Like a good prizefighter manager, Dick Harlow has always been a firm believer in brining new men along slowly. To throw an inexperienced cub without proper seasoning into the ring or football stadium may often result in disaster for both player and team.

In fielding his 1939 eleven, no one is more aware of this danger than Dick Harlow. During his stay in Cambridge he has always worked new men in gradually. Even last spring when it was apparent that this year's Varsity would be sadly depleted of veteran material, Harlow expressed the hope that Jayvees could be used to fill the gaps, at least in the early season encounters.

Five Sophomores

But losses by graduation and the inability of Junior Varsity material to meet the occasion will force Harlow to dip into the Sophomore delegation sooner than he had hoped. When the season opens Saturday, there will be five bright and shiny new Sophomores lined up on Soldiers Field.

Just WHO and WHY are these Sophomore starters?

Well, you just have to look at Vern Miller to see a good share of the reason why he rates a first team tackle berth. Vern's 250 pounds are far from all fat. While Vern may still have a few tricks and intricacies of the game to learn, his size and surprising speed will give considerable consternation to opposing linemen.

Lee for MacDonald

While Miller is by all odds the biggest man on the team, another Sophomore starter is next to the smallest man on the team. He's Fran Lee, who'll be starting Captain Torbie Macdonald's tailback position Saturday. Obviously the reason Lee holds the starting post is Torbie's injury, but Lee will undoubtedly be called on for frequent service throughout the season. Although he's only an average carrier, Lee can pass with the best of them. His appearance truthfully represents that quality of determination which football coaches seek.

From the some home-town, from the same school, and in the same class with Lee, comes the other starting Sophomore back, Charley Spreyer. Unlike Lee in temperament, Spreyer seems easy-going on the field; but somehow he's always there. He's the Larry Kelley type of "clutch" player, without Kelley's objectionable trimmings. At fullback he won't spin and run like Vern Struck, but he'll kick like George Roberts.

Ayres a Fixture

Since Coleman's shift to the backfield, Burgy Ayres is apparently the most assured Sophomore of a permanent first team post, at center. Superlatives cannot be affixed to Ayres at the moment. He's only moderately steady in passing to the backfield; he is quite good at blocking; and only so so in backing up the line.

The fifth Sophomore is really an unknown. The name is Loren McKinney and you won't even find him listed with last year's Freshman squad, for he de-injury. He's tops in ends on the devoted his time to studies instead. This year he shot to a first team berth like a bolt from the blue.