Spring football closed up shop for another year last Saturday afternoon amid the puddles and mud of the current rainy season. Full-scale games on Wednesday and Saturday climaxed a month of maneuvering, scrimmaging, and learning plays; and head coach and strategist Richard Cresson Harlow has nothing to do now but dream up ideas for next autumn's affairs.
Harlow was apparently rather pleased with the results of his vernal drills, especially since "none of the boys got hurt"; but all the problems aren't solved. The graduation of Jack Fisher and Ed Davis leave two pretty big holes in the forward wall.
Spring practice showed the backfield candidates up to advantage, and next year's ball-carrying unit will be at least the equal of last fall's eleven. Chip Gannon, he of runs to the left, made ground every time he took the ball, and there is little doubt that he will be starting wingback come the fall. Freshmen Jim Kenary and Hal Moffle looked to be the best of the tailbacks although plenty of other talent turned up at this position.
Captain Vince Moravec turned in effective performances from his bucking slot, while Kenny O'Donnell, running from the quarterback position for most of the spring, exhibited some tricky dashes down the sidelines in the practice tilts.
Turning to the line, the center position is still very much in a state of flux. "After Chuck Glynn," said Harlow, "we've got a lot of good boys, and I don't know just who's the best." Chet Pierce, Howle Houston, and Nick Rodis, converted from guard, were the most prominent tackles, while Bob Drennan, Jim Feinberg, Emil Drvaric, and Dick Guiders hold down the guard slots.
Although not all the end candidates showed up for spring efforts, most notable among the absentees being George Haupt-fuhrer and Walt Coulson, the pass catchers present drew occasional warm praise from Harlow. John Fiorentino, Wally Flynn, and several Freshmen played most of the football at this position.
About 50 shoulder-padded huskies came out for workouts over the six-week period and absorbed some of the newer wrinkles of the Harlow system. But spring practice never means very much; there aren't any crowds.
