The San Francisco call., 1897-12-25

Burnett, Williams former under
study, was easily the best all-round
center of the season, and promises and
has the physical ability TO equal his
teacher by becoming more aggressive
and trying for more chances away
from his position.
Smith so far improved over former
seasons that he displaced Fickert, who
was responsible for the two big penal
ties imposed against Stanford in the
Thanksgiving game, and who, unlike
Carle and Smith, gave little assistance
to his sidepartners.
Rice, though in crippled condition
in several of his big games, and much
lighter than any of his rivals, proved
himself the most scientific, reliable,
continuously aggressive and generally
helpful tackle on the field Though
Fisher and he continuously shifted
over and backed up the right side of
the Stanford line, they got practically
no assistance in return, and largely to
that fact, together with the lesser
weight of the whole left side of the
line, was due many of the gains made
there.
Thomas, though still prone to tackle
high, was strong on defense and used
his weight (really 191 pounds stripped)
to advantage, but he, as always, was
inclined to spurtS and often relaxed his
SAhoA - NA4Nii Tire Ptoiy Ailu IiOI come MS
way. In handling Simpson, who, actu-
ally weighed POI stripped, he rose to
the occasion. played his best game and
made 1t evident that Simpson is not a
tackle, though he would probably make
a superior guard.
Sherman at end was in his proper DO
sition, but he did not nearly equal his
possibilities, except, perhaps, on the
defensive.
Parker, while slow in getting down
under Murphy's long punts tackled
We'll, was quick in an emergency, and
was undoubtedly the best end in the
Thanksgiving match, for Hopper was
almost invariably Shouldered out of
the way by Fisher to permit Daly's
runs round that end
Code was far and away the best
quarter. Murphy proved himself the
greatest kicker this coast has produced
and one Of the best runners in a scat
tered field, but as a quarterback of a
We'll balanced team not having to de-
pend on the quarter for it's kicking he
was lacking in the prime requisites for
the positiOn-in ability to lead the in
reference, in defensive strength and
generally in readiness to tackle.
Hall was the star of all the half
backs and most valuable all-round
man, remarkably sure at catching
punts. quick to start, shifty in a scat
tered field and with possibilities of be-
coming kicker and player equal If
not superior to Ransome
Morse, until Halls final development,
was the best half on the field But
Fisher, who did little running but
made many runs possible. while he
bore the heaviest brunt of the battle,
was In defensive playing alone the
superior of any other halfback on the
held, and the equal of any that has
played here.
Cotton, probably the surest and cas-
lest line-bucker ever on the Coast,
was selected for fullback because he
was the best of all the men that filled
that position, though he, like the
others, could not punt.
Generally, the season showed great
Improvement in kicking, retrogression
IN tackling, mediocre crop of tack
lers, a poor lot of ends, a pleasing fur
ther development of gentlemanly play,
and no serious accidents or injuries
IN Dig games participated in by prop
erly trained men.
For the future athletic team pros
poets here seem to be waning, while
Santa Clara College promises to be-
come factor in intercollegiate foot
ball.
Erb of Stanford, who has natural
spirit of leadership and enthusiasm,
may be looked to as the coming ex-
ponent of sure, hard tackling by an
end or quarter. And Pringle of Cal
lfornia, if he stays with and perfects
his position and does not drop it to
aspire to halfback glory, as many
other Berkeley players have foolishly
done, should develop into the best tao
kle California has ever had.