Underdog Eleven Takes on Cornell; Crimson Opposes 34-Point Favorite

ITHACA, New York, Oct. 12--Cool weather and clear skies greeted the varsity football team today as it worked out at Schoellkopf Field in preparation for tomorrow's game with Cornell. The game will be the league opener for the Big Red, which already owns a pair of preliminary victories--21 to 14 over Syracuse and 41 to 18 over Colgate.

Coach Lloyd Jordan pronounced his team ready for action, with one vital reservation. Tallback Dick Clasby, successor to former Captain Carroll Lowenstein as the Crimson's chief offensive weapon, hasn't scrimmaged this week because of a bruised hip. How much action he will see is unknown.

Healy Converted to Tailback

Former wingback Jim Healy has been converted to tailback and will play if Clasby has been relegated to the number three spot. Two players, defensive halfback Dick Duback and linebacker Bill Weber, did not make the trip because of injuries.

The Crimson, which used the T last week for the first-time this year in a 35 to 0 drubbing by Columbia, will stick largely to its basic single wing offense, Jordan said tonight. He explained that the squad has not worked together long enough on the T to make it an effeffctive weapon against a team of Cornell's caliber.

One change in the starting offensive team puts sophomore John Culver ahead of Tom Ossman. Culver is heavier, although the latter is much more experienced. However, Culver was used a lot against Columbia and Jordan apparently feels that additional weight will be needed against Cornell's big and rough line.

Jordan rates Cornell equal to any team that his club has faced this year, including Holy Cross, on the basis of films he saw of Cornell's victory over Colgate. He said a game between the Big Red and Holy Cross would be a "toss up" at best.

Tomorrow's game shapes up as a battle between the single wing, dull to watch even when it is working, and Cornell's flashy and very effective split. The Big Red has two players who can make the offense go: quarterback Rocco Calvo and halfback Stu Merz. Merz scored three times against Syracuse, while Calvo should be familiar to Soldiers Field goers from last year.

Ithaca is filled tonight with rabid alumni who came up to see Cornell begin its quest for the Ivy League title, which many forecasters predict for the Big Red this year. The contest, Cornell's home-coming game, begins at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Schoellkopf Field. Cornell has been installed as 34 point pregrame favorite.

In last year's game the Big Red defeated Harvard, 28 to 7, at the Stadium