Show Powers Ranks Sam Ba g g. g Greatest 1936 Grid Back BackBy By FRANCIS J. J POWERS Special to The Telegram SAN FRANCISCO Cal Dec 21 Five 21 Five autumns ago a gr group up of Texas college coaches were wat watching hing the Sweetwater high school eleven play some dome opponent One coach liked this player another fancied the work of that one Finally Francis Schmidt of Texas Christian spoke Ill take that kid playing quarter for Sweetwater what's his name name Sammy Baugh went to Texas Texas' Christian but Francis Schmidt never never had the opportunity to coach him for the big Nebraskan went on to to Ohio State before the boy became eligible for the varsity But Schmidt's knack of picking football talent in the embryo was proven for Sam Baugh became one of the great backs of his time In three seasons Sammy Baugh completed two miles of forward passes That may not be the record record record rec rec- ord but it will vill do until some statistician is able to produce more snore definite proof to the con con- tracy Baugh was as more than a great passer lasser lIe He was one of the finest kickers this old observer has se seen n over r the past three years ears and ana a s superb field general This season Sammy did not have much of a running attack with which to work to-work work vork but he be handled his is limited resources like Ilke a master and the constant threat of oC his passing made the Frogs' Frogs ground game go for more than it was worth Of all the backs the writer has seen in 13 games this season that included some of the best teams of oC the east cast south and Pacific coast Baugh Baug was the best Buivid Fine Player Flayer Second to Baugn Baugh in the seasons season's was Ra Ray Buivid of oC Mar- Mar quette There was a fellow tellow who could match Sammy Baugh as a passer block with the best carry the ball on any type of ot play and hold his own on the defensive line Buivid was handicapped by lack of fast receivers else he would have compiled an a aerial touchdown record record record rec rec- ord that would have stood the wear and tear of years Another outstanding back bach of the 1936 campaign who uno re received no iso great recognition was sas Nevin McCormick McCormick Mc- Mc Cormick of Notre Dame The rho Irish were bogging along winning but lacking Jacking the spark of greatness until the little Livermore Cal Cat boy was Introduced as right half half- back Then Notre Dame began to gather speed and play similar to the old Rockne teams Looking back across the recent season Ill I'll take a kick made by Ray King the Minnesota end as one of the greatest plays of the campaign It came early in the Minnesota Northwestern stern game on a afield afield afield field that was churned into a mush and with a ball baIl that was heavy with I I water and mud saud Standing on his own yard five-yard line the gigantic Gopher drove out a punt that car- car rieti riet 75 yards on the fly and skidded another five There likely will be greater single performances performances' but that one still holds my fancy tancy Odd Oddest st Grid Game The oddest game was the Notre Southern Dame California Californi duel in which the Irish made 18 first downs to one yet earned nothing better than a tie Some one of the gentlemen gentlemen gentlemen gentle gentle- men who wh make a specialty of ot re recording recording recording re- re cording the worlds world's oddities will wil find material in that game I doubt if ever before a team Southern California trave traveled ed yards on two plays for as many touchdowns yet did not earn a first down And the most sensational game was that between Minnesota and Nebraska when In the last minute of oC play the Gophers turned an ap- ap ap apparent apparent parent tie into victory as Charlie Wilkinson fielded a punt and ad flipped it over his shoulder to Andy Uram who raced 75 yards for the winning touchdown The 1936 season was placed in storage with the Texas Christian- Christian Santa Clara game but the Rose Sugar Orange Sun Chocolate Cotton Cotton Cotton Cot Cot- ton and Bacardi Bowl games still remain and they will keep the pIgskin pigskin pigskin pig pIg- skin alive for another three weeks |