It has been 70 years since the 1940 Italy Gladiators were undefeated and unscored on. Bill Bryant was a graduate of Italy High School and the Sports Editor for the Italy News Herald in 1940.

First Football Game of Season Will Be September 20

With two weeks of practice behind them and the opening game only seven days off, the Italy Gladiators quickened their training pace this week.

Cook has eleven returning lettermen, together with two squad men and several newcomers, with which to mold a good team this year. The lettermen are Jimmy Walston, quarterback; Billy Howell, left half; Edward Batte, right half; Rod Williams, fullback; Lester Fuston and Ned Hearne, ends, Glen Meadows and Vasco Baucom, tackles; Cecil Couch and Leonard Rienzi, guards; and Winston Riddle, back.

A set of hard-running backs of average size will spark the Gladiator offense. The backfield will again be built around Wild Bill Howell and Edward Batte, both stars of Italy High’s track team and both starters in the 1939 backfield. Howell has been shifted to halfback this season. Both are the type that might break out into the open at a moment’s notice and be gone for a touchdown before the opposing team could collect its wits. All in all, the Gladiator backfield boasts power in Williams, speed in Batte and Howell, and good blocking.

The Warriors are rather weak in the reserve department this year though, we are sorry to say Ted Yarbrough and Tom Phillips are the only men ready for substitute backfield duty at the present writing, although all of the boys expected haven’t come out as yet. Yarbrough is understudying Batte at right half while Phillips is second to Howell at the opposite half.

The Italy forward wall is well fortified, with a numeral winner occupying every position with the exception of center. At the present time, Squadman James Meharg is holding down the pivot post.

Italy High’s veteran ends are Lester Fuston and Ned Hearne. Reserves are Walter Lee Williams and Cotton Windham. Fuston and Hearne are both glue fingered pass snatchers who fit smoothly into Cook’s passing attack.

Two of the huskiest of the local gridders are at the tackle slots – Vasco Baucom and Glen Meadows. Curtis Grayson and Billy Guy Cantrell, newcomers, get the second call behind them.

Cecil Couch and Leonard Rienzi are at guards. Both are speedy and aggressive and are capable of playing lots of football between now and the close of the current campaign. Cecil is the younger brother of Leslie (Big Boy) Couch, who was a star for the Gladiators and will play for Trinity University this year.

As we’ve already stated, James Meharg is playing at center as this hit’s the press. His understudy is James Ward.

Upon being asked about his prospects, Coach Cook made the following statement: “The team looks good this year and if all the boys come through like they should we will have a fine season. The boys have been working hard and ar4e in good shape. We need plenty of practice in order to get ready for our first game the 20th though!”

The Warriors participated in a short – but hot – drill Monday afternoon. They ran signal drill and brushed up on their passing. Howell and Walston were doing the tossing, and though the former was putting more zip on his throws Walston was the more accurate sniper. The team will scrimmage the latter part of the week.