News-Journal from Mansfield, Ohio • 36

PAGE SIX--C Mansfield, News Journal Sunday, December shirley povich Sports Editor, The Washington Post Rookies Of Year WASHINGTON Tommy Nobis, the linebacker from the University of Texas, hasn't made his first tackle yet in the National Football League but he is already the darling of every clubowner in it. Before suiting up for the 1966 season, draftee Nobis has served the league so well the NFL owners should be tempted to vote him their rookie of the year by acclamation. Their affection for Nobis, the 230-pound crew-cut redhead who was the No. 1 draft choice of the Atlanta team, stems not only from the fact that he chose to sign with the NFL but from the manner of it. Houston of the American Football League, also was bidding for its No.

1 draft choice, and this was war. The ammo in this confrontation between st the two leagues for the defense man in all college football money. In Atlanta the insurance company chips of Rankin Smith were piled high against the action in Houston where Bud Adams stacked up a few of his oil wells in this game of football tablestakes. "It wasn't the money," Nobis said, while picking up Atlanta's $225,000 offer and signifying his pleasure in this final entrapment. "I've always wanted to play in the NFL.

There's no doubt in my mind it has the National Powers To Compete Here Two national powers pected to compete in Relays, scheduled for According to 22 teams are definitely are included in a field of 23 teams exthe fifth annual Mansfield YMCA Swim Dec. 27 at the Malabar High School pool. associate general secretary Dick Knight, entered, with one additional expected Monday. Listed as a strong favorite in the four-division meet in what Knight termed "one of the largest, if not the largest, swimming relays meet in the United States" is the team from Huntington, Ind. In 1964, the Huntington team stroked to the national YMCA championship, and last spring was edged out for national honors by a Chicago team.

SIX STATES With entrants from six states Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania the top-rated Buckeye team is the Dayton Central unit, also a top finisher in the national competition. Last year, the Toledo Central squad snared its second straight team championship, although the surprising Mansfield "midgets" won their divisional competition. The began in 1961 as the idea Knight and former Relays, Mansfield Aquatic Director John Watkins. The inaugural drew just eight teams due to a heavy snow storm. The following year, ten teams participated.

SITE SHIFTER In 1963, the number increased to 11 teams. Last year's affair, which drew 14 teams and over 600 swimmers, was shifted to the Malabar pool for the first time. This year, 700 swimmers plus parents and friends are expected to migrate to Mansfield for the multi-state competition. The meet is divided into four divisions midgets for boys ten under, preps for boys 11 and 12, juniors for 13 and 14 year olds, and intermediates for boys 15, 16 and 17. Trophies will be awarded to the winning team in each division, and an over-all accumu- trophy will go to the YMCA lating the most points, according to meet director Robert Schein.

Individual awards will be given to the top six finishers in each event. Preliminaries are scheduled to begin at 10 a. with finals for 7 p. m. Redskins Snap Slump For Ball State Win OXFORD, Ohio -Miami University broke out of a shooting slump, making 41 of 73 trys for field goals, to whip Ball State University 94-73 here Saturday.

Top Miami scorer was 8" guard Phil Snow, with 24 points on 12 field goals. Top for Ball State was Phil Underhill, a forward, with 17 points. best teams and the ers. If I had chosen would always have how I would have against the NFL best playthe wondered stacked up players." The Right Words Pete Rozelle, the NFL commissioner, couldn't have said it better. He has been spending gobs of the league's money, getting out fancy brochures and hiring a staff of propagandists to sell the college boys on his league.

Rookie Nobis couldn't have mouthed any more useful lines for the NFL than he did at the signing ceremony, if they had been written for him. He said all of the right things, even if they weren't written for him, and he said them at the right time. Here was the first big skirmish between NFL and the AFL for a graduating collegian recognized as a hot professional property, and the importance of winning this one was obvious. The league that landed Nobis would not only score well, but would be entitled to brag, particularly the AFL which has need of something more to boast about. It is only number two, and thus must try harder.

The capture of Nobis would be a gaudy feather for the younger league, which could flaunt it that the AFL is good enough for the graduating hotshots. Stations, Too It seemed a week ago that Nobis was destined for the Houston club. Not only was he a native Texan, a credit by which Houston fans lay great store, but clubowner Bud Adams was known to be fast with a buck and could toss in a few gas stations as a final persuader Nobis. It was sort of implicit among Houston fans that Nobis would play his pro football there. There was an attempt at persuasion from outerspace Borman as well.

Astronaut Frank who was sharing a double berth with Jim Lovell in the orbiting Gemini 7 capsule, is a Houston fan. He found time to radio to Gemini control in Houston a special plea to Nobis that he sign with the Oilers. It didn't help. Adams was confounded by the news out of Atlanta that Nobis had been signed. "He told me Saturday that he liked our contract, and he told me again Monday," said Adams.

He reads into the whole thing some devious stuff by somebody. "I'll bet there is something more than this to the story," "I doubt if we were outbid." Peons 'Raised' The terms of Atlanta's. 000 payment to undisclosed but the figure stands as the highest ever to be offered a defense man by either of the pro leagues. It confirms the growing emphasis on defense, symbolized this season by the wonderful play of Dick Butkus whose tackling and ballhawking have moved the Chicago Bears so far up. Butkus, for, whatever figure he was signed last season, has proved the NFL's finest bargain of recent years.

He was the Nobis of the 1964 draft, yet did not command more than a $150,000 contract. The price on linebackers has since gone up, and interior linemen who were the peasants of the pro game, now are among the $25.000 dollar a year earners. Even as major league baseball owed so much to Babe Ruth for trilling all of the baseball peons up the salary scale, the pro football players are obliged to Joe Namath. Whether or not he is worth the $400,000 contract he got from the Jets is beside the point. He gave the young, businessmanathletes a new high figure to work with.

Another Aerial Circus Texas Western Big Surprise Of '65 By JOHN M. McMILLION EL PASO, Tex. (UPI) Texas Western soared out of football oblivion this year on the strong arm of a sophomore quarterback nobody wanted, earning the right to face Texas Christian University in the Sun Bowl Dec. 31. Western didn't win a game last year.

The Miners engineered a step-up to a 7-3 record this season, utilizing a offense stimulated by the ty nation's second finest passer and a trio of stickyfingered receivers. Sophomore quarterback Billy Stevens, overlooked by many colleges because he suffered a high school knee injury and played only limited prep ball at Galveston, was runnerup to Billy Anderson of Tulsa in Satchel Paige's Added Attraction 24 20 40 TEN PINS Although aligned like a set of ten pins, the Hillsdale High basketball team has not been bowled over often this season, and sports a 5-2 record. Holding the basketball is Dean Moody. Second row, from left: Mike LeMasters and Ted Brightbill. Third row: Paul Garn, Paul Patterson, and Chuck Wiltrout.

Back row: Pete Kosse, Dennis Bolin, Chuck Twining, and Ralph Clark. (News Journal Photo by Randy Dieter). Paige first cracked into the major leagues with the Cleveland Indians in the stretch run of the 1948 American League pennant race. Although pushing the age of 40 at the time, Paige picked up six wins against just one defeat and was credited with a number of vital saves. In and out of the majors ever since, Paige's most recent appearance was during the innings of shut out, one-hit past season with the Kansas City Athletics.

In one lone appearance, Paige hurled three ball against the Boston Red Sox. But Paige's greatest claim to fame was built during 22 years of competition in the Negro leagues, barnstorming, and Winter Coast baseball. DANCERS, TOO One of the biggest of the Harlem Globetrotters Pete Henry Gymnasium Paige, reputed to earned baseball immortality ing for laughs in the attractions connected with the appearance Dec. 27 at Mansfiedl Senior High's might be the legendary Satchel Paige. be anywhere from 57 to 60-plus in age, pitching baseballs but will be pitchFriendly House-sponsored event.

BIG ATTRACTION Among the big attractions at the annual Friendly House benefit Christmas show will be legendary baseball star Satchel Paige, the aged mound wizard who broke into the major leagues with the CleyeIndians in 1948. As an added attraction to the Globetrotters' contest with the Washington Generals, the Bratislava Slovakian Folkloric Dancers, recently featured on the Ed Sullivan television show, are scheduled to perform. Tickets are on sale at the Friendly House, Ella's Dairy Bar, City News, Shaw and Ott Drugs (Cline Mansfield Senior High, Malabar High, Carbetta's TV, First National The Rookie Crusher From Illinois Dick Butkus Proving Budding Football 'Thief "Each game I feel a bit comfortable out there," says Dick Butkus, the rookie middle linebacker of the Chicago Bears who spends his Sunday afternoons making National Football League opponents uncomfortable. "I I'm finally to the stage where I'm starting to react the way I ought to." The implication is clear. and this is fair warning for the future: Dick Butkus expects to get lots better, and when he feels really comfortable.

Chicago's "other" rookie ace (in his own block-busting way he's been as remarkable on defense as Gale Sayers has been offense) has played a big hand in the surge that has taken the mighty Bears to nine victories in their last ten games and kept them in a challenging position in the NFL's Western Conference. For instance: The Bears have recovered 22 opponents' fumbles. Butkus has recovered six, including two direct steals from the ball carrier while he was tackling him. The Bears have intercepted 19 passes. Butkus has made five of the interceptions.

Of the 41 times the Bears have taken the ball away from their opponents, Butkus has done the job 11 times. He's also credited unofficially with having caused six other fumbles. Add this to the times he's established his presence with a rocking tackle there is ample indication of what makes the 6-3, 240-pound crusher illinois, defensive perhaps star the in the brightest NFL. Most pleasing of all to the Bears is the rapid way Butkus has gone about learning the intricacies of middle Says Bears' defensive coach, George Allen: "This boy is all football player- -this is No. 1 with him and he's determined to be the best there is.

He has great football sense and he gives you that extra all the time. You ask a football player for 100 per cent. This boy gives you 110 per cent all the Vern Law Snares Lou Gehrig Prize NEW YORK (AP) Vernon Law, the veteran Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher who made a brilliant baseball comeback last season, was named winner of the annual Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. The big right-hander, who posted a 17-9 record and 2.16 earned run average after having been plagued by injuries in the previous four years, was a unanimous choice of selectors representing Phi Delta Theta fraternity, which presents the Gehrig Award in memory of the late New York Yankees Hall of Famer. Gehrig was a member of the national fraternity of Columbia University before going on to the Yankees.

Origin Of 'Shug' Ralph Jordan, football coach at Auburn, got his nickname of "Shug" because, in his youth, he loved to chew on sugarcane. IT SLOW Will the college problem change our speed? It will slow us down, if we let it. College enrollments are rising by several hundred thousand every year--and that's the problem. Higher education needs funds to help finance the facilities, equipment and teachers to educate all these potential leaders. This is where it hurts.

Progress calls for leadership. Leaders are needed, in great abundance, to make wise use of our resources, manpower and human skills. If the supply of leaders doesn't keep pace, can we expect to maintain our high level in jobs, opportunities and living standards? This is everybody's concern--and everybody can help. Give to the college of your choice. College is America's best friend Published as I public service in cooperation with The Advertising Council, the Council for Financial Aid to Education and the Newspaper Advertising Executives Association.

Bank (Marion Dunkin Jewelers (West Park Shopping Center), Penny's, and Penn Sporting Goods. Tickets are $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for students. Jets Offer Big Salary Butkus' performance in the Bears' 61-20 win over San Francisco last Sunday was routine for him four unassisted tackles, a couple of assists and his usually adroit pass coverage when he was dropping off. But, coincidentally, the 49ers were held to a mere 58 yards rushing, their second lowest total of the year. And Ken Willard, the 49ers' star rookie fullback, was held to 24 yards, some 40 yards under his pergame average.

The week before, Butkus recovered one fumble and caused two others in the Bears' 13-0 shutout of the Colts, prompting Baltimore Coach Don Shula to exclaim: "He's SO strong he can tackle the runner and search him for the ball at the same time." Nearing the end of his first season, what are his impressions? "One thing I'm sure of," he says, "is that you can't think out there-if you do it's too late to do anything. If you take time to think, you're dead!" YORK (AP) The New York Jets, who've received a fair return so far on their 000 investment in quarterback Joe Namath, shelled out an estimated $300,000 for All-America linebacker Carl McAdams of Oklahoma. McAdams, 6-foot-3, 217 pounder from White Deer, Tex. was introduced yesterday at a news conference during which Sonny Werblin, the Jets' owner, said, "As far as I know Carl's contract is the biggest one that's ever been offered to a lineman. I understand that Dick Butkus got a little less than $300,000 to sign with the Chicago Butkus was an All-America linebacker for Illinois in 1964.

FRESHMAN WHIZ Former Lexington High cager Jeff Claypool is the leader in two categories on the Grove City (Pa.) varsity basketball team. The 6-6 Grove City freshman is the top Wolverine scorer with a 20-point per game average and is also the top rebounder with 89 caroms for a 14.8 average per game. Two Cage Leagues Slated At YMCA YMCA basketball league play will be held on a partial basis. this week, with two of the three leagues scheduled for action. The Junior High League, which usually plays Saturdays, will not play until after the holidays.

YMCA BASKETBALL MEN'S LEAGUE MONDAY 66'ers VS Those Boys, 6:45 p. Royals vs. We-5, Fernvs. Hawks, SENIOR HIGH Grace CHURCH Episcopal LEAGUE TUESDAY First United Presbyterian, 6 p. First Methodist vs.

First Congregational, 7 p. First English Lutheran Vs. AZA, 8 p. m. AUTO CENTER 3 RESTORE YOUR STOPPING POWER! Not just a reline complete brake overhaul most cars Penney's brake experts install new bonded, linings, rebuild all wheel cylinders, bleed and refill hydraulic system, match linings to drum size, repack wheel bearings, install new grease retainers much more! FREE BRAKE ADJUSTMENT FOR LIFE OF LINING Chrysler products, self-adjusting brakes $5 extra.

DRIVE IN! CHARGE IT! the final NCAA passing and total offense statistics. As Stevens goes, so go the Miners! During the season Stevens connected on 196 of 432 passes attempted for a staggering 3,032 yards and 21 touchdowns -exactly half the Texas Western TD' output. Stevens, six feet three inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, had ample help from junior flanker back Chuck Hughes, sophomore split end Bob Wallace and junior tight end Chuck Anderson. Hughes, small but elusive at five feet 11 inches and 165 pounds, snagged 80 Stevens' passes for 1,519 yards and 12 touchdowns. Wallace, despite a troublesome groin injury, caught 48 passes for 870 yards and eight tallies and Anderson caught 38.

passes for 532 yards and one touchdown. The Miners managed to put together a ground game late in the season to. relieve the pressure on Stevens. Fullback Dick Weeks is rated one of the finest runners in the Southwest and already is being eyed by the pros. Weeks, who missed the final two games with an injury, averaged 4.2 yards in 95 carries and substitute fullback Don Davis averaged 3.3 yards on 40 carries and also had a 40.6 punting average on 57 kicks.

The Miner defense was leaky but improved as the year progressed, being particularly effective in recovering enemy fumbles (16) and in interceptling passes (18). MANSFIELD SQUARE PENNEYS AUTO CENTER OPEN DAILY 8:30 TO 10 SHOPPING CENTER CLOSED SUNDAYS.