COTTON BOWL
GEORGIA TECH
Bobby Dodd is rounding out a full decade as the Yellow Jacket coach. In this span he has acquired an 81-26-2 record, has also seen Tech win all five of the Bowl games in which he has been at the team's helm.
WADE MITCHELL, 'PAUL ROTENBERRY, HENRY HAIR (see opposite page).
JOHNNY HUNSINGER (42), fb: Best all-round fullback. Only a fair runner, but he is a fine blocker and an exceedingly talented linebacker.
JOHNNY MENGER (10), rhb: Fast but not powerful, best on running plays outside. Good on pass defense, fair tackier. The team's leading kicker.
LARRY MORRIS (55), c: All-America in 1953, hampered some by knee injury this year. Diagnoses plays smartly, tackles fiercely. Fine team leader.
JIMMY THOMPSON (28), rhb: A small but tough package, has averaged 9.4 yards per carry. Is their biggest threat for explosive, long breakaway runs.
FRANKLIN BROOKS (60), lg: Best interior lineman, a 50-minute man. He is aggressive, not big but very fast.
BILL FULCHER (62), rg: A small ball of fire with real desire. Great downfield blocker, often slides on defense and can be driven back if fooled.
CARL VEREEN (76), It: A shot-put champ who has looked good and bad. Has hard initial charge, but still lacks mobility and sustaining drive.
ORMAND ANDERSON (73), rt: Plays well on line, blocks well. He is not a dangerous pass or punt rusher.
JIMMY DURHAM (88), le: Big asset both ways, he lacks speed on long passes but is dangerous on the short ones. A better blocker than a lot of ends.
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TEAM STRENGTH
GEORGIA TECH
The Yellow Jackets have long been noted for their cleverness, fast backs and alert linemen. This team may not be one of Coach Dodd's greatest but, like his others, it can be very dangerous at the end of the season, and particularly in Bowl play, where Tech over the years has won eight of 10 games. The offense is usually from a straight T and relies heavity on sweeps and the surprise of a "belly" series. Opponents can often expect a pass when the end and halfback are split out, or flanked, as wide as 10 yards. Mitchell's characteristic quarterbacking is to hammer at a defensive weakness, then switch to a clever check or counterplay. Any of the backs can go all the way. Mitchell and his sub, Bill Brigman (18), will mix in enough passing to keep the opposition guessing. Defensively Tech will vary from a four-man to eight-man line, with quick shifting before the ball is snapped. The pass defense is not as tight as in many former seasons but is adequate.
ARKANSAS
The Razorbacks have been called the Cinderella Team of 1954. If they are, it is not the work of magic. It is because Coach Wyatt taught his squad to become opportunists while he drilled them in perfecting fundamentals. Just how well they grabbed at each opportunity can be seen in the Southwest Conference statistics which show the champion Razor-backs last in both offense and defense and still winning five of their six conference games. Arkansas personnel is well conditioned and tough. They show it best of all by tightening defenses near their goal line, and by scoring in every manner; long and short runs, passes, field goals and punt returns. The over-all speed is good. The attack, led by Moore, Carpenter, Walker and Benson, is deceptive. The fullback roll-out, the fake roll-out and the pass to the blocking back are the big offensive gainers. The defense is extremely alert against passes. In the line, Coach Wyatt switches his guards and tackles to get the faster men outside. They are also good pursuers and really know how to gang-tackle with a vengeance.
TWO PHOTOS
ILLUSTRATION
PHOTO
11
MITCHELL
PHOTO
21
ROTENBERRY
PHOTO
55
L. MORRIS
PHOTO
60
BROOKS
PHOTO
76
VEREEN
PHOTO
88
DURHAM
PHOTO
42
HUNSINGER
PHOTO
10
MENGER
PHOTO
28
THOMPSON
PHOTO
62
FULCHER
PHOTO
73
ANDERSON
PHOTO
82
HAIR
PHOTO
34
CARPENTER
PHOTO
44
WALKER
PHOTO
55
FORD
PHOTO
68
ROBERTS
PHOTO
75
BRADFORD
PHOTO
89
MATTHEWS
PHOTO
30
MOORE
PHOTO
26
THOMASON
PHOTO
45
BENSON
PHOTO
64
BROOKS
PHOTO
67
ROTH
PHOTO
81
McFADDEN
ILLUSTRATION
11
ILLUSTRATION
21
ILLUSTRATION
82
ILLUSTRATION
34
ILLUSTRATION
44
ILLUSTRATION
64
DIAGRAM
GEORGIA TECH's bread-and-butter play has Quarterback Mitchell (11) faking hand-off to Fullback Hunsinger (42), "riding" with him and then handing off to Halfback Rotenberry (21), who cuts inside the end. Key blocks are thrown by the Right End Hair (82) and Right Halfback Menger(10).
11
82
21
42
10
DIAGRAM
ARKANSAS POWER PLAY from single wing, balanced line, starts with a high pass to Tailback Walker (44), who fakes a pass, drives inside the end. Fullback Moore (30) and Blocking Back Carpenter (34) come out shoulder to shoulder and block end. Thomason (26) and Brooks (64) lead the play.
64
34
26
44
30
NUMBERS TO WATCH
GEORGIA TECH
WADE MITCHELL, QB
A hot and cold passer, he prefers a running game, but will pass when least expected. Good carrier on an optional run or pass. Is a fine defensive safety man.
PAUL ROTENBERRY, LHB
Has speed and drive and runs well on the "belly" play. Shares most of the carrying with Hunsinger, Thompson and Humphreys (44), has averaged 5.8 yards
HENRY HAIR, RE
Best end and a great spot receiver who will take ball away from defenders. He has caught 24 passes for 270 yards and four T Ds. Also very strong on defense.
ARKANSAS
PRESTON CARPENTER, QB
A favorite receiver on the running pass and often a decoy on the draw plays. One of the team's best blockers and particularly effective as a linebacker.
GEORGE WALKER, LHB
Unusual poise for a sophomore, he does it all well: calls signals, passes, punts and quick-kicks. The safety man on defense, he returned a Rice punt 73 yards.
BUD BROOKS, RG
Made several All-America teams by his spectacular play. Leaves "home" often, giving him plenty of tackles, but sometimes leaving his position open.