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The 1959 College All-Star Game |
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By Gus Schrader Cedar Rapids (IA) Gazette Sports Editor
Obviously, Graham never found it, for his collegians looked miserably leaderless in their 29-0 drubbing by the pro champion Baltimore Colts Friday night in Soldier Field.
There might have been one. Don Brown, defensive halfback from Houston" university, was carried from the field with a brain concussion when the game was 10 minutes old.
Whether or not Brown was a potential leader, the Stars crumpled after that. Less than 1 1/2 minutes later they gave up a safety on Dan James’ high pass from center and the retreat soon became a rout.
Brown scared the daylights out of trainers and All-Star game officials. While unconscious, he swallowed his tongue on the field and nearly strangled. He was taken to the hospital and kept overnight for observation, although X-rays showed he suffered no skull fracture.
The Colts, led by the peerless passing arm of Johnny Unitas, did all of their scoring in the first half. Unitas threw a 3-yard scoring pitch to Ray Berry, a 29-yarder to Jim Mutscheller and a 13-yard toss to L. G. Dupre. Milt Davis scored the last touchdown by intercepting a pass by Baylor's Buddy Humphrey and rambling 36 yards to the score.
The crowd of 70,000 and an ABC-television audience of uncounted millions can testify it was a dreary game in the 2nd half. The All-Stars had the ball most of the 3rd quarter, and even with the cooperation of officials who never seemed to miss a chance to penalize the Colts, they never could score.
The closest the Stars came was in the 3rd quarter. Mike Rabold of Indiana recovered a fumbled punt by the Colts' Jackie Simpson on the 16-yard line.
Even after 2 Baltimore penalties gave the All-Stars 2 first downs, the collegians could get no farther than the 3-yard line. There Bob Ptacek of Michigan threw a pass into the end zone that was stolen by the Colts' Carl Tasseff.
It was the 8th time in the 26-game series that the Stars failed to score. The pro champions now have won 16 games, the Stars 8 and there have been 2 ties.
The press and radio workers are asked by the sponsoring Chicago Tribune to pick the most valuable All-Star players. This really caused a quandry, because there was no standout. Some suggested Dave Sherer of SMU for his fine punting.
"How about the poor guy who had to play opposite giant Jim Parker, Baltimore tackle?"- suggested another.
Another wag claimed he was going to nominate William Downes, the referee because he had gained more ground for the All-Stars than anyone else.
The crowd included Vice President Nixon, who came to Chicago Friday to address the Football Writers of America earlier in the day.
Brown Stopped Breathing- Player Almost Died on Field
CHICAGO (AP)- Halfback Don Brown of Houston fought a life-and-death battle on the grass of Soldier Field and won.
From then on, his shaken All-Star teammates fought in a psychological maze and lost, 29-0, to the National Football League champion Baltimore Colts.
The All-Stars undoubtedly would have lost Friday night to the onrushing wave of seasoned veterans in football's heardiest league.
But the depressive sight of Brown, injured in the first quarter, struggling for life on the gridiron before being hauled off to a hospital, was enough to jolt the most calloused player.
"Brown went out for a hookpass." explained Lee Grosscup of Utah, the starting All Star quarterback. "He was supposed to swing tight. I think one of the Colts' pluggers clotheslined him (accidentally hit him across the throat.)
For 12 minutes, Brown lay silently on the ground while 70,000 fans stared downward at officials, trainers and coaches frantically working over him.
"When Brown got hurt, that was a big letdown," said Coach Otto Graham afterward. "He actually died on the field and stopped breathing. But they finally opened his mouth and brought him around again. I was scared to death."
The impact on his throat caused Brown to swallow his tongue. He was choking to death. The situation was remedied during the frantic 12 minutes he lay on the ground. Hospital attendants later said he also suffered a slight concussion but his condition was good.
As for the game, Graham said: "We didn't have the horses and the Colts were a lot tougher than Detroit (his All Stars trimmed the Lions last year 35-10).”
Baltimore Coach Weeb Ewbank said: "We couldn't say boo. Every time we looked sideways at an All Star, an official would throw his handkerchief (indicating a penalty)."
The Colts had 15 penalties called against them for 137 yards- records in the All Star series.
"But we won the game, "so what's the difference," Ewbank added. "It went a lot easier than we expected. The big reason may have been our defensive line. They were really charging in. It made it easy for our secondary defense."
Jim Mutscheller attempts to haul in a throw from Unitas in the first quarter.
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Raymond Berry stopped by Colorado's Ed Dove (45) and Michigan's Bob Ptacek (48), All-Star MVP.
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Lenny Moore sweeps end for the Colts.
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Cartoon from Palm Beach Post television guide newspaper insert.
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CHICAGO-
Before Friday night's 26th annual college All-Star game, Coach Otto
Graham told reporters the one thing his squad lacked was a spark, some
thing to fire the team like Joe Ninowski and Bobby Mitchell in the
Stars' 35-19 win of 1958.
