Football: Third Week

Every week Tennessee looks more like a national football power, and Johnny Majors looks more like an All-America football player.

The hardy, beautifully coached Volunteers exploded time and again from their classic single wing at Durham Saturday to wallop Duke in a drenching downpour. The magnificent Majors was at his tailback post only for the first 19 minutes, He wasn't needed thereafter. In these few minutes, Johnny managed 105 yards in seven twisting, tightroping carries, one pass completion in two tries for 12 more yards. He scored the first two touchdowns on thrilling runs of 17 and 28 yards, set up the third Vol score and then retired as Tennessee spent the rest of the afternoon showing that it has two sub tailbacks—Al Carter and Carroll Young—who are nearly as good as Johnny.

The deception and crunching efficiency of Tennessee's single wing was beautiful. Majors and his successors spun nicely on fullback fakers, rolled out to either side, then cut in behind deadly blocking and picked their way through the secondary—stopping, starting, feinting and just plowing for long gains. The deep reverses, with Wingback Bill Anderson outlegging confused defenders, added variety to the imaginative attack. The Vol guards cleared gaping holes straight ahead for fast-starting Fullback Tommy Bronson. Trap plays worked for good gains up the middle and, altogether, the Vols rolled up 333 yards rushing.

No doubt about it—the Vols proved conclusively that the ancient single wing can still be a murderous instrument in modern football (see page 70).