Eight Men From '53 Football Team Win 3rd Letters

Football Captain John Nichols (above) and seven other seniors won third letters in the sport during the 1952 season, the Athletic Association revealed yesterday.

Every one of the men had been a regular or first-reserve over the years; it was this combined experience which provided the nucleus for the Crimson's first winning season since 1946.

Nichols was an all-Ivy League tackle (he was converted to a guard for this year's Yale game), while end Paul Crowley was the squad's outstanding pass-catcher, and Gil O'Neil called the signals on almost every offensive play.

Hank Rate, Buddy Lemay, and Hank Toepke were blocking specialists, but tackle Bob Stargel showed ball-carrying prowess, too. Dick Duback was used on defense exclusively--at safety man and halfback; he was noted chiefly for his ability to catch and hold punts, despite the proximity of hurtling enemy ends.