The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-09-21
SPORTS of TIMES
Depression
at NOtre Dame
BY LOU FABRO
Times Sports Editor

" At certain positions we have more depth than in re-
cent years; at others, we do not. We have faith in our men
and feel that they will give a good account of themselves at
all times"
These cautious phrases were uttered by Notre Dame
Coach Joe Kuharich as he described the general outlook for
the Irish during the 1862 season.
HIS FOOTBALL ~GOBBLEDEGOOK, so beautifully
turned, would bring tears of joy to any grid coach. In prob
ing his grid jargon, however, it sounds as if he's saying
that Notre Dame doesn't have a heckuva lot of material,
but by golly the boys will battle every inch of the way.
A more blunt translation would be: the depression
Notre Dame has suffered during the past three years G2
wins and Is losses) is likely to continue.
In sizing up the coming season, Kuharichs comments
before the 1860 campaign would seem quite appropriate.
At that time he warned Notre Dame fans to turn to your
s~crapbooks and enjoy the glories of yesteryear."
WHAT WE'RE LEADING UP TO is that the coming
season is going to be a rough one for the Irish. In fact,
it's rather apparent that they will have to go some to equal
last years SIS record.
For one thing, Notre Danes schedule again is we'll
studded with strong opponents. While preseason polls
aren't the most accurate guides, it's notable that seven of
Notre Danes ten opponents have been rated among the
nations top 20 teams in one or more surveys. Irish oppon-
ents listed in the top 20 ratings are Michigan State, Purdue,
Wisconsin, Southern California, Pittsburgh, Navy and
Oklahoma.
Notre Dame is unranked as are North Carolina, North
western and Iowa, the other three 1862 Irish opponents.
TO COMPETE AGAINST OPPOSITION like Notre
Notre Dame faces this year, it would be we'll TO have a
strong and experienced team plus strong reserves. Well,
the Irish just don't seem to have these ingredients.
Notre Dame was basically a senior team last year.
Lost through graduation were % lettermen, including 10
starters. Three of II returning lettermen fell by the way
side because of scholastic difficulties. And these three were
key men.
Tripped by the books were two powerful backs-Jim
Snowden of Youngstown, o., and Paul Costa. Also side
lined by grades was Mickey Bitsko, a highly-touted middle
guard.
IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE THREE PLAYERS
didn't fail. They We're ruled ineligible because they fell be-
low the average required of junior students who play major
sports at Notre Dame.
Injuries again figure prominently in the Notre Dame
picture. It's strange, but it seems that the Irish have been
struggling through an epidemic of major injuries during
the past half dozen or so seasons.
Biggest question mark because of knee injury suf-
fered in a summer basketball game is Capt. Mike Lind,
considered an All-America candidate. Lind, a 200-pound
senior fullback, has been logged by injuries during his
entire college career.
WHILE THE LOSS OF KEY BACKFIELD men poses
a big problem, Kuharich's major concern is firming up
what looks like a very weak interior line. His first four
tackles from last years team have been graduated and he
has lost three of his first four 1861 guards.
The Irish, however, do have some bright spots. They
have two veteran quarterbacks of almost equal talent.
There are four lettermen at the ends, two at halfback and
two at fullback. Only one veteran, however, is listed at
tackle, guard and center.
The Notre Dame roster lists 20 top sophomores"
How well they perform will go a long way in determining
II smiles will be more frequent than frowns on the Irish
campus this fall.
NOTRE DAME LAUNCHES IT'S 74TH season next
Saturday against Oklahoma In a game that will be televised
nationally. Also to be teleVised is the Notre Dame-Navy
game on Nov. 3.
Dates of other Irish games are: Oct. 6-Purdue: Oct.
l3-at Wisconsin; Oct. O-Michigan State: Oct. 27-at
Northwestern; Nov. 10 Pittsburgh; Nov. II North
Carolna Nov. 24-lowa; Dec. lat Southern Cal.