Evening star., 1957-12-29
Ry BILL FUCHS
star stAn Correspondent


DALLAS, Tex. Dec. 2S.-
With both teams disclaiming
the role of underdog. Navy and
Rice are putting the finishing
touches on their systems and
counter-systems for use in what
stacks up as the closest Cotton
Bowl match in that classics s
22-year history Wednesday.
Navy is a l-point favorite or
q 2-point favorite. depending
on where you read il. Both use
similar T systems. Each has a
superb passing quarterback.
Tom Forrestal OF Navy and
King Hill of Rice. Navy ranked
fifth and Rice eighth in the
final Associated Press poll.
Both rank high in offense.
Both head coaches. Eddie
Erdelatz Of Navy and jess Neely
Of Rice. refuse to be called
underdog. normally a desired
position. 1T looks like a very
even game to me-" Erdelatz
says. and Neely agrees.
When asked about the one
point that favors Navy. Neely
told a reporter:
IF / was in your position
I'd be very careful about plac-
ing any bets. The safest thing
to do is keep your money in
your pocket. look for a real
good football game"
Navy Calls on actor"
Navy has once again called
on its No. / factor" Jim Max
field. whose position. quarter
back. always guarantees him
the top part in the pre-game
drama of running the oppo-
nent's plays. Through this
season. Maxfield. fourth-string
sophomore. has pretended to
be on various occasions. such
standouts as Don Allard OF
Boston College. Tom Secules OF
william and Mary. Dave Reed
Of North Carolina. Charley
Britt Of Georgia. Bob Williams
Of Notre Dame and Dave Bour-
land Of Army. Yesterday he
was Hill, whose all around
ability led TO his selection as
the bonus player by the Chi
cago Cardinals in the recent
pro draft.
Maxfield. who takes a lot o.
good-natured ribbing for hi
pretenses, gets little opportu'
nifty for game action. Mex
season. however. he'll be the
No. 2 quarterback behind Jot
Tranehini. currently third
string. Playing their last gamt
Wednesday along with is othel
seniors will be Forrestal anC
Pat Flood. Navy's two toI
signal-callers.
Full House Expected
A full house, 75.504. will jan
the Cotton Bowl. lured there
by the prospect of a down-to'
the-wire scrap and a chance Il
compare two Of the Nationi
top quarterbacks. Counties
others will see the game OF
television.
In Washington. the game
will be carried over WTOP-9.
The gaue will start at $3.50
pm, Washington time. but
television will not cut in
until completion of the
Orange Bowl game in
Miami
Navy has been working out a
CoOb Stadium here, while RicI
has been practicing in Abilene
l80 miles to the west. Tn
Owls will move into Dalla
Monday morning and resum
training at Southern Methodist
Each team is in excellen
condition. Only one player VIII
expected TO see action will b
missing. That is Charlie,
Knight. second string Ric
guard, who is resting in al
Abilene Hospital after almus
losing his eye in an auto &C
cident several days ago. H
underwent an operation las
night. 1t saved the eye. bu
II is feared he will lose abolI
Is per cent of the vision.
Otherwise. the Owls are read
TO go with their highly praise,
IT" system with fiankers an,
a quarterback who runs ofte,
and well. Hill has carried Tn
ball 80 times for an ayeraR
OF five yards a carry. He ha
completed A Of 81 passes "a
1893 yards and four touchdown,
Backs lbear Watching
AS Erdelatz puts It: Hes Nj
Inside and Mr.. Passer TO Doo
But we're not concentrating 0
Just stopping Hill. We neyC
try 10 stop Just one man.