The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-09-25
FiUe Teams Look
Good In Big Ten

This is the first of nine tenSion-packed WeekendS In
Ohio which means Ohio State University opens its 1859
grid season tomorrow with visiting Duke.
The Buckeyes don't launch their battle for the Big
Ten title until Oct. 10 when Illinois provides OSU with
its first conference test.
Looking over the Big Ten, IFS quite difficult tHahD
TO figure out what team will be crowned champion of
one of the toughest, if not the toughest, leagues in the
country.
In 1857, this corner picked Michigan State as the
probable champion but the Buckeyes captured the title.
MSU finished second. Last year, we thought OSU and
Wisconsin looked like good bets but Iowa took the
crown. The Bucks finished third and the B a gers
second.
You, dear reader, must admit we were close but
still our average stands at 900, which is far from
championship caliber. Fearlessly wen attempt to up
it to 1873 by picking the 1859 champion.
This years race looks like a tussle between at least
five teams OSU, Northwestern Purdue, Iowa and
Wisconsin not necessarily in that order.
Having made that brave start, let's see if we can
figure out who's going to reign as king of the noun
tain"
Ohio State has Coach Woody Hayes, AiLAmerica
fUIlback Bob White and Amer end Jim Houston.
That looks like a real good start but -.
The Bucks overall have a green team since only
four players were regulars last year and only nine saw
100 minutes of action. Altogether, OSU has Is letter
men.
To overcome the handicap Of inexperience, Woody
Hayes has been cooking up a more "open" type, Of
Tense and is giving the sophomores a real good look.
However, it would be quite an achievement if the
Bucks can better Last years mark.
IoWa'S chances of winning the 1859 Big Ten title
looked awfully good after the HaWkeyes took the crown
last year. However, time and fortune we're unklnd to
Iowa as the HaWkeyeS lost heir two outstanding
backs - Mitch Ogiego and Willie Fleming because
of scholastic deficiencies.
The result was big gaps at quarterback and half
back. Yet, Iowa still has plenty OF other outstanding
talent which makes the HaWkeyeS a possibility. How
ever, we feel the possibility isn't a red-hot one.
Northwestern finished seventh in the Big Ten race
last year but 26 Ietfermen, including such sfandouts
as center Jim Andreotfi, end Ebert kimbroUgh, halt
back Ron Burton and quarterback Dick thornton,
makes the Wildcats look pretty tough this season.
To refresh memories, Thornton passed for 828
yards and seven touchdoWnS last year. Burton scored
rs points, gained 61S yards and was elected anBig
Ten last year.
What will hurt the Wildcats chances is a tough
schedule which includes lin addition to the Big Ten
teams1 Oklahoma and Notre Dame.
Also, Northwestern has a week bench and a full
back problem. Still, the Wildcats are a real hot dark
horse in this years race.
Elimination ends right here since we must now
consider Purdue and Wisconsin. Both teams are loaded
with veteranS-WisconSin with % and Purdue with "a.
The Boilermakers finished fourth in the Big Ten
last year while Wisconsin, as pointed out earlier, finish
ed second.
Wisconsin probably will be conceded an edge in
offense while Purdue holds an edge in defense. The
Badgers play four teams in the top five las ranked in
This column while the Boilerr2G'ters ple" tlree OF
them. A key game will be Oct. 10 whc:. - play each
other.
AlLnougH we Iedn d OIL W WISCONSIN,, IL looks IKE
the Big Ten race will end in a tie between the two
teams. Each will suffer at least one league loss.
Before closing the column, it should be pointed
out that there are five other teams in the league al
aching to reap grid glory by staging a couple of upsets
Illionis will be fighting to give Coach Ray Eliot
a good sendoff in his last year while Michigan will be
trying 10 make Coach Bump Eliots debut a happy
one. Michigan State will be fighting to rebound from
last seasons nightmare. Indiana and Minnesota figure
to go nowhere but any team which let's down on these
two squads will be counting disaster.
However, we'll be brave and risk our 900 aver
age with Wisconsin and Purdue = favoring the Bad
gers slightly. LIVE