The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-10-03
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'Buckeye FeUer''
Grips Grid Fans

OssC " ~ ISASC
That annual Buckeye Fever which is especially
prevalent In Columbus, and which reaches epidemic
proportions as the opening Ohio State football game
approaches, hit the critical point last Saturday when
the Buckeyes tangled with Southern Methodist.
Ohio State came through with an exciting 1920
victory over SMU and as is usually the case when the
Buckeyes win, the "fever" remained somewhat static.
However, if the Bucks had lost, the fever would
have developed complications which are cured only by
q victory.
Al any rate, ihs fever" looms to its highest
point when Ohio State meets those big, bad WoIver.
ines, long fhs seourgs Of Buckeye teams. In recent
seasons, those eighifoot Wolverine titsns have sud.
denly become mere humans-mUch to the delight Of
Buckeye football fans.
Michigan will open the Big Ten race with arch
rival Michigan State furnishing the opposition. The
result of this only Western Conference game should
determine whether MSU is as good as the prophets
claim and whether the Wolverines are in as sad shape
as everyone believes.
MSU opened its grid season by clobbering Calf
ornia, 1912, while Michigan had a rough way to gc
before subduing Southern California, 20-19.
The Miehigan-MSU game will be Of great inter-
est TO Buckeye Partisans for several reasons. One
Is that two Michigan teams go eIawing af each other.
Another is that the result will give . better indication
Of the strengths Of the two feams-pariievIsrIy
Michigan which fansIes with the Bucks on Nov. n
in n game.
A third reason for interest in tomorrow's game
Is that MSU again is rated contender for the Big Ten
crown. Because of the rivalry between the two Michigan
teams-anything might happen. AS a result, the Michi
gan tussle is a major hurdle that MSU must clear if il
has any championship aspirations.
How about the Bucks? There were few experts
fans or sportswriters who did not concede the Big Ter
crown to Ohio State before the season opened. In fact
the Buckeyes were rated No. l in the country.
However, the injury to quarterback Frank Krem.
bias Saturday shows how d~rastically a picture can
change. 1t meant that an untried quarterback had to
step into his shoes-and that isn't easy.
This brings up q point, which is raised from
sirnn - Ssuna that (nseh Wo~I. Aa~,>~ l~>enA ...~
his bench material enough. As . result reserve
players don't get valuable experience they need.
Despite this and other criticisms, Coach Woody
Hayes remains unmoved. And he has been very sue
cessful-something which Buckeye fans demand.
Although given only passing loops, how did that
word get in there) comment as a possible Big Ten
winner last year. the Buckeyes were forged into a
mighty machine by Woody Hayes and went through
the league season unbeaten.
This year, few are making the same mistake of
passing THAT same word AGAIN. over the Bucks.
The big reason l. that Hayes has that ~bvIIdozsr,
In the person Of Bob White, back in Uniform. Another
Is that KrembIas, who incidentally played for 81.
Vincent High School in Akron, is expected to b
healed sufficiently when Ohio State meets the tougher
Conference teams.
Also in the Buck backfield is that fleetfooted
game-breaker, Don Clark, who runs from left halfback.
At right half is another fine runner-Dick LeBeau.
Up front, the Bucks have a gigantic line which is
ideal for Coach Hayes pound 'em into the dust type
of football.
S~ss0vS svtS0s osbObT0T UT0 u OUbo SI&I0 J Vito
chances u Wisconsin,, . team that The Bucks sIipped
by last year, 1913. The Badgers were q sophomore
team last season and have lost only two regulars from
h..
Among Wisconsin's top gridders Is a pair of
quarterbacks-Sid Williams and Dale Hackbart. Both
are topnotch passers and fine runners. Badger Coach
Milt Bruhn also has other outstanding backfield men
rs well as a fast, tough line and two excellent ends.
Most prophets pick the Oct. Is Ohio State-Wiscon-
sin game as the 1858 Big Ten championship contest.
However, there are other teams in the Big Ten
who may not win the title, but who have the potential
to upset the old applicant for the ~favorites.
The dark horse" tag has been awarded TO Pur.
due and Illinois. Purdue, which rompsd TO . $50 win
over Nsbrasks, Is rated The more dangerous Of the
TWO teams. Illinois was one Of three Big Ten teams
by UcLA.
Northwestern, Indiana and Minnesota are expected
70 90 nothing but spring an upset or two. Northwestern
already dd that In the first game when the Wildcats
surprised Washington State, 1928.
Any, one of the expected Big Ten upsets can
cnange the title picture very easily as happened last
year when MSU was elected the preseason favorite
rurdue TOOK care OF the Spartans by ~springing a 2O.13
victory over them.-l.v.F.
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