Catholic University of America - Cardinal Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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The CARDINAL I936 Seven days later the Flying Cardinals once again went into action, this time against the strong Green Terror eleven from W'estern Maryland College. It was the Homecoming game for Catholic U. and a crowd of 8,000 spectators, composed mostly of alumni, saw the Bergmamcoached outfit triumph by a 20-6 score. A 62-yard touchdown dash by Irish Carroll and the sensational punting of C.U.ls sophomore quarter- back, Spec Foley, were the features of this contest. Bill Adamaitis also shone for the Cardinals by chalk- ing up two six-pointers with his great line plunging. However, the best played game in which the Catholic U. eleven saw action was the Turkey Day scrap with the Wolfpack of North Carolina State. Coached by Hunk Anderson, former Notre Dame mentor, the Southerners brought to town one of the strongest teams in their section of the land. For the entire first half of the contest, which was played on a rain-soaked field that resembled a swamp more than a gridiron, the Flying Cardinals withstood the offensives of the Carolinians. It was the great punting of the C.U.'s fullback, Bob Makofske, that turned away the Wolfpack in the first two periods of the game. A blocked punt by Joe Yanchulis that rolled past the end zone for an automatic safety and a 41-yard sprint over the N .C. state goal line gave the Cardinals their 8-0 upset. The s'ound of the final gun down in Miami not only signalled the close of the Orange Bowl game but also the Close of the gridiron careers of five of the greatest athletes in Catholic Universityls football his- tory. The men who wound up their collegiate football careers on the first day of nineteen thirty-six were Captain Ed Karpowich, George Mulligan, Hal McGann, Bill Lajousky, and Pete Dranginis. To Ed Karpowich must go the lions share of the credit for the great scores the Cardinal football forces compiled this past season. Captain a Popeye, a big lumbering 210-pound tackle, was the type of leader HAROLD McGANN who by his courage and hard play inspired his teammates on to greater achievements in the face of insurmountable odds. l24

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The CARDINAL I936. The subsequent week iiDutch Bergman's charges met the powerful Titans 'of Detroit University out in the Auto city in a game that packed more thrills than any story book ever written. The Brookland lads scored two touchdowns in two minutes of closing play to change what appeared certain defeat into glorious VictoryeIS t0 7. It was in this game that Mulligants brilliant play gave him nomination for All- American. It was in this game that Schmarr uttered those famous three little words, Gimme the ball, which signalled the lateral pass from Mulligan to co mplete the touchdown play that left the spectators gasping at the suddenness of Detroitis defeat. Next came St. Mary's of San Antonio, Texas, who came up and gave the CU. eleven a tough battle down in Griffith Stadium. Led by Jumping Doug Locke, the Rattlers kept the Cardinals in hot water most of the second half and it was due to the supre me work of the forward wall which stemmed a late rally on the five yard line, that the game was saved from ending in a ' possible tie. As it was, the 7-0 victory was to prove a costly one, for five regulars were banged up so badly that they were on the shelf for the game with De Paul. Going to Chicago, to play a supposedly breather gamef the Cardi- nals faced a small but fighting team of Blue Demons from De Paul. With the possible glory of defeating the highly rated and undefeated C.U. team, the Chicagoans never let up and fmally turned in a 9-6 Vic- tory over a handicapped Redbird squad. Though toppled from the ranks of the nations undefeated, C. U. was destined to rise again to heights of football glory in the closing games of the season. Meeting West Virginia Wesleyan in Griffith Stadium, C.U. entered the fourth quarter in a 6 t0 6 deadlock. Suddenly coming to life, the Cardinals became touchdown-minded and in eight plays featured by a 29-yard run by Carroll, the score was boosted to 13-6. For good measure Makofske and Munhall reeled off a couple of long runs to tally a final score that sent the Bobcats home with their tails bobbed a little shorter y and whimpering t0 the tune of a 19-6 defeat. : WILLIAM LAJOUSKY l23

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The CARDINAL I936 George Mulligan, the greatest of Catholic Universityts Hankmen, was the same sort of player. CU. football followers will never forget his sensational playing in the final moments of the Detroit game when the mighty Irishman grabbed forward passes seemingly from nowhere and raced on to score the points that gave the boys from Brookland one of their gra ndest victories 0f the year. Mulligan was awarded All-American and sectional honors for his play in this game and the other contests on the C. U. schedule. Hal MCGann was another Cardinal wingman who distinguished himself with his sparkling pigskin performances. He was well schooled in football fu ndamentals. His hard clean blocking and tackling were features of every contest in which he participated. For his entire four years at this institution Hal was the personification of a true gentleman, scholar, and athlete. The unsung hero of Catholic U.,s football success was Bill Lajousky. Bill, a 200-pound Lithuanian-born giant, was a veritable wall of strength in the Catholic U. forward line. Although one of the most vital factors in the success of the CU. line for the past three years, he did not receive the praise and the publicity for his work which were rightfully his. Before the seasons inaugural the Redbird eleven were conceded by the critics to be a potentially good football team with but a single weak spot. That weak spot was at quarterback. However, after these same critics had seen Peter Dranginis call the plays for the Catholic U., this point was promptly corrected. The diminutive signal barker turned out. to be the most improved back on the Redbird eleven. Particularly in the last few games did Peter show this superiority. Against Mississippi and North Carolina State his performances were Hawless. GEORGE MULLIGAN