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The 1941 College All-Star Game |
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A capacity throng of 98,200 in Soldiers Field watched the All-Stars check the Bears' ground game in a surprising defensive exhibition. But eventually, the professionals’ aerial guns engineered by Columbia Sid Luckman, smashed the college squad's resistance.
Both teams displayed a rugged offense at times but the game was marked by thrilling individual feats- slashing runs by Tom Harmon of Michigan and George Franck of Minnesota, and Luckman's amazingly accurate passes.
The Bears punched out points in every period, a touchdown apiece in the first and second quarters. Lee Artoe's 46-yard field goal in the third, and the clincher three in the final period.
The All-Stars spaced their scoring between the first and fourth quarters. The heroes billed to lead the All-Stars- Harmon and Franck- flashed no more brightly than did less-heralded Jackie Robinson of U.C.L.A., and Boston College's Charley O'Rourke, who collaborated to produce the collegians most sensational touchdown on a 46-yard pass and run in the fourth quarter (video). Franck left the game with a torn shoulder muscle in the third period.
The defensive brilliance of Rice's Ken Whitlow, 180-pound center, against the burly Bears, was one of the highlights of the spectacle. His analysis of the Bear offense was a major factor in halting the pro ground attack.
In the end, however, the passing wizardry and ingenuity of Luckman prevailed. Sid pitched the first touchdown pass to Ken Kavanaugh in the opening quarter, a 30-yard effort (video). Thereafter, he brought the Bears to life repeatedly with explosive aerial shots.
The Bears scored their second touchdown after Luckman had aggregated 63 yards with his rifling passes in the second quarter. Harry Clark plunged from the one foot line for the score and Jack Manders converted.
When the Bears' attack again bogged in the fourth quarter, it was Luckman who provided the spark. O'Rourke had thrown his 46- yard heave to Robinson for an All-Star tally early in the fourth quarter. Lio's conversion brought the stars to 13-16. Luckman took the ensuing kickoff 50 yards. He then threw a long pass to Kavanaugh on which Stanford's Norm Standlee interfered in the end zone and it was no effort for Clark to plunge one yard for the touchdown.
Luckman completed his starring performance by tossing a payoff aerial for 25 yards to George McAfee before he entrusted the professional's overhead offense to young Bussey, who culminated a 67-yard march through the air with a final touchdown fling to Bob Nowaskey. This was a freak which hobbled off the finger tips of the Stars' center, Whitlow.
The All-Stars' two scores, like most of their foe's resulted from passes. Harmon threw 25 yards to Franck for the first (video) while O'Rourke took care of the other.
The crowd caught a brief glimpse of the gifts which made Harmon the player of the year when he led a 52-yard march in the third quarter, carting the ball 39 yards himself.
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Bears George McAfee (left) and Bill Osmanski (right) were tough on the All-Stars
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CHICAGO,
August 28, 1941 (U.P)- The Chicago Bears found its famed "T" formation
stalled for three quarters against the College All- Stars Thursday
night, but in a fourth quarter recovery the world's professional
champions crushed the collegians, 37-13. 
