Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-22

FumbIing Leroy
Lucky to Be Here
BY MORRIS SIEGEL

THINGS WEREN'T PERCoLATING right for the home
eleven 1t homecoming several thousand alumni
back If alma matters football team as bad as its
record indicated.
1t was The 15-game losing streak was only five min
utes away from becoming IT, They traled, 42-0 The
perpexed COACH seeking to salvage at least touchdown
out Of the embarrassment shouted from the bench to
his quarterback Give the ball TO Calhoun he screamed
instead Smith was the ball carrier. He was smeared
for loss Again the coach roared for Calhoun This time
Jones number up and Jones nailed behind the
line of scrimmage. Once again the coach beated Cal
houn, said give the ball to Calhoun"
The quarterback responded with a handoff to Brown,
who tackled Just he received the ball. The coach
could stand He jerked the rebelious quarter
back out Of the game and demanded to know why ne
refused to carry out his orders si-E =
But COACH" the quarterback explained, II offered
it to Calhoun three times but Calhoun said he didn't
want to carry the ball"
THE REDSKINS DON'T think this is the trouble with
Leroy Jackson their yfingered flyer Unlike Cal
houn Jackson wants the ball, all right but the few
times he has been elected to lug It, he has managed TO
lose track of it.
1t has proved embarrassing to the former sprint star
1t also proved costly to the Redskins Jackson in his
year. has been fingered chiefly responsible for
the loss in Pittsburgh He fumbed away the KICKOFF TO
the Steeers who quickly converted the gift into the
touchdown which put the outcome beyond recall.
Bill McPeak doesn't know exactly what to do about
his man. Jackson He says he will make some kind OF
decision after this afternoons practice Jackson Is lucky
his coach is not the impulSve type. If McPeak was
triggerminded Jackson would have been left behind In
Pittsburgh
The scowling stare he got from his coach when he
came out Of the game after giving the ball to the Steeers
was slight indication McPeak doesn't rate Jackson all
pro at the moment
But YOU must remember that Leroy came from
small school," another coach tried to explain They had
only plays Jackson to the right Jackson to the left
and Jackson up the middle. Leroy is stin learning
Whether the Redskins viii be tolerant enough to abide
his football education remains to be seen.
JACKSON FAILED TO RETURN to the scrap after
his monumental booboo He should claim foul His past
performance chart indicates he would have done better
next time.
Last year he fumbled two kckoffS but recovered
for 500 percentage This year he is for He made the
opening day Cleveland much easier for the Browns
to come by He booted the first kickoff into the hands OF
the Browns who quickly romped over Tor the rSt score IN
their gusher of points.
Jackson who did the 100 in s4 at Western Illinois,
broke his schools scoring record junior with an
output of 100 points Presumably he had not yet acquired
the knack of learning how to tumble
McPeak was asked about his seldom sprnter sew
eral days before the Steeers game Don't worry about
Leroy" McPeak smiled he strengthens our BENCH There
is some evidence the Redskins might have Jared better in
Pittsburgh Jackson had been permitted to retain squat
ter's rights.
JACKSON CANE TO THE Redskins from Cleveland in
the Bobby Mitchell trade with arfu OF Recommended
tons He every sprint meet his junior and senior
years. made AConference halfback twice and also was
elected most valuable player in the league.
The Browns made him their No. pick in the draft
upon the insisence of the Redskins demanded jack
along with Mitchell in the package deal for the late
late Ernie Davis
In his infrequent appearances Jackson has shown his
speed overated He often appears too fast for the
football neglectng to take 1t along with him Journeys
which would have been profitable had he not over
looked the formality Of holding on to the ball.
Last season he galoped across the goal lnewth the
ball this time-on s5-yard pass play from Norman
snead Snead overthrow the ball. but Jackson made a
miraculous catch, and miraculous, held to
the ball.
Jackson's inclination to tumble is contagious Yester-
day reporter who discussing the Jackson with
McPeak dropped his knife in the middle Of the
ton.
1t could have been Of guilt by association The
reporter sat Jackson the plane returning from
Pittsburgh Sunday evening.