Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-22
Time Ripe Now
ToGive Maryland
Sophs q Chance
North Carolina, "a; Maryland, 6
By MERRELL WHITTLESEY


up, stumbling backfield, and tina
appears to be the crux of thu
trouble at College Park.
For evidence, it would be in.
teresting to consult the weigh
charts to see how much some o.
the linemen are overweight. Anc
there's the indisputable evidence
the game movies. There's also
the talk of other coaches anC
scouts who have been watching
Maryland for more than ont
game.
What can be done about 1T
1t would appear the situation al
it exists is beyond repair. Or
the basis Of past performances
Maryland will be a solid under
dog against at least four of it,
next five opponents. So why no
play as many sophomores as art
available, plus anybody else who
shows a little fire?
Let the sophs make their mis-.
takes. At least they will be error.
that can be corrected, which i.
more than can be said of the
slipshod tackling and brush.
blocking exhibited against the
Tar Heels Saturday by players
who know better.
Line Not Up to Potential
Somewhere between Syracuse
and North Carolina, the Mary
land line. tackle-to-tackle that
is, has ceased to function UP to
It's potential. There's an occa-
Sional burst of brilliance, and
Jack Davis had his moments
against North Carolina, but as a
unit the line has been a dis
appointment.
The hnemen have an excuse
Because of the wave of injuries,
illness and the loss of Frank
Tamburello, Maryland seldom
has the same backfield even
daily. The line has to work over
time in practice to try to get
organization in the backfield.
And the backs haven't helped
1t must be discouraging for both
sides.
Maryland had linemen with
All-America and All-Conference
potential. But nobody makes ALL
America and not many make
All-Conference with a team
whose record is as bad as Mary
lands.
Apparently the linemen who
had a chance are sulking and
playing Indifferent football, in
stead OF giving it the college try.
Lectures Unlikely to Help
Lectures or any sterner meas
ures taken by Tommy Mont, the
new coach, hardly will help this
situation.
For the three or four years the
current seniors were at Maryland
under Jim Tatum. Mont was the
court jester of the squad. Tommy
would break the tension with a
remark in practice, or by some
light incident.
Now Tommy is the head coach
and it's difficult to take some
body seriously who's been more
like a buddy for years. Next
year the situation will be much
better. It's not Mont's fault.
Tommy has been a victim of
circumstances since the day
Tamburello was drafted. Every
thing that has happened since
has been bad.
II there was bright spot for
the Terps in the humiliating
loss to North Carolina, it was
AL Beardsley. The sophomore
end from Pittsburgh faxed the
Tar Heel defender right out of
the stadium on the touchdown
pass from Fred Petrella. And each
week Beardsley is looking better
on defense.
One of the North Carolina
assistant coaches said after the
game that Beardsley could be
the best end in the Atlantic
Coast Conference before the sea-
sons end.
Few Other Bright Spots
But there we're not many other
bright spots. Maryland used IL
backs and only one made more
than 20 yards, Jack Healy, who
limped for %. Bob Layman was
the best looking of the sopho-
mores.
The Missouri spread that
Tatum tossed against the Terps
was not a surprise. Mont an
ticipated it because it's forma-
ton that puts pressure on the
tackles, and that's where Mary
land supposedly had the big
edge.
He rehearsed the defenses
against it just before the game.
but the Maryland tackles were
hopelessly puzzled. They were
like jumping jacks, looking for
the right place to be before the
play opened. Had it not been
for so many offside penalties be-
cause the Tar Heels couldn't hear
the signals. they might have
made more yardage from the
spread.
Scouting reports that Tatum
was low and depressed positively
are faulty. Big Jim was in high,
good humor Saturday night. It
was the old Tatum, partying,
laughing. the center Of attrac-
ton at Chapel Hills only night
spot"
His Tar Heels won't win many
more. maybe one or two, but It
apparently felt good to be on
a winner. His only regrets were
that it had to happen to Tommy.
About that he seemed sincere.