The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-30
THE RICHMOND BALL GAME.

Mr.. Perrin Busbee, an authority on
foot ball, was seen yesterday upon his
return from Richmond, and speaking
about the defeat of the University of
North Carolina team by the Virginia
boys, said:
Il can express no opinion in regard
to the disqualification of Merritt and
Collier, as the alleged smuggling took
place across the field from where / was
seated. But there is not the slightest
doubt in my mind that Merritt's re-
movaI from the game was the direct
cause of Virginia's scoring. Virginia
made most of her gains around Steele,
who was substituted in Merritt's place
including the two trick plays on
which they scored | do not think
they would have fooled Merritt. Car
DINA literally played all around Vir-
ginia up to the time of the touch down.
Our line was simply impregnable and
our ends so good that Virginia did not
attempt to run them. After Virginia
had scored, they managed to get the
ball near the centre of the field and,
taking a magnificent brace, worked
the ball within a foot of the goal line
by well executed tandem plays most
of which were directed against Steele.
Cardinals line, however, got together
again and held Virgina's mass plays
for four downs, and in the few remain
ing minutes carried the ball well into
Nirginia's territory. 1t was a magnif-
cent effort in the face of defeat and
one of which any college would be
proud. | have never seen such magni-
ticent punting as was done by Butler
just at that time But apart from any
unfair umpiring, North Carolina lost
the game by fumblng the ball when
within striking distance of the goal
line
I'm the first half they had carried the
bail from the middle of the field to
within two feet of the goal line. only
to tumble twice in succession. which
lost the ball to Virginia. They again
got possession of the ball when within
reach of touchdown and again lost
the ball by tumble. Time was called
with North Carolina on Virginia's s.
yard line Within the first three min
utes Of the second half North Carolina
worked the ball to Nirginia's 5-yard
line when they again fumbled the ball
1t was the hardest kind of luck and the
game was one in which the team lost.
1T is hard to give reason for the in
ability of University of North Carolina
teams to arise TO occasions which win
games. In last springs baseball game
our hitting was as hard as Virginia's,
but we could never get one when it
would score a run, while Nirginia's
hits always followed our errors In
the baseball game of '93, University of
North Carolina had runners on second
and third twice with only one out and
twice all three bases were full with
none out. A base hit at any one of
these occasions would have won the
game, yet the necessary hit was not
forthcoming.
II believe that this comes, in a large |
measure, from the support given our |
teams by the college and the alumni |
This year the college spirit" seems |
materially improved, but the alumni |
fail to appreciate the drudgery and |
sacrifice made by the players, aud the |
bitterness of their keen disappoint- |
ment. As a rule, they have been apa- |
thetie in their support at all times and |
moribund in the times of adversely |
They have no reason to complain of |
this years team. Tt is acknowledged |
by many Nirginians who saw the game |
as the best in the South.
''The erowding of at least 800 spec
tators upon the field was a disgrace to |
the management and materially inter |
fered with end men. North Carolina |
had made most Of her gains on these
plays before the grounds were blocked |
and Stephens was once or twice seri- |
ously interfered with the crowd"