Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10

the Redskins play here this sea-
son. a meager 22,333, may have
helped push them over one of
their biggest hurdles yesterday at
Griffith Stadium. where the
Washington eleven nipped the
Philadelphia Eagles 1917, in the
rain.
Officially, Sam Bakers dra-
matte 21-yard field goal won the
game, but in the dressing room,
when it was all over, Eagles Off
Gals blamed the crowd, along
with the officials, for their de-
feat. The crowd didn't like a
roughing the kicker penalty
against Roy Barni that paved
the way for the Eagles second
touchdown early In the third
quarter. To show its displeas-
ure, it yelled louder than a group
Of kids at a rock n roll session.
Just last week in Cleveland the
Eagles got successive five-yard
penalties. and a first down, when
Cleveland fans objected to the
officiating in the Browns Eagles
game. The assessment pulled
Philadelphia out Of a hole, but
the Browns won the game any,
way on Lou Groza's field goal
in the final seconds. Yesterday,
General Manager Vince McNully
and Coach Hugh Devore thought
the Redskins should have been
penalized when the boos Of the
fans held up the game for five
minutes.
You got a touchdown, didn't
you?" a reporter asked.
Sure, but everybody gets
cooled off," Mentally replied, re-
ferring to his own team. Things
get all balled up when there's
a delay like that. And the Red
skins got all fired up. After
that they played like they
smoked marijuanas. They played
like madmen. Something ought
to be done about it,"
The mild-mannered Devore
had tears in his eyes after
watching almost certain victory
snatched away by the inspired
Washington eleven. He seemed
almost dazed, repeating some
thing that sounded a mite
stronger than darn"
ITS hard to lose when you
get all those things" he said,
leaving the sentence and thought
unfinished.
Last week the Eagles got beat
In the last 20 seconds. Yester-
day the Redskins cut it even
thinner-23 seconds. No Won
der Devore seemed puzzled by it
all.
In the Redskins dressing
room. Barni. who talks in the
clipped, staccato style Of Jimmy
Cagney. also was beefing about
that particular penalty.
Il don't even touch i'm" said
Roy, toweling after a shower. II
don't go for him, I go for the
ball. I'm flying through the air
with arms outstretched) when
he kicks the ball and his foot
catches me here on the follow
through"
Roy exhibited a red mark. the
size OF a baseball. on his chest.
Coach Joe Kuharich said Ref
cree Bill Downes was overly pa
tent" with the fans. but that ne
handled the situation very well
There appears to be nothing in
the National Football League
rules covering the conduct of
fans, other than non-players on
the rival teams benches. And
George Marshall. owner OF the
Redskins. was in no mood TO
criticize the fans.
IT'S hard enough TO get
them 10 here without penalizinR
them" he said. The fans are
naturally going to react any
time they think any injustice
has been done.
But men connected with foot
ball shouldn't be picking on
them. II it weren't for the fans
none Of US would be in business. "
Fourteen years ago another
Redskins-Easles game ended in
. rhubarb. that one over a 10
yard field goal kicked by Bob
MaSterson with Sammy Baugh
holding the ball. Time had ex-
pired on the big clock. handled
by Bottle" Cox. but there we're
a few seconds remaining on the
umplre's offlcial watch. The kick
gave the Redskins a 30-27 VIC
tory and continued their success
ful title drive.
In those days the visiting