THE BORDER CONFERENCE
HERMAN HICKMAN SAYS:
Perennial champion Texas Tech has withdrawn from the Border Conference to join the Southwest, but the conference commissioner has ruled that all games played against Texas Tech by other members of the Border will still count in the standings. Tech is not eligible, however, to win the title, so the boys from Lubbock find themselves in the peculiar position of being unfrocked participants in the conference struggle.
Last year Arizona State (Tempe), sporting the multiple offense, gave new Coach Dan Devine an 8-2 record and finished second only to Texas Tech. Their chances for winning the championship in 1956 are excellent, especially since they don't play Tech. Their strong points are a good running attack, a good defensive line, speed and depth. Returning serviceman Gene Mitch-am, a 200-pound halfback already drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, may be the best all-round back in the area.
Despite the loss of the first two quarterbacks, Texas Western should be in strong contention. Coach Mike Brumbelow, respected throughout the Southwest as an outstanding defensive strategist, has extreme speed in the backfield. West Texas State returns a veteran squad, most of them playing their fourth year together.
The old pro himself—Sammy Baugh—and his all-pro coaching staff brought Hardin-Simmons a long way last year. Ken (Model A) Ford directs a wide-open game from quarterback, with spreads and flankers galore. It would seem redundant to say that this team throws the ball.
No player in the Southwest, with the possible exception of TCU's Jim Swink, has a greater reputation than Arizona's Art Luppino. Luppino has led the nation in rushing two years in a row and will certainly break Alan Ameche's all-time rushing record before the season is very old. He is now only 168 yards shy.
ARIZONA STATE
TEMPE, ARIZ.
COLORS: Maroon and gold.
BASIC OFFENSE: Multiple offense.
1955 RECORD: Won 8, lost 2, tied 1.
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 22 of 30.
WATCH FOR: Dave Graybill, B; Gene Mitch-am, B; Charles Mackey, E; Leon Burton, B.
THE DOPE: The Sun Devils, operating on a rich mixture of Pennsylvania high school and Midwest high-octane players, are the favorites in the Border Conference for two reasons: 1) they are good, and 2) they don't play Texas Tech (see left). Coach Dan Devine, in his second year at Tempe, has in Backs Dave Graybill, Gene Mitcham, Leon Burton and Leon Mulgado speed, power and deception, plus passing.
1956 SCHEDULE (1955 score):
Sept. 22—Wichita, N (20-20)
Sept. 29—North Texas State, N (no game)
Oct. 6—at New Mexico A&M, N (26-6)
Oct. 13—at Idaho (no game)
Oct. 20—at Hardin-Simmons (69-14)
Oct. 27—San Jose State, N (20-27)
Nov. 3—San Diego State, N (46-0)
Nov. 10—Texas Western, N (20-13)
Nov. 17—at Arizona, N (6-7)
Nov. 24—College of Pacific, N (no game)
HARDIN-SIMMONS
ABILENE, TEXAS
COLORS: Purple and gold.
BASIC OFFENSE: Bear T.
1955 RECORD: Won 5, lost 5.
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 22 of 34.
WATCH FOR: Kenneth Ford, B; Charles Massegee, B; Connie Baird, E; Carlos Berry, E.
THE DOPE: The Cowboys, equipped with a pro-type passer, a pro-size line and an all-pro coaching staff headed by the unforgettable Sammy Baugh, appear to be bound for greener pastures. Baugh has taught some of his old aerial magic to Quarterback Kenneth Ford, who has been in the top 10 passers in the nation for the last two years. This year Ford should have more time to find receivers behind the blocking of a massive line which has 245-pound Rodeo-Performer Buddy Crockrell at one tackle and 230-pound Sophomore Burley Polk at the other. Ford throws to a pair of veteran ends and 155-pound Scat-back Charles Massegee, one of the football phantoms of the region. The team is deeper, but the schedule is tougher, too.
1956 SCHEDULE (1955 score):
Sept. 22—at Arkansas (no game)
Sept. 29—at Wichita, N (no game)
Oct. 5—at Geo. Washington, N (no game)
Oct. 20—-Arizona State (14-69)
Oct. 27—at Tulsa, N (19-41)
Nov. 3—at Texas Western, N (23-21)
Nov. 10—West Texas State, N (19-18)
Nov. 17—at College of Pacific, N (no game)
Nov. 24—New Mex. A&M, Carlsbad (39-0)
Dec. 1—Texas Tech (14-16)
TEXAS WESTERN
EL PASO, TEXAS
COLORS: Orange and white.
BASIC OFFENSE: Split-T.
1955 RECORD: Won 6, lost 2, tied 2.
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 18 of 27.
WATCH FOR: Kenneth George, G; Dick Forrest, E; Don Maynard, B; Bob Forrest, B.
THE DOPE: The Miners are traditionally strong on defense and will be again. But Coach Mike Brumbelow also has the stuff of which fine offenses are made. His backfield, with Sprinters Don Maynard and Jim Bevers at half, is probably the fastest in the conference. The line is big and agile for its size, but at quarterback Brumbelow must depend on either a converted fullback (Bob Forrest) or a converted center (Bob Laraba). Forrest was an All-State high school quarterback but doesn't pass as well as Laraba. The team must use sophomores for reserve strength, is especially thin at tackle. Since freshmen play varsity ball in the Border Conference, Brumbelow's sophs are more mature than most after a varsity year.
1956 SCHEDULE (1955 score):
Sept. 22—at Texas Tech, N (27-27)
Sept. 29—Abilene Christian, N (no game)
Oct. 6—New Mexico, N, (34-0)
Oct. 13—Arizona, N (29-0)
Oct. 20—at North Texas State, N (7-7)
Oct. 27—at New Mexico A&M, N (41-6)
Nov. 3—Hardin-Simmons, N (21-23)
Nov. 10—at Arizona State, N (13-20)
Nov. 17—at West Texas State, N (13-6)
Nov. 24—Trinity (Texas) (14-13)
ARIZONA
TUCSON, ARIZ.
COLORS: Red and blue.
BASIC OFFENSE: Wing T.
1955 RECORD: Won 5, lost 4, tied 1.
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 19 of 35.
WATCH FOR: Art Luppino, B; Paul Hatcher, C; Ed Brown, G; Don Beasley, B; Jack Davis, T; Pete Arrigoni, B; Ralph Hunsaker, B.
THE DOPE: The Wildcats have one of the greatest running backs in the nation in Art Luppino, who is only a few steps away from Alan Ameche's record of 3,212 yards gained during the span of a collegiate career. To lend variety to the Wildcat ground attack, Luppino has capable running mates in Backs Don Beasley, Pete Arrigoni and Ralph Hunsaker, and the Wildcat line is built around two All-Conference players—Guard Bob Griffs and Center Paul Hatcher. The defense, which sagged occasionally last year, must improve considerably. If it does, and if the returning servicemen Operate at full speed, Coach Warren Woodson's team may have the best year an Arizona eleven has known in two decades.
1956 SCHEDULE (1955 score):
Sept. 15—Montana at Phoenix, N (29-0)
Sept. 22—Wyoming, N (no game)
Sept. 29—South Dakota St., N (no game)
Oct. 6—Utah State, N (no game)
Oct. 13—at Texas Western, N (0-29)
Oct. 20—at New Mexico, N (27-6)
Oct. 27—Texas Tech, N (7-27)
Nov. 3—West Texas State, N (20-20)
Nov. 17—Arizona State, N (7-6)
Nov. 24—Colorado, N (0-14)
WEST TEXAS STATE
CANYON, TEXAS
COLORS: Maroon and white.
BASIC OFFENSE: Split-T.
1955 RECORD: Won 4, lost 4, tied 1.
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 31 of 35.
WATCH FOR: Phillip Wright, T; Joe Brooks, G; Bubba Hillman, B; Dave Corley, B; Ron Mills, B.
THE DOPE: The Buffaloes may have the best team to come out of Canyon since the 1950 Border Conference and Sun Bowl champions. Coach Frank Kimbrough, now knee-deep in lettermen, will field a predominantly senior club, and the schedule gives him a welcome break by omitting Arizona State. A 200-pound service returnee, Bob Ratliff, was All-Conference as a freshman halfback and will certainly be a boon to the Buff running game. Veteran Quarterback Bubba Hillman supplies a steady hand on the wheel, while Halfback Ronnie Mills and Fullback Bob Whelchel combine with Ratliff to give the Buff backfield a running threat second to none in the conference. The line, built around 235-pound senior Tackle Phillip Wright and senior Guard Joe Brooks, is deep in experience. With such a heavy portion of old heads in both line and backfield, the Buffaloes will be a danger to anyone on their schedule.
1956 SCHEDULE (1955 score):
Sept. 15—Corpus Christi, N (46-0)
Sept. 22—McMurry, N (6-0)
Sept. 29—Sul Ross, N (no game)
Oct. 13—at Texas Tech, N (24-27)
Oct. 20—New Mexico A&M, N (32-6)
Nov. 3—at Arizona, N (20-20)
Nov. 10—at Hardin-Simmons, N (18-19)
Nov. 17—Texas Western, N (6-13)
Nov. 29—at Midwestern (34-0)
NEW MEXICO A&M
STATE COLLEGE, N. MEX.
COLORS: Red and white.
BASIC OFFENSE: Split-T.
1955 RECORD: Won 3, lost 7.
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 19 of 25.
WATCH FOR: Joe Kelly, B; Bill Floyd, E; Fred Hernandez, T.
THE DOPE: The Aggies finished last in the conference in 1955, but Coach Tony cavallo, then in his first season, relied heavily on freshmen throughout the campaign. The freshmen are back—older, wiser and tougher—and the club will be that much the better for their added wisdom, age and general orneriness. The Aggies have the second-best runner in the conference in Sophomore Joe Kelly and at least the starting point for a good line in senior End Bill Floyd. But Cavallo's beardless boys are going to find the conference stronger from top to bottom this fall. Among his larger tasks Coach Cavallo will have to teach his young squad (26 freshmen who won their letters on the varsity in 1955) the intricacies of playing defense. Floyd at end and a giant junior tackle named Fred Hernandez will lend the line the wisdom of experience, but that is hardly enough. Hence, Cavallo's modest aim is a break-even season.
1956 SCHEDULE (1955 score):
Sept. 15—at Tulsa, N (no game)
Sept. 22—New Mexico, N (7-14)
Sept. 29—at California Poly, N (no game)
Oct. 6—Arizona State, N (6-26)
Oct. 12—McMurry, N (no game)
Oct. 20—at West Texas State, N (6-32)
Oct. 27—Texas Western, N (6-41)
Nov. 10—at Omaha (no game)
Nov. 17—Nebraska Wesleyan, N (no game)
Nov. 24—H.-Simmons at Carlsbad (0-39)
PHOTO
BORDER GRID SPIRIT IS TYPIFIED BY HEAD COACH SAMMY BAUGH (SECOND FROM RIGHT) AND HIS STAFF AT HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY
PHOTO
CO-CAPTAIN GENE MITCHAM POWERS ARIZONA STATE ON GROUND
PHOTO
ARIZONA'S ART LUPPINO SEEKS ANOTHER RUSHING CHAMPIONSHIP
PHOTO
PHIL WRIGHT, LITTLE ALL-AMERICA TACKLE, BALLASTS THE WEST TEXAS STATE LINE