Word: valpey
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...careful examination of the movies of last fall's games may show Valpey when and why the disenchantment started. When spring practice rolls around shortly, he will like Billy Southworth when he switched from the pennant-fat Cards to the Braves smash any inferiority complex the team may have...
What he will find here though, is material potentially on a par with the teams he will face on next fall's "back-breaking" schedule. Best of all, Valpey will find a team which should adapt itself well to the Crisler system he has said he will employ. The single-wing is the basic Crisler formation (he uses/about 7, with a total of 170 or so plays). But Crisler doesn't use the single-wing exclusively for the power it was designed to produce. By lining up in a T, with an unbalanced line, and the quarterback up over center...
...from the T. He never used a spinner (one of the Crisler essentials) because he built his attack around the straight-ahead over power of Vinnie Moravec. When Moravec got hurt, it was too late to scrap the system. Here is the biggest single problem facing Valpey: in order to employ the razzic-dazzle, split-second timing offensive he knows so well, he must find a fullback who can spin and who can handle the ball slickly...
...Granted, Valpey isn't going to find Weisenbergers and Wieses floating around Soldiers Field. As for size, though, last fall's Maize and Blue was actually lighter than the Crimson in some departments. The offensive Wolverine line averaged 185. Chappuis, at 185, was the beefiest man in a pony backfield. Everywhere in the Crisler system the emphasis is on speed and deception rather than crunching power. And that's what the current stable of light Crimson backs are best fitted...
...Valpey's not used to losing. Since he joined the Michigan staff six years ago, Wolverine elevens have won 48 out of 58 games. It's nice to have coaches like that on your side...