Varsity
THE MItHfGAN DAILY AEoT
To Open CageSeason HereSaturday Against Stat
Tank Clowns Promise Laughs
New Varsity Face
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Ma1 Mann't Trio Of Jesters To Provide Merrirment
For Fans At Annual Swimming Gala
By BUD HENDEL
Believe it or not, Coach Matt Mann.
is staying awake nights worrying
about the seventh annual Swim Gala
which will be held Friday night in
the Sports Building pool.
And Matt has real cause for worry.
No, he isn't afraid that this year's
Gala won't be a success. In fact, he
knows full well that i will be the
best yet. And he isn't concerned over
the fact that the big show may not
draw a crowd. He is well aware of
the fact that the natatorium, which
only accommodates 1,000 people, will
be packed to overflowing when the
program starts at 8 p.m. Friday.
Mann Frets
Nonetheless, Matt Mann is wor-
ried. He doesn't know if he should
install safety belts in every seat, put
up a fence around the edge of the
pool, or just hope that none of the
spectators roll into the cool waters
while doubled up in screaming laugh-
ter over the antics of the three clowns
that he has on deck to entertain the
crowd.
For this fun-making trio can really
provoke the belly laughs. They'll do
everything from fancy dives to fall'
ing out of the ceiling, if their pasf
performances are any indication.
And when they start cutting up, then
Michigan Mat
it's time to flash the danger signal.
After all, Mann doesn't want 1,000
spectators fainting dead away from
sheer merriment. And anything can
happen when these boys start indulg-
ing in their specialties.
Crowd-Pleasing Boys
They'll bring down the house when
they take their places on the diving
board. When they actually execute
their dives, the roaring will be heard
for miles around. They'll do their
own interpretations of the graceful
dives that T-Bone Martin and Lou
Haughey of the Varsity will exhibit
to the audience, and then they'll do
some extra-specials that- they've
cooked up themselves-such well-
coordinated plunges as the "back-
belly-flopperoo," the "water-busting-
header," and a host of others.
But Mann has more than just
clowns to offer Friday night.
The champion Wolverine swimming
team will be there ' to stage an as-
sault on existing pool records and to
put on feature and comedy races:
Twenty aquatic lassies and Kay Cur-
tis' water ballet troupe will journey
from Chicago to display floating ex-
hibitions and various top-of-the-wa-
ter stunts.
Add to this special relay races by,
sororities and the men's dormitories,
and you have the bare outline of the
biggest Michigan Swim Gala ever
staged.
Tickets will be distributed on the
first come, first served basis and are
now on sale at the Athletic Adminis-
tration Building for'50 bents apiece.
Part of the proceesds will go to the
Women's Athletic Association for its
swimming pool fund.
For a big night of top entertain-
ment-it's the Swim Gala, Friday,
Dec. 12.
Team To Open
At Penn State
/
1942 Slate Is Toughest
InWolverines' History;
Keen Seems Optimistic
Wolverine westlers can thank
their coach, Cliff Keen, for giving
them one of the toughest schedules
in Michigan mat history. The Varsity
will meet the National Intercollegiate
Champion, the runner up, the East's
strongest team, the Big Six title
holder, and two of the Big Ten's best
teams.
"The boys don't mind a difficult
schedule," Keen said yesterday, "and
besides Maize and Blue fans are en-
titled to the best incollege wrestling
today." The astute mat mentor shyly
neglected to add that his team will
be able to give as many headaches as
they receive and at the same time
show Wolverine fans that they have
one of the most colorful squads in the
country today.
Only Two Big Ten Meets
The success of this year's wrestling
schedule can not be laid to Michigan's'
membership in the Big Ten. Despite
Keen's strong desire to' arrange for
five or six Conference teams on the
Varsity's program, he was able to
schedule only two, Iidiana and Ohio
State.
Keen will not send a squad to the
Midwestern A.A.TU's this weekend,
although Bill Combs, backbone of last
year's squad will compete unattached
in the heavyweight division. "I would'
like to send a whole team to the
tournament," Keen added, "but my
boys aren't in shape yet, and I have-
n't selected my squad yet."l
Open Against Penn State
Michigan opens the 1942 season
away when they meet Penn Statej
on Jan. 10. The Nittany Lions are
considered one of the strongest bands
of wrestlers in the East. Two days
later on Jan. 12 the Varsity meets the
best outfit in the country-Kansas
State. Besides being Intercollegiate
Champs the Wildcats hold the Big1
Six crown.
Most colleges would require a two1
weeks' rest after meeting those two
teams, but there is no let-up as far Is
the Wolverines are concerned. The
following Saturday, Jan. 17, the Var-
sity comes home to clash with the
powerful Michigan State crew. Mich-
igan's traditional rivals were runners
up in National Competition in the
1941 season. At the start of the new1
semester, Feb. 16, Nebraska comes to
town.
Dates Of Meets
Michigan's conference meets are on1
Feb. 21 when the Varsity meets Indi-
ana at Bloomington, and on Feb. 28
when Keen takes his aggregation to
Columbus to'battle the powerful Ohio
State wrestlers.1
The Conference championships will
be held in Chicago on March 13-14'.1
East Lansing will play host to the1
National Intercollegiate competitors1
on March 26-27. This marks the first
time since 1934 that a Michigan
school has had this honor. In that
year the national tournament was
held in Ann Arbor.
Keen has Jan. 24 and March 7 as
Sextet Shows'
Promise Even
While_ Lsing
By STAN CLAMAGE
A quick survey of the highlights of
Michigan's hockey defeat at the
hands of the London A.C. proves ab-
solutely nothing that was not already
known before the season's opener.
Facing a team that was better
equipped with manpower and experi-
ence, the Wolverine sextet just wasn't
able to combat the superior odds that
faced them. Although they werel
out-skated and generally out-
played, there xdere some sparks that
flashed out of the dregs of defeat.
Maybe they might offer some conso-
lation, but hockey teams don't win
games on consolation.
Braidford Plays Well
. ..Johnny Braidford, sophomorek
center, did some good work in his
play-making role. He fought all the
way, and with better luck, some of
the plays might have materialized
and helped a lost cause. Several times
the puckmen worked in close only to
have sloppy stick-handling turn them
back. Had they been a little more
careful and not so wild, the bridge
between the two scores (6-1) might
have narrowed a bit. But don't take
anything away from that London out-
fit. They were good.
Hank Nifty In Net
In the nets Hank Loud turned
in .a fine performance. Time after
time he kicked out Canadian at-
tempts. Out of 49 direct sloots six hit
their mark. In many cases Loud had
to work alone. His defense didn't
offer him sufficient protection at all
times, thus forcing him to come out.
However, at least two of the re-
bound scores might have disappeared,
or been merely postponed, had the
first try been turned to the side in-
stead of right out front where another
Canadian was waiting to fling it
back into the open net.
Finally, while continuing on
their present course this semester,
facing Port Dover here Saturday,
Eddie Lowrey's squad might find some
ray of hope for next semester. The
team would be strengthened tremen-
dously if those five ineligible puck-
men can regain their standings.
* Fraternity
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Leo Doyle, Wolverine junior, has
just about clinched a starting berth
at guard. He is probably the best
ball andler on the squad and is
an a cellent shot.
Ali-Amertcan
Bob Westfall
The Michigan Union ballroom is
going to be very crowded tonight.
Tonight is the night that Ann Ar-
bor honors its All-American Bob
Westfall with a dinner party. And
with room for only 572 dinner guests
the committee in charge of the affair
is now becoming worried concerning
how best to accommodate the expec-
ted overflow crowd.
Bob the Bullet is very bashful. And
therefore he is no doubt going to be
red and heated from boyish embar-
rassment the evening long, because
his athletic successes for the past
seven years are to be feted and highly
praised by one and all present. And a
quick review of these accomplish-
ments in the realm of sport clearly
reveals that Westie began early his
All-American development:
At Ann Arbor High Bob was a nine
letter man, and subjected four sports
to his athletic prowess. There were
three years of Varsity football, an-
other triple of basketball, an addi-
tional two monograms he won in
baseball, and finally in his senior year
he took a fling at shot-putting .and
broad jumping in track and brought
the total to nine AA's.
Even as a sophomore he was ac-
claimed All-Five-A fullback, a signal
honor indeed. A knee injury shelved
him early in his junior year, but as
team captain the following season he
was again the fuljback of the league.
In basketball also he was named an
All-Five-A player.
This then was the embryonic back-
ground out of which developed the
greatest fullback ever to wear the
Maize and Blue.
And small wonder the people of
Ann Arbor want to honor that full-
back tonight.
I Javelin Throw
Rejection Hits
Miehigan Hard
Decision Of Big Ten May
Cost Squad Nine Points;
Wege Is Star In Event
By BOB STAHL
Michigan's chances of regaining
the Big Ten outdoor track champion-
ship were dealt a severe blow at the
coaches' convention in Chicago last
Saturday, when it was decided to toss
the javelin throw out of all future
Western Conference competition.
That this act of the Big Ten au-
thorities hits the Wolverines harder
than any other team in the Confer-
ence is very obvious to the observing
eye. Of the five point-winners in
the javelin throw in last spring's
outdoor Big Ten meet, Michigan's
Johnny Wise, who placed fourth, is
the only one still in competition. Bob
Tillson, another Wolverine, took sixth
place in the event.
Sure Points Lost
What is even more important to
the Wolverines, however, is the fact
that Pete Wege, the phenomenal
javelin-tossing novice, will not be
able to add what were to be almost
certain points to the Wolverine cause.
= As a freshman last year,'Wege turned
in one heave of 196 ft., 6 in., which
was more than nine inches better
than the distance turned in by the
first-place winner of the javelin
throw in the Conference meet. So
with Wege and Wise both out of com-
petition, it is probable that by one
fell swoop the Big Ten authorities
have lopped an almost certain nine
points off Michigan's score in the
coming outdoor meets.
Several reasons were advanced by
Michigan's track coach, Ken Doherty,
as to why the javelin event was dis-
carded. Probably most important is
the fact that the event is so danger-
ous to spectators, contestants, and
others who might come into the path
of a flying javelin on the field. More-
over, very seldom has a javelin
thrower ever been able to turn in
three years of competition because
the event is so injurious to the bak
and shoulder muscles of the thinclad
contestants.
High Sehools Discard Javelin
High schools have already ruled
out the event from interscholastic
meets, which means that college
coaches would have to develop their
javelin men from scratch. Besides'
that, the fact that there will prob-
ably be no more Olympiccontests for
some time to come was another fac-
tor leading the Big Ten authorities
to discontinue the javelin event.
Michigan's javelin throwers will
get their chance to win a letter in
the Penn and Drake Relays, which
are not under the sanction of the
Big Ten, and Coach Doherty de-
clared that if they show enough
promise, Wege,' Wise, Tillson and
Chuck Trick will have a chance t'
enter the National Iintercollegiate
meet next June.
- Be a Goodfellow Dec. 15 -
State Tops Central, 29.23
EAST LANSING, Dec. 8-(A)-Chet
Aubuchon's deadly long-range shoot-
ing and an early second half spurt
gave Michigan State College a 29-23
victory over a stubborn Central Mich-
igan quintet here tonight. It was
State's second win and its 16th ti-
umph in as many starts against the
Bearcats.
S PORTFOLIO
w Role Of Athletics
0 For The Duration
By HAL WILSON
Daily Sports Editor
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FROM THIS DATE henceforward the scope, the role, the function of the
sports page is changed. Just what concrete effect the machinations of
the international statesmen and armed forces will have on all athletics in
general, and collegiate athletics in particular, is not yet determined. Many,
people wonder; some venture opinions. But no one knows for certain.
Just one thing stands out as fact. The necessity for national unity,
the need for a supreme war effort is bound to alter the status quo of all
athletics to a considerable degree. It may come quickly or it may come
slowly. But it will come. Make no mistake about that,
Instead of asking the question: "What is war going to do with our
present sports setup?" however, I'd like to phrase it a little differently. I'd
like to ask: "What are our athletes going to do about the serious interna-
tional situation?"'
IMMEDIATELY I am reminded of
a sultry day last spring when
Athletic Director and Head Foot-
ball Coach Fritz Crisler was ad-
dressing some three or four hun-
dred Michigan letter winners and
guests at the annual 'M' Club ban-
quet at the Union. The war, inso-
far as it affected the lives of Amer-
ican citizens, was then just a
threatening cloud. Fritz had some-
thing like this to say:
"These graduating senior Michi-
gan 'M' men--and there are 43 of
them here tonight-have contri-
buted heavily to University life and
activities, often at the expense of
ceaseless, tireless, unflagging effort.
They will be expected to contri-
bute just as fully, just as effectively,
and just as unselfishly to activities
in the outside world from now on
Unfortunately, because of the pres-
ent ominous condition hanging over
most of the yet free countries, the
immediate contribution of these
athletes to their communities and
toltheir nation may have to be made
on the battlefield, as was the situ-
ation in the last war. They will be
expected to be the leaders of to-
morrow."
THOSE aren't the exact words
Fritz used, but as close an ap-,
proximation to his actual speecih as
my memory can recall. And that
certainly is the essence of what he
declared. "The leaders of tomor-
row," he said. Well, that tomorrow
now has become today.
Crisler pointed out that more
than half the letterwinners who
entered the services during the
first World War became efficers
and it was upon these men that
the burden of leading the nation
fell. He cited a few statistics, most
of which Fve forgotton, but the
point is nevertheless pretty clear.
It was to these athletes, these men
who stood out on the fields of sports
battles that the nation looked for
leadership when facing the greater
struggle. And most important, these
athletes didn't fail in the last war.
They produced.
Capt. Cart ill,
Doyle, Mandler
Set For Berths
Comin, MacConnachie Vie
For Starting Positions;
Five Others In Fight
By DICK SIMON
There are two things on the minds
of Michigan's basketball players these
days-the war and the Michigan
State game Saturday night in Yost
Field House.
Since there doesn't seem to be much
that they can do to help their country
at the present moment, the cagers
are doing the next best thing-con-
centrating on whipping the Spartans.
Three Posts Decided
After yesterday's practice session,
it appeared that Coach Bennie Oos-
terbaan had just about made up his
mind on three of the five positions.
Capt. Bill Cartmili will no doubt get
the nod at one of the forward spots
and Leo Doyle, junior' letterman, will
probably start at one of the guard
spots. Veteran Jim Mandler wli
scored 168 pqints last season seems
to have the inside track at the pivotal
post, although Ralph Gibert, sopho-
more from Flint, has been pressing
the Chicago junior very closely.
A wide-open scramble is being
waged for the other forward and
guard spots. Mel Comin, a junior
letterman, and two sophomores, Wally
Spreen and Bob Shemky, are compet-
ing for the forward position, with
Comin having a slight edge because
of his experience, while Don Holman
and two sophomores, husky Bill Mac-
Connachie and speedy Morrie Bikoff
are battling it out for the last position
at guard.
All Combinations Tried
Oosterbaan is trying all combina-
tions possible at these two spots in
order to get the most co-ordinated
group. Yesterday he used Shemky
at forward and MacConnachie at
guard on the "white team" along
with Cartmill, Mandler and Doyle.
Comin and Spreen held down the for-
ward spots and Holmanhand Bikoff
the guard positions on the "reds."
The two squads scrimmaged for
about' twenty minutes, with the
"white shirts" handing the "reds" a
23-11 trouncing. Cartmill was high-
point man for the third consecutive
day, scoring six points while Comn
and Bikoff led the losers by garner-
ing four points apiece.
The
University Mbsical Society
announces the following
concerts
LATE YESTERDAY EVENING word came to me that Bill Smith, varsity
football tackle here from 1937 through 1939, is a pilot of a B-18 Bomber
at Hickman Field, Honolulu. Big Bill was undoubtedly in the thick of the
action Sunday as a lieutenant in the air corps. No one here has heard from
him yet. Bill's father, Andy Smith, helped mold Michigan football tradi-
tion under Fielding H. Yost, many years ago. He now holds a commission
in the United States Army and is stationed on the Pacific Coast.
And so it goes. I could mention here the names of dozens of Michi-
gan athletes who are already in some branch of the nation's armed
forces. Many of them have entered just since last June. The nmber
will undoubtedly be multiplied many times in thedstant, or perhaps
the near, future.
I SAID BEFORE, no one can foresee the future course of'events. One
can only speculate. But whatever happens, whatever sacrifice the
sports world is called upon to make, I am confident that it will fulfill it with
the highest honor. The mark that the All-Americans made in the last war
is still on the books as 'an everlasting tribute to the fighting heart, the will
to win, and the undying courage of the American athlete.
If this is flag-waving, I'm all for it.
. -----~-- - - -- - - - --- - s
BOSTON
SERGE KOUSSEVITZKY,
Conductor
Wed., Dec. 10; 8:30 P.M.
'I
-
l PForaPerfeet
sz sChristmas..
GIFTS from
Stae & Days
Listed below just
a few suggestions
Manhattan SHIRTS and PAJAMAS
McGregor FLANNEL SHIRTS and SWEATERS
Cheney and Wembley silk NECKWEAR
Interwoven silk and wool HOSIERY
Hickok JEWELRY - Leather POCKETBOOKS
Hickok and Pioneer BELTS and SUSPENDERS
Silk and wool SCARFS
Hansen GLOVES
Rabhor ROBES - gabardines, silk and flannel
Gordon and Ferguson leather and suede JACKETS
ALL GIFTS APPROPRIATELY BOXED
THE DOWNTOWN STORE FOR MICHIGAN MEN
erge Koussevitzky
MESSIAH
CONCERT
Chorus - Orchestra - Soloists
THOR JOHNSON, Conductor
Sun., Dec. 14, 4:15 P.M.
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