The East

Pittsburgh appears among the strongest teams in the East, but the Panthers will have an almost impossible time proving it with the likes of Notre Dame, Michigan State, Army and UCLA on their schedule. Coach Johnny Michelosen, who has long been heckled for his conservative football strategy—something of a Pitt tradition stemming from the great days of Coach Jock Sutherland—has decided to adopt a flashier offense and thereby take the emphasis off Pitt's old bone-crunching, head-banging style. One reason for this change is that Michelosen's linemen are smaller than usual. They have been for several years.

In the still-lively Ivy League, Princeton is favored to repeat its championship—and perhaps even capture the Lambert Trophy—despite threatening noises out of Dartmouth, Pennsylvania and Yale. Coach Dick Colman has about everything he wants in the way of players, but he would like to find a solution to the newest guessing game of the year—whether to kick for one point after the touchdown or to run or pass for two points. "I'm going to invest in an applause meter," says Colman, another of those coaches who talks with his tongue in cheek. "Whenever we score a touchdown I'll ask for a display of fan sentiment. The fans will decide, and the coach will be off the hook."

The East will be able to boast of many excellent backs but none better than Anderson of Army, Quarterback Tommy Greene of Holy Cross and Halfback Dave Kasperian of Penn State. Last year, Anderson, a Floridian with truly amazing speed, not only smashed Glenn Davis' old rushing record at Army but also ranked second in the nation with his 14 touchdowns. As a sophomore he enjoyed perhaps his finest day when he scored three touchdowns and passed for a fourth against a strong Utah team. Dr. Eddie Anderson of Holy Cross, whose 33 years of experience make him the senior coach among the nation's major colleges, regards Greene as the finest quarterback in the country. He barely missed the national leadership in total offense last year when he was hobbled by rain and mud in the final game of the season against Boston College. Even so, he passed for more yards per game than any other major college player. Dr. Anderson also speaks highly of Kasperian, a 26-year-old ex-paratrooper from Worcester, Mass., who didn't play football until he was a high school senior. Anderson says of Kasperian: "He has a blowtorch for a heart. There may be players in the East who have greater natural ability, but none has more drive or courage."

It is this kind of athlete who makes the eastern football public satisfied with the game as it sees it—and to heck with national championships.

AMHERST
Amherst, Mass.

COLORS: Purple and white
BASIC OFFENSE: Wing T
1957 RECORD: Won 7, lost 1
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 13 of 23
WATCH FOR: Hard-driving Halfback Jack Close

THE DOPE: The Lord Jeffs will have little to shout about after a season marred only by a loss to Williams. Coach John McLaughry has lost 10 letterman, including star Quarterback Tom Gorman, and has no promising sophomores. Bob McLean, who has little experience, will call signals for a better-than-average backfield of Co-captain Jack Close, Terry Farina and Fullback John Deligeorges. Halfback Close was leading ground gainer last year, averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Line is not as fully seasoned and McLaughry is so short of material that many men will play two positions. End Joe Shields is a capable pass receiver, but Amherst has no outstanding passer. Another mainstay is Co-captain Charles Rideout, a solid center and linebacker. Al Wentzel is a durable tackle, whom McLaughry calls "an outstanding lineman." The Lord Jeffs are weaker than last year but they should enjoy a winning season with Close back. Even with the development of McLean at quarterback, Amherst is given little chance of taking the Little Three championship from Williams.

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

ARMY
West Point, N.Y.

COLORS: Black, gold and gray
BASIC OFFENSE: T
1957 RECORD: Won 7, lost 2
LETTERMEN RETURNING: 13 of 21
WATCH FOR: Touchdown twins Bob Anderson and Pete Dawkins