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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 386574, member: 289"] THE BUILD-UP Some years back, I did a series on the “Hoodoo”, the 13 season period from 1925-1937 in which Syracuse was never able to beat arch-rival Colgate. Here is how I described the 1926 game with the US Military Academy: “Pete Reynolds’ second Syracuse team was a veteran group with eight seniors manning the eleven starting positions, the best of them being the great Vic Hanson, although Ray Barbuti was showing considerable promise as a halfback. They had lost a wild game at West Point called “The Massacre of the Plains”, 21-27 to Army. Nine Orangemen were hurt and the officials nailed SU with an incredible 300 yards in penalties. SU had three scores called back. Roy Simmons was “prompted to observe dryly, ‘I think we got the business’”. Reeves Baysinger punched a referee and got thrown off the team. He got there just ahead of Barbuti, who was restrained by his teammates so he wouldn’t suffer the same fate. Gotch Carr broke his leg in the game and Barbuti was carried unconscious from the field. Hanson’s opposite number at end, John Archoska, hit an Army end named Trapnell so hard he was carried off the field, “blood squirting off of him”. This incited the crowd and the head referee wanted to call the game. He was talked out of it by the Army coach, Biff Jones, who, because his team was behind, “felt the move might be misinterpreted”. Roy Simmons is quoted in “The Syracuse Football Story” that Jones told him “many times that the greatest football team he ever saw take the field was the Syracuse team that day.”. Charley Lee, Syracuse’ right tackle, said “It was a shame. We had the essentials to be a fine team and perhaps we could have gone undefeated that year. But the team never recovered from the injuries they sustained, both physical and psychological, in The Massacre of the Plains”. Army and Syracuse would certainly seem to be natural rivals but they didn’t play each other for 29 years after this game and have done so only intermittently ever since.” I’ve always thought that it bordered on tragedy that Syracuse didn’t have a regular series with Army, for years the only other big-time program in the state, one with a great tradition but a rather dismal history the least few decades. They have a picturesque campus and stadium and would make an ideal opening opponent to open the season with. And it bordered on farce that for many years we played Navy every year but not Army, which as much closer. The hard feeling over the “Massacre of the Plains” cut off the series for 29 years. And we’ve only played a dozen times since. The two schools have met only 21 times in their history. Why? It makes no sense. Jack Slattery of the Herald-Journal said “Saturday showed me enough football to keep me for a few days but the prospect of a Syracuse-West Point game has me straining at the bit already“. Army had gotten off to a great start with an 81-0 drubbing of Furman followed by an impressive 35-6 win over Penn State that got them a #6 ranking in both polls. Then they traveled to Michigan and got badly whipped by the #2 ranked Wolverines 26-2. In the next poll the Cadets were #18 in the writer’s poll and #13 in the coach’s poll but were still a very formidable opponent, especially for SU‘s first road game. The Michigan loss had been triggered by nine fumbles from the normally disciplined Cadets. Army had out-gained Michigan 236-164 and out-rushed them 199-59. It was the first time Michigan had ever beaten Army in six games, the only school the Wolverines had a losing record against. “We’ve seen movies of the game”, said Red Blaik, the Army coach, “and it was sickening. Michigan wasn’t hitting us harder than anyone else but when you lose the ball on fumbles eight times as we did, (really nine), you give the opponent 400 yards. Michigan is a fine team and I don’t want to take anything away from it. But we were able to move the ball, as deeply bottled up as we were, until we gave the ball away each time. There isn’t a thing a coach can do about this. We know the boys don’t want to fumble and take extra precautions, maybe too many. We couldn’t cope with Michigan’s speed and depth when we gave away the ball. They were just as tough as we expected them to be. People were beginning to realize that Jim Brown was something special: “Bill Orange’s attack, paced by the fabulous Jimmy Brown, was spectacular and explosive at times but it’s offensive timing will have to be improved and it’s defense stiffened if it’s to have any kind of chance against the rebounding Army at West Point this weekend.” The paper noted 6 offsides penalties and four holding penalties that held back the offense against Boston U. “Syracuse’s attack started in high gear, rolling quickly for three smart touchdowns in the opening quarter. But after Brown showed his heels to the Terriers on his 66 yard run on the second play from scrimmage of the third period. The Orange offense was derailed by it’s own mistakes. They failed to tally for the last 28 minutes of the game.” Jack Slattery visited the training room and reported that several SU players were nursing injuries. Billy Micho thought he might have a broken hand but it was just a sprain, abit one that might keep him out of the game. Halfback Mark Hoffman, held out of the BU game, would be available for Army. Eddie Albright had the cast off his right hand and was hopeful he could play. Slattery reported that Ben Schwartzwalder came into the training room and said “You can’t beat them in here. Let’s get moving!” “Albright’s understudy, Ferd Kuczala, a green sophomore, grew up against the Terriers. He ran the Schwartzwalder “ride” series like a veteran, faking beautifully and deceiving the opposition time and again. His fakes set up Brown’s two touchdown romps of 24 and 66 yards plus his 25 yard TD spurt that was recalled. And he tallied the first one himself on a sneak from point-blank range.” One thing missing from the modern game is fakes- there’ s so few people in the backfield with the quarterback, (often none at all), there’s no one to fake to. And misdirection simply means end-around plays. There was far less passing in the old days but in some ways the offense was actually more versatile. “Most interesting new development was the successful switch of Jimmy Ridlon to right halfback from his former job, (end), enabling Don Althouse to crack the starting line-up. Ridlon, who will be going home this week- he is the greatest athlete to ever graduate from Nyack High School, a short punt from West Point- put on an amazing demonstration in his backfield debut. He intercepted two passes, returning both for substantial yardage, made several last-ditch tackles as the Hill safetyman and carried the ball like an experienced veteran. His 54 yard romp early in the fourth period, which was called back owing to a penalty, was a beautiful open-field maneuver.” “Althouse, a returned GI, came into his own in a big way as the new left end. His pass interception set up Bill Orange’s first score and his catch of Kuczala’s toss- a brilliant, ricocheted effort- gave the orange a first down on route to it’s second TD. In addition, Don averaged 43 yards from the line of scrimmage with his punts and carried successfully on end-around plays.” Thanks to Don, Syracuse led the nation in punting average. Ben told Jack “Funny thing, I feel less tense going into this one than I did last week. BU was tough in that it was an everything to lose and nothing to gain game. The fellows were looking past them to this week’s game and I found myself fighting them, myself and…well I just worried more about that one than this one, and we don’t stand nearly the chance of winning this one that we did last week.“ Army, known for it’s thorough preparation, had had Doc Blanchard, now Red Blaik’s backfield coach, scouting the Orange since 1954’s Colgate game. Schwartzwalder: “Do you know that Doc Blanchard thought the Army had more to fear from Jimmy Ridlon and Ed Ackley than any other backs we have? He thinks they are the best we have. And after the game Linesman Ed Ailinger told me than he believes Jimmy brown is faster than Army’s Glenn Davis. Up until Saturday’s game Ailinger believed that Davis was the fastest man he’s ever seen on a football field. But now he thinks Jimmy is.” I wonder what Doc Blanchard, (a native of South Carolina), thought of Jimmy Brown? I guess he felt Ed Ackley was better. Another former Army Fullback, Colonel James Schenk, told Bill Reddy of the Post Standard “I know that in the two years I’ve been assigned to the Academy, your freshman team has beaten our Plebes both times. And it’s rather generally known, I think, that last year and the year before when Syracuse and Army met in pre-season scrimmages, Syracuse out-scored us in both scrimmages. We‘re happy to be resuming football relations with Syracuse since we‘ve gotten together in several other sports and we‘ve enjoyed a fine rivalry.” Army would be missing it’s fine halfback Bob Kyasky, (I have been unable to determine if he was related to Syracuse’s equally fine safety of a decade later, Tony Kyasky). Bob had played under Tom Cahill at the Manlius Military Academy. Army quarterback Don Holleder “is a forward passing threat with a strong arm who will have to be watched closely. Army has a strong line and it will be difficult for the Orange to sustain any drive on short running gains.” SU scout Roy Simmons described Holleder as “a great thrower that could develop into a great passer”. He felt that Holleder threw short passes too hard for his receivers to catch them consistently. Holleder, ironically, had been an end before switching to quarterback. Red Blaik said “There’s nothing wrong with Holleder’s passing that and end named Holleder couldn’t cure.” Simmons also said “the Hillmen will have to rely on an overhead attack.” Army was reported to be working on their own aerial attack but they hardly needed one. (Neither team was much of a passing threat: Syracuse was 7 for 17 in two games and Army 3 for 21 in three games.) Army was averaging 357 yards a game on offense, 329 on the ground. They were averaging 6 yards a carry. They’d held opponents to 225 yards per game, only 75 on the ground. Vince Barta was a powerful fullback and Pat Uebel a “battering halfback“. Syracuse was #1 in the nation in punting with 41.6 yards per game. It was a skill they might need. Schwartzwalder joked “I may have to appeal to 35 volunteer players to go to West Point for this game.” A publication called the “Weekly Gridiron Record” predicted Army would win 6-41, (I always put the Syracuse score first). Their view: “The US Weather Bureau was recently subjected to adverse criticism for laxity in reporting the activities of a hurricane. Here is another one they slipped up on. Hurricane Black Knight will roll into Michie Stadium Saturday and practically wreck the place. Even calling out the National Guard and the Red Cross and the Boy Scouts will not materially aid Syracuse except that those folk might assist inc clearing away the debris after the gale has blown the Orangemen into the Hudson River.” Apparently the team hadn’t read this, or maybe they had. Slattery: “The football team is the most up, the most spirited, the most determined football team I ever saw at Syracuse University. They know that the consensus is that they are going to get clobbered. They aren’t buying a little bit of it….The Orange are really determined. But it isn‘t the grimness that precedes the first parachute jump or anything like that. They‘re light hearted and still have fun playing the game…I don‘t think the Cadets are Supermen. And I think there are some pretty good football players wearing those Orange uniforms.” Jack remember prior to the Orange Bowl game against Alabama Red Barber told him “ if Syracuse gets the breaks it could win. If Alabama gets the breaks it could be a rout.” Slattery felt this was a similar game. “However, I don’t think Army is tough enough to rout the Orange.” He gave the Orange a chance if Eddie Albright could play. On Tuesday it was reported that that was doubtful. Even though he had the cast off, all he did vs. BU was to hand off in pre-game practice and it was decided to go with Kuczala. Ben Schwartzwalder said that he “couldn’t count on (Eddie) for heavy duty” against the Black Knights, either. He did not take part in practice drills. Then on Friday, it was reported that he was now practicing and would play, but not start. It was also reporter that “The Orange have some new defenses ready for the Eastern leaders. They also have some new tricks from Coach Ben Schwartzwalder up their sleeves, which they hope will crack the game open. “ Bill Reddy was feeling cautious. “It’s amazing to discover the enthusiasm which has been whipped up among New York alumni of Syracuse University over the twin results last weekend: Syracuse over BU and Michigan over Army. Perhaps it’s a good thing to learn from the Michigan game, that the Cadets are human but it can also be a bad thing if Orange rooters become too optimistic as a result….Let’s remember that Boston University isn’t Michigan and the law of averages is against Army fumbling eight times on two successive Saturdays.” Army was a 21 point favorite. Still, the team would have the support of 10,000 Syracuse fans who were expected to travel to West Point, many of them aboard a special train. [/QUOTE]

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