Top of the Season

Coaches and sportswriters took a retrospective look last week at the 1954 college football season:

Teams. The United Press, polling 35 coaches, picked U.C.L.A. (University of California at Los Angeles) as the nation's top team, with Ohio State second. The Associated Press, polling 408 writers and broadcasters, picked Ohio State first, U.C.L.A. second. Otherwise, the rankings were exactly the same down to seventh place: Oklahoma third, Notre Dame fourth, Navy fifth, Mississippi sixth, Army seventh.

Players. The A.P., U.P., Look and Collier's named their All-Americas. In these ratings there was substantial agreement on several outstanding linemen: Ends Ron Beagle of Navy, Don Holleder of Army and Max Boydston of Oklahoma; Tackle Jack Ellena of U.C.L.A.; Guard Bud Brooks of Arkansas; Center Kurt Burris of Oklahoma. In the backfield, four of the season's brilliant stars ran away with the All-America polls: Quarterback Ralph Guglielmi of Notre Dame; Halfbacks Howard ("Hopalong") Cassady of Ohio State and Dick Moegle of Rice; Fullback Alan ("The Horse") Ameche of Wisconsin.

Bowls. If Ohio State could play U.C.L.A. in the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, it would be the real game of the year. But U.C.L.A., having played in the Bowl last year, is ineligible, so Ohio State will go against Southern California, which has been beaten three times, including a 34-to-0 thrashing by U.C.L.A. Other scheduled bowl games: Sugar, Navy v. Mississippi; Orange, Duke v. Nebraska; Cotton, Arkansas v. Georgia Tech.

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