For
many years Dr. Jock Sutherland was in the habit of winning college
football games for the University of Pittsburgh; since he deserted
the campus for the pro ranks he has made a clean sweep of two engagements,
with the team from the old home town, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Last
September 29th the Silent Scot came back to his former haunts for
the the first time with the Brooklyn Dodgers. His team had lost its
opener to Washington's Redskins, destined to be the eastern champions.
On the other hand the Steelers looked like they might go places. They
had one victory and two ties to their credit in three starts.
A throng of 26,618, third' largest in Steeler history at Forbes Field,
was out to welcome their former hero. Late in the first quarter the
Dodgers gobbled up a tumble by Chester (Swede) Johnston, veteran local
fullback, on the Dodger 47. Five plays later they had scored on a
one-yard line plunge by Pug Manders with Ace Parker converting.
The
Steelers got a 21 yard field goal by Armand Niccolai in the second
quarter and Brooklyn added a 27 yard placement by Ralph J Kercheval
in the third quarter to make the final score 10-3 for Dan Topping's
Club. Heartbreaking to local fans was. George Platukis' failure to
run 5 yards for a touchdown with a blocked field goal try. Platukis
stepped out of bounds with no enemy player near, figuring the ball
was dead.
It wasn't so close in the return game October 3th at Ebbets Field.
The Dodgers got off to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, added seven
more in the last and romped home with a 21-0 victory.
There's
been lots of excitement around Steelers offices this autumn as Bert
Bell, then Buff Donelli tried their hands at coaching. Now big Walter
Kiesling is back on the job he held in both games against Dr. Sutherland
last season. He figures the third time is going to be Pittsburgh's
time to do the shouting.
All
photos, information and article for these 1942 pages
were taken from the November 16th, 1942 official programme, except
where indicated.
