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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1952)
Page '4 THE BATTALION Tuesday, November 4, 1952 THE BATTALION-MSC A&M QUARTERBACK CLUB Fiery Sophomores Make Up Powerful Mustang Offense Fiery, ambitious first year men have combined with a number of seasoned veterans to form the 1952 Mustang Team, which has turned out to be one of the best Red and Blue squads since the days of Doak Walker. Five offensive and seven defensive starters of the 1951 eleven are back for another year of competition, but some of them are having difficulty in retaining their places in the starting line-ups. At left end Dave Powell and Jimmy Hawn, both two- lettermen, and Raymond Berry, appear as top candidates on the offense, with Bill Rippery, a regular for two seasons, and Doyle Nix, a 1951 freshman star, as standouts on defense. At the other wing Letterman JJim Mahew, Squadman Alex' Litowkin, and Sophomore Ed Bernet will give the Ponies both offensive and defensive strength. At Tackle Positions Available for the tackle positions are seven lettermen— Bill Forester, Harry Dean, Lou Miller, Wayne Ligon, Jerry Clem, Jim Landers, and Bob Cadwallader. Two newcomers likely to share time with them are Tommy Hairston and Don Goss, a pair of all-state players in their high school days. Guards include Buford Partee and David Riley, defensive regulars last season; Darrell Lafitte, who lettered last year as a sophomore; Paul Turk, a squadman for two years; and Joe Basquez, Jim Passons, Bill Crawford, and Rex Winters, a quartet of promising sophomores. Dick Hightower, consensus center on the All-American team in 1951, has left a big vacancy at the pivot position, but Don Cole and Bill Fox, lettermen, and Bob Hailey, Jim O’Neal and Trent Turpin, first-year candidates, are capable men at the. position. Signal Callers for Ponies Signal callers for the Ponies will include Benton Mussle- white, a two-letter man; Duane Nutt, Malcolm Bowers, and Hayes Gilliam, a trio of star quarterbacks on the 1951 frosh eleven; and Sam Stollenwerck, who saw some action last season. At the left halfback will be Jerry Norton, who was the Mustangs’ leading ball carrier in seven of the 10 games on the 1951 schedule; Frank Eidom, flashy freshman star of a year ago; Gene Gillis and Bill Crisler, lettermen. Playing right half will be Don Miller and Val Joe Walker, lettermen; Johnny Crawford and Gayle Mills, squadmen; and Roy Pace, a first-year man. Bill Forester, who doubles at fullback on the offensive, will have help at this position from Dale Moore and A1 Hansen, who lettered as sophomores last season, and Tommie Fields, a hard-blocking freshman in 1951. Don Ellis Ray Graves Ellis, Rush, Boring, Langford Give Razor backs Troubles Alvin Langford Q. B. Club Tonight Darrow Hooper, star end and boaster of the “automatic toe” for conversions, will speak to night at 7:30 in the YMCA Chapel at the weekly meeting of the A&M Quarterback Club. The movie of the Arkansas game will be shown tonight rather than Thursday evening since the freshman team plays a game here on that date. Hooper will narrate the film. Little Don (Babe) Ellis caught three touchdown passes running from halfback Saturdag night to eanr our nomination for Player of the Week. And throwing those passes was Kay (Knucks) Graves, versatile quarterback of the Aggies. He ranks as our other offensive Play er of the week. Defensively it was Jody Boring and A1 Langford, turning in their usually great games. Ellis Triple Threat Ellis has been a constant threat this year running from left half back. He is speedy, and knives through the holes like a veteran dash man, although this is first year to play varsity ball. He has carried the bail through the line 72 times this season, and rolled up 301 yards for a 4.1 average. Against Arkan sas Ellis charg ed 7 times for 41 yards and a 5.9 average per cari'y. In the pass receiving department, El lis now stands fourth among conference leaders with 26 passes caught and a total yardage of 237 yards. His average per catch is 9.1. Ellis also worries the opposition as a passer. He takes a pitch-out from Graves once in a while on an end skirt and has the choice of passing or running. The play has proven very effective although he has elected to run most of the time. Graves Leads Conference Graves leads the SWC in total offense for the year. He has handled the ball on either a pass or run for 203 plays and gained 1,046 yards ... 100 more than the closest contender T. Jones of Tex as University. Secand place in passing over the conference, -^Graves has jtossed 134 j times, and eom- : pleted 7 8 for ; 803 yards. He ! has the best Ellis | percentage of 1 completions in i the SWC with a j .5 8 2. Against the Razorbaeks jhc threw 3 1 times and con- Graves nected on 19 of them for a .613 average and 231 "yards. Hailed by many as the top quar terback in the conference, Gi-aves has displayed a coolness and abil ity that has made many an enemy coach sit up and take notice. He sparks the team, and keeps the de fense worrying if he is going to run or throw. At one time this year, the slen der quarterback was ranked as second in the nation iin passing, and eighth over the country in total offense. Boring Intercepts Five Because of the fine defensive work turned in by Joe Boring against Arkansas Saturday night, he has been selected defensive back of the week. Against the Razorbaeks, he was a constant menace, intercepting five passes to halt Arkansas drives deep in Aggie territory. Boring now leads* the conference in pass interceptions by a large margin with eight. Marshall Rush displayed fine tackling Saturday night to be named defensive lineman of the week. Rush was a hard man to move in the Aggie line, and was con stantly break ing through the Razorback line to break up plays before they could get up steam. Sev eral times he would pull out of his side of the line to move across the field to make tack les. W T j Iff w Rush Rush missed the first three games because of a cracked cheek bone, but since returning to the lineup, has been a standout on the defensive line. * ■ IE9HHB1 WwtmmMmm m Jody Boring- American Laundry <£ DRY CLEANERS Kelleys 210 South Main Bryan JUST GOOD FOOD 210 South Main Bryan The Co-Op Store North Gate College Station Cade Motor Co. YOUR BRYAN FORD DEALER 415 North Main Bryan Bryan Motors Co. Palace-Queen-Dixie LINCOLN - MERCURY DEALER BRYAN AMUSEMENT CO. Quarterback of the Week Brazos Varisco Brazos Varisco, an Aggie by as sociation. It is a long way to be near your favorite school but Brazos did it. He came to the U.S. from Sicily 45 years ago at the age of five. Starting in 1924 with a bride of a year, six mules and a Brazos bot tom farm, Varisco is now one of the leading business men of the Bryan-College Station area. Largely self educated, Brazos took out enough time to take three years of Summer Cotton Classes at Texas A&M. He is married and has two married daughters, Mrs. Cosmo Guido of San Antonio and Mrs. Jean Donaho of Bryan. Mr. Varisco owns several busi ness buildings in Bryan, including the Varisco Building. He and Jean Donaho own the Varisco Lumber Company. Jean is a graduate of Texas A&M. Brazos Varisco Lumber Real Estate