- Publish date:
ARMY
THE BACKFIELD
Big enough to go inside and fast enough to go wide, it also has three kinds of passing to keep the defense from ganging up. Three touchdowns is its least per game.
11
Dave Bourland (6 ft., 185 lbs.) from El Paso. Solid all-round T quarterback. Fakes well and can throw but doesn't too often. Fast and tough enough to lead blocking on wide plays. Still lets receivers get behind him on long passes.
21
Bob Anderson (6 ft. 2 in., 200 lbs.) from Cocoa, Fla. Unusually big, strong first-year halfback who does not appear fast until the opposition is trying to catch him. Can throw running to right, a good receiver.
24
Pete Dawkins (6 ft. 1 in., 195 lbs.) from Royal Oak, Mich. Not quite as strong a runner as Anderson but makes up for it in speed. Throws left-handed pass on the run. Is very effective on the pitchout and quick opener through the middle.
32
Vince Barta (6 ft. 3 in., 205 lbs.) from Lakewood, Ohio. A power runner off tackle and straight ahead. Army will throw to him when he is flanked.
33
Harry Walters (5 ft. 10 in., 190 lbs.) from Cincinnati. Alternates with Barta at fullback and is same type of power runner. Will be used at times to rest quarterback on defense.
THE LINE
Army's line is a rock wall straight on, but it can be climbed or skirted. For its size, it moves well but may not have quite the speed shown in past years. It lacks Navy's reserve strength and may tire under pressure.
89
Don Usry (6 ft. 3 in., 210 lbs.) from Cleburne, Texas. A sound end and fine receiver. Defensively, plays the flank hard but teams have run to his outside. Rushes passer well, but also drops off neatly into flat.
72
Bill Melnik (6 ft. 4 in., 230 lbs.) from Woodhaven, N.Y. Army's best tackle—big, strong but not too fast. Plays inside tackle on the unbalanced line. Can't be overpowered on defense but can be outmaneuvered. Has improved greatly since last year.
64
Bill Rowe (6 ft. 2 in., 205 lbs.) from Carlisle, Pa. Not as fast as his alternate, Bob Novogratz, but he is quick and aggressive. Plays linebacker in the 5-2 defense. Pulls well to lead plays and blocks with gusto.
51
Jim Kernan (6ft., 190 lbs.) from Youngstown, Ohio. Team captain, a good blocker and quick, tough linebacker. Has habit of lifting ball before centering for punts, and someday he may get it taken away from him. Biggest weakness is lack of size but his aggressiveness, quickness and supreme ability to sense the way a play is going compensate for this.
62
Stan Slater (6 ft., 188 lbs.) from Orange, N.J. Now in final year he is Army's All-America candidate. But he injures easily. An extremely fast lineman, he is most effective leading blocking on running plays. On defense he is a cautious linebacker.
76
Fred Wilmoth (6 ft. 3 in., 240 lbs.) from Harrisburg, Ill. He is the biggest man on the team. Defensively he is not as strong as the left tackle. He blocks well straight ahead and will stop anything straight at him. But he is weak on covering to either side. He was a letterman at the University of Illinois before getting his Cadet appointment. Biggest weakness is his lack of speed.
81
Bill Graf (6 ft. 1 in., 190 lbs.) from Lancaster, Pa. Army's favorite pass target. A good blocker and a very good defensive end. He is extremely hard to run wide on, and he drops off into the flat well against passes. So far this season he has caught 15 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
PHOTO
HY PESKIN
ARMY QUARTER MASTER Dave Bourland (11), bending over Center Jim Kernan (51), calls signals
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11: DAVE BOURLAND
Quarterback
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21: BOB ANDERSON
Left halfback
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24: PETE DAWKINS
Right halfback
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32: VINCE BARTA
Fullback
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33: HARRY WALTERS
Fullback
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89: DON USRY
Left end
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72: BILL MELNIK
Left tackle
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64: BILL ROWE
Left guard
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51: JIM KERNAN
Center
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62: STAN SLATER
Right guard
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76: FRED WILMOTH
Right tackle
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81: BILL GRAF
Right end
ILLUSTRATION
