For
many weeks our industrious Department of Commerce has been extolling
the merits of this great state of ours. It has told you, through various
mediums, that Pennsylvania is first in many things, including pretzels
and cigar boxes.
The
Department has pointed out that our egg production has doubled within
the past 25 years; that we hold the nation's largest indoor farm show;
that we supply more than half of the nation's mushrooms; that the
world's only sanctuary for bald eagles is in Pennsylvania.
All
this data is very interesting indeed. Interesting, too, are all the
other detailed brochures on the whys and wherefores of this commonwealth
of great contrasts. It seems to us, however, that the department made
at least one glaring omission. It forgot to mention that Pennsylvania
is also first in football.
True
enough, none of our collegiate or professional elevens has been winning
any mythical national championships for the past eight or nine years.
But the commonwealth's native sons have been spearheading teams outside
the keystone boundaries to gridiron titles.
On
short notice, we can mention a fellow named Johnny Lu jack, probably
the one fellow that Notre Dame can't do without this fall. John's
home is in Connellsville, Pa., the heart of our great coke industry.
And the most highly publicised player in the pro ranks today is also
a Pennsylvanian. His name is Charley Trippi and he hails from Pittston,
Pa.
In
the National Football league, there are exactly 340 players. Of these
approximately 50 were born in Pennsylvania. Considering the vast population
of all the states, 50 players gives the Keystone state a top-heavy
percentage in the pro ranks.
If
you need further proof that Pennsylvania is first in football players,
ask any college coach in the land. Or better still look at the rosters
of any of the colleges in the leading conferences in any sector of
the country.
It
is unusual not to find at least two or three Pennsylvanians listed
in the starting lineup. Today "Pennsylvania Week" is climaxed
with a football game between two teams from the commonwealth's leading
communities - Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
It
is a fitting climax. Not only does the championship of the state hinge
on the outcome of the battle but temporary supremacy of the eastern
division of the National League also is at stake.
At
the moment, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins are
tied for first place in the division. Each club has won two games
while losing one. The Pittsburgh Steelers are next in the standings
with two victories and two defeats.
Should
the Steelers thump the Eagles and the 'Skins lose to the Green Bay
Packers, then the Steelers could jump from third place to undisputed
leaders.
Of
the 68 players who will take the field today, 22 hail from Pennsylvania.
As a matter of fact, the members of the Steelers' entire forward wall
are natives of this land of abundant power, raw materials and skilled
labour.
Today's
tussle probably will be the greatest infra-state battle since the
"Hot Water War." That "war," my friends, occurred
during the Fries' Rebellion in 1798 when irate Pennsylvania housewives
threw boiling water on federal agents who attempted to collect tax
on window panes. Indeed, Pennsylvania is a great state - and its football
players tell the world about it.
Cover,
article and information taken from the October 19th, 1947 official
program.
