The Sporting Scene

The top brass of the HAA held its second annual spring luncheon for the nutritive and intellectual development of the working press yesterday in the muggy grandeur of the Harvard Club of Boston. Prominently featured were Martinis, a mixed grille; green garden peas, and a strawberry sundae, but the piece de resistance was a frank on-the-record discussion of Harvard spring football by head coach Art Valpey.

The visiting newshawks were given a free rein on questions and drinking water, but Valpey's short talk was so disarming and complete that nobody could think up anything to ask him after he finished.

The Plan

Art outlined briefly the objectives of his 1949 spring practice, to wit: (1.) to make the acquaintance of and catalogue the new men (freshmen, jayvees, and transfer students) out for varsity foot-ball, and (2.) to experiment with the varsity players on new cycles of plays. "It was a good spring practice," said head coach Valpey.

Part one of the objectives took everybody's time on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, while the experimenting sessions occurred on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Saturdays the new blood scrimmaged against the varsity. Both parts of the program met with "reasonable success."

Though they were not required to appear at spring practice, 25 of the 33 returning lettermen worked out three times a week under the coaching staff. Thanks to the high level of attendance. Valpey was able to state that the football team is now equal on both offensive and defensive fundamentals. Last fall, he explained, the team glittered on offensive but faltered when the other team had the ball.

As for the new men, Art estimates that five players can make slots on the first three teams. This is just a temporary estimate, but the army of returning lettermen seems to bear out the figure. Valpey then went into a man by man analysis of his new prospects.

Bright Young Men

Top man among the '52 football players at this time is right end Fred Ravreby. Six foot three inch Ravreby spent the winter knocking people out of the boxing room and then started out the spring practice as a tackle. The sudden dearth, however, of right ends, plus Ravreby height and speed caused the switch to end, and here he will probably remain this fall. If he continues to improve, Fred Ravreby is the best bet among the freshmen to make the 1949 football squad.

Another noteworthy right end is Al Wilson, a transfer from Southern California, six three and 210 pounds. Wilson slipped into Harvard unnoticed by the coaches because he wanted to get a Ph.D. in German. He was discovered by a member of the German Department and referred to Valpey. This is the only case of its kind in Harvard history, we suspect.

The spring practice proved very strong in the production of fullbacks. Carl Bottenfield, Johnny West, Tom Ossman, and Bobby Ray all were on hand and looking good. Bottenfield, who was number one candidate for fullback before he was seriously injured a year ago, will be definitely on hand at the opening of practice, September 1.

Ossman also bids fair to start fall practice, but both West and Ray are on probation. If they can get off, they will be definite assets to the team, but Ray will probably be shifted to either wingback or tailback. 190 pound backs, who can run the ends and pose a passing threat, do not grow on trees, it seems.

Other backs who received praise for their efforts were Bill Healey, Charley Walsh, and Carroll Lowenstain but discussion of them will have to be curtailed for a day.