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FOOTBALL'S 11TH WEEK
The college football season ended the way it began—in a clattering wave of upsets (see page 15). But, almost before the last old grad's shout had faded into a hoarse whisper, postseason bowls were filled to overflowing with, for a change, most of the good teams in the country.
Washington (9-1) and Wisconsin (7-2) were already in the Rose Bowl, and unbeaten Syracuse (9-0), which faces UCLA next Saturday, will line up against Texas (9-1) in the Cotton Bowl. Asexpected, LSU (9-1) and Mississippi (9-1) signed for a rematch in the Sugar Bowl, and Georgia (9-1) was picked to face Missouri (6-4) in the Orange Bowl. Other pairings: Arkansas (8-2) and Georgia Tech (6-4) in the Gator Bowl; TCU (8-2) and Clemson (8-2) in Houston's Bluebonnet Bowl December 19. Only Penn State (8-2), signed for Philadelphia's Liberty Bowl December 19, still awaited an opponent.
THE EAST
Striking furiously and quickly, Navy's six-point short-enders gleefully rubbed Army into the painted green turf of Philadelphia Stadium and never let up until they had belabored the unsuspecting Cadets 43-12 in full view of 98,616 fans. Fully aware that Army's Joe Caldwell would be throwing the ball every chance he got, imaginative young Navy Coach Wayne Hardin traded in his fullback and quarterback for fleet halfbacks on defense. They swarmed over Lonely End Bill Carpenter and other Cadet receivers like so many happy ants on picnic sandwiches. Meanwhile, stubby little Joe Bellino, a quick-footed halfback who has turned down lucrative pro baseball offers for a more confining career as a submarine officer, shocked Army with three touchdowns, one on a 47-yard sprint.
Coach Steve Sebo, hanged in effigy so many times that he must wince every time he passes a clothesline, had some terrifying moments when his Penn team trailed Cornell 13-0 early in the third quarter. But, sub Quarterback George Koval, a daring young man with an accurate arm, and Halfback Fred Doelling, a fearsome All-Ivy runner, bailed out the bumbling Quakers, led them to a 28-13 victory and Penn's first Ivy League title. Doelling spread the defenders with wide sweeps around the ends, and Koval filled the empty holes with three touchdown passes. However, the wolves may still get Sebo. The latest rumor: Rutgers' John Stiegman will replace Steve in 1960.
Boston College turned two fourth-quarter breaks into a 14-0 triumph over Holy Cross; Colgate upset Brown 33-14; unbeaten Hofstra overwhelmed Scranton 35-0 for its ninth straight. The top three:
1. SYRACUSE (9-0)
2. PENN STATE (8-2)
3. PITT (6-4)
The conference champions: Ivy—Penn; Yankee—Connecticut.
THE MIDWEST
Like a sweet-toothed urchin saving his dessert for last, Notre Dame licked the platter clean and beat USC 16-6 to give Coach Joe Kuharich an even break (5 and 5) in his first year. With the ferocious McKeevers hobbled by injuries suffered against UCLA (Guard Mike sprained his ankle; End Marlin broke his left hand), the normally stout Trojan defense was sorely tested by the Irish linemen, who opened airy holes for Sophomore Fullback Gerry Gray's tackle dives and provided superb protection for Quarterback George Izo's passes (11 for 23 and 147 yards) and rollouts. Gray, scheduled for knee surgery, hardly looked like a cripple as he scored both Notre Dame touchdowns.
Oklahoma State's 14-year-long wait for victory at last seemed close at hand when the Cowboys led Oklahoma 7-3 with a quarter to go. But the come-lately Sooners had other ideas. With line-bursting Junior Fullback Ronnie Hartline running 31 yards for one touchdown and 17 more to set up a second, Oklahoma won 17-7.
Cincinnati's Jackie Lee, second only to Stanford's Dick Norman in passing, completed 16 of 31 for 185 yards to help beat Miami of Ohio 14-7; Wichita held off Tulsa, winning 26-21; College of Emporia edged Austin 21-20 in the Mineral Water Bowl. The top three:
1. WISCONSIN (7-2)
2. ILLINOIS (5-3-1)
3. PURDUE (5-2-2)
The conference champions: Big Ten—Wisconsin; Big Eight—Oklahoma; Mid-America—Bowling Green.
THE SOUTH
Georgia, already raised from obscurity to the Southeastern Conference championship, added some more frosting to Coach Wally Butts's tasty cake by doing in old rival Georgia Tech 21-14 (see page 15) on the way to the Orange Bowl. Quarterbacks Fran Tarkenton and Charley Britt took the steam out of the Engineers with their passing, and nimble Halfback Freddy Brown did the rest with his running in the first half. Tech struck back bravely, but too late, as Quarterback Marv Tibbetts pitched two scoring passes.
It's been a long time since Auburn was beaten in the line, but Alabama's sturdy forwards overpowered the once-feared Tigers at their own game and whipped them 10-0. Judiciously stocked by Coach Bear Bryant, Alabama is on the way back, and SEC rivals can begin to worry again.
Mississippi, aching for another shot at LSU, will get it in the Sugar Bowl after romping over Mississippi State 42-0. Carefully avoiding the middle of the bulky State line, the Rebs tuned up their air arm and wide sweeps, turned loose sub Quarterback Jake Gibbs, who flipped for two scores and ran for two more.
Tennessee, bumbling and fumbling ever since it upset LSU, couldn't pierce Vanderbilt's stacked eight-man line and couldn't stop talented Halfback Tom Moore, who led the Commodores to a 14-0 victory.
Joggled out of its sleep by usually reticent Coach Jim Hickey's spur-of-the-moment pep talk, North Carolina suddenly became the superstars the late Jim Tatum expected them to be. The Tar Heels scored twice in the first 10 minutes against favored Duke, continued to pour it on until the score mounted to 50-0. Wailed Duke's stung Bill Murray, after the Blue Devils' worst trouncing: "We never had anyone manhandle us like that. They just knocked us down and ran over us."
Fired-up Florida concentrated on Miami Quarterback Fran Curci, kept him on his back a good part of the bleak afternoon and knocked the surprised Hurricanes out of a certain Orange Bowl invitation 23-14. Pathetic offensively for most of a so-so season, Florida put the attack in the capable hands of 25-year-old Quarterback Dick Allen, and he responded nobly, running for one touchdown, passing for two more and kicking a 20-yard field goal.
With Clemson's Harvey White having one of his better days, the Gator-bound Tigers routed Furman 56-3; Wake Forest's Norm Snead threw three touchdown passes, set five Atlantic Coast records as the Deacons outscored South Carolina 43-20; Howard Dyer led VMI to a 37-12 upset of Virginia Tech and the Southern Conference title; undefeated Lenoir-Rhyne pummeled Catawba 50-6 to win No. 1 ranking among NAIA schools. The top three:
1. MISSISSIPPI (9-1)
2. LSU (9-1)
3. GEORGIA (9-1)
The conference champions: Southeastern—Georgia; Atlantic Coast—Clemson; Southern—VMI.
THE SOUTHWEST
Texas and Texas A&M have played many a cliffhanger in 65 years, but never have they come closer to producing a mass coronary among their frenzied fans. The Longhorns spotted the supercharged Aggies 10 points (including a 52-yard field goal by chunky Randy Sims), then swept back under the firm touch of superb Quarterback Bobby Lackey, who bounced over from the one-yard line with 2:20 to play to give Texas a 20-17 victory and a share of the Southwest Conference title with TCU and Arkansas.
TCU Tackles Don Floyd and Bob Lilly led the defensive charge that harried SMU's Don Meredith, and Halfbacks Harry Moreland and Marv Lasater provided the offensive thrusts to win for the Horned Frogs 19-0. But there was still a slice of glory left for Meredith, who set a new NCAA three-year pass completion record (241 for 395) of 61%.
Larry Corley's 18-yard field goal lifted Baylor past Rice 23-21; Arizona State defeated Arizona 15-9. The top three:
1. TCU (8-2)
2. TEXAS (9-1)
3. ARKANSAS (8-2)
The conference champions: Southwest—Texas, TCU and Arkansas; Border—Arizona State; Missouri Valley—North Texas State and Houston.
THE WEST
Air Force sent Fullback Monte Moorberg crashing over for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but not even Rich Mayo's arm could hold off Colorado's Gale Weidner once he warmed to his task. Weidner passed for two touchdowns and a two-point conversion, and Colorado won 15-7 to avenge last year's loss to the Falcons.
Wyoming's Skyline Conference champions, beaten only by Air Force, ran inept Denver dizzy with 27 points in the opening period, reluctantly scored 18 more as it battered the Pioneers 45-0.
UCLA, hiding its best shots from Syracuse's scouts, picked up three early scores and beat Utah 21-6. The top three:
1. WASHINGTON (9-1)
2. USC (8-2)
3. UCLA (5-3-1)
The conference champions: Big Five—Washington, USC and UCLA; Skyline—Wyoming; Rocky Mountain-Idaho State.
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PHOTO
BACK OF THE WEEK: Navy's Joe Bellino, shipshape again after midseason injuries, ripped and roared through the Army line for 113 yards and three touchdowns.
PHOTO
LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Texas Guard Maurice Doke, iron man linebacker starting his 31st consecutive game, celebrated by strewing field with Texas A&M backs.
TWO PHOTOS
NEW FACES OF THE WEEK: Fullback Ger-ray Gray (left), with two touchdowns, led Notre Dame to 16-6 upset of USC; Ole Miss Quarterback Jake Gibbs, Sugar Bowl bound, scored twice, passed for two more touchdowns against Mississippi State.
