The morning mail, which traditionally brings to sports desks a series of dull publicity releases, dropped a horrifying little document at 14 Plympton St. the other morning. It was entitled, "Preliminary Prospectus, 1949 Stanford University Football Team." Running to six closely written pages, this report painted a picture of the Crimson's first 1949 opponent which was matched only by the ghastly verbal report delivered by Art Valpey at the football luncheon Monday.

The first item of note is the list of lettermen lost by graduation. It is a short list, including two firststringers and only six other squad members. This seems more than overbalanced by 25 (twenty-five) returning lettermen from 1948, two lettermen from 1947, seven non-lettermen from last fall, 20 "leading" candidates from the freshman team, and "some other candidates (8)," a category including four transfers, two freshmen from 1947, a member of last season's B squad, and a non-letterman varsity player of 1947.

The last item is perhaps the most sinister. It implies that coach Marchie Schwartz will have 55 men who either are already on the varsity game list or are topnotch freshmen.

What Valpey said at the Writers' Free Lunch was more encouraging. At least it was couched in a series of maybes and hopeful phrases--"We're lucky to be playing them first. Our chances of winning so early in the season will depend on experience and organization. They've got better personnel than we do." What Art implied was that later in the schedule we probably couldn't touch them; if his team is up for its opener, we might come through.

Valpey had special words for the new men up at Stanford. Of the freshmen, Art estimated that between five and eight would possibly make the starting team. The transfers--men that found Yuba, Glendale, Colorado, and Santa Clara unsatisfactory--should also fit into the picture pretty nicely.

The ball-carrying squad looks competent, at the least. Right half Bob White averaged 5.5 yards in 89 attempts; fullback Bill De Young, 6.4 for 28 shots. Emery Mitchell, starting fullback, carried 71 times for a 4.4 average before being eliminated by Army's bonecrushers. His status is indefinite--if a knee operation proves successful, he'll take over quarterback duties.

Schwartz expressed concern (through the medium of the release) over the tackle, guard, and fullback spots. Apparently De Young's neat average is marred by youth or inexperience or some other unannounced shortcoming. At tackle, the two starters are back; "Reserves, reserves," means Schwartz. There are only two lettermen at the guard slots, one of whom was a starter in 1948. However, two squad members and four freshmen might help out a little here; and as for substitute tackles, there are four freshmen and three asserted varsity players scrapping for the chance to back up their friends in those positions.

Valpey rates Stanford among the top 15 teams in the country. It could be a long, long ride back from Stanford; if it is not to be so, a lot of organizing and movies and chalktalk will have to pay off before September 24.