The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-10-07
of TIMES
Illinois Has
Title Material
BY LOU FABRo
Times Sports Editor

Ohio State will launch its Big Ten football cam
paign tomorrow as the leagues dark horse" can
didate for the title. Opposing the Battling Buckeyes
in the conference opener will be Illinois, strong
preseason choice for the crown.
Directing the Bucks strategy will be the Dean"
of the Big Ten coaches-portlyW Woody Hayes-Who is
observing his tenth year at the OSU helm. Not since.
John Wilce Q913-1928) has an OSU grid coach Surviv-
ed so long at the onetime graveyard of coaches"
ON THE OPPOSITE side of the battlefield will
be the Big Tens newest and youngest (33 years old
Pete Eliott-who took over from Ray Eliot last spring.
To confuse this paragraph, the new Illinois coach is
a brother of Michigan'S head grid mentor. Chalmers
Bump Elliott.
The two brothers, you may recall, we're star
backs on Michigan's powerhouse grid squads in the
post-World War IL era.
But getting back to current sports history, Pete
is in a rather unenyiable spot. He's expected to lead
the Ilni to the championship in his first year at
Illinois. Moreover, he has to outWit one of the coun-
try's most successful coaches in his very first Big Ten
games that counts. CThe victory over Indiana doesn't
count in the s~tandingS)
able.
At the end of last season, Illinois was rated by
most experts as the best team in the Big Ten, even
though the Illini finished third with a AL record.
Illinois had lost to Indiana, 200; TO Michigan, ZO-l5;
and was tied TT by Purdue. But the Ilini closed with
a 90 win over champion Wisconsin and $50 over
a tough Northwestern squad.
BACK THIS YEAR are "a lettermen-at least
two at each position. Among the veterans are seven
starters. The backfield includes five of last seasons
top ground gamers as well as two good, experienced
MISUNDERSTANDING Easterbrook and Mel Meyers.
Besides experience, Illinois has a big and strong
team. Everyone of the lnemen on the first two teams
tips the scales at 207 pounds or more.
Another factor favoring the Iliini is that they
don't play Michigan State-considered by many as
a strong contender for the crown. Iowa, which has
some backing as a title-winner, also isn't on the Iii
nois schedule.
A victory over OSU tomorrow would get Illinois
off to an excellent start towards its first grid title
since 1858 when the Illini tied MSU for first place. An
OSU victory would put the bucks in the favorite role.
PETE IS UNDER a lot of pressure but we think
Illinois is likely to succeed this year in its quest for the
crown.
It's very difficult to figure out how the rest of the
league will fare. As said before, MSU is liked by many.
However, the Spartans have been liked every year,
yet they just never live up TO their press notices.
Clouding the picture even more is the fact that MSU
has only five league games while the others have six.
One loss and the SpartanS are dead since another Big
Ten team could also lose one and finish ahead of
MSU. On the other hand, MSU has one less risk.
Iowa looks especially strong this year. Purdue
after whipping Notre Dame may be a surprise con
OHIO STATE, pointed out earlier, is a solid
dark horse" Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern and
Wisconsin, especially the Badgers, are likely to finish
in the second division.
And pore iii Indiana is just playing for fun
this year. The Hoosiers have been fighting hard to
regain a dominant position in TIC BIZ TIN out the
NCAA said they were trying too ha4o we're re-
cruitlng illegally. After the NCAA sentenced Indiana
TO four years probation, the Big Ten court" ruled
that none OF lndlanas conference games would count
IN the standings.
Actually, the Big Ten this year is only the Big