|
Note:
For the 1951 Ice Bowl on December 31,
1950, player turnout was so poor that the UA coach decided that he
couldn't go through with the game- ten players were not enough. Most UA
students did not care about football as their interests were inclined to
skiing and hockey. The University had recognized the students’ concerns
and redirected funds from the Ice Bowl to popular sports and
intramurals. But, a core of the students wanted the game to be played
and they drafted a couple of visitors to Fairbanks to join them and they
played as ringers in the guise of UA students. The team had three
offensive plays, one to the right, one to the left, and one to the
middle.
Fairbanks, Alaska (AP) A no-touchdown tradition, unaffected by a
Fairbanks "heat" wave, held Sunday as the University of Alaska Polar
Bears and the Ladd Air Force base Flyers battled to a 0-0 tie in the
third annual Ice Bowl football game.
Not a touchdown has been scored since the farthest North bowl
series was inaugurated. The first game also ended in a scoreless tie.
The collegians won out last year, 3-0, on a 35-yard field goal in the
final minute.
An unexpected rise in temperature to the zero mark made Sunday's
game unique under the midnight sun.
Always before, the players were clad in parkas, fur mukluks
(shoes) and special wool face masks as protection against cold of 30
degrees below zero or lower.
Sunday, the "mild" spell permitted them to don regulation
football uniforms with the exception of rubber-soled sneakers which they
wore for traction on the field covered with ankle-deep snow.
A record crowd of 2,000 huddled in blankets and parkas around air
force heaters to watch the hard fought game.
By coincidence, the jinx number "13" plagued both teams.
Each quarterback wore jerseys with "13" on their backs. Each was
lugged off the field in the first quarter after scooting 13 yards before
he was nailed and injured on the play.
Slanting rays of the run. which wheels around the northern
horizon with only a brief disappearance, created a golden haze of the
ice particles in the air over the field.
Boundary, yardage and goal lines were marked with coal dust in
the snow.
The big problem now is what to do about the Lathrop Ice Bowl
trophy which went to the University last year. Officials still
pondered the Issue long after the game, undecided whether to let it
remain in possession of the collegians or award it to the team which ran
up the most yardage
Pretty Sheila MacSpadden, 19-year-old university student, reigned
over the game as Ice Bowl queen. She was crowned by Brig Gen. David H.
Baker, commanding officer of Ladd Field.
Her majesty is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs M.L. MacSpadden of
Juneau.
|
