The Key West Citizen

Crimson Tide Favored Over Hurricanes

MIAMI, Fla. (/)—The Alabama Tide, with a flashy running attack and an improving defense, rates a slight favorite over tough University of Miami in their Friday night meeting.

But 'Bama Coach Red Drew has a healthy respect for the Hurricanes, who knocked off V. M. I., 45-0, last week.

"Alabama will have to be sharper than it was against Louisiana State last Saturday to beat Miami," Drew says.

The Tide just nipped L. S. U. 21-20, on a tremendous fourth quarter thrust through the line by sophomore Back Bobby Luna, who then converted for the winning point.

'Bama had beaten Mississippi Southern, 20-6, the week before despite setting a new Southeastern Conference record of 12 fumbles in a game.

Miami got off to a flying start against V. M. I. with a flock of fancy freshmen and sophomores carrying a lot of the load.

Coach Andy Gustafson says his coaching staff is having difficulty agreeing on how to set up defenses against the Tide's Clell Hobson, Bobby Marlow, Corky Tharp, Luna, Tommy Lewis and Bob Conway.

The Miami backfield was bolstered by the return to duty of Harry Mallios, only regular back from the 1951 team. He had been out with a bad throat.

Another regular will be missing, however. He is Back Gordon Mallory, a transfer from Georgia Tech.

The contract between the two schools bars use of transfer students by Miami.

Alabama has several ailing linemen and at least two, Billy Shipp and O. E. Phillips, are not expected to see any action at all because of leg injuries.

The game, starting at 8:15 p. m. (EST), is expected to draw 50,000 or more spectators. This would make it the biggest southern crowd of the young football season.

The teams have met twice before. Alabama won 21-7 in 1941 and 21-6 in 1947.