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About The Hellgate Lance (Missoula, Montana) 1964-current | View This Issue
The Hellgate Lance (Missoula, Montana), 14 Oct. 1981, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/TheHellgateLance/1981-10-14/ed-1/seq-14/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
14- UltCE Wednesday, October 14, 1981 ------------------------------------------sports------P------------------------------------- It was simple but tough in the 1930's and 40's By Monte Bryant Sports Editor H there was a definition of football in the American dictionary describing how football was played in the 1930's and mid 1940's, it would probably read: footeball (foot bol) n. Rough, tough and simple. That is . probably the definition you would .bear from two former football players, who played at the Universtiy of Montana, and who also played profes- sional football back in the middle 1930's through the middle 1940's. One such man is Milt Popovich. Pop- ovich was a University of Montana stand- out back in the early 1930's. He went on · to play professional football with the Chi- cago Cardinals from 1936 to 1943 . The other man is Paul Szakash. Szakash also played on the same team as Popovich in college . He also went on to play profes- sional football with the Detroit Lions, from 1936 to 1941. One of the biggest differences both men see now from when they played football, is the difference in the uniforms. \When I played football . We didn't have all of that padding they have now to pro- tect themselves,\ said Szakash, \We only had shoulder pads and hip pads . We didn't have all the padding on the body that they have now.\ Popovich said, \One of the differences was the helmet. It was more of a leather instead of the harder shell they use now. '' He added, \We also didn't wear a face mask .\ One thing they had back in the 1930's and 1940's, was a white football instead of the brown colored one they use now . \The young people look at me like I'm crazy, when I tell them that when I played football the football was white,\ Popovich said , \It looked the same as they look now . The ball was leather just like now. The only difference was the color .\ While playing professional football, both Popovich and Szakash played for about $250 a game and played in front of 45,000 to 90,000 fans each game. They said they hardly ever noticed the crowds . Szakash said, \Oh sure you notice the large crowds. The only time I really ever looked at the people was during pre game warm up. From then on the only thing I thought about was the football game.\ Milt Popovich played for the University of Montana from 1932-1936. His record still stands for the longest run by any running back. He went on to play professional football for the Chicago Cardinals from 1936-1943. Popovich said, \I never noticed the crowds . I was able to shut them out of my mind during a game. The only thing I con- centrated on was the football game. I felt that was all ' I should concentrate on, be- cause I was getting paid to play and that's what I did.\ What upsets both men about todays football is, the enormous atnount of pay some of the players in the pros are receiv- ing. Today some players are being paid a million dollars to play football,\ Popovich added, \NO man yet that I have seen is worth a million dollars to play football.\ Szakash added, \The blockers are the key to any teams success. Without a good blocker to create boles in the line the run- ners or passer can't gain yardage for the team .\ One of the big reasons we pay so much money to see a football game is because of the high contract cost of many football players. Back in the 1930's and 1940's, to see a professional football ~arne it cost be- tween $2 and $2.50 . Now it costs between $20 and $25 to go and see a professional football game. Another big change both men see, is the speciality teams , \Back when I was playing there was no such thing as a speciality team . Most people played both ways,'' said Popovich, \I played running back and defensive back for the entire game.\ Szakash added, \It was like going from grade school (college) to college (the pros). You just about had to break a bone to stay out of the game. We didn't have ·--------------------· I I i FREE IACO i 1 with purchase of large drink. (SOc) 1 1 after 1 :00 p.m. only 1 I Expires Oct. 24, 1981 I I KERN'S KONEY ISLAND I I NOW OPEN across from Hellgate I I I ·-------------·------· the excellent facilities and trainers they have now .\ \I lost four teeth and broke my nose several times when I played.\ \I have bad knees because of the game,\ said Popovich, \but I still think playing the game was worth it.\ Most professional teams traveled by plane or train. Even in college most of the teams traveled by train. Szakash said, \The trains were really nice, they were like a moving motel. You could eat and sleep on them. The only real problem was the time involved in get- ting from place to place. It took 11 hours to get from Detroit to Denver by train.\ \It was kind of hard to keep up with your studies in college,\ said Popovich, \because you would miss class for so long.\ There were six players who graduated from that 1936 University of Montana football team who went on to play profes- sional football against each other. \If I saw one of my old college teammates, we would usually go out to dinner after the game and talk over the old times,\ said Popovich, \but during the game, it was a different story .\ \We would hit each other during the game just like we were enemies. Because we were getting paid to _play football and that is what you did. You never gave a friend a light shot during the games.\ Szakash added, \Back in the mid 30's and 40's it was dog-eat~og during a game . 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