Aug. 29, 1964 - The New York Giants regained their winning ways against a favorite opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, today in Princeton’s Palmer Stadium and apparently found a young quarterback they can cherish now and in the future. Gary Wood, the 21-year-old Ivy Leaguer, from Cornell, threw three touchdown passes in relief of Y.A. Tittle, who suffered a mild injury. (Pictured below, New York’s Del Shofner takes a break.)
These three scores plus a touchdown pass by Tittle brought the Giants a 28-17 NFL exhibition victory before a crowd of 43,439 — and it was a welcome decision following New York’s three straight losses in preseason play.
This was the ninth straight time coach Allie Sherman’s Giant teams had beaten the Eagles in the last four seasons and, as in the past, it was not too hard.
It was Wood’s game. Gary had his first starring vehicle four days after Sherman had cut the previous Giant heir-apparent to Tittle, Glynn Griffing.
Wood will not have to worry about a cut following his accomplishments today. The cold statistics tell a part of his story: 11 completed passes in 24 attempts for 193 yards and three touchdowns.
Early in the second period, Tittle went down while throwing a pass that was intercepted by Don Burroughs of the Eagles. Y.A.’s knee was wrenched. The injury was not serious, but a knee is a diamond in this game, especially when it is Tittle’s knee, so Sherman retired his ace.
The Giant defense acquitted itself well and once again gave Norman Snead, the Eagle quarterback, a difficult afternoon. Snead took a lot of punishment from the Giants in the three seasons he played for the Redskins, and the formula was the same today, even though Norman was wearing the green-and-white colors of Philadelphia.
Prominent in this assault was Andy Robustelli, the recently reactivated Giant defensive end and coach. Robustelli, a 37-year-old father of eight, had not made a tackle all summer but played a great part of this game and looked as good as ever. Andy does not need to practice.
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