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The 1952 College All-Star Game |
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Waterfield, a veteran pro who once played for UCLA, was the star of the intricate Rams offense as the National Football League champions posted the Pros' 11th victory in the 19th renewal of the annual series.
But it took his quarterback sidekick, Norman Van Brocklin, an ex-Oregon star, to pull the Rams into a tie with the younger and better conditioned All-Stars.
Under Van Brocklin's leadership, the Rams started a 76-yard touchdown drive in the third period which finished with a touchdown early in the final session when Tank Younger took his pass for a touchdown (video). The drive had immeasurable assistance from a pass interference penalty good for 30 yards called on Texas' Bobby Dillon when Van Brocklin passed to Skeet Quinlan.
Overall, however, Waterfield was far more effective ball player than Van Brocklin. He completed only five of 14 passes for 40 yards against Van Brocklin's eight completions and 106 yards in 23 attempts, but twice Van Brocklin's tosses were intercepted to break up Ram scoring drives.
The same fault, interceptions, besieged the collegians and Kentucky's Babe Parilli, the first choice at quarterback of Head Coach Bobby Dodd of Georgia Tech, was the "goat" of the night.
Parilli hit on six of 11 passes for 88 yards, but twice his throws were hauled down by the Rams and both thefts came in the last period to halt All-Stars' offensives. In addition, Parilli fumbled four times, each damaging the All-Stars badly.
But for Parilli's bobbles the All-Stars might have won.
All the fumbles came in the rain which fell sporadically through the game. The first cost the All-Stars possession on the Rams 26 after a 51-yard drive, the second lost the ball in the same place after 52 yards, and the third gave the Rams possession on the All-Stars 33.
The last, however, was the most costly coming on the Rams 11 in the third period immediately after Parilli had completed a 60-yard pass to Hugh McElhenny of Washington on the Rams 11.
Parilli sparked the All-Stars to their only score, however, leading a march from the Stars 31 to score in nine plays, as Vic Janowicz of Ohio State plunged over from the three and then place-kicked the point after touchdown (video).
Dodd used virtually every player on his roster and his standout players were defensemen, linebackers Les Richter of California and Chuck Boerio of Illinois. Richter, on the Rams reserve list, was a constant problem to his future teammates, while Boerio, signed Sunday afternoon by the Green Bay Packers, showed flashy skill for a pro career.
Dan Towler carries on a Rams' sweep behing the blocking of Bill Lange (65).
Volney Quinlan ot the Rams tries to shake loose from a tackle by Ollie Matson. |
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CHICAGO,
Aug. 15 (U.P.)- Bob Waterfield, lashing his team on an all-out effort in
the final period, booted a 24-yard field goal with seven minutes to play
Friday night to give the Los Angeles Rains a 10-7 triumph over the
College All-Stars before 88,316 Soldier Field fans.
