August 22, 1974
By Jim O'Brien
Bob Gladieux got the first four touchdowns for the Stars last night as they smashed the Houston Texans 43-10, and ran their winning streak to five games before a disappointing crowd of 12,042 at Downing Stadium on Randalls Island.
He scored twice from four yards out, taking a pass for one of those, and twice from one yard out. He admitted that visions of a fifth touchdown were dancing in his head when the Stars were at the Texans one-yard line with a minute and a half remaining.
Reserve quarterback Gary Danielson sneaked over for that one to establish the final score. Kreg Kapitan, who replaced the injured George Sauer, caught a 26-yard touchdown pass earlier from starting quarterback Tom Sherman for the team's other score.
Wide receiver Al Young caught passes from Sherman at the one-yard line to set up two of the first three touchdowns.
Gladieux gained 84 yards on 20 carries for the evening, and drew coach Babe Parilli's praise afterward for being the best of competitors, and a really great running back.
If that's the case, Parilli was asked, why did the Patriots release Gladieux late in the 1972 season, his fourth year with them?
"I don't think he ever got a chance with the Patriots," said Parilli.
Stars player personnel director Tom Beer, a teammate of Gladieux' for three years with the Pats, backed up what Parilli had said. "Bob was the third running back behind Jim Nance and Carl Garrett, " said Beer, "and he'd do good things when he got to play, but he didn't do the 40 in 4.4, so they let him loose."
In fact, Gladieux is 5-10 ¾, weighs 195 and does the 40 yard sprint in 4.8. "That's what they want in the NFL," said Gladieux. "They do it by computers. I can contribute to any football team. I believe, I look at myself as a winner."
Gladieux was selling insurance in Boston when Beer approached him about signing with the Stars. "He'd just sold his first insurance policy," recalled Beer, "but while he was doing it, someone stole his car outside."
Asked if he preferred playing football to selling insurance, Gladieux replied, "This beats anything. This is a great life?"
Gladieux wasn't the only big ground gainer for the Stars. Ed White rolled up 69 yards, and Dave Richards 63 yards. The Stars outgained the Texans 231-97. The Texans' best ground gainers were Jim Nance, who was released by the Jets after an impressive pre-season showing last season, and Mike Richardson, who both gained 26 yards.
Sherman completed 10 of 20 passes for 135 yards and two TD's.
The Stars scored in succession by capitalizing on a fumble recovery, an interception, a poor punt, an unsportsmanlike call that gave them a first down after they were stopped on third down, and another interception.
"It was a team victory, just like last week," said Parilli. "I was worried about this one. I didn't sleep last night. But it looks like the guys are beginning to put it together. I hate to see us run up a score like that, though, when we have face them again in Houston next week."