in the senior class. Now he was ready for Columbia. To those who followed the fortunes of Columbia, however, Sid Luckman was one of the finest athletes who ever played for Lou Little. Coming to Columbia with a tremendous high school reputation, Sid immediately revealed that college ball was not too fast for him. On October 3 1936 he made his debut with the Columbia Lions. The newspapers of the period stated that he showed ability as a line crasher, an off-tackle runner and as a passer. All of this sounded a bit strange later, for Luckman was acknowledged a kingpin passer, but did little running. In the opening game of the 1936 season, against Maine, the Lions won a 34-0 victory. Sid ran thirty-eight yards for a touchdown, passed for a second one and also threw a perfect 33-yard peg which later was cashed in for another score. In a word, he started off with a bang.

All this was but a debut. The following week, Sid lived up to all his notices as his team was beaten by Army 27-16. Sid, however, showed he could block, run, kick, pass and tackle. At half-time, Army led 15-6. Then Sid went to work. With a cut-back from an off-tackle slant he ran untouched for a score, bringing the game within Columbia's grasp. The Cadets went on to count again but Sid was a dangerous threat all day long. He got off booming punts and whenever he passed there was peril to the opposition. Overwhelmed on this day - as on many others in his collegiate career - Luckman won plaudits as the best player on the field.

At this stage of his career Sid was only twenty years old. He had learned how to throw a football, after years of practice, in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Lou Little declared after the Army game, "He's just a sophomore but I think