Alton Evening Telegraph from Alton, Illinois • Page 17

Alton Evening Telegraph Friday, Sept. 1971 Jim Bell A 'Butkus' of yesterday George Trafton. Anybody remember him? Careful now. If you do, you'll be tipping your age. And perhaps your professional football loyalty.

The man breathed his last a few days ago (Sept 5.) in Los Angeles. He was 74. His name struck a chord of familiarity. Memory recalled once pasting Ms picture In a scrapbook as an elementary student. His obituary, printed in these parts, not only slighted him but was somewhat insulting.

It cried for research. Trafton was one of the game's all-time greats, a pioneer for the present-day's flourishing professional football industry. Some of today's prima donnas are deeply indebted to him and others of his ilk. A product of Oak Park High School of Chicago, he had a short-lived college career at Notre Dante. Knute Rockne caught him playing 'semi-pro ball on Sunday and personally expelled him.

Trafton then joined George Halas' original Decatur Staleys, who became the Chicago Bears, for whom he played from 1921 through 1932. A center, Trafton was Dick Bulkus' predecessor. One of his teammates once described him as, "the toughest, meanest, most ornery critter alive." Extreme violence was his forte. He was hated in every city he ever played in, particularly Rock Island and Green Bay. As a member of the Bears, playing in Itock Island, he knocked four opponents cold in the space of 12 plays and flung a halfback into a fence, breaking his leg.

Motorist saved his hide When the gun ended the game, he escaped the premises in a taxicab a thoughtful teammate had waiting. But the incensed Rock Island fans threw every harmful object throwable through the cab's windows, forcing Trafton to hoof-il out of town under a barrage of missiles. Fortunately, he was rescued by a motorist who hadn't seen the game. A year later when the Bears returned to Rock Island, the club was to get $7000 for its share. Halas handed it over to Trafton.

"I knew," Halas explained, "that if trouble came, Trafton would be running for his life. I'd only Ire mnning for the $7,000." Harold "Red" Grange, once a Bear himself, saw his career ended as a New York Yankee back after a collision with the huge Trafton. His cleats caught the turf, twisted his knee and he never again regained his great speed and elusiveness. "After it happened, I was just another halfback," Grange was quoted by writers of that day. Nicknamed the "Brute," he weighed 220 pounds and was a GO-minute performer until he gave it up in 1932.

Trafton served as an assistant coach at Green Bay in 1944 and with the Cleveland Rams and Los Angeles Rams in the 1950s. He was a head coach at Winnipeg in the Canadian League for three years. Trafton was also known for his boxing ability, but became more prosperous as manager rather than a participant. North Dakota in first spot in small poll By THE ASSOCIATED PKESS North Dakota State, which ran its regular season victory string to 37 with a 28-12 triumph over Montana State last Saturday, grabbed the No. 1 spot in the first Associated Press college division football poll of the year today.

The Bison, who lost half their 1970 team which finished 9-0-1 and third in the final AP poll, received eight first voles and 275 points from a panel of sportswrlters and broadcasters. Arkansas State, No. 1 and 11-0 last year under Coach Bennie Ellender, was bumped to No. 2 with five first place votes and 207 points. The Indians' 17 returning starters and new cpach Bill Davidson barely squeezed past rebuilt Wichita State, which lost several players in an airplane crash last season.

Grambling, which is trying to run Coach Eddie Robinson's victories to 200, chalked up the 194th and 195th already and tiok the No. 3 spot in the poll after winding up 16th last year. Montana, which lost to North Dakota State in the Camellia Bowl last season, is No. 4 and Eastern Michigan, which finished 19th last year, is No. 5.

Rounding out the Top 10 are Western Kentucky; Delaware, which is going for its fourth straight Lambert Cup; Eastern Kentucky, Louisiana Tech and Southern Illinois. Eastern Michigan. Louisiana Tech, Southern Illinois and No. 20 Tennessee Tech each received one first place ballot. In the lower half are Tennessee State, No.

5 last year; Akron; Tampa, No. 4 last year and a 28-20 victim of Louisiana Tech in its season opener; Trinity of Texas; Wofford; Cenral Connecticut State; Texas Southwest i i a a and Morehead State. fiJl 10 Top wc "'y teams, with 3 volos Parentheses and tola points. Points tabulated basis of 20-I8-1S-14-I2-10-0-8 Camera fight a 'classic' He had two "famous" fights. Trafton once fought Art Shires, 1 then first baseman of Chicago's baseball White Sox, who was quite proficient with his dukes, until Commissioner Kenesaw Landis stopped him.

"I busied him up pretty good," Trafton recalled. "I also got a couple of thousand bucks, which wasn't peanuts in those days (1929)." His fight with Primo Camera, the former heavyweight champion, was his "classic." "The night of the fight in Kansas City (it was 1930) a guy came into my dressing room about an hour before the bell," Trafton related. "He told me I'd get an extra thousand dollars if I'd let Camera win. "When I told him nothing doing, lie opened his coat and there was big roscoe (pistol) neatly lucked under his arm. I got the message.

I was about to take a poke at Camera when I spied this punk standing up In Camera's comer. He opened his suit coat and pointed. The fight ended very quickly (after 54 seconds of the first round) and you can guess who won." Trafton earned $2,500 but was suspended by the Missouri Athletic Commission. After leaving foolball and boxing he retired to the safer business of selling Los Angeles real estate. George Trafton.

Dick Butkus must've read aboul him, loo. SMORGASBORD Kenny Watkins of Alton, an offensive guard, will lead a parade of Illinois offensive-defensive starters in Purdue's lineup against Notre Dame at Lafayette, Ind. Saturday. Sixteen of the nation's 50 states and one foreign country (Canada) arc represented on the Purdue roster, led by Illinois with 11. Indiana, home of the Boilermakers, has but three reps, yet is second high The foregoing should supply new coach Hob lllacknuin of the U.

of I. some food for thought. Former Notre Dame (juarterbacking star Terry Hanralty, now of Pittsburgh's Stralers, was named after Terry Moore, famed St. Louis baseball Cardinal outfielder "My mother was a great admirer of Terry Moore," he explained, "but she couldn't get up enough nerve to name any of her children after him until I came along. I was the Chicago Austin, transporting only 24 performers here for tomorrow's high school football clash with Alton's anxious Rcdbirds, is cither one of two things (1) economically- strapped or (2) awfully confident.

Twenty-four players for a traveling squad is splitting hairs microscopic thin Close, in other Sports under scrutiny WASHINGTON '(AP) After hearing charges that professional football, baseball and basketball have become big business monopolies, a Congressional subcommittee has decided to conduct an antitrust probe into all major team, sports. A senate judiciary subcommittee examining a professional basketball merger bill heard three days of testimony this week that the three sports have enjoyed special tax breaks and no government regulation. Thursday, acting chairman Sen. Sam J. Ervin D- N.C., told his staff to start gathering material and a broader list of witnesses for the resumption of the hearings Nov.

9-11. "Organized sports asks to be treated as monopoly Southwestern hosts Nokdmis 1 in first South Central game Big 1971 honor Bob Lyons (center), who managed the Braves in the 13-14-year-old league, lias been named the Litlle League managcr-of-thc-year in Alton. Lyons, who has been managing in Little League baseball lor six years, is presented (lie manager trophy by Bob Bussc (right), supervisor of the Alton Parks and Kitcrculion Commission, and Terry Schwartz, who is director of the Alton Little League program. Southwestern's Piasa Birds will attempt to right themselves in their South Central Conference football opener Friday when they host Nokomis as one of eight area high school games. Coach Charles Stone's aggregation was soundly thrashed, 33-0, in its opener last Friday at Hoxana.

Southwestern, expecting improvement over last year's 3-0 season, was 1-6 during its first year in the SCC. celebrating its only win over Virden, 48-12. 0 a 1 1 which ad- minisl creel a crushing 42-6 dcfeal to Civic Memorial in its Mississippi Valley Conference start, invades Ed- wardsvillc. Coach Paul Fuchs' host Tigers are reportedly grossly improved over last year but got off to a bad launch in a 14-6 loss lasl Friday at Belleville East. Lincoln of East St.

Louis, which lost a one-point squeaker to Vashon of St. Louis, 7-6. will battle rival Bears too cautious in opening game East St. Louis in the only Friday matineo contest. The host Flyers, under new coach Cornelius Perry, got off to a victorious start, defeating Soldan of St.

16-8. The East St. Louis clash will be watched with considerable interest by Southwestern Conference officials. Lincoln becomes a member school next year, while the Flyers arc already an affiliate. Triopia and Carrollton clash at the latter's field and both will be looking for their initial victories of the season.

Triopia was downed, 14-0, by Winchester in its season's the host Hawks lost to Jacksonville Routt, 1015, in a road encounter. Winchester will have ils hands full in its invasion of Piltsficld, a Central Illinois powerhouse. The Saukes opened their season with a in ashing 39-0 runaway against North Greene. Coach Al Adkins North Greene Spartans will try to balance the aforementioned defeat by hosting Virden, a member of the South Central Conference. Northwestern (Pahriyra) travels to Greenfield, which Is looking for its first victory of the season.

Last week the Tigers were blanked In a road junket to Porta, 20-0. Belleville Bast and Belleville West, both winners in their openers, will clash in an intercity struggle. The visiting Lancers, said to be weaker than In previous years, downed Edwardsvllle, 14-0, as Maroons defeated Belleville Assumption, 19-0, In their season's start. Saturday's contests finds Granite City invading Cahokia, an independent club that will join the Southwestern Conference along with the invading Warriors next year. Granite City opened its season with a 7-0 triumph over Belleville Althoff as the Commanches lost a shutout to improved Collinsville 14-0.

The Granite City Cahokia clash is a 1 p.m. affair. At night, Belleville Althoff will attempt to even its record by hosting coach Lloyd Dunne's ColUnsville Kahoks. etc. I.

North Dakota State 8 Arkansas state 5 Grumbling 1 Montana Eastern Michigan 1 Western Kentucky Delaware Eastern Kentucky Louisiana Tecli 1 Southern Illinois Tennessee State Akron Tampa Trinity Tex. Wofford Central Conn, st Texas Southwest Louisiana Morehead state Tennessee Tech 1 CHICAGO (AP) "We have to play aggressive football" said Coach Jim Dooley Tuesday after viewing films of the Chicago Bears' 17-15 victory over Pittsburgh last Sunday. "I thought our offense wasn't alive but my coaches tell me we were too cautious from quarterback Jack Concannon on down," said Dooley. Concannon was lifted in favor of reliever Kent Nix in the fourth quarter. The Bears scored a touchdown on a recovered fumble and then added the winning touchdown on an eight-yard pass from Nix to George Farmer after recovering still another fumble.

''Concannon will start Egainst Minnesota Sunday if he is physically ready," said Dooley. "I think he was cautious and favored his injured leg against Pittsburgh. "If we are to have a chance against Minnesota we have to go all out and throw it to the wind. It's frustrating to Outdoors with John Stetson get the ball on turnovers and not score and it's demoralizing the defense which is forcing the turnovers," said Dooley. "One thins we can't afford 275 207 173 1GIS 125 110 88 74 65 51! 53 50 33 32 30 29 26 26 26 20 said Sen.

William B. Spong Jr. while appearing before the committee Thursday. Spong said he is "disturbed by the growing domination of the field by big business interests and big business psychology." He added lhat "there is serious question about the claim organized sport to special consideration under the antitrust laws and its right to other forms of public support it receives." Ervin, the Senate's constitutional watchdog, had earlier warned that if the basketball merger bill passes, he would propose creation of Ihe post of federal athletic commissioner to regulate all major professional sports baseball, football, hockey and basketball. i'giiinsl the Vikings is give them the ball on turnovers," lie continued.

"Minnesota's offense can generate enough points on its own. But when I he defense gives them the on a turnover, Ihey go wild. "We have two games on the road before returning home itiid our objective is to come homa a winner." WOOFF Realtors BcUIIno Olllco 463-9797 i CHRYSLER Chrysler-Plymouth introduces the 1972V Built to stay new longer We've made quite a few changes in our cars for 1972. A lot of them, you can see right away. Like the newlooksofour Fury.

And the new interiors and options we're offering this year. But more important are some of the things you can't see. The kind of things we're doing to fulfill our we're dedicated to building cars that will run better and last longer than any car we've ever built before. So whatever Chrysler-Plymouth car you're interested the little Cricket to the compact Duster, from the mid-size Satellite to the luxurious can be sure it was built with this commitment in mind. Coming through with the kind of car America wants.

Big fish country For years the best fishing in Illinois in our opinion, and others, has been from the Telegraph area south; now things are shifting a bit. Those fishermen up north are stalling to get some really good fishing, and a lot of it is right in Lake Michigan, where pollution and other problems are being met. The species of fish are different than our bass, bluegill and crappie, but they are catching fish in the northern part of the state. And from the looks of this summer's'catches things will conlinue lo improve. In Lake Michigan Coho salmon ranging up lo 18 pounds are being caught wilh regularity and the same is true for lake trout.

This of course is a fine example of what Great Lakes fish stocking programs are accomplishing. One of the most significant lists of fish catch figures for Lake Michigan (in Illinois) was the statistics compiled during three spring fishing derbies this year. During the derbies, 2,009 salmon were caught, 1,818 (91 per cent) of which were coho. Coho ranged in size from .8 to 18.2 pounds. Only 12 Chinook salmon were taken in these derbies, and they ranged from 7.6 lo 21.4 pounds in weighl.

Eighly-five lake trout, ranging from 1.3 to 8.7 pounds, were brought in during the contests. 73 steelhead (rainbow) trout were taken. They were from 1.4 to 11 pounds in weight. A total of 21 brown trout were removed from the lake during the derbies and went from 1.25 to 7.75 pounds. A tola! of 2,552 anglers the three contests and harvested 5,805 pounds of fish.

Although there wre some pier fishermen, 03 per cent tried their luck from boats during the contests. The average size of the 2,009 fish taken was five pounds. Who knows maybe in a few years you'll be saying to your fishing buddy, "let's go to Chicago and Waukegan on a fishing Sounds odd, bul 20 pound Coho salmon and big lake trout are nothing to scoff at. Dance to help ducks A pre-duck season supper dance to benefit Ducks Unlimited will be held by the Migratory Waterfowl Hunters Inc. Oct.

17 in the Godfrey Civic Center. Dinner dance chairman Homer Zigrang tells us that the event, which carries a tab of $10 per couple, is one of several projects the Migratory Waterfowl group is conducting this fall to help raise a pledged $6,000 for DU. Last year they raised and donated $2,000 to Ducks Unlimited of Canada to help perpetuate the reproduction of waterfowl. The dinner will include baked ham, roast beef, cheeses of all kinds and other side dishes. The dinner is scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m.

and the dance from 7 lo tl p.m. Sounds like a good deal from where we sit. And by the way the Migratory Waterfowl Hunters have their regular monthly meeting at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Eagles Lodge Hall at 428 E.

Broadway in Alton. Frank Bellrose, biologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey who is known as "Mr. Mallard" to many will be the guest speaker and a nomination of officers will also beheld. Buy now while prices are still frozen. 1973 Cricket prices will increase slightly due to supplemental import See the 72 Chryslers and Plymouths at: CHUCK DIERING CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH INC.

GENE'S CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH 1400 East Broadway 335 E. Ferguson Alton Wood River.