The 1947 College All-Star Game
If
a pinnacle of excitement and interest was reached in the series’
history, the game played in 1947 between the Chicago Bears and the
All-Stars proved to be its summit. The game sold out and then some. The
attendance was recorded at 105,840 reaching an all-time high. Nearly
2000 people were turned down as tickets were sold to “every last person
Soldier’s field could accommodate.” The fourteenth renewal of the game
found George Halas’ Bears favored to win with noted quarterback Sid
Luckman. They had never lost to the collegians having played to a
scoreless tie in 1934. The Bears then won in 1935, 1941, 1942 and 1944.
The professionals showed up with new uniforms and, during a night
practice, Bears receivers complained that “the glare reflected off their
white-rayoned posteriors are a hazard worse than strong light.”
Notre Dame’s Frank Leahy was the first of five men to be named coach of
the All-Stars in consecutive years (1947-1948). He had at his disposal
such renowned All-Americans as Doc Blanchard, Glenn Davis, and Arnold
Tucker of Army, Alex Agase and Buddy Young of Illinois, Charlie Trippi
of Georgia and Horace Gillon of Nevada.
On the extraordinarily hot night of August 22, the two teams took the
field and the All-Stars scored on their first possession. George
Ratterman of Notre Dame completed a 31-yard pass to Buddy Young. Charlie
Trippi then ran 19 yards off tackle and Jim Mello of Notre Dame scored
with a 6-yard cut-back over his own left tackle. The extra point attempt
by Ernie Case of UCLA was blocked. Frank Leahy’s squad scored again in
the first quarter with Ratterman passing to Young for 41 yards and
another pass to John Zilly of Notre Dame for the touchdown in a 92-yard
drive. Case’s extra point was good. The final score of the game came on
a 29-yard Ernie Case field goal leaving the Bears with a 16-0 loss on
the night.
Not
once did the Bears advance beyond the All-Stars’ 30-yard line in the
upset victory for the collegians. Claude “Buddy” Young was responsible
for three eye-opening runs while gaining 73 yards for his team and was
voted Most Valuable Player. Together Young and Ratterman had electrified
the crowd. Prior to the second TD the All-Stars had been backed up to
their own goal posts and were preparing to punt. Instead, Ratterman
faked a kick and calmly flipped a short pass to Young standing in the
left flat. Young carried the ball to the Chicago 46-yard line. The Stars
scored on the next play.
Cartoon from Chicago Tribune
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