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The 1947 College All-Star Game |
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The Negro dashman sparkled like a neon light against the champions of the National Football League as Frank Leahy's college All-Star squad won a well deserved 16-0 triumph in the 14th annual clash between the best of both types of football in Soldiers' Field. It was the Bears' first defeat in six All-Star games.
More than 105,000 fans jammed the huge stadium to watch Young and his cohorts outspeed the heavier Bears. And when the game was over it was Buddy the crowd talked about.
He gained a total of 165 yards through and around the Bears. Most of his yardage came on passes from George Ratterman, the former Notre Dame flash who quarterbacked the Stars and completed eight of 12 passes. But Buddy also proved his mettle in contact work as he stepped through slim holes in the gigantic Bear line for two good runs.
Ratterman and Young weren't the only stars. Charlie Trippi, Georgia's Al1-American, also stood out in the backfield, and in the line there was a host of heroes. Among them were John Cannady. Indiana's Giant center; Alex Agase, Illinois guard; John Mastrangelo, Notre Dame tackle, and Ceil Souders, Ohio State end.
Speed was the entire story. The All-Star line, light but fast, got the jump on the Bear forwards on nearly every play, and in the first quarter Ratterman directed the Collegians to two quick touchdowns, both by Notre Dame players.
Jim Mello went over on a four yard plunge, and Jack Zilly caught Ratterman's pass for a 46-yard gain and the score.
From that point on the Bears were chasing the All-Stars, and catching them, but the Bears never could break away. Just for the clincher, Ernie Case, U.C.L.A., put over a 29-yard field goal in the third period after Mastrangelo had recovered a fumbled punt on the Bears' 23.
Twice more the All-Stars threatened, recovering fumbles inside the Bear 10 yard line, but on neither occasion could they score.
The Bears never advanced beyond the All-Stars' 20, and they never maintained an offensive long enough to threaten to score.
All in all it was a great victory for Leahy and his All-Stars, and a dismal defeat for George Halas' Bears. Halas had been expected to throw his best at the Leahy club in an effort to regain league prestige lost last year when the Los Angeles Rams lost to the Stars by the same score. He threw all the Bears had and it wasn't nearly enough. |
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Buddy Young of Illinois sprints 28 yards on Stars' first series.
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Georgia's Charlie Trippi shoots to the Bears' seven on the same series. |
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And, Jim Mello of Notre Dame finishes off the drive with a 6 yard run to stun Chicago early. |
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Cartoon from the Chicago Tribune.
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