1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons.com for more sports history. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:11,000 The Red Grange football show with that all-time All-American Red Grange. 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,000 Yes, football fans, it's time to step into the huddle once again, 4 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:19,000 while Red Grange relates interesting inside stories behind the football headlines, 5 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,000 interviews outstanding gridiron personalities, 6 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:26,000 and predicts the winners of all the top college and professional games. 7 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,000 Now here he is, the man they call the galloping ghost from Illinois, 8 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,000 Mr. Football himself, Red Grange. 9 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,000 Thanks, Bob Finnegan. 10 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:38,000 Well, fans, the season is far enough along now for us to single out the really outstanding players 11 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,000 of this topsy-turvy football campaign. 12 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:45,000 We'll be back in a moment with our nominations for the great stars of 1950. 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:50,000 We'll also have our predictions on all the outstanding college and professional games. 14 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:55,000 But first, a brief timeout for an important message from our announcer. 15 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:00,000 One of the interesting things about football is that teams and players never quite develop the way 16 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:05,000 that the experts and coaches predict that they will in their preseason estimates. 17 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,000 Now, for example, down at Illinois this fall, the talk was all about Johnny Karas. 18 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:14,000 Of course, Johnny broke the Big Ten ground-gaining record last season as a sophomore. 19 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,000 But even though Karas has played brilliantly again this year, 20 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:22,000 The biggest ground-gainer for Illinois has been a fullback named Dick Raklewicz. 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:27,000 Dick was converted from quarterback to fullback more or less as a desperation move. 22 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,000 Now, our guest today probably follows the ups and downs of the star players 23 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,000 as closely as anyone in the country. 24 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:37,000 He's Bill Fay, sports editor of Colliers Magazine. 25 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:41,000 And each fall, Bill works with the American Football Coaches Association 26 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,000 in selecting Colliers All-American team. 27 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,000 Bill, have you noticed any surprises this year? 28 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:52,000 Any players who have unpredictably developed into stars? 29 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:56,000 Well, there's a boy named Andy Hillhouse down at Texas A&M. 30 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:01,000 Andy is a draft choice of the New York Giants, and he might have gone into pro football this fall, 31 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:05,000 but instead, at the last moment, he went back to school. 32 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:10,000 They were so surprised to see him down there that they didn't have his name in any of the preseason releases, 33 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,000 and I don't think his name was even in the opening game program. 34 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,000 But since then, he's been one of the four or five outstanding ends in the country. 35 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,000 Red, can I break in here with a question? 36 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,000 You mentioned Raklewicz a few minutes ago, and it brings up a question 37 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,000 which came in this week in a listener's letter. 38 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:30,000 The question is this, Red, how can Raklewicz, who probably doesn't weigh 180 pounds soaking wet, 39 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,000 play fullback and do such a good job? 40 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:38,000 Bob, I think that there's a misconception about fullbacks in the key formation. 41 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,000 Now, they don't have to be the same type of big, heavy, powerful runner 42 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,000 that you need in that single wingback. 43 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,000 That just isn't so. 44 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:52,000 I think the big assets of a key formation fullback are probably, well, let's say three. 45 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,000 He must be speedy, he must be able to run and get outside of those ends, 46 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:01,000 he must have maneuverability to get around, and he must be able to go each way, 47 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,000 that is, to his right or to his left. 48 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:08,000 He has just about the same plays that the halfbacks have going each way. 49 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,000 Of course, a key fullback must have a fair amount of power, 50 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:16,000 but his big assignment is to be able to get outside the end, and I mean either end. 51 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:22,000 Actually, powerful halfbacks who are a step closer to the scrimmage line when the play starts 52 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:28,000 usually are the most effective in the key formation, even more so than the fullback. 53 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,000 Red, when the Bears were introducing the key back in 1940, 54 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:38,000 I think their most potent runners on quick openers were the halfbacks McAfee and Galernow, 55 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:44,000 whereas Phil Osmanski, their famous fullback, is the man who started that business of running around the end. 56 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:48,000 That's right. Bill could really move, and he was a great fullback, Bill. 57 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,000 And getting back to our midseason size up of the outstanding stars, 58 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:57,000 I was wondering, Bill, who seems to be shaping up in the coaches' scorecard as the player of the year? 59 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,000 Well, first I'd say Janowitz of Ohio State. 60 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,000 He's a one-man backfield, he does almost everything. 61 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:08,000 And right behind him, there's Heath of Oklahoma, the man they call Yuletrain out at Oklahoma. 62 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,000 Good word for it, I guess. 63 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:18,000 But, Bill, every year, Bill, it seems you can find a few players who seem to stand out by virtue of their color as well as their ability. 64 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,000 And thinking back, I can always remember fellas like Jack Cannon, 65 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:28,000 The old Notre Dame guard who played out there without a headgear, and little Albie Booth of Yale. 66 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:32,000 Has 1950 produced anyone as colorful as, say, Cannon? 67 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:38,000 Well, there's Bud McFadden. I think he plays guard, the same position that Cannon used to play. 68 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,000 Bud's down at Texas. He weighs 245 pounds. 69 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,000 He weighs a size 48 suit coat. 70 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:50,000 And he ambles around the campus in blue jeans, boots, and t-shirts. 71 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:55,000 Bud also plays the fiddle left-handed and goes on the radio. 72 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,000 And he's quite a guard. I think he's an outstanding candidate for All-American. 73 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:04,000 And a little story about Bud when he was first thinking about coming down to Texas. 74 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,000 He wrote a letter and wanted to bring his horse to school. 75 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:13,000 And they wrote back and said that Bud could have the scholarship, but he'd have to leave the horse at home. 76 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:18,000 Well, thanks, Bill Faye, for being our guest. We've enjoyed it very, very much. 77 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:25,000 And we'll be looking forward to seeing you again in about a month to talk over the final 1950 All-America selection in Coggers, 78 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,000 who the players are, and why the coaches picked them. 79 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:33,000 Now, fans, let's take a quick rundown on the team still in the running for the national championship. 80 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:38,000 In the East, ArmyThe Army got over its last big hurdle by beating Pennsylvania. 81 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,000 I think they have a pushover with New Mexico this coming week. 82 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:45,000 And undoubtedly, they will go through the season undefeated on tide, 83 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:51,000 but probably will not be the mythical national title holders because they played too easy a schedule. 84 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:57,000 Ohio State, I think that they're looking better each Saturday and probably right now are the best team in the country. 85 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:03,000 Down south, it's Kentucky. But Kentucky-like Army have not played too robust a schedule. 86 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:09,000 They'll have to win convincingly over Tennessee two weeks hence to merit real national championship consideration. 87 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:16,000 In the Southwest, Oklahoma's on top by virtue of an earlier 14 to 13 win over Texas. 88 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:22,000 And that looms more impressive in light of Texas upsetting Southern Methodist 23 to 20 last Saturday. 89 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:29,000 Now, you have to rank Oklahoma on top on account of the scores. But actually, all three are so closely matched 90 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,000 that the results would probably be different every time they played. 91 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:38,000 Out in the far west, California. California's on their way to their fourth straight Coast title. 92 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:45,000 They have one big obstacle coming up this Saturday, and that's beating UCLA. And UCLA really have a tough line. 93 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,000 Summing up, Brad, how do you rate the top team? 94 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:54,000 Well, I think the best team is Ohio State. Now, fans, we'll be back in a moment with our predictions 95 00:06:54,000 --> 00:07:01,000 on all the big college and professional games. But first, a brief timeout for an important message from our announcer. 96 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:06,000 And now for those predictions. Down east, Army may have a hard time against New Mexico. 97 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:10,000 Hard time keeping the score down to 70 points, that is. 98 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:18,000 New Mexico, you fans may recall, is the powerhouse that coach Earl Blake added to the Army schedule to replace Notre Dame. 99 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:22,000 Clemson to whip Boston College. Cornell to win over Colgate. 100 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:28,000 Although Cornell has been disappointing to its followers ever since the upset by Princeton. 101 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:33,000 Dartmouth to edge out Columbia. Now, Lou Little's Lions have had two tough Saturdays. 102 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:38,000 First Army, then Cornell. And even though they surprised everyone by beating Cornell, 103 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:43,000 I don't think that they can stay up emotionally this week. So we're picking Dartmouth. 104 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,000 Fordham to beat Georgetown. Princeton over hapless Harvard. 105 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:52,000 Tulane to defeat Navy. West Virginia to edge out Penn State. 106 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,000 And Penn to win over Brown without too much trouble. 107 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,000 In the Midwest, there's an important Big Ten clash between Ohio State and Wisconsin. 108 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:07,000 Well, Wisconsin is a resourceful team. Now, the Badgers have an alert defense, and they capitalize on fumbles and interceptions. 109 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,000 However, Michigan moved through them for three or four touchdowns. 110 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:18,000 And I think that indicates that their line has a weakness, and a weak line isn't going to stop Ohio State from scoring. 111 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,000 We'll take the Buckeyes, and I don't think it's going to be too close. 112 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:25,000 Let's say 35 to 6. I think that'll be a good guess. 113 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:31,000 Now, elsewhere in the Midwest, it's Michigan State over Minnesota. Nebraska to edge out Kansas State. 114 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:38,000 Michigan to beat Indiana. Although the Wolverines are having a lot of backfield injuries up there, 115 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:43,000 and Indiana could win if the Chili can click as he did against Notre Dame. 116 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:51,000 Illinois to top Iowa. Northwestern to beat Purdue. Iowa State to win over Drake, despite Johnny Bright's powerful running. 117 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:56,000 Drake should set a big, new, intercollegiate record for total offense in this game. 118 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,000 And I like Notre Dame to beat Pitt. 119 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:04,000 Red down south, unbeaten Kentucky goes after its ninth straight against Mississippi State. 120 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:08,000 Yes, and I think the Kentucky Wildcats are going to get number nine. 121 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:14,000 With Dave Perilla passing and Bill Laskovar picking up plenty of yardage at fullback, 122 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,000 they'll have entirely too much offense for Mississippi State. 123 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:24,000 Alabama to top Mississippi Southern. Georgia to edge out Florida. Louisiana State to beat Vanderbilt. 124 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:32,000 Although Vanderbilt's passing attack with Bill Wade tossing to Bucky Curtis makes this game a definite upset possibility. 125 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:37,000 Now, Curtis, I think, is the best pass catching in to come out of the south since Ken Kavanaugh. 126 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:45,000 He's the boy the Chicago Bears have, you know. And I think that this boy is definitely an All-American. 127 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:50,000 Maryland over North Carolina in a close one. And I like South Carolina to top Citadel. 128 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:55,000 Tennessee to win over Tennessee Tech. And Georgia Tech to defeat VMI. 129 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:59,000 How about that West Coast battle between California and UCLA? 130 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,000 Well, here's one I'm going to stick my chin out on, Bob. 131 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:09,000 Now, California, which beat Washington last Saturday, seems well on its way to another Pacific Coast Conference Championship. 132 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:16,000 Now, we have a hunch that UCLA will stop California's ground attack, and they might squeak through to a close victory. 133 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:22,000 Let's say it'll be 7-6 or maybe even 6-0 with that good defensive club that they have. 134 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,000 Now, also out on the West Coast, we're picking Wyoming over Brigham Young. 135 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:33,000 Washington to top Oregon. Santa Clara to defeat San Francisco. And Oregon State to whip Idaho. 136 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:40,000 In the National Pro League Red, those New York Yankees will try to protect their one game lead over the Chicago Bears this Sunday in the Western Division. 137 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:45,000 The Yanks upset the Bears in New York two weeks ago. You think they can repeat this trick in Chicago? 138 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:49,000 Well, I think they have a good chance, Bob, and I'm going to pick the Bears to take the Yanks. 139 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:57,000 I like the Eagles to beat Washington, the Steelers to take Baltimore, the Browns to lick the San Francisco 49ers, 140 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:02,000 The Giants to take the Chicago Cardinals, and the Rams over Green Bay. 141 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:08,000 Well, fans, those are our predictions on all the top college and professional games coming up this weekend. 142 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,000 Now, here's Bob Finnegan. 143 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:17,000 Thanks, Red. Football fans, Red Grange will be back again next week at the same time with more interesting inside stories about your favorite teams and players, 144 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,000 and his exclusive predictions on all the outstanding games. 145 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:25,000 This is Bob Finnegan inviting you to listen next week to the Red Grange Football Show. 146 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:41,000 Till then, so long, football fans.