Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-11-09
WIN, LOSE OR
INAV By FRANCIS sTANN
Hail to the Redskins


ctedy the lights burned in the coaches office beneath the
cold, black, empty stands of Griffith Stadium Time and
again phase of the game would be repayed Coach
Mike Nixon and George Marshall and Ernie Heffere Bill
McPeak and Tavern TorgeSon savored the sweets.
ut big one" Nixon kept repeating. This was
rank understatement because very biggest
tory in Mikes coaching career, the Redskins 2724 cliff
hanger the Colts and it proved beyond much doubt
that the Redskins for afternoon at least had been
extremely sharp and capable football team.
Vice President Nixon had dropped into the dressing
to salute the Redskins and his coaching namesake
lot of other people would have liked to have done the
same But they gone and only the official Red
skin family and the newspapermen and radio and teevi
sion reporters sat around slipping soda pop and talking
reluctant to leave it lay.
when you beat the world champions" Mike Nixon
said at stage you don't have hero you have heroes"
Again This is what makes coaching worth while"
The others nodded in sober agreement
THREE TIMES EARLIER during the dramatic after
noon the underdog Redskins had lost leads to the Colts
and with only seconds left they playing
tie And then Tom Braatz who had been cut by the Red
skins once and reacqured when the team hurting
defense lched onto Of the two of Johnny Unitas
IS passes that intercepted Baker the old Oregon
Slater who kicked field goal in college, booted his
second Of the day from As yards out and touched of
celebration the likes of which hasn't been the
last time the Redskins title.
"You were playing for tie, weren't you?" somebody
asked Nixon.
Sure" Mike replied. whats wrong with tying the
world champions?"
ut would have been heluva day for the Redskins
even If you'd had to settle for tie," man testified
That's what think too" Mike said. "But then when
the opportunity presented ITSELF felt could win and
we did"
1T WAS A STRANGE GAME in that Baltimore picked
up only four first downs 80 yards rushing and the
Redskins two first downs and so yards on the
ground Thus was battle between the passers Unitas
and Eddie LeBaron, and of pass defenders
How about Gary Glick?" asked Nixon grinnng did
you ever see Ray Berry covered better?"
Berry is the Colts crack pass receiver who went
into the game with 40 cachesby far the best
the league Click slammed the lid Berry as far as scor
ing concerned
ing Lenny Moore from behind prevent that touchdown
He was referring to key play in the final period
"Oh Click can move pretty good" Mike said.
How about Ben Scotti?" somebody asked "He had
rough day, didn't hep"
mo-" Mike disagreed Last week he had to cover
Mcdonald of the Eagles and today it Moore We
asking too much of kid playing his first year and, in
fact, strange position. Scott is all right"
YOU HAVE SAID this the Redskins best game :"
man reminded Nixon Even with a ground game that
picked up only so yards?"
1--WE could have run little more" Mike replied mot
inside of because team pushes around those
big Colts inside Even Jim Brown got most of his yardage
against them the outside But could run out
side little more.
ION the other hand what the use? They were
giving Podoley and the ankng halfback receivers
They trying to them with nebackers and it's
too tough to do"
What did you do to defend against Unitas?" came
a query
well we forced him little Bit" Nixon admitted.
"You did good job" the other said II thought Unitas
had bad day"
He sure did," Mike answered with hint of acid.
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