Purple Patcher 1938
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ATHLETICS — ROBERT MAUTNER Captain of Football Season 1937 Undefeated Football T^ROM the time Seniors returned to the Hill were capable in all line positions. Giardi and until the 1937 edition of the Holy Cross Gerasimas were excellent in the backfield. Jun- Crusader actually took the field rumors were iors and Seniors, some of whom had seen but rife and opinions many concerning the var- little service in previous years, gave evidence sity strength and the outlook for a successful that they would be regulars throughout the season. While current opinion was by no means season. pessimistic it was generally conceded that some Midway in the opening period Bullet Bill of our more prominent rivals had a decided Osmanski snatched Henry Giradi's pass deep in edge. All now know that the team completed St. Anselm's territory, shook off safety man a season more successful than had been pre- McLean and raced thirty yards for the opening dicted by the most hopeful of its rooters. touchdown of the season. Early in the second period Osmanski went over on a plunge from the 1 yard stripe. Collins converted and the score was 13-0. The Hawks struck back and with ST. ANSELM'S 21-0 (Sept. 25) a sustained drive netting four first downs ad- On the last Saturday in September Cleo vanced to the Crusader 16. There the attack O'Donnell invaded Fitton Field with his ever- bogged with incomplete forwards. threatening Hawks. What hopes must have In the final quarter Histen scored on an end stirred in the hearts of the blue-shirted St. around play that had the fans comparing him Anselm warriors! On their preceding visit to with Red Daughters. Then in the closing min- Worcester thev had held a strong Crusader to utes Shields blocked a St. Anselm's punt by a scoreless tie—on the last play of the game McLean. The ball rolled into the end zone for their field goal bid for victory had failed to a safety. Final score 21-0. an accompanying sigh of relief from heart-sore It was an optimistic group of Purple sup- Purple rooters. Now, with their battle array porters who filed slowly from Fitton practically intact they were facing a foe sup- Field. Apprehensive Seniors, who had feared posedly weakened considerably. It must have that the present Crusader might not compare appeared a golden opportunity. favorably with those we had previously seen, Evidently Holy Cross' team did not share were jubilant. There were some obvious weak- popular opinion as to relative strength. In their nesses in the team, but we were confident baptism of fire Sophomores did a fine job of these would be corrected before major foes proving themselves. Histen and Sarno at left were encountered. And this new Purple varsity end gave evidence that there would be a hard had proved itself well worthy of its predeces- battle for that post. Sophomore replacements sors. PROVIDENCE dence spirit surprised Holy Cross immensely, they came near scoring in the first period, and With a series of persistent drives and tedious together with their defense starring Eichner efforts the Purple repelled a strong Friar ag- in the line and Moge in backing up the line, gregation from Providence. Predictions point- they pierced the hearts of the Purple rooters. ed to Holy Cross as a heavy favorite, but as Whatever happened to the Crusaders in the weather prophecies sometimes are faulty so, third period no one knows. Either Doctor An- too, did this event seem to be erroneously derson touched a fuse or the Crusaders felt it foretold; and only by eventually capitalizing in themselves to hit their stride. After a vain on its own fumbles did the Purple out-point attempt by the Friars for a field goal from the Providence by a single touchdown, the only thirty-five yard strip, the Purple unleached a tally of the day. drive from their own twenty yard line that The entire first half was rather a drab affair ultimately terminated in a score. Renz was the for the Crusaders, showing a poor offensive, bombshell that lifted the Holy Cross support- marred by poor blocking and lack of timing. ers out of their pessimistic trance and even up Osmanski provided the sole flame in this half, on their feet. "Hilly" carried six out of ten commencing a drive of his own near the end of times in that march; aided by Giardi and Bar- the second quarter. New faces appeared in the tolomeo, he slashed off tackles and through the frontier of the Purple line up; Dick Donovan center. When on the nine yard line, "Hank" was at left end, Ziniti and Ball, both Sopho- Giardi started to sweep his own left end, he mores were at guard and center. All three was hit hard and lost the ball, Renz was there, played well but Providence seemed to take ad- however, waiting for a lateral; the bounc- vantage of the inexperienced Sophs and con- ing ball served as a lateral and "Hilly" stantly sent power plays into the left side and tucked it away and crossed that final middle of our line, with Ploski, Nugent and marker in short order. Bartolomew kicked Moge carrying. At the beginning of the second the point. Carr and Delaney were im- period Carr, old-reliable "Chesty," went in portant cogs in this advance, cleaning for Ziniti. Histen also replaced Donovan to out yawning holes in the Friar line and leading carry- on where Dick finished. Bowman later Renz and Giardi into open fields. took over Ball's assignment at center and al- The opening part of the final period was though the Purple defense was at top strength, again dull, featuring a kicking duel between the offensive still lacked that necessary punch. Bartolomeo and Nugent. With only five min- Bartolomeo's toe warded off the spirited Friars utes left in the game another Crusader drive many times in that initial half, O'Melia, De- was instigated, Osmanski and Renz were the laney, and Carr crashed their running plays alternating carriers of the impetus, this ended whenever they had opportunity, and Osman- on the twelve vard mark when the Friars tight- ski supplied the lone forward power. The Provi- ened and took the ball on downs. GEORGETOWN 27-6 It had been many years since Holy Cross last met their brethren from Georgetown on the gridiron. In celebration of the event even Na- ture seemed to concur for the day broke bright and clear. Retreat Holiday made possible a Sat- urday morning open air rally and greeting at which the Georgetown and Holy Cross bands provided musical entertainment. After a wel- come such as might have been given a prodigal son it seemed almost unmannerly for the Cru- saders to win a glorious triumph. But at least for the duration of the game our comraderie had to be suspended. Against our Capitol foes Coach Anderson unveiled his Sophomore stars. On the opening play Ronnie Cahill retreated a few steps with the ball, rifled an expert pass to Osmanski. Bill stopped only in the end zone. Though the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA lads from Washington played a gallant game Leaving the homey confines of Fitton Field, it was distinctly a Holy Cross afternoon. As proudly displaying three blazing victory the contest progressed the touchdown margin notches on their war lance, the Crusaders sallied of the Crusaders proceeded apace and hence forth to their first real test of strength at Fen- Doctor Anderson was not reluctant to make way Park in Boston. The University of Georgia frequent substitutions. Thus players who had a powerhouse from the South was to give that not seen action in the opening frays received test. Not only was the Georgia contingent the an opportunity to display their wares. The first major opponent pitted against the Pur- wealth and quality of the reserve material ple, but it was also an intersectional rival; amazed observers. and another notch on the Crusader lance at our Southern guests' expense would do consider- Having conquered the first opponent from able in spreading our football glory. below the Mason-Dixon line by the impressive Georgia invaded the North with a formid- score of 27-6 the Crusaders eagerly awaited an able record, and an equally formidable team, invasion from the Deep South. having a line averaging better than two hun- dred pounds and a backfield composed of diver- annex that all-important point that later decid- sified talent, led on by their spirited captain, ed the issue; it was Sophomore Henry Giardi "Wild Bill" Hartman, and ably supported by who stole the Purple spotlight so far as ground Young, Hunnicutt, Fordham, Mims, Maffett, and gaining was concerned: then too, Sophomore others. Across the battle grounds that mid-Oc- Bill Histen carried that oval into pav territory tober day jogged a purple and silver bedecked when he snatched CahiU's long pass. Others group, warming up before that inevitable were outstanding too, but it was the Sopho- whistle would throw the North and South into more edge that supplied the seven to six vic- another fray—a fray for supremacy on the tory. gridiron battlefield: the Purple had not as yet It was Holy Cross that provided the thrills their bag of tricks tried to the utmost. and chills during the first half, thrills for the With such a stage set who wouldn't be a bit followers and chills for Georgia. Giardi re- hesitant at predicting an outcome, and such ceived the kick off and carried it to the twen- was the dubious pall that hung over the twenty- ty-five yard marker, making his presence felt; three thousand shivering fans there at Fen- a pass failed, and again Giardi went places and way Park, broken here and there by that op- netted a first down.