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: : See Open Race in Big Ten This Fall Coaches Reluctant to Name Own Team as Top Challenger Woody Hayes of Ohio State Only One to Admit That He Expects Pretty Good Club By ED SAINSBURY United Press Sports Writer None of the Big Ten football coaches was willing today to write his team up as the leading challenger for the 1953 title, but Woody Hayes of Ohio State admitted quickly that he expected to have a "pretty good team." Hayes, whose team finished third a year go, already had been put on the spot in pre-season outlooks, with a rating as logical contender to the bid made by defending .national champion Michigan State for a league title in its first year of competition. "We think well have a pretty good team," Hayes said, "but theres three or four others in the conference who should have a pretty good team too. So Id say weve got a four to one, or maybe its one to four, chance to win. Hayts said that only one of his defensive players, tackle George Jacoby, was likely to make his starting team, and that the Buckeyes thus could be handicapped for the "teams with their defensive players back are the ones going to be helped more with only one platoon." Hayes said that only one of his defensive "very good line," that he believed "it would be better than the defensive -line a year ago." Light, Speedy Backfield He said Ohio State would have a light backfield with speed and mobility with John Borton, a quarterback last year who was a linebacker as a freshman, again call-"v ing the signals. At halfback he named Howard Cassady while for fullback he planned to use a former halfback, Bobby Watkins. Michigan State, represented by assistant coach Earl Edwards, said losses from the defensive platoon would hurt the Spartans, but added that veterans would be available for most positions. He listed as the most likely starting back-field quarterback Tom Yewcic, halfbacks Leroy Holden and Billy Wells and fullback Evan Slonac, all veterans of the 1952 club " which under the platoon system went undefeated to the national crown. Fritz Crisler, former coach and now athletic director at Michigan, said it appeared the Wolverines major problems would be finding quarterbacks and linebackers. "Benny Oosterbaan might not agree with me, but the line looks all right," he said. "Well have fair team speed. We wont have great passing, not a great offensive team, but a team that will be hard to beat." Major Michigan losses were Ted Topor - - at .quarterback, linebackers Roger Zatkoff and. Laurie LeClaire and end and safety man Lowell Perry. Wes Fesler of Minnesota looked for his "most experienced team," but listed a probable starting line-up which included mostly juniors. He described halfback Paul Giel as a "real good athlete," with Bob McNamara slated for the other .halfback post, if he recovers satisfactorily from a knee operation required as a result of and summer accident. "We think McNamara is going to be a standout," Fesler said. "Were going to lack team mobility. We arent very deep at any : : spot, but we think well have a very interesting team." Bemie Crimmins of Indiana said he didnt "expect to be a great deal better" with major losses backs Pat Gedman and Lou DAchille. "Well have to depend on Florian Helin-ski for quarterback," he said, "and Jerry Ellis will be our only experienced back." He added, though, that he expected Dave Rogers to be a standout sophomore back. Forest "Evashevski of Iowa was a "little more optimistic than last year." "It depends on how two boys go," he said, "Blinkey Broder and Dusty Rice. We could have a stronger line and a weaker back-field. But well have more depth in the backfield and quality about the same." Evashevski said he planned to "throw out" the unusual formations he used in 1952 and "go back to the Michigan style of attack, the T and run from that or shift to the single wing." Walter Paulison, speaking for Northwestern, said the Wildcats could be improved because "we could have a better offensive team." "We didnt lose many offensive players," he said, "and while we averaged three touchdowns a game last year, our oppon-r ents averaged four." Maccioli Returning to Purdue Purdue, with Bob Woodworth the spokesman, was pleased as reports that halfback Mike Maccioli was returning after two years in the Army. He said the Boilermakers lost "personnel who played more than 50 per cent of the playing time last year," but that the team would have experience and no depth. Quarterbacking was a major problem as Dale Samuels graduated with Roy Evans and Froncie Gutman the contenders for the job. Max Schmaling could play offensive fullback, but was uncertain as a defensive player. Wisconsin co-champions, with Purdue, was riddled by injuries with quarterback Jim Haluska apparently gone for the season and Don Voss and Jerry Wuhrman, linebackers, probably unable to play. Assistant coach Fred Marsh said only one veteran lineman would be available, Clary Stensby, but that the other positions would be filled by "good prospects" from the junior varsity and reserve rosters. In the backfield, the Badgers expected satisfactory 60-minute performances from Roger Dornburg, Jerry Witt and Alan Ameche, but there was no indication who would play quarterback with Jim Miller and Jack Stellick the logical contenders. MARGARET OSBORNE duPONT The Wilmington, Del., tennis star will team up with Louise Brough in Hie National Doubles championships which get under way at the Longwood Cricket Club at Chestnut Hill, Pa., today.
