numerically the champion
Cleveland Browns are the next
team in Negro strength. Powerful
Len Ford, the greatest defensive
end in football. is back. Maurice
Bassett, who surprised everyone
with his fine work at fullback, is
another returnee. So is Harold
Bradley. the Iowa product, who is
one of the messenger guards under
the Paul Brown system. Fighting
for his position this year as u
tility end and team punter is Hor-
ace Gillem, Newcomers who might
make the squad are Tex Robinson,
who starred at Temple university,
Henry Ford, from the University
Of Pittsburgh, and Tom Jones, 225
pound tackle, who gave up an al
most certain berth on the u. s.
Olympics team for pro football.
A longtime Brown favorite,
Marion Motley, the pile-driving
fullback, was traded TO the Pitts
burgh Steelers, Motley is essaying
"A comeback this season after be-
ing on the sidelines in 1854 be-
cause of knee injuries. Steelers
coaches also have liked what they
have seen of Jock McClarien of
Bethune- Goodman and Fort Sill,
an end, and Lon Harkey, a fine
running halfback
The New York Gianrs, who
have long sought u power run
ner Mt fuliback. believe they
have the man In Mel Tr'plett,
n tremendous performer for the
University of Toledo CO., last
year.
Roosevelt Brown, the Morgan
grad, is back for his third season
rs an offensive tackle. The Giants
umbrella defensive would not look
the same without EN- Tunnel
Bobby Eppst another fIllback and
Pittsburgh grad. is in his second
season. An anchor on the defens-
i've forward wall is Roosevelt
Grier. from Penn state, one of the
best collegiate linemen, last year,
The Detroit Lions, without a
Negro star since Bob Mann and
wally Triplett were let out several
seasons back, might have one in
Elijah Childers, behemoth of a
tackle from Prairie View College.
Two others also might make II
with the defending western divi-
sion champions are halfback Bill
Clark, a teammate of Childers at
the Texas college, and Walt Jen-
kins, Wayne product, trying out
as a defensive end.
The Chicago Cardinals are re-
surging this year. Big reasons are
Matson and Dave Mann, fresh
man performer who performed
briefly for Oregon. Both Matson
and Mann are electrifying run
ners. Others who help make the
Cardinals a threat are Dick
Might Train) Lane, one of the
best pass defenders in the game,
and Emmett King, a ftilihack. in
his second season. Lane, inciden-
tally can double as an offensive