Evening star., 1959-10-05
Coach Believes
Middies Come
OfAge in Defect
SMU, 20; Navy. 7
BY BILL FUCHS
Star stan Writer

BY BILL FUCHS
Star star Writer
Wayne Hardin. refreshed BY
q shower and a steak. stood
in the lobby of the Statler-
Hilton Hotel in Dallas Satur-
day night, beaming like a mar
who had just discovered ura-
MUM in his backyard.
Those coming on the scene
had to conclude that this was
not the head football coach
at Navy, but a look-alike, one
Of those prosperous young mer
in town for a convention Of
retail advertisers of the South
1t turned out to be the head
football coach of a Navy team
that had outplayed the oppos-
ition that afternoon in the
Cotton Bowl. only to be out
scored.
"Of course, I'm happy
Hardin said In answer to q
question. Don't look 1t? I'm
satisfied. I don't like to lose,
but our boys became a foot
ball team out there today.
thought we looked great. Theil
Don Meredith is a good
quarterback, but he was thirc
best in that game. Joe Tran
chini and Jim Maxfield both
outplayed him.
Look, we didn't expect to &c
through the season undefeated
We should've won. but we
didn't. But, I'm satisfied"
Dominated Play
Pass interruptions and q
couple of messed-up handoff;
spoiled the day for a Navy
team which dominated play al
most throughout. Statistically
Navy led in first downs, 22-12;
in rushing yardage. 190-124
and in passing yardage, 1854
The second-guessers were
having great sport Saturday
night picking at the choice Of
plays at the start Of the fourth
quarter when the Middies were
hammering at the SMU goal
one of a number of such
threats that fizzled. Joe Bel.
limo, Navy's jet-like runner
rushed IA yards for a first
down on the 6. He was in.
jured on the play and his alb
sence from that point on mus
be considered as a factor ir
analyzing the why's and where
fores.
Maxfield handed of to jolt.
ing Joe Matalavage, who got
yards, but then tried carrying
around right end himself anc
was spilled back on the 5
Halfback Dick Pariseau got
back to the 2, but on fourth
down Maxfleld tried to pas:
and failed.
With first down on the 6, thu
second-guessers agreed to &
man that Matalayage through
the line was the safest bet Il
get the score. He made three
yards and there is little doubt
that he would have made tht
next three yards in three car
ries. For the day Matalavagt
carried six times for 80 yards
an average of five yards anC
one foot a carry.
Later in the quarter Navl
got going again, but SMJ
finally shut the door in thu
last minute when Terry Vile.
mon intercepted a Maxf1elc
pass on the 5-yard line and re.
turned 95 yards for the clinch.
ing touchdown.
Play Syracuse Next
It is easy to second-gues!
however. It is an artless form
of amusement that invariabl!
follows failure, never success
Maxf1eld led his forces GO yards
for Navy score and on thai
series Of IL plays, the experts
agree, his play-calling wal
flawless.
If Navy fans are feeling a bit
blue this Monday, they may
take heart in review. Two
years ago was just like this
year at this point. The Middies
had beaten Boston College an6
William & Mary and then or
the third game of the season
stubbed their toes against a
North Carolina team they
should have beaten. The Mid
dies wound up that season In
the Cotton Bowl, mopping ur
Rice in expert fashion New
Years Day.
And flve seasons ago, the
Midshipmen were rolling alons
with three straight wins, wher
they lost a two-point heart
breaker to Pittsburgh. They
also lost a 60 thriller to Notrt
Dame, but had a good enough
season to go the Sugar Bowl
where they beat Mississippi.
This is not to say that Navy
will have a great season thil
year. But it could be a gooc
one yet. The Middies PLAY
highly-regarded Syracuse Sat
urday In the Oyster Bowl II
Norfolk. Much should b,
learned from that one.