Nov. 18, 1964 - The name “Craig Morton” may not mean much to followers of Eastern college football, but Rip Engle and his Nittany Lions of Penn State know him well.
Two years ago Penn State invaded the lair of California’s Golden Bears and held a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Then Craig Morton stepped into the quarterback post.
Morton threw three touchdown passes, completed 20 of 28 aerials for 274 yards and finished with a University of California single‐game total offense record of 285 yards.
The Nittany Lions hung on for a 23-21 victory, but Craig Morton served notice to the intercollegiate football world that he was marked for gridiron fame.
That performance was all the more remarkable because he had suffered a knee injury in preseason practice and had not played until the Penn State game, the fifth one on the Bears’ schedule.
Since that superb sophomore effort two years ago, Morton has rewritten the California record books in 18 offensive categories. His totaI passing yardage going into this Saturday’s game against Stanford shows 4,254 yards. He needs 138 more through the air to tie the Athletic Association of Western Universities record of 4,392 yards, set by Don Heinrich of Washington in 1949.
During his varsity career, Morton has had stretches of 118 and 96 passes during which he threw without an interception. His average gain per toss is 11.2 yards.
Morton’s coach, Ray Willsey (left), said the 6‐4, 214‐pound quarterback was not a hasty thrower. “His greatest asset is his poise,” said the coach. “I’ve never seen him become flustered and he seems to know when to eat the ball rather than get dropped for a big loss.”
Other coaches, including Billy Barnes of the University of California, Los Angeles; Charlie Tate of Miami, Dan Devine of Missouri, and Jim Owens of Washington, also praise Morton.
“If he isn’t an all‐American, there isn’t an all‐America team as far as I’m concerned,” Devine said. “He is better at this stage than Fran Tarkenton, Don Meredith, John Hadl or Richie Lucas.”
And from Pete Elliott of Illinois: “Without any question Morton’s the biggest threat throwing the ball I’ve seen in years. His greatest asset is that he seems to throw as well or better under a lot of pressure with people hanging on to him.”
These compliments about his football prowess have been swirling around Morton’s head since he began to throw a football as a schoolboy in his hometown, Campbell, Calif.
He also was a star second baseman in high school and major league scouts camped on his doorstep when he was graduated from high school in 1961.
But an education and a chance to play football were his primary interests. As a freshman, he led California in passing and running. Since the injury to his knee as a sophomore, he has concentrated on passing. Pro scouts have been after him, but there has been speculation that his knee would not hold up against the bigger, rougher pros.
Morton discounts that. He wants to play pro football. And Willsey uses the pro-type pocket to take advantage of Craig’s talents, so Morton would be no stranger to that system.
A speech major at California, Morton hopes eventually to earn his livelihood in public relations or advertising.
And while he has had considerable success, he is sensitive to the fleeting nature of fame. After California defeated Navy, 27-13, for one of the Bears’ three victories this season, Morton said of Roger Staubach. the middies’ deluxe performer, “I really felt sorry for him. They built him so high. He’s a great quarterback. We could tell that even though he was hurt when he played against us.”
Then he added: “I’ve been built up pretty high, too. But someday I might be in a position like that.”
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